Vicky with Stockholm Bay and Strandvagen behind.
Rex on other side of the Stockholm Bay with frozen bay and tall Kaknastornet in background.
Vicky at the top of Katarinahissen with Stockholm in background.
Rex on the Katarinahissen with City Hall and old Church along the Stockholm harbor.
Wrights, Larsons, Andersons, Rex and Vicky, and WrightsWe enjoyed going to the Katarina Hiss, which is a tall 38 meter elevator that overlooks the Stockholm Bay waterfront and Old Town. The only problem was that it was very cold and windy today. We did get some neat pictures though.
The elders came for supper tonight. We enjoyed their visit and lesson before they left. Elder Langston is the new elder serving here in Stockholm with Elder Lords.
Tuesday we spent in the temple as it was the only day we had available this week to serve there and we love serving there each week. Our good friends, Tammy and Olaf Johansson, from Salt Lake, serve in the temple here. We enjoy visiting in the temple with them. We went to their apartment before come home. Rex and Olaf gave me a blessing seeking the Lord’s help for my back surgery tomorrow.
This morning we got up and went to the doctor to have a basil cell carcinoma removed off my back. The doctor, Ylva Enstrôm, made about a one inch oval incision on my back to remove the basil cell carcinoma. She took 7 stitches to sew it up. I have an appointment in two weeks to have the stitches removed. They will analyze the material for cancer and let me know the results in about 4 weeks. It cost us 300 kroner, which is about $35 an extremely reasonable price. After my appointment we went grocery shopping, so I am feeling just fine. Hopefully I will sleep well, as my back is a bit painful.
There is a new senior couple, the Larsons, just arrived from Salt Lake this week. We had a brunch for them at the mission home this morning. We have about 3 couples who live close enough to come when something special happens. Sister Anderson made waffles, which I haven’t eaten since we left on our mission, and a “heavenly syrup” that is to die for. She also served fruit, strawberries and whipped cream, scrambled eggs and ham. What a yummy breakfast and wonderful welcome for the new couple. They are going to Uppsala tomorrow to begin an outreach program for the YSA. Uppsala has a big university and some college students who would benefit from such a program in their city.
We got back to our apartment for about 5 minutes, just in time to leave for the district meeting we attend in Västerhaninge, about an hour train ride from here. It is most exciting to see the young elders plan and present a lesson in their districts, training them from “Preach My Gospel” and setting goals for the district. Leadership is a wonderful tool and these young elders and sisters certainly have the opportunity to grow in this area. We feel so blessed to assist in any way we can. They discussed this quote from Pres. Monson: “When performance is measured, performance improves. When performance is measured and reported, the rate of improvement accelerates.” Another wonderful quote from Elder Ballard is “I am so thoroughly convinced that if we don’t set goals in our life and learn how to master the techniques of living to reach our goals, we can reach a ripe old age and look back on our life only to see that we reached but a small part of our full potential. When one learns to master the principles of setting a goal, he will then be able to make a great difference in the results he attains in this life.” I know that goal setting has blessed us in our service as well. We continue to work on improving our personal lives as well. The section entitled “Attributes of Christ” helps us focus on key areas to improve our lives.
I got an email from Espen Amundsen the NDPA in Norway this morning regarding a new law in Norway. Organized religious groups and some other organizations have now been given the rights to present programs on the state TV Channel for free. Espen was interested in getting the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Music and the Spoken Word. I know it was through inspiration, as this past month I had emailed a man from Bonneville Communications and made a good contact. I sent this information on to him as well as to the contact in Denmark who works with getting the Mormon Tabernacle Choir broadcasts in the Scandinavian countries. He responded and is now working with Norway to have weekly Music and The Spoken Word on Norway television. This is a great Public Affairs opportunity and a blessing for the positive exposure of the Church. It amazes me the number of times that I am inspired by the Lord in fulfilling His purposes here.
I completed the monthly Public Affairs reports for Norway and the Stockholm Key City today. These reports are sent to Frankfurt and then Salt Lake. It helps measure our success and what funds are needed to produce teach, train, and build relationships with opinion leaders in our various Public Affairs efforts.
We received a wonderful Valentine package from our children yesterday. WOW! They are spoiling us so much. We are deeply grateful for their love and support as we are far away from them serving in Sweden.
I am sitting at the computer looking out at the heavy snow fall coming down. It is a blessing that we do our work from our apartment most of the time. Today it just feels nice to sit in a warm apartment and view the beautiful world the Lord has created for us to enjoy. This is only the 3rd snowfall for us this winter.
I took a Valentine card up to Birgitta and dropped it through her mail slot. She stopped a few minutes ago to thank me for the love that I show her. She is such a gem and truly a blessing to have as a dear friend.
Johnsons and Wrights invited us to go out to dinner at the Chinese restaurant, “Wong House”. It was quite good and we thoroughly enjoyed the company. Then we went to Johnson’s to watch the DVD “The Stonecutter” about a pioneer with great courage and determination, John Rowe Moyle. He worked 20 years as a stonecutter for the Salt Lake Temple walking 22 miles each way from Alpine, UT to Salt Lake each week as he worked on the temple. It is a story of faith, courage and determination. I recommend it to everyone. One statement that I loved was, “Most callings are not convenient”, which is so true in our lives each day.
