Not Exactly What You Expected When You Sent the Papers In.....

On this very windy and gray afternoon, another senior couple dropped in for a brief visit.  They had to catch 2 buses to get across town.  They were coming this way anyway....but two buses is a typical journey on public transportation....and usually involves at least a half hour.

So it was lovely to open the door and see two bright shining smiles.  They came in for a little while and then left to do other things.  But in that little time, we got to know them a little better.  They are here for 23 months - like us.  They had never been in Denmark before arriving here a month ago.  They are working at learning Danish.

Have you heard of a "Records Preservation" missionary?  They spend their days in the archives of city  hall digitally photographing vital records.  They were trained to use special equipment which they brought with them.  Page by page, all day long, they snap pictures.  The Church receives a copy and it goes online - along with records from all over the world, where anyone searching for ancestors can find them.

Actually....first, they (the photographed images) go to the indexing department where at least three individuals type up what they see on the hand-written record (to make it even more accessible).  If all three agree on what has been typed, it is put online.  I think I have that right.  People who do the indexing are doing an invaluable service....and they can do it anywhere at anytime.  Erin downloaded records to index on her flight to and from Denmark....she also worked on it here.  You can work for 5 minutes or 5 hours.

An image of the highest quality is also given to the government of Denmark.  So it is a win/win situation for everyone.  Many countries can see the value of having this work done, and of course all the Church asks is the opportunity to do it.

Elder and Sister Brookes are excited and happy about their mission.  They said something that touched me.  They have been here a month and have settled comfortably in the archives where they work.  They are getting better acquainted with other Danish workers in the building, and are enjoying frequent visits in their workplace from their fellow workers.  They come to see the Brookes because they want to practice their English!  Of course, what follows is a great visit about what they are doing in Denmark, why the Church is interested, and etc.  (and you know what all the "etc." entails!)

SK and I were talking about the many kinds of missions for seniors.  We have people who do typical office work all day in the mission office, people like the Brookes who snap photos all day, others take care of housing and cars for the mission, people in Nauvoo who drive a horse and wagon all day, people who work on Church pageants, couples who work in temples, missionaries who spend their days organizing humanitarian service, some who teach others how to do family research, and yet others who cook and clean and hang out with the YSAs...like us!...and the list goes on.

They are all opportunities to serve.  There is something deeply rewarding about being tired at the end of a day of service.

And doesn't it make putting your feet up and resting with a cup of hot chocolate nice?