Hello Elder Sandberg's and Downs' mothers!
Just wanted to let you know your sons are doing great here in Finland. They came to our ward in Kerava this week and we are so happy to have them. Today they had a dinner appointment with us after church. Our son is on a mission in Switzerland and I know the feelings of you mothers... I miss our son, too. And I'm so happy whenever someone in Switzerland sends me a message concerning him.
Since in church I am the Primary Music Leader I asked your sons to sing with us in the children's sacrament meeting presentation next month. Today we had a rehearsal together. The song 'I Am a Child of God' (only the first verse) will be sung in three different languages: Finnish, English, Korean. The beginning of the verse will be performed by native speakers and all the children will sing the chorus part which means your sons will be singing as a duet the beginning of the English verse. We will have fun together!
Thank you for your sons, I know your families will be blessed for their service here!
Best regards,
Sister Helena Tiits
Jeremy and Vanhin Downs
Jeremy is 6' tall We are wondering how tall Vanhin Downs is.
Are they related? Grandma Mommy's maiden name is Downs.
Rakas Äiti ja Isi,
No niin, up date on sweet ol'Kerava.
Our ward is HUGE compared to our branch from Roi. I was used to seeing 30 members in church, now we have and actual building and a stand and it is just crazy different!
Kerava is about a 30 minute train ride out side of Helsinki.
Elder Downs is from Portland Oregon.
He has been in Finland about 8.5 months.
One of the first things I asked him is if he had his family history chart. We are still working on it to find out if we are related.
Shotgunning is a Finland thing I have heard. But the whitewash has been alright. We are still working on the travel part of it, but we are doing just fine. Elder Downs and myself get along really well. Every day is an adventure.
Which leads me to my first story.
We were given instructions from the last missionaries that if we had nothing to do one evening we should go and visit two members that live in Savio. (neighboring down district, still part of Kerava area)
We decided we would walk there. It wasn't too far away. Well we walked for about and hour and a half and finally got to Savio. We got lost a couple of times and there was not a straight shot road that would take us there so we wove our way around.
We get to this members apartment and the first thing that happens is he answers the door in his Garments....
Keep in mind we are still new to Kerava, we have only met two memebers and it is only our second or third day.
Anyways, He answers the door in his underwear and invites us in.
He grabs a robe (thankfully) and then he begins yelling at us. Not only is he yelling at us, but he is speaking in a type of Finnish I have never hear before and speaking it extremely fast. Bullit juna!
This goes on for about 45 Minutes. Elder Downs has not said 5 words. same with me. This guy is just yelling up a storm and after about 45 minutes of him yelling with us he walkes over to his book case and opens a cupboard.
I took this moment to give Elder Downs my wide eyed look and mouth the words "I have no idea what is going on."
He just smiled and told me he would tell me later.
Our member turns back around and is holding two plastic bags. In these plastic bags he pulls out his endowment clothing!
Before this point my eyes were already big, After he pulled out his temple clothes I thought my eyes were going to pop.
Elder Downs couldn't help, but laugh, at my face when this happened.
First this member answers the door in his garments.
second, he is speaking in such a way that i hardly understand
third he pulls out his temple clothes.
What is going on!?!?!
He continued to talk to us for over and hour and a half. We didn't really say anything, he just talked or yelled for us. It also took us and additional 30 minutes to get out the door. We both walked out of there in shock. What just happened?
I came to find out that this member was going to the temple the next day after not having been in 8 years. This would be his first time in the Helsinki temple. He was very excited. And he was not mad like I thought he was when he was yelling at us. All in all I have a new friend in Kerava :)
It sounds like everything is wonderful back home. So now both Jordy and Jonny will have glasses right? Does Jordan have xray vision because one of his eyes in 20/200? Or is he like a Hawk?
Thank you Bishop for the update on Porter and Jessie and Dean. I look forward from hearing from both of them.
Let all the Little Kids know How much I love them. Same with the big kids. I pray for all of you everyday. I love you and Have a wonderful week!
Love,
Vanhin Sandberg
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