Week 17: Sunsets, Sunlight, Swerving and a New Best Friend

First week of the new transfer! I hope you all get to spend some amazing time with your families this week, and for all the people in school, I hope finals and tests went well! 

Spiritual Thought:  

I love sunsets, I think most people do really.  But I wonder if for some people sunsets were a disappointment. A sign of true faith, potentially displaced. Promises unanswered. I wonder about those nights leading up to Jesus’ birth. What it must have been like for those people in the Book of Mormon. A people who had never seen Jesus. Never walked with him. Never talked with him. But yet were so fervently waiting for him. Waiting outside each night, watching the sunset, but instead of joy at the setting sun maybe they felt some disappointment. Because those people literally had a death date. I wonder if they ever thought it was too late, if maybe Jesus wasn't going to show up. If parents ever sat in bed at night, tired, after long days of kids asking if tonight was the night, only to watch another sunset. But then, in the last second, when death was so close… He came. “Came unto [his] own, to fulfil ALL things.” (3rd Nephi 1:14)

The birth of Christ literally saved these peoples lives just how it can for us. I know that Jesus Christ shows up. He really does fulfill all things. I've seen it in the first months of my mission, he hasn't ever left me helpless. These have been some hard months, but looking back, I see that he was there, through it all.  In all the lessons, Christlike examples, softened hearts, miracles, promptings, and lonely times when the only thing I had been able to do was pray. He was always there. It is who he is.  He always shows up, just in time.

 

Short Version of Email: Jesus is always there when we need him! Spend some time with your family this week for me! Elder Goodrich is super cool! Driving in Finland is wild. Spent my transfer day in Tampere. 

Finnish Word of the Week:    Tietokone - - Computer, but literally translates to “knowledge machine” 

Daylight Counter! 

I decided to put this in for fun each week. I'm counting the number of hours per day it is light outside! 

This week–5 Hours 4 minutes

5 Amazing Things This Week:

1: I got a new companion! His name is Elder Goodrich. He is the 5th oldest (as in time spent in Finland) missionary here! I'm excited to learn a lot from him. 

2: I started driving this week. Driving in Finland is no joke not to mention all the snow and ice everywhere. 

3:  We got to go to an organ concert this week at another church in Lappeenranta. It was pretty cool. 

4: Transfer day was really fun. Elder Boone and I rode a train to Tampere where we met up with a bunch of missionaries. I met a lot of new people and got to explore the city throughout the day. 

5: We had a great language night this week and 8 people came even though it was dumping snow! I hope they felt our love for them and want to come back next week. I think we had fun. 

Tender Mercy of the Week:  

It had just snowed a lot; Elder Goodrich and I were waiting to cross the street. We saw a man trying to move his wheelchair but it was very stuck in the snow. We went over and offered to push him to wherever he needed to go. He gratefully accepted and we got to talk with him while we pushed him home. (which was quite a walk, 20 min at least) It was good to talk with him and I admired that he had been going at it, in the snow, alone. 

Where I am/Who I'm With: I am serving in Lappeenranta still. My companion is Elder Goodrich. He's pretty cool, he ballroom dances, sews ties, speaks very good Finnish, and is a really good missionary. I'm excited to learn from him!

Scripture of the Week:  

Revelations 3:20

20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

My thoughts: God's love doesn't take us out of hard things, I think instead, God shows his love by coming into our hard times. 

Talk of the Week:  “The Faith to Ask and Then to Act”   (October 2021)

- - - Henry B. Eyring  - - - 

My Thoughts:  A good talk! Faith is important, and taking the steps after we get even a small idea of what to do is important. 

Have an awesome week before Christmas! Spend time with people you love, friends you miss, and don't forget the reason for it all. 

Happy December,  

Elder Balls

Week 16: Lions, Tiger and Tanks OH MY!

Yippy! Another week gone just like that (Snaps fingers) 

Sorry, this email is kinda lengthy. (I think. I can only see it on my phone so maybe it just seems long). Read however much you like! Some cool things happened this week though! 

Look at the photos to see Real Life Tanks!! (yes they are as cool as they sound) But there weren't any lions or tigers. Sorry.

Spiritual Thought:  

I often write spiritual thoughts weeks in advance and don't include them right away. This is one of those, it was missing something.

