Originally emailed Sunday, June 4, 2017
Dear Family and Friends,
Dear Family and Friends,
As we drove down to Stockholm Monday, I wondered, “What am I going to write about in my letters from now on?” I figured with the demanding office work that awaits us, my letters would become much shorter and pictures fewer. However, that is not the case this week! I still have plenty to talk/write about. I'm quite sure none of you are surprised; rarely am I at a loss for words! In fact, this weekly letter is a sort of therapy for me, so thanks for being my audience.
We learned before we left that we needed to be in Stockholm for a 6:00 pm weekly meeting Monday night. We rushed to get the laundry done and headed out at 10:15 a.m., arriving at our new home by 4:30 p.m., with no stops other than one toilet-and-grab-some-fast-food break. The scenic treat was rapeseed fields Sweden is known for. The plant produces canola oil and a beautiful, bright yellow contrast to the muted colors of winter and early spring. I was also surprised to see an occasional white field. What was it? Dandelions that had gone to seed!
After a quick “Hello” to those waiting for us to arrive, a speedy unloading of the car (note: no unpacking), a sprint to get basic groceries, a bite of yogurt for dinner, we were off to our first meeting at the mission president’s beautiful home. First, we gathered around the grand piano and sang a hymn. Then we went to the president’s office, which had ample seating space on sofas and comfy chairs for 12 others—his wife, the 2 assistants, the 3 POEs (proselyting office elders), the apartment couple (the Andersons), the office couple we will be replacing (the Clouses), and us. After the hour-and-a-half-long meeting which consisted of a prayer, spiritual thought and reports from the office, apartment and assistants, then follow-up planning details and President’s items, all of us headed to a church building about 30 minutes away—south of Stockholm-- to set up for the next day’s zone meeting. (The mission is divided into 6 geographic zones. All of the missionaries meet once a “transfer”--which is about every 6 weeks—for a meeting with another zone—which means a meeting in southern Sweden and two in the Stockholm area. It is a fun time for the missionaries in each zone to see their friends, strengthen one another, receive training, hear testimonies from departing missionaries, and enjoy a meal.) That’s where we come in—helping with set/clean up and serving the catered food for 60 people each day. Thankfully we didn't have to prepare much of it! (In the future, John will also give some direction during the training portion. I will also be heavily involved in the planning.) Because this was the Mission President’s and his wife’s last Zone Meeting, the luncheon had a bit of a party atmosphere, with a theme of “You’re a one in a minion missionary.” Of course, minions were part of the decorations, including twinkies disguised as minions. John’s self-discipline was put to the test; he wanted one so badly but there weren’t any left the first night. Somehow though he managed to find two leftover after the second night—a tender mercy! There were slides of the missionaries’ baby pictures (unbeknownst to them, sent from home) matched with recent ones, a video “yearbook,” and a personal letter written for and individually presented to each missionary by the President and his wife. (I hope you can imagine the tender feelings of this experience for the missionaries; it was a privilege to witness and to be a small part of it.) After two days of this…from about 9 am to 7 pm… we were exhausted, and office training started the next morning! I don’t think I’ll be wondering what to do with my time anymore!
The next two days our heads were spinning as we started learning our office responsibilities. More details will unfold as the weeks go by. Let us suffice to say that John is handling all the financial aspects of the mission and I am sort of an office manager, handling correspondence, records on all the missionaries, making sure all the paperwork is done for visas, transfers, incoming and departing missionaries. (That’s all I know right now…in two days!)
The highlight of the week came Saturday as we waited at the airport to meet my friend, Gail Epstein. She and her husband Caleb Davis arrived in Stockholm to begin their Baltic adventure on a Viking Cruise. We had talked about getting together but it seemed impossible, so John and I decided to surprise them at the airport. Gail was thrilled to see us and we managed a little visit as we walked to and waited outside their bus. Our first visitors! Thanks so much, Gail, for wanting to see us!
Since we were out, we decided to take in a couple of castles (slott) in the area—Rosersberg was closed, so we need to return to tour it, and Steninge. (There are about 20 castles in the area north and west of Stockholm. Most of them were actually built for members of nobility rather than royalty. John says they seem more as mansions than castles.) More pictures and details will be posted on our Facebook. The Steninge castle is occupied, but there is a “galleria” of shops and a café in the carriage house, while grounds are open to the public. Naturally, we enjoyed a pleasant walk through the “parks” and out to the lake, despite the occasional raindrop.
On our way home we stopped for dinner at Melanders in Täby Center, not far from our home. John had fish and chips—the reason we went there—and I had fried herring, pureed potatoes and lingonberries—purely Swedish! The herring tasted like trout, but had very tiny bones I had to eat…not a favorite.
When we returned home, the Clouses invited us to strawberry shortcake dessert. The five elders who also live in this house were there, too, and together we enjoyed about an hour of conversation and music. One elder played the guitar and sang a few songs then accompanied the group for a few more. What a delightful way to end the week! We feel so blessed to be here!
We enjoyed being with these elders so much that we invited them to dinner today. I realized that I should have made more food when I watched them hungrily eating. I'm out of practice for such a big group, especially on Fast Sunday! What was I thinking? They ate everything on the table--chicken, rice, vegetables, salad, and bread. I had made homemade chocolate pudding, but I had to stretch it somehow so I added a couple of scoops of vanilla ice cream and served pretzels (my dad's favorite condiment with ice cream) to insure they didn't leave hungry. And now, I need to go to the grocery store, AGAIN!
Today in church one young man bore his testimony and made an analogy between playing a guitar and faith. He had recently started playing his guitar again after several year’s hiatus. He used to be a pretty good player. Now his playing was rough, his fingers grew sore, and he everything was out of harmony. However, as he kept practicing, the pain subsided and he could create beautiful music again. Then he drew the analogy. Faith, he said is much like playing the guitar. If we need to keep ¨practicing¨our faith. When we stop, our lives seem ¨rougher¨ and ¨out of tune.¨ We then need to ¨pick up¨ our faith, start practicing, and regain the harmony we lost. Even if it feels a little painful at first, its results will be beautiful and satisfying.
Being here, on our mission, is stretching my faith. My fingers have been a little sore and I have had a few moments were I was out of tune—wondering what to do, struggling with being in a new culture, feeling confounded by the language, but as I have pushed myself to be bolder, I have felt my faith growing stronger and my life harmonizing with Heavenly Father’s will.
May you feel harmony and happiness in your life as you, too, seek to strengthen your faith.
Always,
Mom/Dad, Grandma/Grandpa, Linda/John
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