P-Day at Skogar

P-day 31.03.10 we made a trip to see Fimmvorduhals volcano in the middle of the Eyjafjallajokull glacier. Fimmvorduhals volcano erupted on March 21, Iceland's first such volcanic explosion since 2004 and the first in the Eyjafjallajokull area since 1823. We were able to view the volcano only from a distance. We only saw steam or maybe smoke rising in the distance. We made the trip with Elder and Sister Koyle as well as all the Elders serving in Iceland.
After viewing the volcano we went to nearby Skogar and went through the museum located there. Thordur Tomosson was there and toke us on a short tour. He knew of Eirikur Eiriksson the father of Eyjolfur Eiriksson my Great-grandfather. On the way to Selfoss from Skogar we stopped at Nyibaer undir Eyjafjollum, Rangarvalla. This is where Eyjolfur Eiriksson was born in 1854.

Iceland Zone Conference

Selfoss, Iceland Missionares with President and Sister Olauson - Pictured above; Sister Ashby, Elder Ashby, Sister Olauson, President Olauson, Elder Christensen, and Elder Ellsworth

Zone Conference Theme: Master Teachers; Ambassadors for the Lord (2 Corinthians Chapter 5)
There is no more noble task than to be called as full time missionares and to extend ourselves in service and striving to motivate, inspire, uplift and influnce others. Christ spent His time on earth in the business of saving souls, as missionaries we are called to do the same.

24.03.2010 P-Day

We took Elder Ellsworth and Elder Christensen to Reykjavik on P-Day. We visited down town and then went to the Pelan(Pearl). We had a Pylsur in downtown at the famous pylsur stand did a little shopping and enjojed our time in Reykjavik.

Brother Eckehard Jensen visits Iceland

Last week was busy for us. It seems we were in Reykjavík ever day or two. On Thursday (18.03.2010) Brother Eckehard Jensen came from Germany. He is over Church Education System for Europe. He spent Saturday and Sunday teaching. We attended all of his classes. We will be over the Institute and seminary classes here in Iceland. On Monday we and Elder and Sister Koyle went on a tour short tour with him. He is a very kind man. He is also very knowledgeable. It was interesting and at time fun to be with him.

Fire and Ice

21 March 2010

A volcano erupted near the glacier Eyjafjallajokullin in Iceland, shooting up ash and molten lava and forcing the evacuation of hundres from nearby villages yesterday.
The eruption at the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, located near a glacier of the same name, shot ash and molten lava into the air but scientists called it mostly peaceful. It occurred just before midnight Saturday at a fissure on a slope — rather than at the volcano's summit — so scientists said there was no imminent danger that the glacier would melt and flood the area.
Scientists say it is difficult to predict what comes next. Like earthquakes, it is hard to predict the exact timing of volcanic eruptions.
This was a rather small and peaceful eruption but we are concerned that it could trigger an eruption at the nearby Katla volcano, a vicious volcano that could cause both local and global damage. This small eruption could bring about something bigger.
The last time there was an eruption near the 100-square-mile Eyjafjallajokull glacier was in 1821, and that was a "lazy" eruption — it lasted slowly and continuously for two years.
The eruption is taking place in an area that is relatively ice free, there is little chance of a destructive glacier burst like the one that washed away part of the east-west highway four years ago, after an eruption under the vast Vattnajoekull glacier.

Ölfusá (the river just out our front window)

Just out the front window of our apartment is the Ölfusá. The river is running high this morning. I am surprised as to how much it fluctuates. It gets muddy when it is high, but still beautiful. Today the forecast is for partly cloudy with the temperature in the low forties, so it is not so cold.
Wednesday is our P-Day so we spent the day, yesterday, cleaning our apartment, grocery shopping, washing clothes, and getting our personal bank account set up here in Iceland. We made a deposit of 64,000 ISK, sounds like a lot, however it is only about $500 USD, I had deposited another 28,000 ISK earlier, so we had enough to pay our rent for March. We will get our debit card on Monday so we can start using our Icelandic bank account to do business with.
Last evening we met with the YM/YW in the Selfoss branch, which there were only 1 YW and 2 YM. Sister Ashby taught about etiquette. The Elders here were in charge of the evening and it was interesting to see how they interacted with the youth.

Selfoss, Iceland

We live in the basement apatment of this beautiful home at Jórutún 6 Niðri, 800 Selfoss Ísland (Iceland).