VISITORS, at last

The last two weeks have been hectic.  We started out with missionaries coming and going.  Bitter and sweet.  Most of the missionaries have been here much longer than we,  but it seems to take no time at all to get to know them and love them.   We are going to miss this group.

Sister Mann, Sister Soelberg., Elder Bateman, Elder Brady

Conference weekend was a nice change of pace.  Of course, we don't have any conference to watch until Saturday evening,  unless you want to kick start the whole thing with the women's conference. Sunday we can watch the Priesthood and the Saturday night sessions by satellite broadcast, and if you want to stay really late at the church,  the Sunday afternoon session, live.  We went to the stake center and watched the Saturday night session which was actually Sunday afternoon here. Confusing, I know.  We fed the missionaries around 2 and then stayed to watch.  I finally finished listening to all the sessions just yesterday.  Loved Elder Holland's talk especially.  I enjoy conference, but sometimes I feel a  little discouraged thinking of all the things I didn't do so well, then and now.  So, his talk was the perfect closer.  "So keep loving.  Keep trying.  Keep trusting.  Keep believing.  Keep growing. Heaven is cheering you on today, tomorrow and forever."

We had our first two visitors here in Denmark last week.  Both showed up unexpectedly at the same time.  What are the odds?  We plotted and planned our time to squeeze in the best sights for them.  I must say, they were real troopers.  Our biggest day out was chilly and quite windy and we had a hard time getting some good pictures.  One of our visitors is pretty thin and the wind really tugged him around. To introduce our visitors, I took a picture with the Elders, who were quite willing to help us out.

Elder Nielsen, and Elder Fairbanks (The hat?  Don't ask.)

Introducing Flat Stanley and Felix the Rabbit  ( uh, not the elders).  Both arrived the same day.  Flat Stanley came from Hooper, Utah and Felix from Ft. Collins, Colorado.  Both are travel projects - 2 grandaughter's school assignments.  Both seemed a little frazzled by their long flight,  so we took them downstairs for some Danish pastry to perk them up.  It worked.

Flat Stanley was all over those strawberry tarts and it was all over him.  Messy little guy.

We took both of them into the center of Copenhagen to see statues and steeples.  Common sights everywhere.  The green color has something to do with copper and oxidization, I think...........

We thought we would introduce them to the queen, but she was not available, so they had to settle for the Queen's Palace with her guards, and her church (it is called the Marble Church).

The inside is fabulous and you can actually go up into the dome on certain days.  On our list.

Even when Flat Stanley and Felix pulled faces at the guard, he would not move or talk. Good man.

The guys loved the inside of the churches, especially those with the ships hanging from the ceiling.The only trouble was they both wanted to climb in.  Good thing they were too high.  Kids!

There are actually many canals in Copenhagen.  The building is the background is the Danish Stock Exchange.  Built in the  17th century, it has an  unusual spire, the tails of four dragons twined together.  

Last stop, Nyhavn, the most famous street in all of Copenhagen.  A big tourist draw.  Why?  Haven't yet figured it out.  

We said good-bye to Flat Stanley and Felix, and dropped Flat Stanley in a big, red post box to head home.  Felix is staying and is taped to the door with our collection of cards and letters.  

It's like a game.  Where's Felix?

We are so excited to have more visitors soon.  If you have any travel/tourist questions, just call the boys.

SIGNS OF SPRING

Now here is a sure sign of spring.  Every Easter, Emily and Jordan take their children for pictures all dressed in their spring finery.  Add some bunnies and you've got spring at its best.  Couldn't resist sharing all this cuteness from across the miles.  We chatted with Shay and Tacy and their families who celebrated and worshiped together (their Easter baskets were a bit out of control, though),  saw other family activities on Facebook,  and read an e-mail from Elder Long who shared a powerful testimony from the mission field with the family.  Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!

Spring is struggling a bit here in Copenhagen.  The weather is a flirt.  Just as you get feeling brave and put away the winter scarves, the wind sneaks in from the north and brushes cold fingers down your neck.  The next day, with scarf firmly wrapped, you nearly suffocate from warmth.  Fickle.  The weather makes the  daffodils a tad timid:  taking their time raising their heads high enough for the cold wind to ruffle them, and hugging close to the ground for protection.  They are short, but colorful splashes of sunshine against the still-green grass.  The crocus are more brave.  There are no rules for them.  They bloom in beds, against buildings and right in the middle of the lawn if they wish.  Big puddles of purple. Cheeky.  It's like they're laughing at you.  But, we all smile indulgently and walk carefully around them anyway.

