Hello world.
Well, I don't know if you've checked the weather here, but it's but a wonderful +2 degrees. Which also means that 10 feet of powdery snow, turns into perfect packing snow, and can actually be quite dangerous. The roads are also more icy, and half water half snow turns into a disaster when driving vehicles. I'll explain. We were on our way to the Bustamantes after church, to go drop off a Liahona for them. I took a wrong turn, and realized I needed to make en U-turn. So I drove to the end of the long narrow road, assuming it would open up in a space to turn around (I had seen the dead end sign) Well I was right! But, I was going about 40-50 km/hr and then we started onto ice that was straight up glass. It came quickly, and by the time I realized I was going to fast, there was no hope to even slow the car down at all. So we barreled 50 km/hr into a snow bank. A car was right behind us, but they live in that cul-de-sac, so they were smart. Immediately two kids, and the parents started helping out. ''Det är som glas här,''(it's like glass here) he said. ''Jag förstå det nu!''(I can understand that now)
It was super embarrassing, but they were awesome people who jumped right in. There was a girl there, and I started talking with her in Swedish about life as we were shoveling, turns out she's totally American. But speaks both fluently. What the. That was cool, and we talked and shoveled for the next hour to get us out. Eventually we did (they had gone inside) so we knocked on the door to thank them, and of course, invite them to learn more. They were not interested, but maybe they'll give the website a chance. Either way.. it was definitely a journal entry.
But the rest of this week was equally as fun, as that hour was. Christmas at the Stiernströms was amazing. It was total flashback. I remembered last time jultomten came out and gave us packages, and how I was scared.. it was pretty cool. Had some amazing food. I absolutely loved every bit of it. Korv, skinka, alla slags av fisk,(sausages, ham and fish) and other delicious swedish foods I couldn't name for you. All topped off with as much julmust ( Christmas soda) as can drink! With some glögg (a drink similar to cider) included. Which was also amazing. The experience was awesome, just sitting there experiencing Christmas the Swedish way. The families way. The mother way. At one point in the night, mortar (g-pa) took me upstairs and showed me mothers room she grow up in. That was an experience. A really cool lay out though, the whole house.
Well, as you know, the day after we took a 3 hour bus ride home, jumped in a car, drove the scariest drive I've every driven in my life. The roads were being covered with snow faster than we could drive on them, it was pitch black and I couldn't use my brights because all the snow was illuminated. It was nuts. We made it to the farm, and I got to use a Mac again! And call my wonderful family. Had a 3 hour skype moment, which only seemed like 30 minutes. And then had an amazing Farm meal (every meal at the farm is amazing, because it's all home grown/made/slaughtered).
At seven we went to work in the barn. Once you get over the smell, it's pretty awesome to be in the barn. We let the cows out, shovel dung, and feed the young calfs. It doesn't sound all that glorious. But the more I did it, the more I fell in love with it. I have something in my journal that I call the ''farm high'' It's a lot similar to the baseball bug. It just kind of gets you, and you are almost addicted to it. It's really tiring work, as my shoulders were extremely sore. But so, awesome. We helped out with a few other things, made a wreath from a pine tree needle leaf things, carried wood here and there, fed the lambs (ha), and even just took a break for an hour and started watching a ''Life on the farm'' video that they had made. That, you need to watch. Two years. :) but it was an amazing day, and before every meal they sing a song, and read a chapter. We had dinner, and were getting ready to go home, when they told us they would feel much better if we stayed the night, so we could have light when we drive home. Well that seemed like a wonderful idea to me. Ha, so we helped out again with the barn (they do it twice a day) and carried some palettes to a random barn, in a remote corner of Sweden. Where it was untouched snow, and 'simply gojus!' We finished the life on the farm, had some good dessert with the oranges in the porridge kind of thing. Super good.
Well my week has been amazing. Two weeks. Lots of journal entries, lots of things på gång, and so much that runs through my mind every day as I get ready for this upcoming ''black year'' where I'm going to hit it harder than before. Do everything I can, and be the missionary I need to.
I absolutely loved talking with you.
'Till next time.
