Hello, 2019!

Happy New Year! New Year's Eve here is amazing!  For as far as you could see from left to right and to the horizon was filled with fireworks going off.  These were the really nice fireworks that light the night sky.  The kind that you see at professional displays.  They started around 6:00pm and lasted well into the night and early morning.  Our flat is up on a hill and we had a great view of the valley looking north and we sat and watched for hours.  We have some videos that I tried to include but they were too big and wouldn't upload.

The holidays are over and the Archive has opened back up.  We met with our manager at the Archive for about two hours a couple of days after we arrived.  He was leaving the next day and would be back on January 8th.  We would also be meeting our trainer from Germany on January 8th - so, we had nearly three weeks to get settled in and familiarize ourselves with the area.  Didn't get to do much sightseeing outside of the city during that time because it was always raining and we only had 4 hours of daylight.  However, we used our time wisely and found several grocery stores to patronize, a WalMart substitute (if you use your imagination), two malls with cinemas, a bowling alley, an awesome Flea Market, Costco and Ikea.  Allan had never been to an Ikea! So, we took a field trip one day and I introduced him to the wonders of that store.  It took him awhile to get excited about this field trip but he finally got into the spirit of it - especially when we found cases of Clementines (small tangerines) at the cost of about $2.00 per case!  That was a fantastic buy and after that we really got into the swing of things - found a small skillet he liked, some storage containers, and a baking spatula.  SUCCESSFUL first encounter with Ikea! 

Main entrance to the store!

Christmas Eve we drove around the bay to a peninsula to take a look at this lighthouse.
Did I mention that our car has heated seats and heated steering wheel? Niiiiice!!!

This is Grotta Lighthouse.  Sits out on a peninsula here in Reykjavik.

Some other holiday activities:

A trip to downtown Reykjavik-
Statue of Leif Erickson in front of  Hallgrimskirkja Lutheran Church.

Hallgrimskirkja Church

Found a bowling alley - they don't charge per game - they charge in 30 minute increments.  We paid for one hour so we could bowl two games.  $42.00!!  However, the shoes were included.

Bowling - didn't do too bad.  

We drove out to see the "Blue Lagoon" hot pool and spa. It was cold, windy and rainy that day!!

The pool looked really inviting but the cost is about $100.00 each for the day (that is for the minimum package).

The walk from the parking lot to the main entrance to the lagoon.  All lava rock surrounding the area.

We think these are Greylag Geese and they are everywhere.  They must not migrate.  We have seen lots of Canadian Geese flying through but these guys just linger on.

We arrive bright and early at the Archive on January 8th excited to finally begin working.  We were reintroduced to DCam (the Family Search software) and the digital camera.  Unfortunately, we decided that the camera wouldn't be the best way to image the books, even though it would be so much faster.  The Archive wants their images at 400 dpi and to achieve that with the camera meant we could only do small books.  Most of the books we have received are too large for the camera to image so they have to be scanned.  Because we don't have any idea how many small books are in the collection and the technical process for setting up the camera with the metadata, etc., we made the decision to not use the digital camera and just scan the books.  There are two scanners in the room but one has been broken since November and we are still waiting for it to be repaired.  So, we only have the one scanner to work with.  Allan and I both do scanning but he does most of it while I stick with the transferring of the images and quality control, etc.  When the broken scanner is fixed we will both scan and I have been training Allan on the administrative part so we can both do everything that needs to be done.

Here are a few pictures of where we work.  We are on the second floor of a three story building.  Apparently, the building use to be a creamery. It is located in the downtown area and is about a 15-20 minute drive from our flat.

Our trainer from Germany, David Schauperl

The old scanner (not the old scannerer) in use with the new scanner on the right.

 The desk where I do reports, quality control, etc.

Still hard at work!

View from door straight into room.  The digital camera is at the very back.

New scanner  - broken and has been out of commission since November.

Glass on scanner opens up and closes with foot pedals and the scan is started by a foot pedal.

Thought you guys might enjoy seeing what the Icelandic language looks like.  I have sat down to try to get an idea of how to pronounce certain words and got pretty discouraged pretty darn fast!  (I already sent this to my kids and immediate family - so sorry guys for the repeat!)

Bókasafnið = Library

Kjúklingur = Chicken

Mánudagur = Monday

Smjörið er brætt og hveitið smátt og smátt hrært út í það, þangað til það er gengið upp í smjörið. Síðan er mjólkinni smáhellt út í, og hrært stöðugt í, til þess ekki fari í kekki. Þegar mjólkin er gengin upp og grauturinn orðinn vel jafn og saltið komið í, skal taka hann ofan. Með honum er borin saftblanda eða mjólk, einnig steyttur sykur og kanel." (Approx. translation = "The butter is melted and the flour stirred into it slowly but surely, until it has blended with the butter. Then the milk is slowly poured in, and stirred constantly, so it doesn’t get lumpy. When the milk has blended well and the porridge has become steady and salt has been added, it should be taken off. It is served with a fruit juice mixture or milk, even stirred sugar and cinnamon.")

These are some of the consonants:

B b

Like "b" in "bed", or like "p" when at word end or following "m".

