FIRST SUNDAY IN DENMARK

I promise I am not going to write every day, but the first little while takes a lot of explaining.  Church was an adventure.  The little branch is called Amager  (Amire) and is about 20 minutes away.  It's a small, but beautiful red brick building with a chapel and  Relief Society and Priesthood rooms in the basement.  We met some wonderful people  and even though it's a small congregation, we felt a strong spirit there.  Stan spoke Danish with the branch president when he shook hands and was immediately invited to say the opening prayer in sacrament meeting.  In Danish.  Nervous.  Did great.

The songs and prayers were in Danish, but the sacrament talks were interpreted for us at the pulpit.   Stan wanted to go to Danish Sunday school and actually understood the lesson.  I did not.  No surprise there.   Thankfully there was a corner to sit in Relief Society with ANNA who interpreted for us.  Bless.  Even though there was a lot of language confusion for me, the spirit was not at all confusing.  We are excited to help serve in this faithful branch in a small corner of the church's vineyard.

As we finished, a handsome young man came up and invited us to lunch at his home.  His name is Sebastian and come to find out, he is married to the Branch President's daughter, Kristina.   These two beautiful people met as ballerinas.  He retired and runs an American company in Scandinavia, but she still dances for the Danish Royal Ballet as a prima donna.  YES.   She is on maternity leave and will be returning in December.  And apparently they have a flair for hosting 6 extra people to lunch at the drop of a hat!!  The lunch was simple, but beautifully served. (By the way, the seasoning on the chicken was from Turkey where the family  had just vacationed.) Our first real meal in Denmark.  Not only that,  but the couple  has completely remodeled their 3 story home by themselves.  A wonderful, Danish modern home with lots of white walls, sleek furniture and wood floors.

After lunch, we had a dinner appointment at President O'Bryant's home with all the missionary couples in the area.  They have a lovely home quite far out, and the meal was yummy.  We got to know the Danish couple and older Elder who help in the office.  The O'Bryant's youngest son, Thomas who just finished his mission in Twin Falls, Id. is visiting for another week until school starts at BYU Idaho.  We can tell the O'Bryant's will be a wonderful blessing for the Denmark mission.   So a busy, busy day.

Today was also our grandson, Christopher's farewell in Cheyenne.  We feel bad to have missed it but have heard already how wonderful his talk was.  We are so proud that he is serving in the Ft. Lauderdale mission.  He leaves Wednesday for the Mexico MTC.  It will be fun to share missionary experiences.

Branch in Amager.  Notice the roof.  Copenhagen is known for its red tile roofs.

Sebastian and Christina holding Birke and Elliot.  President Olsen and his wife, back.  He is a policeman.

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The home of our hosts, the Michaneks.

President and Sister O'Bryant's welcome dinner for us.  The Thornes, top right are leaving soon and we will be moving next door into their apartment. (After they show us the ropes in the office.)  From top:  Thornes, Brooks, Ottleys, us, Linn Bryner, Warnsdorfs and O'Bryants.

TRIP TO DENMARK

We left the MTC at 4:30 a.m. on August 28, a little bleary-eyed but ready to get under way.  We had talked to all the family the night before which was wonderful.  It will be weird not being able to text them - our most common form of communication.  We arrived at the SLC airport and had plenty of time to spare and things rolled right along.  Amazing.  And, when we got to NYC, we found that we didn't have to change terminals, so that was nice!!

The flight to Denmark was pretty smooth.  Seven and a half hours was considerably better than our 15 hour trip to China last year.  Because our upgrade was pretty last minute, we had to do some switching with kind people to be able to sit across the aisle from each other.

After wrestling our considerable luggage (which all showed up thankfully), we straggled out of the Copenhagen terminal to be met by our Welcome Committee:  President and Sister O'Bryant,  who had been here very early to drop off the couple and single sister we are replacing.  They were very warm and welcoming. President O'Bryant took us to our temporary apartment (for 2 1/2 weeks) and we shoved our luggage into one of those outside, grilled elevators that you see in Europe in the movies.  Very cool. We are in down-town Copenhagen and our back patio fronts a lake with a walking path, probably a mile around.  It's part of the old city moat and one of several in a row.  Lots of old and new apartments, funny little side streets, shops and cobblestones. We will send pics.

The Thornes, our neighbors and residents of our future apartment, took us to the ATM, a small grocery store and the office supply store ( a tiny little thing crammed between a boutique and restaurant).   They have company,  so left us to buy a few groceries, take a nap, and get our electronics working.  OOma is not cooperating.

For church, we are assigned to a small  branch on a little island about 25 minutes from here and will go tomorrow with the Thornes.  Should be interesting - all in Danish.

Think this is enough for 18 months?

Danish for real.

