New Opportunities

May 4 and 5 we had visitors from the Church Education System. Brother Eckehard Jensen from Germany and Brother Jens Andersen from Denmark (CES Coordinators) came to help Iceland further develop their Seminary, Institute and YSA programs. Not knowing why, we had become the channel of communication between these men and the Icelandic members. At our first meeting they talk to us like we had some responsibility for the program. Sensing our questioning looks, Brother Jensen told us our mission president had assigned us the responsibility to coordinate the Seminary and Institute program for Iceland. So now we know. We held meetings with the Icelandic teachers and YSA leaders Monday afternoon and again Tuesday evening. During our time together Tuesday we showed them a little of Iceland as we discussed how we can help the CES program here in Iceland.

How Great Shall Be Your Joy

Missionary work in Iceland is referred to as slow. To put that in perspective there has not been a baptism in the Selfoss Branch since July 2007 until April 18 while we were at Grandpa's funeral. Because Unndis speaks English as her native language (she was born and raised in the USA) we were asked to teach her along with our full-time Elders. In the beginning there was definitely more of an interest in one particular Elder, but because of good members who fellowshipped her and her desire to be apart of all the activities she grew to want to know why everyone was like they were and what it was that she was feeling. She attended every Church meeting and YW's meetings and Seminary for 3+ months and when she decided she wanted to be baptized her mother said No (she is 17). We encouraged her to just keep living the Gospel and her mother would see the difference it was making in her life and let her be baptised. It worked and after attending all General Conference Sessions her mother said she could be baptized. She is now one of our great member missionaries. We were then also blessed to have our second baptism on April 23. Isak is a single man in his 30's. He read the entire Bible and Book of Mormon in English even though his native language is Icelandic. Again the members fellowshipped and participated in the teaching so that he too felt the Spirit and wanted to be baptized once he could give up smoking. It is exciting to see how the Spirit touches the hearts of these good people and they desire to enjoy all the blessings of the Gospel.

Silver Lining

We spent two weeks in Gilroy California for Grandpa Connett's funeral and to help Grandma make the transition from 63 years with Grandpa to being alone. While it was a sad time it was also a good time to be with family. All of the children, grandchildren and some great-grandchildren made it for the funeral and it was a very special time. One special part was the opportunity for us as well as Grandma Connett to see our two granddaughters that were born after we left on our mission to Iceland. Roxie and Lily are both beautiful little girls and we enjoyed our time with them.

The Passing of a Great Man - Husband, Father and Grandfather

My Father John Heathcote Connett Jr.

Born Dec 16 1916 returned from whence he came 3 April 2009

We love you and we will miss you!

Come Listen to a Prophets Voice

We are going to enjoy General Conference this weekend. With the 6 hour time difference we will receive the Young Women's General Session rebroadcast on Saturday at 2 PM and then the Saturday morning session live at 4 PM. All the rest of Saturday's sessions will be rebroadcast to us on Sunday along with the Sunday sessions live. Sunday will be a long day as we leave Reykjavik at 8 AM and will not get home until about 11 PM. We start with the Priesthood Session at 9 AM, Saturday afternoon session at noon, Sunday morning session at 4 PM and Sunday afternoon session at 8 PM. We will enjoy seeing all the session on a large screen. What a blessing to have the technology available to see and listen to our Prophet and the other General Authorities who speak.

Average Wind Speed of 40 MPH

Today we had our first professional tour in Iceland - called the South Coast of Iceland Tour. We went from Selfoss to Vik the most southerly city in Iceland. It was supposed to be a nice day but as you can tell from our pictures is was not too great. We only saw the sun for a few minutes and we were told the winds were an average of 40 MPH. Sometimes the 18 passenger mini bus was practically blown off the road and at times you could not walk forward or you would get blown so hard you would be running. We saw all before except for the beach when we went to Vik in November to teach an investigator. It was fun though to hear the tour guide explain lots of folk lore and other items. Of course since Eileen went to the library when we arrived in Iceland and got the most famous saga (history of Iceland in 1100) we had heard most but it was fun to get the extra and now we have more to share with our family when they visit.

ther interesting items. Most of the folk lore and history Eileen had already told us as one of the first things she did when we got to Iceland was go to the library and get the most famous of the Icelandic Sagas (history of Iceland in the 1100's). We now know more though than before so we can share even more with our family when they come to visit.

April Fools Day

I wasn't thinking in terms of April Fools Day last night when the storm was blowing up a blizzard. We had to turn around on our way to an appointment in the country after several white outs as Mom couldn't take it any longer. The inside picture of our entry was taken during the storm yesterday. Then this morning we woke up to the pile of snow against our door. Then look at the pile of snow I shoveled away from the door. This was not an April Fools Day joke as the snow was extremely wet and heavy. But then it started raining and warmed up so most of the snow is gone but not my pile of snow.