First, good news/bad news: Lea, our wonderful energetic sweet beautiful young co-chairman of the YSAs, has received her mission call....to Scotland/Ireland! The only place better than that is Denmark! We are excited for her....she is leaving on our Lia's birthday, January 15.
We have several others who will be leaving within the next couple of months, and a few who have submitted papers and are waiting for their calls. It is exciting just to watch as they begin the process and then wait expectantly for their very important day to arrive....the day they open that call.
It has now been around 2 years since we began that process ourselves. We were surprised that it took so long to fill everything out and have all the necessary exams and appointments. After the stake president pushed the button it was another 3 or 4 weeks before the call came in the mail, then it was another few weeks before we were scheduled to go to Sacramento to apply for visas. After that little trip, it was nearly 5 months before we entered the MTC. In some ways, it seems like we have already been on this mission 2 years!
I enjoyed the day yesterday, and I enjoy fixing the meals, and I enjoy being with the YSAs, but Fridays are always hard for me. I feel like I am moving around in quicksand. I am tired! So that always makes serving in the temple a little more difficult than it would be normally.
After getting up this morning, I worked on things that required the least amount of energy. We took the bus to the temple at 1, stayed until nearly 9 and then took the bus home. It is getting a little more chilly each day it seems. It may be nearly time to break out the winter coats, but since I almost always have a sweater and scarf on, the layering has been working out great.
Our time in the temple was beautiful. There is one stake on Zealand or Sjaelland - as the Danes say...the island upon which we live. The wards/branches are spread all over the island, yet everyone seems to know everyone. We are beginning to know more and more people from other wards and branches, and as a result, when we serve in the temple, we see a LOT of people we know. It is a sweet experience to greet so many friends.
I did the work for a woman named Gertrude Caroline Van Drimmelen, born in 1900 in Dallas, Iowa. I came home and looked on Family Search to see if she was related to my dear Aunt Adell Van Drimmelen's husband, but could find no immediate connection. It is a rare name, especially in the States, and filled my heart with sweet memories of my aunt. I guess there is no better place to remember someone you are close to.....since so much of the work that goes on there is for those who have moved beyond our mortal lives here.
Thornton Wilder said something about "The highest tribute to the dead is not grief but gratitude." The older I get the more gratitude I feel for those dear people who have meant so much to me and who are gone from this life.
Yes...the temple was a good place to be today.
Friday, November 7, 2014
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Help on the Horizon
As far as Thursdays go, this was a typical one. I was mostly on my feet from 8 a.m. until 11 p.m. this evening. I need to plan better. I spent a lot of time at the stove. It was a comparatively easy menu, but time-consuming.
We had chicken pot pie, bread, sliced apples and cinnamon rolls. My own cream of chicken soup (for the pot pie) takes an enormous amount of time since it has to be baby-sat. It needs stirring....and I can't get too far away from it lest it burn.
I had a long conversation with a young man who loves to cook....and it sounds like he knows a fair amount about it. He is busy with work, and he just moved into new apartment which needs a considerable amount of repair/remodeling, which he will do. He sounds like a hard worker and an ambitious one at that. I thoroughly enjoyed talking with him.
He said he would love to come in on a Thursday sometime and help me. I jumped at that!...and invited him to come two weeks from today. I talked to him about what kinds of things he likes to cook so that we can make a meal he enjoys.
From that point on, I hope to get a guest chef on a regular basis. I will shop and assist, or the other person could assist...whichever works out best. Melissa is down for May.
I think this could be the beginning of some very good friendships!
We had chicken pot pie, bread, sliced apples and cinnamon rolls. My own cream of chicken soup (for the pot pie) takes an enormous amount of time since it has to be baby-sat. It needs stirring....and I can't get too far away from it lest it burn.
I had a long conversation with a young man who loves to cook....and it sounds like he knows a fair amount about it. He is busy with work, and he just moved into new apartment which needs a considerable amount of repair/remodeling, which he will do. He sounds like a hard worker and an ambitious one at that. I thoroughly enjoyed talking with him.
He said he would love to come in on a Thursday sometime and help me. I jumped at that!...and invited him to come two weeks from today. I talked to him about what kinds of things he likes to cook so that we can make a meal he enjoys.
