I think SK and I are all ready for 50 at dinner tomorrow night. We spent the better part of our day shopping and preparing. We are fine-tuning our shopping routine by starting out at the stores which have parking lots. Those are the places where we get the bulky items. We finish up our shopping by walking to the local stores and purchasing smaller items like seasonings.
We went into the mission office today to visit with the mission president. He visited with each of us to renew our temple recommends and then he visited with us together to just touch bases with us on how we are doing with our mission.
He is a very kind and perceptive and spiritual man and I have always loved watching as he instructs the younger missionaries. He and his wife are an amazing couple and somehow manage to keep track of all the missionaries who are serving here and in Iceland. He has so many responsibilities that must pull him in so many different directions that I marvel at his calm demeanor.
They have two children still at home....at least for another few months. His son just turned 18 and has received a mission call to South Korea, and his daughter is 14 and is a wonderful help to her parents. Their other four children are married and living in the States.
He gave us some very good counsel about the meals we fix....and the missionary work we do. I can see that I need to make some changes, and will try to begin some of those soon.
After that sweet interview, SK and I went to the center where I began the cookie bases for four large fruit pizzas (dessert tomorrow night), and the sauce for lasagne. While I was doing that, SK went on a couple of wild goose chases......we are very good at that....but they netted positive results. He got back to the center in time to help me put together the lasagne.....3 9X13 pans and one 18" squared. By all my figuring, that should serve 50 if necessary. If we have only 20 there, then we have a different kind of problem!
So the main course and the dessert are mostly ready. By the time we got the dishes done and everything cleaned up, we had spent nearly 6 hours there.
I would never have guessed that days like today.....mundane and plodding would be missionary days. I have discovered there are plenty of days like that. But I have also discovered that every day holds sweet blessings...evidence of the Lord's love for each one of His children.
And there still hasn't been a day go by that I don't feel a sense of wonder and gratitude to be in Denmark.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Building Towards Thursday
I didn't wear a jacket to Danish class today and was still a little too warm from our walk!!! This doesn't bode well for June and July. When we filled out our mission papers there were several questions about what we are comfortable with/doing. One question asked (on a scale of 1 - 10) "How comfortable are you with high temperatures?" I think I put a 3. Coming from Gilbert Arizona, that may not have been too credible.....but it was true.
I have loved the cold temperatures and even the snow. And as close as we are to the sea, you would expect it to be more humid than Gilbert..... very few places bother with air conditioning. You just open the windows! Most apartments are built so that opening a few windows creates a good air flow, and except for the few very hot days, most of the time it is lovely (people tell me).
Here is another interesting feature of this place. We don't have screens.....very few people have screens. You open your windows, and as far as I can tell....nothing comes in but cool air.
One axiom here is "There is no bad weather, only improper clothing." If you layer up, you are good for any kind of weather condition.
The Hansens left early early this morning. The Thornes (their replacements) moved into their apartment and are settling in. They have been here a month, which is a long time to feel like you have no place to call your own. I am certain that as much as they will miss the Hansens, they are happy to relax in their own apartment.
I have my recipe books spread out all over the dining room table, and a shopping list started. We will start first thing in the morning to shop around the best stores to find good prices. Sometimes I have switched menus midstream because chicken was a better buy than ground beef.
SK is working on his lesson for Thursday on chapters from the Book of Ether. He always brings a great deal of wisdom and insight to what he teaches. I know he loves doing that, but I certainly miss his help in the kitchen!
He does all he can to help me up until the time everyone convenes in the main classroom, and then the center quiets down. I can hear them singing the opening hymn as I work in the kitchen. Then it gets very quiet and I know they are praying. There is usually laughter during the time the announcements are given, and then a bit of hustle and bustle while the class separates and SK takes the ones wanting the lesson in English to another room. After that, I am alone with my thoughts as I try for the next hour and a half to get everything ready for when they all come noisily down the hall heading for the serving table.
But that is all two days away.....for now it is time to sleep.
I have loved the cold temperatures and even the snow. And as close as we are to the sea, you would expect it to be more humid than Gilbert..... very few places bother with air conditioning. You just open the windows! Most apartments are built so that opening a few windows creates a good air flow, and except for the few very hot days, most of the time it is lovely (people tell me).
Here is another interesting feature of this place. We don't have screens.....very few people have screens. You open your windows, and as far as I can tell....nothing comes in but cool air.
One axiom here is "There is no bad weather, only improper clothing." If you layer up, you are good for any kind of weather condition.
The Hansens left early early this morning. The Thornes (their replacements) moved into their apartment and are settling in. They have been here a month, which is a long time to feel like you have no place to call your own. I am certain that as much as they will miss the Hansens, they are happy to relax in their own apartment.
I have my recipe books spread out all over the dining room table, and a shopping list started. We will start first thing in the morning to shop around the best stores to find good prices. Sometimes I have switched menus midstream because chicken was a better buy than ground beef.
SK is working on his lesson for Thursday on chapters from the Book of Ether. He always brings a great deal of wisdom and insight to what he teaches. I know he loves doing that, but I certainly miss his help in the kitchen!
He does all he can to help me up until the time everyone convenes in the main classroom, and then the center quiets down. I can hear them singing the opening hymn as I work in the kitchen. Then it gets very quiet and I know they are praying. There is usually laughter during the time the announcements are given, and then a bit of hustle and bustle while the class separates and SK takes the ones wanting the lesson in English to another room. After that, I am alone with my thoughts as I try for the next hour and a half to get everything ready for when they all come noisily down the hall heading for the serving table.
But that is all two days away.....for now it is time to sleep.
Monday, April 28, 2014
Simplicity in a Time of Flux
April is coming to a close, and changes are in the wind.....but uncertainty is the prevailing emotion.
We have been abundantly blessed to be meeting in our center here in Frederiksberg. It is about four blocks from the Frederiksberg church, about 6 blocks from the temple and about 5 blocks from the mission office. It is the top floor of an old cigar factory, and as you have seen from pictures it is spacious.
It has 3 classrooms, 2 offices, a large kitchen where 15 can easily sit down to eat. It also has the very large gathering place where there is a large screen TV, several good-sized old couches, a foozball game, a pingpong table, and pool table (where CRUD carries on) and a large men's restroom and large women's restroom, plus a janitor's closet and a very large storeroom.
There are offices on the floors below and on the first level is an all-night video-game center. When you walk by, you see mostly young men hooked up to monitors where they stare intently at the screens for hours on end. There are often groups of young men in front of or back behind in the parking lot who are out for a smoking break.
There is a major train stop 6 to 8 blocks in either direction from the front door, and a bus stop a block and a half either way. There is a lovely old hospital a little ways away and some beautiful and stately neighborhoods just a few minutes' walk from the center.
