Wm I Johnson - Finland Trip 1987

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Pic #21 LDS Mission Home, across the street fromIsomeri apartment, 1 block up.March 15, 1987Sunday - Went to Mission Home again for Sac. Meeting. Had bad nite Sat, waking up allhrs, and not being able to get to sleep for upset and worry - got up at 4:30 - looking up Finnwords I need to use and went down to breakfast at 8 - and on to Mission Homes about 9 - verybusy with meetings and after a little while (Sac mtg at 12 noon) waiting in office, MissionPresident visiting Branches up North Finland be back by next Sunday 22nd. So I went back toHotel - rested some - went over my notes - plan to go to Hanko Monday am after Breakfast;Tuesday after breakfast will have to find cheaper room somewhere.Pg. 6 Breakfast was pretty good - Lettuce tomato bell pepper, carrot sticks, prunes,toast, scrambled eggs (hard cooked tho) also one morning had porridge, with sweet-berry soup,quite a lot to choose from, all buffet style. My first step will be to go to Hanko, try to find trace ofForsstrom Home, or Isomeri or Iisalo. Maybe find cheaper Hotel or whatever turns up.March 16, 1987Morning. Up and down all nite again, looking up Finn words and phrases to use. Up at4:30 gather pictures and raincoat and put in Genealogy information to take with me in case I findsome of family there. Got bus for Hanko 11am, 47mks. (about 2 hrs to Hanko, way out West)Bus station in Hanko about 2-3 mi. from downtown. Started across town to find phone andsomeone who spoke English. Stopped several places, Banks, and stores, no luck. FoundIsomeri phone number in book, called several times, always busy signal. Could this be rightIsomeri? Got 2 mi. seemed more like 3 miles across town (missed downtown altogether) andfinally came to service station, used restroom, bought choc. bar 8mks) and service man (owner,think) spoke English. Told my story, he looked up number and street address, called, still onlybusy signal. A young man at station said he knew where it was, on other side of town (back by
bus station where I had come from) Could I wait while he put in new spark plugs in his Volvoand he would take me there.Pg.7 I did, we went back across town to the address in phone book, (phone still busysignal)Found the place ½ block back from snow covered street - no one there - snow against doorshowed no one had been there for long time - as going back to street - man was still waiting forme, was talking to 3 boys on bikes - they said family was at this place in summer only - andsome children there they would play with and go to shores; their folks had sail boat and islandnot far away.The fellow then took me to the Police Station - I told my story there and in short while, 2-3 police and lady secretary got out records and yes - Isomeri’s lived at that house summers -and names were Lissa and Kalle, the right ones, lived at Neitsytoplkku address and desksergeant called maritime office (I told them Kalle was a sea captain) - Found Kalle and Lissalived at same address as Dr. Hurtti had, died some 12 years before, It was getting late - desksergeant said train would leave for Helsinki in less than 10 minutes almost 4pm - I’d never makeit to station walking, so come to garage, in back and he took me to station in Police car, withminutes to spare.Pg.8 Sure was a pleasant experience, wonderful people, and the fellow with the Volvothat took time out to help me was a split-shift fireman of Hanko Fire Dept. - said he had time,before he could get his wife from work so he was glad if he could help and he sure did. And I gotthe train (Note 2) back to Helsinki, 40mk. $10.00 bus cost 47mk, about 30 mi. or so trainstopped at little town on main line to albo-Turku, named Karis. Had to change to mainline train,a young lady was also boarding the train with heavy suitcase, so I helped her with case andtook it to her seat. went on in car and found a seat, when we got to Helsinki about 6:30, Ihelped her off with the case and another young lady met her at station and I found out they weregoing on to Morocco for week - student visit or something. They both thanked me and theyspoke very good English tool Then on to my Hotel room about 7pm. Dark and much colder,snowed much of day warmer when snowing.March 17, 1987Anyway got back to Hotel, checked out of hotel Vaakkuma next day 3/17, and with myluggage headed out for Neitsyt Palku 2A-9. Stopped at Mission Home, first, couldn’t raiseanyone, went over to Isomeri’s address - found the entrance to 39-10-11-12 and went up 4 setsof stairs and there was #9 (don’t know how I missed this entrance before) Isomeri name plateon door. Rang bell and there was Kalle at Doorway a bearded Sea Captain for sure, and Liisaheard us and came to door. I said, “I am Vilho Ilmari Forsstrom Johnson from California.”Pg. 9 We all stood at the doorway not believing what we saw real surprise for all of us -really answer to my fervent prayers - was asked to come in - couldn’t understand how letter hadreturned 2 yrs ago - and how we finally got together now. Hurtti had died 12 yrs. ago - 1975 -year before Ken, of blood clot in brain. I’ll be staying with them next 10 days or so - was reallyanswer to my prayers (and others prayers too, I’m sure). Except for visiting others of theIsomeri-Forsstrom family this was the whole reason for my trip. What a day, should be able tosleep well tonite - nice room to stay in and go to and from the rest of my stay in Finland. Sentletter to Laura from Isomeri’s apt.
Page 1 and 2: Journal Of William I JohnsonTrip to
Page 3: my sight as you will find out later
Page 7 and 8: March 18, 1987Just got back from lo
Page 9 and 10: and some Liisa has - I want copy of
Page 11 and 12: Terttu and Husband waiting got to t
Page 13 and 14: re-married and the youngest - Lasse
Page 15 and 16: and wieners cut up in it - no after
Page 17 and 18: Suppertime - Reindeer meat - cut up
Page 19 and 20: need in little carry bag (Janet”s
Page 21 and 22: room I checked out Cable and on thi
Page 23: plane had 3 seats on each side - I

Wm I Johnson - Finland Trip 1987

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