D d

Like "d" in "day", or like "t" when at word end.

Ð ð

Like "th" in "that", (only occurs in word middle and word end).

F f

Like "f" in "fish", or like "v" in "van" when between vowels; or when before "l" or "n", like "b" in "bed".

G g (one of my favorites)

Like "g" in "go", or like "k" in "kill" when in word middle; it is lost after "á", "ó", "u" when followed by "a" or "u" in the next syllable or when at word end.

H h

Like "h" in "hat", or like "k" when before a consonant; (never silent like "honour").

J j

Like "y" in "yes".

P p

Like "p" in "push", or like "f" in "far" when before "s", "k", or "t".

These are the vowels:

A a

(Short) like "a" in "land", (long) like "a" in "car"; or like "ow" in "now" when followed by "ng" or "nk".

Á á

Like "ow" in "now".

E e

(Short) like "e" in "met", (long) like "ea" in "bear".

É é

Like "ye" in "yes".

I i

(Short) like "i" in "bit", (long) same "i" but lengthened; or like "ee" in "meet" when followed by "ng" or "nk".

Í í

Like "ee" in "meet".

O o

(Short) like "o" in "hot", (long) like "or" in "door".

Ó ó

Like "o" in "snow".

U u

(Short) like "u" in "put", (long) the same short "u" but lengthened; or like "oo" in "moon" when followed by "ng" or "nk".

Ú ú

Like "oo" in "moon".

Y y

Same as Icelandic "i": (short) like "i" in "bit", (long) same "i" but lengthened; or like "ee" in "meet" when followed by "ng" or "nk".

Ý ý

Same as Icelandic "í": like "ee" in "meet".

Æ æ

Like "i" in "mile".

Ö ö

(Short) like "ur" in "fur" but shorter, (long) like "ur" in "fur"; (do not pronouce the "r").

These are the Diphthongs:

au ... Like "ur" in "fur" (do not prononce the r) followed by "ee" in "see" but with no intervening "r" - "u(r)-ee", similar to "oy" in "boy".

ei, ey ... Like "ay" in "say".

gi, gj ... Like "gy" in "drag-you" at word start; like "y" in "yes" in word middle or at word end.

hv ... Like "kv" in "lock vent".

kk ... Like "chk" in Scottish "Loch Carron".

ll ... Like "tl" in "settle". Similar to Welsh "ll" (double L) but more aspirated (has more air to it).

ng ... Like "nk" in "thinker", not "ng" in "finger".

nn ... Like "dn" in "hard-nosed" when after "á", "é", "í", "ó", "ú", "ý", "æ", "au", "ei", or "ey"; or like "nn" in "tunnel" after "a", "e", "i", "o", "u", "y" or "ö".

pp ... Like "h" and "p" fused together, similar to "hop" without the "o".

rl ... Like "dl" in "riddle" similar in form to Welsh "ll" (double L) but said harder.

rn ... Like "dn" in "hard-nosed" when after "á", "é", "í", "ó", "ú", "ý", "æ", "au", "ei", or "ey".

tt ... Like "h" and "t" fused together, similar to "hut" without the "u".

I'm sure you get the picture!  THANK GOODNESS NEARLY EVERYONE SPEAKS ENGLISH!!!!!

Branch Party for Elder and Sister Erickson (he has served as the first counselor in the Mission Presidency. They have returned home.)

Oh, Ye Elders of Israel plus Sister Erickson

Selfoss Branch (Branch President is standing on the far right)

This gentleman's name is Bjorn Ruriksson.  He is a professional photographer that we met at the Branch party.  He is a friend of many of the members but is not a member of the Church himself.  He and Allan had a lot in common - both pilots.  At the end of the evening, he went to his home and came back with two books for us in English that he wrote and published with his photography of Iceland.  He also gave us a small version of the book.  He was absolutely delightful to visit with and we wanted to have his picture with us holding his book.


Our drive to our Branch in Selfoss takes about 45 minutes to an hour to get there.  We travel over a mountain pass that is sometimes closed due to extreme weather.  Here are a few pictures we have taken along the way. These pictures show the church yards where they light up all of the graves during the holidays. It was really pretty in the dark and we were trying to catch this to show everyone.  The pictures would have been better if it had been darker that day.

Hopefully, you can see some of the lights on the graves.  

The night before Zone Conference the mission president took the senior couples out to dinner.

Lamb curry (Allan)

Open-faced roast beef sandwich (Cindy)

Zone Conference (19 Jan)

On the left - President and Sister Erickson (outgoing 1st counselor in Mission Presidency)
On the right -  President and Sister Olsen (Mission President and spouse)

Our 8 Iceland Missionaries!
The three on the left are the missionaries going home within the month.

On the left in front - President and Sister Leifson 
(incoming 1st counselor in mission presidency)
Continuing on from the left - The Ericksons and Olsens and Elder and Sister Jessee (one of the four senior couples in the country).  There 8 Elders and 8 seniors in Iceland.

Looking out our back door - the wind is howling and the snow is horizontal!  

Winter has finally arrived!!

Beautiful view from our windows (all four of them). This is Mount Esja.

❤Stayed tuned for February!!!