A Star

Did any of you learn the little phrase about March...it comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb?  I learned it in grade school and have watched in vain for it to come to pass in Gilbert, Arizona.  Never happened.  

But here in Copenhagen, we have seen it!  We were in the throes of winter at the beginning of March, and on this last day of the month, the days are lengthening and the sun is blessing everything it touches.  A coat is advisable, but proves to be too heavy if you exert yourself at all.  The temperatures are in the high 40s, and I am enjoying it so much that I worry just a bit about the coming summer.

Our Danish class seemed to draw out forever!  But during the break, we did something fun.  I had tucked a calligraphy marker and some blank bookmarks into my purse to take to the center.  The two ladies from Ghana and Liberia were teasing SK about his illegible handwriting.  He mentioned that mine is readable.  They wondered about the disparity in our handwriting, and also wondered why I had never taught him to write!  We all, including SK had a good laugh and then I thought about the bookmarks.  So I pulled them out and made a bookmark for each class member with his/her name on it.

I have always enjoy working on calligraphy, and it has been a seriously long time since I did anything serious with it.  But I have never had such an appreciative audience as I did today.  Normally, the response is "Oh that is fun, but my computer can do it faster."  And it is true...faster and far more perfect that I could ever think of doing.  

They watched as I wrote the names and gave loud shouts of appreciation.  They were delightful as they exclaimed and loudly complimented me.  They even went so far as to tell SK that he had a wonderful wife!!! I think someone asked him how much he had paid for me.  He solemnly considered the question and responded with, "She is a ten cow woman."

Apparently they haven't seen "Johnny Lingo."  

The cow answer didn't quite register and I guess they just decided to let it pass.  But everyone in the class was very happy to have the bookmark, and I felt like a star for about 30 seconds.

Family Home Evening was fun this evening.  SK and I took care of the activity.  We divided them up into 3 groups of 9 and then shouted out a category for them to organize themselves into.   Example:  Line up in alphabetical order."  or "Line up according to height, tallest to the back."

Bless them!  They whooped and hollered and tripped all over themselves trying to get in the proper order each time.  I declared a winner, and handed out candy.  Once again today I felt like a star for about 30 seconds.  I must say though that a few thought the judge (me) was a little too easily persuaded by the loudest team.  They may be right.

For the rest of the evening, I enjoyed a wonderful conversation with a dear young woman who has great faith and a very mature understanding of the workings of the Spirit and the Gospel.  She has been a member less than a year and she is young.  She is always concerned about others receiving the happiness that the Gospel brings and longs to share it.  She is amazing.

Just having that time with her made me feel great.....better than being a star!

Beautiful Day

Elder Hansen was able to obtain the mission van this morning so that we could all ride to church in style.  The Thornes are doing great...no sign of the dibilitating jet lag that made a zombie out of me for a few days.  They are cheerful and ready to go.

Fast and Testimony meeting was beautiful.  With such a small branch, where everyone knows everyone else well, you would think people would hesitate to get up to the stand.  But there was no time between testimonies, and they were all inspiring.  Sister Hansen spoke for a few minutes, kind of saying good-bye to everyone.  She is a great lady, and we will all miss her and Elder Hansen.  They are steady and steadfast and so knowledgeable.

Our fifth Sunday meeting with the Bishop was also wonderful.  We are approaching the 10th anniversary of the temple, and to celebrate we are being asked to attend as much as possible during that week.  During that meeting, we had no official translator, so SK kindly leaned over and whispered in my ear every few sentences to keep me up to speed on what is being said.  I am catching more and more words here and there, and it is still frustrating to miss so much, but so exciting to catch as much as I do.

All of the seniors from here in Copenhagen, plus the two young elders from our branch gathered for dinner at the Hansen's apartment.  It was a feast of Danish pork roast, potatoes, gravy, green salad, vegetables, rolls, and for dessert ice cream, brownies, and a wonderful layer cake.  And you wonder why I am not thinner from all of our walking?

We left immediately after for our sacrament meeting at the center.  We love those meetings.  Our first speaker was a wonderful man from our branch. He is kind and humble, yet powerful in his gentleness, and his testimony.  The second speaker was a young man who just returned from his mission in Mesa, Arizona (He took 3 different investigators through the Gilbert Temple open house at different times.)

The third speaker was a young man about 25 years old who shared his most heartfelt experience.  He said several different times throughout his talk that to us there are many things that seem impossible...but nothing is impossible to the Lord.  When he was in school he had many difficulties and was diagnosed with dyslexia.  He was finally told that he would not be able to finish what is equivalent to the U.S. high school, and that he would never be a candidate for an education.

He looked into being trained to be a bricklayer and began school.  Shortly thereafter he began having trouble with his shoulder, and ultimately was told that he would never be able to do physical work of any sort.  At age 17, he was pretty discouraged at the prospects he faced.

He went out into the forest and prayed.  He told Heavenly Father that he didn't know what to do, but that if He was willing to make it known to him, he would give it his best.  Shortly after that he was called into the bishop's office and was told that he should prepare to serve a full-time mission.  It seemed an impossibility, but he began to prepare.  He read the Book of Mormon....it took 6 months, and it was laborious.  Each time he read, it would not take long before the letters began to swim in front of his face and he would have to quit.

In the MTC, with a week and a half remaining, one of his instructors asked the missionaries to read the Book of Mormon before they left.  He opened the book that night and began to read.  He read for 8 hours without any problems, and read the entire book before he left the MTC.

He served a good mission without any of the problems from dyslexia.  As he approached the time to come home, he worried that the blessings of his mission would leave him.  He told us (in the sweetest and most humble way) that to his delight and surprise the dyslexia has not returned.  He has since graduated from high school and gone on to the university.

There was a special musical number from 8 of our young women.  They sounded like angels.  As they sang, I looked at each of their faces and my heart was overcome with love for them.  When we first arrived, there was a picture on the wall of a huge group of the YSAs at the center, and I stood looking at it often, wondering who they were and if I would ever feel comfortable with them.

Tears came as I realized how familiar they are to me....I know them.....I love them....and I feel like they are ours.

Ah...Sundays.  What a gift.