I found a verse the other day, 

Jacob 7:5

5 And he [Sherem] had hope to shake me [Jacob] from the faith, notwithstanding the many revelations and the many things which I had seen concerning these things; for I truly had seen angels, and they had ministered unto me. And also, I had heard the voice of the Lord speaking unto me in very word, from time to time; wherefore, I could not be shaken. 

This is Jacobs conversion, his why. Is yours similar? Have you “truly seen angels” in your life? How have they “ministered unto you?”

My conversion has no physical angels descending from the heavens dressed in white. But it does have angels. My angels, people like you. 

I also think it is worth remembering that Jacob says “from time to time”. Jacob wasn’t always ministered to by angels, only from “time to time” I think it's cool that “time to time” was enough for Jacob, a Prophet of God.  So surely it must be enough for me. 

The theme of “Light the World” this year is “Be Someone's Angel”. That is what I was missing. I wrote it before “Light the World” was announced. I'm glad I waited because it seems like a good tie-in.

How can you light someone's world, be someone’s angel? 

Short Version of Email: Be someone's Angel and remember the Angels in your own life! 

Finnish Word of the Week:    Revantulet - - Northern lights but it literally translates to “fox fire”

5 Amazing Things of the Week:

1: This week was “Return and Report” where all the new missionaries and their trainers come back to the Mission Home and talk about the end of their first transfer. It was amazing to see all my MTC friends again. I don't think I've smiled so much in months. We learned some great things from the Mission President also! 

2: Last Friday was Finnish Independence Day. (Like the 4th of July in Finland). Each year Finland chooses one city to have a massive military parade. This year they chose Lappeenranta (the city I'm in). There was an Opening Ceremony in this giant stadium. The parade was so cool, it had every military vehicle you could imagine along with a huge part of Finland's standing army. We were so lucky to be in Lappeenranta for the parade!

3:  Transfer news this week! I am staying in Lappeenranta for 10 more weeks which is super exciting. My new comp is Elder Goodrich. I will meet him tomorrow! 

4: On splits this week we were invited to a members cabin in the middle of the woods for some food and to say bye before they left for America. It was such a beautiful place with good company! 

5: I went to the temple this week and I did the whole thing in Finnish! It was kinda crazy but amazing as always. 

Tender Mercy of the Week:  

I think I take the gift of tongues for granted. Just tonight I was at our ward Christmas party. I don't know how to describe it, but I just understand. It's words I've never heard before, in crazy accents, coming from people who speak very fast, in a language I hardly know. But the words people say to me just pop into my head in English. It's like nothing I've ever experienced before, honestly incredible. I got home tonight and just sat in wonder. 

Where I am/Who I'm With: I am serving in Lappeenranta. My trainer is Elder Boone.  I get a new companion tomorrow! His name is Elder Goodrich

Scripture of the Week:  

A little different this week

I just finished reading the Isaiah chapters in the Book of Mormon. I know it is hard to understand but I really enjoyed diving into these chapters. They can be so meaningful if we are willing to take time and understand. 

My thoughts: Isaiah uses such rich symbolism. I learned that the Savior quoted Isaiah more than any other prophet. In 3 Nephi 23:1 Jesus even commands his people to study Isaiah saying, “Ye ought to search these things.[Isaiahs writings] Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah.” 

Talk of the Week:  “First Presidency Christmas Devotional” 

My Thoughts:  I loved this whole devotional but especially the second talk. We can all share three things! Our testimonies, our kind words, our forgiveness. 

Super excited to meet my new comp and find new ways to spread the gospel! If you’re a missionary who is reading this and I'm not on your email list please add me! Or email me! I love reading them. 

Go be someone's angel!  

Elder Balls

Week 15: Russian Invasion

Hellllloooooooo! I just thought my life was ending, Great Heavens. Let me explain… 

I learned about 20 seconds ago that every first Sunday of the month, the city tests its Russian invasion alarms because we are so close to the Russian border. I must have been gone somewhere last time this happened because when it happened this time, I genuinely thought we were getting bombed. 

The sirens sound exactly like the air raid sirens in movies and boy are they loud. Good thing it was just a drill.

anyway… 

I almost missed my train today. That was scary! But we didn't! Life is so so good! Boy do I love being a missionary. My job is to bring joy to others in any way I can, especially through Jesus! It makes me happy! 

Spiritual Thought:  

I heard something this week. “Is your testimony built on The Church or on the members inside it?” At a dinner appointment we met a member who is the only member of the church in her family. All her siblings have left the church because of many things local church leaders have said or done. She has had her share of similar unhelpful, impolite, and unChristlike experiences, just like her siblings. Bearing one of the strongest testimonies I have ever heard, she said, “It doesn’t matter.”... “My faith, my testimony, and my love of Jesus Christ is not built on the members of his church, it is built on my Heavenly Father and my Jesus".

