T Minus 20 weeks....Swedish Christmas, great experiences!

Note from Rylan's Mom:
I think it's safe to start the countdown in 2019 to Rylan's return. It'll be here before we know it!

Week 82

Hallå allihopa, God Jul och Gott nytt år! Hello Everyone, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The holiday season here has been great. My apologies for no weekly email last week, it was a bit hectic because we spent the day with members doin' different stuff to celebrate.

Julafton (Christmas Eve) we were with the Åkebrand Family. They set up a solid night for the whole gang beginning with julbord (a Christmas feast). First you begin with the sill (pickled herring) mixed with mustard or other sauces (neither of which I 'm a huge fan of). Then you go on to homemade swedish meatballs and potatoes and sauce and fancy bread with butter and cheese. Finally you top it off with the Christmas ham and turkey, so by the end we were stuffed to the brim. They then came out with Sister Åkebrands' special called the bomb cake. This thing is like a layered ice cream cake with sorbet in the middle. Literally the entire cake is layered ice cream. That got eaten up fast. 

While eating, we had the classic Kalle Anka (old Disney film clips that swede's watch on TV every year on Christmas Eve) playing in the background of our nice dinner table chat. The night concluded with some games, present opening (because they open all of their presents on Christmas eve), and then watching the "Incredibles 2" in Swedish. After not watching any movies for a year, a kids movie like the Incredibles had me more captivated than it should've. 

Juldagen (Christmas day) was spent with our ward mission leader Pablo. He made his classic schnitzel for us and we enjoyed the rest of the night sitting around chatting all together. He rents out rooms to different tenants from around the world, so we hung out with his tenant from India who just moved in. Talking with him reminded me of Seattle. Oddly enough, his Indian accent and smell of spice brought me back to the neighborhood smells in the cul-de-sac in Sammamish. 

Since then it's been pretty relaxed. We've spent time with members, taught some good lessons. Most people we have met have been busy for the holidays which is understandable so January is looking promising for us. 

I have already heard some fireworks goin' off. Downtown today the alcohol stores were packed. Here in Sweden you have to go to a place called System Bolaget (government-owned alcohol store) to buy any drinks, so most people out midday were already all dolled up to go out tonight. We'll be with the Dufour family tonight for new years to play some games and watch fireworks. 

This past week, I feel like God has put several people in our path. We've met people who have had contact with the church long before and have since then made bad choices in their life which have changed their whole course. It's been cool to both experience and feel that God had sent my companion and I to give them a chance to attain more peace in their life, and to change their lifestyle so that they can be happier. 

As it goes, most people don't take the chance unfortunately. I think about these people and how they weren't always like they are, they weren't always alcoholics, in a broken marriage/family, on the street, lonely, whatever it may be. Yet slowly over time they fell away from happiness. It can happen to anyone with time because it's difficult to realize when we move further and further away from God. 

There are always reasons we can justify it with -- health, kids, stress -- but I feel like I've seen such a stark contrast this past week between those that work to stay in the light, and those that slowly slip away until they realize they're sitting in the dark. 

Are you trying to stay in the light? Are you satisfied with a darkened hue? As cliche as this sounds, think about spiritual goals this new year. They're most important and often most forgotten... and cheaper than a gym pass ;)

Happy New Year to you all! See you in 2019 ;)

With love,

Äldste Gordon

We were able to Google Hangout with Rylan  on Christmas morning. He's doing great! Loving Sweden and his service there. He's in a congregation that is very supportive and loving everyone he meets.