Christmas in FINLAND

(Finland – Week 51)

28 Dec 2015

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow! Christmas in Finland was amazing!

Christmas eve we were blessed to go to a family Christmas! Presents, the big feast, all that stuff is on Christmas eve here. We ate so much delicious food, and felt like part of the family. On Christmas days we talked with OUR FAMILIES!!! Wow, I have a really awesome family. It was wonderful to see them again! We then went to a graveyard, here they cover all the graves in candles for Christmas, I tried to capture it but the pictures don't do it justice. Just imagine a sea of candles next to this awesome old church. It was so beautiful. I'm so happy for all of the members that took us in this week! Between that and seeing my family this Christmas was truly wonderful.

We decided to really focus on Christ this Christmas season, so we made a Christ wall! It's a little fuzzy in this attached picture, it's a lot cooler in real life. (The largest pictures are about 8x11 to give you a size reference.)  It's on the wall right by our desks and every day we just sit and marvel a little bit. There are so many pictures that depict so many different aspects of Christ, and all that HE does for us. On Christmas morning I made a list of reasons why Christ is my King, things like He grants me peace (He is the Prince of Peace, He rules peace), He heals the sick, raised the dead, and still worries when I have a rough day. He is truly my light, and a light to all the nations. Writing that list that morning felt wonderful, I felt so much of the Christmas joy. 1 Corinthians 3:11 reads, "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." I know that this is true, Christ is THE way. I'm so grateful for my Savior, for this Christmas season when, regardless of background, the world becomes more joyful because of Him.

This Christmas was amazing, it's the most Christ-centered Christmas I've had. I missed doing fun traditions with my family, but I really felt that my Savior was near, and that made it wonderful.

Hyvää uutta vuotta!! Happy new year!!

Love Sisar Mendenhall

HYVÄÄ HYVÄÄ HYVÄÄ JOULUA  

(Finland – Week 50)

   

                22 Dec 2015

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!! Wow Christmas has come so fast! I love the Christmas spirit, how everyone is more inclined to generosity and joy. The other day we saw our bus, and started booking it. We still had a street to cross and then probably 20 meters when the bus hit the stop, we knew we weren't going to make it. Then the bus stopped! We were so happy, we thought someone must need to get off at that stop, but then no one did. We ran on, and the bus driver just smiled and said, "I saw you running." We were so grateful for this helpful man, stopping his bus for us.

We've been showing everyone the new Christmas video, A Savior is Born. I hope you all have watched it! I've been reading one of my favorite chapters every day of Christ from the Book of Mormon, leading up to Christmas. It's been great to really focus my Christmas on Christ. Christmas time as a missionary is really different, and to make it special we've really been focusing on what Christ has done and does for us, and why He's our King. I came across this verse which talks about what happened in the Book of Mormon when Christ came, 3Nephi 1:13, "Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets." I love this verse! The first thing we are told to do, be happy and rejoice! The Savior is here! What a wonderful message. I also love how Christ came to the world, knowing all that He was to do. He knew the prophecies about Himself, He gave them to the prophets. Knowing all that He was to do, Christ still came for us. The love He has for each of us amazes me everyday.

HYVÄÄ JOULUA Love me and my companion in downtown Helsinki, check out our coordinating hats and scarves:)

VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Love Sisar Mendenhall

LITERALLY, new light in the Heavens!

(Finland – Week 49)

15 Dec 2015

Some days, people just really don't want to talk to you. Despite your best efforts, the coolest and fanciest grammar principles you know, AND the new Christmas video, some days people just don't listen. Those days can be hard, but our Heavenly Father knows that. Yesterday was one of those days. But then, last night, I saw, the NORTHERN LIGHTS. While standing and gazing at the glorious green, a shooting star streaked across the sky. Wow. (I have no pictures for proof, you all will just have to believe my words.) Seeing the Northern lights has been on my bucket list for ages! One time my family ran around a city more north than almost all of Finland looking for these lights, and we never saw them. But yesterday, after a long day of rejection, I saw them in southern Finland! And I saw a shooting star!! Wow, Heavenly Father is truly mindful of all of His children. He really does want to make sure we each have a good day.

