Terve! This has been an unbelievable two weeks. So much crazy new stuff has happened. It really does feel like I'm living a whole new life.
The last week in our MTC was really kind of a blur. Some fun things that happened were,
-Packing and trying to get all our suitcases under 50 pounds
-We pranked some other missionaries by putting forks in there pockets and backpacks
I got to play four different musical numbers in my last 3 days of the MTC and say a prayer at a special music devotional. Everyone laughed when they heard Elder Balls going to Finland for the 5th time in a row in like 2 days.
Our last night in the MTC the Bonner family came and sang and because I was giving the prayer we got to sit on the front row again which was so lovely.
A ton of mixed feelings leaving the MTC because of how amazing it was. I grew so much there and met so many amazing people.
Spiritual Thought:
The start of this week was kinda hard with all the new adjusting and living with a new human all day. Not to mention I can't really talk to people.
I have started to really rely on prayers more than I ever have before this week. I was kind of doubting if Finland was where I should be right now.
I had been praying all week for help, strength, and some type of assurance that I am doing the right thing. On Monday, I had such a cool experience with the Spirit where I got the most strong feeling that Finland is the place where I should be. I love that God answers our prayers and he answered mine this week when I needed it most.
I love that in this gospel we have a Heavenly Father and Jesus. They are always with us and really do hear our prayers.
Short Version of Email: I got to Finland! The language and country are crazy. We had a Zone Conference which was amazing. I love prayer and the fact that I can talk to a loving God every day!
Finnish Word of the Week: No-niin, which means literally anything in Finish. It can mean yes, no, maybe, so, continue. Anything. It's crazy.
5 Amazing Things of the Week:
1: We made it to Finland which was the highlight of the week. The plane ride to Europe went by really fast which was a major blessing but our layover in Amsterdam felt like it was at least 14 hours (it was only 4). We saw the Northern Lights though when we flew over Greenland and I had a window seat. It was so awesome!
2: This week was Zone Conference which was the highlight of the week for sure. I got to meet so many new missionaries and make so many new friends. The Spirit was also there which was just what I needed after a crazy first few days in the country.
3: Finland is so pretty (and freezing). There are so many trees and beautiful lakes. For our zone P-day we got to go into the woods and make a fire. It was super pretty nature.
4: This is a little shout out to MTC because I didn't write an email last week. I loved my time there and the people I met. I really do believe I have the best District in the MTC. It's been hard being away from all those incredible Elders but I'll get used to it eventually for sure.
5: Finnish is an unbelievable language. It sounds completely different from what I learned in the MTC when people speak it here. There is a whole different language called Spoken Finnish that most people use where words sound completely different and are shortened. It was crazy going to Zone Conference this week and having the missionaries who have been out for over a year tell me they still can't understand people sometimes. It can be discouraging to be a beginner sometimes but it is not often in life that you are starting something completely new. It has been fun to enjoy the time I have at being a beginner at being a missionary and in speaking Finnish.
Tender Mercy of the Week: This may seem silly but it was cool to see. My name on Facebook has always been First Name Tyler B Last Name Alls because they say my last name is against community guidelines. In the past I have submitted many complaints and asked for them to change it to my real name even providing government identification but they have always rejected me. BUT, this week I figured I would try one more time. I sent in a name change request with no ID's or anything and IT WORKED! Power of being a missionary I guess.
Where I am/Who I'm With: I am serving in Lappeenranta (which is a tiny town on the east of Finland right by Russia, like seriously it's so close we can walk to the border of Finland and Russia) for the next 6 weeks. My trainer is Elder Boone. He is lovely. I am excited to learn a lot from him.
Scripture of the Week: Mormon 1:15
15 And I, being fifteen years of age and being somewhat of a sober mind, therefore I was visited of the Lord, and tasted and knew of the goodness of Jesus
My thoughts: I love the personal action words that Mormon uses when he describes the interactions with God. “Visited” and “Tasted” are both so personal and show how God knows us all individually.
Talk of the Week: “A High Priest of Good Things to Come” By Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. (October 1999)
My Thoughts: Such a good talk!
I love this quote, “Always remember in that biblical story. He was out there on the water also, that He faced the worst of it right along with…[us] . Only one who has fought against those ominous waves is justified in telling us—as well as the sea—to “be still.” Only one who has taken the full brunt of such adversity could ever be justified in telling us in such times to “be of good cheer.””
I love that Christ can promise us good things and help us because he went through every bad thing too. That is why he really is the “High Priest of Good Things to Come”.
I sure hope it was a spectacular 2 weeks and that this week will be even better! Sorry for the long email. This week a lot happened!
-Elder Balls
