Syster Clouse

Welcome Syster Clouse!

Syster Clouse!

Roasting marshmallows stove-top-style! Syster Clouse, Syster Randall, Elder Ricker, and Elder "Schwaebedesian"???? awesome.

Apparently in the K-holm branch, the missionaries do a LOT to help things run smoothly.  They do a lot of teaching Relief Society/Sunday School lessons, playing and leading the music, planning and executing activities...Krystina said they are working to transition some of those things to the members so they can have as much time as possible for finding and teaching. 

July 9

Syster Haynes will be transferred to a different area and Krystina's new companion will be Syster Clouse. 

They made a glas & flarn cake (ice cream & toffee) for Myrium's birthday

Syster Haynes saying her goodbyes

Singing for the Palomino's

Sweden is beautiful! Walking through the countryside. 

Eskilstuna and Alice ~ July 1

Krystina's good friend, Alice, is from Sweden and lives within the boundaries of the mission!  She lived with Krystina for one year as a foreign exchange student and they became very close.  Krystina and Syster Haynes had some train problems on the way to Eskilstuna, but were still able to meet up with Alice. 

Train problems...

...but they made it!  Alice and Krystina

Krystina loved having the chance to see Alice and catch up on what she'd been up to. 

Croquet with the Headlund's.

Midsommer Afton

There is a holiday in Sweden called Midsommer that involves dancing around a tall pole and a festival.  Krystina was able to participate in some of the festivities. 

preparing the pole

This old house was nearby the Midsommer festivities.  Krystina is in black by the stairs.They explored the house, carriage house, cellar, and barn.

The Pole! (sorry for the sideways view)

June 8 - June 16

Syster Randall has a new niece!  Emma was born June 8 and is a sweet, easy baby.  She'll be walking by the time Krystina gets home!


In mission-related updates...

The mission home in Stockholm. Full of Systers for the first time :)

Playing a game for FHE with the Utmotoni family

Krystina and the other missionaries were in Stockholm for a Nordic conference.  President Monson was scheduled to be there but joined the meeting through satellite broadcast since his wife had recently passed away.  The missionaries were able to have a meeting with Elder Ballard about member missionary work.

Back in Katrineholm, it was high school graduation so they were able to attend Myrium's graduation party.  

Amanda from America, living in K-holm

With Amber Forsman and Syster Haynes at Myrium's graduation party. (More like a branch party)

Myrium's graduation dinner.  Her family is African so it was traditional African food.  That would be a fish head (eyes included).  Yummy!

May 27 - June 7 Highlights

Missionary Olympians.  Fitting a little high jump into their morning workout.

Syster Haynes is stuck in her rain boot!

I have neglected the blog, but we are about to get caught up. Buckle up! Here comes 3 months of missionary moments.

Sweden!!

Syster Randall has been in Sweden for about 2 weeks now.  She called us from the airport en route to Sweden, and then we got to Skype with her on Mother's Day just a few days after her arrival in her new home.  Her first assignment will be Katrineholm, a smaller town where she says people are more willing to talk to them on the streets than they might be in the big city of Stockholm.

Krystina's companion is Syster Haynes, a fun and optimistic girl from Salt Lake City.  When we saw her for a moment while Skyping with Krystina, Syster Haynes said that Tina is doing great and is a "rockstar".  Krystina writes that they are grateful to be working with each other because many of the other companionship's don't get along as well or don't encourage each other the way that Tina and Syster Haynes do.  What a blessing for her to have a great trainer!  Sister Haynes has been on her mission since January.  :)

Krystina had one of her first experiences eating something a little different on her mission, though it probably could have been much worse than this: "I had my first kebab pizza. Kebab pizza is famous here. Kebab is like...well its suppose to be lamb meat, but its kinda like mystery meat. The have it on a huge reel, and they just cut it off and put it on your pizza haha.  Then they put french fries on top.i only got half with french fries ha It was ok... haha. I'll stick with cheese pizza while I'm here."

No pictures this time as I am unable to get them loaded onto Blogger, but I'll try again soon.