Scavenger hunt with the YSAs

At a recent YSA "Scavenger Hunt" through the neighborhood, we had fun checking things off our list.

Elder Meyer from Australia doing a Brad Pitt impersonation

One of our team members, Jimmy, climbing a tree

The ever-popular "jumping" picture

Being photographed with a total (but willing) stranger)

A combination of "something with feathers" (borrowed a neighbor's chicken), and a KFC bucket.

Team member doing something never done before...Elder Bylund getting handcuffed by the Dundee "bobbies"

Joshua carrying Polly through the park, as she was recovering from a dislocated kneecap.

Food

Since arriving in Scotland, we have continued our habit of eating, and have enjoyed some new foods.

First, is Haggis, which is a savoury pudding containing sheep's pluck (heart, liver and lungs); minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock. Our first encounter with this wild food was as an appetizer in "The Doric" restaurant in downtown Edinburgh.  

Our plate in Edinburgh restaurant

We have since ventured into the haggis world, by eating haggis meat pie, and Elder Bylund even found it....served in burger form at a roadside fast food trailer. We're looking forward to Burns night on January 25, where haggis is ceremoniously served followed by the "Address to a Haggis."  that begins..""Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face, great chieftain o' the puddin-race...". and continues several stanzas.

Second is IRNBRU - Richie Peterson first clued us in on this soft drink that is actually quite good.  

Elder Bylund with a winning combo of haggis burger and IRNBRU at Alloa

Also, we  found it in the form of ice cream.

At an ice cream stand in St. Andrews

At a 4th of July barbecue, we also ended up "wearing" it, as two young boys tousled, one of whom was holding a cup of IRNBRU, the contents of which became airborne and landed in our laps.

Third is Tablet - No, not like aspirin nor like a pad of paper nor an electronic gadget, but this is a Scottish confectionery that is made with sugar, butter and sweetened condensed milk, that is cooked until thickened and then cooled in a pan and cut up.  It is somewhat like eating a lump in the brown sugar...pure sugar.  Our YSA, Joshua, made up a batch, which was quickly consumed by the rest.  If you're wanting a sugar high...this is for you.

 Fourth is Fish and Chips
We kept hearing about the "best fish and chips in Dundee", and finally went to the Silvery Tay.  It was SO good.  It is take-out and there is always a line.  We met a lady who had literally just returned from 7 months in Saudi Arabia, and instead of heading straight home to bed, she made a b-line for Silvery Tay.

But, then we heard from the cute sister missionaries about the best Fish and Chips in Scotland!  So off we all  went on Preparation day to Anstruther's Fish and Chips, which is right along the North Sea, south of St. Andrews.  As you can see by our expressions, we agreed.

With (left to right) Sisters Lund, Harris and Hughes

So, if this blog,or any part of it has made you ready to pack your bags and head here, we would have done our job.

YSA Activities

The YSAs have an activity every Friday night, and there is a lot of variety in what they chose to do. This post will focus on the more sporty type of activities, three in particular, volleyball, rounders and human bowling.

Volleyball is a favorite of many of the YSAs. Not much more needs to be said.

Looks just like volleyball, doesn't it?

The game of rounders has been played in England since Tudor times, and is related to baseball. Some of the main differences, at least the way we played it: 1. No foul balls i.e. everything is in play. 2. The batter has three swings, and may run if the ball is hit, but does not have to except on the third swing, when the batter must run, whether or not the ball is hit. 3. A fielder can “kill” a base by stepping on it, and if a batter runs to that base, the batter is out. 4. Once a batter is out in an inning, s/he doesn’t bat again in that inning. This was played in a wonderfully large and beautifully green Camperdown park, located just across the motorway from the Church.

Choosing teams and going over (some of) the rules

Batting

Fielding

Human bowling was quite the event. One of the YSAs brought his long board, and they set up ten 2 liter water bottles at one end of the cultural hall in the normal bowling pin arrangement.

The pins.

A person wearing a helmet lies face down on the long board, and is pushed by other team members toward the pins. They try to knock down as many “pins” as possible with the helmet. Hands must be kept close to the body. Normal bowling scoring was used. It was blast. Elaine and I were each the “ball” for a frame, each knocked over 9 pins in two “throws”, and lived to tell about it.
Here is Sister Bylund starring in the role of the bowling ball.

The video below is of the owner of the long board. He has a hook when he bowls.

Institute Graduation and a Gold and Green Ball

For this year (it has been done differently other years), Institute Graduation for Dundee Stake was combined with Seminary Graduation, followed by a big Stake dance, the Gold and Green Ball.

Sister Bylund with our
Stake President

The graduation was notable for 1. The stake President was dressed in his formal kilt; 2. Also present to congratulate the students was the Fife Deputy Lord Provost, Kay Morrison (the Lord Provost is the civic head and chair of the Council). It was great to have community involvement. 3. Elder and Sister Bylund both spoke (briefly,perhaps not so notable). There was only one Institute Graduate, although 30 YSAs received Certificates of Course Completion for one or both of the semesters.

