Final Days and Hejdå Sverige

As we wrapped up preparations for our exit, we got a visit from Olivia's sister and niece, Jennifer and Jessica Smith. It turns out that they were the first to visit us in Sweden and the last to visit us here. They were only able to stay for a few days, so we packed in as much as we could close to and inside Stockholm. This time, unlike the first time they visited, I knew how to fill the gas tank, how to use public transportation, how to get from here to there without the GPS, and what to recommend in sight seeing. Also, they came during the tourist season, so they were able to see some things that were closed when they came in October 2016.

Outside the Viking
restaurant in Stockholm

Trying to decide how brave they are to
try Viking recipes. We tried several
and they were excellent.

A young woman played
on a period instrument
and sang period songs.

Even better than it looked.

In front of Riddarholmskyrkan,
where the nobility and royalty are
buried.

Waiting for the ferry to
take the car to Birka

There were ripe berries
right next to the road
where we had to wait

A diorama of how Birka would have looked during the Viking era.
Birka is the oldest known city in Sweden. It was a planned community with designated areas for farming, merchandising, defense, etc. King Björn attempted to convert it to Christianity when European nations refused to trade with non-Christians, but
it didn't take and while there was a small congregation, the Norse
Gods prevailed and the community soon went into extinction.

Many of the Viking-style buildings have
been reconstructed to resemble what they
would have looked like at the time the area
was most  prosperous.

In the 1830s this monument
was erected to commemorate
the founding of Christianity
on the island by St. Ansgar.

Jessica had to get a picture with the young
man who gave us the tour of the island. He
was the same man who led the tour when
Sydney and Emily came to visit. Sydney
reportedly wanted to take him home with her.

Inside the church on Adelsö,
the island where King Björn
lived and reigned in the 900s

Restaurant patio near the Vasa Museum

Inside the Vasa Museum following an
excellent tour in English

An unfortunate soul who perished when
Vasa sunk.

A special room inside the Swedish Historical
Museum with alter pieces and bells recovered
from ancient churches in the land

Reading about the bells

So many of the churches here have a
model ship hanging from the ceiling in
a prominent place near the podium.

Outside the Stadshuset (City Hall) of
Stockholm. It is famous as the place where
many of the Nobel Prizes are rewarded.
Though not yet 100 years old, it was built
in the style of much older buildings.

The first room inside the building is a
large area that looks like a courtyard,
but is indoors. It is a type of ballroom
and is where the receptions for Nobel
recipients and guests are held

It functions as a city hall.
This is where the elected
officials meet. There was no ceiling
but the beams were decorated
because the architect liked
the look.

The Gold Room is actually mosaic tiles with gold leaf
sandwiched under glass. It is an amazing sight.

A trip to the temple

The gardens and the newly constructed
 path behind the temple are
beautiful.

Of course we had to get the traditional picture of the Viking ship
in the meadow below our apartment.

In the meantime, our friends Craig and

Lisa Hall (R) who were senior missionaries,

returned for a visit.

We found an air mattress in an apartment
and someone had to test it. 

We were in a country where we could view the lunar eclipse. Unfortunately, we were in the wrong part of the country. However, Elder and Sister Hales were able to see it from a higher vantage point as the clouds parted just in time to catch the last of it.

And then the inevitable - Elder Terrill and Sister Kari Clouse arrived to take our place. It seemed unreal to me. We took them to lunch and to their apartment then left them to finish unpacking and get some sleep. They went to their assigned ward in Stockholm on Sunday.

We attended our Uppsala Ward and said goodbye to the sisters. With the reduction in missionary numbers, it became necessary to close some areas, including theirs. We were sad to see them go. They have become good friends as well as dedicated missionaries. 

Some of the members knew they would not be in church the following Sunday, so they asked for pictures with us, as well. The weather was wild during our meetings. The rain was coming down in torrents and the wind was howling. The lightning and thunder were violent with one clap sounding loud and close. It turned out that lightning had struck a tree just outside our building.We returned to a dinner to welcome the Clouses that afternoon and invited the office elders to join us.

