Feb 2025

We had one good snow storm in February.  That was it.  It was a pretty sad month.  But we are always glad to get out.  Darren and Ella get out and do some good backcountry skiing.  Ella took Jacob Hamblin to Sweethearts Dance.  Darren took some girls down to St George for Valentines Day weekend. They did some nice pre-riding of the True Grit course. It was super muddy.  It cost almost 50$ to spray wash the bikes at a carwash after their ride.  

My Abigail is growing up.  She loves her Tiggy.  She goes out all the time with friends now.  She got braces mid 6th grade.  She is hoping to get them off by mid-8th grade. She has been going to the temple every Thursday morning at 6:00 AM with friends.  She had a few fun days skiing with school friends at the resorts. We all love to Tyler on Tuesdays. Abby always loves to talk to Tyler and tell him about her week and play all love talkin piano songs for him. 

As a family we went to a hockey game.  Not sure how I feel about adult men beating each other up.  Katie and Ang came over for a belated birthday celebration.  They made up a song for me which I loved.  Rachel came to visit with Ely and Rob.  It was a busy few days but we were able to squeeze in a quick icecream stop. 

 

Week 27: Oats and Rice Cakes

  Change is so Good. 

I love being a missionary. It makes me happy. So many new fun things happened this week. 

Packed up about a million barbies. 

Rode a lot of very small elevators

And saw some very cool, very pretty places. 

Spiritual Thought:  

God is love.  I think I took that for granted before my mission. Back when I was with my family, surrounded by my friends, in my comfortable home. I never had to rely so much on God's love. But now, even without all those things I still feel love.  God’s love. Serving as Christ would has helped me know the love he has for others. And the love he has for me. And for you. He that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.   (John 14:21)  Serving others every day has drawn me closer to my Heavenly Father.  Through love. It has made me realize how many ways I can feel and receive love.  Because I think there is no better way to feel love than on a mission.

Even though it is hard. Through service, through random strangers, through new friends. Because God is love.

Short Version of Email: First week in Tampere. Such a busy week. Lots of service, lessons and events. Big church and ward. Running in the mornings. Senior missionaries are amazing. District council at a Lavu. Pday with 8 missionaries. 

Finnish Word of the Week:    Pilke silmäkulmassa = flirtatious or joking, but literally translates to “piece of firewood in the corner of the eye” 

Daylight Counter!

Where we started–4 Hours 40 minutes

This week–10 Hours 8 min

It is getting more light! I am in Heaven

5 Amazing Things This Week:

1: My comp and I, and the sisters we ward-share with, have been running in the mornings. It is so lovely. I get to see the city, get good exercise and get to know cool people. This week we ran 6 days and ran 49 km. It has been very fun. I am sore.

 

2: Last P day was so much fun. Because Tampere is such a big city there are 8 missionaries in this area that we get to share p-day with. We got some burgers and walked around the city. It is so fun to get to know new places and people. 

3:  The events here in Tampere are really fun and well attended. We have game night, Finnish Class, and Sähly. Lots of people come. We even set up a few lessons with people we met. 

4:  The Topham’s are the senior couple here in Tampere. They are absolute angels. It was Elder Topham's birthday so they invited all 8 missionaries in Tampere over to their apartment. We had the most amazing food ever. My companion and I also got lunch with them. They are always here to answer our questions and provide advice. Senior missionaries are amazing! 

5:  Mission Wide Highlight- For District Council on Monday night we hiked out to a Lavu, which is like a campsite with a fire pit. We had our council, roasted mäkärä (finnish sausage) and made smores. Being outside was amazing, despite the cold. The Spirit was amazing. 

Tender Mercy of the Week:

I am so often reminded how well God knows me. Day after day, week after week, there are people put in my path, experiences that I have, that make me realize how personally God knows me. Whether it be answers to questions I ask from others, people we find on the street, or times when a random thought pops into my head, there are so many times I see I am where God needs me to be. Sometimes it just takes some retrospective thought. 

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

Fun Facts about Elder Gillespie: 

-Has a stronger mental fortitude than anyone I've ever met.

-Amazing singer. 

