Finishing Unfinished Business

It was a week to remember, from answered prayers, to a new prophet, and another move for the sisters in Örebro.

Adding fenders and accessories. Inside the chapel foyer - it's
cold outside!

 I know you saw this picture last week, but you may not have noticed that the tires are bare, so mud and snow flip up onto the sisters' coats. Our first piece of unfinished business we took care of on Monday. Our office meeting was cancelled, which allowed us to attend the FHE in Uppsala.

We went early, so we could buy some fenders and accessories rack for the rear. We brought some bananas, ice cream and toppings for the fika afterward. We joined them for the first part of the evening, then, when they went into the computer room to watch a video in Swedish, we worked on the bikes just inside the church lobby. I keep thinking that we will know better the next time we do something, but it seems that we make a different mistake each time, so I'm not so sure :) Still, we finished this piece of unfinished business. The sisters' bikes were parked just outside the chapel this morning when we entered the building.

We have been saying to each other for several months that we need to make an appointment with the dentist for check ups and cleaning. Then, Olivia broke a tooth, so we were forced to get that taken care of as soon as we could. There were no openings available at the dentist's offices other missionaries had recommended, so I went online and found one that would take her within a few days. He did a good job, so we scheduled cleanings for both of us.

The hygienist is a young man from Kurdistan. We have met several Kurds in this country. They are all proud of their heritage, but they are in a tight spot, politically and geographically. He said to Olivia that they are like the Jews in Israel - surrounded by their enemies.
He did a good job, so another piece of unfinished business was finished, satisfactorily.

We, along with many of you, watched the broadcast where Elder Christofferson announced the succession to the presidency of the Church. Of course, we loved hearing President Nelson speak to the Church from the Salt Lake Temple as well as his Counselors. I think this will be a powerhouse First Presidency.

These men must have a combined IQ of at least 1000. Reading some of the articles about President Nelson, I don't know how he can possibly be 93. Like Sherry L. Dew, I would have to see his birth certificate and have it authenticated.

We have had some personal contact with President Oaks, with whom we share a distant relative, and with President Eyring, whom we have met a couple of times, both before he became an Apostle and after. I have been impressed with President Nelson since the days he served as General Sunday School President. Yes, I am that old.

Though we had nothing to do with it, it was another piece of unfinished business that is now finished.

We celebrated in a very understated way finding a couple of new apartments. We still need four more; two critically. As I indicated last week, it is the most difficult part of our assignment, by far. The church is still relatively unknown, here, so when prospective landlords see that we represent Jesu Kristi Kyrka, they may think it is some small sect that may or may not have the money to pay them next month. I am only guessing, but I have applied online for at least 50 this week, with almost no responses. Landlords can afford to be selective because there is a severe housing shortage.

As I mentioned last week, we were able to secure a space for the sisters in Örebro. This week we also secured a place for the sisters in Trollhättan. Where they currently live is a dangerous area as it is filled with immigrants from countries where violence is used to settle matters. They will have to stay for a couple of months more, but they have a new place, now.

The prospective landlord saw my answer to his ad and was curious. He went to the church on Sunday and spoke with the bishop, then called me and we arranged for the sisters to look at the place with the bishop. Everyone agreed it was a great apartment in a very safe location. We will move them in around the first of April, so unfinished business closer to finished.

Friday we took the Hales with us and moved the Örebro sisters into their new apartment. Örebro is a funny name. An öre is the smallest unit of coinage in Sweden. So small that, like the farthing and half penny, it doesn't exist as a coin any longer. The crown is the smallest coin, which is worth a little more than a US dime. Bro is Swedish for bridge. So, I guess Örebro means something like Penny Bridge.

Anyway, with the help of the sisters, who had boxed up most of their apartment items, and who are young and quite strong, and the Hales, who were kind enough to offer their assistance, we got the sisters moved out of the Lohman's home and into their own space.

Sisters Robison and Otterson in the bedroom of
their new apartment.

At lunch with the sisters and the Hales. Elder Hales and I look for
any excuse to eat at MAX, so we were thrilled to see one across
the street from the new apartment

The MAX is in the Behrn Arena where the local team plays soccer.

Sister Hales says goodbye to these hard working sisters in front
of the local LDS chapel. 

Elder Hales in the entry of the new apartment.

Finally, we finished this pressing, annoying, exhausting piece of unfinished business. We are happy that they are so pleased with their new situation.

We decided, after seeing on the internet that new apartments had been built in Västerhaninge, that we would drive out there to see if we could find these new complexes. Sometimes, a sign is erected with a phone number if you are interested in an apartment. It was a long shot, and didn't work out, but we combined it with a session in the temple. We did enjoy that sacred experience. I follow the ordinance in Swedish, and each time I pick up on more than I had the times before. The unfinished business in Västerhaninge remains unfinished and may require some creative alternative, but we are not ready to give up, yet.

A manor house we came across in our travel around Västerhaninge
Olivia is fascinated by these mansions with their tree-lined drives.

Moroni is perfectly framed in the leafless limbs of
the birch tree and the evergreen next to it. The sun
was just right this winter afternoon.

It was a foggy Sunday, today. At times we had to slow down when driving to Uppsala to attend church. The days are cold, so the fog freezes into hoar frost on the tree limbs and the roads are lined with winter wonderlands. 

We got about 5" of snow during the week
I cleared a path to the cars and garbage
cans, only to have it covered within hours.

The camera in Olivia's Samsung is usually the best camera among them all.
When trying to capture heavenly objects, however, much is lost. The sun cast
a pastel pink and orange aura on the snow and through the fog. It was breath
taking.

Even the spider webs leftover from the autumn are heavy with
the frost.

Olivia had the idea of giving Sebastian, the young man who was baptized several weeks ago, a Swedish Triple Combination. We had a rather new scripture tote bag, so we bought the book at the distribution center near the temple and put it into the tote. She added a scripture marking pencil and bookmarks. He was very pleased with the gesture. We are so happy to see him week after week in church, being as faithful as he can be.

We love serving even when it is beyond frustrating and know that a loving heavenly father is aware of our existence and our needs. We trust in his love and his timetable. We don't know everything, but we know He does and so we do our best and trust Him for the rest.

We hope yours is a wonderful week, ahead.