This would be the week we would say goodbye to the elders who were in the MTC at the same time as we were there. Weird and bitter sweet to see them off. Before the transfers, however, we took some time with the Clouses to show them some of the things they would need to know and then took a break to show them the Gunnes Gård Viking farm.

It was the sisters' last Sunday in Uppsala
so we said a sad goodbye to Sisters Bingham,
Jones and Chapdelaine.

The Näslunds wanted a picture together

Fontana 

It turned out to be Elder
Dawson's last Sunday in
Uppsala, as well.

.

Gredia couldn't help herself
she took off her shoes and
danced in the puddles

Outside, during the last hour of church lightning struck the tree.
beside the building and lopped of this huge branch. It was wild
weather, but we were very happy for the rain - it is badly needed.

And Elsa insisted on riding her bike
home.

The streets were flooded and everyone
was quite happy.

Sunday afternoon we had a special potluck
dinner to welcome the Clouses. Elders
Jarman, Harden, Beveridge, Lee, the Clouses,,
Hales, me (Olivia took the picture, of course)

At office meeting on Monday we welcomed
Elder Derr who would replace Elder Harden
who went home the following Thursday. We
also said goodbye to Elder Lee who has done
a great job as a POE. Derr, Lee, Harden,
Beveridge, and Jarman

Elder Barker came in to
spend the night at the
mission office residence.
He and Elder Harden took
the outside stairs to the
apartment. He also left
on Thursday.

We introduced the Clouses to our local
Viking farm and the knowledgeable guide. 

Sister Clouse taking a
break.

At the rune stone that designates the area
as belonging to Gunnes

The second rune stone has not been
translated.

We welcomed our last set of new missionaries and helped with the transfer to get them and their new companions to the train station where we met the returning missionaries who have served as long as we have, here. That same day we welcomed the Borgs to Sweden. They have been waiting for their visas while serving in the Family History Center in Salt Lake City.  On Thursday, we saw the returning missionaries off at the airport dressed in our work clothes because we would be driving on from there to do a final cleaning at the Sundsvall apartment.

New missionaries Elders Mathias, Norin,
and Sherman (between the Assistants,
Elders Beveridge and Derr)

Lunch with the new missionaries and their training companions.
Elder Sherwood is with Elder Grover who just left Uppsala, Elder
Norin with Elder Berlin, a former Assistant, and Elder Mathias
with Elder Jackson. Elder Wilson had come in from Umeå as
he would be departing for home Thursday.

Sister Nilsson was in the
building, so we gave her
a ride to T Central so she
could catch her train. She
is another friend of Olivia's
niece, Deseret Johnson

The Borgs arrived for their assignment in the Stockholm archives.
We only got to be with them briefly as we took them to their
apartment and got them settled in.

Sisters Hall and DeMordaunt coming in
to get ready to go home.

The departing elders: Harrell, Barker,
Bringhurst, Wilson, Malone, Petersen,
Harden and Pres. Youngberg

Their "last supper" in Sweden

The whole group at the temple

Olivia and me with the former
Upsala elders

Seeing them off at the airport.

And then the real training began. When we got to the Sundsvall apartment, Elder Clouse and I went to work on the bikes that were parked outside the apartment while the women went on up the stairs to start cleaning. At this point, I should report that we had asked the missionaries to take out all items from the apartment and especially to take all food out of the fridge and freezer. 

As Olivia and Sister Clouse climbed the stairs, Olivia mentioned that she would not miss the smells that often emanate from some apartment buildings. They noticed that the closer they came to the vacant apartment, the heavier the smell. When they opened the door the odor brought tears to their eyes. It was the smell of something very rotten. Olivia immediately went to the bathroom as we have found unflushed toilets in the past. Sister Clouse went to the kitchen and opened the fridge, but it wasn't until she opened the freezer that she found the cause. What was left of a package of chicken and some vegetables that had obviously been there for a long time after the freezer had been turned off. Then she noticed that...it was moving. Then it was apparent why there were so many flies, alive and dead, all over the kitchen and adjoining rooms. Maggots. Slimy, crawling, slithering, stinking maggots. It was a perfect way to introduce the Clouses to cleaning a closed apartment; it will never get worse than that.