Denmark's YSA center was the first in the world!
A new site has been found which is actually closer to our apartment, but there is NO parking anywhere near it. There are convenient train and bus stops in close proximity, but it will be a little bit longer walk to the center from those places. It is also close to Tivoli, the Walking Street and other tourist attractions.
We hope all the powers that be will approve it, but there is a question if we will be allowed to have a free-standing center at all. In order to warrant having one, attendance must be 50 a week at Institute. We have 85 who attend, but never all at the same time. It is nearly always in the 20's or 30's. It is possible that we may be asked to meet in a church, and if that happens it may be churches .....dividing up the YSAs in groups according to where they live.
And if that happens, it is possible that we could be reassigned. It is only a possibility right now and I hope that doesn't occur. Another possibility that has been whispered about is that we might have to move from this beautiful apartment.....
In the meantime, our YSA leaders are putting out a call for all to come to Thursday evening Institute. They have set a goal of at least 50 in attendance every week in May. I think and I hope it can be done. But it is probably too late to have an impact on what becomes of the program at the center.
It is wonderful to rally the troops, and any rallying that can be done will have a very positive influence on all of us. It will add to the excitement and enthusiasm.....so I am happy we are doing that. On the other hand, I am already tired thinking of trying to make a meal for 50 each week....by myself. And also wondering what we will do with all of the leftovers if only 20 show up.
May will be a month of simple dinners! (My feeling is that if there is a chocolate dessert or something that at least looks fancy, we can keep the main dish simple.)
By the end of the month, I "may" even have some wisdom to share....
We have been abundantly blessed to be meeting in our center here in Frederiksberg. It is about four blocks from the Frederiksberg church, about 6 blocks from the temple and about 5 blocks from the mission office. It is the top floor of an old cigar factory, and as you have seen from pictures it is spacious.
It has 3 classrooms, 2 offices, a large kitchen where 15 can easily sit down to eat. It also has the very large gathering place where there is a large screen TV, several good-sized old couches, a foozball game, a pingpong table, and pool table (where CRUD carries on) and a large men's restroom and large women's restroom, plus a janitor's closet and a very large storeroom.
There are offices on the floors below and on the first level is an all-night video-game center. When you walk by, you see mostly young men hooked up to monitors where they stare intently at the screens for hours on end. There are often groups of young men in front of or back behind in the parking lot who are out for a smoking break.
There is a major train stop 6 to 8 blocks in either direction from the front door, and a bus stop a block and a half either way. There is a lovely old hospital a little ways away and some beautiful and stately neighborhoods just a few minutes' walk from the center.
Denmark's YSA center was the first in the world!
A new site has been found which is actually closer to our apartment, but there is NO parking anywhere near it. There are convenient train and bus stops in close proximity, but it will be a little bit longer walk to the center from those places. It is also close to Tivoli, the Walking Street and other tourist attractions.
We hope all the powers that be will approve it, but there is a question if we will be allowed to have a free-standing center at all. In order to warrant having one, attendance must be 50 a week at Institute. We have 85 who attend, but never all at the same time. It is nearly always in the 20's or 30's. It is possible that we may be asked to meet in a church, and if that happens it may be churches .....dividing up the YSAs in groups according to where they live.
And if that happens, it is possible that we could be reassigned. It is only a possibility right now and I hope that doesn't occur. Another possibility that has been whispered about is that we might have to move from this beautiful apartment.....
In the meantime, our YSA leaders are putting out a call for all to come to Thursday evening Institute. They have set a goal of at least 50 in attendance every week in May. I think and I hope it can be done. But it is probably too late to have an impact on what becomes of the program at the center.
It is wonderful to rally the troops, and any rallying that can be done will have a very positive influence on all of us. It will add to the excitement and enthusiasm.....so I am happy we are doing that. On the other hand, I am already tired thinking of trying to make a meal for 50 each week....by myself. And also wondering what we will do with all of the leftovers if only 20 show up.
May will be a month of simple dinners! (My feeling is that if there is a chocolate dessert or something that at least looks fancy, we can keep the main dish simple.)
By the end of the month, I "may" even have some wisdom to share....
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Missionaries R Us
This day couldn't have been more beautiful! We have been feasting, both spiritually and physically all day.
The mission rented a large van to get all the seniors around this weekend. We were grateful to have it. But even though it holds 8, we had to use the little car as well.
Our stake conference started at 11 a.m. but for those in the know (which should have been everyone) it started at 10:30 with an outstanding choir singing several numbers, a soloist, a piano soloist and a father/daughter duet. By the time the stake president stood up to open the meeting, we had already been much inspired.
Our stake president spoke first. His talk was the first of many which lifted my soul. He jumped right in with some thought about the importance of grace in our lives...the importance of works....the importance of balancing both....not running faster than we have strength. How? Seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. It sounds so simple yet it is profound.
Two of our YSAs spoke....they were both so articulate and wonderful! One was the returned missionary sister from Temple Square who talked about missionary work and read a passage from "Preach My Gospel" which points out that there are people all around us who are searching for meaning. They feel an emptiness....that can be filled by the gospel of Jesus Christ. She also told us that the happiest day in her life was the day her family were sealed together in the Copenhagen temple... she was 16.
The other was a young man who has recently received a mission call to South Africa. He told about the process of coming back into activity, feeling a growing desire to serve a mission and then submitting papers. He told about the many ways the Lord has confirmed to him that he is on the right path. His was a sweet testimony.
Elder Dyches, a counselor in our area Seventy admonished us to read scriptures every day. He quoted for us “For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart? -- Mosiah 5:13”
He went on to say that life is uncertain and that we do not know how long we have to live, and that we must come to know the Savior. The best way is to read about him daily.
Those are the highlights of so many inspiring thoughts...and then the choir with Thomas Kofod as soloist sang "This is the Christ." Beautiful!
Afterwards, we all milled about outside in the most beautiful weather we have experienced yet in Denmark. The sunlight is clean and clear and crisp.
From stake conference we immediately went to an open house on the island of Amager where our little branch is located, as is also our fairy-tale prince and princess who hosted. It was in honor of the Hansens. The prince who can do anything and everything was grilling on the patio and the serving counter was filled with good things to eat. After a lovely meal, we watched the fairy-tale princess (who can also do anything) decorate a giant cake with chocolate, writing "Hansen" on it. There was a beautiful little tribute paid to them.
We made our way home and sat down for about a half hour and visited, and then set out for the 40-minute drive to President Sederholm's house. They hosted the 3 departing missionary couples, the two single sisters and the remaining four senior couples for dinner.
(I know what you are thinking: This is a mission? --where do I sign up?")