-Is 5 ft 5 in. 

-Survives on oats and rice cakes. 

-Can rival my Dad in his inability to sit still for more than an hour at a time. 

I love him. 

Scripture of the Week:  

Doctrine and Covenants 17:8

8 And if you do these last commandments of mine, which I have given you, the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; for my grace is sufficient for you, and you shall be lifted up at the last day.

My thoughts:  We had a lesson with someone who has a very, very hard life. Someone who made choices that are hard to forgive and forget. I have never fully understood what it meant that Christ's grace is sufficient until that lesson. As we testified to her about a Savior who died for us, the Spirit testified to me about the power of forgiveness because the literal Son of God died to save us. 

Talk of the Week:  https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/steven-j-lund/flashes-of-light/

“Flashes of Light”

Steven J. Lund. September 20, 2022

My Thoughts: This talk reminded me of the Pillars and Rays talk given a couple General Conferences ago. I love that although we may not have magnificent, obvious, manifestations of God's power in our own life, we can look back and we will see the “flashes of light” that show God was in the details all along. 

Fun week with so many new experiences. Life is so good. I am so grateful. 

-Elder Balls

Week 26: Upside Down

  Week 26: 2/18/2025

Transfers yesterday! Today is my first full day in my new home. I'm serving in Tampere! It's a big city that is crazy. There is so much going on everywhere. 

The first day was filled with dinner with the Sisters in our Wardshare, Zone Leaders over for dinner/planning, some crazy street contacting, unpacking, and way too much dragging our heavy suitcases through the snow.  It is going to be a fun transfer and a big adjustment right now for sure. 

Spiritual Thought:  

For me when things change in our lives it always helps me to think of things I'm grateful for. 

This week just take a minute to think about some things you are grateful for. - Like running a 10K with a new companion and sister missionaries.

Short Version of Email: Last week in Lappeenranta. Last language night, Sähly, last lessons with our friends. Transfers. 

Finnish Word of the Week:    Koiranluu = dog bone but literally translates to  “suspension drop link”

Daylight Counter!

Where we started–4 Hours 40 minutes

This week–9 Hours 18 min 

5 Amazing Things This Week:

1: A week of many lasts but two were especially bittersweet. 

1:Our last lesson with two of our friends was amazing. They have genuinely become my friends. I got to share my testimony with them. I hope the best for them. 

2: Our last District Council. Each transfer in my District is like a family. I hope I get to serve around some of these amazing people again. 

2: On our way to a lesson this week Elder Goodrich was driving, got to a roundabout, went around the whole thing and right as he exited it he told me to get out of the car. Because the tone of his voice was so serious I promptly did as I was told - only to find an old lady sprawled out on the snow and ice. Elder Goodrich parked the car and ran over. We then proceeded to help a very old, very drunk lady on the snow and ice get back to her apartment a block away. 

3:  My lovely companion Elder Goodrich makes ties for a hobby. It is awesome. Because he is the goat he showed me how to make one! I made this tie all on my own. It even has two different colors to show that I did it! 

4:  Church on Sunday was really something. I guess the Ward really wanted to get their use of me because I accompanied the hymns, played a musical number, gave a 20 minute talk, taught a second hour lesson, and said the prayer. It was a wild day. We did it though. 

5:  We had our last language and Sähly night as well this week. They were so much fun and there was a good turn out for both of them. 

Tender Mercy of the Week:

Transfer day was crazy. My comp had 8 bags and I had 3 so together we probably were a very strange sight. I had a 7 minute layover but my first train was delayed so the layover was actually only 5 minutes. With some help from other missionaries I managed to switch tracks and get on my new train just in time. It was a miracle that nothing went wrong

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

Scripture of the Week:  

Alma 34:22 Yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies.

My thoughts:  I like how Amulek didn’t say to pray against our enemies but instead said to pray "against the power of [our] enemies." Just another example of how loving God is. 

Talk of the Week:  https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/david-a-bednar/consider-the-wondrous-works-of-god/

“Consider the Wondrous Works of God”  David A. Bednar

My Thoughts: I really love how much this talk focuses on work. We are God's greatest work and we can perform God's greatest work too. It really gives you a sense of perspective. 

