Traditionally, Fat Tuesday in Sweden was celebrated by eating "semlor," which looks like cream puffs. However, they are very different. These are hearty cardamon flavored buns, hollowed out and filled with an almond paste mixture and whipped cream, then capped and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Of course, I had to try my hand at making them, (I love trying to make new things), so I made them for office meeting and served them "hetvägg" style, in a shallow bowl with warm milk, sprinkled with cinnamon. The missionaries loved them!
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| Semla (singular) semlor (plural)--Don't count the calories (or fat grams) in this! Evidently, King Adolf Frederik died in 1771 after eating a meal of sauerkraut, meat and turnips, caviar, lobsters, champagne and 14 helpings of "hetvägg." |
Tuesday the desire to cook hadn't left, so I made paella. For Christmas, two of the members in the ward gave us a great gift: 2 aprons, a bag of rice, a bottle of tumeric, a paella pan, and the recipe. They are from Chile, but had lived in Spain where they learned to make it, and I am so grateful they taught me!
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| I'll be happy to make this for you anytime! |
Tuesday we also received a new missionary, temporarily. Sister Nilsson is from Sweden and is visa-waiting here, until she can go to Pennsylvania. John and I volunteered for the assignment to take her for her appointment to the embassy on Thursday, thinking this would be a fun experience to be on US soil and see a bit of the embassy. Wrong. We decided it would be best to meet her at the train station and travel with her to her appointment at 8 am. Mistake #1. We didn't drive. We thought the roads would be busy, but it was actually too early to be busy. We figured parking would be a problem. There were plenty of spaces. And at least we could have waited in a warm car. Mistake #2 We got to the embassy about 15 minutes early and got in a short line that was outside in the open for "American Citizens, Immigrant Visas and Notarial Services." About 10 yards behind us was a plexiglass shelter, like an extra large bus stop, which we didn't realize was for "non-immigrant" visas and she belonged there. About 20 minutes later, we realized we were in the wrong queue, and walked over to the frost covered "shelter" which we thought was practically empty and found about 30 people ahead of us! Did I mention that it was FREEZING? It was the coldest day we had all winter...about 18 degrees. We kept thinking what an inhospitable environment it was. People must really want to go to the US to endure waiting in the line! We anticipated that we'd pass through security immediately upon our arrival, enter the embassy, and wait in a foyer of some sort until she was called. We were not prepared for this! Forty-five minutes later and partially frozen, we went up to the security station, where one's passport is presented, then one's coat is removed, and the bottoms of shoes are examined. We did not get past showing the passport. Actually, I didn't even get to open the passport. I asked, "We are United States citizens," as I held up the passports so they could be seen, "May we go in with her?" "How old is she?" Sister Nilsson answered, "Nineteen." "I'm sorry. You will have to wait." Really? Where? In the cold? Welcome to the US! (About 10 years ago, on a tour with my mother, I crossed the border of Finland into Russia. I was appalled at the lack of courtesy we received by the Russian government. That experience kept going through my mind as I stood in this line with my toes freezing. This really was not much better!) Mistake #3 We hopped on the next bus to a nearby stop--the Radio Tower. We had been wanting to go there for sometime. As we stepped off the bus (we were the only people left on the bus) into the almost empty parking lot we asked when the next bus would be there. "10 minutes." Though the entrance to the Radio Tower was open, there were bars across the entrance to the gift shop and "real" entrance. It would not be open until 10:00. At least this hallway was warm, but we couldn't really watch for the bus, so we went outside, just as a bus pulled away. We returned to stand in the warm entrance for a few more minutes, then raced to catch the next bus only to find its doors closed and the driver shaking his head. Ej Trafik (no traffic/no service). Seriously? As he drove away, we checked the bus schedule on the pole at the stop. No pick ups there until 10:00! They just used this spot to turn around! We decided to walk to the main road, catch the next bus, and just ride around on the bus until Sis. Nilsson called us. When we got to our starting point in the city, we got off the bus, walked across the street and got back on the next bus toward the embassy. Miracle #1 Shortly after we got on the bus, and again as we neared the embassy, John said, "I think we'd better get off at the embassy." I really didn't want to stand out in the cold again but reluctantly followed. Just as we crossed the street, Sis. Nilsson came out, all smiles. She was approved and should have her visa within a week! Miracle #2 we met her companions in time for all of them to catch the train to their district meeting. (We thought we would have to escort Sis. Nilsson to the district meeting and we were not sure how to get there.) Miracle #3 we didn't need a bathroom! Seriously--we left the house at 6:45 and didn't have access to a bathroom until we got home again at 11:30. I think that is a record for the morning!! Haha! Miracle #4 We were home in time to cook rice for our district meeting luncheon (which I had promised to do) and hear the two departing sisters' testimonies.
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| We took this before we got in line...when we were still smiling! The two sisters who came with Sis. Nilsson decided to go back to the train station and wait when they realized we would have to wait outside. Smart choice! |
Friday, the Andersons had another missionary move, so we helped again. One more next week. Speaking of miracles. Finding these apartments have been a miracle, too. It seems the Andersons tried for a couple of months to find something, had to double up some missionaries, and then suddenly they were able to procure 4 apartment within a couple of weeks. We are so grateful!
The week ended on a beautiful highlight as Collins was baptized. He is from Nigeria, has been in Sweden five years, speaks English, and has a deep love and testimony of Jesus Christ. He has been coming to church for about a month very faithfully and was baptized last night. I thought the missionaries would give the talks and baptize him, but ward members gave talks and the bishop baptized him. He isn't someone they knew before he came to church, but I thought it was beautiful how they have rallied around him and welcomed him. Today he was confirmed as he received the Holy Ghost. As we were waiting for Sunday School class to start, I asked him, "How do you feel today?" He smiled and said, "I feel good. I feel free. It is sort of hard to explain but I feel like I have been freed from a cage." Yes, that is what baptism can do. It can free us of our past, allow us to start life anew, clean and pure, as we step on the path back to our Heavenly Father. Isn't that marvelous?
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| Sister Botchy (Utah), Collins, Sister DeMordaunt (Idaho) (Collins has the most beautiful smile, but so many people here do not smile when a picture is taken.) They are standing in front of the baptismal font. The "green" at the top of the picture is the mirror looking into the water. |
