Heading home

Good morning from Aland! That is pronounced OHland, and should have a little circle above the A, but I don't know how to put it there. Again, I've appreciated notes and letters from each of you who have written, and I'm sure the thoughts and prayers of others have helped, too.
Our days in Ekaterinburg ended on Wednesday, December 10. It was a day filled with all the last-day things that have to be finished, packed, used up, cleaned, put away. Our train left in the middle of the night, so we took a taxi to the station after midnight, then waited a couple hours there. It was 3 a.m. before we really got settled on the train and could think about finally sleeping. We crossed two time zones as we traveled west to Moscow, and when we arrived on Friday morning, it was 6 30 a.m. there. Luda had to go to the Latvian Embassy to apply for a visa, and the schedule left no time to accompany me to the airport. It was arranged that a girl I had met before would meet us and go the rest of the way with me, so first it was going thru the metros, then on the intra-city train to the airport. Then it was a long wait.
No use going into details on all that, other than to say that of course it was three very wearying days. FINALLY I was on board the Finnair plane bound for Helsinki. I might say I was in a different world as soon as I got on that plane! Laura and Jane met my plane in Helsinki, and we went to Sorenson's. John, Gordon, and Stefan were already there and we 6 went to some other friends' home for a wonderful supper and evening. Saturday we went into Helsinki and looked around a bit, but mostly I was too tired to explore very far. Sunday was a wonderful day, all in ENGLISH. Monday was filled with good-byes, as John left to go on to Latvia, and in the afternoon Jane and Stefan left to cross over to Sweden.
Gordon, Laura and I, and a visiting friend from Germany, left before 6 a.m. to travel to the ferry in Turku and then 6 hours to Aland. These ferries are a very comfortable way to travel, with restaurants, cafeteria, shops, cabins. Laura and I had a good rest, then it was wonderful to have a warm shower and wash my hair as we travelled. The days this time of year are all gray. The sky is overcast, it drizzles, and besides, the sun rises late and sets early. So, looking out the windows at the water was not so exciting and sitting out on the open deck was not even an option.
Here in Finland, and on these islands that belong to Finland, the temperature is still hovering around 0 Celcius, which is somewhere around 32° F. Yes, it SHOULD be snowy and very cold...but it is not. it is only overcast and drizzly and the grass is still green. The forecast here is for a green Christmas.
So, I am back where I was before I went to Russia, at Gunnar and Melanie's, and enjoying little Ingrid. Laura, Hanna (from Germany) and I have our beds out in the cabin, and I'm looking forward to rest and restoration for a few days! We have invitations for supper and evening each night in other homes here. Merna, Stephanie, and Eldon will come tomorrow, and Sunday will be the Special meeting here....but this one will be in Swedish. Monday, Laura and I will cross on over to Stockholm. On Friday next week, Laura and I will fly to Tallin in Estonia, and return to Stockholm on Monday. After that, a day to pack, and early Wednesday the 31st back to airport to fly to the States.