Fresh but FREEZING Finland

(YIKES - I have been such a slacker in blogging !)
Last week we were in Helsinki for some visits and training.  We were pleasantly surprised by the  "winter wonderland"  we beheld.  The city is surrounded on 3 sides by the Baltic sea (which was frozen) with beautiful shoreline and lots of boats.  We had prepared with many layers to prevent frostbite as we toured the city.

We went to their "rock church" built into a huge rock.  We actually saw a very similar one a few years ago in Sweden.  We took a warm bus tour of the city and saw the historical and interesting sights.

As beautiful as the city and snow were, the people in Finland far surpassed those wonders.  They are kind, gentle and it was wonderful to share some moments together.  We had a training meeting with a newly called couple who will supervise the 7 Center couples in Finland.  They are so anxious to offer their love and support.  We also helped at a conference for all the couples serving in the Finland Mission.  We made some interesting and fun connections with many of them.  Allan's cousin was a mission Pres. in Finland 40 years ago and some of these missionaries served under him.  And we always love visiting the Center for Young Adults and feeling of their enthusiasm.

Once again we returned home with our hearts and testimonies enlarged by the beautiful new Finnish friends we made and the experiences we had.  This mission continues to bring boundless opportunities to serve and be richly blessed in the process.

Finally some family in Germany

We are so excited that we finally met up with my brother Craig and his wife Lynette who are beginning their service at a Center for Young Adults in Leipzig, Germany.  That is located about 3 1/2 hours to the north and east of Frankfurt.  We drove up last weekend and spend a couple of days together.
They are serving in a fabulous Center in the heart of the city near the historical and market center.  So consequently the missionaries  find alot of  young people to bring to the Center to teach.

Craig and Lynette gave us the grand tour around the area to see the amazing buildings and architecture.  It is a beautiful city with such interesting things.  They have really gotten their feet on the ground quickly and know their way around quite well with trains and street cars.  We had a yummy dinner together in one of the old restored government buildings.

We had a training meeting with local leaders, other Center couples and 3 amazing young single adults.  Things are running quite smoothly with a lot of YSAs involved and active at the Center.

Craig and Lynette have such a good assignment and have already endeared themselves with the YSAs.  They will be a tremendous support to the young adults there and will touch so many lives.  The Lord has sent the perfect couple to the perfect place for them to have amazing experiences and bless lives.  And we are so happy to have them in the "neighborhood".  We love you guys.  Thanks for having the courage and faith to come and serve this mission.

A Christmas to Remember

Being in the mission field at Christmas definitely has it's pros and cons.  We had some beautiful experiences, but each time we watched family produced DVDs or listened to our grandchildren singing Christmas carols or sharing their Christmas eve activities, we would dissolve into a blubbering twosome.  But this will most assuredly be a Christmas that we will reflect upon often with joy and good memories.
One of our favorite parts about a German Christmas season is the bounteous Christmas markets, which I have posted about before.  Our final, and FAVORITE, was to a little town about 45 minutes away called Rudisheim.  It is located along the Rhine river and we loved it in the summer when we went on the river cruise.  It was decorated and lit up so festive and had wonderful things to enjoy (and buy).  Stopping for refueling with delicious hot chocolate was a must.

Christmas eve morning we enjoyed a fun and yummy Christmas brunch with 35 other dear friends/missionaries.  It was like none other with a crepe bar, cheese blitz bar, waffle bar and an array of other fruits and egg dishes.  These missionary couples know how to have a good time.  We had a fun gift exchange and lots of chatting.

Then in the evening we jumped on the U-bahn and went downtown to the pealing of the bells (10 churches ring bells in unison for 30 minutes).  It is quite the tradition here and it was fun to join the mob along the river and in the town square.

And our own quiet personal time together with  special Christmas traditions and loving skype calls with all our dear ones made this a warm and peaceful occasion.

It is such a blessing while serving a mission to be able to be somewhat removed from the stress and commercial demands and have a deeper and more personal relationship with the Savior and feel his tender mercies and love during the time of celebration of his birth.

Return to Scotland

We had the wonderful opportunity to return to Edinburgh, the glorious mission for Allan and Karli.  We were asked to come and present to a mission conference and do some training.  We were privileged to stay in the beautiful mission home that both Karli and Allan passed through.  It is an old 1800's Scottish home that has been beautifully refurbished.  Pres. & Sister Griffiths were so kind and hospitable.

We had a few hours one day to do some sightseeing at the Edinburgh castle, Princess street and the Royal Mile.  It was all that Allan remembered and more.

What a blessing it was to spend a few days reliving the wonder of Scotland and listening to their marvelous accents and meeting the good Scottish saints.