Caution: not for the faint of heart or stomach.

A couple of humble, repentant elders

Despite all that the Clouses love Elders
Nelson and Black

Somehow, the handy tool box got broken,
so the Clouses get to organize a new one.

Everything is shiny and clean

Luckily, you can't smell it, however.

As we left, we stopped by the sisters
apartment so Clouses could meet them.
Sisters Cole, Nilsson and Neilsen

On our way back, we needed to stop at the Dom Kyrka in Uppsala
so Olivia could get a patch for her backpack. We arrived just as
a wedding was about to start. Fiddlers dressed in traditional costume
preceded the bride into the vast hall. We were not guests, so we
couldn't follow her in, but it was a very special event.

We thought we would have most of the next week to prepare to leave and to finish vacating and cleaning our own apartment, which had to be returned to the owners because they had sold the building.

Of course, Sunday was Fast Sunday, so we both bore our testimonies and had our picture taken by many of the members. What we didn't know was that they announced that there would be a secret farewell dinner for us on Tuesday. The translator just managed to skip that one and I didn't try to decipher it because I knew anything they announced would not apply to us, since we would be gone that week. It would have been a surprise, except that because it was raining, we gave Torsten and Elsa a ride home. As we arrived at Elsa's apartment, Torsten said, "So Bradley and Olivia (he has called us by our first names from the beginning), has Elsa told you about the surprise dinner she is planning for you on Tuesday?" Cat out of the bag.

First photos from Sunday:

Christer Masus

Elsa Stenberg

Sol-Brit Burman celebrated
her 80th birthday and brought
the cake to share after church

Grisel Garcia, who is
studying with the elders

Elsa with Hane Landrö

The Franqvist family

Odd Uhrbom

Torsten Hernod

Tore and Sol-Brit Burman

Elders Young and Jordan

Tim Conley

Hammar family with son-in-law Peter Stegeby

Even, Gabriella, and Hane Landrö

Our Russian friends whose names we
don't remember. :(

The Näslund family invited us to dinner
after church. They have a very nice home
and property.

And then the photos from the ward farewell dinner:

Benjamin Schmuck

Jessica Masus

The beautiful dinner table
with 3 kinds of meatballs,
boiled potatoes, Västerbotten
cheese pie, as well as breads
and cheeses.

Starting from the front and clockwise
around the table: Gabriella, Hane and
Even Landrö, Anya, Torsten, Odd, Elder
Jordan, and Young (center), Kurt, Monica,
Christer (center), Jessica, space for Olivia,
me, Judy, Elsa, Rasmus, Ulf, Tore, Sol-Brit,
Björn, Evelyn and Matilda Näslund.

Rasmus and Elsa show off their desserts:
Apple/currant pie and sommar torte. Sol-
Brit brought cinnamon

Kurt and Monica Hedin

We also knew that there would be a combined farewell and welcome to Sweden party for Hales and us who are leaving and for Clouses, Borgs and Baileys who had just arrived to replace the Hales. The Youngbergs hosted again and, as usual, were wonderful, gracious hosts.

Picking up the Baileys from the airport

A beautiful day allowed us to take a picture on the patio behind
the mission home. Clouses, Donohoos, Youngbergs, Baileys,
Borgs, us, Hales, Whiteheads

We spent the morning
packing before we finished
cleaning.

We came home from the party and continued to clean until after midnight, then got up the next morning and continued through the day Thursday. By the end of the day we were done, turned the keys over to the owners, and spent the night at the Scandic Hotel near the Täby chapel, where it would be convenient for the Hales and Clouses to take us to the airport.

   

Sparkling clean as we prepared to leave.

Our last trip out the front door.

Gunilla and her son Lars Jonasson were
our landlady and translator. They were
very nice and easy to work with.

