Marja's Finland Trip March 1-11, 2012

I was talking with my cousin Sirkka a few months ago about her future career, and she mentioned that she was applying to be a Kirkkoherra in Juva, which is a near-by town close to Savonlinna. Sirkka is a female pastor in the Lutheran Church in Finland and the congregation in Juva wanted her to be their "Church Master" or the head of the Juva congregation. During our conversation I said that when that day comes, I will be there in the church pew celebrating this incredible honor.

And so the planning started. The celebration was set for March 4 in the Juva church. I bought tickets to depart on February 28th and arrive in Finland on February 29th so I could get rid of my jet lag before going to Juva.

Monday, February 27th Rod got extremely sick with stomach pains and Google told us that it might be an appendicitis. That night we went to the ER. They did an ultrasound and probed and kicked the tires and took blood and nothing was found. He was sent home. In the morning I canceled my trip. I was very worried about Rod and stayed home and took care of him that Tuesday. I called my mom and told her that I wasn't coming and she was so disappointed. On Wednesday morning Rod said that he was bored and went to work even though he still had stomach pains. At the same time I received a text message from my cousin Tommi who told me to re-purchase the ticket and just go. So I did.


Sleepy patient (Morphin induced) in the ER.

I left on Thursday morning via Detroit and Amsterdam, and arrived in Helsinki on Friday morning, March 2. I took the bus from Helsinki to Jyväskylä and hugged my mother at the bus terminal around 6pm on Friday evening.

On Saturday morning Kalle and Kimmo came to pick us up on the way to Savonlinna. We ate lunch before we left and an hour later we stopped for coffee, drinks and pastries at a Pieksämäki café. 15 minutes later we stopped for ice-cream in the middle of nowhere at a creamery. You know you are in Finland when you eat at least every 2 hours. We continued our trip to Sirkka's house, where we ate before we left for dinner. After dinner we came back to Sirkka's house for dessert and then to a sauna. After sauna we ate again. I think I gained 10 lbs in one day. But it was all so wonderful. It was so nice to be with all of my relatives.


My mom with her ice-cream. This is my favorite picture of her.

When we drove to Sirkka's house, Suvi (my second cousin) and her husband Reijo were there already. They had arrived from Helsinki that afternoon. We piled into cars and drove to downtown Savonlinna for dinner.


Kalle (Sirkka's brother) and Kimmo (Kalle's son) at Majakka restaurant in Savonlinna.

Reijo, Ake (Sirkka's husband) and Suvi at Majakka.

Teemu (Teea's fiance) and Teea (Helena and Väiski's daughter)

Helena (Sirkka's sister) and Väiski (Helena's husband)

My mom Tuovi, me and Sirkka

My mom had gotten a family gift for Sirkka and here she gave a speech to Sirkka.

My mom and Sirkka

Sirkka's new Kalevala cross.

Sirkka and her new cross around her neck.

We went back to Sirkka's house for the night and the women went to the sauna first and then the men. It was so nice to chat with Sirkka and Suvi in the sauna. Then it was time for bed. Ake gave me his bed so I could get a good night's sleep. He slept on the couch with Illi and Pessi. Sorry Ake.

Ake and Pessi before going to bed.

Tomorrow is going to be a big day for Sirkka.