It's been a while... so everything must be OK :)

Hi Family and Friends,

I got an e-mail from Sister Squeeze this morning saying, "We haven't heard from you for awhile, is everything OK?"

 

I guess time goes too fast, so this is telling you that I am OK, actually I am more than OK. The snow came fast and furious these past couple of weeks and it changes everything around you, you kind of feel up-lifted. The forests, that is what Finland has more than any other country, look beautiful with trees full of snow. They have so many walking trails, (wintertime they are ski trails) around the city limits and they are kept snow blowed. A one missionary couple just returned from a walk, and they said it is georgeous !  Few weeks ago I was so very unhappy about the wet and rain everyday, I had to use umprella everyday! Hopefully this snow will lasts till spring !

 

I was visiting Tampere last weekend. As you know that's my home town. I have 3 brothers and their families there. The senior missionaries, we have six couples (how I miss my husband, he would be perfect here) and me. We each (couple) get free Saturday every 6-7 weeks and do what we want, so for me it's perfect to go to Tampere, which is only 1-1/2 hours away, in a "paikallisjuna" (the one that stops at every stop because it is 7 euros cheaper) ! Every Euro counts, this is expensive country ! My sister-in-law, Laila, gives me more and more winter clothing every time I visit them. This time I got a good pair of boots that she hasn't used, hardly, and I bought wool pantyhose, yes, they use them here ! And you really need them ! I kind of forgot to take my own boots, and besides there was no room in 3 suitcases (!) I had. 

 

The Liahona person, who is in charge of the home pages in Finnish Liahona, asked me to write an article about the time I  joined the Church, which was the "beginning" of the Church in Finland, 1948-49. So, that has taken a little bit of my time in the evenings when I come to my apartment. By the way, they have started to add the extra apartment in that missionary and the patrons apartment housing, and I'll be moving there in the near future!

 

This past week was busy in the Temple, members from Estonia and around Helsinki district were dew. It was amazing that so many Estonians speak Finnish, and how funny, they are so close to each other, that even I can almost guess the words. This coming week will be Tampere district at the Temple, so there I'll meet some familiar faces !

I wanted to thank you, who sent me Christmas cards, even I hadn't let you all know my address on time, but some of you did not give up ! It was so nice to receive Christmas wishes from home. I wish you all a very happy and healthy new year and hope that you will  let me know how things are with you.

Many Thanks for Christmas!

Note: It's funny hearing her English deteriorate :)

I am so happy to hear from you! Didn't I tell that I got Sister Squeeze's package, it was waiting for me here after I returned from Lappajarvi trip, so thanks again. Mom Squeeze, I got yours this Tuesday, it was nice that they arrived different times, so had a little longer Christmas !! Thank you, it was nice to get good herb tea, the gloves, mine, the green ones that I have had forever were showing little holes, so these are perfect, even for text messages in the bus, like the other kids are doing !!!!  And the umprella (I forgot my dictionary !) is great to have, since Finland is so wet anytime! 

So good to hear that you have happy times there, like Christmas and new year celebration ! Christmas season is almost over here, tomorrow is the last day, January 6th is called "Loppiainen", meaning "loppu", end of the season according to the Lutheran church's timetable. It is celebrated as a holiday, stores are closed, free day from work, etc. And the bus service is probably according to Sunday service, that means I need to find out when I go out to my bus stop ?!

This week is the "Russians week" and we have been very busy at the Temple. They are very faithful, they have their own ordinance workers with them. We, the missionaries are just helping them, where ever they need us, and we get to do it in Russian ?!! Yes, they give us some lessons to read in their language, but the letters are "Romanized", does that make sense ? So, we learn some Russian here, and of course, we do it in Swedish too, although that is so much easier and old Swedish starts coming back!  We also have Estonians coming here and the Lithuanians, but the Russians are the ones that need the whole week every so often for themselves. The members from these eastern countries seem very happy and bring us always some goodies, they have pockets full of goodies and when they pass you by, they stick candies to your pockets ! It's kind of fun.

