"OLE ROHKEA JA LUIJA"

--Joshua 1:9

(Be Courageous and Strong)

This, being the GENERAL YOUNG WOMEN THEME FOR 2010, was told to me by Sisar Metsätähti as we were finishing up our P-Day 'cruise' with the Temple President and Matron...arranged completely by them. They wanted to do this for 'their' missionaries!!

I was not sure I wanted to go on this little cruise because I didn't know what the boat looked like....big, small, old, new.....

I have to admit that I was quite SHOCKED when I saw just how LITTLE and OLD it seemed to be. Was it really 'sea worthy' and would we get back to the dock safe and sound?? I had to trust my mission presidents judgment!! Or did I??

I finally decided I had to give it a try.....

Sisar Haikkola (left) sat on one side of me with Sisar Vormio on the other (one of the Assistants to the Matron).....they were trying to help me 'adjust' and make sure I was okay!! Bless their sweet little hearts!

I was pretty soon enjoying some of the 'local' sights.....like this next WORLD'S LARGEST CRUISE SHIP being built right here in TURKU FINLAND!!! Yes, there it was!!

And pretty soon I found myself out on the front of the boat......directing traffic on the waterway to make sure we did not hit any other boats, and vice-versa!!

After a couple of hours of 'driving around' the TURKU ARCHIPELIGO (which by the way is just gorgeous) we made land-fall (or should I say ROCK-fall since we cooked and ate on a huge rock)......

We cooked our Finnish Pancakes (LETTUJA) over an open fire.....they were soooo good!!!

We then climbed up more rocks for a group picture.....isn't that a FINE GROUP of FOLKS there ever was!!!

While we were up there we saw a large over-night FERRY headed from TURKU to STOCKHOLM SWEDEN going through.

And back to the boat for the ride back to the dock.....notice I have graduated from my life-vest......I suppose I graduated and didn't need it any more.....and that is President HAIKKOLA steering the boat now!!! He says he knows how to drive a boat better than he can 'run the temple'. That is not true in our opinion!!! He knows exactly how to 'run the temple'!! With the Lord's help, of course!!

Veli ja Sisar Metsätähti are the official 'keepers' of the boat. They are great people. She was newly sustained as Young Women President yesterday in the Turku 2nd Ward. She is the one who told me I was 'ole rohkea ja luija'!!

More sights along the ride back.....a beautiful statue in the water.....

and flags flying of all of the NORDIC COUNTRIES.....L to R: Finland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden and the European Flag

We made it safe and sound back to the dock.......and I was quite HAPPY that we did......

OLE ROHKEA JA LUIJA for sure!!

RAUMA VISIT.....DAY #2

Our day in RAUMA today would be attending the RAUMA WARD. What a great ward it is. The Michie's spoke in Sacrament Meeting. The Groberg's, the Michie's and we sang "SAAN KÄYDÄÄ TEMPPELIIN" as the intermediate hymn. I think it turned out quite well!

We had our picture taken out in the front of the chapel.

And another picture taken inside the chapel before church began.

After church we had 2 DINNER APPOINTMENTS.....Us and the Groberg's went to the MÄKINEN'S and the Michie's went to the LAINE'S.

Here we are arriving at the Mäkinen home....it is a beautiful home and very tastefully decorated. Very 'classy' just like they are!

The dinner table was set soooo beautifully!

Veli Mäkinen was in charge of cooking the SALMON on the grill.....and boy was it delicious!!

After dinner we walked down to the shore of the GULF OF BOTHANIA which is just about 1/2 kilometer from their home!! Nice!! It was quite windy down there.

And here are the cutest little couple!!! VELI JA SISAR MÄKINEN

On the way from their home we drove by Pispa Hilakari's home at his invitation to see his wonderful wood sculptures!!! They are just amazing!!! He is very talented.

And they have this cute little, small river running through their backyard. Just right there.....amazing. OH but wait....we are in FINLAND and this is the country of MANY LAKES.....so this should not come as a surprise to me at all!!!

And back to the hotel for the night. Tomorrow: Off to TURKU to meet up with the other missionary couples and President ya Sisar Haikkola for a BOAT TRIP!!!

RAUMAN PITSIVIIKKO

The Michie's .... The Groberg's ...... and Wayne and I headed to RAUMA today for the Lace Festival event......

We had been planning on this for the past 4 months now. We were looking forward to it.

