Relief Society in Täby Ward

Syster Johnson loves Relief Society. Marita Möller (art class instructor) enjoys the meeting as well as Inge Kann-Siirak and Anna-Linda Karlsson. Wiktoria Heinz (then R.S. President) took the photo, with Gunilla Carlsson (present R.S. President) finishing out the row. We are so grateful to belong to the largest women's organization in the world.

The Swedes love the frozen lakes

We took a drive and found a castle and a lake. People were everywhere in their winter gear, heading to the lake to ice skate, cross country ski, or just have a brisk walk. The Swedes are enjoying winter, knowing that spring is just a few weeks ahead. The children were running and jumping in the snow after church. We haven't had much accumulation this winter, but last night and today it snowed enough to play in.

Life at the Office

Elder Reilly is going home! He goes earlier than his group to make a connection with the San Francisco football recruiters. Watch for him in the NFL one of the next years. Check out his size!

Elder Johnson is ready to leave his computer and desk. Some days are just too long at his station.

Sister Johnson shows her handiwork. This "Sverige" runner is going to a well-deserving sister on her departure day.

We take care of the mail--the pickup and forwarding. Watercolor painting at Relief Society is a great "relief" and diversion from the normal office duties.

While we work in the Mission Office, we also take time to pursue other interests. Sister Johnson is learning to watercolor paint at Relief Society and she does crocheting for the missionaries, as well. Elder Johnson puts in long hours at his desk and many nights doesn't come into the apartment until 10 PM. Checking out missionaries going home is part of our assignment. We are seeing some of the great leaders of our Mission departing beginning tomorrow. We will miss them greatly.

Update auto fleet

"Rita," as the elders fondly named the Opel Van will be replaced with another van. After the elders parked "her" on the rock behind the Mission Office, the tires were hot and the ice melted underneath. The van slid off the "perch," but luckily no damage was done. Sister Johnson wrote a limerick about it for Friday lunch.

Parking "Rita" on the big rock to show
Driving up the incline is fun, we know.
And, parking atop
When the tires are hot,
It slid to the driveway below.

With everywhere much snow and ice,
Another parking spot, it could suffice.
In summertime we'll try again,
To park up there won't be in vain,
Atop the hill will be quite nice.

Elder Johnson is looking at new cars on the showroom floor in Stockholm, Sweden, to replace part of the Mission fleet.

Elder Johnson begins the quest for six new cars and one large van. Depending on the vehicle condition, Swedish mission cars are sold when the odometer reaches 100,000 to 150,000 Km....or when the vehicle ends up in five feet of snow in Norrland! Purchasing and selling cars in Sweden and Europe in general, have very little resemblence to making deals in the USA.

In northern Sweden where the reindeer roam, two of our young elders came out of a snow cloud and swerved to miss several other cars that had crashed. Fortunately, the two missionaries escaped with minor scratches on their hands. The older Skoda automobile rolled four times in soft snow up to three feet deep. The elders were hanging by the seatbelts...upside down when the car came to a stop. This car will be replaced, but with a used car not a new vehicle.