Time Flew In July

Many times we have said that Finland is just like a national park where everything is so beautiful and green. There are so many activities and events happening all around. It all happens with summer tourists, summer birds, summer sports on the river, summer open market, school children enjoying summer activities, missionary transfers, referrals for the missinaries, missionaray dinner appointments and in the midst of all of this the missionaries get to contact many people who are visiting from around the world. We are grateful for God's creation in this part of the world. We love Finland and the Finnish people.

Just 50 miles due east of here by sea is Sweden.

    

    

Seldom do you see the old traditional hay stacks drying in the fields any more.

It's been fun to watch these baby seagulls, Ashley & Harry, grow into adults and fly away.

Elder Allen transferring out at 5:45 AM

Every nine weeks we help one of our missionaries transfer out and another one transfers in. We love every one who has come to Joensuu and worked so diligently with the people here. We are always sad to see them go but happy to have known them. It is a joy to work with each of them. This time it was Elder Allen who transferred out and Elder Hyer transferred in. Elder Farkus has truly been blessed being companions with both of these two choice Elders. There are also other new missionaries in our Kuopio District that we get to meet with every week. Then once a month we get to meet with our East Zone where there are more new missionaries. No matter where they are or who they are we truly love them. We are grateful to the parents of these wonderful and hard working missionaries who have the full support of their families. They have been trained so well at home. These young missionaries love the Finnish people. They teach the gospel in the Finnish language, which is one of the hardest languages in the world. We are very blessed to work with them.

Elder Hyer transferring in at 4:40 PM           

Sister Christensen, Sister Hunt, & Sister Bradbury

Elder Allen & Elder Farkas

Elder & Sister Hunt with the Branch President and his wife, Jarmo & Tarja Kinnunen

      

We have truly enjoyed the summer season. The month of July has given us some very warm days but mostly rainy days. Lightening and thunder are very gentle here. We try to keep healthy by watching what we eat. The Finnish ice cream is so good and creamy. It is almost always served as the dessert at the dinner appointments we get invited to. 

Thank you family and friends for your support in every way. We feel your prayers. It gives us strength and energy to do the Lord's work. We love you. You are in our prayers. May the Lord bless you in all you do.

Joy of the Midnight Sun

Summer Solstice Sun at 2:17 a.m.

We travelled North to the Arctic Circle as a part of our work to inspect missionary apartments. We arrived there on Juhannuspäivä (Midsummer Day), which is the summer solstice. Within the Arctic Circle it is a time when the sun never sets. At 12:00 midnight the sun was still quite high in the sky and it was broad daylight. However, knowing that nidnight is not the middle of the night, we continued watching the sun's movement until 2:17 a.m. daylight time, which is the middle of the night in Rovaniemi, Finland, where we were. That's when the photo to the left was taken. We were blessed and thrilled to have had the opportuntity to experience the summer solstice night sun from inside the Arctic Circle. It was a joy. We truly enjoyed every minute of our trip. Finland is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The entire country looks like a groomed scenic park. We are happy to serve in Finland as missionaries for the Lord. Thank you for your love and prayers. We send our love.

On the street by our hotel at the Arctic Circle

Typical Summer Shore Line

Rest Stop Along the Highway to Lappland

Entering Lappland on our way to the Arctic Circle

First Reindeer We Saw After Entering Lappland

Standing Just Inside the Arctic Circle

Midnight Sun From Multiple Sites

Fishing under the light of the Midnight Sun

Sister Hunt taking a picture of the Midnight Sun

Sister Hunt smiling at the 
Middle of the Night Sun

Elder Hunt, too.

River Activities in June

Sail boats are a frequent sight.

The bridge swings side ways 
for big ships to pass.

There was much river activity in May. It was very warm, 70-74 degrees F most days for three weeks. Then since the beginning of June it has rained almost every day and turned windy and cold. We are wearing our heavy sweaters and hats again. But the sun often shines through the everning clouds and drops just below the horizon for three hours then comes up again. To us it's unique and we love it. We don't have that in Utah.

A floating sauna is quite a sight.

Kayacks are very popular.

A unique many-person canoe.

Logs are transported by our river.

Tail end of the log transport is guarded and guided.

Trees along the river.

The blossoms on the trees add so much beauty to the landscape. Often the trees are buzzing with black bees gathering pollen or nectar from the pink flowers.

Great Missionaries!

We are forever grateful to work with and support our District Missionaries in the Lord's work among the people. We meet together every Wednesday in an neighboring city for District Meeting.  We help each other in many ways. It's fun to be part of a great team.

Elder Hunt's eye is healing. He is now up and about, but still not allowed to drive until his eye is fully healed.  Sister Hunt is now the official cheuffer.  Thank you very much for your prayers that help us stay well and positive. We feel your love and prayers daily for which we are very grateful. We love you all very much. May God bless you always.

Elder Hunt

Long stem dandilions from Elder Hunt.
Dandilions grow tall and beautiful everywhere.
They are considered flowers not weeds.

Sister Hunt playing with her dandilions.

The Days of May are Flying By

We love our Mission.

The month of May is flying by all too fast. Many eventful things have happened of which we have captured some with photos and some with stories only. The sun shines for a few days to green things up then the rain comes and waters the green plants and trees. The seagulls are still coming to visit the river when there is low activity of boats and canoes. We love watching everything that happens outside our living room window. There is never a dull moment.

Getting ready for eye surgery.  

Elder Hunt & visortors after surgery.

 One of the reasons why we have been watching a lot of the things going on outside our window is because Elder Hunt had eye surgery. We have stayed inside to help his eye heal. We are thankful for your messages of concern and get well wishes in various forms of communication. Thank you for your prayers in our behalf, especially in behalf of Elder Hunt. We have felt and continue to feel your love. You are also in our prayers. We love you.

The first day of  May is a special day. There is celebration that goes on everywhere in Finland. This year May 1st fell on Sunday so the people celebrated on Saturday night and not Sunday. This is one of the times that the missionaries are not to go out and proselyte. We stayed in our homes and got ready for zone conference.

 

We had a baptism. It was a special get-together for the little Joensuu Branch.  We drive the Elders to many of their appointments. Especially when they are further out in the country.

Sister Hunt's Mothers Day
Roses

Mother's Day was very nice day for many of  the members of our Branch. All the mothers received a rose. There was also an array of cakes served to everyone after the meeting.

Our mission has a missionary transfers every nine weeks which is when the new missionaries arrive from the Missionary Traning Center (MTC) in Provo, Utah, USA. Elder Scott was transferred. We wish him well in his new area. We know he is a hard working Elder. We are proud of him and sent him off with our love. We have a new missionary that we have only spoken to on the phone but have not yet seen because of Elder Hunt's eye surgery. Elder Allen is his trainer. We truly appreciate Elder Allen and all that he does in Joensuu as a missionary and a District Leader. He will be a great trainer.

School kids on a field trip. 

More kids on a field trip.

One day we found a truck just Sister Hunt's size.

So far the month of May has been so busy and it is flying by so fast. We are consentrating on getting well and stay healthy so we can enjoy more of the nice warm spring weather. We are anxious for summer to come, but it may not be very much different than how it is right now.

We want to close by telling you all Thank You for your love and prayers. They mean a lot to us.You are also in our prayers daily. May the Lord bless you and protect you.

Snail mail comes not only to our door,
but through our door. :) 

A peaceful looking country home.