Wow, you are saved! Just when you thought you couldn't read anymore routine letters, we got a change of assignment with new language and culture, new mission and ward people, new house and scenery, and new effort to serve. We hardly know where to start with all that we have experienced this week---so maybe chronologically will do.
We flew out of Dublin on Thursday morning--which now seems like a few weeks ago. Getting ready to go was, to borrow the cliché, was a real whirlwind! We made our last trip to visit the small, most remote branch on Monday. We were tired by that point, having been up and down, and east and west, (and more) all within the week. We arrived in time to have dinner with the Knight family and to have a little early evening Christmas with the children We had another graduation "ceremony" for them and then stayed the night at their home.
The next day we got back home in time to prepare for a YSA SR class that we do a light dinner for and then loaded up with Specialists and drove out to Bray for a nice dinner meeting. Our manager from England wanted us to get the Dublin group leaders together to meet him and help the transition to go more smoothly--but he got tied up with travel delays and missed his ferry, so we ended up just going ahead with a nice dinner and less meeting. That was a fun night for us and we appreciated even more the strength and testimony of the great people we had worked with.
Wednesday was a blur of pressure to finish off details but we felt lucky that the day would end with a triple baptism. We felt like we could get everything done, but mailing the package home to prevent overweight luggage was a crazy time. First we thought the UPS rate would be best, but got to a UPS place that didn't ship--just a business office. Unfortunately, it was far out of the way and the hour was getting close to closing times, so we then decided to do the Post. That meant payment had to be cash because our bank account was now closed and we had to also find an ATM. In all the rush we thought we lost Grandma's phone! We prayed, drove a long ways back, didn't find the phone and then when sad reality was at its best, we found it! Things like this happen to everyone--and usually when it will be least convenient, but yes, Heaven was watching over us and the phone had fallen into the purse (didn't ring because of a dialing problem.) Bottom line was that we had felt pressure at the start of the day, but had a sweet assurance that things would be in His hands. Even though we panicked for awhile, we really loved that feeling of divine help. It is always hard to re-tell a "tender mercy" very well, but we want to share it to let you know that we love knowing that the Lord cares about the little things, especially when we are facing a lot of bigger things ahead now.
So we were late for the Baptism, (but not as late as someone who was speaking) which meant we were basically on time and were able to get the last minute arrangements for food made, and enjoy the sweet spirit of the occasion. One of our dear investigator friends came special to see us and say good-bye. After the baptism, we also went out to say good-bye to our friend Nick. It is hard to know that we may not see these people again, but we have loved watching them feel the Spirit and hope they will be able to act on those personal blessings.
After a very late night of finishing the packing, cleaning, washing etc. we did make our early flight without any problems. Fortunately, we were given a little over-allowance on the luggage weight because we had so much to bring. Flying out we felt a real sentimental love for Ireland as we looked out the plane window at the green patches of farmland laced together with the quaint brown hedges. We flew first to London, then had about a 3 hours flight to Sweden. All the fuss about getting a visa for Sweden was funny because we had the shortest entrance ever coming into the country.
After we picked up our luggage and left the secure area we didn't know who to expect would meet us, but we certainly didn't dream that it would be such a big welcome! It was not just one nice set of missionaries--but three, with one of them being the Mission President and his wife. They "always meet their missionaries" and we were not exempt even though we are just transfers. We all stood behind a big Swedish flag and had our picture taken. After a bit of introductions and welcomes, the President left and we were then swooped off by the two couples to go to dinner. It was a fun afternoon, evening topped off with them bringing us all the way out to our new apartment.
We live now on an island (Stockholm is a series of 14 islands) called Lidinga--which sounds more like Lydia. It is an especially nice area and has a gorgeous view. We live on a hill on the 6th (top) floor and overlook what seems like a Christmas village. The view is of a beautiful bay that has frequent big ferries running. A little commuter train winds its way along the snowy valley and the hillsides have a lot of evergreen trees on them. Since we are so far up, we can leave our blinds and drapes open and watch everything.
The senior couples that brought us to our apartment were responsible for acquiring and preparing it and did such a fabulous job. We have been spoiled now! Not only is the bath nice, with enough water pressure and enough hot water, it has heated floors and a heated towel warmer rack. It is a brand new remodel for the bathroom and also has enough light. The house is much larger than our Irish house and nicer. It has a separate office off the kitchen, a dining area, and a big sitting room. Throughout the whole house they furnished it with brand new IKEA furniture and furnishings. They painted the old cupboards and have it looking so fun. We have new living room furniture, drapes, rugs, clocks, dishes, pans, towels, bed and bedding. They even gave it the special touch of cute décor---and a Christmas tree. It is so clean and nice we feel like we are almost in a model IKEA home.
We slept so well that first night and it hasn't taken us long to get unpacked and settled. We really have most things we need, but did run into a little glitch with plugs. We have a set of plug adaptors but didn't think about them not working to convert Ireland system to Sweden system, rather than USA to Europe. With not enough time to go looking to buy an adaptor, Grandma was resourceful and used the vacuum vent for a hair dryer.