From that point on, I hope to get a guest chef on a regular basis. I will shop and assist, or the other person could assist...whichever works out best. Melissa is down for May.
I think this could be the beginning of some very good friendships!
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
A Blustery Day
I believe the sun came up at some point today but we never saw it. The interior of the apartment looked like it does at sundown - all day. It was raining, windy and cold. It was stunningly beautiful!
I walked to my appointment with Lone (pronounced Loan-uh) to get my hair cut. I had her chop it short. I have been heartily sick of it. And it is short. Oh well, I will wear a pretty scarf everyday and no one will notice. It looked terrific when she finished, but by the time I got home (even with the Mary Poppins) I looked like someone had sprayed it with wax and then stirred it up. I just look like I am trying to be stylish!
SK and I shopped for tomorrow. It is getting more fun by the day....all the Christmas stff is coming out, and there is merchandise that must be looked at....even as SK is pulling me by the sleeve of my coat. We got everything done without ever even entering Metro (number 1 Costco Wannabe - which is going out of business in December). I am trying to figure out how to get him to settle down and actually shop for some Christmas stuff. If he thinks it is for one of our daughters, he may do it.
I cooked the turkey carcass through the night, strained the broth this morning and added vegetables and got a lovely soup for dinner. I took some to Elder and Sister Thorne and Sister Hamblin and attempted to get some to another senior couple who have been ill (but they didn't answer)....we'll try again tomorrow. SK and I gulped some down before beginning to do some preliminary cooking for dinner at the center.
With the kitchen time, I listened to some wonderful CES talks....one that was especially nice (they are all especially nice, but the one that was especially especially nice was the recent one by Elder Christofferson.
Well....can you even think of a nicer way to spend the day? Good things coming out of the kitchen, wonderful scents wafting through the air, wind/rain/cold outside, listening to inspiring talks from our leaders, hot chocolate.
Hot chocolate? I'll go take care of that right now.
I walked to my appointment with Lone (pronounced Loan-uh) to get my hair cut. I had her chop it short. I have been heartily sick of it. And it is short. Oh well, I will wear a pretty scarf everyday and no one will notice. It looked terrific when she finished, but by the time I got home (even with the Mary Poppins) I looked like someone had sprayed it with wax and then stirred it up. I just look like I am trying to be stylish!
SK and I shopped for tomorrow. It is getting more fun by the day....all the Christmas stff is coming out, and there is merchandise that must be looked at....even as SK is pulling me by the sleeve of my coat. We got everything done without ever even entering Metro (number 1 Costco Wannabe - which is going out of business in December). I am trying to figure out how to get him to settle down and actually shop for some Christmas stuff. If he thinks it is for one of our daughters, he may do it.
I cooked the turkey carcass through the night, strained the broth this morning and added vegetables and got a lovely soup for dinner. I took some to Elder and Sister Thorne and Sister Hamblin and attempted to get some to another senior couple who have been ill (but they didn't answer)....we'll try again tomorrow. SK and I gulped some down before beginning to do some preliminary cooking for dinner at the center.
With the kitchen time, I listened to some wonderful CES talks....one that was especially nice (they are all especially nice, but the one that was especially especially nice was the recent one by Elder Christofferson.
Well....can you even think of a nicer way to spend the day? Good things coming out of the kitchen, wonderful scents wafting through the air, wind/rain/cold outside, listening to inspiring talks from our leaders, hot chocolate.
Hot chocolate? I'll go take care of that right now.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Deja Vu....or Has it Really Been a Year?
Just about a year ago at this time, we had a missionary zone conference where we helped our mission president's wife serve 60 missionaries a Thanksgiving dinner. She is amazing and always cooking for someone coming to Denmark, or someone leaving Denmark. She is not content to merely feed those individuals though....if a senior couple is coming or leaving, she invites all the senior couples in the area to join them. That is usually about a dozen.
Our zone conference/Thanksgiving dinner was today and Sister Sederholm was with us. She got in from America about an hour before we served the meal. Her daughter gave birth to a baby boy 3 weeks ago, and he has had a few health challenges. Sister Sederholm was given permission to go home for a week to help her daughter....whom, I am certain was so very grateful.
