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/
“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
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