Week 60: The Most Random Places

 Fall is in full swing here. It is so pretty.

This email is coming late because I want to tell you about a special fast we are doing tomorrow!

Our mission is fasting for blessings and opportunities to meet our baptism goal of 200 this year. We are at 94, and we have until January 1st! There are 14 more baptisms happening this week!

We (and I) could use your fasting and prayers! Please pray for us to meet our goal and if you would like, join us in a 24-hour fast tomorrow on Sunday! I know there is power in fasting and prayer.

James 5:16: "the prayer of a righteous man (and woman) availeth much." 

I'll be sure to tell you what miracles your prayers and faith cause in Finland in the coming weeks!

Spiritual Thought:  

I think my favorite thing about missionary work is ending up somewhere and having no idea how or why I got there.

It can be a backroads pizza shop talking with a friend, the middle of the woods picking berries, knocking on a random apartment door to tell someone about Jesus, walking home a new way at night and meeting a new Finnish family, or talking to people on the streets by the Russian border.

And the crazy thing is, it's times like these I see the most miracles.

All these times we find people, miraculously, in the strangest places, at the strangest times, who are interested in learning more about Christ.

It shows me that God is in the details and that His plan includes it all.

Every backroad, every street, every corner, and especially every person.

In my second email, I put this quote:

“How do you tell if it’s the Holy Ghost or just me?” 

Answer: quit worrying about it! Quit fussing, quit stewing, quit analyzing, quit worrying about it! Press forward with faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Be a good boy. Be a good girl. Honor your covenants, keep your commandments, and I promise you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that your steps will be guided. As you open your mouth, it will be filled. You will be in the right place at the right time and in most instances, you’ll have no idea why or how you got there.   Elder Bednar

I admit it's taken me way too long to trust this promise, but I think I'm starting to get it now.

God is in the details, and I'm so glad that His plan accounts for me, imperfections and all.

He can make the very best out of every situation.

So remember this quote: follow the Spirit, “Quit fussing, quit stewing, quit analyzing, and quit worrying about it,” and just do good.

“For all flesh is in [His] hands; be still and know that [He is] God."  D&C 101:16

Short Version of Email: More splits and fun hikes on P-day. Good lessons, Sunday activities, and district councils.

 Finnish Word of the Week:    ““Juosta pää kolmantena jalkana” means "in a great hurry" but literally translates to "run using your head as a third leg.”

5 Amazing Things This Week:

1: Pretty hike on P-day. Fall did come, just later than I expected. Sadly, I only get one fall season here. It is beautiful.

2: We had splits in Jyväskylä with some wonderful elders. We did good work, made crepes, visited some members, and woke up way too early for a train ride. Good day overall.

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3: We had three lessons in a row, which was a huge blessing. It is always a blessing to teach.

4:  We had two district councils in the span of Tuesday–Tuesday, and both were great. I gave a PMG training which hopefully went well. Also, we made the greatest Alfredo chicken bake and chicken sandwiches for lunch. Yum.

5: Sunday is always lovely. I look forward to it a lot. The patriarch and his wife came to our branch, and I understood their talks! We had a linger-longer and ward council after church. We had cabbage casserole, which is a really interesting food I've never had before, and it's really good. It always feels good to help and serve the members. Being and feeling useful is a very nice thing as a missionary.

Tender Mercy of the Week:

While in Jyväskylä, we split up. Three elders went up to a town on the outskirts, and Elder Maready and I stayed in the main city of Jyväskylä for the day. We didn't realize that the other elders had the only church keys. We tried to get into the church multiple times, but we couldn't find a way in, and no one was at the church to let us in, so we decided to go eat lunch. After lunch, we checked one more time, and as we were about to leave, a person opened the door. No idea who this person was, but they saved us that day.

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

Fun Fact about Elder Redd

Being a missionary is fun because, at the end of our transfers, we have done so much together that we can start finishing each other's sentences and stuff. Kinda fun.

Scripture of the Week:  

Mosiah 16:9 

9 He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death.

 My thoughts:  Because it's getting darker, this scripture really stood out to me this week. 

Talk of the Week:  

Jesus: The Perfect Leader 1977 Pres Spencer W Kimball

My Thoughts: 

This was a really good article about how Jesus was a leader and showed good leadership values.

 

Miss you lots; send me an email if you so desire!

 -Elder Balls