Ministry Day! A Great Way To End This Adventure!!!

Greetings Blogees!!!  You probably thought that I forgot about you!!!  Of course not!  We've just been moving around a lot which as you know can be tiring.  But we have pressed on.

To end our magnificent week in Stockholm, Sweden, we had the chance to share in the ministry with the congregation.  (Yes Dee A. we were even knocking on doors all the way in Sweden.  😁) Each congregation in the entire country had the opportunity to take delegates in the ministry.  But first we had to get to breakfast.  We had the pleasure of dining with 2 sisters from South Africa and Gordon became acquainted with a couple from Connecticut, I believe.

We then headed off to meet the group for the ministry.

The little ones were there to welcome us 💖

Gordon kept trying to get in the meeting room early before they were ready for us!!  But this brother wasn't having none of that!

We needed to find our names on the list that were being held up.  They made sure that we were all with Swedish brothers and sisters.

And then we headed in and were given a welcome that didn't disappoint!

The group that Gordon, Precious, Winston and myself were assigned to were from the town in the north called Ulmea.  I told them that I wanted to come back and see the Northern Lights.  They told me to please come back...but informed me that it was in the winter time when the temperatures are about -23 degrees!  Now I know yall realize that I make many many typos as I'm typing out my thoughts, but rest assure that I did not make a typo this time.  I meant to say -23 degrees!  That's insane!  I just stared at the sister who told me...I stared for like a really long time!  LOL!  Then told her...ummm, yea that's not going to happen!  LOL!

They then gave each of us a little packet with literature in the Swedish language.  It was interesting that they had to change what was said on the cover and the scripture that was used.  Ask me why if you want!  LOL!

We each also received a presentation for us to say as we preached....in SWEDISH!!!  Ya'll know that I can barely speak English!!!  LOL!

They reviewed everything, we said a prayer and we were on our way!!!

This brother's name is Alf.  He's about to turn 89 years young.  He was such a sweetheart.  He lost his wife many years ago, but he still shows everyone her bridal photo.💗

This is Marianne and we're heading out to the parking lot to jump...well, maybe I shouldn't use the word "jump".  LOL!  I'll explain that in a few minutes.  But anywho....we head outside to hop in the car, when we saw this automobile that looked like a keychain....

It was so tiny but it had four doors!  I had to take a pic!

We actually worked in an area not too far away.  It actually is the wealthiest area in the whole country in Sweden.

We did speak to a few people.  Most Swedes do speak English, so I was off the hook with my Swedish presentation.  LOL!  Whew!  We then were taken down a pathway to catch a view of the water.  Now...please tell me why I didn't think about how I would get back UP from the pathway!  

Remember that I mentioned that I would get back to you about the word "jump"  Well...I forget who had the idea to take a photo while jumping but I quickly volunteered to be the photo-taker because I know that my knees and legs weren't even thinking about doing jumping of any kind!  LOL!  Have you ever heard the expression "your mind writes a check that your body can't cash."  Well...my mind new that the account was overdrawn!  LOL!  So it didn't even try to write a check!  LOL! So we agreed that it would be one...two...three...jump and they were going to jump on jump. LOL!

 One...

 Two...

 Three...

 JUMP!!!! Whomp whomp whomp!!!

I look forward to hearing your comments from these photos!  LOL!

 We did make it back up!!  LOL!  It was a struggle...I ain't gonna lie to ya! 

We returned to the hotel for lunch...

 Elina and Sebastian.  He had an interesting story of how he came to serve Jehovah as a Witness.  Something else to ask us about....

 Camilla and Oskar.  I'm telling on Camilla because she made me cry at lunch!  LOL!  She asked me what I enjoyed the most about the whole convention experience.  

Swedish meatballs!!!

 This sister's family adopted Dorothy, so if she disappears ya'll know that she's in Sweden. LOL

 Gordon and Faith (that is this brother's name) became pals!  Faith was no longer trying to keep Gordon out of the room!  LOL!

 This is Louis!  She was such a good baby...she went to everyone!!!

 Thomas and Marianne took excellent care of us today....except for the jumping...but no one was hurt!  No one was hurt!  LOL!!!!

 They showed us a slide presentation of the friends in the home areas, and we played some trivia games as well.

 Then it was time to say good-bye.  I cried again!  I wasn't going to....

 This was the next best thing to the Electric Slide...which ya'll know is the official dance of Jehovah's people!  LOL!

 We each received another gift bag!!!!

During the whole trip, I kept hearing about a Swedish cake called Princess Cake.  Someone told me that I HAD to try it!  So it's the final day, and I hadn't had the opportunity yet, so I trek over to the mall to find a slice.  

And there she is...one slice left.  Let me tell ya'll something...this was so delicious that I'm feeling happy just thinking about it.  Gordon said it was too sweet, but not in my opinion it was just perfect!

As I was packing, I realized that I was given tote bags to carry so I never carried this bag that I carried all the way from Belize to the States then to Stockholm!  So I went downstairs to the Information Desk and gave it to one of the sisters.  Her name was Aurora.  She was happy!  So I left a piece of Belize in Sweden.  

 The name of this brother is Matt.  He's from Trinidad but he is currently serving in Guyana.  He was telling Gordon one day on the train that they often play talks in Belize Kriol for a certain portion of friends because it was easier for them to grasp the information...ya'll have to ask Gordon the story because I can't exactly remember, but Gordon said to me that he spoke Belize Kriol.  Marisol R....you would be very proud of me LOL!  I immediately went into my Kriol.  LOL!  Gordon said, "Erika talk Kriol to him!"  Then I couldn't stop!  LOL!  

Well, we are departing Stockholm!  And yes, the brothers and sisters were there to see us off!  It was so beautiful! 

 BTW here's Jonathan and his mom.  He was the one who wrote the postcard to us!  💓

Well...we're off to Paris France.  Will I cry when I see the Eiffel Tower?  Will I remember any words from my 7th and 8th grade French class?  Stay tuned to As the World Turns!  LOL!

Thanks for reading and proofreading!!!