Hola! Cómo estás?
Super fun week, crazy to think my second transfer is almost already over!
Spiritual Thought:
Sometimes prayers aren't answered in the way we think.
Especially for Alma.
While teaching people in Ammonihah he had no success.
None
He was mocked, rejected, spit upon, and literally thrown out of the city.
I can't imagine what he must have felt.
In response to his prayers, an angel appears and says,
15 Blessed art thou, Alma; therefore, lift up thy head and rejoice, for thou hast great cause to rejoice; for thou hast been faithful in keeping the commandments of God from the time which thou receivedst…it.
Rejoice.
Instead of promising miracles and baptisms the angel says
Rejoice.
This must be different from what Alma thought the angel would say.
But I think the message had nothing to do with Alma's physical circumstances and everything to do with his spiritual circumstances.
And this is the message:
No matter what bad things happen to you,
No matter what people do to you in a negative way,
No matter how hard your challenges are,
What really counts is your standing with God.
Alma can rejoice, because he has "been faithful in keeping the commandments.”
Maybe when Alma realized that, it made all the hard things he had to do just a little bit easier.
Short Version of Email: District leader splits. Our friend, Sasindu, is close to baptismal date! District Pday. President Interviews and dinner.
Finnish Word of the Week: Veturi - - it means locomotive or train engine but literally translates to puller or dragger.
Daylight Counter!
Where we started–4 Hours 40 minutes
This week–8 Hours 11 min
5 Amazing Things This Week:
1: District splits this week in our city were great! We were able to teach 2 lessons, meet with members, and play Sähly together.
2: President Interviews this week, which were amazing. I got to do the whole interview in Finnish which was fun. President and his wife are amazing. We got to go to dinner with them after too! I tried kebab for the first time as a right of passage for missionaries in Finland. It was Intersting. Saucy mystery meat. Tasted good though.
3: District P day this week was an absolute joy. Basketball, boardgames, pizza, my best friends (other missionaires), all make for a fun time. And the sun even came out!
4: Elder Steadman (a brand new missionary here) and I went tracting and we gave out our first Book of Mormon all alone. It was awesome even though I don't even know if the lady could understand us, hopefully she understood our genuineness.
5: Because transfers are in 13 days I have been reflecting on my Finnish progress. It has been slow but so nice to see my Finnish improve. That has been a highlight for me this week.
Tender Mercy of the Week:
We had an amazing lesson with a guy we found on social media. He was contacted before but fell out of touch with the missionaries. I texted him again on messenger this week and we set a time to meet up. He asked every single question that a missionary could want to hear. (Why are we here? Is there a God? What is the Book of Mormon and can I have one and read it? Things like that) He lives in Helsinki but we hope that he will meet with missionaries there.
Where I am/Who I'm With: I am serving in Lappeenranta. My companion is Elder Goodrich. Sure love him.
Scripture of the Week:
Alma 38:4
4 For I know that thou wast in bonds; yea, and I also know that thou wast stoned for the word’s sake; and thou didst bear all these things with patience because the Lord was with thee; and now thou knowest that the Lord did deliver thee
My thoughts: I like the thought that we can bear all things with patience if we know the Lord is with us.
Talk of the Week: Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults 2025 Brother and Sister Uchtdorf
My Thoughts: Even though this was for young adults I think the message was really good! It applies to everyone.
God does not abandon us by letting us make our own choices and decisions.
Exciting week this week! Hopefully it is for you too!
Elder Balls
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