Activities for Young Adults- out of small things

What did we do during the "sol-skin" summer exodus from the Outreach center?

We optimistically chose a summer theme-
"Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work, and out of small things proceedeth that which is great."
--D&C 64:33
Picture: Mads Held and Maria Frederiksen at our Mission Zone Conference on their summer mini-mission with our full time Elders and Sisters.

These are some of our summer "Small Things":

1. We had many Friendship Family Nights- We met anytime during the week. This is a time when we invite two or three people to the center, in our home, at the park, or even at their home, to sing a song, pray, have a message, and play games. Many of these friendship family nights have been filled with people from all over the world. Family Night is a great time to "gather Israel."

2. We had our first International Night. We invited all the single Filipino's in Odense (and all of our young adults) for a great Philippine meal..

Picture: Missie (a new member) and a friend.

for Karaoke with the Elders and Sisters.. (great success).

For raw egg tossing, grape passing with a spoon in your mouth, and a potato sack race (with black garbage bags) and the old movie "the Music Man".

That invitation brought fifteen enthusiastic Filipino nannies that gathered at the center with the Elders and Sister Missionaries. There were two members and the rest were wonderful visitors.

3. We taught a guest class on gospel basics on Sundays.. To teach English speaking visitors who came to Odense for their summer vacation or students from all over the world who were interested in learning about the gospel. We have spent a month getting acquainted with Paul from Northern China. What a great opportunity we have had learning about China from Paul, and sharing the gospel in English with him. He plans to be baptized in the middle of September. Our summer has been enriched by this great young man who is full of questions. More about him later.

4. We started a "Live and Learn" blog for the center: to teach anyone out in cyberspace about the Prophets of the Church, and to let our traveling students know what was going on at the center during the summer. All through the summer we told stories about the latter-day Prophets (during each family night) and served food that each President would have eaten during their time in office. (Our new blog: wildmountainactivities.blogspot.com) This fall we will begin to teach on the blog and at the center an "Introduction to the Book of Mormon" class.

5. We celebrated Family Home Evening and St Hans night: at our little cottage, with a bonfire and then floated little paper lanterns (hot air balloons) up in the sky, with messages written on them about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Small Family nights are great at our home, for young adults who like to come over one by one. Many are looking for a comfortable, peaceful place to visit, especially if they are alone in the city. This could even be a breakfast, or lunch visit and message.

6. We went to and wrote about Fest I Nord 2009- Young Adults traveled miles to come to this annual event. These girls drove 30 hours from Estonia to come to Randers, Denmark. One of them was a new member of the church. They spoke perfect English. It was a pleasure to pick up Rander's Garbage with them. I wrote a full report on Fest I Nord 2009 with many pictures.. including the spiritual talks given to us during our evening firesides. Just scroll down to visit these posts. It was an amazing experience.

6. We met family members who came to visit our great students: We have learned about Qaqoroq, Greenland from JJ and his sister who came to visit our center. We have looked through books about Greenland with them, tasted dried seal, talked about what it was like to grow up in Greenland. We enjoy this little connection that we have with students from all over the world. We visit with our friend and neighbor, JJ almost every night at the end of his school day.

Pictures: Emil and Asker hugging at the end of their school year, Asker and his cousin, Jonathon and his girlfriend during the summer.

There is a little poem written in 1845 (about the time the Mormon Pioneers were making plans to move west). It describes our "sol-skin" days here in Odense...and how little summer choices can direct our lives.

Little Drops of Water

by Julia A. Fletcher Carney in 1845

Little drops of water,

Little grains of sand,

Makes the mighty ocean,

And a beauteous land.

So the little moments,

Humble though they be,

Make the mighty ages

of eternity.

So our little errors

Lead the soul away

From the path of virtue

Far in sin to stray.

Little deeds of Kindness,

Little words of love,

Help to make earth happy

Like the heaven above.

I am so grateful for the little moments that filled our summer with

"sol-skin, blessed sol-skin, when the happy, cheerful moments roll.

When Jesus shows his smiling face,

There is "sol-skin" in my soul."

Who knows what the fall will bring- maybe the evening stars will return to Odense. Life here in Denmark is always a surprise.

Picture: The Odense building as it looks at the end of our day.. about 10:00 to 10:30 at night. September darkness has replaced our midsummer night sunsets.