Sister Sederholm made a lovely meal....we spent about an hour and a half talking and eating. You'll be surprised to know that I had a 20-minute rudimentary conversation with a Danish sister who is my age. Her English is better than my Danish, but she happily went along with me...talking Danish, correcting and teaching. After that time, she called SK over and insisted I repeat to him what I had learned.
President Sederholm invited the 6 missionaries who are leaving to stand and bear their testimonies. Two of them have had similar experiences to ours. They were working with SYAs out in the smaller cities. I was truly inspired by what they had to say. One of the sisters gave a warning at the end of her testimony: "Enjoy this time because it will go by so fast." It reminded me of my mother who used to watch me with my little ones and say "Enjoy these years because it will be over before you know it.".....and she was right!
President Sederholm mentioned that the Church currently has only 40% of the seniors it needs. I don't know how many there are out, but that means they need more still to come out than are already serving! As of right now, there are no replacements for the two couples working with SYAs who are leaving.
We bid them all an emotional farewell and came home. It was an incredible day.
The mission rented a large van to get all the seniors around this weekend. We were grateful to have it. But even though it holds 8, we had to use the little car as well.
Our stake conference started at 11 a.m. but for those in the know (which should have been everyone) it started at 10:30 with an outstanding choir singing several numbers, a soloist, a piano soloist and a father/daughter duet. By the time the stake president stood up to open the meeting, we had already been much inspired.
Our stake president spoke first. His talk was the first of many which lifted my soul. He jumped right in with some thought about the importance of grace in our lives...the importance of works....the importance of balancing both....not running faster than we have strength. How? Seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. It sounds so simple yet it is profound.
Two of our YSAs spoke....they were both so articulate and wonderful! One was the returned missionary sister from Temple Square who talked about missionary work and read a passage from "Preach My Gospel" which points out that there are people all around us who are searching for meaning. They feel an emptiness....that can be filled by the gospel of Jesus Christ. She also told us that the happiest day in her life was the day her family were sealed together in the Copenhagen temple... she was 16.
The other was a young man who has recently received a mission call to South Africa. He told about the process of coming back into activity, feeling a growing desire to serve a mission and then submitting papers. He told about the many ways the Lord has confirmed to him that he is on the right path. His was a sweet testimony.
Elder Dyches, a counselor in our area Seventy admonished us to read scriptures every day. He quoted for us “For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart? -- Mosiah 5:13”
He went on to say that life is uncertain and that we do not know how long we have to live, and that we must come to know the Savior. The best way is to read about him daily.
Those are the highlights of so many inspiring thoughts...and then the choir with Thomas Kofod as soloist sang "This is the Christ." Beautiful!
Afterwards, we all milled about outside in the most beautiful weather we have experienced yet in Denmark. The sunlight is clean and clear and crisp.
.JPG) |
| Look at these cute young missionaries with Brother Kofod! |
We made our way home and sat down for about a half hour and visited, and then set out for the 40-minute drive to President Sederholm's house. They hosted the 3 departing missionary couples, the two single sisters and the remaining four senior couples for dinner.
(I know what you are thinking: This is a mission? --where do I sign up?")
Sister Sederholm made a lovely meal....we spent about an hour and a half talking and eating. You'll be surprised to know that I had a 20-minute rudimentary conversation with a Danish sister who is my age. Her English is better than my Danish, but she happily went along with me...talking Danish, correcting and teaching. After that time, she called SK over and insisted I repeat to him what I had learned.
President Sederholm invited the 6 missionaries who are leaving to stand and bear their testimonies. Two of them have had similar experiences to ours. They were working with SYAs out in the smaller cities. I was truly inspired by what they had to say. One of the sisters gave a warning at the end of her testimony: "Enjoy this time because it will go by so fast." It reminded me of my mother who used to watch me with my little ones and say "Enjoy these years because it will be over before you know it.".....and she was right!
President Sederholm mentioned that the Church currently has only 40% of the seniors it needs. I don't know how many there are out, but that means they need more still to come out than are already serving! As of right now, there are no replacements for the two couples working with SYAs who are leaving.
We bid them all an emotional farewell and came home. It was an incredible day.
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Saturday Draggin'
All my life I looked at Saturday as a vacation day....and even when the kids were little, and we had chores etc, it still seemed like a day to do something special. It is hard to get past that idea.
Today dawned with the promise of a special day, but the dawn happened long before either of us woke up! It was a late night last night of 2 in a row, and even though I slept soundly for about 6 hours, by the time I got up and ready for the day, the day was well on its way.
We went to visit one of our Young women who will be moving in August. It was a pleasant drive to her apartment. She was having a little "garage sale"....trying to sell some of the stuff she has accumulated and also trying to earn a little extra money for college in the Fall.
We arrived at her apartment, which by the way is across the street from the Soccer Stadium! It looks like a very nice one. We rang and rang, and then called and there was no answer. So we returned to the apartment and both took a nap....which helped.
In the afternoon, SK had a stake leadership training meeting (he is the first assistant to the Elder's Quorum President) about 45 minutes away, and at 5:30 I went with all of the other senior missionaries to the same building for the 7:00 meeting. We will have stake conference in the morning.
It was a wonderful wonderful meeting, and I took notes, and I was inspired, but I was sooo tired! Both SK and I were nodding. We were able to visit with several of our wonderful YSAs at the meeting. It is ALWAYS so good to see them....especially when they are where they are supposed to be. They really are good young people.
If you could meet them, you would agree....the future of the Church in Denmark is in good hands.
Today dawned with the promise of a special day, but the dawn happened long before either of us woke up! It was a late night last night of 2 in a row, and even though I slept soundly for about 6 hours, by the time I got up and ready for the day, the day was well on its way.
We went to visit one of our Young women who will be moving in August. It was a pleasant drive to her apartment. She was having a little "garage sale"....trying to sell some of the stuff she has accumulated and also trying to earn a little extra money for college in the Fall.
We arrived at her apartment, which by the way is across the street from the Soccer Stadium! It looks like a very nice one. We rang and rang, and then called and there was no answer. So we returned to the apartment and both took a nap....which helped.
In the afternoon, SK had a stake leadership training meeting (he is the first assistant to the Elder's Quorum President) about 45 minutes away, and at 5:30 I went with all of the other senior missionaries to the same building for the 7:00 meeting. We will have stake conference in the morning.
It was a wonderful wonderful meeting, and I took notes, and I was inspired, but I was sooo tired! Both SK and I were nodding. We were able to visit with several of our wonderful YSAs at the meeting. It is ALWAYS so good to see them....especially when they are where they are supposed to be. They really are good young people.
If you could meet them, you would agree....the future of the Church in Denmark is in good hands.
