After church last Sunday we took a drive into the country to find a possible place for viewing the Aurora Borealis at some future date. John had studied Google Maps and found a promising area. As we turned on one road, we saw this sign:
It didn't look too official, so we chuckled about the farmers not wanting tanks on their property and continued on. Finally, we saw an information board that showed several maps with outlined areas on them and a sign that said, LIVSFARLIGT (Dangerous!)
It turned out we were in the midst of a military training area! We decided it wouldn't be such a good idea to be walking across a mine field to set up a tripod. (The weather wasn't conducive to the Northern Lights this week anyway, so we have time to scout out a safer spot.)
We began this week with a welcome/farewell dinner for our Self-Reliance Couples Monday night. (I'm behind the camera on this one.)
The Bells (seated on the right side of the sofa) arrived last week to replace the Pettits (seated on the left). The Pettits set up the Self-Reliance program throughout Scandinavia (with the exception of Iceland), after they spend a year in Ireland doing the same thing. Tomorrow morning we will take them to airport to head home to Bountiful, Utah. Two thirds of the senior couples have changed since we arrived, so we are enjoying making new friends.
After the dinner party, Sister Pettit gave everyone a "reindeer moss wreath."
This moss grows in the forests as ground cover. In is commonly used in window sills in older homes to absorb moisture on the inside of windows.
Can you see the reindeer moss in the window?
On Friday we drove north to Örnsköldsvik to swap the elders' car for one with less miles. We checked their apartment when we arrived, then ordered pizza for a get-together with the youth, ran to the store for some items the missionaries needed, picked up the pizza, and met everyone at the church. When our original assignment got changed temporarily, sending us to Örnsköldsvik, people told us it would probably turn out to be one of our best experiences from our mission...and indeed it did! We love the youth there and we miss teaching them, playing games with them, and cooking for them. When we arrived Friday night they gave us hugs and asked, "Are you here to stay?" It felt sad saying "No." However, we had a fun evening, reminiscent of the many Friday nights we spent with them. I admire them, as I do all LDS youth who are striving to keep the commandments and maintain church standards. It isn't easy, but it brings them great blessings of peace and confidence.
The Örnsköldsvik youth and Elders Prososki and Buchanan.
(Salima was happier than she looks; just a bad pic.)
After our little party, we returned with the missionaries to their apartment to grind off a lock on a bicycle. (The key had been lost.) I stood around watching three men huddled around a bike with cellphone flashlights while firework type sparks flew everywhere in the cold, darkness. It looked like they were trying to steal a bike, but there was nothing stealthy about it. What John thought would be a simple two minute job turned out to be more like a 30 minute frustrating effort. Ahhh, it seems nothing is ever easy.
We returned to our "old apartment" in Domsjö. It felt so nice to return to our "first area," Örnsköldsvik. We weren't strangers anymore. Familiarity bred comfort and we enjoyed our short time there.
My favorite view out of the window of our study in the Domsjö apartment.
On our way out of town, we made two stops: one to take a picture of the the Själevads Kyrka (church).
While we lived there, scaffolding covered part of it, now it stands clearly in its famed beauty.
And the last stop was at the Fjallraven outlet--similar to LLBean. I found a backpack for about $30. (I had been regretting that I didn't bring one from home.) John found a pair of shoes/boots for the winter.
He's definitely getting into the Swedish style! Although these are made in Australia!
This week Trevor and April arrive!!! so we won't be writing next Sunday.
