This....Is....A....Test

Today was the BIG day!
It dawned ...and nobody noticed.  Actually, it did get lighter, but it was very foggy.  It is so beautiful when it is foggy!  I should have gone right outside and taken pictures, but I didn't take pictures at all today.

We left here in time to get to the test center about 30 minutes away from our apartment.  We passed through the city and into the suburbs where we saw a little more daylight between buildings and homes, past lakes and forests.  SK worried all the way to the test!  Do you think he was nervous? Yes....for me.

We parked and went inside the building, checked in with the receptionist and were conducted to a waiting area.  As we stepped inside the room, we saw two women and their husbands, and four fresh-faced young elders waiting to take the test.  They looked at us with a glimmer of recognition, and we greeted them and shook their hands.  We both had our coats on so our badges were not immediately apparent. Two of them are from way up north (5 hour train ride home for them), and the other two I think we have seen at zone conferences.

Each was dressed very neatly in white shirt and tie...a couple had sweaters on.  Two were taking The Test and two were companions along for the ride.  The two who were taking the test were obvious....they looked how I felt.  We visited for a few minutes.  I wish I had snapped their pictures.

It wasn't long before a very kind and cheerful lady with the best Danish accent (have you heard a Danish accent?  It is positively delightful) gave us instructions and then conducted us to a small room lined with eight booths, about the size of a voting booth....except that it was enclosed and had a glass door.  Inside the booth was a small built-in desk with a monitor, a keyboard (with a sign that said not to touch it), and a set of big headphones with a small microphone attached.

She checked out the headphones and microphone, then closed the doors and left us on our own.  There was a silent wait of about 3 minutes before the test began.  I had my headphones on and could hear my heart beating!!!!!  Then a countdown began from 1 minute down to starting.

A voice came on giving instructions.  Honestly....I didn't understand every word, but I knew what he was saying.  Then the first section which was comparatively simple.  All questions were in Danish.  What is your name?  Are you married?  Where are you from?  Do you have children? You'll be happy to hear I got those right.

The next sections were dialogues repeated twice and followed by questions about the content, pictures to identify, stories told and questions to check comprehension, and finally a whole lot of questions about Danish history and laws.  What is the name of the Danish flag?  What colors are in the Danish flag?  What is the name of the building where the Danish Parliament works?  Is an education from another country accepted in Danmark?  Etc.

I think I understood nearly all of the questions, and I think I answered correctly.  So I think I passed.  In fact, I am pretty sure that I passed.  It will be 3 weeks before we get the results back, but it will not be a nail-biting time.

So on the day that we finally got The Test out of the way, (I hope), we went to our Danish class and found out that we will have a test sometime during the third week of April to cover what we have studied.  It sounds pretty interesting.  It too will all be oral.  We must read five books, and be prepared to present a review of each (1 minute), we must prepare 2 reports about a variety of subjects to choose from, and then we will be given 6 pictures and must ask the testers questions about the pictures.

You can see that this will not be difficult....SK read his in 15 minutes!

It is no pressure at all....what is the worst thing that can happen?  I won't pass the course....but I am already so happy about what the course has done for me.

My friend didn't come to class today.  She didn't feel well, but she assured me in a text that she will come to the center tomorrow and eat dinner with us and help me make cookies, and then stay for the Danish class.  I know prayer is a powerful thing,and if you would pray for Doris, I know it would help her.  She needs to find purpose and something to get up for in the morning....a passion.  She needs to find faith.

This evening we had our monthly feast at the Knudsen's home.  This is the couple who serve the missionaries dinner every month.  They are magnificent cooks and it is always a treat.  Tonight there were four senior missionaries, 6 young missionaries, the temple president and his wife and two other temple workers.  It was just delightful.

My Residence Permit card came in the mail today with fingerprints and mugshot.  My Passport is valid.  I'm reasonably sure that I passed The Test..... I think I'll be able to serve out my mission here.  Thank you one and all for your prayers and your encouragement.

Happy Happy Birthday to our dear Erin....one of the brightest sparkling lights in our lives, and a blessing from the moment she was born.