Besides the great and wonderful Danish class today, we had a SYA temple night. We are located about 4 or 5 blocks from the temple which makes it very convenient to make a Friday night activity of it. We invited a stake from Sweden and then another one from another part of Denmark.
It has been raining on and off all day and as I type now from the computer in the center, I can hear the gentle rain coming down steadily outside the open window. I think the temperature outside is in the 40's so having the windows open is a pleasure. It is about 11:30 p.m. and there are still about 7 YSAs here playing Phase 10. We will probably be here until after 1 a.m. or so.
It occurs to me every time we have a late night like this on the weekend that there can't be a single place in Copenhagen at this time where people their age are having such a grand time without drinking or doing drugs. They really are good young people and they enjoy being together. I enjoy just being here with them. There were several tonight that I got to know a little better and that is good. I think they are getting a little more comfortable around me....well as comfortable as a 20-year old can be hanging around with a 65-year-old.
One young woman told me about the travels she has taken in the last year. As a rule, she is not a world traveler, but she has been working a lot and the opportunities have arisen to travel to China, Israel, London and the U.S. She has a very strong testimony and is able to share it wherever she goes. She shared a couple of experiences she had of visiting with different people about her faith in Jesus Christ. She is very conversant about many subjects, she is beautiful and she is fluent in English. I am sure that she has an impact on people wherever she goes, and I am certain that it is positive. How can it not be?
We had a good crowd of people at the temple and tonight at the center. It IS December after all, and so we had æbleskivers. If I make it into January without gaining 50 pounds it will be a miracle. We had quite a few YSAs from Sweden and they were delightful. As usual, English is the language that ties us all together. Swedes and Danes can sometimes understand each other but not always. It is just easier to converse in English. Isn't that great for me?
The baptistry at the temple has an amazing mural done by Joseph Brickey. He studied great Danish people and included many of them in the mural. They are looking at Jesus Christ. Some of them are Carl Bloch, Carl Bloch's wife and his son, the philosopher Kierkegaard, Hans Christian Andersen, Bertel Thorvaldsen (the one who sculpted the original Christus) as well as a self-portrait. It is stunning.
As with most art, hearing more about the story behind it and having an explanation opened my eyes to its beauty. Don't you think that is true of many things besides art?
I think of you every time I see a piece of art that moves me. I was working in the Gilbert Temple this last week with my sister and brother-in-law on the curtains in the endowment rooms. They delivered furniture all week. 10 semis full. Included in all the furniture is the mirrors, art, flower arraignments and the silk plants. I would walk down the hallway and see all these frames of art laying against the walls. There are several new artist paintings going on the walls. They are beautiful. I wish I could have taken photos of them but that is a No No. And it really is too bad that once the temple is dedicated you can't just wander and look at all the beautiful art. I will send you a lengthy letter this weekend with some descriptions! :)
ReplyDeleteI am trying to imagine what a choice privilege it must be to be where you and your sister often are....but now especially in the Gilbert temple! Just what little you have told me is exciting. I will look forward to that letter!!!
DeleteLove you!
My Bad! I told you 10 Semis that delivered furniture it was 22! Sorry! And a bit of trivia. There are over 108,000 pieces of glass (most of that is stained glass!) And over 600 yards of fabric in the Temple. Just a little trivia!
DeleteHow did you come to find out the story behind the mural in the temple? It seems like that type of information isn't always readily available.
ReplyDeleteYou really have the windows open when it's 40 degrees outside?!?
One of our YSA told me and then I believe our matron told me some of that. I better check my sources!
ReplyDeleteYes yes and yes! I have the window open now and I love it. (41 degrees outside) Part of the explanation is that we do not control the heat, and it is dry and sometimes comes blasting out of the vents. And since we are on the ground floor, it may be that we are warmer than the other floors. Nevertheless, most of the Danes that I know like to sleep with windows open.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the "open windows" explanation. I was beginning to think you were loosing your minds.
ReplyDeleteThe baptistery mural sounds wonderful. Thanks for sharing.
I'm glad that the explanation works for you, because it may very well be that we are losing our minds!
DeleteLove you.