Oh, the places you'll go!  . . . Dr. Seuss

The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is an orthodox cathedral in the Tallinn Old Town, Estonia. It was built in a typical Russian Revival style between 1894 and 1900, during the period when the country was part of the Russian Empire.  It is dedicated to Saint Alexander Nevsky who in 1242 won the Battle on the ice on Lake Peipus, in the territorial waters of present-day Estonia. 

In a future post, I will show you the inside of this magnificent and historical edifice.

Want fresh squeezed orange juice?  Many stores here have a solution.  Just pick a plastic bottle, turn on the machine, and watch it squeeze the juice out of the oranges, right in front of you.  Fresh fruits and vegetables are highly prized in Estonia.  The less processing of the food, the better.












This is a memorial to those who were engaged in battle during WWII.  Each pillar is dedicated to the 15 counties or parishes of Estonia.  

This giant sword commemorates the St. George uprising in 1343 when Estonians attempted to drive out all the Danish and German rulers and landlords.  The initial skirmish was successful, but an invasion by the Teutonic Order succeeded in squashing the rebellion.  In 1346, the Duchy of Estonia was sold to the The Teutonic Order for 19,000 köln marks by the king of Denmark.

St. George Uprising in 1343

Some of the things we get to participate in are activities that can bring a little bit of home for the young missionaries who are, for the most part, living away from home the first time.  Here is Sister Dean celebrating her 20th birthday.  She accomplished her task of blowing out a single candle in a tub of ice cream in a most splendid manner.

On Sunday, we had the annual Tallinn Branch conference.  Afterwards, a group photo was taken.  Quite a few people were missing.  We normally have a few more than this attending.  We love these people so much.

In almost every foreign mission in the world, we can find traces of America.  Here, nestled between the two towers of the main gate to Old Town, you can see, in subdued colors, the widely known golden arches of McDonald's: Old World meets New World.  

Why wouldn't we see some Americans enjoying a taste of Americana?

Every once in awhile, on a preparation day . . .

Actually in this picture, besides the Americans, there is a Ukrainian, a Brazilian and a South African.

Have I mentioned that I love my job?