On Friday we were taken back to the mission office and got our car and some help to get set to be independent. We had changed our GPS Garmin to Scandinavia, so we are comfortable getting around. With so many islands, we are often in underwater tunnels when we drive, but they are nice and well lit. We ventured off to a nice big mall and grocery store and tried to find things we recognized for food. The prices are quite a bit higher here for food since the majority of Sweden is rock. The idea that everyone speaks English is nice, but canned and boxed foods don't speak at all, and the labels are in Swedish. We didn't do so well the first time because the store was so crowded and we felt like we were in the way, but our second time to shop was much easier and we even were stopped by a lady who saw our tags and introduced herself as the Bishop's wife! She helped us find a few things and of course was so kind. (Tender mercy again.)
Friday night (Grandma's birthday and the Mission President's wife's birthday ) we joined all the Mission couples for a Christmas dinner night out, and Saturday morning we all got together again at the Mission Home for a short meeting about doing apartment checks for young missionaries and the President gave us some time to present a little about what we are doing. There are about 1/2 as many couples here as the Scotland/Ireland Mission, so we may not get as much help with SR but it was fun to meet them.
After the meeting we all went downtown to the Christmas market booths for a few hours. It is a funny coincidence that when we came to the Scotland-Ireland Mission we did the very same thing in Scotland on our second day. It was held in the square of the oldest part of downtown Stockholm, so we saw some really great old architecture, narrow cobble walking streets and lots of quaint shops. After some very cold shopping time, we all went for authentic Swedish meatballs in a very old restaurant. That made 3 days and 3 nice meals out in a row! So fun.
Sunday, we found our way to the Church which met at 2:00 p.m., because surprisingly, there are two wards to the building. The people were very nice, but the idea that there would be headphones was not quite right. We will need to set that up for ourselves, so we just smiled, tried to stay awake and sang in Swedish. They even asked Grandma to lead the singing in RS which was quite different. She didn't know whether to sing English, nothing, or get her face in the Psalmer. In all, the people were as nice as possible and we made it through our first Sunday.
Next week we will send you a funny words list, so Grandkids get your brains ready to think--or learn Swedish this week with us. We can see a lot of hidden similarities to English when it is written out, but spoken, the language is hard for us. In Ireland the language was tricky, but the written Native Irish language was always subtitled in English. Here are no subtitles, just very long words with no hidden clues.
Coming up this week we are going to help with kitchen work for a funeral, serve at a homeless shelter and have a real SR meeting with some leaders--so we hope we can get in the swing of serving again. We know that serving will make us happier than anything else.
We have had some great experiences this week, all of which have served to strengthen our testimonies even more. We have seen firsthand, once again, the Gospel in action in very diverse situations, but always with the same rock-solid foundation of doctrine and faith in Jesus Christ. It really doesn't matter the language - English, Swedish, Portuguese, Spanish - the feeling is the same when the Holy Ghost bears witness of the truth. We heard a young lady speak in church today, and even though we didn't understand a single word, we could feel the strength of her testimony. The same glow attends worthy Saints and Missionaries wherever they are. Despite difficulties, the same desire to be better and serve God prevails. It is an amazing thing. It is a marvelous experience to see prophecy fulfilled as the Kingdom spreads to all parts of the world. We are just so grateful to be a small part of a very big dispensation in which the primary goal is to prepare the Church to meet the Savior. He loves His saints, and will provide for them, and is anxious for their happiness, even in very distressing times.
We send our love and prayers your way. We would very much like to be with you, but are grateful to be on this mission. We wish you the happiest of Christmases and a wonderful holiday season.
Much love,
Grandma and Grandpa
Mom and Dad
Lynne and Lanette
Elder and Sister Pettit
Eldste and Syster Pettit
What a great welcome to Sweden! From the left: Elder and Sister Clouse (office couple), President and Sister Beckstrand of the Sweden Stockholm Mission, us, Elder and Sister Anderson (housing couple)
Old Town Christmas Market, central Stockholm. We enjoy the different colored buildings.
Changing of the Guard, Royal Palace, Stockholm
This is the view from our apartment. The ferry is coming in from points east (Helsinki, Russia, Germany?)
No hair dryer with the proper plug means you have to use the vacuum exhaust to get the job done,
Now there's a sandwich! Traditional Swedish food served at a funeral.
Dad and Elder Anderson hanging a coat rack in the newly-refurbished apartment.
Christmas Eve at the home of Victoria and Anders Carlssen. Anders is reciting the Nativity Story to the children (in Swedish, of course). On the table is the traditional Glogg, that is served warm before the meal. What a beautiful setting in a beautifully-decorated house!
Carlssen family on Christmas Eve. Notice, again, the Nativity and the Glogg.
Carlssen family again.
The table is set for Christmas Eve dinner. How beautiful! Notice the windows and the view.
In the kitchen, where the food is being prepared on the stove on the left, and put on the bar to the right. All kinds of yummy meats, fish, dressings, bread, cheese, etc., etc.
Look at all that food!
Another ferry coming up the inlet in front of our apartment.
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