DAY #2

ROAD TRIP TO KAJAANI

I think I told you that we had a SAUNA in our Scandic Hotel Room.....well, just had to take a picture of it this morning before we left for the day. The picture below was taken from the inside of our bathroom looking out at Wayne working on the computer. See the SAUNA (or at least part of it) on the left-hand side? NICE!

Since church didn't start until 11:00 a.m., we decided to drive outside of town about 8 kilometers to a large wooden church. It is suppose to have some impressive paintings on the walls and ceilings. BUT.....it is only open during JUNE, JULY, AUGUST. Yes, this is still MAY.....

This one was built in the 1600's.....and the moss-covered steps leading up to the door of the 'bell tower' looked like no one had been in there for a while!

Then, it was time to head over to church. The store-front church is below. You can see the church sign in the front window. They are looking for land where they can build a nice new church. They certainly need and deserve it!

After church we took a few pictures of some of the members. Me, below, with some of the gals....all so sweet and kind

The sister above, front, in the brown skirt.......

Well, here she is above riding her bike home after church. YUP....that is just what they do here Even the older more mature members do that.

Above is a family who were on LOMA in Kajaani for a few weeks. They were visiting in the Branch today. We actually knew them from the temple. How fun to see them here.

The Branch President is the young guy holding his little baby. Veli RIITONEN is his name. His wife is standing to his right. The other folks in the picture of Sisar Riitonen's parents and two younger brothers.

Missionaries were sent to open up Kajaani once again last September. These two young missionaries are the ones assigned to be there. They are great.....one plays the piano for the meetings while the other leads the music! Not surprising.....

We had a TWO-PART DINNER APPOINTMENT TODAY! The FIRST part was with the RIIKONEN's in their home, along with her parents and two younger brothers. It was wonderful. We enjoyed getting to know them.

PART TWO was in Sisar Riikonen's parents home...... 1 hour and 45 minute drive away!! And they drive that distance EVERY SINGLE WEEK to and from church. And have been doing that for 20 years!! Veli ja Sisar KOMULAINEN have 9 children and they have a strong family in the Gospel. All of the children are married except the two youngest.

On the drive to their home they stopped at a SKI JUMP to show it to us as well as the view of the beautiful LAKES in the area. OH MY......WHAT A GORGEOUS VIEW and a perfect day to see the view.....and the snow that was still there! Yes, even in mid-May there was still snow!

It was windy up top......ski jump behind me.

Another shot of both Wayne and I with the SKI JUMP.

This picture was taken in their front yard.....right on the river. What another gorgeous view. What a wonderful relaxing life they seem to have there. We could get used to that kind of life!

We never made it to the RUSSIAN BORDER today. Probably a good thing. We just plain ran out of time. Another time, another day! We will get there. For today, we had a wonderful time and are so glad we have been able to do what we have and met the great people that we have. We love the Finnish people.

DAY #1.....

ROAD TRIP TO KAJAANI

With this being our Saturday 'off' from the temple, we decided we were going to head up north, to the Arctic Circle again......

to KAJAANI

We got a taxi to the Airport where we picked up our rental car. Can't take the mission cars that far away.....and there are too many missionary couples now to put one car our of commission for just one couple. LOVE the bear statues at the airport. They are so cute!

We took a 'rest stop' for a walk around the TORI and got an ice cream cone in Mikkeli. That is about 3 hours up the road. We also stopped at the Tori in Kuopio, another hour beyond Mikkeli.

We went by the church in Kuopio. We plan to come back here another weekend so we can visit this ward.

LOVE, LOVE the statues here in Finland. So unique and interesting. You just never quite know where you will find them. This one of a GOLDEN REINDEER was perched high on top of a rock wall along a highway. Just out in the middle of absolutely no where!! Had to pull over and take a picture of it.

After 8 1/2 hours on the road, we made it to Kajaani. With the days so long now, having daylight was not a problem. Above is the Church in a 'storefront' location. We will be speaking in the Kajaani Branch tomorrow.

We took a walk around town on the walking paths to see a few sights. How many different languages can you say "Path of Friendship" in? Apparently at least 6......Top to Bottom: Finnish, Swedish, Russian, German Lithuanian and English.

