arrival (and retreat-al)

I'm here! I hope you got my last email, because I haven't received any mail yet, but I hope you are all okay! Sorry about my first email...I didn't have much time. Voi että! Well, well. It is everything I imagined and more. There really isn't any open space here...unless for farming, because it is all trees and forest! It is very beautiful! I think I told you, but I am in this little town two hours east of Helsinki called Kouvola (it's closer to Russia) and it is freezing! As a result, the people all look very depressed, stern, unfriendly, but really are good people!

So on the plane over here, I sat next to Zoy from Greece. She talked to me pretty much from Denver to Frankfurt. Thus making not watching the movies a little easier, but sleeping very difficult. She found out I am Mormon and told me how much she respects our family values. She thinks morals in the world are falling apart. I snuck her a pass along card by writing my address on it and telling her to write me.

Oh, before I forget, can you send a record of my driving record? We need it for my license. Elder Nilsson and I actually have a Volkswagon Polo...nicest car in the mission apparently.

My new address: Kauppalankatu 10 A 9
45700 Kouvola
Finland
*we live in the center of town, right next to H &M actually.
Which reminds me...Maelyn, you would not believe how stylish girls are here! Cool boots, cool jackets, scarves, everything.

Anywho, when we arrived in Frankfurt, we made for our gate, and actually met Sister Hellman - a member in Tampere. Older woman who apparently only speaks Finnish. It was funny because we started talking to her, but my companions didn't understand her, so I was the only one actually talking. But I said something in English about 15 minutes into our convo, and she looked really confused. She doesn't speak English. She shared her bread with us, and then introduced me to her friends. They were very excited to meet us and all started chattering at the same time. It was an experience - I had no idea what they were saying. They looked like a row of birds chirping away. Anywho...

Landing in Finland is probably similar to Neil Armstrong's elation when landing on the moon. It was very spiritual, and much more moving than I expected. The sun was setting majestically and all the trees of the land stood as sentinals to this place. Their shadows outstretched acrost the fields and meadows. Vast amounts of lakes, rivers, glass. The colors of fall in a myriad of expressions. Green on the leaves, brown earth, gold in my eyes. For some reason I couldn't get the verse out of my head: All the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Rolling hills as farms and cookie cutted marks adorn the face of the earth.

Entering the airport was overwhelming. All of the signs in Finnish, and everyone chatting away as if it were nothing. We came out into the front entryway....looking for some sign of direction. Out of the deep somber crowd came a glowing orb - Elder Mock (James' friend), Anderson, and President\Sister Brown. I reached out my hand and receive the biggest, most satisfying hug I have ever felt.

Whisked off to the Brown's beautiful bayside home. Upon arrival, we smell the Finnish air for the first time. It feels like I am smelling the home I never knew I had or needed for that matter. A cozy cottage nestled in the forest, naturally. We then wrote down our initial thoughts about Finland. President\Sister Brown then treated us to arguably the tastiest and most filling meal I have ever laid eyes on. It was pasta, thank goodness. But the juice here is celestial. As are the breads, cheeses, desserts, everything.

Then we are shown this picture of a horse plowed into the work. He has his head down, and his legs lifted. Clearly a strong creature, quite handsome. But he is doing his master's will with no complaint nor thought of abandonment. He knows his reward shall come.

We retire for the night.

Next morning we drove to the office in dowtown Helsinki. A lovely little jaunt over bridge upon bridge as we are treated to every view of dowtown. It is magical. I notice many flags adorning the buildings...all at half mast. Very uncommon in Finland. It wasn't until we reached the office that we heard about a shooting which had occured. I am not sure if you have heard about it, but it is a bit uneasy here. There was a school shooting about a year ago, and the Finnish people are a bit hesitant and uneasy. This emotion and feeling of uncertainty is not common amongst these people. More on that later.

After a short wait, the trainers show up. Two of them instantly walk in...and then a third...and then a fourth. We still didn't know who was to train us, so anticipation was building. But Elder Nilsson was the last to walk in, and something clicked for me when he walked in.

Anywho, we found out, talked a bit as a group, then off to the train station, and Kouvola! When we arrived here in Kouvola, Elder Nilsson recognized quite a few people. I was surprised at how many people recognized him and said hello and what not. Next morning.

Exercise, shower, eat. Nilsson makes me breakfast. A companion after my heart! Then we plan. We actually have a baptismal date, so that's pretty nifty! We have a few investigators...but not many.

We go out and begin contacting. He asks me who I want to talk to. No idea. Then I see this woman kind of on the edge of the square, and looks a little lost. I accosted her and began speaking Finnish. But she waved me off. I asked her what was wrong in Finnish, and she said in English - "I don't speak Finnish". Yes! "Nor do I!" I exclaimed. She just came from Russia, and so I got her number and told her I had some Russian contacts who might be eager to speak with her. Her name was Olga.

The first contact was the easiest. After that, It got harder. However, we came away with 9 phone numbers and offers to get to know more! It is interesting how it is the "social outcasts" who so readily accept. We were heading back to our place, when Nilsson introduced me to "Sergio" an Argentine man who owns a restaurant here. He was VERY excited to meet me. He has a few little children, and we are hoping to teach him. There are quite a few South Americans here, and they are the most willing people here to listen to us.

Off to tract. Haha this old woman was sitting outside sorting through berries and mushrooms, while her cat was kneading the berries in this big bucket. I think she trained the cat. Weird. But hilarious! So we are visiting her again. But we came across this really cool family. The man is interested in missionaries and why we are here, and his wife is from Thailand and wants to cook for us! Well, well.

Ok, we are getting near the end of my first day, and we head out to Elimaki - this really podunk little place where the "junntis" of Finland live. (The hicks). Nilsson tells me the entire way out there that he needs to use the lui. And we are on this dirt road, and he tells me this scary story. Picture: pitch black, middle of the night, no houses or people to be seen, dirt road, and he is telling me this story. Ei hyvä. He then informs me he doesn't remember how to get to the members' home that we are going to. Great. But he recognizes this other house, because they said he could come back. He pulls up, and runs up to the front door. Tells me to wait on the front steps and he'll be right back. He needs to go to the bathroom. The house though, is dark as can be. I am scared out of my mind. Then, this high pitched squeel is heard, the opening of this huge barn door - which is behind me. I am about ready to pee my pants, when out of the barn sprint three ginormous dogs. I pretty much accepted death. This voice then starts up, and I see the shadow of this man who appears to be in military uniform sprint at me screaming at the top of his lungs in Finnish with a gun in his hand....a shotgun. I am dead. But somehow I keep my cool with dogs all over me, and the man screaming at me. I tell him in Finnish that my friend is in his house. Mene! Go! Get him I say. He makes for the house. My companion comes sprinting out, and tells me to make for the car. What??? I am so dead and lost. But we make for the car. The huge army man comes out and I get in the car. Quickly lock my door, and he starts up the car. Go! I scream! But he just sits there. The huge man is banging on the window. The window is rolled down. The man says "welcome to finland".

What a prank haha. It was hilarious about five hours later.

Have to go. Love you