Friday, April 25, 2014
Crisis Plus Time Equals Humor
Another night at the center....it is 1:00 as I write and I am certain that we will be here for while yet. There are 13 YSAs still here. CRUD has been played several times and now everyone is relaxing on the couches. I think everyone out there is talking....I hear all these voices speaking rapidly in Danish and peals of laughter...sometimes roars.
It was the YSA temple night....some did baptisms and some did sealings and we had a few do a session, which was packed. I guess that is predictable since it will be closed now for 2 weeks. We all like to make sure we get there before it becomes unavailable for a time.
We fixed a meal tonight, which seemed to be a slow-motion disaster. We were told to expect about 15 at dinner. I prepared to serve a simple tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, topping out the menu with chocolate waffles with hot chocolate sauce and whipped cream.
Since everyone went to the temple, the meal was to be ready around 8:30. About 4:30 we discovered that one of the young women whose family owns a catering business had leftovers from work and offered to bring it to the temple at 5 for anyone who wanted to have a pre-temple picnic. We knew that it would be a small feast, so we began to wonder if anyone would want dinner here.
We tried to make phone calls to find out what to expect, and finally decided to go ahead and make a small batch of tomato soup.....meaning four times the recipe, which should have been enough for 15 or so.
I chopped up the onions, did the requisite crying, and began to saute them. SK chopped the garlic. A little more time in the frying pan and then we combined them with the tomatoes and mixed them up as best we could without a blender. I added the other ingredients and took a sip. It was pretty awful!
My heart pretty much hit the floor! So I thought, well....most have probably eaten anyway, so I will just make a bunch of grilled cheese sandwiches.
About that time, Mads came in. He is tall, muscular and movie-star handsome....and very personable. He is also a good cook. I greeted him and said, "Well, we have had a disaster."
He looked a little shocked and said, "What?"
I quickly reassured him that it was the soup. Like any true hero, he jumped into action. He went into the kitchen and tasted it. He grabbed a cutting board and began to chop more garlic and onions, which he added to the offending pot. He tasted it....he added more salt, more pepper, some sugar, and a variety of spices he found in the cupboard. He added a little more water, and continued to chop and add.
About this time, people began to filter in. Daniel asked what was going on, and Mads explained. Daniel tasted it and pronounced that it was "interesting." He added that on his mission, the most diplomatic comment about food was that it was "special."
Helene tried it....pondered for a moment and then decided that it tasted like dishwashing detergent.
Victoria came in and tasted it and began to add things from the cupboard. Mattius thought it tasted like Robitussen.
The kitchen was an absolute beehive of activity with everyone getting in on the rescue. It got kind of loud in that little kitchen. In the meantime nearly everyone had arrived and I hadn't begun the sandwiches....mostly because I couldn't get near the stove! Once I had reclaimed the stove, I put two large frying pans on and trying as best as I could to work around the rescue party, set to work.
I sent the first batch of sandwiches out in less than 10 minutes and kept them going for quite awhile. In the meantime, Victoria unloaded all of the extra food she had brought from the family business and it was beautiful and probably delicious. The so-called rescued soup and my humble little grilled cheese sandwiches looked kind of sad....if you can picture it. There was no time to take a picture, and I am not sure that I would have even wanted one anyway!
Well....we ended up with 25 or so people here.....most of them hungry. They ate nearly all the soup, with only one preferring to pour it out than eat it. And the sandwiches were quite popular. I think I could have made quite a few more that would have been eaten, but SK came into the kitchen and said that it was enough.. Only later did I learn that some wanted more.
The chocolate waffles were well-received, although relatively few ate them with the hot fudge sauce. Ah well.
In retrospect, I have learned:
I should try out new recipes at home first before cooking them for the center.
I should not try to make things that have to be cooked individually and at the last minute like grilled cheese sandwiches, and probably quesadillas, unless and until I am able to find a large electric griddle - which does not appear to exist in England and Denmark.
I should not use seasonings from the center cupboard that have been here longer than I have.
I should not use ingredients that I am unfamiliar with, like coconut milk, especially if the label is in Danish.
Everyone survived and had enough to eat....and had a great time....which had nothing to do with the food.
All that said, if the soup had turned out, I would have missed the hilarious melee in the kitchen tonight. It was even funny while it was happening. Mads - bless his heart, couldn't have been more charming or more heroic or more funny. And all the others who loudly stepped in to help or offer an opinion were an absolute riot.
And .... at some point in the future, I will appreciate this night for what it was.....a great and funny evening.
Thursday, April 24, 2014
All-American
It will be a full week-end for most of our YSAs. We had institute tonight, tomorrow night is temple night with dinner following, Saturday is the evening session of stake conference, and Sunday is stake conference and our own YSA sacrament meeting at 7. They are always incredible and I always come away lifted and inspired.
It will also be a full week-end for us as well. We have all that plus on Sunday right after conference, there will be an open house for the Hansens. They will leave Tuesday morning and I know they are full of mixed emotions. They have collected some wonderful wonderful reminders of their stay in Denmark, and they are struggling to get everything packed up and sent home. They can only carry so much with them, and so they found a packaging place that hopefully will get some of their things home to St. George safe and sound.
Immediately after the open house, all of the senior missionaries will go out to our mission president's home to dinner. It will be the formal farewell dinner for the Hansens, the Garriots and the Ivies. They all came out at the same time and are now tearfully saying their farewells to people they have come to know and love.
Then of course the week starts over with Monday family home evening. Our chairmen, Louise and Morten have as a goal getting 50 people out weekly to our center on Thursdays. I hope we can do it! On the other hand, I don't know how I will do at the meals.
SK has not been helping me for the last month, because we were asked to teach institute in English for those who don't speak Danish. There is consistently a count of 6 or 7 who want to attend the English class. SK can't fix a meal by himself so he teaches. So I hustle around the kitchen while everyone is in class and try to get everything ready on time.
Tonight I was caught .... the larger class which usually gets out at 8:30 came thundering out at 8:15! I was cutting bread slices. The menu was meatloaf, funeral potatoes, green beans and peanut butter bars.....can you get any more American than that? Several had never tasted any of those items (well...everyone has had green beans!) and they seemed genuinely interested.
Of course you can't go wrong with funeral potatoes, and it seemed that the meatloaf was a hit. SK liked it, so that makes it a hit in my book. The stress of the evening came as people started arriving at 5! I love these guys and it is so fun to talk with them....but I began to realize that we might have a larger turnout tonight than usual.
I figured that I had made enough meatloaf for 25. I thought (wrongly so) that since there is a YSA weekend in Stockholm, we would have fewer people. I made plenty of funeral potatoes and had bread enough for people to fill up on. By the time institute started we had 35...and I don't know if more showed up. I cut the meatloaf in very thin slices and got 33. Gulp. It might be that meatloaf did not appeal to many of them...I don't know.