Easter means pots and bunches of blooms are back on the sidewalks.   Ramped up from winter.  Every grocery has flowers spilling out the doors onto the brick. Trays and crates of them.   Bright splashes for pots and window sills.  Every block has a florist, as well.  Or two.  More exotic blossoms lure you in to shop.  Eye candy for flower lovers.

The top picture is the grocery store just below the mission office.  The intense color of the primroses actually hurts your eyes.  They should be declared illegal.  The bottom picture is one of three floral shops on our street.  Almost every pedestrian has a bundle or pot of flowers carefully cradled to take home and plant or display in windows.

We have enjoyed our Easter here in Denmark.  It's a week-long celebration starting with Palm Sunday and ending the day after Easter Sunday.   Many business and shops are closed for most of the week.  Even the grocery stores.  And schools are closed.  You do see Easter eggs, but not like the states.  It's really a holiday from school and work.  It seemed fitting to have Easter and Fast Sunday together this year.  The testimonies were about the Savior and his atoning sacrifice for us and were truly touching. One brother in our branch was diagnosed just a month ago with terminal cancer.  He is relatively young, though his children are raised.  His testimony was strengthening, inspiring and up-lifting.  He and his wife are facing the future with determination and strength based on everything we celebrate at this season.  Lovely people.  In addition, the church web-site was a treasure trove of Easter messages and thoughts and music and brought Easter joy to this little corner of the world.  God Påske!

ROUND TOWER

Great news this week!  Kendell and Ruth have purchased tickets to come see us in September! Anissa, Courtney and Jackson, and Kenzie are coming in May!  Wahoo! We have great plans for you all. Can't wait. We have been in Denmark now nearly 7 months and are ready to see some family.  Or friends.  Or both. We are praying for safe travel and mild weather.

March is Relief Society Birthday season, and our little branch celebrated last week.  Ours was very low key - no fighting for an open night at the church, no practicing and decorating and  kitchen duty or major clean-up.   Nope.  Just Relief Society history and dessert.  We started with stories of some past General Relief Society Presidents, then moved on to favorite Relief Society memories.  The memories were as varied as the ages.  This is a small, but close knit group from 19 years to 80.  Some members told of being introduced to Relief Society as children watching their mothers help each other soon after World War II, and some are converts with memories still to be made.  No matter.   They love to get together and chat, just as Relief Society sisters have done for over 100 years.   Our testimonies and membership in the church spans the continents and years and unites us as sisters in the gospel.   But, one thing.  I'm pretty sure they never made bunches of glass grapes or bottled pineapple zucchini here.

After our little program, we had dessert.  My assignment was rolls, butter and jam.  To go along with the layer cakes, of course.  I am serious.  For dessert, first you have a dinner roll, buttered and jammed.  And then you have the cake.  In Denmark you can buy very thin (about 3/8 inch) yellow cake rounds. You layer four or five of these with fillings.  The fillings are cream based (real cream) and flavored.  One cake had a nut crust on the bottom, then 4 layers of cake alternated with fillings. Each different:  lemon cream, licorice cream (really!)  then white chocolate cream  and topped with more licorice cream.  All in the same cake.  I N T E R E S T I N G.  The Danes are crazy over their salty, black licorice.  Bleh....  But I was assured that this filling was not made with the salty, black stuff.  You just use a little liquid licorice flavoring and whipped cream. Viola. Licorice cream.   Apparently these cakes are a big tradition for the Relief Society Birthday.  I steered toward the lemon, white chocolate and strawberry cream cake. Overall,  I quite enjoyed the simplicity of the whole evening.  Clean-up time:  10 minutes flat.

We try to do a little sight seeing each weekend.  Last Saturday we visited the Round Tower, a popular spot located in the heart of Copenhagen.  An old medieval watch tower.  Fancy entry, included.

This old tower was originally built in 1642 and rises 209 meters in 7 tight spirals inside, to the top. One big ramp.  All made of brick with gothic windows on each level. The ramp floor is old, uneven brick and the inside walls are white-washed.  Apparently, this watch tower was built so that soldiers could fly down the ramp on horses to deliver news of invading enemies seen from the heights. Well, that is the story.

At the top of the ramp are shallow steps which lead to a narrow, 1-person spiral staircase ending on an observation ledge giving a 360 degree panoramic view of Copenhagen.  I love this view:  acres of red-tile  roofs, blocks of apartments, green, copper domes and modern skyscrapers all in a miss-mash of colors and shapes.  Little penciled drawings tacked to the observation fence, outline the roof-scape. with names of land-mark buildings  penciled in, so you can get your bearings in any direction.

