Alexsanterinkatu (Street) and the National Cathedral (Tuomiokirkko)

Alexsanterinkatu is a busy shopping street in downtown Helsinki.  It is the only street with Christmas decorations draped across the street.  Between the strings of lights are large "A's" which stand for Alexsanterinkatu.  The street was named for Alexander II from Russia.  This street runs past the national cathedral where there is a large statue of Alexander II in the middle of the church square.  This street is home to some very pricey real estate.

This picture shows the national cathedral.  It is really rather white.  It sets upon a hill and can readily be seen throughout Helsinki.  It is shaped like a huge fat cross.  The inside is not lavishly decorated like many European cathedrals.  It is Lutheran.  The Twelve Apostles adorn the four porticos.  There are three apostles on each entrance.  Climbing the stairs to the cathedral is much like climbing a pyramid in Mexico.  The small red huts are Christmas booths.  Like the street upon which they set, the prices are high.  We have visited it many times and it is time to let others spend their money!

The only guy left when the bar closed.

This guy was lonely on the dark cold street, so Sister London and Sister Williamson tried to invite him the temple.  

Our missionary District and friends at the MTC.

This picture was taken the day we graduated from the MTC.  There were eight in our District and I, of all people, was chosen or told to be District Leader.  There wasn't much to do, but I had a good time with it.  The people from left to right are.  Elder and Sister Roberts, Philippines, Elder and Sister Rohner, New York City South, Elder and Sister Williamson, Helsinki Finland Temple Mission, Sister and Elder Soloman, Alpine German Speaking Mission.  We hope they are all well and happy!

And they went into the forest....

Several Sundays  ago we and the London's,  Rick and Lynne, were invited to the home of Aimo and Nellie Jakko for Sunday dinner.  And to attend their branch in the morning.   We were excited to go visit them, they live in a forest about 3 hours away in the town of Kouvola.  Thank goodness Rick has a GPS and the voice of the very nice lady can "re-figure"!   We needed it, the nice voice and the 're-figuring'.
The branch meets for 2 hours, they alternate with Priesthood, RS , YM, YW one week  and Sunday School the next week.   Primary is every week. The music people were out of town so I played the piano and Lynne led.  Primary was practicing for their program so I got to play for them, too!  Yeah.  Lynne got to go to YW where there was one young girl and a visitor, the daughter of the high councilor who had given a very good talk in Sacrament mtg. Rick and Wayne were called on to share their testimonies in the meeting also!

Aimo stayed for a meeting and we left with Nellie.  The drive to their home was through the country.  The Jakko's bought a school that is between 2 towns.  They live in the building where the teachers lived!   The school part they use as a work place, they have looms among many items.   It truly was out in the middle of 'no one is around but the trees.'   It was much colder in that part of Finland than down here in Espoo and Helsinki by the ocean. 

One of the things Nellie wanted us to do was go mushroom hunting.  But it was too dark by the time dinner was through.  But, someone goes hunting for mushrooms because she had several LARGE jars full of dried mushrooms.  We had mushroom gravy over potatoes with baked salmon!  Yum!  It was such a treat to talk with them.  Nellie comes from Holland and Aimo was there for a short time as a building missionary....and love blossomed.   She speaks very good English besides Finnish.  Aimo comes from a large Mormon family and all but one of them are members.   Nellie is about the only member she knows of in her family.  But she is very proud of the Mormon geneology of their children and the Jakko family.

Lynne and Nellie and I went out to her 'building'.  Not huge, just accommodates her 'business' of miniatures.  She buys them on line and then has quite a list of customers who order from her.  She got into it about 3 years ago when she bought a doll house for a granddaughter....but she discovered  it is really a grown up  hobby!

Aimo and Nellie are amazing people!   They have been instrumental in introducing the Gospel to many Russian people.  In the early eighties they were instrumental in bringing the gospel to about forty (40) Russian Saints, baptizing, fellow shipping, and helping them along their way. Because of Nellie's championship table tennis days she was able to get into Russia a little easier!  She may be taking it up again this summer in senior games.

It's our priviledge  to renew acquaintances with them (for Wayne) and the rest of us get to know them!

Temple Worker Christmas Party

Finnish and American food!

The Temple Presidency hosted a great Christmas party tonight.  Lots of the regular workers came and the paid employees and us...the missionaries.  About 50 were there.  They started with a Christmas song and then the Haikkolas spoke.  Then we ate.   Then a few more songs, then more food.  Then a 'traditional' play with acting and singing about Christ.  (Roles: King Herod, a wise man, a Knight, and Mankki, he bears the star).

Then Joulupukki came!!  We all had to sing a song and he answered. Don't ask me what we sang to him or what he said to us.  Next year I'll figure that one out!  Then more eating.  Then the missionaries sang a song and I think there was more eating!  The drink they make here is Glorgy,  you warm it up and it's like wassill. Yum.

It was a very nice evening of socializing with wonderful people.

Wayne can't help me with this blog...he's making our lunch for tomorrow!  VERY similar every day: voileipaa (open faced sandwich with meat, cheese, cuke, tomato and anything else in the fridge) , 2 nice mandarin oranges, maybe a  cookie.  All put in bags that we recycle from somewhere!  Bags are a big commodity here.  Wayne misses sandwich, ziplock, hefty....any of those.  Also  you take your own bags to the grocery store or you have to buy them, .16 cents.  And, of course you bag your own groceries.  You don't buy huge amounts of items because nothing is sold in huge amounts.  Less than 5 lbs. of sugar or flour in sacks  etc. etc.

 

Finland Temple

Looking down at our home from the Temple.

There are 62 steps from our home to the Temple, or there are 62 steps from the Temple to our home!  

Finally, Finland

We have been here in Finland since Tuesday, November 1st!!  No snow yet and it has been  a little warmer than South Jordan.  Yesterday it started getting a little  more nippy though.  There are soo many trees here.  It really is a beautiful sight.  So nice to finally be at our new home!

The temple is awesome!  Too bad we can't post a picture of it yet...one post at a time.  We started doing our 'job' in the temple on the 2nd.  It's a good thing, what else to do but sleep?
The number of languages spoken in the temple is amazing.......and the number of people who know English is amazing.  However, there are those who don't so I guess I will still study Finnish so I can speak with some of them.  Wayne is really doing well with Finnish and will come home knowing much in several other languages, I'm sure.

We live in an apartment building on the grounds but down from  the temple.  The 3 full time (2 more couples to come) missionaries live here as well as  President and Sister Haikkola.  Then there are some part time missionaries who come for a few months from other countries.  There are also a couple of 'bunk' apartments for members who come from greater distances  so they can stay a couple nights.  Downstairs (main floor) there is a large eating area with 2 kitchens where they can cook their meals. It smells really good in there and the place is really 'jumping' sometimes.   No one under 12 is allowed to stay in these bunk areas.  We can have 'guests' under 12 stay with us......come on Venna, Jonah and Tucker! 

We will get more creative with this thing I'm sure.  Maybe even put in pictures!!
Doris Ann....you better bring a coat when you visit...so far we keep the window open at night, but the open part has gotten a lot smaller the last 2 nights!
Take care....love ya all