Week of 18th January

This week we have completed 3 months on our mission. Already the time is going fast and we love the work we are involved in.
We had a FHE this week with the American couples to list the sites in Sweden that are a must to see. Most of the museums are closed on Mondays so we have to take advantage of the one Saturday a month we are not assigned to the temple and see some of Sweden. It was a very fun evening and we certainly have a lot to see and enjoy.
One of the American couples went home this week. Manny and Carol Nelson have only been here three months but they have some health issues and cannot get or afford their medications here in Sweden. It was very sad to see them go. They are from Orem so we will see them again. We had a pizza going away party for them which was very fun and lots of laughs. Kay Soderquist and I were in charge of the food so we went to two pizza places so we could see what they had and the prices. Only one problem, the night we went we did not take anyone with us and we could not read the menu and no one spoke English! We had to go back the next day to order and Kent Soderquist went with us this time. It was excellent pizza. We bought 4 family size pizzas and the bill was over $100 plus 20K to deliver them. Oh well, the Nelson’s were worth it.
Chuck certainly has the gift of Tongues in learning languages. He can now do the ordinances (from memory) in English and Swedish and some in Spanish. I am so proud of him. I can do a few in Swedish and I am pleased about that! At least it is a start! I try to say at least one phrase a day to one of the Swedish sisters in their language. Sometimes they say ‘good’ other times they smile and correct me!
This week has been busy at the temple but we also have had a large traveling group here for their week. We also have had a darling couple here who live in Ireland.
She is from Latvia and he is from Lithuania and they have been married for 7 months. They were so fun to watch. She went to Lithuania on her mission so that is what language they speak plus English. We became very close to them. They attended every session during the week except one and then they did baptisms. They hope to come back in August, Anna and Julius Garneliene (Ransheva).
Our beautiful friend (adopted Swedish daughter)
Mikaela Nilsson came to the temple the last part of the week and again we got to help her do the ordinances for her family. She still is the only member in her family, but very strong. She is 31 and just broke up with her boyfriend because he did not want to go to the temple or study the scriptures and did not want to go with her anymore! So sad but she deserves someone who is strong also. She will come back in two weeks. So glad we were reunited with her.
Saturday was so busy at the temple. We had double 10:00 sessions and it was wonderful. Chuck was busy all day and I helped with ordinances for Mikaela’s names and then did sealings. I participated in about 17 couple sealings, about 20 daughters to parents and about 15 sons to parents. Yea! Families are forever.
Sunday was a spiritual day. With the help of a translator I took several notes during Sacrament meeting. “God needs to know that when He lets go of your hand that you will still follow Him”. “Along with free agency comes accountability”. We and the Soderquists were invited to Pres and Sys Evensen’s apartment for dinner. It was wonderful and we sat around after the meal for several hours and talked and laughed. Laughing is good for the soul!
How blessed we are to have such an awesome family at home, along with great friends and then to be here in Sweden making new friends. Yes, we love our mission. Hej dä

Week of Jan 11th

This week has been cold but busy at the temple. We had a group of saints from Göteberg and this is a group we have met before. It is so good to see new friends again and it is surprising to see how quickly you connect with some of them. The Karlsson’s are one of those couples that you feel like you have known them before.
We have been more diligent in making study time for Swedish. And we did have a Swedish lesson on Wednesday. It sure helps plus it is fun just to get together and talk about things not in the temple. Chuck is doing wonderful with the language and can talk with people. I am making progress on the number of words I know and I am beginning to say a few things in Swedish to some of the workers and then hope they don’t say anything back! I am picking out more words that I know in the temple and then trying to remember a few new ones each day to look up in the dictionary when I get home. The gift of tongues comes with a lot of study!
We have even squeezed a little time to practice our guitars. We really enjoyed playing Christmas songs put now it is on to new and harder things.
On Thursday when we walked to the temple it was a frosty wonderland. Everything was covered with frost like a thick fog only it was the moisture in the air. The people here believe that is what the Celestial Kingdom will look like. It was beautiful.
We went on a walk with Pres and Sister Evensen and then decided to eat at the ‘Pub’. They serve all kinds of pizza, salads and hamburgers. We had good ole hamburgers and fries. It was good and I have been craving one, so I enjoyed it. It was really good and not McDonald’s!
Dad has been trying to teach me how to use New Family Search. We traced the Nyman line back to the 1500’s and the work has been done. I would sure like to find new names while I am here. Maybe if I am in tune my relatives in heaven will assist me!
In church Sunday we were talking about if we know we are children of God, and how can He known all of us. I had this thought: If we believe in personal revelation then we must believe, or know, that He knows us personally and is interested in what we need. I do know that we are God’s children and that we are here to live worthy to return to Him and that he trusts that we will do so. He does answer our prayers because He loves us. But they are answered in His way and His time frame.
Today we did a puzzle and I made French bread. Plus, dad wrote his talk to give in church in February. He will have Brother Klarin correct it.
We are good. We are really blessed to be here safe in Sweden and to serve in the temple. Thanks for your love, prayers, and concerns and for emails and cards. We love you.