Spring Forward

Elder and Sister Thorne could not have picked a more beautiful day to land in Copenhagen. Clear skies and balmy weather made walking a joy....even running I suppose.  There was a half marathon held in the city today and we would have thought it was lovely, except for the fact that nearly every route we took to get to the center was blocked off!

We finally made it and threw ourselves into getting lunch on in time. We had a repeat performance of tacos, fruit salad and chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven.  We were supposed to serve it at noon, because they had a Family History workshop at 12:30.  One young woman who has been called to be the head of the food committee came an hour and a half early to help....she was a wonderful blessing to us as she chopped and minced away.  The YSAs got done early at the temple and came in to see if we needed their help...and we did.  Because of all the wonderful help we served the meal at exactly noon, and all were ready for the workshop by 12:30.

After the workshop was over, many stayed to play a friendly game or two of CRUD  (how friendly can CRUD really be?), or relax on the couches.  Once again, I found that one of the best things to do is to sit down and just talk and listen.  I so much enjoy the young people who come to the center.  And I love to have some food to serve them.  Hasn't that always been the case with any kind of hospitality? There is something about eating a meal together that puts most people at ease.

After snaking our way through more blocked-off roads, we found our way to our apartment and met the Thornes, who looked amazing considering the trip they just made from Salt Lake.  They will be great missionaries.  You may be surprised to know that Elder Thorne was here 50 years ago.  Are all missionaries like this about the countries in which they have served?  Or is it just Denmark?  The elder Elders and Sister Hamblin have such a tender love for this country and culture and people....and I know why.  It is not something you can put into words.   It is a lovely place to be.

After a half hour, we four made the 45-minute drive to our mission president's home for dinner.  There were 10 of us seniors and President and Sister Sederholm.  After a superb dinner, we each gave a brief introduction about ourselves to the Thornes, and the Thornes told us a little bit about themselves and bore their testimonies.

President Sederholm  bore his testimony about how the work is hastening here, and about what a magnificent work it is.  The Spirit was very strong as we all listened to each other bear testimony of how much we love the work and the Lord.  It is such a blessing to serve with these wonderful seniors.

We are back at the apartment now, and ready for bed.  We lose an hour tonight as we sleep.....yes, Denmark has Daylight Savings Time! It is great in the Fall, but so miserable to lose a whole hour...in the Spring.

Briefly....

Today was taken up with Danish class and shopping for tomorrow's meal.  We hurried home to do laundry, bake for tomorrow's lunch and spiffy up the apartment.
I'v got a small mountain of ironing.  We may try for a record here....how many days can SK wear the same white shirt?   Just kidding....maybe.
The new missionary couple is arriving tomorrow morning.   I know they will be exhausted...but it is a beautiful time of year to be here.
We won't meet them until late afternoon when we come back from the center.  We will all go out to the mission president's home for dinner.  This month, I don't know how many dinners for outgoing and incoming missionaries the president and his wife will host, but it seems like a lot.  They are amazing.
This post is brief tonight and will probably be the first of many short ones for the next several weeks. April is already shaping up to be the busiest month yet.

The sweet news is that the swans are nesting!  I hope to get a picture within the next few days.

Enjoy the final days of March.

No...Really

This morning we went to the center so I could make the apple crisp.  It came out of the oven too sweet, too soggy and too cinnamonny.  Looking at the dismal dessert I concluded that we could not serve it.  Then we went to our Danish class.

Right after it was over, we headed back to the center where we took a taste of the very large deep-dish apple crisp.  SK thought it was fine, but I was dubious.  One of the young men came in so I gave him a taste.  He is a cutie, and wouldn't hesitate to tell me not to serve it.  He liked it!  So SK went out to buy some vanilla ice cream and I decided to  use it as a topping.  It worked.

I made dill potato soup, and tuna sandwiches on small round buns.  SK spent some time peeling and cutting carrots into sticks.  When all was said and done, I looked at that humble little meal and felt pretty bad about it.  Something wonderful happened though....divine help ....because everyone liked it, and ate nearly everything!

One young woman said that everything I fix is so different and that she has enjoyed each dish.  Another young man told me he doesn't usually eat soup, but that he loved the potato soup, and had 2 helpings. Another said that we are spoiling them.  Most amazing of all is how much they liked the apple crisp.  They loved it.

I went from feeling bad about the meal to feeling like it was pretty good, without ever having sat down to try it out.

With all of the stress about the meal mostly gone, after everyone  had eaten, I just sat down on one of the couches and enjoyed visiting with several different young people.  I am amazed a how many of them come from so far away to attend.  Some spend well over an hour on busses and trains and/or bikes to get to the center....and of course that means another hour getting home.  That is a serious sacrifice.

My conversations with them are always interesting....they are interesting!  As a group, they are knowledgeable, fun, spiritual and funny.  Spending time with any of the YSAs is always...by far and away...the most enjoyable thing I do.

It really is a great mission!

Prior Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performances - Oh Pshaw!

I guess we were a little early in announcing Spring had arrived.  It has been cold here....with temperatures getting down close to freezing, and the forecast is that it will stay that way for a few days.  I have to tell you that I am not the least bit sorry.  I think of the 115 degrees that we normally have for several months of the year in Gilbert....and ....well....I just enjoy bundling up and being a bit chilly.

Today was our grand shopping day.  A trip to the Costco wannabe (by the way, don't think for a minute that it IS like Costco.  They have more convenience foods, and they have foods in bulk, but for the most part, there is absolutely no price break.  We usually find better bargains at the local grocery stores.

SK went with the full-time elders this morning to visit an 89-year-old woman.  She has been a member for many years, and has not attended for nearly 6 years.  She reads the Book of Mormon regularly. They spent some time with her and gave her a spiritual message, and listened to her talk for awhile.  SK was a little teary when he told me about the visit.  She is getting ready to enter a care facility, because she has serious back problems and needs some attention.  I don't know how long she has lived in her apartment, but it is probably a very long time, and she is slowly getting ready to leave.  It is kind of sad.

April is looking to be a very busy month for us.  We spent some time with the Hansens this evening going over the calendar.  They will be leaving at the end of April and we will miss them!  Besides all of the things going on at the center, there will be a gathering/meal for General Conference, a special dinner at the mission president's home for incoming missionaries, a stake conference and all attendant meetings.  It will be held quite a ways from here, because the stake center has been closed for remodeling - until December.

