Week 20: 1/07/2025
Reading the heading of this email is weird. I can't believe it's been 20 weeks of missionary life. Also, what an epic week it's been! I love being a missionary. I often think, what is my life? This is so cool.
We had two District Councils this week which was awesome. We had a crazy miracle on the way to the train. Our bus was 18 minutes late and we were going to miss our train (which is one of the worst things that can happen to you as a missionary because you have to pay for a new ticket with personal funds) but we got to the train station and our train was delayed four minutes even though on the app it said our train was on time. Which was just enough time for us to get there. We were so lucky! I love the other missionaries I serve with. They are huge inspirations to me!
Elder Goodrich got “Carcazonne, Big Box” and "Terraforming Mars” which has been super fun to play. He has a lot of games. If anyone knows any good strategy for those games let me know pleaseeee.
Spiritual Thought:
I wonder if a prophet has ever doubted the goodness of God.
Nephi maybe.
In 2nd Nephi 26, Nephi is literally shown the destruction of his entire people.
I think sometimes we just skip over that.
Like, “oh man that must have been hard.”
But everyone he knew and loved, all their kids and grandkids, all gone. All dead.
I wonder if that must have been the hardest day of his life.
I wonder if he started to think, “Is this the God I know?"
“How could the God I know let this happen?”
“Is God really good? Can I really trust him?”
But then Nephi wrote this, (I've read these verses 100 times before but really thinking about what he just saw put it in a whole new light.)
2 Nephi 26:23-24
23 I say unto you that the Lord God worketh not in darkness.
24 He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.
Nephi remembered what God did. He sent his son.
Nephi remembered what Jesus Christ did. He died for you.
That moment was the moment when nephi could look all around, at utter destruction, and still believe in a good god.
Because of what he did at Gethsemane and on the cross.
It's a moment I try and always look back to when I doubt God's goodness and love.
Short Version of Email: Years at members! Fireworks Northern lights. Housing couple came. Lots of Finding. Priesthood blessing, Sahly!
Finnish Word of the Week: Kodinhoitohuone - - “Laundry Room”, but literally translates to “Home caretaking room”
Daylight Counter!
Where we started–4 Hours 40 minutes
This week–6 Hours!!!
5 Amazing Things This Week:
1: On New Years Eve we were invited over to a members house where we played some games, ate steak and launched fireworks! Right after we were done watching fireworks we saw the Northern Lights. They were faint but it was awesome!
2: We were able to help give a sick member a blessing this week. It was such a cool and spiritual experience! To be able to help them in a small way was amazing.
3: I never thought cleaning would make it on to my list of highlights but The Housing Couple visited our apartment so we de-cluttered a ton and deep cleaned. Now it feels so much better and more spacious! We also got a new kitchen table and a bunch of other things around the apartment we needed so it felt like Christmas all over again!
4: Sundays are the best days ever. I love love love seeing the ward. They are my new best friends. We had an amazing lesson with some friends that came to church as well!
5: We play Sahly (which is floor hockey with a ball) every week and this week we had 4 friends come plus a bunch of ward members. It was one of the funnest things I've done on my mission. I'm getting better at the game!
Tender Mercy of the Week:
I couldn't decide on only one this week because there were many.
A couple weeks ago my coat broke and I was given another one randomly by this nice guy but I still needed my broken one back because it is much warmer. I have been trying to find a place to fix it with no success. This week a member offered to fix it for me out of the blue! I got my coat back on Sunday and it is good as new!
Our friend Saisindu along with his wife are progressing! We got to meet with them again this week. In the lesson they showed us on their phones their friends from Sri Lanka who they have been texting about the church who are recent converts in Finland. Not just that, but they live in the town where my companion served before he came to Lappeenranta. It is so crazy that he knows them! It is going to be such a big help that we can involve recent covert friends into our lessons.
Where I am/Who I'm With: I am serving in Lappeenranta. My companion is Elder Goodrich.
Scripture of the Week:
2nd Nephi 26:13
13: And that he manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, working mighty miracles, signs, and wonders, among the children of men according to their faith
My thoughts: Super common scripture but it is good. Everything is “according to our faith”.
Talk of the Week: “Why 1820? Why the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Chirst Happened When it Did”, written in 1988. - - - Hyrum Smith - - -
My Thoughts: Shoutout Hayden for this talk. It is awesome! It explains, based on historical evidence, why the church may have been restored in 1820 and not earlier. It was fascinating and very entertaining.
If anyone knows any good upper back stretches that help with pain by your shoulder blade, hit me up. I hurt my back :(
Hope your New Year's resolutions are going swimmingly!
Elder Balls
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