Helsinki, Finland Trip

Helsinki NDPA, Stake President, and committee with Gabi, Vicky and Rex.

Vicky with harbor in and marina in background, across from Kaivopuisto Park.

Suomenlinna maritime fortress as we sail into Helsinki.

Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral

Esplanade Park with Rex by statue

Presidential Palace with Vicky in front. Guards standing by doors.

Market Square - great fruit, vegetables, jewelry, clothing, etc.

Helsinki Cathedral and Senate Square, Vicky in front of statue.

In dedication for Rex, notice "Big Rex" establishment.

Temppeliaukio Church. Quarried out of the natural bedrock. Interior walls of the church are created naturally by the rock. Great acoustics.

Sibelius Monument found in Sibelius Park in honor of the composer Jean Sibelius.

Shopping center with escalators on interior.

Vicky and Irina from Russia in front of Helsinki, Finland Temple.

Rex and Vicky in front of Helsinki Temple.

Vicky in front of Parliament House.

Rex with luggage walking past Esplanade Park on our way to get the rental car.

Vicky in front of Market Square with Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral in background.

Sailing into port in Helsinki.

We had such a wonderful experience in Helsinki. It was a little rough getting started as we decided to walk, pulling our suitcases, to the Hertz car rental agency. Needless to say, it was not as close as it looked on the map. It took over an hour to get 2 plus miles. We asked for help along the way and finally made it. Rex hadn't driven since we arrived in Sweden, so he was most apprehensive about driving around Finland. We rented a GPS system which was a life saver. After picking up Gabriele Sirtl, our International Director at the airport, we headed to the hotel about 30 minutes away. So far, so good. Then we went to the Helsinki, Finland Temple to do a session. There we had one of those "tender mercy" experiences. I went up to one of the temple workers who I thought resembled the lady I had met in St. Petersburg, Russian 8 years ago. We stayed in her apartment while there with Kali, Kevin, and his parents. It was her!!! She didn't speak much English, but quickly got a Russian sister to translate for us. How exciting to meet again this dear sister and see her strong and active in the gospel. She married the year after we met her and now has a little 5 year old daughter. What a tender experience! I am attaching a picture with her.

Our training went well on Saturday with the NDPA and 12 committee members. What kind, wonderful people. We enacted a mock media interview with 3 of the people in attendance. It was video'd, critiqued, then we did a second interview. Rex and I got to be the reporters and that was fun. We could ask them anything we wanted about the church.

We attended church on Sunday and got to do some sight seeing on Monday before returning to Stockholm Monday night on the cruise ship. I have some photos of the sights we saw.

I would like to dispel a rumor -- most Swedish girls are blonde only because they bleach their hair. It isn't natural.