The new mission office couple will be staying with us for a few weeks, and we will probably have others towards the end of the month who will be leaving.  We have such weird hours at the center, it makes it just a little awkward, but it should all work out fine.

This is my work area as I plan the next meal.

I almost have the spices memorized now.

SK is working hard on his Danish homework....I should be too.

This is a few members of our branch (and me) in the April Danish Liahona.

Bon Appetit!

A bus ride to our class is always fun.  How can I help you understand the charm of that experience?  We waited at the bus stop for all of five minutes but it was fun to watch a little group of children march to the bus stop with their teachers and then board the bus.

 I took the opportunity to snap a picture of some signs of spring here by the lake/bus stop.

Both Doris and Melba seems to have a new lease on life and I am happy for them both.  It is good to see their eyes sparkling with happiness again and see how they both reach out to others now that they feel better.

We usually take an orange to eat on our breaks.  We carefully select nice fat ones from the grocery store....we peel them and section them, and the juice squirts everywhere!  We so enjoy those delicious fruits.  We often wonder at the fact that they sometimes rot on our trees, while we go days without ever even looking outside at those beautiful orange covered trees, much less walking a few feet to pop one off its branch to eat.

Yesterday, we decided as a group to have a party in April....just before we have a Spring break.  We will each bring food that represents our country.  I turned to SK and asked what on earth we ought to bring....we have borrowed everything from other countries!!!!  And I really can't take hamburgers and fries.

We walked home, making a couple of stops.  By the time we started walking, it was drizzling....and I didn't have the Mary Poppins!  But we both have hoods on our coats, and since we are both basically waterproof, we got home in good shape.  Now, late in the evening, the rain is coming steadily down and the sound is music to my ears.

After last week's busy-ness, I was grateful for a Tuesday that didn't require anything more than simple housecleaning.  (Sometimes getting in and cleaning is such therapy!)  We will serve two meals again this week, and that is just plain hard for me.  We always try to prepare for 40, but seldom have quite that many.  But the shopping and the preparation that begins on Wednesday evening at the center, and carries through until Thursday night late takes a toll on my energy.

I adore being with these amazing young people and so enjoy their enthusiasm, their passion and their goodness, and I am trusting that the Lord will grant me a little more ability to accomplish these tasks.  SK teaches an English class weekly, and so I don't have his help anymore on Thursday evening.  I think I am just going to have to simplify the meals.

Before retiring this evening, I will spend time with Melissa and Danny and Judy....well, I'll be looking through their recipes!  Then tomorrow, we'll go shopping.

Bon Appetit!

Spring....or....Why Am I Sitting in This Classroom?

Monday morning....the sun is coming up earlier and earlier and after all this time, I believe I can now safely say which direction is east.  When I open the blinds, the sun bursts through in glory.  It is coming in at a slight angle from across the lake.  East must be the direction we are looking when we look out our windows....so.... I am a little slow here.  

Growing up in Bountiful, Utah meant that I always knew where east was.  Living in the Valley of the Sun means that I always know where east is.  (The mountains are not so imposing, but they are, nevertheless, landmarks to orient oneself by.)  Here, we are surrounded by buildings and trees.  Denmark is basically a flat country.  I have learned how to get around, and I know where many of the streets and major buildings are, but I have never known which direction we are heading at any given time.

I really didn't want to go to Danish class today....there are so many ways to occupy my time, and sitting in school wasn't at the top of my list.  Spring Fever?  Maybe.  I remember sitting in Mrs. Madsen's 5th grade class.  She was the best teacher anyone could ever hope for, and yes, she is my mother-in-law.  Sometime in the Spring she would open the windows of our second-story classroom. The white ruffled curtains would softly wave in the whispering wind.  

After lunch, she would read to us, and I was always transported to another place and time.  After that wonderful break, I would gaze longingly out the windows at the inviting playground below, ready to be free of school.  I am often reminded of that in our 4th story classroom.  Sometimes the drills are tedious and I look out the window at beautiful Copenhagen, and wish I could be out there.

But today's class was very good.  The drills are helping and with some extra blessings from the Lord, I may someday be able to speak and understand well enough to converse.  I sincerely hope so.  

We had our usual missionary meeting before family home evening.  We always have at least two full-time missionaries, if not more at that meeting.  They come to report on investigators who may be attending the center this week.  Wouldn't you know that the two elders who came were the very two we ran into just outside of the chocolate shop a couple of weeks ago.  I regretted that I didn't snap a picture of them, and quickly decided that I would get one tonight and send it off to their parents.  (If I were Mary, my sweet sister-in-law, those pictures would have been in the mail a half hour after we met!)

As soon as the meeting was over, I got involved in some conversations and the elders got away before I could get the pictures....once again!  Oh well....I'll try again next time....whenever that is.

We had some special speakers....a young couple who dated while they were both coming to the center as YSAs.  They have been married 5 years and shared some marvelous thoughts and quotes from the prophets about what to look for and what to be in a spouse.  It was inspiring to me....an old married lady soon to pass the 46 year mark of wedding anniversaries.

The speakers were followed by an enthusiastic game and a few games of CRUD...Surprise!

We are still waiting to hear where and when we will have to move as a center.  We have it on good authority that the new center will be about a third the size of this place....a great sadness indeed, since the pool table and the couches are most likely the first pieces of furniture that will be tossed overboard in the need to downsize.

On a fun note, the newest Danish Liahona has a picture of me with the Hansens and other members of our little branch in December when we passed out the invitations for our choir concert!  Most likely you will never see it, because you probably don't even subscribe to the Liahona, much less the Danish Liahona.  

I haven't seen it yet, but for these beautiful Spring days, it will be a reminder of the cold of December just a few weeks ago.

Thanks for the Sabbath School

Today was a lovely day to travel!  Cool and crisp and partially sunny.  We set out around 9:30 to go to Roskilde, a city about a 45 minute drive from here.  We wanted to attend the ward there, where we have a large number of YSAs.  We only have the car two Sundays a month, and SK has meetings on Sundays, so our visiting may be limited to only once a month, but we want to eventually visit all the wards in the stake.

