Going South

We started out from Copenhagen around 8 a.m. to be in Ny Koebing Falster at 10:30 to inspect a missionary apartment.  This is an apartment we have inspected quite a few times over the last year and a half.  It is amazing to me how different it looks from visit to visit.

Yesterday was transfer day, so one of the missionaries was new there.  They were both cute and for some reason both seemed soooo young, perhaps because they ARE young.  Neither is over 21 I know, and I think one of them is just 19.

The first time we visited in Ny Koebing, was before Christmas, and there were three missionaries there.  They were all clean-scrubbed and happy and the apartment was cozy with Christmas decorations and letters from home hanging up.  Over the months the decorations have changed and the degree of clean has varied.

Our two young men today needed a little instruction (we sometimes forget that they are - for the most part - fresh from living at home and haven't been responsible for taking care of everything in the house.) about several things.  Fortunately, they don't seem to mind a little gentle correction from a grandma.

It was a very gray and rainy day, and their apartment looked just a little forlorn.  I taught them the 10-minute rule and had them try it out.  Stand in the middle of the room and ask, "What can I do in 10 minutes to make this room look better?"  I showed them what could be done in that amount of time in the kitchen.  I scrubbed out the sink and polished it up, and wiped down the countertops and windowsill and straightened out the spices.

I think they got the idea and seemed enthusiastic about it.  We had a nice visit with them, and forgot to take their pictures!!!!!  Argh.

We took them to McDonald's for lunch, and I think they were both very happy about that and seemed to enjoy it.  I know what you are thinking.  Hasn't it just been a couple of weeks since you vowed never again to darken the doorway of a McDonald's?  Yes, that is true.  But that was in Sweden, and this was a much superior McDonald's....although still a McDonald's.  My vow now is that we will never again go to a McDonald's unless that is the only place available.  These young missionaries haven't been "out" to eat anywhere in that city and couldn't recommend a place.

They usually eat at member homes, but here in Denmark, that amounts to maybe once a week.  In Arizona, people practically fight to see who gets to feed the missionaries, and in Utah, Kasper - who served there - said they never had to pay for a meal.  If they went to a McDonald's or whatever, someone always stepped up to pay for them!  Ah....don't tell our Danish missionaries that.

Last week, Sister Sederholm said that when the sign-up sheet came around, no one had signed up to feed the missionaries, so she took them home with her and gave them a good home-cooked meal.  She is so cute!

We went to several genbrues in the little city and found an old etching that I really like.  It was in an old frame with broken glass....so SK asked if we could just take the etching and leave the frame.  They said yes and charged us the same price!....which wasn't too bad anyway.  But they ripped the side a little bit getting it out.  It will be alright.  I will frame it when we get home.  I love the mood it imparts.

Isn't this a magnificent old tree in the middle of the town square?  Do you see me standing underneath?

This is such a beautiful little building so typical of the old churches that dot the countryside.

Not to let a good opportunity pass by, we drove further south an hour til we reached Denmark's southernmost point...Gedser.  It was beautiful there....deserted and quiet, but somehow I could feel the weight of centuries......boats and ships sailing to Denmark, people waiting patiently on the shore, a lighthouse signaling its importance....no doubt a replacement of an older one.

I can't imagine how many people have stood on this shore watching for loved ones to return.

The southern most point!

A return trip got us home in time to have a quick dinner before I had to go visiting teaching.  I have two sisters to visit....one a YSA from New Zealand - a law student.  I enjoy visiting with her.  The other is Anna, a wonderful young woman who works for Church Translation Services who is currently under the gun to get all the upcoming conference talks translated so they will be broadcast simultaneously live.

SK drove me to Sarah's, went to the center to open it for the young married's institute class, left to come and visit with Sarah for a few moments, then drove me to Anna's.  While I visited with her, he drove back to the center to lock up and then back to pick me up.

Home again, home again.  Tomorrow we do some more traveling....and shopping.  SK needs to be at the center at 7:30 a.m. for a repairman. I am doing the cooking Thursday and will need the supplies, so I can do some of the work here early Thursday.  And we are going North a couple of hours to see my young Chinese birthday sister (we share the same birthday) play and sing in a concert.  She is 15, and we have carried on a little correspondence since I first met her at her uncle's baptism well over a year ago.  I believe she is a Christian and is really a sweetheart.

I hope sometime to be able to have a really nice gospel discussion with her, and to share the testimony of my heart about our Savior and the Restored Gospel.  If the opportunity arises, I'll be ready, but if not, I will be content knowing that perhaps we have been one of many contacts preparing her to receive it.

It has been such a strong anchor source of joy and strength to SK and me, and we see it in the lives of our children, their spouses and children.  I would like cute Lily to have that gift as well.