Merry Christmas

Wow crazy week!

I cant believe Cameron got his learners permit! In 5 months three weeks before his drivers license test he will get to drive for the first time! haha (anyone? anyone?)

Something funny is Utah drivers licenses expire after like 3 years and so most of the missionaries have to stop driving at the end of their missions or get it renewed but us Arizonans, we expire before our drivers licenses do!

I learned some more Swedish this week! That was fun. I was talking to some guy and he Spoke Finnish then switched to English and then I just kept playing along and switched to the few words I knew in Swedish and he bought it. He replied back with something and I pretended I understood. Its cool because Swedish is like the connecter language between Finnish and English. Even though Finnish grammar is not related at all.

This week we have been getting into the Christmas spirit. We had the Tampere first ward Christmas party and we performed our cup show. It was super cool.

We also made Christmas ornaments out of pass along cards and gave them to people. Arts and crafts stress me out so it really was a labor of love.

As we have been going and visiting members, they have been giving us tons and tons of presents! We went by this one family and they gave us 2 big grocery bags full of food! They love the missionaries here, its great! Our whole kitchen table is unusable right now because its covered in food!

There is no snow right now so no white Christmas for me this year... but its okay! There was a sign up sheet that was passed around church and it was who would reserve us for the three days of Christmas. All the reservations were made! In Finland, Christmas is mainly celebrated on Christmas eve. Every Christmas Eve Joulupuki always comes. (Santa) Finns will hire their neighbors or something to be Santa. So we get to be over there when Santa comes! Then there is Christmas and Toinen Joulupäivä or the second day of Christmas. haha Pretty sweet! It should be a super fun week!

I received my package and it is resting comfortably underneath our mini Christmas tree. Picture will be coming soon.

It is super fun having Elder Kiuttu here. In the first ward is the Zone Leaders and right now the District Leader lives in Rauma which is still part of our district.

I also gave myself a hair cut two nights ago so I would be all ready for skype. You will have to tell me what you think.

Not much has happened this week but it was good none the less. I was reflecting this week on how much I love the people I have meet here and It is pretty cool. I didnt think I had the capacity to love someone this much but it is growing for sure.

Hyvää Joulua! (Merry Christmas)

Vanhin Tippetts