What I Learned: REPENTANCE

 

(Finland – week 71)

  16 May 2016

Rakkaat ystävät,

Wow it's been an amazing week! We had stake conference on Sunday, so I got to see all of my dear friends from Espoo, Haaga, and Neitsytpolku. It was a wonderful day!

I feel that repentance often has a bad reputation. It's looked at as the word yelled on street corners or something you do as a punishment for doing something wrong. But that is not right. Repentance as defined in the Bible dictionary is, “a change of mind, a fresh view about God, about oneself, and about the world. Since we are born into conditions of mortality, repentance comes to mean a turning of the heart and will to God, and a renunciation of sin to which we are naturally inclined." Repentance is change. It is coming closer to Christ, which means finding peace, hope, and becoming better. Repentance is what fills us with the love and light of Christ. "And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God." (Moroni 8:26) Elder Moreira spoke yesterday at stake conference, and he said something wonderful about the gospel. Life is complicated. So we think we need big complicated answers to handle our complicated lives. But we do not, we need only repent (change for the better) daily, and then we will be filled with the love of Christ. It is simple. It works. We know that the less parts something has, the less likely a problem will occur. I'm so grateful that the gospel of Jesus Christ doesn't have a thousand complicated parts, it's truly very simple. I'm so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ, if I have done or become anything good, it is because through Him I am able to do and become good. I love my Savior Jesus Christ. And I testify that He lives.

I wish you all the best! Have a wonderful week.

                                                                                                                                           

Rakkaudellani, Sisar Mendenhall

P.S. This is Julia's mom, making my last addition to the blog.  Julia comes home tomorrow!  It has been a fabulous 19 months and I have enjoyed posting her reports, thoughts and insights.  Just for fun, here is the first picture we received of her on her mission(in the MTC cafeteria) and the last image we got before she comes home(a screen shot of our Mother's Day call three days ago). 19 months of growth, she's beautiful!!

  

What I've Learned: JOY  

(Finland - Week 70)

10 May 2016

This past week has been wonderful!! Happy Mothers' Day to all of you mothers and to everyone
else as we celebrate our remarkable mothers:) It was wonderful to see my family! We also went to Suomenlinna last preparation day, it's a island castle fortress where people still live. The views were beautiful.

Part two of what I've learned, joy. The past 18 months can sound pretty rough if you focus on certain aspects. For example, I have never been so tired. But, the much more impressive aspect, is that never in my life have I felt so much joy. "Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name." (Alma 26:35) I LOVE this verse, we always have great reason to have joy. God wants us to have joy. He made us to have joy. Joy doesn't come from having a lot of things, or having time to clock out from responsibility, joy comes from actively doing good. We have fun with lots of these other things, I still definitely have fun from things, but I've learned what joy is, and it's better. It's more than just passing time in an agreeable way, it brings us closer to our Heavenly Father, and brings lasting peace and hope. It makes us better people on the way, and is independent of our circumstances. That means, we can create joy, we can create our own weather! My experiences here helping others find joy, has brought me more joy than I could have found on my own searching for my own.

Have a wonderful week!

Love Sisar Mendenhall

  

What I've Learned: PRAYER  

(Finland – Week 69)

03 May 2016

My dear ystävät, you have all gone way too long without a tale of a language blunder. Fortunately, my language skills have improved over the last 18 months (yes, I hit my 18 month mark last week!) so there aren't as many, but buckle up, this one is good. We were having lunch with a wonderful Finnish woman, she loves music so I told her about the Mormon Tabernacle choir. How they are a choir of members of our church that sing wonderful hymns around the world and such. Her eyes got huge and she said, "Wow! That's amazing! Just unbelievable!" I thought, yeah they are amazing but it's not that unbelievable that members of our church can sing... She saw that I looked confused and said, "It's just amazing that they are so accomplished even though they can't hear!" I then realized I had accidentally switched the words "choir" and "deaf" saying that there was a large group of deaf members, not a large choir of members. Those words are too similar! I was rather embarrassed, my companion didn't understand why, I explained later and she found it humorous.

I can't believe I hit 18 months as a missionary last week! Serving a mission is without a doubt the best decision I have ever made. My time focusing on others and what is most important, the gospel of Jesus Christ, has changed and blessed me in more ways than I can say. Today I want to focus on one: I have truly gained a testimony of prayer. I have always prayed, my parents taught me how before I can remember, but I never prayed  before my mission like I have on my mission. Any time in the past 18 months that I have wanted to call my mom, my dad, my sisters, my brother, anyone, I haven't been able to. So instead I called on my Heavenly Father, and He listened. I asked Him my questions. I asked Him for advice. I asked Him for help. I told Him what made me happy, what parts of my day were a good surprise, I told Him when I was upset, why I was upset. This has strengthened my relationship so much with my Father in Heaven. I know prayer works. I have seen it work so many times. It's more than just a cry for help, it's communication from Heavenly Father to one of His precious children. I know that we are each children of God, and that He always listens to our prayers. I invite each of you to remember that relationship as you pray.

Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer! 

That calls me from a world of care

And bids me at my Father's throne

Make all my wants and wishes known.

In seasons of distress and grief,

My soul has often found relief

And oft escaped the tempter's snare

By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

And oft escaped the tempter's snare

By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

(Sweet Hour of Prayer, William W. Walford)

Have a wonderful week!!

Love Sisar Mendenhall

Here is my celebratory 18 month meal, carrot casserole and kiiseli:) And our Vappu meal! Brain bread and lots of other strange things that aren't really Finnish.

