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.