So much has happened that hasn't been recounted. Rather than starting some time ago, I'll just go back to yesterday with two events and then go back from there on subsequent blogs.
As one knows, as people get older their faces, hair color, and even women's last name change to the point that we no longer recognize them after a period of time. Well, mom was in the temple and was talking to a sister Swedish temple worker. After awhile the sister's face lit up and she threw her arms around mom. She is from southern Sweden and had known mom through regular Church activities and especially from youth conferences. Her name now is Gunilla Carlsson (mom thinks it was Ekelund back then).
The even better part is that she now lives in Stockholm in the ward where mom's most favorite Sunday School teacher (and only one) now lives and whom mom has wanted to find in Sweden and to visit. He is now 93 or 95 years old. She gave mom times and directions and we'll go to his Ward next Sunday. He had taken their sunday school class on a 10-day bicycling trip to Gottland - a big beautiful island.
The other event was that as we were working in the Temple, a former Swedish missionary came in with his wife, daughter, son-in-law, and a wheel-chair bound member that they had reactivated. The former missionary's last name was Jeffs. When he was a missionary, Kari's family had him and his companion over many times to their home. When Anna went to America, she lived close enough to the Jeffs that they had her over to their home many times and did many other kind things for her. Also, Anna was able to provide companionship for his aging mother. He and his wife are now back in northern Sweden in the Branch Presidency and helping with Home Teaching and reactivation.
His wife told us that the member that they reactivated (she told us the details which I don't remember well like towns and time periods so I'll say generalities so as not to be incorrect). This member was away from his home town when he had a severe stroke. The doctors induced a coma which he was in for sometime. He hadn't recovered but they medically flew him home. He was given a priesthood blessing. The amazing thing to everyone was that the following Sunday he was in church.
His right side was paralyzed, but Sister Jeffs taught him how to use Family Search, etc. He can use his left hand. He is doing work for his family of which he could only remember his mother's birthdate. He didn't know anything else about her nor about his father. He is now doing their work for them.
How great is the work of our Father in Heaven! ...on earth and on the other side!
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Sunday, July 8, 2012
7/8/12, Family Visits
Four families visited Sweden this past week. I will write this from the perspective of someone not familiar with the account.
The weather before their week-long visit has been rainy and cool all Spring. There was no rain during the week of their stay. It rained on Saturday and Sunday following their departure. We visited and did all the normal tourist things -- visited museums, took tours, and ate marvelous food. Now for the really good parts -- the extraordinary parts.
On Monday, we were visiting the apartments where mom lived as a child. We couldn't get into the building to see the stairway or courtyard, but as we were leaving, a tenant couple walked up, mom introduced us and asked if they would let us in. They were so kind and let us in. We saw the inside and courtyard which was more interesting than just the outside. Mom saw the name on an apartment of one of their neighbors. They were not home but mom and I will call them return later in the summer.
On Thursday and Friday, we travelled to Gavle (home of mom's dad and his parents), then to Dala-Floda where he and his parents spent summers and later where he built a cabin and spent summers with his wife and children (Kari and Jannicke).
Mom wanted to see some friends that she had spent the summers with (of course they would be a little older now). Well, the first "coincidence" happened when we drove up and mom went to a little souvenir shop to ask some questions. There inside was the first friend that she would meet. The extraordinary thing was the the lady was asked to cover for the owner for just that afternoon -- she had done so in the past but very rarely.
The second "event" happened when mom wanted to find another friend but only knew her maiden name. Mom and I decided Thurday evening to leave the "kids" and walk around. There was no one on the streets, but there was a family having a barbeque in their back yard. We walked up to them and described to them what we were trying to do. The young lady said that she thought that the friend was a singer and would be in the city church at a celebration. We went into the Church and finally identified her. When the celebration was over and Kari introduced herself, there was certainly a huge exclamation and big hugs.
We stayed in the hotel where her dad stayed as a child during summers with his family (they also stayed with different families during the summers as well). Mom swam in "her lake" and rowed a rowboat across it to the cabin that they had built across the lake.
