Our Finnish Mission

Monday, January 10, 2011

P-DAY ROAD TRIP WITH MICHIE'S

P O H J A and F I S K A R S

Look those up on the map and see if you can find them! Actually I think Fiskars is small enough I couldn't even find it on the map. The significance of these two places?? Well, let me briefly describe them if I can.

Pohja, as I understand it, is where some of the first members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were in 1880. A man by the name of Johan Blom actually joined the church in Sweden and not long after wanted to move to Utah in America to be with other saints. He was told by 'church leaders' that his help could be used in Finland and they suggested he move his family there to help the church grow.

They moved to this beautiful estate called BRODTORP ESTATE in POHJA. He was a gardner here.

We were able to drive around it ....... it must have been quite the 'estate' back in the day because today it is beautiful!! We did not see anyone at all that we could find. We were hopeful to be able to talk to someone.

It was here that he lived for about 10 years or so before finally moving back to Sweden

And from Sweden he finally moved his family to Utah. It would be so interesting to be able to know what happened to his family once they moved there.

About 4 kilometers away from Pohja is FISKARS. We didn't even know this little village existed until today. We decided to head over there and check it out.

It is a beautiful little place! Would love to go there in the summer and see it then too but we will be back in America by then. We have all heard of FISKARS scissors, snow shovels, and many many other things! Well, guess what? This is where it all started back in 1649!!!

How fun to 'find' this place.

We enjoyed a little shopping here......

and the winter scenery was just gorgeous!

This Hotel and Ravintola above is actually where we stopped and ate lunch. It was DELICIOUS and we would recommend it to anyone who wants a really good meal!