Week 47: Meet... Brent :)

Hi! We had some amazing miracles this week. God really delights in blessing his children!

Look at this sunset!

I hope you are all doing splendidly, go look at my Google photos if you want to meet Brent.

Google Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/UZy22DVpMJMowfrq8

Spiritual Thought:

In my study of the Old Testament I was reminded of 1 Nephi 19:23

23 And I (Nephi) did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.

It's cool to think I’m doing exactly what Nephi did, reading from the books of Moses and trying to liken them unto myself.

As I really search, all the Old Testament books point to Christ.

Likening the scriptures to myself has taken on a whole new meaning as I pray, look for common themes, learn the context of the verses, compare them to my life and study to help my friends.

I have a renewed testimony of likening the scriptures to my own life. I have learned and felt so much from the Holy Ghost as I study with real intent.

I know if you liken the scriptures to yourself they will bring you closer to Christ!

Short Version of Email: We put our friend on Baptism date on his first lesson. Things are going well! God blessed us for sure. It is so hot, rainy Pday, visited a small town. Went mushroom hunting, berry picking, and foreging in the garden of Eden (our friend Brent's backyard).

Finnish Word of the Week: Kirjoittaa Ylös = which means to write something down but literally means "to write up”

5 Amazing Things This Week:

1: It doesn't ever rain in our area…except on Pday. We made the most of it though. Played chess, went on a very small, very wet hike to the top of the “Ski Hill” in Kouvola. (it's half the size of the Snowbird bunny hill, we walked up the whole thing in 10 minutes.) It has the world's longest “rag rug” painting. Lots of painted cement. Cool stuff.

2: Went to another coast town on Wednesday called Lovisa to visit some people. We were fed straight ground wheat porridge. It was about as good as it sounds. Amazing people though and a pretty little village.

3: We had a crazy miracle lesson with our friend who we met on the street who came to church last Sunday. The lesson went amazing and we put him on baptism date for Aug 2nd. Hopefully all goes well. He is so ready. It was unbelievable!

4: On Sunday we were invited over to a random American man's house named Brent we found on WhatsApp to pick produce from his “Garden of Eden”. We arrived and ended up eating some food, going berry picking, mushroom foraging, and picking produce from his garden. It was quite something.

5: It is so so hot here this week. I didn't know Finland was like this. Crazy to me that you can live somewhere where it can be - 40F and 95F in the same place.

Tender Mercy of the Week:

I gave my first priesthood blessing in Finnish this week. Honestly it was a day I was kinda dreading just becuase I didn't think I could do as good of a job as I know I wanted to with my limited Finnish. But it worked out and the blessing was good, the Spirit was there. A huge blessing for sure. Not to mention we put someone on baptism date on the first lesson.

Where I am/Who I'm With: I am serving in Kouvola. My companion is Elder Richmond.

Fun Facts About Elder Richmond:

-knows everything about LeBron

-Makes the best hypothetical situations that turn unhypothetical once he knows what my reaction to them will be. (ie throwing my shoe out the window)

-knows so much about scriptures, it's crazy

Scripture of the Week:

Doctrine and Covenants 76:41-42

41 That he came into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness;

42 That through him all might be saved whom the Father had put into his power and made by him;.

My thoughts: I love this verse because it summarizes the mission of Jesus Christ so well. An easy scripture to memorize too.

Talk of the Week:

“Jesus The Christ”

My Thoughts:

I haven't been listening to many talks lately because I have been listening to Jesus the Christ. I found the audio book and downloaded it. It is so cool to really know who Jesus Christ is and what he did on Earth so well explained. Let me know if you want the link.

Send me some AC please, or an email will do. :)
-Elder Balls