President and Sister O'Bryant met us at the airport with Danish flags.  We look a little worse for wear.  Sister O'Bryant was trying to tell me that is warm in Denmark.  Notice the coat?  Mid-summer.........

MTC OFFICE TRAINING

Just finished our second week at the MTC.  Would never have imagined the number of software programs and details required to keep a mission running.  My Goodness. Need Prayers. We finish packing tonight and fly out tomorrow morning.  Leave the MTC at 4:45.  Oh and by the way, Happy Birthday Carson!!

Our Office Buddies.  Going to North Dakota, Australia, California, Ghana, Canada, Arkansas, North Carolina, France 

TENDER MERCIES

The  blessings pronounced in our setting-apart promised protection and help for our families at home while we are gone.  We were told not to worry.  Yesterday, our daughter Tacy was involved in a bad car accident. She was broad-sided by a driver who ran a stop sign on a small two-lane Texas road, spinning her down the road in traffic.  Miraculously, her jeep was not hit by other cars.   Miraculously, she walked away from the crash with no injuries.  Tender mercies for sure.  We are grateful for the Lord's care and protection of our sweet daughter.

LEAVING PART II

Went home for a very busy Saturday, then spent Sunday with Jordan and family.  Good and Bad.  We loved seeing them and the grand-daughters and hubbies again, but had to say "Good-bye" one more time.  Emotional.............  Jordan actually braved BYU country and escorted  us back to the MTC. Unselfishness at its best.  Bless.

A second good-by with our Utah family.

When we left home the smoke in the air was so dense we couldn't see the Logan mountains to the east.  And the smoky smell.......................

MTC

The MTC is a wonderful place.  Busy.  Bustling.  Beautiful.  Elders and sisters fill the walkways, happy and laughing.  Scrubbed faces and rosy cheeks.  They are exhuberant.  Some look no older that middle-schoolers,  every size and shape and nationality.  They rush to open doors for us and shout hello in a dozen languages.  There are 35 new couples and 4 single sisters in our group.  They are headed throughout the world from Turkey (new mission) to North Dakota,  from the Phillipines to Italy.
On the first day we had our picture taken in front of the famous MTC map.  Our neighbors are here with us.  Syd and Val are heading to Roseville, California.

Our Neighbors, Syd and Valerie Larsen, going to Roseville, California

We are in classes all day learning Preach My Gospel and teaching techniques.  The teachers are young, vivacious brothers and sisters.  The spirit is really strong here and we feel blessed to partake of it.  Tuesday night's fireside was Elder Echo Hawk, along with an 800-voice choir of missionaries.  Awesome.

Our District
L to R:  the Andersons (from Alberta, Canada, going to Latvia, Office Support, teachers:  Sister Tutt, Sister Frandsen, the Whiteheads (from Orem and going to Orem, MLS)

LEAVING PART I

Monday morning the 17th came way too soon and we packed the car and said our tearful goodbyes.  We are going to miss our family so much, but hope they understand that this is a mission we are sharing with all of them.  They are so supportive and dear to us.  Thank goodness for Skype!!

PACKIN' UP

Getting to the MTC involved lots of details and lots of running around.  After our two weeks of partying and serious stuff  (24th of July,  Christopher and McKenzie's temple endowments, McKenzie's wedding, and seeing each and everyone of our family), it was time to get down to business.  Two weeks and counting.  After everyone left, we did have a couple of  accidents.  Addie broke her ankle playing volleyball and baby Ben broke his leg on the tramp.  What else could go wrong?
We did have to cut short our prep time for one more trip to Cheyenne (did I mention that McKenzie had 3 receptions?)  and down to Ft. Collins to visit our dentist.  A few days later, Shayna flew back up to help with the final details and Anissa and family came to pick up Christopher's mission suits and help as well.  We kept them all busy!!!   Sunday the 16th was pretty peaceful.  Jordan and family came up to  join in on the setting apart at our house.  Just as we thought we had most everything under control, little Vivienne sliced her fingers good on a fireplace screen and had to be rushed to the ER and actually sedated to stitch it together.  Even though President Israelsen and Bishop Harris delayed by a couple of hours, Jordan missed our setting apart.  But we had both Hayden and Jackson and our newest elder, Christopher to fill in.   President Israelsen gave wonderful blessings and we feel so grateful to have such a spiritual man lead our stake.

As you can see, somebody got a little punchy helping us pack.

Poor little Vivy when she came back from the ER was so loopy we didn't dare let her stand.  She is trying hard to say "cheese" for the camera.

COUNTDOWN

Mission Countdown!! The day has finally come. We are nearly there. Deep breath....

OUR LDS MISSION IN DENMARK

We are so excited to begin our mission on August 17th, 2015!