Kiitos

We feel privileged to be able to say that we're so blessed to be full-time missionaries. We're grateful that we have a roof's safe shelter overhead with Sherry. We are lucky to have meaningful service opportunities with people who express their appreciation to us daily. We are so thankful that we can attend a different temple each day if we like. What a blessing it is to have time to be in one of those peaceful and holy places often.

We recognize and appreciate the support of our immediate family, our extended family, and many well-wishing, loving and loved friends. We love that so many people tell us of their concern and prayers and even fasting on our behalf. How do we show sufficient thanks for that??

We are able, more than ever, to enjoy peace and comfort and hope and faith. We have time to study and contemplate things that transcend this world.

Perhaps most cherished is that along with all of the above, we get to do this as two, together every hour of every day.

Thanks to each of you.

Elder and Sister Bridge

No whinging

We take consolation from learning this week that we are just one of three couples who are waiting for their visas to Finland. One couple finished the application process 2 months before us! So, since they're still waiting, we feel more for them than for ourselves.

Did we mention we are volunteering at Church Interpretation? I vowed I wouldn't do that, but it beats pulling weeds (Sister Bridge might disagree). We feel like we're doing some good there and at the Distribution Center. We also are enjoying keeping up our missionary studies. Those things make us feel like the missionaries we are. Got done at the MTC 4 weeks ago now but still going there on Tuesdays for those awesome devotionals.

It could be we're still in Utah for the holidays, though we're doing everything we can to get abroad. The high temperatures in Salt Lake and Helsinki have been the same the past week, so that's a thing.

Thanks for your interest, concern, prayers.

Our love to each of you!
Elder & Sister Bridge

Visa, it's everywhere but where you want to be

Hello to all and thanks for your thoughts and prayers. We continue to wait (patiently, yes, patiently, promise) for a response from the Finnish consulate on our visas to enter Finland. Meanwhile we are happy to have a place to stay and a variety of things to keep us busy. Many of you are familiar with the mantra Stewart has adopted: "All frustration is unmet expectation." This applies here.

There is a website that shows the status of our visa applications. It says, in several places, "Do not ask about your visa, it won't help." They also have a place to show the estimated time to expect a decision and it comes out as January 5 to April 5. So, this will have to be our new expectation. Then, if it's sooner than that, well, won't we be so happy!

Sorry our frustration is coming out in this email, but we're really doing fine, just anxious to get going in Finland as expected. After everything leading up to our start date, entering the MTC, then finishing at the MTC it's like:
1. On your marks
2. Get set
3.









And if you're still reading this, thanks and our love to you!
Vanhin ja Sisar Bridge