Far below, people stream down the street, bunching and knotting, then flowing on out of sight.  It's an almost spring day with music floating up from a small park below, and little, bell-shaped flowers sprouting everywhere on the ground.

The pulpit is perched there on the left.  It is always on the side, not in the front.   The priest enters from the back. through a little archway.

Oh, and a bonus:  a little golden chapel juts from the tower out the back.  Trinitatus.  Complete with filigree- encased, gothic arches, and choirs of cherubs and angels adorning the pulpit and organ loft.  Gated wooden pews march down the center and sides, and a marble gate protects the way to the altar. Not to mention the chandeliers.  Wow.  For our visitors:  put this on your list. Something you need to see in person.

THE REST OF THE STORY

I posted a picture on Facebook last week of an Elder who lost a small wager with me.  So here is the whole story.  It went something like this:

Elder Fairbanks:  Sister Buxton, if I shoot this (holding up a ball of paper) over my back and into the garbage can over there, will you wear a piece of BYU apparel for a day?

Sister Buxton:  Hmmm........ on one condition.

Elder Fairbanks:  What's that?

Sister Buxton:  Well..... if you lose, then you have to wear a piece of USU apparel for a day.  I happen to have a brand new game-day shirt that will fit you just fine.  

Elder Fairbanks:  (Groaning)  I may regret this.  

Sister Buxton:  You realize this could be quite painful if you lose.

Elder Fairbanks:  Yeah, but  I've played a lot of basketball.  I can do this.

Now you have to understand that Elder Fairbanks is from the heart of BYU country; from a staunch, obsessive, true-blue, multi-generational BYU family.  He bleeds BYU blue.  Season tickets and BYU sports are a big deal to the Fairbanks.  I'm afraid wearing anything labeled USU would be a criminal offense to this clan.  Pictures below.  Self explanatory.

You'll notice what he was wearing under the Game Day shirt.  Just couldn't help it. Brother and Sister McEvoy - you were inspired to send this shirt to us.

The good news is that this fine Elder kept his word and wore a USU shirt all day.  And it was painful. The really bad news is that he may be disowned.  Bless.

But he did repent.  For the wager.

We have had a crazy two-weeks with zone conference, and a batch of great missionaries coming and going.  Last  week we also met Stephen, a huge man from Ghana, who was scheduled for baptism. The sisters had found him a few months ago and taught him the discussions at the church and at the president's home. He came into Copenhagen with a friend to borrow a baptismal suit from the temple, since the Gladsaxe Ward did not have a suit large enough for his big frame. 

President O'Bryant told us this miracle story:  one night at the president's home, they were discussing the Book of Mormon and the president opened a cabinet to show Stephen some old, dusty, Books of Mormon stacked in there.  He pulled one out and handed it to Stephen.  Stephen opened the Book of Mormon, paused,  and turned in amazement to the President and said, "This book is written in my language,  Twi."  The president had never heard of Twi, nor did he know that it was Stephen's native language because they had always spoken English with him.  Stephen was thrilled to be able to read something from the church in his own language.

We are so happy that Stephen has found the church.  He has all the makings of a faithful member. As so often happens with those who  commit to baptism,  he has  had his share of trials lately.  He has not been able to get a work permit or find a job in Denmark, so has had to return home.  The day we met him in the office, he had come for a blessing from the President.  He had just learned that his 3 year old daughter had been electrocuted back in Ghana.  We were so sad for him.  We know that the Lord will bless him.  The President has been in touch with his Ghana church brethren and they are waiting to welcome him into the fold.

And Stephen's friend who came with him into the office?  He is also being taught.  He is a big man as well, with a bright smile and outgoing personality.   He tried to teach me how to say Twi, the name of their language.  If you say it right, it comes out somewhere between a whistle and a spit down in your throat.  He laughed every time I tried to pronounce it.  And, this was after he tried to convince me that their language is easy to pronounce, unlike Danish.........Ha!  We are praying that he, too, will join the church.

GOODBYE AND HELLO

We said goodbye this month to our friends and neighbors, the Parkers, who returned home to Provo. They were serving as YSA and were much appreciated and loved by two stakes of young adults.  The Parkers were wonderful, helpful, dedicated missionaries.  Brother Parker, an avid genealogist, shared his Danish research skills with me.  A cheerful, whistling, handyman, he carried a Swiss army knife on his belt.   Just in case.  Sister Parker was a natural organizer and manager.  She could whip all us women into an efficient kitchen crew in no time when we were floundering trying to feed 75 missionaries. She also had a map in her head, and was the navigator in the car.  She was never lost. They are home catching up with grand kids and planning their travels.

