Week 74 in Lahti (All I'll say is "Joy fires")

Man, the new year comes around, and you just get all nostalgic and sentimental about the previous year. Ah well. Celebrations!

So, where did we spend our time this week? Guess - not Lahti. We had a Hämeenlinna day, a Heinola day - both very successful! We saw some joy fires(ilotulitukset - fireworks. Literally means joy fires)!

Well, first, we had a huge shopping day last P-day. Got Elder Vawdrey some coats and winter stuff, and I got a nice jacket, because it was on a huge sale and why not? Gotta get them good deals! Did I take any pictures? Psh, naw. I forgot, of course. I've been really bad at that lately...

Hämeenlinna! We were able to teach our brazilian friend Newton again, with the help of Veli Calderon from the branch there! Elder Vawdrey knows some of his family, so they had a fun reunion:

And later on, we saw the castle in Hämeenlinna! Ooh, it's purty cool.

Aside from that, yesterday - the last day of the year - was pretty exciting. In the morning, we went out to Heinola - a while north of Lahti - to go talk to a referral. She was a wonderful woman, had already read the Book of Mormon in her native Arabic, and we were able to teach her through her daughter, who spoke finnish and arabic. Wonderful lesson! That evening, the Jäkkös took us for dinner and to see the fireworks! I got a bunch of super good pictures, but then me camera died...

But hey, they're awesome anyway!

Ooh!

Aaah.

Well, I think that's all I have for this week. I love the work here! Even in my short time thus far in Lahti, I've been able to see peoples' lives change, and most importantly, my own. All because of our Savior, Christ. He warms up my frozen little heart! Keep on keepin' on, all!

Rakkaudellani,

Vanhin Bolingbroke