Festinord 2015 Randers, Denmark

July 27-August 1, 2015 - Festinord #49, Randers, Denmark, Aarhus Denmark Stake

This was such a busy activity, that we almost didn't get any pictures of the event.  Sorry!  There were about 700 participants, so to us, it seemed like just a large youth conference.  The young adults were attending from many countries, so English was the official language, and we loved that.

Elder Parker and I were over about 15 senior missionary couples who were the work force for much of the food service operation, group leaders for the community service project day, and posts for "around town" activities.  My family will understand when I say that I felt like a Missionary Dining Hall Coordinator when it came to the food service responsibilities!  Our Aspen Grove experience over the years came in handy once again... 

Elder Parker had his Leatherman tool on his belt much of the time, which also came in very handy with all the set-up, maintenance problems, handy-man-type things which always happen, but are never anticipated.  The biggest frustration was that there were not the tools, equipment, supplies, etc. to work with., but everyone survived, and the young adults didn't know the difference. 

Most of the senior couples were in YSA assignments such as ours, and it was wonderful to compare notes with senior missionaries from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland.  Our senior missionary area advisers, Elder and Sister Anderson (living in Frankfurt, Germany), also attended so it was great to work with them.  We had a senior missionary meeting at the end of the week, and it was truly a highlight of the week, when we could share with each other concerning our mission responsibilities.

Foss, Kreiberg, ......., Holst

Sister Parker, Jan Wagner from Sweden, Anna

Dances three nights!  Wish we had taken pix of the fabulous decorations!

A full day of Helping Hands provided service to the Randers community

One time the missionaries actually ate first - if they weren't serving the food!

 

Puikkonens from Finland, but living in SLC for 30 years

Devotionals every morning

Foss, Visiting speakers

Beautiful full moon last night of Festinord

Our new mission president, President O'Bryant and his wife, also attended just for a day or so.  We had a short interview with him, which resulted the next day in our receiving a new assignment for the rest of our mission.  We were very excited to receive a new call at the end of the Festinord week to transfer to Copenhagen very soon.  We will take over the Center for Young Adults downtown Copenhagen when Elder and Sister Madsen leave the end of August.  We will also help a bit in the mission office, and with other tasks that are needed as senior missionaries leave, and until new ones arrive several months from now.

We are in the process of preparing to move in one week.  The timing is actually wonderful, as things are still very slow right now in our YSA program, until the university classes begin again, and people return from vacations.  Many young people are moving in and out all around us, so the noise and parties are beginning.  A new university has just opened across the street from where we live so it feels like people and bikes are everywhere.

We will miss the wonderful friends we have made in Aarhus, but look forward to the challenges of new assignments, and meeting and serving new soon-to-be-friends.