To Irmeli This book is dedicated in honour of my wife, who has faithfully stood at my side. Fight the good fight of faith Never give up, and always saw new possibilities. Have always had the joy, despite much physical pain. She held out to the last and has now reached her goal in life. An eternal life with Jesus. Irmeli, we shall meet in heavenly places. Proverbs 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
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The Tales of a Salesman by Curt Larsson
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2019 Curt Larsson Förlag: BoD – Books on Demand, Stockholm, Sverige Tryck: BoD – Books on Demand, Norderstedt, Tyskland ISBN: 978-91-7463-324-5
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My life in Sweden
Migrating to Australia
Contents
Beginning as a salesman My first visit to the church Industrial school in Västerås First meeting with Irmeli Military service at F16 Door to door in Västerås Door to door in Stockholm Employment at Olivetti I married Irmeli Moved to Trollhättan 1967 Talked about Australia
8 10 11 13 14 16 16 18 19 20 21
Emigration to Australia Boat trip with Achille Lauro Bonegilla Train ride to Sydney Employment at Olivetti Moving to our first apartment Facing a shotgun Thoughts of return to Sweden Places in NSW
22 22 27 29 31 35 37 40 42
Migrating back Going back to Sweden to Sweden Return to Australia with Moving to Killara Trevor and Birgitta visiting Moving to Harbord Puppy Dog Danny Boy Trevor and Birgitta re-visit Holidays in Bali Irmeli's parents emigrate Page 5
48 50 52 53 54 56 57 58 61
Vacation in Queensland Our caravan in flood New apartment in Allawah Joe's temptations
61 62 66 68
The most significant change in my life
My life transformation Decision for Christ Travel to Sweden June 1978 Struck by lightening at church An agent enters the store Prophecy in church Repair of gear box free Sauna competition Miriam and Kjell emigrating Dealing with Dennis Big order of dishes Mark is starting to work Trip to Sweden via Hawaii Journey with Jouko to WA The tall Peter Healed from noose bleeding Healed from gallstone attacks Riding on the back of a truck School holidays in Cairns Olivetti agency
71 75 77 79 80 80 81 84 85 86 87 90 92 94 98 98 100 102 102 103
Our greatest difficulties
1984 a year of sorrow Robert dies Travel to the funerals Elida Conference in Halmstad More sad news The van is on fire
105 108 111 111 113 113 113
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Ministering
Bought Toyota Coaster bus Toyota Coaster Bus stolen Satan worshippers found Limited Edition by Kevin Best Bible missions into Russia Gold Coast with Anneli Hiring of new salesman Bloodbath in Mt. Isa Journey with Kjell to Darwin Outi returns to Sweden
115 117 118 121 124 125 124 129 130 133
Mission trip Philippines Import paintings from China Bible smuggling to Xiamen Bible smuggling Guangzhou I Bible smuggling Guangzhou II Bible smuggling to Shanghai
134 138 139 139 141 142
Back to business The silk flowers come The vicar comes Travel to Sweden and Finland Travel to Tumut Irmeli fell in front of truck The sale of our company Selling our unit in Sydney
144 147 148 150 151 151 153
Return to Sweden
Irmeli goes to the Lord Prayer of salvation! Prayer
155 159 159
About the author
About the author
160
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My life in Sweden Beginning as a salesman
Me, Miriam and Lisbeth
I was born in Ulricehamn the 15th of July 1944. Before my birth, my mother Märta, was praying that my father, Herman, would get some help with Miriam, their oldest daughter, who was nearly two years old. My father was a miller and had a lot of work at the water mill in the middle of July. A Christian lady from Småland, which is the neighbouring state, got a word from the Lord, that someone in Ulricehamn is about to give birth, and needed help. This lady went by train to Ulricehamn and went to the local bakery, near the station. She said that she had come to help a lady who was about to give birth. They said that there was no one here that fits that description, but just a few kilometres north of town, the millers' wife Märta Larsson was about to give birth. She arrived on the 14th of July. And I was born the day after the 15th of July.
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My sales life started at about 9 years of age when I felt that I needed a little more money to move with. So I took the train to Storms FrĂśhandel in Skara (seed business), Sweden, and said that I wanted to buy some seeds to sell to the farmers where I lived. I got a discount of 30%. I traded for all my money and went home to MarbogĂĽrden's mill where my family and I lived. I started cycling out to the nearest peasants and knocking on the doors. I told them that I sell flower and vegetable seeds. And it was always the housewife that opened the door. The sales went well, and I renegotiated my discount, and I got a 50% discount, then I earned more money. In the autumn I expanded my sales to Christmas magazines, which also went very well, and I won my first box camera in a sales competition. Sales were up and running, until the summer, then I went to Skara where they had markets with various amusements and ice cream sales. I checked out with an ice cream company, if I could get an ice cream box, such one that you hang around the neck. I got the job and were given a fully stocked ice cream box. I did not wait for anyone to come to me and buy ice cream, but went to people and said "here are ice cream sticks" "come and buy ice cream sticks". It didn't take long before it was time to re-stock. I had some competition in that market, by another ice cream company, and the manager noticed that I was selling well and asked me if I could "join them" I said yes. But the first company wanted me back, and I let them fight over me, then I moved back to the first ice cream company.
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My first visit to the church
Miriam, Herman, Lisbeth, Märta and me
My parents had sold the mill, and we moved to HasslĂśsa in Sweden, which was the neighbouring shire. My Mother was involved in the Salvation Army and father used to go with her from time to time. But we frequented the Swedish Church during my upbringing. Sometimes I had difficulty to keep awake in the church, but it was better in the Salvation Army. My sister Miriam and I once went to a tent meeting in Vinninga. After the meeting, some ladies came to us and asked if they could pray with me. I couldn't say no, so they prayed with me! When we got home, Miriam said that I had been saved. But then life continued for me as usual. I had not had any experience that I can remember from that time. However, I started to play the snare drum in the Salvation Army in Skara. I remember once when I marched with them playing the drum on the streets in Skara. And also at their meetings in the corps, someone Page 10