Reindeer Stroganoff

(Finland – Week 68)

26 April 2016

Terve, Moi, Hei,

This past week my companion decided to make beef stroganoff! We got to the store, and I decided it would be much more exciting as reindeer stroganoff! It was pretty good. I guess it might be those vegetarian years, but I really can't tell the difference between meats very well. I can only tell if it had four legs, two, or fins! Once I had salmon with reindeer meat sauce, which made me feel super Finnish!

This week I came across an awesome verse in Alma 33:23, "And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith. And behold, it will become a tree, springing up in you unto everlasting life. And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son. And even all this can ye do if ye will. Amen." I love how the gospel gives us new life, new energy. It's living like a seed, and invigorating like a constantly flowing spring of water. We have met a lot of people this past week, so many, it never ceases to amaze me that we are all different, but that the gospel works for everyone. And, no matter how many people drink from this spring, it will always be full, 

and those that drink will be filled as well.

I hope that you all have a wonderful, full week!

Love Sisar Mendenhall

Like the Army of Helaman  

(Finland Week 67)

19 APR 2016

This week we went to interim! That's the three day training for new missionaries at the mission home. We enjoyed lots of good food, very blessed food. I was asked to bless the food on one of the days, I said a great long prayer, one of those prayers where I'm sure people are wondering when we are going to actually EAT the very blessed food. I prayed for lots of great things, and ended, and realized I never actually blessed or thanked for the food. They had me pray again. Thankfully, God is patient and hears all of our prayers, and no one starved.

At interim we talked about our first memories of the Book of Mormon. I thought as far back as I could, and I remembered one night reading Alma 56 as a family. This is an amazing chapter about the stripling warriors, how they were so brave and strong in their faith. (They knew from their moms :) Yay moms!) Really though I remember it because I didn't understand what was going on. Armies and people were moving and someone was attacking someone and whatnot. My parents had us act it out so that we would understand. I remember running around the couch as the army of Helaman with a sibling and we were fighting as Antipus' army was on the other side and excitement was happening. It was a lot of fun. I thought the Nephites were super smart. Now that chapter means a lot more to me. It taught me never to fear as long as I was doing right, for then God would protect me. This meant a lot in big things like when my dad would be deployed, and in small things like "wow I have a super huge test and am way stressed". When we put our trust in the Lord, it all really does work out. Here is a great passage from Alma 56, verse 47, about the faith of the stripling warriors, "Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death;...yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them." I know that Heavenly Father really does exist, and He is watching over us daily.

IN OTHER NEWS, MY LITTLE BROTHER JUST GOT HIS MISSION CALL TO NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK!!!  I'M SO EXCITED AND PROUD AND I'M CRYING A LITTLE. YAY TAYLOR!!! LOVE YOU LITTLE BRO!

Here is a picture from interim, and a picture of me eating sardines.

 

Have a wonderful week!

Rakkaudellani, Sisar Mendenhall

My companion (and pulla) are on fire!

(Finland – Week 66)

11 April 2016

This week we answered the age old question, "What happens when you put pulla in the microwave for way way too long?" Well, it catches on fire, puts the smell of incinerated microwave parts into every room of your apartment, must be doused in a pot of water (thankfully you hadn't done your dishes yet), and prompts you to leave all of your windows open all day. No worries about all the open windows, we turned off all of the radiators, we're responsible!

My trainee right now never ceases to amaze me. She is so brave, she speaks great Finnish, and she teaches me every day. She reminds me of 1 Timothy 4:12,"Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." I thought I would be teaching everything, she is young in the field and new to Finland, but she is teaching me maybe more than I am teaching her. She has a great attitude, is happy to do new things, and is very happy to change to be better. Lots of times it's hard for us to try new things, we might mess up, we might not follow through, we might not enjoy what we chose to do. My companion has taught me a lot about not worrying about these things. Trust that the Lord will qualify you to do whatever you need, and then go for it! Jump in with both feet! With your clothes on! We don't have to know every step of the way before we can start. As long as we know in whom we have trusted, Jesus Christ, we can always go forward wonderfully.

 I love my companion, I'm really grateful she was put in my life to help me. I invite you all to look around you, and find out who's life you were put in to help.

Have a wonderful week!!

Love Sisar Mendenhall

Super sorry, I can't attach pictures for some reason. Next week!

We went and listened to a Prophet's voice!  

(Finland – Week 65) 

05 April 2016

Pro of Finland: leave your keys in the outside of your door overnight, and you'll find them there in the morning!

Pro-tip for life: don't leave your keys in the outside of your door. 

CONFERENCE!! My Dad last conference said that he didn't need to ask if I enjoyed conference, missionaries always love it the most. He was right! I hope that everyone was able to watch and re-watch and soon re-read the inspired words.

A few of my favorite things:

• I love how one speaker spoke about the tools that we have to invite others to Christ, and to fix our own lives when they get all jumbled. All of the tools are already provided, we already have everything we need. No one is ever truly lost, and no problem is ever too much. We can't always see how, but with Christ it will work out.
• Service! Service can be small things, it's all about people! People are amazing, literally each of us is unique, we should search for the things we can constantly we doing to build other people. "Love is making space for someone else in your life." Neill F Marriott
• "Choices determine destiny." from the prophet Thomas S Monson. We have the power to move our lives in the best direction, let's take advantage of that and choose to always move ourselves along the path back to our Heavenly home.

My absolute favorite is hearing the strong testimonies of Christ given by modern apostles and the prophet. They remind me of these powerful words found in the Doctrine and Covenants, "And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!" (D&C 76:22)

I wish you all the best! Have a wonderful week!

Rakkaudellani, Sisar Mendenhall

Here is a lovely picture of us in our elevator (with our keys), and of a Finnish lake.