I can't tell you how many times in the last months I have troubled and troubled the Lord with pleas for help with our meals. In the vast eternal plan, our meals don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world (kind of reminds me of a line in "Casablanca!"), but I always want them to be nice and taste good. Tonight I was also pleading that there be enough....and somehow there was. I don't know how. But I am grateful.
Conversations with YSAs were especially wonderful tonight. At one point, I was sitting in the kitchen with 5 young women. I asked them what they did to relax.
"Sleep!" one answered.
"I create....paint or draw or something similar where I lose myself in what I am doing."
"I just kick back and read or listen to music or just think."
Then one said "I read my scriptures."
Another chimed in, "I go to church." She elaborated....she has always loved church. She wakes up on Sunday morning and thinks, "It's Sunday....I get to go to church today!" She said that she has never lost the "butterflies in her stomach feeling" because she gets excited about it. She has been a member for several years....she teaches the three-year-olds in primary. Isn't that cute?
Most agreed that Sunday itself is a good tool to bring a sense of balance and peace.
What do you think? Pretty great right?
It is exactly 2 a.m. and for relaxation, I am going to go to bed!
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Ho Hum
Wednesdays are interesting islands of time smack dab in the middle of the week. They are a preparation day, a study day, a shopping day, a baking desserts day, a missionary day, a center day/evening, and a homework day.
We find ourselves spending more shopping time at Metro (heretofore known as the Costco Wannabe), mostly because they have items in bulk....not necessarily because of the prices. We also went to several stores who reputedly carried Crisco. We not only did not find Crisco, but have concluded that shortening does not exist in Denmark. We went to one store in particular which even has an "American aisle" ---to no avail.
What we did find was an American off-brand of peanut butter, which was pretty costly, but we got it anyway. At the center, I made peanut butter bars....a marvelous combination of peanut butter cookie base, a layer of semi-sweet chocolate and peanut butter frosting. It will be my first attempt to serve peanut butter anything.
Do Danes like peanut butter? Our first clue might be that it hardly exists here. But on the other hand, a young woman made some peanut butter candies awhile ago, and told me that everyone loves it. We'll see.
SK got the tires changed this morning....snow tires off and regular tires on. One of the APs said that he did it himself on their car, without getting any soil on his white shirt! I believe him. Those young missionaries can do just about anything...mostly because they don't know they can't. I love that kind of faith and optimism.
But senior missionaries have to be a little more cautious about attempting such things. As it was, SK expended a fair amount of energy just pulling the four regular tires out from underneath our bed, hauling them out to the car, loading them up and getting them to the auto shop. Then he did it all again in reverse with the snow tires...which are now resting nicely underneath our bed!
He also went to a dentist today. One of his crowns fell out. He had a great visit with her and was quite impressed with how she did things.
Those were his adventures for the day, while my day was far more mundane.....laundry, baking, cleaning and studying.
That is perfectly fine. I like mundane days!
We find ourselves spending more shopping time at Metro (heretofore known as the Costco Wannabe), mostly because they have items in bulk....not necessarily because of the prices. We also went to several stores who reputedly carried Crisco. We not only did not find Crisco, but have concluded that shortening does not exist in Denmark. We went to one store in particular which even has an "American aisle" ---to no avail.
What we did find was an American off-brand of peanut butter, which was pretty costly, but we got it anyway. At the center, I made peanut butter bars....a marvelous combination of peanut butter cookie base, a layer of semi-sweet chocolate and peanut butter frosting. It will be my first attempt to serve peanut butter anything.
Do Danes like peanut butter? Our first clue might be that it hardly exists here. But on the other hand, a young woman made some peanut butter candies awhile ago, and told me that everyone loves it. We'll see.
SK got the tires changed this morning....snow tires off and regular tires on. One of the APs said that he did it himself on their car, without getting any soil on his white shirt! I believe him. Those young missionaries can do just about anything...mostly because they don't know they can't. I love that kind of faith and optimism.
But senior missionaries have to be a little more cautious about attempting such things. As it was, SK expended a fair amount of energy just pulling the four regular tires out from underneath our bed, hauling them out to the car, loading them up and getting them to the auto shop. Then he did it all again in reverse with the snow tires...which are now resting nicely underneath our bed!
He also went to a dentist today. One of his crowns fell out. He had a great visit with her and was quite impressed with how she did things.
Those were his adventures for the day, while my day was far more mundane.....laundry, baking, cleaning and studying.
That is perfectly fine. I like mundane days!
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Preparation Day Can Be a Lot of Things
Back to Danish class! It seems like we have been away longer than it really a week. There were only seven there this afternoon. We have had nearly 20 from time to time, but our numbers have been shrinking, and currently we have about 12 in the class. I truly enjoy all of our classmates.
One...Mary, is from India. She is in her 20's and has the most delightful Indian accent when she speaks English. Her voice is soft and gentle, and her manner is as well. Both she and the other young Indian woman have what is called a bindi or a little red spot on their foreheads. Mary's is just below her hairline, and the other has one between her eyebrows.
Mary has pointed out my birthmark several times. It is a little red square between my eyebrows and it gets redder when I am very tired or feeling stressed. She noticed today that it was popping. Isn't that funny? I have another friend who told me years ago that it is a "worry" mark. I hardly ever notice it......but to my way of thinking, I believe it should be identified as a "beauty" mark. If only that was all that was needed to be beautiful!
We took a detour on the way home and walked through Tivoli. What a lovely little spot that is. There was a live band performing. The entire audience was white-haired. The band reminded me of Lawrence Welk's orchestra. There was a soloist who did a very good impression of Dean Martin singing "That's Amore." People sat in lawn chairs, on the grass and on benches. The sunlight made everything sparkle.
Flowers were blooming and trees are getting greener by the day. We sat for awhile and watched a little duck couple waddling through the park and quacking a conversation. There were magnificent peacocks strutting around the grounds and geese and other birds....all very tame.
Even though there are thrill rides, the atmosphere is much more relaxed. There are people of all ages, but it seemed that there were more seniors and teens than any other age group. I am sure as the season progresses there will be more young marrieds with little ones.
We have been listening to conference talks.....what a wonderful thing it is to have all those talks so immediately available to us. They are inspiring and motivating. We will have our stake conference this weekend, which I am looking forward to. We also have two senior couples coming into town to be ready to be released from their missions. They, along with the Hansens will leave bright and early Tuesday morning. So from this point on, the week is going to be packed with activity.
Preparation days are a good thing. I think I will try to schedule a weekly preparation day even when we are through with this mission. It is a great tool in so many ways, and giving myself a day to prepare physically (laundry, cleaning, planning, organizing), as well as emotionally and spiritually goes a long long way to keeping me calm!
