Into March

Well, it seems as our mission gets closer to the end, the more routine everything appears.  We are still very busy most of the time, but it is often a repeat of what we have done before.  Certainly the missionaries come up with different problems all the time but nothing much seems too unusual to us now that would have a year ago. Like last week, we put out a cookbook for all the young missionaries and it has taken quite a bit of time, but again all in a day's work. In fact, here is a picture of the front cover.

However, I had to include sample of one of the recipes for you.  Some of them are pretty amusing to read but I am sure they all taste good.  It took a bit of time getting them all into the proper form so we could print them and put them together.  All the office staff put in time on this project.

One Saturday morning we walked downtown to a Finnish military formation where the tradition of swearing allegiance to Finland was done.  Every year a large group of soldiers assemble and publicly swear and renew they allegiance to their country.  It was very impressive.  I didn't get much out of the talks that were given but very impressed with the crowd and their support for the military. This picture was taken from the steps of the large White Church downtown Helsinki and it rained the whole time we were there, but that didn't seem to stop anyone.

Earlier in February we went to church in Kouvola and then after Richard and Eliisa Smith invited us to their home in Kotka.  The Smiths have been called to replace us in the office this coming June-July.  We had a very nice dinner and visit in their home in the country.  In this picture from left to right is Sister Hunsaker, Sister Locke, Brother and Sister Smith, and Sister  Airto, our Finnish missionary in the office.  We had a very nice time and the Smiths were great hosts.  BTW, Brother Smith was my first language instructor when I arrived as a green elder some 52 years ago.

Another picture of their home with Lynne and me and the Smiths.  A really nice home.

Lynne was struck with these ice formations along the road as we drove to Kouvola.  Indeed they are really pretty and quite unusual.

The mission is going well.  We still have many things to do but I think that all the missionaries are doing well and seem to be doing what they are suppose to do.  We have great missionaries in Finland and they work hard and try to be obedient.  President Rawlings and his wife work very hard teaching, training, encouraging, and just taking care of the Elders and Sisters.  Being a mission president is an enormous calling, not only their spiritual leader but always worrying about their personal health and welfare.

Lynne and I continue in good health.  We certainly have been blessed.  We manage to walk around Helsinki a couple times a week to get some exercise, but it takes effort to get out of the office when there is still so much to do.  Winter has been very light and not much snow at all.  The temperatures have been mild and much higher than Utah earlier this year.  We are still getting a few more missionaries than are leaving but it is tapering off.  I fear by the end of the summer when the large groups start to go home, we will not have the numbers coming to replace all of them.  But, with that in mind, we all do the best we can and press on.

Our love and prayers to all at home and abroad.  Thanks for your friendship and prayers. Take care of yourselves and others.  God bless.

Rick and Lynne