Absolutely crazy this week. My world has been turned upside down. 

-Elder Balls

Week 25: Mountains to Climb

 I've been on a mission for 6 months. Woah. Time Flies! Transfer Calls are in 1 day!

After being in Lappeenranta for 4.5 months (18 weeks) it feels weird that my time here is over. This is crazy. I could leave my area and go somewhere new. So exciting! But also bitter sweet. 

Spiritual Thought:  

I really only put highlights in my emails. 

I don't often put in hard moments because I like to keep things positive. 

But man, missions are hard. 

Sometimes, they are a forever uphill battle.

I listened to a talk this week called “Mountains to Climb” by Henry B. Eyring (Shoutout Hailey) 

I like to think, what are the mountains in my life right now? 

What mountains have I already climbed? 

And what mountains are in my future? 

Because looking back at the last 6 months, there have been a lot of big mountains. 

Lots of them I'm still climbing. 

But looking back at the mountains I have climbed I realized I haven't done it alone. 

I read in a missionaries email this week, “Away from the support of family, friends, and familiarity. Missions force you into a sink or swim situation.” (Shoutout Preston) 

This is so true, 

But we have the best lifeguard. Jesus Christ. 

And a bunch of swimmers next to us to help us along the way. 

Looking back on these 6 months, I'm so grateful for all the amazing people and most of all for Jesus Christ. 

For giving me mountains to climb and for never leaving my side as I climb them. 

Short Version of Email: Went to a game night this week at a bar. Had some great lessons. Elder Goodrich gave a fire talk in Church and I am preparing mine for this week. Transfers are in 3 days. Walking on a frozen lake. My zone is awesome. 

Finnish Word of the Week:    Autotalli - - garage but literally means car stable

Daylight Counter!

Where we started–4 Hours 40 minutes

This week–8 Hours 43 min 

5 Amazing Things This Week:

1: Bishop came to fix our door this week. After, he pulled out the newspaper and showed us an ad for a Game Night telling us it would be a great opportunity to meet new people and be seen. We agreed and showed up later that night at the address of the game night, which turned out to be a bar. We went in getting some strange looks in our white shirts and ties, made some awkward introductions and proceeded to play a board game about rock bands all in Finnish. Got to tell a lot of people about who we are and why we are in Finland. Twas fun. 

TLDR: went to a game night in a bar all in Finnish. 

2: Had a great lesson with our friends Rasheli and Viraje. They told us they want to get baptized! This is so exciting, if all goes well they will be baptized after I leave Lappeenranta sadly. But I am still so happy for them! 

3:  I haven't had to buy groceries for 3 weeks because I'm just trying to use up all the extra food from the apartment which has been nice to save up some MSF. (missionary support funds) 

4:  My area has the biggest lake in Finland inside it and the ice is now thick enough to walk on. We took a short cut over the lake this week which was cool and saved us some time. 

5:  Final Zone call this week which is bitter sweet. I love the missionaries I serve around. They are the best examples to me. 

Tender Mercy of the Week:

A few weeks ago we made a social media post about doing free service which got so slandered it got taken down lol. But, we got in contact with this young Finnish guy who we talked to over the phone for a long time. He says he knows lots of his friends who would want to meet with us and come to our game night. So I guess even if the social media post failed, some good came out of it.

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

Scripture of the Week:  

Doctrine and Covenants 6:8

8 Verily, verily, I say unto you, even as you desire of me so it shall be unto you; and if you desire, you shall be the means of doing much good in this generation

My thoughts:  It's so cool that if we desire to have a positive impact on the world, if we desire to do good, we are promised through scripture that we can accomplish it. 

Talk of the Week:  https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/jeffrey-r-holland/times-trouble/

Jeffrey R Holland BYU Devo

My Thoughts: A great talk focusing on having a positive attitude. I love how he said that “trouble has no connection to discouragement on its own”. Another good reminder that our attitudes about life's circumstances are an important part of who we are. 

A bit mundane week this week but it's always good to learn to enjoy the less Interesting parts of life. 

-Elder Balls