For now, it is time for early bed. Good night.
One...Mary, is from India. She is in her 20's and has the most delightful Indian accent when she speaks English. Her voice is soft and gentle, and her manner is as well. Both she and the other young Indian woman have what is called a bindi or a little red spot on their foreheads. Mary's is just below her hairline, and the other has one between her eyebrows.
Mary has pointed out my birthmark several times. It is a little red square between my eyebrows and it gets redder when I am very tired or feeling stressed. She noticed today that it was popping. Isn't that funny? I have another friend who told me years ago that it is a "worry" mark. I hardly ever notice it......but to my way of thinking, I believe it should be identified as a "beauty" mark. If only that was all that was needed to be beautiful!
We took a detour on the way home and walked through Tivoli. What a lovely little spot that is. There was a live band performing. The entire audience was white-haired. The band reminded me of Lawrence Welk's orchestra. There was a soloist who did a very good impression of Dean Martin singing "That's Amore." People sat in lawn chairs, on the grass and on benches. The sunlight made everything sparkle.
Flowers were blooming and trees are getting greener by the day. We sat for awhile and watched a little duck couple waddling through the park and quacking a conversation. There were magnificent peacocks strutting around the grounds and geese and other birds....all very tame.
Even though there are thrill rides, the atmosphere is much more relaxed. There are people of all ages, but it seemed that there were more seniors and teens than any other age group. I am sure as the season progresses there will be more young marrieds with little ones.
We have been listening to conference talks.....what a wonderful thing it is to have all those talks so immediately available to us. They are inspiring and motivating. We will have our stake conference this weekend, which I am looking forward to. We also have two senior couples coming into town to be ready to be released from their missions. They, along with the Hansens will leave bright and early Tuesday morning. So from this point on, the week is going to be packed with activity.
Preparation days are a good thing. I think I will try to schedule a weekly preparation day even when we are through with this mission. It is a great tool in so many ways, and giving myself a day to prepare physically (laundry, cleaning, planning, organizing), as well as emotionally and spiritually goes a long long way to keeping me calm!
For now, it is time for early bed. Good night.
Monday, April 21, 2014
Up In The Night
We did not have our Danish class again today....last day of our Spring break....sigh. It is also the last day of the Easter holiday. All the stores were closed and the streets of Copenhagen seemed quieter than usual.
With our free time, we should have been studying, but we did what we love to do.....we set off to see the sights! We went to one of the beautiful parks in Frederiksberg....the lovely grounds that surround the Frederiksberg Castle. Not Frederiksborg....where the Carl Bloch paintings are housed, but a Castle that lies within the city limits. It is huge....and it is beautiful.
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| Doesn't this look inviting? Imagine how it will look in all these pictures when the trees are fully leafed out. |
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| A distant view of the castle |
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| Getting closer! |
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| A view from in front of the castle |
The pictures give you an idea of its beauty, but you wouldn't be able to hear the wind rustling through the trees, or the noisy honking of geese...or the haunting cries of birds large and small. The wind carried the sounds of children's laughter and the soft banter of happy conversations.
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| Hey! Do you think he thinks she is pretty? |
We saw what we think is cranes in their great nests high atop grand old trees.
The castle is set back in and up above the gardens, giving a magnificent view of ponds, gently flowing rivers and streams and grassy fields. People lazed in the grass, picnicked on blankets, strolled with their dogs, jogged or speed walked, and sat contentedly on benches - all soaking up the sun.
We loved being a part of it all. We ended that portion of the day by ambling through a cemetery. Flowering trees, daffodils and stately trees gave it an air of hope, serenity and beauty. Cemeteries can be so lovely!
FHE tonight was fantastic...as always. I spent some time visiting with a returned missionary from Temple Square. She loved that mission...who wouldn't? From all that she told me about her experiences, it must have been incredible. She said that she saw miracles all the time...both large and small. She said that Temple Square is a mission of miracles.
One experience she shared was seeing a young woman wander in to Temple Square one morning. The missionary approached her and began a conversation. The young woman lived in the area and had many questions about the Gospel and the Church. She wanted to know more and had gone to Temple Square many times, but no one ever talked to her! This day when my friend talked to her, she was elated and had her first missionary discussion that afternoon. She was baptized 2 months later, and is currently serving a mission in San Francisco.
You know....one thing I love about visiting with these marvelous YSAs is the way their testimonies come through in their conversations. Sometimes it is a simple statement, sometimes it is there between the lines. But it is always there.
Family Home Evening was over by 9, but CRUD and great conversations carried the evening until after 1 a.m.
It is such a nice thing to be able to sleep in!
Sunday, April 20, 2014
A Day Appointed Unto Us.....
Sundays are particularly enjoyable. Our little branch is always a joy to attend. Our numbers are few, but the members are so dear.
Today Sister Hansen gave a beautiful talk about the Savior and touched my heart. She even read a quote from an Ensign article that Lia put together last year! She and her husband will be leaving in 10 days to return to their home in St. George. They have been a mainstay in the mission for a year and a half, and we - like everyone else - have come to depend on their wisdom and knowledge. I am certain that they are weary and need to go home to rest, but they will nevertheless miss Denmark. They have loved it since Elder Hansen was here 50 years ago. They have Danish ancestry - Hansen - and have visited the sites of their forefathers. Their children have a strong Danish identity, because they have been raised with stories of Denmark.
Our Sunday School lesson was given by an intelligent and intense young man who thinks deeply and passionately about life. He led a thought-provoking discussion about manna. He asked why some individuals, and perhaps all at one time or another put "food" ahead of God....meaning anything that we place our priorities on. He also wondered why people complain...about manna (they remembered the food they had once eaten) and why people who seem to be living a righteous life sometimes complain when things don't go their way....(theoretically saying, "I am tired of manna and deserve much better). I always enjoy it when he teaches.
After church, Elder Thorne drove us home and took a detour through some of the sunlit countryside near the church, specifically the beach that looks out across the water to Sweden. It reminded me of long lazy Sunday afternoons when I was young and our father and mother would load us into the car to take a drive....for the sheer joy of it. Our mother loved it, and Dad was only too willing to oblige. And it seems like all of the rest of us loved it too.
Elder and Sister Thorne and SK and I had a nice Easter lunch....ham and funeral potatoes (Would the Israelites have complained about funeral potatoes?), and then while SK took a much-needed nap and the Thornes went for a walk, I read my scriptures and studied a conference talk.
I am learning what I can do today to try to be perfect. It is soooooooooooooo hard to even attempt it, but there is a way to begin that even I can do. I'll let you know how it goes.
There are preparation days, and then there are preparation days but Sundays can prepare our minds and hearts for the coming week better than any other day. I hope that while we serve as full-time missionaries we can harness the power of the Sabbath Day.
