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MARCH MADNESS

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MARCH MADNESS Who would have thought that the March blog would be written from home!  We still had two and a half months left in Iceland! On Thursday, 12 March, we were called by the mission and told to be ready to leave as early as the next day.  We notified the archive and started finishing up our work.  We went home mid-day to start packing and then returned to the archive to get everything in order and to say goodbye to the staff. All the senior missionaries in Europe (and now other parts of the world) were sent home because of the coronavirus.  Iceland was getting a lot of confirmed cases of the virus in a very short time.  They now show 890 confirmed cases since the first cases were discovered at the end of February.  In a country of only 350,000 people, 890 is substantial. Anyway, the church wanted to keep the older (and "at risk") missionaries as safe as possible, so here we are!!  We are self-quarantined until March 30th (that is the end of our two week co
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Thorrablot is Back!

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Alaska has their Fur Rondy and  Iceland has    Þorrablót! When you live in an area of the world where you have months of long dark days, you find a way to celebrate and make merry! Thorrablot was a sacrificial midwinter festival offered to the gods in pagan Iceland of the past. It was abolished during the Christianization of Iceland, but resurrected in the 19th century as a midwinter celebration that continues to be celebrated to this day. The timing for the festival coincides with the month of Thorri, according to the old Icelandic calendar, which begins on the first Friday after January 19th (the 13th week of winter).  Origins of the name "Thorri" are unclear but it is most likely derived from Norwegian king Thorri Snærsson, or Thor the God of Thunder in the old Nordic religion. On this occasion, locals come together to eat, drink and be merry. Customary, the menu consists of unusual culinary delicacies, known as traditional Icelandic food. These will include 
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Welcome 2020!

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As we welcome in the year 2020, memories of the past year come to mind.   Most of the memories are of our adventures here in Iceland, the visits of two of our children plus spouses and a granddaughter.   The loss of three friends and Cindy's brother are also threads woven into the tapestry of our memories.   As is normal in life, we had moments of happiness and moments of sadness.  Here are a few end of the year pictures. Christmas Eve dinner at the home of the Branch Relief Society President and her family. Everything was decorated beautifully.   Our second Christmas in Iceland This cute little "missionary" gingerbread man was made by Sister Jessee who is serving here with her husband as Member Leadership Support missionaries. The day after Christmas (Boxing Day) we went to the "Fly Over Iceland" experience.   It was AMAZING!!! Can't describe this "ride" and do it justice, so I am giving you the address to
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