Halloween is upon us in Sweden

Kaye and Kent Soderquist have come back to Sweden. They are at the Temple 4 days a week and will be here for nine months. They wanted to see their old "haunt" where they served as Mission Office Couple in 2003-2005. They are from Hyde Park, Utah, and we haven't seen them since our University days at USU. We hope to spend more time with them.

Faithful Inge Kann-Sirak (84) joins us for dinner at our apartment after Church on Sunday. We have the privilege of driving her home each Sunday. We love her!

More Ward members joined the photo. Anna-Lena Bodén, her daughter, Elizabeth, and the Sven and Marina Hultgren family (Tobias and Sebastian) are part of the fun and support in Täby.

Täby Ward member, Anne Rosenlund, has a great Halloween hat. Äldste Johnson decided to join her in a "hat" photo shoot after church on Sunday.

Äldste Johnathan Espinoza is happy with the new SecondHand couch we found for the office. He is catching on to Syster Johnson's Personal Secretary work very fast. He'll be busy "running the show" until after January transfers. Our California secretary is awesome.

Äldste Roni Lumerto and Äldste Johnson are a great team in the Financial Secretary office. Äldste Lumerto will be here until he goes home to Finland in January.

"Följ din stjärna" church themed musical

Gunnel Hedberg authored the oratorio.

Young single adults and others spent many hours in preparation and performing. Stunning show with the theme of early 1860 Church missionary work and how members were shunned and forced to leave their homes after baptism into the church.

Making the performance work with live music and choral was brilliantly executed.

We were deeply impressed with the story and with the main characters. The Edvinsson family was particularly evident, with father playing keyboard and daughters on stage.

Norrland District Meetings and finding the Swedish blue dräkt

On our way back from Norrland, we drove to Bollnäs to check out a Blocket ad for the Swedish National dräkt. It was a perfect fit and we loved it. It is one of our best finds for Syster Johnson's wardrobe.
We traveled at night in stress,
On winding roads, must confess.
As dark as it was,
We kept going because;
I wanted that Swedish blue dress!
--Syster Amy Johnson

Sundsvall has a beautiful view from Södraberget, where we had a wonderful room for the night, which was actually an upgraded suite. We felt so blessed, being the tired missionary travelers that we were that night.

Sundsvall District consists of Äldster Holland and Barlow, Äldste Johnson och Syster Johnson, Sisters Porkka and Hegstrom. We loved the bean soup and Swedish pancakes they fixed for lunch.

Sundsvall Chapel is beautiful and well cared for. The grass is still green in the North.

Our view from the Högakust bro Hotel. We have stayed here before on our last trip to Norrland.

Umeå District consists of Äldster Hanes, Loomis, Kroff, Bennion, Arko and Adamson. We loved being with this great group. (Loomis and Adamson were former secretaries in the Office)

Umeå Chapel is beautiful and clean. It was fun to see former Office elders at the District meeting and give the group some information about driving in our wonderful Mission cars.

The wonderful world of Skansen

Riding the busses and tunnelbannen on a Saturday afternoon to Skansen proved to be very crowded, as Stockholm's population was out on one of the last nice days of the season. We loved it!

The glassblowing house was a top "see" in the village. We are happy we are finding our treasurers of glass at the Lion's Club Loppis and SecondHand stores. They were very expensive here!

An overlook from Skansen into the Stockholm harbor is a beautiful site.

The Sami (Lapplander) house was built almost like a teepee only with logs. It was warm and cozy with the fire going and the Sami women doing handicrafts. Syster Johnson was honored to have her photo with them, sitting on the reindeer hide benches.

We found a Great Grey Owl, just like the ones on Harry Potter! Beautiful!

Domesticated reindeer provide the living for Lapplanders and Sami peoples in the North.

A domesticated moose enjoyed chewing his cud while people admired the big rack of horns.

The big brown bears were roaming through their tunnels and back and forth close to the glass for viewing.

Skandinavian black bears cubs played on the logs at the delight of the spectators.

A typical Viking "rune stone" is positioned along the well-walked pathway.

These homes are hundreds of years old and still standing, much like they were when constructed. They are sturdy projects!

Note the great ventilation underneath this home. No mold growing here!

Skansen is an open air Skandinavian animal zoo and museum with many historical styles of homes. They were moved here piece by piece and put together on site. It is amazing at the types of homes the Scandinavians erected for dwellings. Elders Lumerto, Edmunds, Johnson, Espinoza, Langston and Tomyn stopped to enjoy the sunshine.

Area Seventy Elder Paya comes to Sweden

Elder J. Michel and Sister Paya from France (and Spain) were wonderful to hear at our Zone Mission Tour. They are great missionaries and gave us the formula to be more effective in our Mission. We loved meeting with them and sharing stories.

Elder Johnson teaches the Office elders the technique of "wax on, wax off" as they do their Saturday car chores. Edmunds, Tomyn, Langston and Espinoza (back)

Elders (Sir) Edmunds, Lumerto, Langston, Tomyn and (birthday boy), Espinoza

join Elder and Sister Johnson at their apartment table for Friday Lunch festivities. (Okt 2)