This past week we had a mission tour! Meaning someone not in Finland came and spoke to all of the missionaries in Finland over a couple of days. At the mission tour our Mission President's wife spoke about the shepherd, meaning Jesus Christ, and how He is always with His sheep. She had us look at a picture of Christ cuddling a lamb on His breast, and of another of Christ holding the lamb draped across His shoulders. Then she asked us our thoughts. Someone was probably thinking something profound, but what came to my head was, "I wonder if the sheep was dirty, animals are never clean especially if they've been wandering around where they shouldn't have been. Jesus is just cuddling it right to Him, does it not get His clothes gross? How does it smell? How long did He carry the sheep? I wonder if it kicked Him." I don't know why I was thinking so literally, but I started pondering the condition of the lamb. I was touched to think that, even if covered in mud, Christ wouldn't have cared about that. If the lamb was kicking him or chewing on His hair, Christ would have still carried the lamb. We will never be pushed away, labeled too dirty, or rejected by Him. His light is everlasting, His patience, His love. This is one of my favorite verses of Christ in this season because the nights are so long, and the daylight so short, "He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death." (Mosiah 16:9) I know that Christ really is there to carry us, no matter our condition. He is always there to shine for us, to bring us home. I'm blessed to know what it means that a Savior is Born, and I invite all of you to share what that means to a fellow lamb, to point them to the shepherd.

We also heard from Elder Dyches from the Europe Area presidency! (If you don't know who that is, go here https://www.lds.org/church/leader/timothy-j-dyches?lang=eng :)). He's awesome. He talked to us a lot about how much we can be in control. There's a lot in life we really have no control over. A lot of things happen that are hard to explain, hard to handle, and completely unavoidable. But we have so much control, in how it affects us. Why is that? Because we can always turn to Christ to find the energy we don't have, the strength we need, and the motivation to keep going. We can choose to be happy by choosing to follow Christ. I just love learning how to be happy! It's the best and it works!

It was a really great week, and I wish you all the best week as well!

Much love and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Rakkaudellani,

Sisar Mendenhall

An afternoon in Finland:

Receiving Strength from the Vine  

(Finland – Week 48) 

8 Dec 2015

We had a really cool experience recently. And by that, I mean a really terrifying experience that could have gone terribly but in Heavenly Father's mercy it turned out awesome! We were on the bus, I was talking to one person and my companion to another, like we do several times every day. The bus driver pulled over for a stop, then parked the bus, stood up, and in a sharp voice asked if we were talking about religious things. This has never happened to me before. Finns are generally very reserved, and buses very quiet. We've had attention called to us before on the bus in a negative sense, but this was even more so because the bus driver had completely stopped to call us out. The lady my companion was talking to, was awesome. She simply said, "Yes, but I'm not bothered by it." The bus driver nodded, looked at us, went back to his seat, and carried on. The girl I was talking to also said that she was fine in our conversation. Both were very friendly, loving people. I was so grateful that day that we had sat by them. Really though, most people we talk to are friendly. I'm grateful to serve among such a wonderful people.

Just today I studied the vine of Christ in John 15. I love how Christ's disciples are extensions of the vine, we are literally His appendages on the earth. The same love we feel, the same Priesthood power we have, is felt by and had by Christ and our Heavenly Father. It's amazing that they trust us with this, they want us to have this love. By serving others we continue sending nourishment from the vine to fruit, others that need our help. And by so serving we become friends of Christ, "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." (John 15:15) We truly are serving the Lord when we serve others, we are doing what He wants to do. Imagine how Christ must want to help us every day, to hug us, to love us. We get to be there for others to give them the help they need from Christ. We all then receive more ourselves as His thank you to us for serving. This study really made me desire to serve others with everything I have, so that more of Christ's love (because all love comes from Him, see Moroni 7:13) can travel through me to others and can be felt.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!! 

We've officially decorated our apartment with real Finnish decorations. We feel so cool. Because Finnish=cool.

Have a wonderful week!

Love Sisar Mendenhall

Go watch "A Savior is Born"!

