Bunk beds, Burns, and Book of Mormon Bummer

The week began with a beautiful snowfall. The snow remained for much of the week, but then came warmer weather and rain, which melted the snow. I don't mind the weather except that our old van is still in the shop along with my prescription sunglasses, so when the sun comes out the reflection from the road is so dazzling that it is almost blinding.

The views from our back window

 And we did a lot of traveling this week! We began by installing bunk beds in two apartments where more missionaries are being added. Because of an emergency transfer, sisters from Stockholm who had been sharing an apartment were moved to Västerhaninge, so we installed a bunk bed in order to house three missionaries where only two have been living.

The IKEA bunk beds are well engineered,
 but the hardware is a challenge. Luckily,
we have put enough of them together
That I am getting pretty good at it.

Sisters Hopkins, Anderson, Hulldin, Johnson and Cole on the
sidewalk near the Stockholm sisters' apartment. Sisters Julldin
and Cole stay; the others will be a 3-some in Västerhaninge

We dropped the sisters at their district meeting
and took their luggage to their apartment.

Olivia wanted to record the number of
bags, large and small, we brought to
the apartment. You can't really see them
6 pieces in all.

The other bunk bed had to go to the Gubbängen zone leaders' apartment where the other elders from Gubbängen would be going because we had to return their apartment to the owner.

There seems to be an unwritten rule
that all apartments must be on the
top floor, and have a circular
stairway too narrow to haul a
bed up or down, 

It's always good to have an able
assistant and supervisor.

The end of the week was spent moving these elders into their new apartment with the zone leaders and then deep cleaning the apartment to prepare it for the landlord's inspection.

The cleaning crew absent Elder Hales, me and Olivia. Sister
Hulldin, Elders Martineau, Baggett, Nelson, Sister Cole,
Elders Winkel, Black, Hartin, Sister Hales.

Sisters Cole and Hulldin are proud of the clean windows

Tape is our enemy. Here it is on the
window. After some WD40 Elder
Baggett and Sister Hulldin try to get
the residue off the window

5 large pizzas were not quite enough
for 10 people, but the missionaries
were good sports about it.,

Elder Hales and I were enticed to climb the stairs once again
with the prospect of lunch. The missionaries informed us
that usually they buy a pizza each.

Sister Hales has proof that it has been
a while since the freezer had been
defrosted.

Olivia and I returned the next day
to finish deep cleaning the
apartment. 

When we were finally finished we got all the equipment and
cleaning supplies and two bikes into our amazing little
Ford Van.

On Thursday, January 25th we once again celebrated the birth of Robert Burns, the Scottish poet. Burns Suppers are celebrated all over the world where a group of Scots can be found. I didn't bring my kilt, because it is heavy and not worth bringing for use on only 2 occasions. I did bring my Anderson tartan tie, so I wore it on Thursday and again today to church.

"Fair for yer honest sonsie face, great chieftain
o' the puddin race..."

Olivia spent hours preparing the collops of beef, trifle, baked vegetables, and, of course, Olivia-style haggis. Others brought the shortbread, mashed potatoes, neeps (smashed turnips), bread, and drinks. It is always quite a production.

Sister Smith recited the Selkirk Grace, Elder Smith gave the tribute, Elder Hall toasted the Lassies, Sister Hales toasted the Laddies, and I recited the Address to the Haggis. Everyone seemed to enjoy the night, the company, the food and the fun formalities.

The table with our version of "scotch and soda" (lemonade and
cream soda), lemon curd, butter, napkins encircled by various
tartan paper ribbons, flowers as close to heather as we could
find and Scottish flags stuck in them

Around the table beginning with me and Olivia's empty chair:
Hales, Halls, Smiths, Sister Youngberg, Bells, and Donohoos.

A plate with haggis, tatties, neeps, bread, veggies, etc.

Elder Smith would celebrate his birthday on Saturday, so he
got first scoops from the trifle bowl. Sister Youngberg looks on.

Having suffered through the Swedish
birthday song, Elder Smith  opened
his gift - Benedicks chocolates
"by appointment by Her Majesty
Queen Elizabeth"

We ended the week with the cleaning project after which we changed clothes and went to the doors of the Book of Mormon musical play. It is scheduled to play through March and we are currently tasked with taking over 200 copies of the real Book of Mormon to the theater. Since this was our first time, we stayed and helped pass them to anyone interested as they exited the doors. For many, it was either ignoring us or "Nej, tack" (no thanks), but many took the books. We had a stack a little way off from us where we would get more as we ran out. We noticed that many who had rejected the idea at first, changed their minds and picked one up as they passed the pile. We had to replenish our replenish stack!

Over 10,000 have been passed out this season, so far. Not exactly what the "creators" of this production envisioned.

We brought Sisters Hall and Gow with a ward member, Mami
who is a recent convert from Ghana. People were either
embarrassed or anxious to talk to a real African Mormon.

Elder Petersen (R) is a natural at contacting. He gave a book to
this young man who didn't even attend the play.

While some were putting pass-along cards with contact information
into the books, Elder Petersen (way in back) was contacting another
person.

Olivia and I by the billboard

Sister Hall held a lengthy conversation with this couple who
were excited to learn more about the real Church and the
real Book of Mormon

Sister Gow talks to a couple of men who accepted the books

Elder Petersen takes a pose from the billboard next to him

Elders Greenhalgh and Petersen in front of the billboard
with Mami

This project is a mixed bag, in some ways. It is good that the play is having the effect of making the Church better known and that thousands have received the Book of Mormon. It is also true that so many are getting a completely false impression of the Church, the missionaries and the African people. I also fear that the Book of Mormon may be somewhat cheapened by so freely giving it away. We will see how it plays out, but the good thing is that the local press has picked up on the fact that we are not out protesting, but turning it into a positive thing on the whole.

A little tired today because we didn't get to bed until after midnight due to being at the play, but still a pleasant and happy Sunday. Rasmus Hammar gave his homecoming talk, having returned from a mission in Argentina, Elders Grover and Carlson gave the lesson on Priesthood Organization, Elder Carlson interpreted for me in Priesthood meeting and sweet Elsa for Olivia in Relief Society.

Exciting side note: We think we may have found an apartment for the sisters who are losing theirs in the middle of February. We are very hopeful and so are they.

We hope your Sunday and the rest of the week is blessed for you. We certainly appreciate the many prayers on our behalf. We know they are being answered.