Overheard in the Sauna, part 2

I, my father, and our Teemu (9) had a sauna the day before yesterday. Our conversations ranged from hunting to birthdays.

My father: Teemu, do you know how old Vaari [my dad's father] would be today if he was still alive?

Teemu: No. How old would he be?

My father: 89. Who is going to bake a cake for him in heaven?

Teemu: God of course [Jumala tietenkin].

Hardware Score

Cathy and Simon were at K-rauta, the hardware store, today.

They stroll around the busy store with their two children. Joshua (3) is running around and Kayleigh (0.3) is doing her thing. Cathy and Simon see lots of stuff for sale: tools, car parts, kitchen supplies, bathroom artefacts, like toilets.

One toilet in particular catches their eyes.

Joshua is peeing into it.

Overheard in Soukka

My dad drove his grandson Benjamin to Soukka, where Benjy's second set of grandparents live. While they were waiting for the door to be opened, an elderly neighbor-lady took notice and started a conversation.

Neighbor-lady: How old are you?

Benjy: *Shily raises three fingers*

Neighbor-lady: And what is your name?

Benjy: Ben-ja-min.

Neighbor-lady: A great name! Benjamin, you must be bilingual. Do you speak Swedish as well as Finnish?

Benjy: Yes. And English, Swahili and Kenyan too. [Joo... ja myös englantia, swahilia ja keniaa.]

Safari Game

(Benjy with Oskar, my godson, in December 2008 in Dar es Salaam)

I'm babysitting again. Danny and Sirkku are entertaining their Finnish guest, who flew in from Sri Lanka, in the night clubs of Dar es Salaam.* Babysitting is much fun, because the kids are so lovely and easy. Daniella, after her late night snack (usually porridge or noodles), falls asleep peacefully at around seven-thirty or eight. Benjy stays up longer, till about nine.

Tonight we were supposed to play the "Safari Game" (safarileikki) again. You know, pretend your car breaks down during a safari, climb to the nearest baobao tree (=sofa) for safety, shoo(t) off the wild beasts circling around, and eventually call a friend to pick you up with the helicopter... But poor Benjy fell asleep on the sofa, at eight-thirty, before our car broke down.

*Just kidding. They're at a restaurant enjoying a civilized discussion.

Benjamin, Benjamin, Benjamin

As my time here is approaching its end, I find my self missing little Daniella and Benjy - a little prematurely. After all, I haven't left! Oh well, I guess this is not uncommon.

This has got to be one of the best pictures I've seen of Benjy. It was taken about five months ago, courtesy of Hanna Ruokomäki who visited us with her family.

Benjy is extremely smart and multitalented. I can't wait to see him grow and find his vocation. It's exciting, what will he be? What kind of choises will he make? On the other hand, he could remain a little boy indefinitely. I doubt the grand-parents would object.

Daniella, Daniella, Daniella

Happy little girl, eh?


One Sunday afternoonn, Daniella's dad dressed her up all nicely.


While he took photos, her uncle made faces.

Grilled Seafood

As we live beside the sea, there are a lot of local fishermen doing their thing from dusk till dawn. They work very hard, sometimes they don't catch anything, sometimes their nets are full. Some time ago Danny bought two kilos of fresh, king-prawns directly from the fishermen. They got a higher profit than normally, but they did all the cleaning up for us. They were big. We grilled them and they tasted delicious.


Unfortunately I don't have a picture. These photos are from Good Friday, our Easter dinner. The one above was taken by Jani Salokangas who came over with his family. It's not lamb, it's beef tender-loin with big chucks of onion, with chicken and baked potatoes. Danny was (and is) the Grill Master. We've been using the grill much more at the new house.

Grandpa in the Trunk

Some time ago my parents visited us here in Tanzania. They had been invited by Fida International to participate in a one-week Disability Forum Seminar in Northern Tanzania, Tanga. Naturally, the prospect of spending time with the grand-children was attractive too.


I stayed at home in Dar es Salaam as the rest of the family drove up to Tanga for the week. It was quite crowded in the car, so Vaari (Grandpa) got his own little space in the trunk, literally. Getting in and out was a bit challenging, but apparently the "seat" itself was quite snug.

