Perspective(s)

In all honesty, I have enjoyed the dark winter months here.  They come with a certain coziness.  The cold and the dark make heaters, candlelight and warm glowing lamps so attractive. I even like walking outside when it is like that.  I love bundling up and then braving the wind and the cold.

Today, though was glorious....with intense light and shadows....clear blue skies and a brightness that borders on too bright.  You have to close your eyes for a few seconds and hope they adjust.  It was still cold, and there was a brisk wind that brought the chill factor down to below zero.  But the light  was incredible.

We went to church early - SK had to meet with other leaders briefly.  It was a lovely time to visit with branch members as they came in.  Two young women spoke....teenagers, their father married a Danish woman a couple of years ago and they live here now.  They both spoke in Danish and did an excellent job.  They ARE our young women's program, except for the occasional visitor and a sweet young woman who is here only part time.

Another branch member spoke for the remainder of the time and spoke about the benefits of reading our scriptures regularly.  How can you take a subject like that ... which has been addressed thousands of times over every pulpit in the church....and make it interesting and fresh?  I don't know, but he did.
Our YSA Sunday School class was taught by one of our YSA women.  She is a gentle soul and seems a bit shy, but she comes prepared and prompts great comments with her ideas and questions.  I think everyone enjoys her.  She has a slight stutter, but she doesn't let it keep her from doing things like speaking in church and giving lessons.  I think she is wonderful.

Relief Society was taught by one of the "older" sisters in the ward...maybe 7 years older than I am.  I always love it when she teaches because she has such wisdom and clarity of thought.  She taught from the manual, but added two very powerful quotes:  "We don't know everything but we know enough." and "If you don't choose the Kingdom of God, in the end, it won't matter what else you have chosen."

In the afternoon, we went to Kasper's parents home for our monthly YSA dinner.  Kasper fixed the "national dish of Denmark" which is fried pork  - it looks like extra thick slabs of bacon and is crisp and salty and sooo good.  That is just a part of the national dish.... the other part is boiled potatoes and a white parsley sauce.  Marvelous.  With 14 around the table there were some lively conversation topics.

Sometimes the young men get a little bit loud and teeter on the edge of caustic as they tease SK...they have ideas about what America is, and they tend to be derisive in their comments.  He takes it good-naturedly and sometimes gives it right back.  It is an interesting relationship the young Danes have with the U.S.  I think they will admit that there is much good about our country, but it is probably not popular to talk about that.....one is much more likely to elicit laughter and enthusiasm by putting it down.

It is not the right climate for passionate defense.  I wonder sometimes what the young elders think though....nearly all Americans.  They have lived here for some time....like SK and me.  I love Denmark with all my heart....but I know the U.S.A and know of her flaws, but she is still the last best hope for the world.

I have lived here long enough to know some of the flaws with this country, but I would never voice them.  I respect this beautiful land and its people.  I hope to return to my sunny home in Arizona and be a good emissary for Denmark.