So Sister Thorne took the lead in getting the meal underway. She cooked a turkey, made enough dressing for 60, made 2 cranberry salad, cooked a large pot of potatoes, made a couple of large pans of sweet potatoes, and did all of the shopping for the meal, including 2 large carrot cake sheet cakes. Sister Hamblin cooked a turkey and made some cranberry salad. SK went to the center, stuffed a turkey and baked it there. Here in our apartment, I cooked a turkey, cooked a large pot of potatoes and mashed them and made a large pan of sweet potato casserole.
We left for the church at 10, and with help from another senior couple and Sister Sederholm frantically worked until the missionaries took their lunch break from the conference. The church is small, so they had to set up tables quickly in the chapel/cultural hall where they were meeting. We served from tables set up in the foyer.
It was lovely all being together sharing a Thanksgiving dinner. It was even lovelier afterward to watch a talent show that was put on by the missionaries. This happens once a year...in November, and I remember last year being positively amazed at the talent and fun these young people have.
Two young elders were the emcees and they were hilarious. There were musical numbers, skits, dances and a lot of fun. I was sorry to say goodbye to one of the young sisters who has now completed her 18 months here. She has been a wonderful missionary, and has done good things here in Denmark.
Here is a short video clip of a portion of the happy birthday song they missionaries sing to all who have birthdays within the month.
After the great and wonderful talent show, we cleaned the kitchen, collected the carcasses of 2 of the turkeys for turkey soup at the center....maybe. We came home, I put the bones and stuff in a large pot and it is boiling happily away.
I am tired.....I am sure that Sister Thorne is exhausted.
Tomorrow I will think about a menu for Thursday. Something easy I think. Melissa....are you there?
Our zone conference/Thanksgiving dinner was today and Sister Sederholm was with us. She got in from America about an hour before we served the meal. Her daughter gave birth to a baby boy 3 weeks ago, and he has had a few health challenges. Sister Sederholm was given permission to go home for a week to help her daughter....whom, I am certain was so very grateful.
So Sister Thorne took the lead in getting the meal underway. She cooked a turkey, made enough dressing for 60, made 2 cranberry salad, cooked a large pot of potatoes, made a couple of large pans of sweet potatoes, and did all of the shopping for the meal, including 2 large carrot cake sheet cakes. Sister Hamblin cooked a turkey and made some cranberry salad. SK went to the center, stuffed a turkey and baked it there. Here in our apartment, I cooked a turkey, cooked a large pot of potatoes and mashed them and made a large pan of sweet potato casserole.
We left for the church at 10, and with help from another senior couple and Sister Sederholm frantically worked until the missionaries took their lunch break from the conference. The church is small, so they had to set up tables quickly in the chapel/cultural hall where they were meeting. We served from tables set up in the foyer.
It was lovely all being together sharing a Thanksgiving dinner. It was even lovelier afterward to watch a talent show that was put on by the missionaries. This happens once a year...in November, and I remember last year being positively amazed at the talent and fun these young people have.
Two young elders were the emcees and they were hilarious. There were musical numbers, skits, dances and a lot of fun. I was sorry to say goodbye to one of the young sisters who has now completed her 18 months here. She has been a wonderful missionary, and has done good things here in Denmark.
After the great and wonderful talent show, we cleaned the kitchen, collected the carcasses of 2 of the turkeys for turkey soup at the center....maybe. We came home, I put the bones and stuff in a large pot and it is boiling happily away.
I am tired.....I am sure that Sister Thorne is exhausted.
Tomorrow I will think about a menu for Thursday. Something easy I think. Melissa....are you there?
Monday, November 3, 2014
Thanks Giving in Denmark
Have you ever had a sugar-dusted Belgian Waffle topped with Nutella, Bananas and whipped cream? You really ought to give it a try. We served that tasty treat for Family Home Evening tonight and for the ones who loved it....well...they really loved it. One is enough to give anyone a sugar high, and several of our young men ate 3 or more. I hope they didn't make themselves sick. But they are good.
Our numbers were down a little for some unknown reason. We had perhaps 25. School, finals and other things keep people away, but most of our group manages to make it to the center at least a couple of times a month. We have several busily preparing to leave on their missions soon, and that must take up a lot of time and energy, all the while working and sometimes going to school.