Babysitting Benjamin

Danny and Sirkku went to have dinner with a few Finnish colleagues from Fida International. There's a nice restaurant just half a mile from the new house called Mediterranean. I decided to stay at home with Daniella and Benjy. Quite soon after her parents had left and after her late-night noodles, Daniella fell asleep peacefully. Benjy and I stayed up to watch movies.

But lo and behold, Sirkku and Danny returned home early! They made it to the restaurant, but no one else ever came. Apparently the rain earlier today had been so heavy that many roads were still cut off completely. So the other Finns enjoyed a meal in a separate restaurant closer to town while Danny and Sirkku spent quality time together at Mediterranean. And me, what did I have for supper? Fresh prawns, bought directly from local fishermen off the beach (and then grilled) in the backyard. No complaints here.

Home Alone Again

As the internet has been down for several days now, there's no photos in this post unfortunately. (I am at an internet cafe without my USB memory card.) My parents arrived to Dar es Salaam last Friday, which was nice. On Sunday the whole family - my parents, Danny and Sirkku, Benjamin and Daniella - left to Tanga, which is up north near the Kenyan border. They're participating in a one-week Disability Forum.

I had just visited Tanga, so I had decided to stay at home. We just moved into a new lovely house, so it was a good idea for someone to 'keep watch'. I have enjoyed my time alone. During the daytime I get a lot of work done. In the evenings I will have a beer and perhaps enjoy a Cuban cigar on the roof terrace, and just look at the stars and listen to the Indian Ocean greeting the star-lit beach with endless waves. But come weekend, it will be wonderful to see everyone again.

Kawe-beach, Here We Come...

Due to several reasons my brother and his wife have decided to move. This means that I, the PhD-Nanny, will be moving also. Starting from today the next few days will be spent driving between the old house and the new house, packing, unpacking, cleaning, and so on. Thankfully we have a lot of formidable help.


The old house and its location have a lot of perks (like the swimming area in the picture above). But the new house ... well, let's just say that it's quite incredible too. Once the move is over and we've all settled in, I will post some photos. The view from the roof-size terrace, for example, is impeccable. From the edge of the backyard begins the beach, a white sand buffer separating the house from the blue, awe-inspiring Indian Ocean with a few tropical islands in the horizon.

In the Air and Under Water

This is what it looks like when a three-year-old boy falls into water from 10 feet. How did he ever get that high? Uncle Jason threw him, of course. The first picture looks cool but kind of scary. But the second picture, a closer shot, reveals that the patient -- Benjamin -- is fine. He's more than fine!

Maralyn Mathias (In Memoriam)

A very wonderful woman, Maralyn Mathias, past away last Sunday, 4th of January 2009. For the past 18 months she was suffering -- or living -- with ALS disease, a fatal neuromotorical illness which slowly shuts down all bodily functions. The congnitive function or intellect is usually spared, and Maralyn's blog which she kept during her illness is a remarkable proof of this.

Jesus, thank you for Maralyn and Jim. Embrace her, and comfort and strengthen him. Be with their family.


Below is the last post she wrote just before her death which was published posthumously by her family.

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Thirsty for Jesus

[Written early on New Years Day 2009]

Water is essential to life, and even though food will no longer propel down my throat, I’m still drinking. Amazingly, I don’t feel hungry … but I am thirsty, and I’m drinking as much as I possibly can. Without divine intervention, I will get to heaven some time within the month.

These 18 months since my ALS diagnosis have been the worst and best of my life. Worst because of my deteriorating body … best because of my relationship with Christ.

And I’m beginning to see my friendship with Jesus like water when I’m thirsty … so essential to life. He is the real “living water” referred to in John 4:1-26.

I have many lovely friends, but I’ve never before known a Friend SO close. Every day we have smiled, laughed, and cried together. And he has comforted me. I’ve asked his opinion, and he has nodded one way or the other. His close friendship has given me many new perspectives on this earthly life that I had never considered before. He’s been closer than my skin.

This intimate friendship was essential to the writing of this blog. He nudged me and said, “Don’t plan ahead” (totally contrary to my nature). “Let me teach you as we go. I will pick the topics. Just trust me! I’ll show you what to write.”

