Great Danes

It has been raining much of the day, and so has been rather dark and gray.  I have had the windows open and have loved the gentle pitter-patter outside.

I have done some cleaning and some baking.  Our Danish class will be here tomorrow, and while there are only four of us for lunch, finding something to fix is a little bit of a challenge.  Mette has been having some health problems and cannot eat most foods, so I have been thinking of what I can make that seems special and yet will agree with her.

She is a wonderful person and an incredible teacher, and I enjoy being in our little group immensely.

Sister Reid and Sister Floyd stopped by this afternoon.  They live a couple of hours away (by train) and came into Copenhagen so that Sister Reid could take the great and dreadful Danish test.  I am sure that she aced it....she speaks Danish very well.  Her companion Sister Floyd broke a tooth and needed a diagnosis from the dentist - SK.

He pulled out the flashlight and peered into her mouth...."No, it should be fine until you get back to the States and can see your family dentist," he says.  He is called on every now and then to "diagnose" tooth problems....usually a broken tooth or filling.  Sometimes he tells them they ought to make an appointment with a dentist here.

While the healthcare system here is very good, and very generous in taking care of people, dental care is not free after the age of 18.....and then it is quite pricey, so it is much better if missionaries can wait until they get home to have their tooth problems fixed.

We sat together and ate a Danish pastry before they took off with their remaining afternoon to see the church with the Christus in it before returning to their home by train.

SK attended a training meeting at the center, and I went to relief society with the Thornes and Sister Hamblin.  Deidre gave a talk about Soren Kierkegaard, a Danish philosopher.  Deidre is an American living here in Copenhagen, who gave her dissertation on Kierkegaard.  She has studied and read extensively and knows a great deal about him.

Her presentation was fascinating as she drew parallels between Kierkegaard and Joseph Smith, and their understanding of divine love.  She ended after an hour, and I could have listened far longer.

She said, "Love is not ephemeral or mercurial for Kierkegaard - it is an eternal duty grounded in divine love.  This is a rigorous endeavor that ultimately demands everything of us -- it demands ourselves, and only by expending ourselves in love for others, we can become our true selves.

Deidre shared some of his writing about grace versus works, forgiveness and the sacred mission of Jesus Christ to save us.  I came away wanting to know more about him.

In a few months perhaps I will be able to take up that study.