Our spiritual thought tonight was given by a young man who recently returned from a mission in France. He told about an experience he and a companion had with a Spanish-speaking investigator. His companion spoke Spanish so they did fine teaching the man, until his companion was transferred. They had one last discussion scheduled, and the young missionary was concerned about being able to teach him in a language he knew little of.
They fasted and prayed, and the members of the ward did the same. On the day of the appointment, they went to the investigator's home and taught him in Spanish. After it was all over, they were astonished as they reviewed what happened. The spoke and understood Spanish! But it didn't stay with them. When they were finished, they could no longer speak Spanish. He had many wonderful experiences in France and Switzerland.
I visited with him afterward and was so impressed with his faith and steadfastness. He has only been home a short time, but he is already indexing! And he sounds genuinely happy to do it. He told me about several experiences he has had that have inspired and energized him to do more.
He said that when he and his sisters each turned twelve, his father took him to the National Archives where he showed him how to research family names....which he has been doing ever since. "I could just sit and play video games," he said, "but this is so much more fun!"
I could see why he and his family are all such a happy group of people....all actively engaged in the Gospel in one way or another.
Well....I'm off to cook some potatoes for tomorrow....we have a missionary zone conference....with about 60 in attendance. We'll cook a thanksgiving dinner for them. I will be cooking two turkeys, some sweet potatoes, and possibly dressing. Sister Thorne is in charge, and it sounds like she has everything well-planned out. The really interesting thing will be getting it there. The church where we will serve it is at least 30 minutes away from here, and between the Thornes, Sister Hamblin and us....we will be cooking most of the meal here and transporting it to the small building where they will be meeting.
It is so pleasant NOT to be in charge....
Sunday, November 2, 2014
On Being a Missionary
We received news that Sister Swena will return home to the U.S. tomorrow. She has been unwell for several weeks, and while the health care system here is good....it can take months to receive necessary tests and hospitalization. She needs medical care now.
She entered the MTC on the same day SK and I did. In fact, when we flew to Sacramento a year and a half ago, she met us in the airport along with 8 young elders and sisters. She is younger than we are, and has fulfilled her service here with exuberance. She threw herself into studying the language and tried every chance she had to speak and listen to Danish.
It is an odd thing....these past months have gone by fast, yet in some ways it seems like years since we left Provo to come to Denmark. So I feel like we have known her a long long time. We all feel a woebegone sense of loss to see her leave. She is hoping to get the treatment she needs and be back for Christmas. I hope that is the case. If her treatment takes much longer, I don't know if they will clear her to come back for the last few months.
I guess that is one gamble we older missionaries take...we are betting that our health will hold up for 18 or 23 months. We have had several senior missionaries with health problems, and occasionally they need to return to their homes in America before their period of service is over. But I think we have had several younger ones depart for their home countries during the past 13 months for health reasons too....so perhaps it is not a case of being older, so much as there is a certain percentage that will have some difficulties. We have 5 young missionaries home now in Denmark......they returned home early from other parts of the world with health challenges, and are trying to prepare to go back out.
Our meetings at church today were absolutely wonderful. The spirit was strong as messages of the Gospel were taught. We had a visitor from Germany. It seems like we often have guests from other countries....isn't that great fun?
In the afternoon SK and I went to a members' home where we had dinner with the family, the young elders, and 5 YSAs....one of whom came with the missionaries. He was curious about the church. He has spoken with missionaries before, and gone to church with a young LDS woman a couple of times. I think he enjoyed being in the family's lovely home, bantering with everyone around the table, eating wonderful food. He is a college student who - like most of them around here -is on his own and doesn't take the time to fix food for himself much beyond peanut butter sandwiches (that is really what he said, but I don't think most students can afford peanut butter, and they don't really HAVE good peanut butter anyway).
Eventually the topic turned to religion. When asked what his beliefs were, he frankly said he is an agnostic atheist. He is fascinated by religion, and has been curious about LDS because of their happiness and friendliness. He has studied the Bible, but got discouraged with the Old Testament. He has read some of the Book of Mormon and has enjoyed talking with the missionaries.
