So, while folks at home have been dealing with record snowfall (!!!!!!) we have been waiting for a replacement couple to pop up in the church system. Our original release date was February 17th, then April 4, and then "indefinite" because there was no one on the radar. Finally a couple showed up last week in the system and so our release date is officially May 9th. (Nothing better than spring in Cache Valley.) The new couple is coming at the end of April and I think it will be a bit of a stretch for them to be ready, but, thankfully they are excited to come. We have chatted on the phone with them directly from Gilbert, Arizona, and we will have about one week to turn the office over to them in May............I am sure they will be super! It certainly creates a mixed-bag of emotions, though. Really miss the family and friends, but we are typical missionaries and it will be hard to leave.
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| Pretty much the only snow this winter thus far. |
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| Some of these missionaries are healthy. Some. Last week, a few brought a new convert to do baptisms in the temple; others had business at the office and all are more than happy to share germs with each other if they can eat lunch together. At least their appetites are healthy. One pizza each. 😋 |
Christmas Nisser (mischievous elfs) You can't find nativities in Denmark, but lots of these.
Thankfully, we have avoided the flu and since we had a couple of free days recently, and a bucket list of places to see, we headed out to the west coast of Jylland. Here you find scenic lowlands, gentle hills and meadows, and a lot of coastline along with beautifully preserved medieval towns. This part of Denmark is famous for its Viking origins and wouldn't you know it, a whole branch of Christensen ancestors. One of the couples, always ready to explore, agreed to travel with us, so we headed west to pick up the Larsens in Århus. Sister Larsen's collection of Nisser greeted us at the door.
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| This church does not have the typical Danish stair-step steeple. |
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| You can see all the additions over the years in the brick, stone and rock work. |
Egtved
Old font in Egtved
Along our way to the west coast we stopped at Egtved kirke. Some of the first settlements in Denmark came from this area, so the churches can be very old. Located in Egtved By, this ancient church has been added to at least 3 different times, but the oldest part of it was there in the 1600 and 1700's where my relative Anne Jørgensdatter (Anthonius Andersen Buck) and her ancestors worshipped for many generations. The baptismal font is of a type found in this part of Denmark and is from 1100 AD, and the altar is from 1425. Such history in these old parishes!
One should meditate here.
Yes. Very large.
We poked around a bit, then drove on to Esbjerg. Outside Esbjerg is an oddity that has a timely appeal for today - a sculpture called "Man Meets the Sea." Four stark, white, 27-foot tall men, sitting stiffly upright, tower above the beach on a small incline. Completely devoid of decoration, they stare blankly out to sea. The sculpture is meant to have a "universal appeal to represent all of man as opposed to any one ethnicity." Hmmmm. Sister Larsen and I clambered up near the feet for a photo shot.
Jylland (the west part of Denmark) is almost 3 times larger than the rest of Denmark and so distances between villages is greater. Which means more driving when visiting. Jylland is the only part of Denmark that is not an island and the bottom section of the peninsula borders Germany. Missionaries sometimes serve in Sønderborg - within hollering distance of the border. We would have loved to slip over the border (against mission rules) but headed north to Ringkøbing Fjord. We drove up a narrow strip of land about 22 miles long and one-half mile wide which separates the Fjord from the north sea. This spit of land is mostly sand dunes and marsh grass and summer cottages. Thatched roofs in one cottage-cluster looked like hobbit huts hidden away among rolling hills of sand and sea grass.
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| Aren't those just the cutest little homes! |
Wind-blown sea grass
Dog walkers on the beach with Elder Buxton.
Blustery beach day - aren't they all?
We drove until the road petered out and our front wheel dropped into a grassy covered hole. Stuck. It is a good thing the mission cars are small enough to maneuver because the men had to wrestle it back to a level spot. The wind was no help. It whistled around the dunes and down the beach with icy breath tosseling scarfs and hats, looking for any exposed fingers to numb. One of those "lean-into" winds which never seem to change when you turn back. A surprisingly large herd of vacationers walked the beach throwing sticks into the waves for their dogs. The strange thing was that they were all going the same direction like correographed traffic. We stayed, mesmerized by the ocean waves until our faces were stiff, then slipped, slid and climbed our way back through the dunes to the car. Balancing on one foot after the other, we tried to remove all the sand from our shoes and pant legs, but finally gave up and climbed in. The sand salt-shakered all over the car seats and floors within seconds. Well, our sleepiness from the drive was definitely over. Wide awake and cold.
One last stop, a light house on a beach called Hvide Sande (White Sand), with a beautiful coast and spectacular sunset from the top.
Hvide Sande lighthouse
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| Conical circular stairs to the top |
Don't you love beach sunsets!
Nice trip and all in less than two days. Yes. Denmark is relatively small............ for those of us who are used to 20-hour road trips to Texas.
Then, we got back to the office to this: Did I mention that I have to forward all the missionary letters by writing addresses by hand? The post will not allow labels.......
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