Seminary and Institute Graduates with the Stake President
and the Lord Provost. 

The back of the formal kilt,
from where were sitting

 The Stake Gold and Green Ball was elegantly done. The decorations were amazing, the tables were loaded with food, and a two piece live “band” provided the music. Interestingly, there was a cash bar for the drinks, which was not something we were familiar with for a Stake function.

The Cultural Hall all done up before the dance. 

Our table with some of our YSAs.

 A wonderful time was had by all.

Temple Road Trip

The closest Temple to Dundee is the Preston Temple in Chorley, England. It is about 4 hours away, and we went by “Luxury Coach” (bus).

Our bus driver, Sister Bylund and our Council President

We left about 5 pm on Friday night, stopped at Dunfermline to pick up a few more, and then it was on to Preston. It was a gorgeous day as we drove through the green, rolling, pastoral, luscious (how many adjectives can we use?) hills of southern Scotland and northern England.  The YSAs were in high spirits throughout the trip - telling jokes, singing, eating and generally having a "brilliant" time. We arrived a little after 11 pm, got our room assignments, had a short devotional, and then got a few hours of sleep.

Preston Temple

Saturday morning most of the group went to the baptistery, ably organized by Jonathan with a little help from his father. Then many of us went on the endowment session with Lawrence as he received his endowments (soon on his way to the Alpine German-speaking Mission).  Michelle also received her endowments in an earlier session, and then did the work for her "gran."

Some of our group of 31 in front of the Temple

After lunch we were blessed to be the guests of the Temple President and his wife in their home right next to the Temple for a wonderful fireside. Two of the YSAs bore their testimonies and then President Murray gave us some wonderful counsel and guidance about the Temple.

Fireside:  Rebecca leading the singing.

Fireside:  Rowan, leaving soon on her mission in Brazil , sharing her testimony.

President Murray

Lily's baptism

At the Ceilidh dance

We left the Temple about 4:30 and stopped at Glasgow on the way home. The Glasgow and Paisley Stakes had Institute graduation that night and we got there just in time to join with them in a brilliant Ceilidh dance (Scottish folk dancing). Several of our YSAs who were unable to be with us on the bus, drove over and met us at the dance. The enthusiasm and energy of the YSAs was infectious. We arrived back in Dundee a little after midnight, feeling blessed, happy and tired.

One of those who went with us was a non-member American student studying at St. Andrews. Just being at the Temple was sufficient to confirm her desire to be baptized, and she was four days after the trip.

A Scottish Barbecue

Spring is a wee bit late in coming this year, but the YSAs are doing all they can to encourage it. A few weeks back, they decided it was time for the first BBQ of the season. When it was planned the weather forecast was encouraging, but by the time the day actually came, the weather was not so good:  cold and rainy. They are hardy folk, and they had a great time.

Our Council President and Head Cook

In Memorial of Jeffrey Guerra -- a wonderful young man, brother, son, friend, full-time missionary

We met Jeffrey shortly after arriving in Sweden in the fall of 2010, to serve our mission in the Center for Young Adults in downtown Stockholm.  Jeffrey attended almost every activity, and was friendly to all who came.  His kind, gentle ways endeared him to everyone.  He was always nice and polite to us, and we enjoyed getting to know him and had many pleasant visits.  He was always smiling, it seemed; he loved dancing, playing games and hanging out with the YSAs, as well as being an attentive, participating Institute student.  Plus, he was very missionary-minded and was very dependable to help the full-time missionaries in their teaching.  On the YSA sign-up list of helping on "teaches" with investigators, Jeffrey's name was always there, at least once.  We shared in his excitement as he awaited his own mission call and joyed with him as he received his call to serve in the Utah Provo Spanish-speaking Mission.   He had been out only about a year, when he died.  Many tears have been shed at his passing.  Many hearts are aching.  He will be greatly missed.  The comfort we receive is the knowledge that he returned home, as a dedicated full time missionary and will continue to live there and bless others. In fact, in his optimistic way, he is probably excited about his new "transfer."  Jeffrey, your life has been an inspiration to us   It will be great to see you again, someday, Elder Guerra.

Jeffrey Guerra

 from the Deseret News (May 13, 2013)
Elder Jeffrey Rogil Guerra Alfaro, 22, from Lidingo, Sweden, a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving in the Utah Provo Mission, died after suffering an aneurysm while exercising. LDS Church spokeswoman Ruth Todd said Elder Guerra "was jogging with his companion Thursday morning when he collapsed after suffering a ruptured cerebral aneurysm. "He was treated at the scene and then transferred to the hospital where he was placed on life support," Todd continued. "He later passed away with family members present."On behalf of the LDS Church, Todd said, "our thoughts and prayers are with Elder Guerra’s family during this difficult time.”