The Blessing of Friends...

It hasn't been a restful day, but it has been a beautiful Sabbath day.

In our branch today, our new branch president announced the release of our relief society president and we sustained a new one.  The previous president is a kind and efficient woman who seemed to be untiring in her efforts for the women in Amager.

She had a bad fall a few months ago, and it set her back for awhile with a concussion.  Except for slowing down a bit, she just kept going.  She is gentle and good and she has been wonderful for the branch.

The new president is going to be excellent too.  She gave the lesson today and I thought she gave a superb lesson on burdens that we carry and how we can receive strength.  I love relief society!

I loved our branch testimony meetin too.  It truly is a remarkable group of people who love and serve.

In the afternoon we had dinner with a couple from the branch, two of their sons and two young elders.  It was a delicious meal of frikadeller....Danish meatballs.  They were large and tender and tasty.  At the end of the meal, she served an apple/blueberry cobbler with warm custard poured on top.  She told us it is very British, and since she is from England, I guess she knows.  Yum.

This couple is in charge of family history in Denmark, and when I hear them talk about it, I am very inspired.  They have a passion for their calling and they are doing great things.  I have been a little frustrated because I want to download old photographs to family search, and I don't have access to them here.  But he said to me, "Sister Madsen, all you have to do is sit down and write a memory and post it on someone's page...like your father or mother."

Their two sons who were there are YSAs and really good young men.  They both worked behind the scenes of Golden Days last week doing so much to help out.  They are just like that....available to help.

That IS exciting.  I can do that.  And think how wonderful that would be if everyone, when they recalled an experience could post it on the page of their parents, siblings or grandparents.  Think what we could have!

We stopped by the apartment of a sister from the branch...a sweet woman a few years younger than I who has had a battle with depression.  She lives in a small apartment on the second floor...which really means third floor here, since the ground floor isn't given a number.

Her living room is crowded with things she loves, music, figurines, memory books.  I love to look at everything because it helps me to know her better.  Her twin brother is ill and she worries about him.  She is a very kind woman and I am grateful that she has become a friend.

Finally, at the end of the day we went to the Thorne's apartment to play a game called "Nines" with them, Elder Thorne's sister, Sisters Swena and Hamblin.  As usual, there was much laughter and bantering.  It was pleasant to be with them.....Sister Swena and Sister Hamblin have been with us since we entered the MTC nearly a year ago.

If there were no other reasons to serve (and there are many important ones) gaining dear friends has to be a one.  Well....maybe not a reason to serve, but it is certainly a sweet reward.