The father in the family is a dynamic almost 50-year old with a gift of expression in Danish or English. He told the young man about his beliefs, his faith in Jesus Christ, his gratitude to be a part of an eternal family. The young man made thoughtful comments and asked insightful questions.
Three of the YSAs are returned missionaries and so articulate about what the gospel is and why it is so important to them, and then of course there is SK who bore a powerful testimony about the Book of Mormon. You might think it was a full-court press, but it was a sweet and wonderful conversation.
I was inspired just listening and taking an occasional part in the talk. Everyone was respectful and quietly expressed themselves. I think this young man will join us at the center one of these nights and he is planning on attending stake conference next week.
As I sat there, I thought "This is really what missionaries love....when the spirit is present and everyone feels it." One of our young men said - in so many words - that the reason missionaries and members share the gospel is that it is so important to us and we want others to have what we have. The father said that the heart of the gospel to him is that he will be with his wife forever and that their children are sealed to them....he added that now he must live well enough to qualify for that. Looking at his sons at the table, it was easy to sense their devotion to each other.
After coming home, I went up to say goodbye to Sister Swena. I am happy for her that she will get some help. She really doesn't feel well.
We will miss her.
She entered the MTC on the same day SK and I did. In fact, when we flew to Sacramento a year and a half ago, she met us in the airport along with 8 young elders and sisters. She is younger than we are, and has fulfilled her service here with exuberance. She threw herself into studying the language and tried every chance she had to speak and listen to Danish.
It is an odd thing....these past months have gone by fast, yet in some ways it seems like years since we left Provo to come to Denmark. So I feel like we have known her a long long time. We all feel a woebegone sense of loss to see her leave. She is hoping to get the treatment she needs and be back for Christmas. I hope that is the case. If her treatment takes much longer, I don't know if they will clear her to come back for the last few months.
I guess that is one gamble we older missionaries take...we are betting that our health will hold up for 18 or 23 months. We have had several senior missionaries with health problems, and occasionally they need to return to their homes in America before their period of service is over. But I think we have had several younger ones depart for their home countries during the past 13 months for health reasons too....so perhaps it is not a case of being older, so much as there is a certain percentage that will have some difficulties. We have 5 young missionaries home now in Denmark......they returned home early from other parts of the world with health challenges, and are trying to prepare to go back out.
Our meetings at church today were absolutely wonderful. The spirit was strong as messages of the Gospel were taught. We had a visitor from Germany. It seems like we often have guests from other countries....isn't that great fun?
In the afternoon SK and I went to a members' home where we had dinner with the family, the young elders, and 5 YSAs....one of whom came with the missionaries. He was curious about the church. He has spoken with missionaries before, and gone to church with a young LDS woman a couple of times. I think he enjoyed being in the family's lovely home, bantering with everyone around the table, eating wonderful food. He is a college student who - like most of them around here -is on his own and doesn't take the time to fix food for himself much beyond peanut butter sandwiches (that is really what he said, but I don't think most students can afford peanut butter, and they don't really HAVE good peanut butter anyway).
Eventually the topic turned to religion. When asked what his beliefs were, he frankly said he is an agnostic atheist. He is fascinated by religion, and has been curious about LDS because of their happiness and friendliness. He has studied the Bible, but got discouraged with the Old Testament. He has read some of the Book of Mormon and has enjoyed talking with the missionaries.
The father in the family is a dynamic almost 50-year old with a gift of expression in Danish or English. He told the young man about his beliefs, his faith in Jesus Christ, his gratitude to be a part of an eternal family. The young man made thoughtful comments and asked insightful questions.
Three of the YSAs are returned missionaries and so articulate about what the gospel is and why it is so important to them, and then of course there is SK who bore a powerful testimony about the Book of Mormon. You might think it was a full-court press, but it was a sweet and wonderful conversation.
I was inspired just listening and taking an occasional part in the talk. Everyone was respectful and quietly expressed themselves. I think this young man will join us at the center one of these nights and he is planning on attending stake conference next week.
As I sat there, I thought "This is really what missionaries love....when the spirit is present and everyone feels it." One of our young men said - in so many words - that the reason missionaries and members share the gospel is that it is so important to us and we want others to have what we have. The father said that the heart of the gospel to him is that he will be with his wife forever and that their children are sealed to them....he added that now he must live well enough to qualify for that. Looking at his sons at the table, it was easy to sense their devotion to each other.