Today Sister Hansen gave a beautiful talk about the Savior and touched my heart. She even read a quote from an Ensign article that Lia put together last year! She and her husband will be leaving in 10 days to return to their home in St. George. They have been a mainstay in the mission for a year and a half, and we - like everyone else - have come to depend on their wisdom and knowledge. I am certain that they are weary and need to go home to rest, but they will nevertheless miss Denmark. They have loved it since Elder Hansen was here 50 years ago. They have Danish ancestry - Hansen - and have visited the sites of their forefathers. Their children have a strong Danish identity, because they have been raised with stories of Denmark.
Our Sunday School lesson was given by an intelligent and intense young man who thinks deeply and passionately about life. He led a thought-provoking discussion about manna. He asked why some individuals, and perhaps all at one time or another put "food" ahead of God....meaning anything that we place our priorities on. He also wondered why people complain...about manna (they remembered the food they had once eaten) and why people who seem to be living a righteous life sometimes complain when things don't go their way....(theoretically saying, "I am tired of manna and deserve much better). I always enjoy it when he teaches.
After church, Elder Thorne drove us home and took a detour through some of the sunlit countryside near the church, specifically the beach that looks out across the water to Sweden. It reminded me of long lazy Sunday afternoons when I was young and our father and mother would load us into the car to take a drive....for the sheer joy of it. Our mother loved it, and Dad was only too willing to oblige. And it seems like all of the rest of us loved it too.
Elder and Sister Thorne and SK and I had a nice Easter lunch....ham and funeral potatoes (Would the Israelites have complained about funeral potatoes?), and then while SK took a much-needed nap and the Thornes went for a walk, I read my scriptures and studied a conference talk.
I am learning what I can do today to try to be perfect. It is soooooooooooooo hard to even attempt it, but there is a way to begin that even I can do. I'll let you know how it goes.
There are preparation days, and then there are preparation days but Sundays can prepare our minds and hearts for the coming week better than any other day. I hope that while we serve as full-time missionaries we can harness the power of the Sabbath Day.
Saturday, April 19, 2014
How Beautiful a Day Can Be When Touched By......Chocolate!
Does it seem to you that Saturdays roll around with great speed? It makes my head spin!
The weather could not be more beautiful. It is cool....just cool enough to wear a lightweight coat, and the skies are a marvelous shade of blue with clouds hurrying by overhead. There was clear clean sunlight all day....aaah.
We took the bus to the temple.....or two buses. I guess the holiday weekend has brought many people to the city. Unlike Thursday, when it seemed no one was out, today there were crowds of people. Have you seen the double-decker tour buses? They are in nearly every major city. There were many many of them out today...each packed with people bundled up and ready to see the sights.
Tivoli is pulling in the crowds again after its long winter sleep. The flowers are blossoming and the rides are running. Taxi cabs are everywhere in traffic, people with bicycles built with a passenger back seat for two are parked along the street outside Tivoli and Stroget.
At the temple, we saw several people we know. Copenhagen is a large city, but the LDS population is relatively small, and we are becoming acquainted with more and more people. So even a small session of 30 people will have someone in that we know. There was another senior couple here for the weekend to be with some ward members going through the temple for the first time.
It is such a beautiful temple, and it is even more special to know and be known by people there.
A quick stop at the grocery store helped us prepare for Easter Sunday. (You'll be happy to know that most stores AND the post office were open today - right smack in the middle of the 5-day holiday weekend and doing a brisk business. They have restored my faith in the Danish enterprise system! )
We then went to the center where Elder and Sister Thorne joined us for the first half of "Ben Hur." Later Elder and Sister Hansen joined us for dinner and the last half of the movie, A.K.A. "The Chariot Race." I never tire of that movie. It is certainly one of Hollywood's finest efforts at making a truly Christian movie. I think it stands the test of time, and is still an excellent movie.
We had some of the leftover chocolate mousse cake. (I am smiling as I type this)
It was a lovely end to a lovely day.
The weather could not be more beautiful. It is cool....just cool enough to wear a lightweight coat, and the skies are a marvelous shade of blue with clouds hurrying by overhead. There was clear clean sunlight all day....aaah.
We took the bus to the temple.....or two buses. I guess the holiday weekend has brought many people to the city. Unlike Thursday, when it seemed no one was out, today there were crowds of people. Have you seen the double-decker tour buses? They are in nearly every major city. There were many many of them out today...each packed with people bundled up and ready to see the sights.
Tivoli is pulling in the crowds again after its long winter sleep. The flowers are blossoming and the rides are running. Taxi cabs are everywhere in traffic, people with bicycles built with a passenger back seat for two are parked along the street outside Tivoli and Stroget.
At the temple, we saw several people we know. Copenhagen is a large city, but the LDS population is relatively small, and we are becoming acquainted with more and more people. So even a small session of 30 people will have someone in that we know. There was another senior couple here for the weekend to be with some ward members going through the temple for the first time.
It is such a beautiful temple, and it is even more special to know and be known by people there.
A quick stop at the grocery store helped us prepare for Easter Sunday. (You'll be happy to know that most stores AND the post office were open today - right smack in the middle of the 5-day holiday weekend and doing a brisk business. They have restored my faith in the Danish enterprise system! )
We then went to the center where Elder and Sister Thorne joined us for the first half of "Ben Hur." Later Elder and Sister Hansen joined us for dinner and the last half of the movie, A.K.A. "The Chariot Race." I never tire of that movie. It is certainly one of Hollywood's finest efforts at making a truly Christian movie. I think it stands the test of time, and is still an excellent movie.
We had some of the leftover chocolate mousse cake. (I am smiling as I type this)
It was a lovely end to a lovely day.
Friday, April 18, 2014
All Good Things
Today was the day! This was to be the day of our great sightseeing....and it was. It was chilly, and very windy. We walked to another local museum which was built by a man named Carlsberg. If that name sounds familiar to you, it is because it is the name of some very famous beer....Danmark's own.
He built a spectacular museum which houses art. We looked through the special exhibits of French and Danish sculpture and French and Danish painting. It was most enjoyable.
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After spending a few hours there, we thought we would wander through Frederiksberg Park.....reputedly one of the most beautiful, at any time of the year. We have wanted to do that for months and today seemed like an ideal day. Our apartment was on the way, so we stopped in for a few moments.
While we were there, the Assistants to the President called. A few weeks ago, an invitation was extended to the young missionaries to come to lunch at a member's home. She is 85 and has fed the missionaries every year at Easter for the last 20 years. She seemed much younger. When the invitation was extended, she asked that they bring Elder Madsen and his wife.
