Mid-Summer Night Johannuspäivä Holiday

Well, it finally happened and the longest day of the year is officially over.  It is celebrated in Finland on what is called Johannuspäivä.  It is the mid-summer night holiday and it is the biggest of the year.  We had a great time for the holiday.  We went to Brother and Sister Vorimo's home for the Friday evening festivities.  It was so fun and enjoyable just to eat and visit for a while.  After that we went to a lake close by and watched, along with hundreds of others, the bonfire on the lake.  It is a night for bonfires all over and that is how they celebrate along with much drinking and whatever.

As you can see it is a beautiful evening and the weather was just great.  However, later into the weekend it started raining again and all of us got a bit wet on Saturday and Sunday.

Early Saturday morning Lynne and I went to Helsinki and boarded a train to Jyväskylä where Helena (Kaisa's sister) lives.  We had a great time visiting and site seeing with Helena, especially Saturday when we took about a 3 hour cruise on the big lakes around the town.

The sunsets at the lake Friday evening were outstanding and interesting.  Lynne took these pictures and they turned out really well. We weren't quite as lucky in Jyväskylä with the sunsets but we have some other great pictures.  The train ride north was most relaxing and enjoyable.  Hardly anyone on board as it was a holiday.  Different story coming home Sunday, the train was packed.

Picture of Helena and Lynne on the lake front.  Helena uses her bicycle much during the summer as many Finns do.  It is a primary source of transportation around here and one has to be very careful walking on paths because of all the bicycles.  Almost all riders use helmets when riding their bikes, something we could copy in the states.  Only problems with riding bikes here, is that it costs a fortune to buy one.  Nothing for someone to spend a grand or more for a bicycle to go back and forth to work on, or maybe just to the train station.

If you are wondering what this picture is all about, then whatever you think is probably okay.  No, it is the Sister adult missionaries in the Guest House displaying their special socks that Sister Jyrkkänen from Turku made for them to walk around in our rooms and in the halls.  I guess this is something that she has done for a while.  The sister missionaries and the members sisters get along really well together.  They have a good time together in and out of the temple.

Well, we have to quit with a picture of the temple.  It is always a beautiful sight and we enjoy visiting it everyday.  We are doing well and all seems to be going okay at home.  We just passed our "hump day" last week and time is hurrying by without any delay or any thing in the future that might slow it down.  Hope all is well with you and your families.

Love to all,

Rick and Lynne

And the Days Get Longer

Just a quick update on the Londons in Finland.  This picture is out our window at 11 PM at night and as you can see, which you can see, is that it is still very light outside.  We have to close off our bedroom at night so we can keep out the light and sleep.  We still have month to go to the longest day here but we are getting used to sunshine for most of the day (and night).

The weather has been so nice lately and everything is so green, especially for a Utahan from the dry western part of the USA.  We go for walks in the forest and everything is so alive and growing.  The blueberries are starting to develop and they are all over in the forest.  Blueberries in Finland are picked by everyone and many people from outside Finland come here and pick them and sell them on the street.  The Finns have made it possible to pick, market, and sell blueberries without having to pay tax on the profits.  It is a special situation here that allows the common dude to pick and sell and earn some extra money.  We were not here last year when the season began but we are watching close this summer to see what happens.

Thought that you might want to see some of the new flowers around the Guest House.  Here is a picture or two.

Every year the church changes the flowers at the temple quite regularly.  These yellow flowers to the right were only in for a month and now they have been replaced.  Temple grounds are looking very good and is so pleasant  to walk around.  They church doesn't seem to spare any time nor money in doing what it can to make the Lord's house look as good as it should.

They have a professional gardener/landscaper who is mostly in charge and she does a wonderful job.  I think that she only works three days a week at the temple but she makes great use of her time.  Two others on the staff also help her.  Anyway, enjoy the pictures, we love the outside of the temple almost as much as the inside.

Went to a cemetery in Helsinki this evening and spent some time walking around.  It is a beautiful cemetery with many years of graves and headstones.  It is on the shore line overlooking the bay and commands your attention and reverence.  In the picture we are overlooking a number of headstones of soldiers killed during the Winter War with Russia (1939-40).  It is a solemn sight and almost makes one feel like he is in church or some other sacred place.

This below is a picture of the regular cemetery.  Lots of headstones.

Again, we are doing just great.  The temple work is going very well and we love helping the people here enjoy the blessings of the temple.  Many times they bring their own researched names to be done and their faces just shine when the work is completed.  We try to help them as much as we can.  Just last week the wife of the one of the temple presidency members went through a session to help a sister from Lithuania finish some names that she had brought with her.  Many of the members here really seem to understand the importance and need for the work that is done in the temple.

Lynne and I hope and pray that you are all doing well and so are your families.  Thanks for all your prayers and support.  We appreciate all of you.

Love,  Rick and Lynne