Gotland and Parliament

We had a fabulous vacation on Gotland Island on the southeast coast of Sweden. It is Sweden's Hawaii. The ancient sites are beautiful and the weather was heavenly. Another senior couple enjoyed the 4 days with us.

Our work is moving forward here in Sweden. I am working on getting a member of the Swedish Parliament to travel to the U.S. where he will visit Salt Lake and then go to Provo to speak on families. He is a strong advocate of families here in Sweden. The Key City Council gave him an award in 2007 for his work on helping strengthen families here in Sweden. We are also working on presentations to each of the four Nordic Countries in regard to the BYU Young Ambassadors coming to the Nordic Countries in May 2009. They haven't been here since 1989 so this is a big deal.

Today we attended a conference at the Swedish Parliament regarding strengthening families and what they feel Sweden needs to do to support families more. Tonight we are attending a concert and lecture on families at the Concert Hall. Then all day Saturday, May 17 we have U.N. Famly Day in downtown Sweden where about 15,000 people come. We will have a tent set up with information on how to hold a Family Home Evening and handouts that say "Don't Disturb -- Family Home Evening in Progress." There will also be an area in the tent to take family photos that will be sent to the family or delivered at a later date. We are excited to be here serving the Lord and for the work we are privileged to do here.

The man who spoke today shared three great ideas:

1- Investing in marriage is like investing in the stock exchange. You have to invest often and quite alot to receive a return.

2 - The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence because you don't water enough on your side of the fence.

3 - We look and look to find the one to love, but really need to work to love the one we find.

Great counsel regarding marriage.

It is only 45 degrees today and this California girl is missing the warmer weather we are used to. The mornings are overcast but by afternoon the sunshine is usually out for a while.

Yesterday we attended a Missionary Zone Conference about an hour away. Pres. Karlsson asked us to bear our testimonies to the elders and sisters. It was such a spiritual, uplifting day. We have been asked to make a presentation at the next Zone Conference to teach the elders and sisters how to approach the press and introduce themselves for a photo and brief article in the local papers. Many of the small towns around Stockholm are willing and eager to do this. It is most always very positive.

Sweden in beautiful and we are loving the people here.