AND.....Finnish words can say a whole sentence in ONE WORD.....example above.....'pay your parking ticket here' in this one word!! LIP-PU-AUOT-MAAT-TI!!

Just another beautiful old church in town. Every town has a beautiful old church.

The author of the KALEVALA....an Finnish Epic.....lived in Kajaani. He has his own statue.

And I had to have my picture taken with him too!!

The only Olympic Gold Medalist from the 1930's got a statue erected in the 1990's in his honor. A little late, but nonetheless, a statue.....and a castle in the background dating back to the 1600's.

And where else can a group of teenagers 'hang-out' on a Saturday night at a CASTLE but right here in Kajaani??

And they were totally having a great time......

This is a statue in honor of Pietari.....founding father of Kajaani. If you look really closely you will see our hotel across the little river.....the SCANDIC HOTEL......

AND.....our room was complete with our own SAUNA!! Too tired to use it tonight but we probably will tomorrow night!

WE BID A SAD FAREWELL TO THE

GREAT SAINTS FROM

SAMARA RUSSIA

WHAT a wonderful week it has been to have the great Saints of Samara Russia here this week! Some familiar faces, some new faces......all great people!!

Tonight, Friday, they had their farewell Testimony Meeting before leaving to go back to Samara Russia tomorrow morning.

This is the newly called Branch President and his wife. They are wonderful people. Watch this guy.....he will be a General Authority someday!! Can't say enough great things about both of them.

Chatting amongst the folks after the meeting.

Somewhat of a GROUP PICTURE for those who did not run off!!

AND..... meet the GORINA FAMILY......Mother and 3 daughters. One daughter got married this week (see an earlier post for a wedding picture of them), a 2nd daughter who will be getting married in the temple in July or August and a 3rd daughter (above) who is 13 and came to do baptisms!!

This is the daughter getting married in July or August. And guess what they all got!?

YUP....YOU GUESSED IT!!!

A cross stitch TEMPLE PICTURE!!!!

And 'mama' would not let me go without a little gift for me!! How sweet of her.

SO SWEET.....ALL of them!!

ANOTHER

CROSS STITCH BOOKMARK

MADE AND DELIVERED!!

ANNIINA RIIKA OJALA, daughter of Matti and Rivta Ojala. We love the Ojala family. They are wonderful. I made this for Anniina quite some time ago but only got to give it to her today. What a sweetheart!!

TOMORROW.....Saturday, ROAD TRIP to KAJAANI.....

Will check in later.....

S * P * R * I * N * G

on the TEMPLE GROUNDS has finally come!!

And it is BEAUTIFUL!!

L O N G E R

DAYS

GETTING

EVEN

L O N G E R

The TOP picture was taken at 4:00 a.m.

The PICTURE below was taken at 7:00 a.m.

Here we go AGAIN!! :-) Gorgeous weather......beautiful time of the year!! Only one more month to JUHANNUSPÄIVÄ.

YET...

ANOTHER FLAG DAY HERE IN FINLAND!!

A TEMPLE WEDDING

AND

ANOTHER BOOKMARK DELIVERED!

As you know by now......we only fly the Finnish Flag on what is called 'FLAG DAY'! Don't know why...that is just the way it is done. SO....when you see the flag a-firling you know it is an 'important' day. This particular flag day was to honor 'Snellman Päivä'. He was a great mover of Finnish freedom in the mid 1800's. Good for him.....he gets his own holiday.

And it was a gorgeous day with no clouds and a light breeze....just enough to unfurl the flag!

Liisa Hylli....what a great lady! She is so talented with sewing!! She repaired a Suit Coat for Wayne.....he got 'caught' on a sign in the parking lot and it ripped. She would not take any money for the repair job so I made her a cross stitch bookmark and gave her a 'temple pin'! She was thrilled and very pleased.

SAMARA week this week.....so many wonderful people that we recognize from last year (is it possible that we really have been here that long already!). And it was a beautiful day for a wedding......

YEA for this beautiful couple. They were so very happy and so in love.

A beautiful BRIDE with her two sisters. Perfect..........