The weather has been very unpleasant since I arrived, it is raining every day, that is the truth. I needed the umprella, which somebody lent to me, but now I got my own since Mom Squeeze sent me one! Thanks ! One day, it did snow, actually Christmas day, but of course it's gone now. I hear you don't have it either. 

Christmas was very nice, was able to spent it with my brothers families in Tampere and Lappajarvi. I took the bus from here to Helsinki, about 30-40 minutes, and got the train to Tampere, about 1-1/2 hours. The Transportation service is very good here, trains are very modern and fast, as are the busses. By the way the busses are very large and the middle door is wide so you can push the baby carriage  (the door is street level) in and you do not pay! Only others go through the front door and pay. That's one of the social benefits for having children. 

I am living by my self in an apartment, since the missionary housing is full (which is next to the Temple) and actually meant for couples, and are for the missionary couples. They do have 6-people apartments meant for people who come from out of town places and stay for few days to do work for their ancestors and others. They promised me that I will have my own apartment in few months in that same building, which will be used for other single people or maybe families, after I leave. I have been treated very friendly, it must be my age, they offer me rides to the stores, to Church on Sundays, P-day outings, and of course, I'm included in all the activities and parties (!!) 

Temple is a very special place, and you do feel the spirit there, it makes you cry often because it touches you, and how people seem to change there. They leave the outside world behind them when they enter the Temple and experience something special for few hours. 

Have a happy new year and take care, See you in 16 mos, I think !?  I've been here over a month now.

Onnellista Uutta Vuotta! (Happy New Year... in Finnish)

(Squeeze family names have been substituted, but if you know us, you'll get the gist)...
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01.01.12
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SON SQUEEZE !  AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL !  It's about 12:30 pm here and you must be sleeping.  Is he going snowboarding today or what is he doing?  I hope it is going to be a good day for him and all of you! 

Today is little clearer, and so far no rain!   We are wondering when the snow will come.

We are going to have a little party at the Asuntola dining room tonite for just us missionaries and the the Temple presidency. Veli Williamsom brings the pork and others potluck. I was going to bring Roselli (cooked beet, carrot, potato salad with Rahkaviili (like sour cream), but guess what happened, I got cold !!!! Me  !? I dont know what happened Thursday but I felt a little cold coming while at the Temple and then at night it started. I had to call and tell them that I was not coming, that was yesterday. Today, Saturday, Temple is closed anyway and open on Tuesday, so I have plenty of time to recover. I am not really sick, stuffy nose, sneezing and sleepy  They are calling me and keeping in touch with  me and asking me to take temperature all the time !  Aune Wahlstead called me and asked if I have time to go with her to Porvoo over the weekend, Porvoo is about 50-60 km from Helsinki southeast, small, old fasioned with narrow streets etc. town. We have to go some other time.

This past week was really busy at the Temple, it was Relief Society week and lot of Russians came. They have their own Temple workers with them. Some old members from my past are coming there and sometime you cannot recognize them ! But they seem to recognize me !!!  They say it's my smile ??!!

We had really good time at Lappajarvi with Hannas family and they are doing very well, Irkka seems OK but she cannot be too happy. Mom Squeeze, you talked with her after we did, she must have told you how she feels. Veikko spent his Christmas with Riina and Reija and Mikko wanted to stay in Tampere because he has "old girl friend" who lives alone, like Mikko, and she has no family, so Mikko feels kind of sorry for her, They are both old and have health problems, so they are supporting each other. Monday, after we came from Lappajarvi, we went to pick up Mikko from Aila's  ( his friend) and took some flowers to our parents grave. Then they took me to the train station and I arrived to my place about 7pm

Things are going fine here, I'm getting used to living here and taking the bus, so many times I get ride from one of the missionaries (usually with his wife or other elder) coming home. I'm getting to know the area and which bus goes here and there. There's a shopping center with Stockmann and also Marimekko not very far, like 10 min bus ride, so I can go by myself. By the way, they have lot of these huge, huge shopping centers around Helsinki laitakaupunki areas.

I really miss my family and think of you all the time and pray that all of you are well. I was so happy to hear that Sister Squeeze and family went to Church on Christmas day too.  I love you all