Pausing to Ponder

SK and I attended the funeral for Brother Andersen's daughter today.  As we approached the church there were men in white shirts and suits and women dressed up somberly walking along the street towards the building.  Inside, we quickly found a seat in the relief society room and listened to the prelude music.  I believe the chapel was filled to overflowing and every room where they could pipe the sound was also packed.

Our stake center is being renovated....and is not scheduled to be done before January.  It was a lovely and large old building.  They pretty much gutted it and are remodeling it into something spectacular. In the meantime we are making do with the other buildings in the stake, but none of them come close to having the room of the stake center.

The service was simply beautiful.  The Bishop stood at 11:00 and solemnly read the short synopsis of Camilla's life which was on the cover of the program.  He then announced the program, which was an opening hymn, opening prayer, talk given by Brother Andersen, musical number (This is the Christ by Thomas Kofod), a talk given by Camilla's husband, a closing hymn and then a prayer, followed by a magnificent postlude of "Til We Meet."

It was heart-wrenching listening to the two men who loved her so dearly speak about her life and the essence of who she was.  It sounds like she was an angel on earth, patient, kind, full of faith.  Her father spoke about her faith and her testimony, how her her life was an example of those qualities and what the Savior has done for her and for all of us.  Her husband addressed all of his comments to her, thanking her for their 6 years together.  The music was sublime.  When it was over, everyone stood in the utmost reverence as the family left, tears falling.

While we were at the funeral, Lia, Peter and the little girls went to the Thorvaldsen Museum and loved it.  Eliza is adjusting, and sweet little Rebekah had a bit of a struggle, but she is so dear!  This is so wonderful to have them here.

A year ago today our plane touched down in Copenhagen.  The next night October 12, we went to the Amager Branch party and were deeply touched by the spirit of the branch and the great kindness of its members.  We all attended the annual party this evening, and I was struck by the fact that we are rushing down the second half of our mission.

A dear friend in the ward told me this evening that she will always remember our friendship.  It made me so happy because I have come to love this place and these dear people so much, and yet wonder if I have really done much in the year we have been here.

We finished the day with some more card games with Peter and Lia and a lot of talking, laughing and listening.

I feel profoundly blessed.