(Finland – Week 47)

01 Dec 2015

Just last night I was on exchanges (with a former companion!! Wow that was fun). And we got to do some spontaneous service. We saw a woman dragging a box down the street so we went to help. Turns out she is from Uzbekistan, slight language barrier. Her box had broken and was awkward to carry so she had been dragging it for a while and one side was totally shredded. I'm pretty sure she told us we didn't need to carry the box, but she didn't stop us when we picked it up so we figured it was ok. We followed her to a nearby shopping center where she told us to wait. She came back with string and started tying something out of it around this box (which had a microwave in it). We were so confused with how she was weaving and lacing something fancy and complicated, but when she was done it was a perfect carrier! She was very grateful for our help, and we were so happy to do so. She spoke some Finnish so we were able to share a message, and she was excited to learn more. I love the opportunities service opens.

THANKSGIVING!! I have so many things to be grateful for, my wonderful family, the Finnish people, and of course, My Savior Jesus Christ. I hope you all have seen the new video, "A Savior is Born" and the website christmas.mormon.org that goes with it (it's in Finnish too! joulu.mormon.org :) ). This Christmas season let's all remember the Savior, and the healing power He brings. I am so grateful that literally all can be right through Him, all can be healed, and we all can find great joy. Doctrine and Covenants talks about being thankful in 62:7 "I, the Lord, am willing, if any among you desire to ride upon horses, or upon mules, or in chariots, he shall receive this blessing, if he receive it from the hand of the Lord, with a thankful heart in all things." I first read this and thought, wow, chariots and mules, that's interesting. But it is pretty amazing to remember that all that we ask from the Lord can be ours when we ask in faith, and are grateful when we receive it. I am so grateful for this time of year, when so many focus on the Savior. Let's all use this time to be grateful for Him.

I wish you all the best this week!!

Love Sisar Mendenhall

MEMBERS. Are super cool.

(Finland – Week 46)

24 Nov 2015

This week we have met so many amazing people! Really, we have had so many people interested in learning more. A few times, people will only have about a minute or two on the bus with us, but they'll give us their phone number and ask us to call them. One lady asked us for a Book of Mormon in her language, gave us her phone number, and told us about where she lived in under a minute. I just forgot to get her name. Oops! I'll call and ask...

This week we had the most awesome experience with a member missionary. As sister missionaries we have a rule that we cannot teach men without another woman with us. We had a first lesson with someone that really wanted to learn, he is friends with a member and they both were SUPER excited for us to come over. Last second, the woman to come with us cancelled, and we were heartbroken. But we were already right outside his door and we refused to give up. We frantically made some calls to find someone else to come, but no one could. We called to cancel, and they were so disappointed. We started to leave, but just two minutes later we get a phone call, "Hey, we found a girl! Come back!" The member had stopped a woman walking by, and invited her to our lesson! It turns out she is a member of the church but has not come to church for about 1.5 years, and she was totally ready to come back! We taught about the Restoration, how God has called a prophet today, and everyone there participated. It was a miracle and showed how much one person can do when they have the determination. Everything just worked out perfectly, like you always hope it will. It reminded me of the scripture in John 16:33, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." We don't ever have to worry about if we can overcome the hard times, awkward times, inconvenient times, or the more serious evil influences of the world, because we never have to. Christ already did so, and we need only rely on Him, use His strength, and then all will work out for our good. It's truly the best gift, the peace of knowing that everything will turn up, everything will be fair one day.

This week we have been loving the sun! We've only seen it a few times, but it always makes us stop and think for a bit about all of the things we are grateful for. This is my companion, don't worry everyone, I haven't changed that much in a year!

Have a wonderful week!

Love Sisar Mendenhall

Homemade Hats and Giant Cheese

(Finland – Week 45)

17 Nov 2015

One day last week because of schedule madness we weren't able to go out to contact people until the evening, but, we set a goal of giving out seven copies of the Book of Mormon. We made sure we really tried to talk to everybody, and wow it was a fantastic evening! We met so many wonderful people, people that wanted to learn more, and our night kicked off a fantastic weekend. We met one woman on the train, who not only wants us to come but also took a Book of Mormon for her sister! These experiences remind me of Acts 18:9-10 "Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city." The Lord really does prepare people to learn, and He has people everywhere. Look at your friends and family, the Lord has many people in your friend circle. And thanks to technology that's not limited to just one city! When the world and our lives get crazy, hope in Christ keeps us sane, and gives us the peace that one day all will be right. Pray for and look for which of your friends you can share the hope with this week!

