Week of December 6th

Our good friends, the Kämäräinens, left for home in Finland this week. Before they left we had a great day together having lunch and then visiting several stores that we have not seen before. We had such a fun time. We are in hopes to see them at the temple in Finland when Zach and Ginet come. Sister Kämäräinen thinks she can remember Zach as a missionary so that could be a fun reunion.
It has still been very cold, but we have seen the moon at night and even the sun for a little while during the day. One morning it was -13C and the conditions were just right for we saw another rainbow. Wow, such wonders of God.

Friday we were asked to spend the evening with the Young Adults. They packed the food into boxes that they collected at ‘Soul Night’. It was fun to be with them again. We borrowed the Temple Presidents car so we could get to the church where the activity was held. They seem to have a lot of fun with each other. The boxes of food will go to the Baltic counties to help some needy families.
We attended the traditional St Lucia concert and we enjoyed it more than last year. There were about 1400 kids involved in this singing production and all carried lit candles as they walked around the ice hockey Stadium and sang.

 It was wonderful and the kids really seemed to enjoy singing together and no one’s hair started on fire! It is supposed to be the biggest Lucia concert in the world.
The temple was busy this week with a lot of people staying at the guesthouse. There was not a certain group assigned to come this week. The Pederson’s were here from Norway. They have a daughter that lives in the 5th ward in our home stake.

 They are going to Utah in January to visit with their daughter for a week and then enter the MTC where they will train to be the couple in the Norway Mission Office. One night we enjoyed eating dinner with them and the Evensens. They are great people and great friends.
Some of the people who come to the temple now will not return until after we are released. It is hard to say good-bye to our temple friends. I have even learned how to say…När kommer du nästa gang? (When will you come next time?) We are starting to have some of these close friends write in our memory book!
Sunday we had a spiritual Sacrament Meeting. The theme was Jesus Christ. After two talks and a musical number the father of a missionary, leaving on Tuesday for Australia, got up to bear his testimony. All he said was, “I know that Jesus Christ lives” and then sat down. Wow, the spirit was very strong and a few tears were shed. Then the missionary, Elder Lindberg, spoke. He will be a wonderful missionary. He is such a compassionate person with his family and has such a desire to serve. He will be awesome. The spirit was strong through his talk also and more tears were shed. We too know that Jesus Christ lives and add our testimony to theirs!
It has been a good week. We will have a white Christmas because it is too cold for the snow to melt. It is beginning to get light about 7:45 now and it is dark at 3:00. But, only 7 days for the longest night of the year and then it will begin to be longer days!!
Thanks for your faith, prayers and support. Also for the packages, Christmas cards, emails and love. We love you and pray for you too.

St. Lucia Concert