The building was a beautiful little church and the congregation was good-sized.  We got there early enough that we could visit.  What a friendly ward!  So many of the members introduced themselves to us and chatted for a minute or two.  Two sister-missionaries were there with two young people from a family of seven...who are all taking the lessons and who will probably be baptized in the summer.

Sacrament meeting began with announcements...and a welcome to Aeldste and Soster Madsen!  There are six young missionaries assigned to that ward, and two of the elders are new since transfers last week, so they were asked to talk for a couple of minutes each on preparing for a mission.  One has been here in Denmark for 8 months, and the other for 4 months.  Each walked to the pulpit and spoke from his heart...in Danish!  The one who has been out for only 4 months had to turn to the Bishop a couple of times to ask for a word in Danish, but he did very well.

The ward choir sang "If You Could Hie to Kolob" and I understood every single word...it was in English!  I watched and enjoyed the harmony and the earnest expression on their faces as their voices were raised in song.  Behind them was a large window with the curtains open, so I could see outside.  There is a forest beyond the parking lot with skeletons of trees waving gently in the March breezes.  The skies had grayed.  It was a beautiful moment when I thought "I wish I could bottle up this moment and take it out and play it again and again."

We attended the YSA sunday school class, where one of them translated for me....a lesson about Joseph who was sold into Egypt.  The teacher began by asking several interesting questions, and received some fascinating answers.  She asked us to imagine we are dead and looking back on our life. Do we have regrets?  How did we handle our trials...and are we better people because of them?  If we had the chance to go back, would we?

The Relief Society met in the chapel, and I loved hearing women's voices unite in "Love at Home."  As our voices stopped, we could hear the men singing a "All Creatures of Our God and King," and sometime later, came the sweet sound of children's voices singing "I Stand All Amazed."

Why am I so deeply moved by music? Since I have no musical ability whatsoever, it must be that there was always music in the home I grew up in.  My mother and my sister played the piano and organ movingly, and nearly everyone sang...except for me.

After church, we joined the two sisters and 2 young elders and ate a spectacular meal (normally reserved for Christmas) with the Andersen family (two of their children are YSAs) and thoroughly enjoyed sitting at the beautifully set table and visiting and eating.  When the meal was over, one of the elders asked if they could share a message with us.  He shared the much-quoted scripture in James 1:5 about lacking wisdom and asking God.  They asked what reading that scripture led to.  Answer:  The Restoration.  He then asked if James had any idea when he put that thought on paper that it would lead to such huge consequences.

He drew a parallel to us and the countless little things we each do every day, such as taking a minute to talk with someone or smile or any of a dozen things that could someday lead to significant events in the lives of individuals we come in contact with.  It was an interesting thought.

By the time we got home it was nearly dark.  Yesterday was enjoyable, but I am exhausted.  Time for bed.

Good night!

A Day in the Life...

Young Single Adults was the order of the day.  We went to the center as soon as we got up and got ourselves ready to go.  We worked on lunch ...until lunch! ...and served it at 12:30.

The reason for the get-together today was a training meeting for all of the committee members who have been called.  The chairmen of the YSA program were new when we were new here and have been working on getting committee chairs called, as well as committee members.  I think we have 8 or 9 different committees, and if all of the people called had been at the meeting today, we would have had well over 40 at lunch.  As it was, we served 30.

As an activity to help people realize how much better it is when we have many people working together rather than just one or  two doing all the work, we had a demonstration of lifting a chair with a person on with one finger.  It obviously couldn't be done.  But then with 12 people, each lifting with one finger, it was possible not only to life a young woman up in the air, but high up in the air.  I didn't see it, but I have heard from several....it really worked!  I wish I could have taken a picture of that.

We set the tables today and decorated them with an Easter theme.  I found quite a few Easter decorations in our apartment and scattered them along the centers of the tables.  We filled the glasses and put them and the knives and forks with folded napkins on the tables.  Normally we just put tablecloths on and everything else is picked up at the serving line.

I should have taken a picture, but it looked nice.  I wanted it to look especially nice because this was an Occasion.  We had excellent speakers...our stake president and one of his counselors, a member of the high council who represents the YSA program and the couple who is in charge of the YSA programs in Scandinavia.  From what I hear they all were inspiring and motivating in teaching leadership skills.

The lasagne got done on time, the bread was good, the salad looked great, and the fruit pizzas were beautiful  and were very tasty.  Whew!  Other than the usual stress for the last half hour with getting everything on the table at the proper time, it all turned out fine.

Several pitched in to help clean up and then sat around for awhile visiting.  We got home around 4 in the afternoon, and I promptly fell asleep!  After an hour it was time to get ready to go to the Olsen's home for an evening with the YSAs from our ward.  We had 5 there, which seemed perfect for visiting.  Dinner and conversation were both excellent.

We watched a DVD of highlights of "Romeo and Juliet"..a gorgeous ballet starring Christina from our branch....our fairy-tale princess who is married to the handsome prince.  The queen was in attendance at that particular performance.

The music, the dancing and  the story were all so very beautiful, and brought me to tears.  The emotion was easy to read.  Even knowing just the barest of outlines of the story would be enough for most people to understand what is going on.

I would love to experience that in person because the staging and the theater were magnificent...and I got so caught up in it just on TV, that I imagine it would be a truly incredible experience to see it all unfold right before my eyes.

 We ended the evening with ice cream topped with whipped cream (no one sweetens whipped cream around here or bothers adding vanilla, because it is already very sweet and soooooooooooo good) and sitting around the dining room table visiting.  Funny how missions are always an interesting topic.  One young man served in Greece, which he loved, another in England, which he loved, and a young woman served in Temple Square -Salt Lake City, which she adored.

In listening to them and many others, I just have to conclude that a mission is one of the nicest things one can do for oneself....ever....and not just for 18 and 19 year olds.

Just This and That

The Mary Poppins umbrella was in good form today.  To say it was wet is a terrible understatement.  We walked to a few grocery stores with our winter coats on.  It is still chilly...in the 40s and 50s, but not that biting cold of a few weeks ago.  The rain was a steady downpour, pelting the umbrella and soaking our feet and the parts of our clothes that were not covered.  Since there was no wind, the Mary Poppins did a magnificent job.  I have become very good about raising it up very high when we pass other pedestrians on the narrow sidewalks, so as to not poke out any eyes.