-Äldste Sargent
Well, I don't know if you've checked the weather here, but it's but a wonderful +2 degrees. Which also means that 10 feet of powdery snow, turns into perfect packing snow, and can actually be quite dangerous. The roads are also more icy, and half water half snow turns into a disaster when driving vehicles. I'll explain. We were on our way to the Bustamantes after church, to go drop off a Liahona for them. I took a wrong turn, and realized I needed to make en U-turn. So I drove to the end of the long narrow road, assuming it would open up in a space to turn around (I had seen the dead end sign) Well I was right! But, I was going about 40-50 km/hr and then we started onto ice that was straight up glass. It came quickly, and by the time I realized I was going to fast, there was no hope to even slow the car down at all. So we barreled 50 km/hr into a snow bank. A car was right behind us, but they live in that cul-de-sac, so they were smart. Immediately two kids, and the parents started helping out. ''Det är som glas här,''(it's like glass here) he said. ''Jag förstå det nu!''(I can understand that now)
It was super embarrassing, but they were awesome people who jumped right in. There was a girl there, and I started talking with her in Swedish about life as we were shoveling, turns out she's totally American. But speaks both fluently. What the. That was cool, and we talked and shoveled for the next hour to get us out. Eventually we did (they had gone inside) so we knocked on the door to thank them, and of course, invite them to learn more. They were not interested, but maybe they'll give the website a chance. Either way.. it was definitely a journal entry.
But the rest of this week was equally as fun, as that hour was. Christmas at the Stiernströms was amazing. It was total flashback. I remembered last time jultomten came out and gave us packages, and how I was scared.. it was pretty cool. Had some amazing food. I absolutely loved every bit of it. Korv, skinka, alla slags av fisk,(sausages, ham and fish) and other delicious swedish foods I couldn't name for you. All topped off with as much julmust ( Christmas soda) as can drink! With some glögg (a drink similar to cider) included. Which was also amazing. The experience was awesome, just sitting there experiencing Christmas the Swedish way. The families way. The mother way. At one point in the night, mortar (g-pa) took me upstairs and showed me mothers room she grow up in. That was an experience. A really cool lay out though, the whole house.
Well, as you know, the day after we took a 3 hour bus ride home, jumped in a car, drove the scariest drive I've every driven in my life. The roads were being covered with snow faster than we could drive on them, it was pitch black and I couldn't use my brights because all the snow was illuminated. It was nuts. We made it to the farm, and I got to use a Mac again! And call my wonderful family. Had a 3 hour skype moment, which only seemed like 30 minutes. And then had an amazing Farm meal (every meal at the farm is amazing, because it's all home grown/made/slaughtered).
At seven we went to work in the barn. Once you get over the smell, it's pretty awesome to be in the barn. We let the cows out, shovel dung, and feed the young calfs. It doesn't sound all that glorious. But the more I did it, the more I fell in love with it. I have something in my journal that I call the ''farm high'' It's a lot similar to the baseball bug. It just kind of gets you, and you are almost addicted to it. It's really tiring work, as my shoulders were extremely sore. But so, awesome. We helped out with a few other things, made a wreath from a pine tree needle leaf things, carried wood here and there, fed the lambs (ha), and even just took a break for an hour and started watching a ''Life on the farm'' video that they had made. That, you need to watch. Two years. :) but it was an amazing day, and before every meal they sing a song, and read a chapter. We had dinner, and were getting ready to go home, when they told us they would feel much better if we stayed the night, so we could have light when we drive home. Well that seemed like a wonderful idea to me. Ha, so we helped out again with the barn (they do it twice a day) and carried some palettes to a random barn, in a remote corner of Sweden. Where it was untouched snow, and 'simply gojus!' We finished the life on the farm, had some good dessert with the oranges in the porridge kind of thing. Super good.
Well my week has been amazing. Two weeks. Lots of journal entries, lots of things på gång, and so much that runs through my mind every day as I get ready for this upcoming ''black year'' where I'm going to hit it harder than before. Do everything I can, and be the missionary I need to.
I absolutely loved talking with you.
'Till next time.
-Äldste Sargent