Let me tell you, for a “Type A” girl, that was tough … at first … until I saw that he really would supply the ideas and insights. It’s been an amazing ride. So if you’ve been blessed by this blog, thank him!

The only thing that makes me sad is realizing that this intimate friendship with him has been available to me all throughout my life, and I never chose it until now. I missed it … big-time! I guess I was always so busy with my lists, projects, plans and events that I was too occupied to be open to such an idea. Oh, I did my devotions, but so often because I knew I “should.” That’s a different thing. Now I long to be with him, to feel his hug, to hear his voice, to see his smile. It’s so different.

Here’s a piece of motherly advice: Don’t wait until you have a terminal illness to seek a true friendship with Jesus. He’s ready! It takes setting aside some less important things. It takes listening. It takes openness. But it’s so worth it! I hope you become literally thirsty for Jesus.

Soon I’ll be in heaven, and it will be great to see the scenery, gardens and mansions. It will be great to hear the singing and see what’s on the banquet tables. BUT! I can tell you, the thing I’m most looking forward to is meeting my Best Friend face-to-face for the very first time. I’m trying to imagine the thrill...

Postscript: Seventy-two hours after writing this, Maralyn Mathias peacefully left this earth to meet her Lord. Her ability to swallow had stopped shortly after completing the above paragraphs. Nevertheless, she remained alert and even communicating with her husband, Jim, and other family members until her final 20 minutes of life. Her last breath was drawn at 10:35 a.m. on Sunday, January 4. She was 59 years old.

Her memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 10, at 10 a.m. at Christian Life Fellowship, Port Edwards, Wis. Visitation will occur at the church on the previous evening (Friday) from 4 to 7 p.m. and again on Saturday morning starting at 9 a.m.

A scholarship in Maralyn’s name will soon be established at Continental Theological Seminary in Brussels, Belgium, where she and Jim served 1987-2000. The specific account for receiving memorial gifts (in lieu of flowers, please) will be announced shortly by e-mail to all subscribers of this blog.

Queen and Princess

These pictures say it all. It is clear that the Queen and Princess of my host-family have a sublime bond between them. I cannot wait to see what kind of person Daniella grows up to be. She has a strong will and a robust mind. And yet she is vulnerable and gentle at the same time.

All is Well in Africa...

...Well, at least as far as I am concerned, that is. One major reason behind my wellbeing is the fact that my nephew, Benjamin, and my niece, Daniella, are so adorable. Daniella, the little princess, can walk! She is barely 11 months old. Benjy's vocabulary is extensive and he is a very brave boy. I guess our honeymoon is over, for the other day Benjy asked his dad: "When is Uncle Jason going back home?"

Posting will be more sporadic in December. I'm trying to cut down on time spent on the Internet -- which is not that difficult considering that I arrived without a personal computer to a land that has a somewhat unreliable network. (Isi: Ruokomäet tulee 17. päivä. Toisin sanoen on vielä reilu viikko aikaa löytää mulle läppäri, jossa toimii ainakin Word...)

100 Things My Parents Taught Me

I've compiled a list of one hundred good things my parents taught me over the years, either consciously or unconsciously, by word or by setting an example.

25 things my Mother taught me...

1. how to cross-stitch
2. to think about the meaning of words
3. about generosity
4. to ask questions
5. how to give someone a massage
6. how to get the thread through the needle
7. to listen to music
8. how to iron clothes
9. how to drive to Siuntio [a town near Helsinki]
10. how to clean the bathroom
11. how to wash dishes
12. to appreciate Bev Doolittle's art
13. how to use a baseball glove
14. to remember to take my key
15. how to make a snow man
16. to drink coffee with chocolate cake
17. how to tell the (digital) time [TV guide]
18. how to eat with chop-sticks
19. how to make my bed
20. how to decorate a Christmas tree
21. how to floss
22. to bring my friends over
23. to ask for big things [virtues] in prayer
24. nine ways to pronounce "Caipiroska"
25. how to fill up the gas tank

25 things my Father taught me...