President and Sister O'Bryant, the Parkers, and us.  Farewell dinner.

The couple replacing them, but going over to Jylland,  are the Larsens from Washington State. Energetic couple.  We volunteered to escort them over to the ferry which would take them to Århus. The Odden ferry is located almost at the end of a small spit of land northwest of Copenhagen. This massive boat carries a hundred cars and is the quickest way to Jylland.  (Then, a few days later, we went again to trade cars.  A confusing story involving car registration and parking legalities in Århus. So the weather in the pictures is dark and dreary or sunny, depending on the day.)

This sign hangs in the harbor on the north shore, next to the road which curls down from the highway.

We headed out on a cold, blustery day following the main road meandering through the spit, the two-lanes brushing close to the ocean and then jumping back to the center.  You would think this area would be commercialized and lined with hotels and ocean-front touristy stuff.  Not so.  This narrow strip  is mostly farmland, surprisingly.  Before the spit, we drove past sleek, white windmills like those lining the freeway across Wyoming.  Further in, gentle hills spread out from the road ending at the ocean on both sides.  You could see coast to coast in the narrower spots.  Half way down the spit, the north side boasted a small harbor clinging to the edge of the sea, with far more boats than the locals could own. Rusted, fishing tubs rubbing shoulders with sleek sailing sloops.   So, summer must bring some tourists.  A few closed tackle shops, eateries and souvenir shops looked tired and defeated in the cold.

Small harbor on the north side about half way down the spit.  At the bottom of this road is the sign shown above.

The coast to coast farm fields are separated by rock walls, long-needled pine trees or tangles of shrubs and are still green.   Farmsteads lay scattered here and there between little red-roofed villages with names like Gudmindrup or Højby; each with the white, stair-step church tower peculiar to Denmark, rising above the red tiles.  A few pastured horses graze near fences,  and geese and swans nest on the frost-stiffened grass.

Second trip, better weather.  You can see the ocean in the background and the frost on the grass.

The main building on these farms is u-shaped with living quarters, barn and feed storage all connected.  I guess the idea years ago was to be able to take care of all the needs of the animals and people without having to go outside.  Other outbuildings huddle close to the main house as if for warmth, or are sometimes attached to the main building like extra limbs.  In the past these farms would have upwards of 70 people.  (I have found whole families of ancestors in the 1736 census living on farms such as these, listed as farm help.) Some folks had tiny plots of land to til, to supplement the food, but owed most of the working time to the landlord.   Children as young as six had chores and jobs.  Everyone worked.  Generations of the same peasant family stayed on the same farm.

This main house has a thatched roof.  You can see two legs of the "U."

I was curious to see just how close to the sea the farms could stretch, so we drove off on a muddy track on the south side.  The sea and the farms were separated by a lane, and a strip of soggy coast with stunted, wind- blown trees common to coastal shores.  

Our first trip, a blustery day with dark clouds scudding across the horizon.  Faded row-boats lay abandoned on the shore.

Apparently the farms are not allowed to run right to the ocean, but come pretty close.  Eventually we ran into a gaggle of little summer homes stretched out along the shore and in toward the center.  Mostly tiny with windows and porches facing the sea, overgrown yards, and abandoned canvas flapping on clotheslines.

Heading back, we couldn't resist stopping at an old church surrounded by a well-tended graveyard. We entered the yard through a curious, celtic-looking gate and found Christmas greens still decorating the graves.  Inside, we found  the chapel complete with a miniature viking ship hung from the ceiling - a common sight in the old Danish churches.

All in all, this little side trip was a fine change from the office.

Burial plots outside the church.  Danes lay pine branches everywhere at Christmas:  at the base of real trees, in planters, window boxes and on graves.  They stay marvelously green because of the cold weather and moisture.

SPROG KLASSE

I officially enrolled in a Danish language course beginning in January.  I attend 2 days a week for two and a half hours per class. The Danish government sponsors these classes because, hey, if you are going to live here and go to school free, and have free medical,  the least you can do is learn their language.  Because it is a free government program, I was expecting some little, neglected, run-down classroom, and a frazzled, volunteer teacher.  Not so. These classrooms are state-of-the-art with computerized whiteboards, printed workbooks, on-line listening practice, and highly paid, well trained teachers.  I am quite impressed with the organization and the resources.  Let's see.  Last month I could have had "Dinner with a Dane" in someone's home, also, a student social with an "Indian" theme, and some enrichment classes several days a week where you go and practice chatting with others.