Pictures: It was my companion's birthday! I spent the past week of when she was in the shower making hats and hiding balloons in the apartment, it was a good day. 

Also, this is the most effective ad I have ever seen. The cheese pictured literally says "endless cheese," as evidenced by the fact that it is bigger than the world. This cheese is now in my fridge, and we have many cheesy meals and puns planned.

I wish you all the best!

Love Sisar Mendenhall

BECAUSE He is beside us  

(Finland – Week 44)  

                11 Nov 2015

This week, we lit the biggest birthday candle (yes, I know missionaries are not supposed to have candles). We were on exchanges with a former companion of mine and it was her birthday! We were having super fancy frozen pizzas and because there were five of us, we threw a bunch in the oven at the same time. Too many pizzas. The baking paper on one touched the top of the oven and promptly caught on fire. I, having gained much wisdom as a missionary, yanked it out with my hands, and ran over to the sink way too close to my companion. She, having gained great reaction time being my companion, launched backwards onto the counter. I threw the flaming paper in the sink and turned on the faucet. I don't know what mad science was happening, but that was the wrong move. The flames shot up way bigger. My companion grabbed a box of something and started dumping white powder all over at the same time one of the other sisters grabbed the fire blanket. The powdering put it out, wow I'm grateful for my companion and her ability to be much calmer in emergency situations. No one was hurt, now we know where the fire blanket is, all of the pizzas were still edible, and my former companion got an impromptu birthday candle! All of the blessings!

This week I was thinking about the words to "If the Savior Stood Beside Me", a children's song I really love. It goes:

If the Savior stood beside me,

Would I do the things I do?

Would I think of His commandments and try harder to be true?

Would I follow His example?

Would I live more righteously if I could see the Savior standing nigh,

watching over me?

I noticed that at the beginning of the verse, it says "if the Savior stood beside me", I read it like this, Is the Savior really there? If He was there what would I do? It's like when we first start to build our faith. When we first try something new, it's always a little shaky, and very easy to doubt it's future success. The song goes on to talk about what we do when we want to follow the Savior. We keep His commandments, we act as He would. Finally, at the end, after we have kept the commandments and lived as He would, it says, "if I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me". This really rang to me as doubt free. It's no longer, is my Savior there? It's BECAUSE He IS there, what will I do? There isn't a question anymore as to His presence, it's a stated fact, He's there watching over me. I was reading today about faith, how much power it has to change us, build us up, comfort us, and truly heal us. I love this simple scripture about this power, "Yea, and even all they who wrought miracles wrought them by faith, even those who were before Christ and also those who were after." (Ether 12:16) Faith is an amazing source of light and strength. I'm so grateful for everything that develops my faith every day. Faith is always worth the energy, time, and heart.

This week we got transfer calls! I'll be staying in Espoo, one of my companions is headed home, and the other is staying here with me!

Also, a member gave us a crock pot so we celebrated by eating pig heart! It was pretty yummy.

Have a great week everybody!

Love Sister Mendenhall

A Year.   

(Finland – Week 43)   

03 Nov 2015

ONE YEAR AGO... I was in the MTC, probably studying Finnish, or dreaming about Finnish, or eating my way through a bowl of tomato slices (wow, I love tomatoes). I can't believe it's been a year! I never could have dreamed up all the amazing experiences I've had, how I would change for the better, and the fantastic people I would meet. I'm so, so grateful for my mission, and I still have so much more to live and love! Wow, that sounds cheesy, but truly I'm so grateful.

I get asked a lot why, why do you learn Finnish? Why do you leave your family? Why are you talking to me? Why do you care? I get so happy when I hear these questions, because the why is amazing. Why? Because, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, came. He came for every single one of us. Through Him, we need not be sad forever, literally miracles are possible. Christ is literally the way for each of us. I have felt His influence so much over the past year, for which I will be eternally grateful. But, we don't have to be missionaries to feel and experience the love of Christ. This past week we had a family home evening with recently baptized members and we watched Meet the Mormons! That movie is a fantastic example of missionary work, those people are such great examples and sharing the video is wonderful too. (It's on Netflix, you all should watch and share it!) I really loved how a few of the people on this movie said that they aren't perfect in anything, except that they are perfect in trying. I love this, because it shows optimism. They aren't perfect, but that never gets them down. Continually progressing to become more like the Savior brings them joy. Sharing the gospel brings joy, that's promised in the scriptures, and becoming more like Christ brings joy, that's also promised in the Scriptures. I'm so grateful for the chance that I have to be here on earth, so that I can experience these two amazing things.