After coming home, I went up to say goodbye to Sister Swena. I am happy for her that she will get some help. She really doesn't feel well.
We will miss her.
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Helping Hands
A soft mist hovered over everything nearly the entire day. Across the lake, the tall apartment building and the planetarium were shrouded in a thin veil. The weather report was "57 degrees and warm with fog." The fine print said "humidity 100%"
This was a "wash your hair day." We had a wedding reception in the afternoon and it is nicer if I don't have to wash it on Sunday....so today was the day. After getting it reasonably straight and smooth, I ventured out to run several errands. I walked a couple of miles, going to a few different shops. It was very cool and bracing outside with a nice wind. Do you know what weather like that does to freshly washed hair?
Yes....I showed up at the reception looking like Little Orphan Annie...only my hair is gray and brown.
At one point I paused to watch a small parade go by....actually more like a demonstration. It wound its way down the middle of the street, led by a large truck with a man on who was booming out over a loud speaker. It was some kind of a chant, and the men in the troop that followed were chanting with him...loudly, aggressively. There were signs and flags from another country. Women were following too, occasionally making a strange high-pitched noise.
They must have been campaigning for rights of some sort....rights that they believe they should have. And they must strongly identify with a homeland.
I can't imagine why anyone would come to this land, take advantage of the kindness of the Danish people regarding school, health care and a high standard of living and then demand the Danes change for them. It doesn't make sense to me. I don't understand why they don't stay in the homeland they love and change it. Insisting another culture change to suit them seems completely out of line.
One thing I was looking for was a gift card. I called a Danish friend who gave me the straight story on when to arrive, how long to stay and what kind of gift to give. She and I both felt a gift card would be best. There is a great kitchen store about a mile from here....I got there in good time, but they were out of gift cards! I walked farther and found one that worked and then returned home.
The reception was lovely....in the church. It was refreshing because no one tried to disguise the church. Tables and chairs were put up, there were beautiful fresh flowers, a gift table, the beautiful new couple all dressed up and a crowd of happy guests....oh and a table of wonderful desserts.
While I was doing such mundane things, SK was out in the country with 17 of our YSAs working at a fundraiser to supplement our food budget funds. They worked hard. What a great group of young people!
I finished out the day by making a carrot cake for a YSA dinner tomorrow. Alright!
This was a "wash your hair day." We had a wedding reception in the afternoon and it is nicer if I don't have to wash it on Sunday....so today was the day. After getting it reasonably straight and smooth, I ventured out to run several errands. I walked a couple of miles, going to a few different shops. It was very cool and bracing outside with a nice wind. Do you know what weather like that does to freshly washed hair?
Yes....I showed up at the reception looking like Little Orphan Annie...only my hair is gray and brown.
At one point I paused to watch a small parade go by....actually more like a demonstration. It wound its way down the middle of the street, led by a large truck with a man on who was booming out over a loud speaker. It was some kind of a chant, and the men in the troop that followed were chanting with him...loudly, aggressively. There were signs and flags from another country. Women were following too, occasionally making a strange high-pitched noise.
They must have been campaigning for rights of some sort....rights that they believe they should have. And they must strongly identify with a homeland.
I can't imagine why anyone would come to this land, take advantage of the kindness of the Danish people regarding school, health care and a high standard of living and then demand the Danes change for them. It doesn't make sense to me. I don't understand why they don't stay in the homeland they love and change it. Insisting another culture change to suit them seems completely out of line.
One thing I was looking for was a gift card. I called a Danish friend who gave me the straight story on when to arrive, how long to stay and what kind of gift to give. She and I both felt a gift card would be best. There is a great kitchen store about a mile from here....I got there in good time, but they were out of gift cards! I walked farther and found one that worked and then returned home.
The reception was lovely....in the church. It was refreshing because no one tried to disguise the church. Tables and chairs were put up, there were beautiful fresh flowers, a gift table, the beautiful new couple all dressed up and a crowd of happy guests....oh and a table of wonderful desserts.
While I was doing such mundane things, SK was out in the country with 17 of our YSAs working at a fundraiser to supplement our food budget funds. They worked hard. What a great group of young people!
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