Then it was August 10th, the day that seemed forever away, but coming too fast. At 7:00 we were at the airport with the help of the Hales and Clouses and in the air by 9:30. Approximately 23 hours later we were disembarking the plane in Reno, Nevada. Because of the lateness of our arrival, we expected to only see our son Cedric who had committed to pick us up and take us to his home for the next several days. Imagine our surprise to see not only Cedric, but also our oldest grandson, Dallin Singer and our daughter Hannah with her children, Maisy, Laurel, Norah, and Oliver.

The welcome party: Dallin, Laurel, Maisy
Cedric, Norah, and Oliver

In the ABBA way poster, by Cedric.

Welcome back to America poster by
Hannah

In Maisy's Swedish

Norah's creation

Today, August 11th it came to an end as we reported to our stake president who extended an honorable release. We left, taking off our name badges and with teary eyes we turned to look forward to our next adventure. With love overflowing from the bottom of our hearts we say "Hejdå vänner. Vi älskar er!"

Our Fond Farewell
We’re soon to leave, the end is near
We’ll terminate our mission
We go back home, our kids will cheer
And I may do some fishin’.

We’ll go back to the world we know
Whose language will not grieve ya.
We’ll park the car where e’re we go
No billet and no skiva.

When climbing stairs, it will not be
To carry beds or sofas
We will, instead, turn on TV
And not remove our loafers.

If we are asked at church to speak
Most folks will understand us
If our talk is grand or weak,
No one will reprimand us

‘Cause we’ll always speak their språk
We’ll use our native tongue.
They’ll understand, those kindly folk
Why, talks will be quite fun!

Laundry won’t take half a day,
We’ll have a vented dryer.
There’ll be time for fun and play
Sip cocoa by the fire.

We’ll just kick back and rest our feet
While clicking the remote.
So, what’s this running down my cheek;
This lump that’s in my throat?

Could it be we’ll miss this place?
We’ll miss the panic calls
From elders who admit shame faced
Though it was not their fault

That someone sneaky stole their bike
Or they have lost their keys?
The sisters’ hair, long as you like
As pretty as you please

Is clogging drains and it was I
Who got to clean that mess.
Does that explain the teary eye?
Well, in a way, I guess.

For every time we fixed those things
We heard with gratitude
“You’re the best” our hearts took wings;
What an attitude.

When we checked their house we knew
That we were going to find
A whiteboard filled with goals and so
We asked them if they’d mind

Sharing something they have learned

Or someone they have taught.

Our spirits once again were turned

To why we’re here and what

A prophet’s called us here to do.

It’s once again confirmed,

We’re here because the gospel’s true

And we must be concerned

That each of us must play our role

In the time we’re given.

And when we do we come to know

Why we are so driven.

There are, of course, our senior friends

Who always saved our bacon.

Their sacrifice will never end

Of this there’s no mistakin’.

For us they did apartment checks

Fixed bikes and hung up curtains.

We’d be in quicksand to our necks

Without these folks; that’s certain.

Pres and Sister Youngberg,

We’ve loved and watched you lead.

We know the load you’re called to carry

And we know that you’ll succeed.

The faithful local members’

Devotion never ends

Faith’s fire has grown from embers

They're our eternal friends.

Uppsala Ward has lighted

Like rainbows from a prism

Our spirits. We’re delighted.

But one still needs baptism. (not saying who😊)

So yes, we’ll miss the lingon sylt

The tasty breads and cheeses

The bundled tots wrapped to the hilt

And slipping when it freezes.

Of course, we’ll miss that pris includes

The hefty sales tax

The pretty girls and handsome dudes

That make the shakes at MAX.

We’ll miss the change of seasons

When winter moves to spring;

For no apparent reason

A thousand songbirds sing.

Traditions for each red day

(We’ve loved to be a part).

It warms us when “God Jul” they say

“Glad Påsk” has touched our heart.

We’ll miss the birds and wildlife

The green that lasts all year

Smorgåstorts and godis rife

With extra pounds, I fear.

We’ll miss scores of wild flowers

All covered with the dew.

We’ll miss driving hours and hours,

BUT MOSTLY WE’LL MISS YOU!