We were shopping for the meal we are preparing for tomorrow at the center.  It is a training meeting for all committee members and since we have almost all committees up and running, that should amount to about 30 people.  We don't always get the grocery store flyers in the mail, so the comparison shopping we do is usually on foot....or feet.  It was not only the price we were looking at today, but the quality of the fruit as well.

Two members of the stake presidency will be there tomorrow doing some of the training, as well as the couple who are in charge of the Scandinavian YSAs.  They will drive down from Sweden in the morning (a 3 to 4 hour drive), teach their portion of the training and then return home.  Their name is Mattson.  So with all the special guests, we want it to be a "proper meal," as Louise, our YSA chairman stated.

Our menu is lasagne, green salad, garlic bread and fruit pizza.  We ended up with a lot of stuff to carry, and called the Hansens at the office to see if they could get along without the car today.  So after most of the serious shopping was done and the groceries deposited in our apartment, we took the bus to the mission office to get the car (and go into a grocery store near the office to check out their fruit).  A ride back to the apartment, and then a trip to the center (which is over by the office) with all the earlier purchases took several hours when all was said and done.

It is a good thing we didn't go to our Danish class today.

SK set up tables and chairs while I assembled 3 very large pans of lasagne, and made 3 large sugar cookie bases for the fruit pizza.  While we were at the center, Elijah came in we all sat down and ate dinner together, and then he and SK played pool.  (SK is never one to pass up an opportunity like that!)

I am getting braver with my Danish.  I sat down to an older lady on the bus on Monday, and said in Danish, "I am trying to learn Danish....will you help me?"  She didn't know any English, so it worked out fine.  I chatted away....and she nodded and smiled.  When she got off the bus, she told me to "Have it good.".....and I couldn't remember the proper response!  So I just said..."You too."  and flinched.  Oh well.

Last night at the center I had a discussion with two of the YSAs and we got on the subject of American tourists....that made me flinch a little too.  They were open about it....and I never felt like they were complaining the way Arizonans complain about winter visitors.  They told me that as a rule, Americans are loud.  SK and I have observed that this is true.  We have walked along some of the tourist areas and noticed how Americans go along talking (loudly) about everything and everyone. They are loud as they speak in English about the Danes....as if no one can understand them.  When in truth, nearly everyone understands every word.  Then, out of the blue, they will turn to a Dane and ask something in English, fully expecting an answer in English.

Other than loud obnoxious tourists, I think they like America and Americans.   It is nice to be proud of your country and your countrymen, and I have met some wonderful Americans here, but I have also seen some that I would rather not claim!

Here is a random little observation:  When it rains, there are more people who ride the bus.  I was sitting in a window seat and the aisles and seats were all full.  An elderly couple got on and began threading their way toward the back.  Both looked frail and had white white hair.  The bus suddenly lurched forward and then stopped, which threw the woman off balance and she started to fall backward with a look of horror on her face.  Quick as a flash, the old man held one arm out and caught her perfectly....with never a change of expression on his face.  I had the impression that he has been doing that all their lives.  It was surprising that he was so quick and solid and strong, and it was charming.

Doesn't it make you want to ride the bus?  It is always enjoyable.

Below is a picture of the Denmark Senior Missionaries group from Wednesday.  We are missing a few....and we are missing the couples who are in Iceland, but here we are at the center.  Our mission president is on the back row on the far right, and his wife is right in front of him on the end.  It is a great blessing to spend time with all of them.

 

Spring Equinox

Did you know that today is Spring Equinox?  It is supposed to be the day that most closely matches its counterpart on September 21 (or so) as far as number of daylight hours.  Some people look at it as the first day of Spring.

March 20 and clearly we are on our way to Spring.  This was a beautiful day for our senior couples from outside of Copenhagen to do some sightseeing before making their way to their respective homes.  The sunshine has magically brightened everything it has touched.

It was business as usual for a Thursday.  Our day - no matter what else is planned - works to a crescendo with "The Meal" and then slowly winds down to murmured conversations....it is nearly midnight and the voices that have been raised in shouts of approval and disappointment throughout the deafening games have lowered.  They have played the last CRUD game, the last pingpong game of the evening and are now quietly cleaning up.  There is sweeping to be done and dishes that were left out.  The vacuum is purring away with someone at the helm, and chairs and tables are being set right.  There is still much energy out there, but I believe we may get home tonight before 1, and that is just fine with me.

We served tacos!  I fixed nothing else because we had several good-sized salads left over from yesterday's lunch with the seniors and the people responsible for the food asked if the YSAs could use it, and I said yes!  The reason for tacos is that we found "taco kits" at the Costco wannabe - Metro, for 6 krone (about a dollar and twenty cents). Normally the kit costs 7 dollars.  It had 12 taco shells, a packet of taco seasoning (which wasn't too bad), and a small bottle of salsa.  When we found that smoking good deal, we bought 10 kits!!!!

We bought extra bottles of salsa, but they don't seem to go for  that.  For toppings, I put the usual suspects (tomatoes, cheese, meat, salsa, lettuce) - minus the guacamole - too expensive this week, and also put out chopped red, green and yellow bell peppers AND cucumbers.  Everything was gone by evening's end except the green onions and salsa!  I keep forgetting that green onions aren't that popular.  The peppers and cucumbers are not exactly an Arizonan-Mexican food condiment, but they eat them with everything here.

Once again, I had some time with a couple of special young adults.  One, who is a lovely young woman, will be leaving this week to work as an au pair in Paris.  I will miss her bright smile and cheer.  The other is a young man who served a mission in Greece a few years ago.  They talked about her possible upcoming mission and his past mission and missions in general.  Both expressed faith from different perspectives, but it was FAITH.  I love the way they expressed themselves and mostly just listened, chiming in from time to time.

They are charming in their courteous use of English when they converse with each other in my presence and I always feel a warmth at their kindness in including me.  They were asking me about our applications for missions and if we were happy with our call.  I told them with every ounce of sincerity I could muster that this was the best of all possible missions and we have felt profoundly blessed to be here.

