Week of April 27th

We started out this week with a fire drill in the Gästhem and also the temple. We were told that it would happen between 8-10 in the morning and when it rang we were to leave our apartments and go to the church. We were just eating breakfast when it went off. We left our waffles and headed to the church. Then we were told to go to the temple and we were assigned rooms to be in to see if the alarms were OK there. Well, the alarm went off and the noise was heard outside the temple but not inside! I guess we will have to have another one at the temple! Two hours later we returned to our soggy waffles!
The people who live on the top floor of the Gästhem are fun to be with and we had our first hamburger get together.
It was not warm enough to cook outside but we had a great time and as usual ate too much. But the hamburgers were really good!
The temple was busy this week and Chuck worked at the recommend desk three early mornings. We had a good sized group come to do baptisms and our good friends the Karlsson’s were here this week also. Saturday was very busy and with large sessions which is wonderful to have. We love the peace and love that you feel in the temple.
Friday we did not go to the temple but our Swedish teacher took us into Stockholm to see the celebration for the King’s birthday. They had two marching Military bands and one band that rode on horseback. There was a Military Drill team that performed, and the changing of the guards.
The new guards rode horses and dismounted all together, very impressive. The King walked out into the square and stood on a platform and the crowd (about 1000) waved and sang happy birthday. The Queen and one of the Princesses came out an open door on the 2nd floor of the palace and waved to the crowd. The people here really adore the Royal Family. After the festivities were over the King let the children come and give him flowers. There was quite a line and he had a big arm full of flowers. He then walked back into the palace and waved to the crowd with the Queen. It was very nice to see.
We stayed in Stockholm and ate lunch at the Café Sten Sture, did a lot of walking and seeing things. At 18.00 we went to the Out Reach Center (Young Adult Center) for our orientation and to meet the kids. There were about 15 young adults there and it was fun to talk to them. We will serve one Friday night a month at this center in Stockholm. It is a beautiful place for the young people to come for FHE, Institute class and to just ‘chill’ or hang out on Friday nights. It should be fun. There were two young men that we met at the center that came to the temple on Saturday.
Sunday was a beautiful day with blue sky and sun shining. We went for a long walk and saw a part of town that we have not seen before. We love to walk and see new things. We
always enjoy going to church with these great people and it was my Sunday to play the piano in Primary. Plus Sundays are good because we get to Skype one of our kids.
It is getting light about 3:30 or 4:00. The birds were singing this morning at 3:00. And it is dark about 21.30 and we still have a month and a half before it is the longest day of the year!
We are so blessed to serve our mission here and are blessed for all the love, support, faith and prayers given in our behalf. Thanks!