In front of our BEST WESTERN motel located about 2 blocks from the MAIN EVENT (held in the OLD WOODEN HOUSE section of Rauma

Just to make sure our car is protected at night, they have an old 'bomb shelter' converted into a parking garage!! And they lock it at night!!

Yet another STATUE in this little canal.....3 'bathing beauties' with an approaching boat.

Had lunch in a little cafeteria at the TORI

Beautiful handmade lace everywhere!!! Just gorgeous....hard to choose just 'one piece'!!

Another statue.....a lady making lace taken in March of 2010 (this year)......

......and NOW, July of this year!!! What a difference a few months can make!! :-)

Wayne at the 'helm' in a MARITIME MUSEUM....

Tomorrow.....CHURCH IN RAUMA WARD where some of us will speak and sing and whatever!! Should be a fun day!

STOP ME......

ANOTHER PROJECT 'FOUND'......

You may think all I do is 'projects'! Well, when we are not working in the temple and traveling around to the wards and branches to visit saints in outlying areas, I certainly DO work on projects. I love making and giving little gifts wherever we go......'just because' and to show appreciation for dinner invitations, etc.

I decided I wanted to 'find' a crochet project that I could do quickly but looks nice at the same time. I think I found one!! On the internet no less!! (Isn't the internet wonderful for finding 'things' quickly and easily!!! Got to love it!)

My first recipient for this project was Sisar Anja Multamäkki!! She is just the sweetest little thing......this is the sister that Wayne taught when he was a young missionary here. This picture of us together in front of her little 'grandma (babuska) house was taken in summer of 2009 shortly after we arrived here in Finland)

When I work on my projects, it is usually on our sofa in our small little living room area. We have just the most perfect view of the TEMPLE!! I am always getting distracted and looking out the window......saw this pretty cloud formation and couldn't resist 'just one more picture'!! ANTEEKSI!!!! Just have to 'put up' with that!!

ANOTHER

FULL

ACTIVE

GOOD DAY

AT THE TEMPLE......

The ESTONIAN Saints are a great group this week. So much work is being accomplished! And, I think I mentioned, that Wayne and I have added another language to our growing list of 'tongues'!! YES....Estonian! Swedish needs to be next for me....Wayne already has that one 'down'!!

Our FIRST wedding for the summer from St. Petersburg was Wednesday! Such a cute couple. And so in love......

President Haikkola was walking up to the temple as they were taking pictures! Perfect timing to get the President in the picture.....just as though it had been planned!!

They are cute aren't they!!

MEET: Aleksandr and Margit Timakov from Tallinn, Estonia. They came over to our apartment Wednesday night after our temple shift and our weekly meeting with the President and Matron. They were skyping with Steven and Elinn from our computer and made some plans for their upcoming visit here to Finland and Estonia (S & E and J & T that is). Elinn knew them when she served her mission in Estonia back in 1994 - 95!! Small world in the church!!

YESTERDAY (TIISTAI)

GOT AWAY FROM ME......

It was a super busy day. A super BUSY week here in the Temple.......wonderful saints from ESTONIA here this week!!!

Can you believe we have added yet another language to our 'repertoire'!! Yes indeed!! ESTONIAN!!! Feel good!!! And maybe a wee-bit helpful!

They do have a large number of ordinance workers in this group but at least we can be helpful if that is what we need to do!!

Before we went to work (we are on afternoon shift this week) we headed over to the Motor Vehicle Department at the POLIISI Station. Wayne Drivers License was READY finally to pick up!!! We now have TWO MORE LEGAL FINNISH DRIVERS!!! And it only took about 2 1/2 months and countless trips back and forth!!

YEA for us!!

NICE, QUIET P-DAY!!!

We like those once in a while....

Feeling better today.....only slight 'residue' of the stomach pains so at least we are headed in the right direction!

We have a few errands to take care of at SELLO and my HAIR CUT!!! Opposite directions from each other and we had to do everything by 'foot' because both mission vans were being used by others!!

As we were nearing Sello, we had a POSTI GUY pass us......they are just so cute with their POSTI BIKES.....NO cars for these folks!

The FINNS do love their bikes.....even little grannies have bikes and they use them!

The fields seem to be very pretty right now......this field is behind the asuntola.

AND.....walking home from my hair appointment.....LEIKKAUS!!!

And TUULA gave me my next LEIKKAUS appointment.....goodness, the summer is gone already! FALL will begin next month!!