It is similar to what King Benjamin tells us in the Book of Mormon.  The Lord blesses us and we try to thank Him by serving Him...but we find ouselves still much in debt, because the more we try to return payment for blessings recieved, the more we are blessed.

By the way....do you know why Easter seems to be all over the March/April calendar?...why it is not just always on the second Sunday of the month or some stable date like that?

It is because it is always on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the Spring equinox. There you have it!

Senior Conference

Our senior conference started out with breakfast at the Hansens....and it was a feast of a breakfast!  We can't keep this up or we'll all be buying new wardrobes.  There were 10 of us at the table, and it is a joy to be with this group of people.

We came to the center right after breakfast, not knowing beforehand what was on the docket.  We were all standing around waiting to go into the classroom where our conference would officially convene, when a tall handsome man appeared through the door.  As Elder Hansen pointed out, it was amazing to see the reaction of all of the sisters as they lined up with cameras to get a picture with Thomas Kofod.  Of course I was one of the fans.

Brother Kofod with Sister Middlemas and me!

We all finally settled down and our conference began with an opening hymn and a prayer. Immediately Elder Hansen turned the time over to Brother Kofod.  He is articulate in Danish or English and happily for me and most of the female seniors, he spoke in English.  He spoke without notes.  It is impossible to describe his bearing and mien and expression....but I will try.

He speaks humbly, quietly, gently, almost deferentially, yet he speaks with clarity and conviction.  He has beautiful blue eyes that mist up occasionally as he speaks of things close to his heart.  He has been a member for 20 years, and as you may know played the part of Jesus Christ in the legacy films.  Elder Hansen requested that he tell us a little bit about that and he did, but only a little bit and I would love to hear more.

I believe he has been an actor all his adult life.  When Keith Merrill began the Legacy films for the Church, he was asked to use an actor who was an active member of the Church and strong in the faith, and so a search began.  Brother Kofod knew nothing about it, because he and his wife did not have a computer (he said they could not afford one) nor did they have access to email.  

On precisely the same day that they got a computer and set up an email account, they received their first email from a good friend in the states who had heard about the search for an actor and thought he was the man.  So they replied that he was interested.  It sounds like it was an incredible experience for him.

He told us a little bit about the journey he has come on...he is the only member of his extended family.  Neither of his parents, nor any of his three sisters are members....and he sometimes wonders why he is so fortunate because he feels that they are all better individuals that he is.

What a sweet story he told!  His father was always supportive of him but never interested in the church.  One day Brother Kofod asked his father why he wasn't interested, and he said "Because I am afraid."

His father passed away 2 1/2 years ago, and he got to him soon after he died.  His father was at work and simply leaned against a door and slid to the floor, and died immediately.  He had a little time alone with him ...he knelt on the floor beside him, kissed him and promised him that he would be visited by missionaries who would teach him at whatever speed he was ready for, and they would not push anything on to him.  And then he added, "And you won't be afraid."

Then Brother Kofod added, "And if it is at all possible, could you just let me know?"

Some time later Brother Kofod was sitting in stake conference listening to the speaker, and in his mind he saw his father standing above the floor, in white.  He reached out his hand to his son and said, "I am ready."  Brother Kofod was astonished and emotional, and then the same thing happened again.

He bore a beautiful testimony about the help we receive from the other side of the veil.

This is lengthy, but I must share with you another story he told.  A few years ago, he was one week away from a performance he was in....he was tired, his time was stretched tight and he was sick.  One night his little son was sick and he got up with him to comfort him.  As he was trying to soothe the child, he thought to himself rather petulantly, "I'm tired and I need rest....just please go to sleep!"

At that moment he suddenly felt surrounded by the most beautiful feeling of love, and he looked at his little boy and wondered if Heavenly Father could possibly love him (Brother Kofod) as much as Brother Kofod loved his little boy. And at that moment it was as if our Father whispered to him that He loves him more than he is capable of imagining.....as He loves all of His children.

It was a marvelous talk, followed by beautiful testimonies from several senior missionaries who will be leaving for home within the next two months, as well as some of the others who will be staying.  Our dear mission president and his wife both addressed us, and then we had a delightful lunch and visiting o'plenty.

If you thought about it a couple of seconds, you might guess what happened after lunch....SK organized a CRUD game!  I think everyone enjoyed themselves at it.  It was nowhere near as noisy as when the young people play....and it proved to be a much more "gentle-manly" game.

Sister Swena just got an amazing shot and you can see the varied reactions from (l to r) Elder Middlemas, Elder Koestor, Sister Middlemas, Elder Garriot

 It was a grand day.  Several of the out of town missionaries went to a temple session in the evening....I baked cakes for tomorrow!  We said goodbye.  We may not ever see some of those dear people again in this life.  But it was so wonderful to have time together to share some of our concerns, our worries, our joys and our faith in our very different missionary callings.

What a blessing it is to serve with so many outstanding individuals!

Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

SK went our separate ways this morning to get different errands done, and we met up in class.  I stayed until the break and then returned to our apartment.  I got home just before our friends arrived.  They traveled the better part of the day and got here around 2:30.

The Middlemases, Johansens, Hicks and Gerriots all came for the senior conference which will be held tomorrow.  They were excited to be in Copenhagen for a couple of days and perhaps see some of the many fascinating and famous places here.  They had decided to take a scenic boat tour.

They came in for a little while and relaxed for 20 or 30 minutes and then coated up, pulled out all of the umbrellas (even the Mary Poppins umbrella was pressed into service) and set out for the bus stop.

Somewhat disheartened, they returned soon after.  The black skies had opened up and they felt that today really was not the best time for a boat ride.  There are many wonderful places to see not far from here, but there was quite a brisk wind today --making it very cold, and the rain was just one more setback.  I think they were disappointed.  I hope there will be time for them to do a little sight-seeing tomorrow.

But it all turned out well!  We sat in the warm apartment and visited..  We knew two of the couples, Elder and Sister Middlemas and Elder and Sister Hicks, and we met Elder and Sister Johansen and Elder and Sister Gerriot for the first time.  It was so pleasant just to have that time together.