She had two shifts for the meal....one at noon and one at 5. We both had forgotten about the lunch (!!!)....we were blissfully wandering through the museum. But thanks to the call from the Elders, we cleaned up real fast and were ready to go when they came to pick us up just a few minutes later. The elders mentioned that perhaps SK had known this sister when he was here 50 years ago.
They were driving a large van, and I was notably impressed at how the elder negotiated his way through the little one-way streets and busy main thoroughfares with ease. We drove by the large Frederiksberg Park which whetted our appetite to visit there on the next free day we have.
When we got there, the sister looked at SK for a moment, asked a few questions and then pronounced that he was not the one she thought he would be. He asked, "Shall we leave?"
She answered, "No, you can stay."
It was all kind of funny. She put out several kinds of bread...two kinds of rye bread...dark and thick and nutty and dense. There were many different kinds of toppings for open-faced sandwiches, which are a very Danish meal. The sister had instructions about what to put with what. For instance, shrimp was slathered with mayonnaise and topped with a boiled egg. Smoked salmon was topped with dill, remoulade sauce and cucumbers....ahh. A very delightful frikadiller or meatball was served with ...well, I put tomato, cucumber and something else with it.
Dessert was crackers and soft spreadable cheese. And then a final treat was little chocolate eggs filled with marzipan. Marzipan is an almond paste and it is absolutely delectable. I am unsure why it has not caught on in the states, but if you have Danish ancestors, you should cultivate this taste!
You would have been so proud of each of the young elders. They tried pretty much everything as they chattered away in Danish to our host. The ate the liverpostei, the fishy fish filets in oil, the lard topping..which they said is very tasty, the very salty dark brown gelatin. They were all so polite, yet so cute! No wonder she loves to feed the missionaries,
I tried out my Danish and asked a few questions....and listened carefully for the answers, but to tell you the truth, most of the time I just talked in English and one of the elders translated for her....then translated for me when she answered. They are all comfortable conversing in Danish and caught all of the conversations.
When dinner was over, the two APs each shared a message from the Book of Luke about Easter. She seemed to enjoy it as much as I did. Have I mentioned how impressed I am with these young missionaries? After doing what they do in the mission field, how can they possibly fail at anything?
We got home in time to join a group of senior missionaries at a little Greek restaurant across the street from the apartment. We were too full to eat, but had dessert with them. It was a pleasant time to sit in the candlelight and enjoy everyone's company. It is still, after all these months so interesting to see and hear these people talk about their missions here....going back and forth between 50 years ago and today.
One thing is certain, their missions today are vastly different than what they were so long ago. Could they have ever imagined that they would be back after all those years, retired from long careers, husbands, fathers, grandfathers, church leaders?
I wonder if the young elders ever look at them and think "Someday I will do that!"...or perhaps they just can't even imagine being 70. At age 21, I thought a 30-year-old was ancient.
Perspective is an amazing thing.
He built a spectacular museum which houses art. We looked through the special exhibits of French and Danish sculpture and French and Danish painting. It was most enjoyable.
 |
| I know.....I took way too many pictures of the courtyard....I am only showing you a few here. But as you can see, I was quite taken with its beauty. See SK standing there in the doorway on the right? |
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| Views from the inside looking out and down. |
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| I love sculptures! |
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| SK showing you the skyline of Copenhagen...with Tivoli directly behind him. |
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| SK says this is a waterway .... I prefer to call it a moat...around the castle at Christiansborg Castle and the building where the parliament meets, which is below. |
After spending a few hours there, we thought we would wander through Frederiksberg Park.....reputedly one of the most beautiful, at any time of the year. We have wanted to do that for months and today seemed like an ideal day. Our apartment was on the way, so we stopped in for a few moments.
While we were there, the Assistants to the President called. A few weeks ago, an invitation was extended to the young missionaries to come to lunch at a member's home. She is 85 and has fed the missionaries every year at Easter for the last 20 years. She seemed much younger. When the invitation was extended, she asked that they bring Elder Madsen and his wife.
She had two shifts for the meal....one at noon and one at 5. We both had forgotten about the lunch (!!!)....we were blissfully wandering through the museum. But thanks to the call from the Elders, we cleaned up real fast and were ready to go when they came to pick us up just a few minutes later. The elders mentioned that perhaps SK had known this sister when he was here 50 years ago.
They were driving a large van, and I was notably impressed at how the elder negotiated his way through the little one-way streets and busy main thoroughfares with ease. We drove by the large Frederiksberg Park which whetted our appetite to visit there on the next free day we have.
When we got there, the sister looked at SK for a moment, asked a few questions and then pronounced that he was not the one she thought he would be. He asked, "Shall we leave?"
She answered, "No, you can stay."
It was all kind of funny. She put out several kinds of bread...two kinds of rye bread...dark and thick and nutty and dense. There were many different kinds of toppings for open-faced sandwiches, which are a very Danish meal. The sister had instructions about what to put with what. For instance, shrimp was slathered with mayonnaise and topped with a boiled egg. Smoked salmon was topped with dill, remoulade sauce and cucumbers....ahh. A very delightful frikadiller or meatball was served with ...well, I put tomato, cucumber and something else with it.
Dessert was crackers and soft spreadable cheese. And then a final treat was little chocolate eggs filled with marzipan. Marzipan is an almond paste and it is absolutely delectable. I am unsure why it has not caught on in the states, but if you have Danish ancestors, you should cultivate this taste!
You would have been so proud of each of the young elders. They tried pretty much everything as they chattered away in Danish to our host. The ate the liverpostei, the fishy fish filets in oil, the lard topping..which they said is very tasty, the very salty dark brown gelatin. They were all so polite, yet so cute! No wonder she loves to feed the missionaries,
I tried out my Danish and asked a few questions....and listened carefully for the answers, but to tell you the truth, most of the time I just talked in English and one of the elders translated for her....then translated for me when she answered. They are all comfortable conversing in Danish and caught all of the conversations.
When dinner was over, the two APs each shared a message from the Book of Luke about Easter. She seemed to enjoy it as much as I did. Have I mentioned how impressed I am with these young missionaries? After doing what they do in the mission field, how can they possibly fail at anything?
We got home in time to join a group of senior missionaries at a little Greek restaurant across the street from the apartment. We were too full to eat, but had dessert with them. It was a pleasant time to sit in the candlelight and enjoy everyone's company. It is still, after all these months so interesting to see and hear these people talk about their missions here....going back and forth between 50 years ago and today.
One thing is certain, their missions today are vastly different than what they were so long ago. Could they have ever imagined that they would be back after all those years, retired from long careers, husbands, fathers, grandfathers, church leaders?
I wonder if the young elders ever look at them and think "Someday I will do that!"...or perhaps they just can't even imagine being 70. At age 21, I thought a 30-year-old was ancient.
Perspective is an amazing thing.
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