Week of January 4th

January 6th is the day called “undo’ Christmas” and people take down their tree, pull it out in the center of the room and sing and dance around it. Then they all pick it up and throw it outside. Tradition is that is the day the Wise Men came and brought gifts. So we do have our decorations down and they all fit in one small box!
We got some sad new this week that Peder Henrickson ( the Christmas Tomten that we sent an earlier picture of) had a heart attack on the way to the temple and died. He was such a cute little man and on Saturday he was telling Chuck just how great it was to be alive.
When we were at our Swedish lesson I was eating a piece of candy and felt something hard in my mouth and discovered a crown had come off. SO I got my first taste of dentistry here in Sweden. Our teacher (Sister Klarin) called the next morning to the clinic and got me an appointment and Brother Klarin took us in the car.
I had a lady dentist about 35 yrs old and she was great. She put cold water and blew air on the space where the crown was to see if it was sensitive, NO. Took an x-ray to make sure of no infection, none! So she just put cement on the tooth and put it back in because the fit was good. Sure glad! Dental costs are not on your personal number account so we had to pay for it.
We had a cute family come to the temple to be sealed. They have been married for eight years and have a little girl (6) and a little boy (3). She is from Brazil and a return missionary and her husband is from Sweden. They were so cute and humble and grateful to become a forever family.
Chuck has been asked to be a speaker in Sacrament Meeting the end of February on the subject of prayer. He is nervous and it will be a little stretch for him to do it in Swedish but I know he will do a great job. Brother Klarin is going to help him translate it when he gets it written.
Thanks for the Christmas cards, letters, care packages, money, love and prayers in our behalf. We are blessed and love the Lord. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve the Lord in the Temple in Stockholm. May you all have peace in your lives in 2010. God bless you!

Week of December 28th

The missionary couples and Pres and Sys Oscarson were invited to Nynäshamn to the home of the Högland’s for lunch. He was the former Temple President. It was a beautiful ride and their home is on the bank of the harbor and wow what a view. We met them when they were in Salt Lake for the Temple President’s training, in 2006. They are great people and their daughter lives in our ward.
There were no extra workers in the temple over the Christmas holiday because there were no wards or stakes with temple assignments. One day we got to spend from 9:00a.m. to 9:00p.m. in doing service in the temple. We were able to have all the session and it really was a wonderful day.
Here in Sweden the Youth and the Young Adults come together for youth conferences twice a year. During the holidays their winter conference was held. During one of the days of the conference the Young Adults came and did a session and baptisms. I love to see young people in the temple.
We had our Swedish lessons during the holidays and they are very helpful. I am learning many new words and Chuck already knows them!
New Years Eve the temple missionaries were invited to the home of the Stockholm Sweden Mission President (President Anderson).
We had a great time eating, playing games, laughing, singing and eating again! The weather was snowing and it took us an hour to get there because it is on the other side of Stockholm from Västerhaninge. The home is quite large with beds in the basement for the elders and upstairs for the sisters. The missionaries stay here before leaving for their first assignments or before they leave for home after being released. The Anderson’s are wonderful people and come from Richland, Washington.
New Years day was a quiet day as they do not `undo’ Christmas’ until Jan 6th. Tradition has it that on that day the Wise Men came. So they have a party, undo the decorations and dance around the tree and then throw it outside. We are throwing ours out now as we need it for next year!
We have certainly enjoyed all our mail, computer email, packages and being able to Skype our family. May each of you have a great New Year and peace in your lives in 2010.