The elders came for supper tonight. We enjoyed their visit and lesson before they left. Elder Langston is the new elder serving here in Stockholm with Elder Lords.
Tuesday we spent in the temple as it was the only day we had available this week to serve there and we love serving there each week. Our good friends, Tammy and Olaf Johansson, from Salt Lake, serve in the temple here. We enjoy visiting in the temple with them. We went to their apartment before come home. Rex and Olaf gave me a blessing seeking the Lord’s help for my back surgery tomorrow.
This morning we got up and went to the doctor to have a basil cell carcinoma removed off my back. The doctor, Ylva Enstrôm, made about a one inch oval incision on my back to remove the basil cell carcinoma. She took 7 stitches to sew it up. I have an appointment in two weeks to have the stitches removed. They will analyze the material for cancer and let me know the results in about 4 weeks. It cost us 300 kroner, which is about $35 an extremely reasonable price. After my appointment we went grocery shopping, so I am feeling just fine. Hopefully I will sleep well, as my back is a bit painful.
There is a new senior couple, the Larsons, just arrived from Salt Lake this week. We had a brunch for them at the mission home this morning. We have about 3 couples who live close enough to come when something special happens. Sister Anderson made waffles, which I haven’t eaten since we left on our mission, and a “heavenly syrup” that is to die for. She also served fruit, strawberries and whipped cream, scrambled eggs and ham. What a yummy breakfast and wonderful welcome for the new couple. They are going to Uppsala tomorrow to begin an outreach program for the YSA. Uppsala has a big university and some college students who would benefit from such a program in their city.
We got back to our apartment for about 5 minutes, just in time to leave for the district meeting we attend in Västerhaninge, about an hour train ride from here. It is most exciting to see the young elders plan and present a lesson in their districts, training them from “Preach My Gospel” and setting goals for the district. Leadership is a wonderful tool and these young elders and sisters certainly have the opportunity to grow in this area. We feel so blessed to assist in any way we can. They discussed this quote from Pres. Monson: “When performance is measured, performance improves. When performance is measured and reported, the rate of improvement accelerates.” Another wonderful quote from Elder Ballard is “I am so thoroughly convinced that if we don’t set goals in our life and learn how to master the techniques of living to reach our goals, we can reach a ripe old age and look back on our life only to see that we reached but a small part of our full potential. When one learns to master the principles of setting a goal, he will then be able to make a great difference in the results he attains in this life.” I know that goal setting has blessed us in our service as well. We continue to work on improving our personal lives as well. The section entitled “Attributes of Christ” helps us focus on key areas to improve our lives.
I got an email from Espen Amundsen the NDPA in Norway this morning regarding a new law in Norway. Organized religious groups and some other organizations have now been given the rights to present programs on the state TV Channel for free. Espen was interested in getting the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Music and the Spoken Word. I know it was through inspiration, as this past month I had emailed a man from Bonneville Communications and made a good contact. I sent this information on to him as well as to the contact in Denmark who works with getting the Mormon Tabernacle Choir broadcasts in the Scandinavian countries. He responded and is now working with Norway to have weekly Music and The Spoken Word on Norway television. This is a great Public Affairs opportunity and a blessing for the positive exposure of the Church. It amazes me the number of times that I am inspired by the Lord in fulfilling His purposes here.
I completed the monthly Public Affairs reports for Norway and the Stockholm Key City today. These reports are sent to Frankfurt and then Salt Lake. It helps measure our success and what funds are needed to produce teach, train, and build relationships with opinion leaders in our various Public Affairs efforts.
We received a wonderful Valentine package from our children yesterday. WOW! They are spoiling us so much. We are deeply grateful for their love and support as we are far away from them serving in Sweden.
I am sitting at the computer looking out at the heavy snow fall coming down. It is a blessing that we do our work from our apartment most of the time. Today it just feels nice to sit in a warm apartment and view the beautiful world the Lord has created for us to enjoy. This is only the 3rd snowfall for us this winter.
I took a Valentine card up to Birgitta and dropped it through her mail slot. She stopped a few minutes ago to thank me for the love that I show her. She is such a gem and truly a blessing to have as a dear friend.
Johnsons and Wrights invited us to go out to dinner at the Chinese restaurant, “Wong House”. It was quite good and we thoroughly enjoyed the company. Then we went to Johnson’s to watch the DVD “The Stonecutter” about a pioneer with great courage and determination, John Rowe Moyle. He worked 20 years as a stonecutter for the Salt Lake Temple walking 22 miles each way from Alpine, UT to Salt Lake each week as he worked on the temple. It is a story of faith, courage and determination. I recommend it to everyone. One statement that I loved was, “Most callings are not convenient”, which is so true in our lives each day.
We had an outstanding Sunday School teacher. He is a convert from Iran and knows the gospel very well. Today as he was teaching about the first principles and ordinances of the gospel, he said our repentance cannot be like spraying ourselves with perfume and expecting the smell to wipe away the sin. We need to cleanse from the inside, from the heart. What an interesting analogy.
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