I know everyone has heard this before, but the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a perfect church run by imperfect people.  It is established by imperfect people. It is built on the hardworking, unwavering and dedicated backs of members who lose sleep at night, and sacrifice so much for what they know is right.  Nevertheless, Imperfect people. It is built on you. Imperfect people who build on a perfect foundation.  Jesus Christ. May this serve as a reminder of two things

1: To focus our attention and testimony on the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. Let him be our perfect foundation. 

2: To extend more grace, love, mercy and most importantly, Christlike charity to all those you meet.

And I know I’m just a kid…but I believe that the majority of the people in this world are good Or trying to be good Let us all try and help others on their path to become more like Jesus Christ.

Short Version of Email: Great week! Splits, District P-day. Russian alarms. Some friends came to church. We are becoming better friends with all those we meet. Transfers are soon! Kindness is an awesome thing!  

Finnish Word of the Week:    Hirvio which literally translates to “Moose-thingy”. It means monster. How exciting 

5 Amazing Things of the Week:

1: We had Zone Leader Splits this week and went tracting on the Russian border again, this time as we were walking away from our car, the border patrol pulled up in an armored van and started asking us questions. It was rather scary. We assured them our Book of Mormon’s had no bombs in them and we even offered them one. I guess we passed the test because they left, phew!

2: We had district council and a member invited our whole district to Thanksgiving dinner at her apartment. She may be the most Christ like individual I've ever met. She made so much food and would not let us help clean up. Not to mention she slept on her couch the night before because she had taken everything out of her small apartment living room and put it in, and around her bed so that she could fit 12 people around a pieced together dinner table. All of this and she lives alone and is over 60. She is absolutely incredible. I could go on and on. These are just a few of the amazing things. 

3:  We had district P-day as well as district council on Tuesday (today when I am writing this email). It was lovely. District council's are amazing to learn from other missionaries and feel the Spirit! We always have so much fun during district P-day! I'll miss my first district, we get transfer news this Saturday! 

4: We are slowly building more relationships with people we teach. Although it can be hard to teach lessons, we have gotten to know friends that the old missionaries had been teaching, I really love them. It is hard not to love a person when you get to know them. 

5: President interviews were this week. Both the Mission President and his wife came and we made them cookies! They are both awesome and you can tell they care about us so much. I have a lot of respect for them and what they do. It can't be an easy job

Tender Mercy of the Week:  

During our train ride to district council we sat by this old guy. He started talking to us and we talked to him the entire 2 hour train ride! We learned he is an inactive member who we have reached out to before, what a crazy coincidence (Huge Miracle). He told us that he might consider coming to church again because he enjoyed talking to us so much. And! He wants to go out and buy us pizza now to talk more! 

Also, during tracting this week I was having an especially rough day (pounding headache and frustrated with many things). I said a prayer that we could be led to some people who need us and no joke we got let in 3 times in a row!! That is unbelievable! Absolutely unheard of in Finland. Most missionaries go an entire 10 week transfer and only get let in 3 times in total much less 3 times in the span of 15 minutes. 

Where I am/Who I'm With: I am serving in Lappeenranta. My trainer is Elder Boone

Transfer Calls Are this week though! 

Scripture of the Week:  

Alma 4:15

15 And now it came to pass that Alma, having seen the afflictions of the humble followers of God, and the persecutions which were heaped upon them by the remainder of his people, and seeing all their inequality, began to be very sorrowful; nevertheless the Spirit of the Lord did not fail him. 

My thoughts: I love how it says, “The Spirit of the Lord did not fail him.” The Spirit really does not fail to comfort, guide, and direct us especially while we are striving to do good among all men. 

Talk of the Week:  “What is the Blueprint of Christ's Church”   (CES Devo) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1prGZ_SsrbZm1dsLPrftVbaKqafByHb7J/view?usp=drivesdk Tad R Callister Talk

My Thoughts:  Elder Callister always gives great talks but this one stood out to me a lot! 

Christ's church is modeled after the same church that was in olden times! 

Super excited for next week! Transfer calls, return and report, and some more splits. 

I love the emails! It's the best thing ever. So thankful for all of you, truly. 

Have a spectacular week! 

Elder Balls