1. how to hunt for wild game
2. how to fish
3. about the effect of a sincere apology
4. how to gut a rabbit
5. to enjoy a sauna
6. that there's no need to cuss
7. how to paddle [canoe, not rowing boat]
8. about simplicity [economy wise]
9. to not talk to my children about their mother disrespectfully
10. how to tie my ice-skates
11. how to drive a tractor
12. to eat porridge
13. to drink coffee with sandwiches
14. how to light a fire
15. how to weild a knife
16. to tell jokes [alas!]
17. how to say "shithead" in sign language
18. to pray behind closed doors
19. how to use a chainsaw
20. that Alabama is a state
21. that water expands as it freezes
22. not to stress about money
23. that relatives are always welcome
24. how to use the laminating machine
25. how to tie a tie

25 things they both taught me...

1. to foster an interest in and a respect for nature and animals
2. about the importance of a personal relationship with God
3. to talk about things
4. to taste everything
5. how to play the piano [I wish!]
6. about the magnificent sport called ice-hockey
7. to apply for jobs
8. how to read
9. to enjoy reading books
10. not to measure things in money
11. to enjoy watching "funniest home videos"
12. to drink with moderation
13. to enjoy traveling [wasn't very difficult]
14. that God can do miracles
15. how to properly pack a suit-case
16. creativity
17. an appreciation of the American Indian culture
18. to prefer public transportation if possible
19. to take care of personal hygiene
[20-25]: Looking forward to see what these will be!

25 advices I should've listened to...

1. "Don't slouch." [tall man's problem]
2. "If you have nothing good to say, don't say anything."
3. "Go to sleep."
4. "Get up early."
5. "Stay away from porn."
6. "Don't take more than you can eat."
7. "Get off the computer."
[8-25]: I can't remember, I wasn't paying attention.

(Next post: 100 vices my parents taught me ... just kidding!)

December Departure: Dar es Salaam

(Sirkku and Danny, Helsinki 2008)

It's official now. I'm leaving to Tanzania on the 3rd of December. I already bought the tickets. I'll be back in June. The idea is to study hard (in December I'll know if my dissertation research plan is ratified) and spend time with Danny and Sirkku and their kids.

I'm very excited! But organizing everything before I leave is going to be challenging. I'd happily meet with anyone who wants to have coffee before I leave. Just call or drop me a line.

Big Brother Joshua

This must be one of the cutest photos of my nephew, Joshua. The little baby seems very content, wrapped around both a warm blanket and Joshua's caring arm. Joshua even dressed him/her in his old baby outfit, a camouflage body that has "You Can't See Me" in yellow. One can tell that Joshua is himself surrounded by loving parents and family. How else could a two-year-old read this adorably?

Kalevi Lepojärvi: The Funeral

My Grandpa's funeral was in Kemi, Lapland, last Saturday. On our way there Danny, my brother, explained to Benjy, his three-year-old son, what was going to happen, what a funeral was. Benjy listened carefully, and concluded:

"So we are going to have a party because Vaari's dad [Grandpa's dad] went to heaven?"

"Sounds about right," Danny replied.


Above are my grandparents' eight children, my aunts and uncles and my father, standing beside their father's grave. From left to right: Tommi (42 yrs), Tarja (47), Mervi (45), Martti (60), Sakari (54), Antero (56), Seppo (59), and my dad, Markku (50).

Kalevi Lepojärvi (1920-2008)

(Kalevi Lepojärvi, 1920-2008)

In memory of my Vaari who passed away a few days ago, I'm re-posting an old post from March 21 earlier this year. I think it said it all:

My paternal Grandpa, Kalevi, is a very old man. He is a father of eight. As a young man, he uses to work at a saw-mill. It was important to keep your back straight when handling heavy pieces of wood. Many years of that left my Grandpa with an impeccable posture. In this photo he is, what, some 80 years old? and still standing proud and handsome. He and my Grandma, Kaija, became farmers and dairy producers. I still remember the smell of the barn. Years went by; they retired; shut down the farm. Later Grandma died, and Grandpa's health deteriorated. Loss of memory, yes. But he still stands straight, I believe. Good man.