The day before they arrived, we had just finished unloading the car from zone conference when my phone rang. An excited voice on the line said, "I'm in Mörby! I'll be there in a few minutes!" It was my friend, Salima, from Örnsköldsvik. She was spending the week with the Norrland youth at the Stockholm Temple Guesthouse and decided to come and visit us, without letting us know! She was so proud that she had found her way to the office all by herself (on public transportation), and I was impressed this 16 year old had the courage to do that. When she arrived, I asked her what she wanted to do, "I just want to see what you do here everyday." That was easy...after a little "fika," she and I went to the office. When we ran out of things to do, we showed each other our homes in NY and Botswana from Google Earth. On our way to the train station, she said, "I wish I had a time machine and could live this day over again." That was one of the sweetest things I have ever heard.
The next afternoon, Trevor and April arrived. We started sightseeing, taking pictures, and eating from the moment we were together--they didn't want to miss a thing! Most of our activities I've already written about, so I'll hit a few highlights that were new experiences.
Drottningholm is the private residence of the royal family, located about 20 km from Stockholm. It is as lavish and lovely as one would expect such a palace to be. Built in the late 16th century, today it primarily reflects Baroque and Rococo design. Here are a couple pictures:
Drottningholm (Drottning is the word for Queen)
One of my favorite rooms, the library with about 7,000 books.
One day we went to Skansen, the outdoor museum depicting Swedish living through the ages. I think it is a great place to visit if one doesn't have time to see all of Sweden, as they have moved actual buildings from different locations in Sweden. Each building represents an area or an occupation. Because it was after the prime season, most buildings were closed, but one left a significant impression on us. The home was log cabin style with one entrance but serving two families. There was one room on either side of the door and a storage room straight ahead. This home housed two families in the 1920 until 1945! The woman inside the home explained that this represented one of the darker times in Swedish history that many people today, even in Sweden know little about. Actually, this style living had been going on for centuries. The home was that of contracted farm laborers to a wealthy landowner. The husband was contracted to tend the crops and other labor, the wife to milk the cows. Children helped as they could. They were paid in food. Contracts were renewed in November and often these tenants were displaced by younger, healthier ones. With no means to get ahead, people really suffered. That is why so many people in the 1800s and into the turn of the century left Sweden--no opportunity. Industrialization finally became a more significant economic factor in the 1930s, providing jobs with more opportunity. It wasn't until the end of the war that people were no longer living serfs on the land.
I thought the contrast in this picture was like a Rembrandt painting with only the sun to lighten the scene. It also reflects the poverty portrayed in the setting. The only time the woman smiled was for the picture.
Halloween is sort of celebrated all week. Here and there children dress up and go trick or treating, but not everyone does. I saw children dressed in costumes going to school one day. But it is on All Saints Day, the Saturday after our Halloween, that Swedes really celebrate. We were in Gamla Stan (Old Town) and we saw this angel (see below) perched in front of the church. She told us she was waiting for the parade to arrive, which was coming across the bridge in front of the palace and winding its way around Gamla Stan to end at the square by the palace and cathedral. We rushed to catch a glimpse of the parade. It consisted of one pick up truck blasting music with a few costumed people in the truck bed, followed by a 1/2 km line of people walking about 4 or 5 abreast, primarily young adults and young families. Some were costumed, mostly zombies and the like. By the end of the parade, no one was in costume, but everyone was happily striding along.
All Saints Day in Gamla Stan
Even though it is growing darker each day, darkness has its own beauty in Stockholm.
Candlelit Danderyd Kyrka Cemetery (The closest church to where we live.)
On Tuesday we went to the Stockholm City Hall.
I thought it was the place where the Nobel Prizes were awarded, but it actually the site where the prize winners meet the Nobel officials and enjoy the Nobel Prize Banquet. Interestingly, the huge hall (called the Blue Room, which isn't really blue) where the banquet is held seat 1600 people for the banquet. Each person is allotted only 60 cm (23.6 inches) at the table, so everyone can fit! The honor table is the exception--they get 70 cm--that's a whopping 4 more inches--almost.
The banquet room is a popular place with 280-300 events each year, so it is difficult to get a picture without "set up" going on!
Perhaps the most extraordinary room is the Gold Room. The walls are decorated, floor to ceiling with glass mosaic, most of which has gold leaf sandwiched between each tiny square. The main image in the room is of "Queen Mälaren," the guardian of Stockholm. On either side of her are images of the East (elephants, Byzantine buildings) and the West (Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty); symbolically she is inviting world peace.
Today in Relief Society, we were invited to share why we went on a mission and what it was like to serve. I thought I'd share our thoughts with you, too. We chose to come on a mission to give back to the Lord. We have been richly blessed on our lives. Through every hardship and challenge, difficulties have been turned to blessings, and we have been given much. When we take the long view and peek into eternity, there is so much to be grateful for! So, our mission is one way we can show our love and appreciation to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Also, we have had the example of friends and family who have served before us. Lastly, we are answering the prophet's call. Senior couples are needed throughout the world to support the missionary effort, to aid others through teaching self-reliance or providing humanitarian service, to record and preserve vital records for family history work, to assist in temples, etc. There are so many opportunities to use one's talents and work experience, serving and making the work a little better in some small way. We are so grateful for this opportunity!
