Missionary Week #38    Date:  June 3, 2019 - June 9, 2019

Hello Everyone, After our great “retreat” last week we were ready to get back to work!  We also knew we had another Holiday coming up on Thursday! 

June 6, 2019 - National Day

 

Monday – We got to work a little before 7am, we hit all the trains at the right time! Normal day at work, we are getting out of the boxes that have so much medical papers and it is going a little faster. We have been emailing The Quist’s.  They are in Blaire’s Moms ward in Chandler and have been called to Stockholm Sweden to replace The Whiteheads that left in February!  Small World – We are glad we can give them some heads up on some of things they need to know before they get here. 

From the Rose Garden at Skansen

Tuesday – We had a good day at work – it’s beautiful weather – I still wear a light jacket but John is in short sleeves already!  We got some fun Marco Polo’s from Jaylen & Blaire from “Bearizona” somewhere near Flagstaff – the kids were having fun petting (or chasing) a ton of animals.

Wednesday – A little warmer today.  A lot of people are gone today for the pre-holiday day off – they  must take a day of vacation.  The archive closed at 2pm, so the ones that did come to work only worked a half day.  We worked until 4. 

Thursday -   June 6, 2019 – It’s “National Day” in Sweden.  This is the day they used to call “Flag Day” then they decided to make this day for that and to commemorate when King Gustaf Vasa was elected King in 1523, and the adoption of a new constitution in 1809.  The flags are flying, and we went to Skansen to enjoy the festivities.  We stayed all day! 

Hardware Store

The little goat jumped into the feeding trough

There is so much to see, we came here in the winter with snow and ice on the ground today the sun was shining all day!  It was a warm day but beautiful.  

Right side is in English

Book Binding

Book Bindery

We saw the “Stockholm Singers” in a concert at the old church.  It was very pretty inside, and it was warm.   The choir has 20 singers by the end they only had 19!  One of the girls passed out, they just got her comfortable on the floor and finished the concert.  They were very good. They sang the National Anthem, some folk songs and Bach.  We couldn’t take pictures during the concert so I did get some pics afterward. They came in singing and they left singing and then flanked the sidewalk, so you walked through them outside – still singing!  It was great.  We ran into the Borg’s that we work with in the church too!

Outside the Church

Inside the church - the pews are pretty tiny and there is a door,
if anyone wants to leave everyone has to get out of the pew!

The Folk Dancers arrive

 Then we walked around and found a Folk-Dance performance, it was cool to watch the different dances and they told us what part of the country each dance was from – Southern - Northern etc.  There were 2 violinists playing on a little stage (in shade) and the dancers were all out in the sun, in costume…. several layers of clothes…...dancing and they were smiling! Amazing! 

We ate lunch from a food booth offering hot dogs or flatbread off a huge wok.  We found a little picnic table in the shade and enjoyed our lunch and the families around having their own picnics.  Then we saw a lot of people with ice cream…. what a grand idea!  So, we headed for the ice cream shop…we found it and got 2 scoops each.  The restaurant did not have air conditioning, but we cooled down a bit before going back outside.

Bakery

The Glass House

They were making little vases

Glass Forms 

Grasshopper

Moon Jelly Fish

Inside Aquarium

Kiddie cars

Ferris Wheel

Ducks - and ducklings!  The parents were VERY Protective.

The Smithy - not open but you could look in

Out front of  the Smithy - For shoeing the Oxen on the farm

Downtown Stockholm

Police in blue - directing pedestrians and vehicles and scooters

Motorcycle Police

The King & Queen were to arrive but at 6:30 – this was about 4:30. We decided not to sit and wait for them to arrive – we walked on out of Skansen and found a place by the road where he would be coming down and we waited about an hour.  It was interesting to watch how the police took care of the road outside Skansen – they had certain roads blocked off, white tape marked off where you couldn’t go.  We saw more activity with motorcycle police, cars, vans going up and down the road, then we saw black car’s with flags of the different countries – we assume their diplomats from the embassy’s.  Then we could see the horses coming.  This is what I was wanting to see because – as you’ve heard before – my Great-Grandfather was in the Royal Troopers – The Lifeguards on horse.  So, I was so glad to see this procession… There were 2 horses in front and then a front rider – followed by 4 rows of 4 horses – then a couple of more horses in each Regiment – then the King’s Carriage and the King & Queen and one of the Prince & Princesses with them, then more horses – same count- behind him.  Then another set for the next Princess & Prince and children – and another set of horses behind them and 3-4 Royal Police on horse.  What was amazing was the sound of all the horses and the soldiers in their uniforms and their headdress.  Pretty Grand View – wish my pictures were more clear but hopefully you’ll get the idea.  Of course, the King wasn’t looking our way – but The Queen and Princess were waving to everyone.  Then when they had gone by, we headed back into Stockholm with the rest of the humanity. 

Here they come!

King and Queen - can't see King

King and Queen's Carriage

Princess and family

Just look at all the people

Friday – We were back to work at 7 today we got our shuttles mailed off and took lunch a little earlier, because we left at 3.  Not too many people were at work today either.  We did not wear jackets or sweaters today!  Nice and warm – John has been tracking sunrise and sunset – for example June 6 & 7^th the sunrise was at 3:38am and sunset was 9:58. 

More people

Saturday –  John got the laundry done this  morning – I did some “housework” doesn’t take long when you have 3 rooms!  We decided to go watch a movie.  We headed out to Kista and after looking at the movies – because of the time we got there – just before noon we decided to watch Aladdin.  We got our popcorn and drinks – have I mentioned that it’s rare to find ice anywhere?  The pop/soda comes out cold but there is no ice…. but you do get more pop in your cup! We found our way to the theatre and waited, watched previews (which over here are not PG rated) and the movie started and Will Smith was singing in Swedish!  So, we got up and walked out and went to the cashier and she was glad to change our tickets and told us to refill our pop!  We then got to watch Xmen and it was good – we haven’t watched many of the other ones, so we were a little lost – again.  We headed home and decided to go to the end of the line because we had not been there.  Then we rode back and decided to go scout out the route for the couple that will be coming in September – to be able to help them get to their apartment and to work. We enjoyed that little ride – it’s the furthest east we’ve been – we saw some of the sites we saw when we were on the ferry.  The trees are in bloom – when one has bloomed and faded another type is blooming!  Tonight, it rained – we could smell it because we have all of windows open! It smelled great.

Happy Birthday to my brother Barry!  I was able to call and chat with him for a bit, it was good to catch up. 

Street sign on the bridge

Sunday – The Borg’s picked us up for church and we had a good Sacrament meeting and Relief Society for me and Priesthood meeting for John.  It rained on us going home!  We get the car for this week and will be meeting our Family History Consultant on Tuesday night – she’s going to translate an Estate Inventory list I found on my Great Great Grandfather -Jonas Gustaf Karlsson – can’t wait to tell you about that next week.  We will be helping out at Zone Conference on Wednesday – so another busy week!

Our kids and their families are getting ready to go to Roosevelt Lake for our annual Reunion.  We will miss being there, we hope you will be safe and happy and that all the vehicles and boats work!  Remember the rule we made of NO ONE SWIMMING ALONE!  We’re hoping for a lot of Marco Polos!

We think of you often and miss you!  Love hearing from you!  Love, John & Linda, Mom & Dad, Gramma & Grampa