The last day we wanted to take pictures of the cabin and decided to drive around the lake. However, there is no road directly to the cabin and we didn't know where to stop the car to try to find the cabin. So, here is the next astonishing event. You must remember that the cabin is in an isolated location with few neighbors and fewer people passing by. Well, as we where trying to decide where to stop and which hill and forest to walk over and through, a car stops and asks if they could help. You can guess, the woman was another friend that mom grew up with. More exclamations, hugs, and happy tears.
Last and certainly far from the least, Amy is now a certified Swede and a full-fledged member of the Kerr/Lindback Swedish clan. She found a grave stone with "Tillman" on it. (Also the name of one of mom's childhood friends.) As you might suspect, Tony, Casey, and Nate all have declared their Swedish lineage. Of course Aaron claims his Norwegian heritage which mom's mom may say is the better half. Now we need to hear from Jim. Mom says that Hansen is Norwegian. What a GROUP!
One more memorable thing! How proud mom and I were as we stood on the train platform and said good bye to such marvelous people, and to know that there were still more of them back home.
We love all of you. Mom and Dad
The weather before their week-long visit has been rainy and cool all Spring. There was no rain during the week of their stay. It rained on Saturday and Sunday following their departure. We visited and did all the normal tourist things -- visited museums, took tours, and ate marvelous food. Now for the really good parts -- the extraordinary parts.
On Monday, we were visiting the apartments where mom lived as a child. We couldn't get into the building to see the stairway or courtyard, but as we were leaving, a tenant couple walked up, mom introduced us and asked if they would let us in. They were so kind and let us in. We saw the inside and courtyard which was more interesting than just the outside. Mom saw the name on an apartment of one of their neighbors. They were not home but mom and I will call them return later in the summer.
On Thursday and Friday, we travelled to Gavle (home of mom's dad and his parents), then to Dala-Floda where he and his parents spent summers and later where he built a cabin and spent summers with his wife and children (Kari and Jannicke).
Mom wanted to see some friends that she had spent the summers with (of course they would be a little older now). Well, the first "coincidence" happened when we drove up and mom went to a little souvenir shop to ask some questions. There inside was the first friend that she would meet. The extraordinary thing was the the lady was asked to cover for the owner for just that afternoon -- she had done so in the past but very rarely.
The second "event" happened when mom wanted to find another friend but only knew her maiden name. Mom and I decided Thurday evening to leave the "kids" and walk around. There was no one on the streets, but there was a family having a barbeque in their back yard. We walked up to them and described to them what we were trying to do. The young lady said that she thought that the friend was a singer and would be in the city church at a celebration. We went into the Church and finally identified her. When the celebration was over and Kari introduced herself, there was certainly a huge exclamation and big hugs.
We stayed in the hotel where her dad stayed as a child during summers with his family (they also stayed with different families during the summers as well). Mom swam in "her lake" and rowed a rowboat across it to the cabin that they had built across the lake.
The last day we wanted to take pictures of the cabin and decided to drive around the lake. However, there is no road directly to the cabin and we didn't know where to stop the car to try to find the cabin. So, here is the next astonishing event. You must remember that the cabin is in an isolated location with few neighbors and fewer people passing by. Well, as we where trying to decide where to stop and which hill and forest to walk over and through, a car stops and asks if they could help. You can guess, the woman was another friend that mom grew up with. More exclamations, hugs, and happy tears.
Last and certainly far from the least, Amy is now a certified Swede and a full-fledged member of the Kerr/Lindback Swedish clan. She found a grave stone with "Tillman" on it. (Also the name of one of mom's childhood friends.) As you might suspect, Tony, Casey, and Nate all have declared their Swedish lineage. Of course Aaron claims his Norwegian heritage which mom's mom may say is the better half. Now we need to hear from Jim. Mom says that Hansen is Norwegian. What a GROUP!
One more memorable thing! How proud mom and I were as we stood on the train platform and said good bye to such marvelous people, and to know that there were still more of them back home.
We love all of you. Mom and Dad
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