At one point in the afternoon, I needed to go to the store...a short walk from the apartment.  I needed to buy fruit for the morning.  All of the men were ready for a walk and so we all went!  SK wasn't there, but it was the first time I have gone to a grocery store here and haven't had to carry any bags home.  I got apples, oranges bananas, strawberries....you get the idea. It would have been really heavy to carry home.  What a luxury!

At 6:30, SK went to a meeting at the center....the main planning meeting of the month, which is usually attended by a member of the Sake Presidency and the Mission President.  There is news about a new center, but it is not a done deal as yet, so we continue to wait for information.

The rest of us walked across the street to a little Turkish restaurant.  Inside it was cozy and warm with tablecloths and long-stemmed glasses glimmering in the candlelight.  There were 12 of us there and they quickly arranged tables to seat us all together.  For nearly 3 hours we sat together enjoying fantastic food and delightful company.  These are great people with strong faith and motivation to serve, and it is always always such a joy to be with them.

A great time was had by all.   

This piece of salmon was very large, and sooo good.

This little restaurant knows how to do things up right.  Dessert was baklava with whipped cream, ice cream and hot fudge.  YUM!

The conversations were so interesting.  With all the former Danish missionaries there, it was impossible NOT to talk about their missions way back when.  I never tire of hearing about how it was then and how they all adjusted and came to love this little country.  More than ever I am in awe of the young people they were...who set out to serve the Lord without a single Danish lesson.  Several described the feeling of being brand new here, and being sent - all alone - to their new assignment somewhere in Denmark.  Or being sent with a fist full of coins to a store to make a purchase.

I marvel at how they came to speak the language so well....and probably a lot faster than I am learning it now.  I think it is amazing that they gave 2 1/2 years of their lives, `came to cherish the Danish people and the country, learned leadership in wards and developed patience with members and investigators, learned the Gospel, and learned how to get along with all kinds of companions....all the while trying to learn a new language without the use of the MTC, Danish courses, the Rosetta Stone or any other number of language education helps.

But it is especially fun now to hear them count the blessings of being back.

A while back, I wished that I could help parents back home (wherever that is) realize what great young missionaries their kids are.  I wish tonight that I could help families back home see what wonderful missionaries their parents are.

More Rainy Days and Mondays

What's not to love about rainy days OR Mondays?

Lia mentioned that I say a lot about our Danish class, but I don't say how my Danish is doing.  Interestingly enough, one assignment in class today was to interview a classmate, and ask how they are feeling about their Danish.  I said that I am getting better at reading and writing the language, but I still get frustrated listening and understanding.  Copenhagen Danes notoriously speak fast, and often leave me behind in the dust.

Tonight at the center we had a meeting before family home evening began.  The young man who conducted spent two years on a mission in South Chicago (in case you are wondering, he said there were things he never mentioned to his mother!), and his English is great....but I was amazed to realize that I understood the better part of what he said in Danish.  Even the parts I didn't understand were decipherable to me because I could pick up on words that gave me  a sense of the meaning of the message.  That realization was heady!!!!

Doris is cute and says often, "By Christmas, we will be speaking Danish!"  I hope that is true.

A young 23-year-old woman from India is here for possibly another 3 months before returning home with her husband.  She is always well-prepared for class, she asks very bright questions and she is quick with correct answers.  She doesn't hesitate to challenge the teacher (in a very kind way), and she will press her point if the teacher doesn't understand what she is trying to say.  SK and I marvel that she is so diligent about learning a language that is only spoken in this little country, and which she will probably never have a need for once she is in India again.  We love her beautiful Indian accent in English.

The 37-year-old Latvian man is a dedicated husband and father of two children.  He brought his little family here because his wife is studying at the university in Copenhagen.  She will be here 2 years doing that.  His children are learning Danish in school, and he would like to get a better job so he is working very hard to learn.  It seems that every week we see his progression.  He is speaking and understanding more and more.

We asked him about his family today.  He told us that his little 6-year-old son corrects the dad's Danish!  He is proud of the little boy and his 9-year-old daughter.  He is proud that they are all learning a new language, but he stated emphatically that in their home they will speak their mother tongue.  He does not want them to lose that language.  I was inspired by his devotion to them and to his country.

Melba was back today, still looking woebegone.  I didn't get a chance to visit with her today, but I hope things are improving for her.

SK and I stopped at a grocery store on the way to the center (after class) and each got a $2 hotdog.  It is just the weiner in a tunnel-shaped bun (it doesn't open like the hot dog buns in the states...the weiner slides down into the tube)  with a mysterious and delicious sauce, oddly enough, called "hot dog sauce."  Isn't it amazing how something so simple can be so fun?

Family Home Evening tonight was exciting and fun.  After the sister missionaries gave a sweet little spiritual presentation, a returned missionary from Russia organized a rousing game of zoo....whatever that is.  It involved clapping in unison, calling out the name of an animal while making the sign for it, and then exchanging places if you do it incorrectly.....or something like that.  We laughed just watching, and it appeared that everyone had a grand time.  That was followed by 3 noisy games of CRUD.

Now it is time for bed..slipping off to sleep with the gentle patter of rain on the windows.  Good night.

Normal (What is That Anyway?) Sunday

For those unsuspecting foreigners who packed away their winter coats last week, this morning was a rude awakening.  The sky was obliterated by dramatic black clouds, rain came down in sheets, the lake was opaque pencil-lead gray, and even the ducks sought shelter.

The Mary Poppins umbrella, SK and I set out for the bus.  That umbrella did just great, and we have learned how to keep it from inverting in the fierce winds.  When it is windy, the umbrella protects your head and shoulders, but not much else, and my skirt was wet when we arrived at church.

There are several members at church now who kindly speak Danish to me....although we are somewhat limited in our topics.  I am grateful for the practice.  We have a new young elder in our branch, and he seems like a good solid young missionary.  I am not sure if these young people realize how they raise the morale in a ward or branch.  Their youth and enthusiasm are so important.

Ironically, this morning was the time for our apartment building's water heater to die....I mean it is really sincerely dead.  The water was COLD, and washing my hair and showering were an adventure.  But it is a good thing I showered, because the water will be off the entire day tomorrow.  It is a bit of a worry since we will have two other senior couples staying with us Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

Wednesday we will be having a senior missionary conference here in Copenhagen, at the center.  We will have speakers, lunch and a good time.  This is great for me because I can press the other senior sisters for recipes!! If anyone can offer compassion and help...it is they.

