Elder Zach Jensen and parents say Good-bye to Sweden

The rain has been taking care of the flowers most of the summer.

Former office secretary, Elder Jensen, has been traveling Sweden with his parents from Springville, Utah, for 2 weeks. We invited Täby Ward members, Anne Rosenlund and Anna Lena Boden, to join us for a last farewell lunch and Princess Torte. The Mission Office yard is Syster Johnson's little bit of soil to raise some beautiful arrangements. Hej då, Äldste Jensen.

Hot Air Balloons over Stockholm, Sweden

We rode the train to Slussen and then walked back to T-Central Saturday night. We saw a balloon going down and our photo caught the historic Stockholm City Hall with it.

It is good advertising for companies to put their name on a hot air balloon. Amazing.

On our walk yesterday, we saw three hot air balloons over our neighborhood. A yellow one came so close to the ground, we thought it was going to land in the park near us. But, they gave it some more flame and it went higher. We were able to see the people and wave to them. They were excited to greet us back. One day, we saw a landed balloon on our street in an open field. All of the riders helped gather up the equipment and put it on trucks. We heard it costs about $160 for a one-hour ride. What a thrill! We probably won't do it though. It is fun to see.

Rainy day at Tullgarn Castle

The walk around Tullgarn was refreshing. Yes, it is raining in Sweden, AGAIN!

Too rainy to find many butterflies today!

On a rainy Sunday afternoon, we stopped at a castle to have a look. The cutest little baby in an old-time wagon caught our eye for a photo. We love these little side trips to relax.

Orientation and Departing July 2009 Group and beyond

Aledander Androsovic from the Czech Republic attends Täby Ward with us.

Elders Langston, Jackson, Adamson and Edmunds show hospitality to Alexander at the Mission Office. He is an elder and branch secretary back home.

Limerick: We took the day just as it came--

Orienting and checking out was the game.

We tried to make time go smooth,

Any gliches we'd soothe.

Then, Alex showed up from the Ukraine.

A cot was offered on the deck.

He told us he's a wandering Czech

Joined the Church in the Ukraine

With his testimony, he'll remain;

And, hoping his trip won't be a wreck! --Syster Amy Johnson

Elders enjoy last surströmmming party at the Mission Office yard. Alpeter is determined to eat it before he goes home. It was a smelly situation and brought all the mosquitoes from miles around to our property. Yuck!

Friday Lunch photo shoot with the regulars and guests. It was a great time and beautiful day.

Newly arrived elders come to the office for orientation. We have a seasoned violin player who will bring the spirit of beautiful music to the Swedish people. They will love it.
Limerick: There is more new blood in the mission

They've come with great ambition.

Fifteen in all,

Have heeded the call

What a wonderful, welcome addition.

But, when missionaries come to Sweden,

And live in this Garden of Eden;

A group must depart,

And take with them our heart.

The effort they gave is unbeaten! --Syster Amy Johnson

The memorial of the missionaries in the daisy garden. We will miss this incredible group. They have worked so hard and accomplished so much.

Thursday, July 16th was super busy for the Mission Office. We oriented 15 new missionaries and sent them on their way to various locations throughout Sweden. Then, we checked out the departing 10 elders and 5 sisters and prepared them to either fly home on Friday, or meet their parents for a few days touring in Sweden. Elder Alpeter from the Office went home after a grueling few weeks as AP. He was very tired. The last official act at the Office was to make a marker for my daisy garden with the names of the elders leaving. He wants to see it again when he comes back in 30 years. We'll have to put it in the attic if it is to survive. After we thought it couldn't be any crazier here, a Czech member showed up here wanting some help. He didn't have a place to stay, so we accomodated him by putting a cot on the deck. He slept there for three nights and said it was great. We then found a Russian speaking member in another part of Stockholm to take him in for the rest of his trip. He wants to apply to study here. Alexander was very nice and wanted to be near the missionaries. We took him to Church on Sunday. What a wild week. After Friday lunch, our group of 19 read our limericks and had some great laughs. It was especially fun to have some guests from the USA. (Elder Zach Jensen's parents and Elder Winston Larson's parents and brother). Our couple from Jonköping (Varr and Bernice Nelson) were also with us. It was a beautiful day and wonderful Hawaiian haystacks served on the deck. We are ready for a little quieter week, but something else always comes up. We are doing the best we can.

4th of July in Sweden

Elder & Sister Johnson love the big American flag, thanks to Elders Drake and Adamson.

Even though we were at the Office, we still remembered to celebrate our country and how much we love the USA. We ended the day with a barbeque at the Mission Home with former missionary guests from Utah and their families (Jacobsons, Birkelands), along with fun couples and missionaries. The weather even allowed us to eat outside on the patio. We were all missing our local celebrations at home, but we did the best we could. What a beautiful 4th of July!

Gotland, Sweden

Loading and unloading cars, horses, humans and dogs on the large 1500 passenger ships. They carry several hundred cars, trucks and trailers.

A beautiful day to be on the water. We loved the sunshine.

Walking the inner city streets of Visby was beautiful and educational.

Visby is called "the city of roses." But, we found that the countryside had a problem with poppies in their grain fields. We thought they were beautiful, anyway.

More Viking grave sights. They are formed to represent a viking ship.

On the southern tip of the island we find a rock formation called Hoburgen. Rock formation shows an old man's face and nose....just like the two gamla Elders (Herrey & Johnson) in the forground!

Typical old farm yard with thatched grass roofs. Still in operation.

Old Viking grave in the background. About 400 such graves have been located on Gotland.

Äldste Johnson standing next to the first LDS church in Gotland...we are told 1861.

A functioning Swedish Church in the background.

Inside the Visby wall near shops and on cobblestone streets.

Syster Johnson with the Visby Wall in the background. The wall is nearly two miles around.

At least 96 old, very old, Swedish churches can be found on the island. This old Gothic Church is found in Visby's inner city. Gotland's largest city, Visby, is surrounded by a large rock wall which is about 30 feet high, complete with entrances and corners....and old churches and all the typical cobblestone roads and shops.

Gotland, the island of the Goths, was our latest mission 36 hour assignment. The island is in the middle of the Baltic Sea a 3 1/2 ferry ride SE of Stockholm. It is just over 3,000 square miles which is smaller than Box Elder County.