Called to Know the Richness of His Blessings

Well.....I guess we are staying in Denmark for the duration of the mission.

In the mail today were two official letters.  They were the results of our language test.  We were told that it would take up to three weeks, so this was indeed ... a bonus.  SK got 100% right, and I only missed one!  Unfortunately they didn't tell us which one, but that is just fine.  I am quite happy.

Elder and Sister Hicks arrived yesterday, and since we didn't get home before midnight from the center, we didn't get to say hello to them.  But we had a lovely visit this morning over Breakfast.  They had a full day and so did we, so it was short.  

We had homework from our class yesterday that we needed to get done.....and there was no time yesterday to work on it.  So in the time we had left before leaving, we each wrote out a brief essay on (of all things!) our eating habits in our homeland, and our eating habits here in Danmark and how they differ.

It was a good exercise, but it was time-consuming!  I chafe at the time this Danish class consumes, but it is excellent as far as helping us both with pronunciation and grammar (and it actually will never be a help to me at all until I open my mouth and try to speak the language - as Lia points out).  And even more than that is the sweet opportunity to be Missionaries.  

I have several new friends from the class that I enjoy immensely and I would miss them if we quit.  Of course there is Doris.  But there is also Monia, who is from Italy.  She has quit the class this week, but has promised to stay in touch.  We have texted back and forth a few times and she said she will come in and help me cook, so I plan to take advantage of that very soon so that she can feel the sweet spirit here.  There is Mary and Janani from India, both lovely young women from India who work hard at being prepared each day in class.  Each have an arranged marriage and are doing great.  There is Jystina from Poland...a beautiful and energetic young woman who helped us find Kielbasa.  There is Ruby from Ghana who is so weary of this winter weather and Melba from Liberia, a gorgeous young woman who has the bearing of royalty.  And finally Mun Yung from Korea, a young mother and wife who reports on the loving things she does for her family.  (Much of our class time consists of us haltingly sharing our schedules, habits, likes and dislikes etc.)

We came directly to the center from class, where I made a fruit dessert (using the slow cooker).......with a little whipped cream.  Ahhhhhh.

This is one of the slowest and quietest nights at the center that we have had.  We had 10 go the temple and then come here for dinner and games.  We had another two come just to be with everyone else.  They all came in their Sunday attire.....they just look so wholesome!

A set of parents came in around 6 and put together a meal for them.  Sister Andersen seemed to get it ready and served with so little fuss that I stood in open-mouthed awe.  Of course, she prepared the main part of it at home....but it was a lovely meal of chili con carne over chips with cheese and lettuce.  It was simple but so tasty.  She is going to get the recipe to me.

While we were waiting for everyone to get here from the temple, we visited.  She and I share many similarities, except that she is about 10 years younger.  She has a son and three daughters, and they are just getting started with grandchildren.  She shared some recipes with me, explained a little about Danish recipes (very helpful!), and showed me a little bit about the mysteries of the microwave in the center.

Unlike some evenings when everything is a little frantic, it has been a sweet and easy night.  We talked about her visits to the States and our families and missionary work...and the YSAs.  She and her husband have two in the program here.  We will visit their ward in a couple of weeks and spend the block with them.  That will be a good Sunday.

As I write this, it is about 11:00.  Everyone except two young men have departed.  The kitchen is clean.  SK and the two are playing CRUD, and there is much yelling and laughter going on out there.  It is fun to watch how the young people react to him.  They joke with him and tease him and goad him into playing "one more game."  They seem to genuinely enjoy his company and there are three or four who seek him out just to talk with him.  On his part, he loves all of the interaction and really loves getting into all of the games and WINNING!...which happens every now and then.

Of all the things that have been deeply satisfying on this mission so far, what has been most  wonderful are the opportunities to meet and come to know people whose lives are so different than ours.....yet who are akin to us in so many ways. 

It is a profound and beautiful blessing.