Monday, February 11, 2013

First Email from the Field

We got our first email from Michael this morning.  He sounds wonderful!  His companion's name is Elder Ogden.  He says Finland is so cool!  It is also chilly there and there is 3-6 feet of snow everywhere.  He said it is like Mutual Dell with more snow and no mountains.  But, you don't really notice that there are no mountains because there are trees and tall buildings everywhere.  The architecture is very contemporary and they use a lot of granite in the buildings.

He said I would like it there because everyone walks everyday, everywhere.  He said they love granola and have great bread!

He has been there less than a week and they have had two new investigators and taught 19 lessons.  He also said that he gets fed very well.  He had a liver casserole this week and really liked it.  They are teaching three men from Ghana and they apparently speak English very well.

He still says the language is crazy hard but he is loving his mission.  I will keep you all posted as I get more information.  Thanks for the love and prayers!

Friday, February 8, 2013

MTC Pics to go with the last post

 I believe this is his group of Fins
 There were a lot of shots with friends.  I am not sure if he was one of the Fins
 This is some kind of assignment chart
 These were his two companions
 I love this picture!


 This is one of his teachers.  I think Michael is older, what do you think?
 I am assuming this is Christmas at the MTC
I believe this is the Fin group again - Michael or Elder Golling was Zone Leader

Safely in Finland at Last!

Elder Golling has made it safely to Finland.  He left Monday morning with a stop in Chicago and London before landing safely in Helsinki.  We didn't hear anything until yesterday morning from his Mission President but early, early this morning he emailed us and told us quickly that he made it safely.

The area he is in is Jyväskylä, Finland.  Try saying that!  I looked it up on Google Maps and it is very nice there.  There are many water ways and this area is smack dab in the middle of them all.  It is more central to southern Finland.  The name of the area means "Grain Village" but when I looked it up at street level on Google it didn't look like a village to me.  It is very much a city with clean and beautiful street.  At least the area that I Googled looked like that.

Well, his email was short, just "Hi, made it safe, I am in Jyväskylä, I need to buy a bike, I am on a biking mission".  I am sure he is absolutely thrilled to be on a bike.  Michael is all about a good workout.  He actually got super fit (as if he wasn't already) while he was in the MTC.  

He sounds wonderful.  I am supposed to be getting his camera card from when he was in the MTC so I will post pics as soon as I can.  I just wanted to give everyone an update.  

Thanks for all your love and support, Michael has really felt it so far!