And to end, one of my favorites, 2 Nephi 22:

" 1 And in that day thou shalt say: O Lord, I will praise thee; though thou wast angry with me thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.

 2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation.

 3 Therefore, with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

 4 And in that day shall ye say: Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.

 5 Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things; this is known in all the earth.

 6 Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion; for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee."

Much love to you all! Have a great week and enjoy the Finnish sunset!

Love Sisar Mendenhall

We Three Sisters and Perfect Public Transportation  

(Finland – Week 42)  

27 Oct 2015

     Tuesday night phone call from President: "Hey sisters, is there room for three in your apartment?" "Yes there is!" "Ok, thanks, have a great night!" ...President knows how to pull a cliff hanger.

Wednesday morning call from President: "Good morning sisters, you're getting a third companion on Sunday." 

And then there were three. I've spent quite a bit of time in a trio already, and the past day and a half have been great! There's a third more energy, a third less cleaning, and numerous other good things. 

     This past week we've had quite a few remarkable public transportation experiences. We sprinted to the train and caught it just in time (not remarkable or unusual) and dropped into seats gasping for breath. With a chuckle my companion said to the lady in front of her, "Sometimes it's hard," and the lady said back, "yes it is, my daughter is very sick, I'm coming back from taking care of her all day." And instantly we switched from laughing and being worried about our legs to a deep conversation about this woman's needs and the love of Christ. We were so surprised, because Finns don't like sharing personal things. On public transport "What is your work" and "what is your family like?" are often viewed as too probing. To have someone open up unprompted like that was very unusual. It really showed to me how Heavenly Father provides. We don't see a lot of the work He does, but He is always there. That lady needed us right then, people that would listen and want to talk. Each person is so precious to our Father in Heaven. I've been learning more and more about how I really love people. I spent my whole life watching movies about interesting people, but all of those pale in comparison to real people. People that matter, that really have their own unique and individual purpose. The more people I meet, the more I see "that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth" (Alma 26:27) and I just want to keep meeting more and more of these wonderful people. 

     A second awesome transportation experience was on the bus. I turned to talk to a lady, and instantly she went off, loudly telling me about her very negative opinion of missionaries. The bus went dead silent, and then a man at the front stood up, walked back to where we are sitting, and said, "I don't know what kind of experiences you've had, but I am very grateful for the work you missionaries do. You are a very peaceful people. Jesus bless you." and then he went and sat back down. As unexpected as the first story I shared was, this was even more so. I am so, so grateful to that man whom I did not recognize. Grateful for the missionaries that talked to him before, and grateful for the Light of Christ in each person which inspires them to do and be good. The power of our Savior is everywhere, our job is figuring out how we can best use it in our lives. I pray I all of us and use it well. 

     Here are some pictures from our exchanges in downtown Helsinki last week. There was quite the storm! We stopped a man in the storm and he said, "Of course I believe in a higher power! Look at this storm around you!" I love how this man found his Heavenly Father in all around him.

 

Have a wonderful week!

       

Rakkaudella, 

Sisar Mendenhall

 

The Best Take Three in the History of Everything and Fridge Improv  

(Finland - Week 41)  

20 Oct 2015 

Everybody take a look down at the photos, one is of the gorgeous Helsinki temple. Guess what the other is? For all of you that guessed my fridge for the past week and a half, fantastic job! Finland always provides, our fridge waited to break until it was cold enough to keep everything outside. This has seriously improved our healthy habits: nothing to discourage over-snacking than putting everything in the frigid air. We are having fun with it (as are our neighbors I am sure), and grocery shopping is way easy with no worries of everything fitting into the fridge! We've even organized everything into different bags. Our landlord wants to buy us a new fridge, toivottavasti se tapahtuu nopeasti! But in the meantime, I have moved my ponderizing scripture onto the back door, thus it is still on the door of my fridge and I will see it often. 

