Week 69 in Lahti (Snow, snow, snow... it won't be long before all we have is snow!)

Seriously though, they always say "winter's coming", but I think that winter's taking a nap in Finland.

Case in point: dramatic forest photoshoot.

Yeah, there's a bit of snow, but not enough... yet.

Let's see... lots of work this week. We've got a friend who's going to baptism on Saturday! Pray for him, he's the best!

We've also been doing a ton teaching to other people. Yesterday, we decided that we needed a Christmas tree. Apparently, Elder Owens has a large hunting knife that he just happened to have on his person(nope, not joking), and so we...

got ourselves a dang Christmas tree.

And took it home.

Aaand found out that it's too big for the apartment... so we put it on the parveke and cleaned up.

(deeeeck the haaalls with boughs of haaaaally)

Oh yeah, we also did haircuts on P-day.

Don't tell mom.

Just kidding, we actually just did a trim on the sides. Nothing too drastic, just cleaned my hair up a bit.

And we had a contacting activity in the center of Lahti with the sisters! Unfortunately, we got kicked out, 'cause apparently you have to vuokrata paikkan torilla. oh boy. But we got some pleasant pictures!

If you look to the left and up, you'll see my strange, hilarious companion. If you look behind him, you'll see the huge Christmas tree that the city is putting up in the center. More pictures of that once it's been decorated!

That's about it for this week. I notice that I'm just getting more and more picture-based in my emails... aka my scrapbook journal. Heh heh.

Well, I love you all! Keep me updated on life, and how things at home are going. Lots of new stuff goes on, and don't forget to be festive!

Side note: We've been on the lookout recently for Christmas-themed stuff(cards to send to family and friends, decorations, food, etc.) and I've noticed something that has troubled me. I have yet to find a Christmas card that has any reference to Christ. Nothing in the stores. Not even in the tourist shops or side stands. It's all Christmasy and beautiful, with trees and tinsel and Joulupukki and even some little angels, but beyond that, I have yet to see reference to Christ during this season. I dunno if it's just a Finland thing, or a Europe thing, or if it's the same in America too, but it troubles me. If I may, I'd encourage you to remember Christmas, but especially remember Christ. His name is in the holiday, and we should remember Him. His birth, His life, His sacrifice. That's all I'll say for the moment on that.

Love you all!

-Vanhin Bolingbroke