We will be having a meal on Saturday this week, as well as Thursday.  We think we will have about 35 people at the Saturday meal.  We will have Friday to shop and prepare for that one.  It will be a training meeting that will last for the better part of the day.  Can you identify with me when I say that deciding what to have is half the battle?  Of course making the meal, and making it big enough for that many people is an ongoing challenge for a woman whose best resource used to be Costco.

The week after will also be a 2/meal week, again one on Thursday and one on Saturday.  That is four meals I must plan sometime soon.  I am thinking tacos and lasagne....that leaves two more.  Potato soup is always good, especially if it still cold and rainy.

We watched a CES broadcast in the evening at the center.  It was originally broadcast a week or two ago, but in order to watch it live, we would all have to be at the center at 3 in the morning, and I don't think anyone wants to do that.

It was an excellent talk by the general Relief Society President, Linda K. Burton.  I understood completely when she pointed out that learning to hear and recognize the voice of the Spirit is a little like learning a new language.  I get it!  

She mentioned the power that comes with fasting, and also admonished us to write down the impressions we receive. I know from a long life of experience that if I don't write down the events of the day as well as my impressions, I will lose them or confuse them with other occasions.  I have not been a faithful or consistent journal-keeper, but I have been very grateful to have the things I have recorded.

We had 12 YSAs at the broadcast, one of them is visiting from the States.  He had a couple of weeks vacation and decided to see Scandinavia.  His visit is winding down and he has seen some wonderful places.  He ended up attending the Sunday meetings last week in a very small northern Norwegian community....a small branch with about 10 in attendance.  As it happened, this little branch had just had a baptism the night before and spoke English all through the meeting for their new member....which was wonderful for the young man from America.

He entertained everyone for a good hour with stories of his mission in Kiribati.  His experiences were similar to Elder Groberg's missionary experiences in the book and movie, "The Other Side of Heaven."  He and his companion were often the only missionaries on their small islands, and had to learn quickly how to administer all of the church's programs.

Every mission is unique and amazing in some aspect(s).  Most of us enjoy hearing about the varied experiences from people who serve...and I find them very interesting whether they are assigned to Provo, Utah or Kiribati!

It is kind of fun to think that now I too will have stories!  I have met so many wonderful people, each with life experiences to tell.  But they aren't just stories....they are real and they are dear to me.

Wear green tomorrow!

Ferdinand the Bull and Other Kindred Spirits

The wind has been furious all day....it started sometime in the night and blew so hard by morning that there were few people on the path around the lake.  By afternoon more people were out and about....even us!  Actually, we took a walk this morning and later in the afternoon a longer one.

The sun shone all day, and I can't even describe the crispness of the contrast of lights and shadows here.  It makes me happy just to look around at how the light bounces off the bricks and stones of the old buildings.  It might have been a pleasant day as far as temperature goes, but with the wind blustering away, it felt chilly.

The lake was dotted white with ducks bobbing on the choppy surface....all facing into the wind.  At first I thought they were posing for a picture. I thought just to please them I ought to snap one...but SK thinks I have taken enough pictures of the lake!!!

This was a heaven-sent day.  I got laundry and cleaning done, and just sat in the light of the loft to study the Sunday school lesson for tomorrow...what a joy.  (Don't tell a soul, but I also ate chocolate as I studied .... it just doesn't get any better than that!)

SK and I have done some planning for next week ...which will be full, and have had a couple of good gospel discussions.  That was especially nice.

I have spoken to many who have really really difficult and stressful missions, and while I would not count this mission as either (for the most part)....I get worn down.  And days like today are what rejuvenate me.

You too Can Speak Danish

It is Friday already!  Both feeling much sleep-deprived, we dragged ourselves out of bed, opened the blinds to more heavenly sunlight and worked on our Danish.  We had to give two small presentations today....and as you might have guessed, SK goes over and beyond the simple assignment.  For those who have ears to hear, his little orations are quite funny.

At one point, the teacher explained how to pronounce the letter ø and there we all sat, repeating back to her the sound she had made.  We did it in unison and in the same tone.  It reminded me of a nest full of little birds opening their mouths for food.  She described it this way.  Make a circle with your mouth, put your tongue against the back of your teeth and say oooooo, as in boot.  Y...make a little circle with your mouth and try to say eeeeeeeeeeee.  And it comes out sounding a little bit like the beginning sound you make when you say "Eeooo....a scorpion!"  Now, everybody together.  

The walk back to the apartment was ever so pleasant.  It was nippy cold, but with the sun shining it was lovely.  Our teacher assigned us to write a little bit about our living quarters and way of life in our homelands.  Anyone who lives in Copenhagen simply could not comprehend how we live in Gilbert, Arizona.  

The idea of getting in the car to go get a carton of milk would not register, or getting in the car to go to church or school or the library or the mall or any other place that everyone goes.  A pleasant walk or a bus or train ride is the primary mode of transportation....and will get you just about anywhere you want to go, with less hassle than driving around the city trying to find a parking place.

We were met at the door by our little volunteer plant ...which has blossomed into a beautiful little flower.  Inside, we came home to this lovely little vase of tulips (one of the young women brought to me last night at the center).  I was so happy to receive flowers!  That led to a couple of cute discussions about how much the Danes love flowers....hence the pretty little flower shops on every block and in every grocery store.  Even the starving student types dearly love to have fresh flowers.

Teresa, the young woman who gave them to me is a dear.  I have had many good talks with her.  She just quit her job and got another one.  She had been working long hours with heavy workloads. The opportunity to work for another company with better conditions came up and she took it.  I have been happy for her,  She is a baker....and has received training for her specialty which is cakes.  I always worry a little about what I fix, because I am soooooooooo far from being a good cook, but she is encouraging and positive.  I love these kids!

Elijah, one of our YSAs came and visited us this evening.  It was lovely....He serves with the full-time missionaries often, when they need a member to go with them.  He is a sweet young man and it was fun to get to know him a little better.

One of our first selfies

The day ended with rain....but I love the rain, so this is a good thing. ...otherwise known as "noget dejligt".....pronounced known die-leet