They are serious about this "learning the language" business.  And they should be because it is HARD. Learning the Danish language is really learning two languages:  the one you learn for reading and writing, and the one you speak.  What you hear is not what you read.  For instance:  "Jeg kan godt lide........"  ( I like......) .    When you pronounce it, you only say part of the letters and smoosh the whole thing together and say it fast.   Jeg kan godt lide.  So it comes out like yikagoalie. Yikagoalie ice cream or yikagoalie pizza.  These phrases even have a name:  short answers.  That is an understatement!  And then there is this student age thing.   Did I mention that I am older than the rest of the class members by 30 years or so?    Did I mention that I am the only person in class who only speaks one language?  And, that most speak more than two? INTIMIDATING.  So we have very young, very bright students from all over the world.  And a grandma.  There are 10 nationalities in a class of 11-17, depending on who shows:   France, England, Croatia, Mexico, Spain, Latvia, Italy, Slovakia, Poland, Denmark (teacher) and CJ and me, Americans.  CJ is from Chicago and speaks Spanish as well.  Of course he does.

I keep praying for the Gift of Tongues.

WARD REPORT

Our grand-daughter, McKenzie, was asked to give a  report on our mission, on the 5th Sunday in church in Mendon,  and I sent the following for her to share.  I though it would be a good thing to share on the blog.  Sincere apologies if you have heard this before.

We’ve really enjoyed our mission and even though we miss our friends and family, it has been the place we know we should be.  We are constantly amazed at what happens behind the scenes to run a mission.  We have about 100 missionaries and it takes 2 full-time and 3 part-time older missionaries to keep things going.  And to think this is repeated in hundreds of missions in the world! 

Our Danish experts:  (top) Elder Bryner (apartments)  and Elder Warnsdorf (phones, cars and language test);  (above) Sister Warnsdorf (immigration and VISAs),  and Elder Buxton,( finance)

We have had some wonderful experiences especially with the young missionaries.  They come to us as young as 18, but they seem much older than that, especially spiritually.  We have attended conferences with them, fed them, gathered materials for them, prayed with them, given them blessings,  and rejoiced in their progress as missionaries and young adults.  They have such positive attitudes and want to spread the gospel to all they meet, and even though they don’t get as many opportunities as they want in Denmark, they remain faithful and committed.  In addition, we have literally seen the Gift of Tongues poured out on these young people. 

Our Grandson, Elder Long,  is serving simultaneously in Ft. Lauderdale, FL and we have been uplifted by his very spiritual letters to our family.  We see that same spirituality in the missionaries here, and even though we are not "actively" proselyting, we feel of their spirit and enjoy having them teach in our home, and discuss gospel topics with us.  The mission is producing some outstanding teachers and leaders.  It is hard to see them leave, but we feel they will add so much to wherever they land "on the other side."

They sometimes look a little goofy, but don't let that fool you.  Turn them loose, and watch out.

We belong to a small branch here in Denmark and have 2 missionaries assigned there with us and two other couples.  We have 1 young man, 3 young women and 5 primary-age children.  The ages range from elderly down to 1 year old Elliot, the “branch’s baby.”  Elder Buxton is the Young Men’s President and Sister Buxton is the 2nd counselor in the Relief Society.  The testimonies of these branch members is strong and firm which is amazing living in a culture which is very permissive.  Many of them have few of their family who are active or even members of the church, yet they continue to hold fast to their testimonies.  We have several professional genealogists in our little branch and have been blessed by them generously sharing their knowledge every third Sunday when the whole ward stays for SOS:  “sandwich og slægtsforskning” (sandwiches and genealogy).  We have been blessed to take names of Danish ancestors to the Copenhagen Temple which is one block from the mission office.

The center picture on the top is President Olsen and his wife, Hannah.  This branch can really put on a dinner!

We are also blessed by the  other couples serving here.  They are wonderful, caring couples who love working for the Lord.  Our mission president is a powerful, spiritual leader as well,  and is wife is also tremendous.  They are the spiritual core of the mission here in Denmark.

Two couples work in record preservation for Family History and the center couple is YSA, and our neighbors.  From the left:  Ottleys, us, Parkers, Brookes.

We know that the gospel blesses the lives of all who keep the commandments and strive to live worthily of having the Holy Ghost as a constant companion.  We have felt the Lord’s peace and love especially as we went through the sad and sudden loss of a beautiful grand-daughter.   We learned much about grief, gratitude, love and most of all the importance of family.  Even though it was very painful, it has been a testimony strengthening experience. We know the church is true.  We love the Danish people and we love our mission here.