This Saturday was written by the most hopeful of missionaries. At 12:00, our investigator was baptized! At 13:30, we made sure all was clean. At 14:00 a boy in the ward was baptized! At 15:30 we made sure all was clean. At 16:00 the downtown Helsinki sisters' investigator was baptized! And at 19:00 we ate a snack! Truly it was an amazing day. Our investigator was so incredibly prepared, and our mini missionary (who taught this investigator and made a huge difference) was able to come! It was definitely a day to bask in God's abundant love. I don't even know how many times in the scriptures we are invited to come unto Christ by being baptized. This morning I read in Moroni 7:34, "And he hath said: Repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and have faith in me, that ye may be saved." The chapter goes on in verses 36 and 37 to say, "Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved? Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men;" This past Saturday was the showing of great faith of three precious souls. I know that faith is real power and I love learning more about it, finding how I can tap into this power. I love this verse (41) in that same chapter, "And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise." In a world with so many distractions, it's so important to remember where our hope comes from, from our Savior Jesus Christ. Why are we baptized? To follow Him. To return back to our Heavenly Father, through Him. I am so very grateful for my Savior, I love Him so much.

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

Love Sisar Mendenhall

Let’s Learn From All the Whippersnappers  

(Finland – Week 40)  

13 Oct 2015

   Yesterday we were going to teach a family that we teach in French and Finnish. We usually use the Book of Mormon that they have at their home (which is in Swahili) but this time I felt like I should grab a French Book of Mormon too. On the train there we sat by a man, and after talking with him we could tell his native language was not Finnish or English. We asked him what it was, and he said French! I whipped out the Book of Mormon that I had in my bag in French and excitedly gave it to him. He was excited too! He stood up, and took off his hat, giving us a little bow. He could tell that the book was important, and he was so excited that he could read in French again. I'm so grateful I felt the need to grab that book; the Lord knows exactly how to take care of all of His children.

   This past week we met a man whose wife had just had a baby. He was so excited to tell us about the new child, and happily invited us back! It was wonderful to share his joy and see the effect this child had on him. The scriptures talk a lot about the power of a child, and how we need to become pure and full of love, like a child. Mosiah 3:19 reads, "For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." I love so much that of all the names God could be called by, He has chosen to be called Heavenly Father. He is our father, and He loves us more perfectly than even the most tender of parents. After we met this man we went to church, and it was our turn to give a missionary moment in the Primary. Wow, they treated us like superstars. Children have an easy tendency to love, and I loved being able to sing and share with them. 

   This past week I got to see the last session of General Conference, and I love the idea of ponderizing! I'm on my second scripture now and every time it or the first one comes up I feel a special connection to what is being said. The more we know the scriptures, the more they can help us, and I am so grateful for the help and comfort they give.

   Also, there is a fantastic street in Finland called, "kotiopetajakuja" which means, home teacher street!! Every one there must have 100% home teaching:)

        


This is a picture of me, reveling in the joy of a companion's package:) Her dad is from Tahiti, both her parents live there now.

Much love to all! Have a fantastic week!!

Love Sisar Mendenhall

Fire that your mom wants you to play with.   

(Finland – Week 39)   

06 Oct 2015 

Every Friday we plan out our whole week, and last week my companion and I were staring at our Monday that refused to be filled. No appointments were sticking, and we did not know where to go. We both got the thought that our mission president's wife would need help on that day, so we texted and she said that she would love us to come over! We went over yesterday and there were a few sisters there about to go home. We apologized that we were intruding and assured that after we had cleaned and made dinner we would leave. They all looked at us really funny and asked, "Why?" We looked at them funny and said, "Because we aren't leaving Finland." Then all those that were leaving told us that someone told them that we were going to be there that night. Finally after they each had reported that we were supposed to stay the night, we asked two more people, and then we believed them. We were so happy that the Lord was planning our Monday to get us to where we were supposed to be. We were also grateful for the extra toothbrushes and clothes kept at the mission home.

GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!! Wow, I just couldn't contain myself right there. Did you all watch it? Did you watch Elder Holland's talk and weep in gratitude for your fantastic, wonderful, amazing, super-hero mother? (Let's just say my bookmark was a tissue that night. LOVE YOU MOM! You're fantabulous.) Wow. The prophets and apostles are truly inspired men of God. I was really touched by the humility of the three new apostles called this conference session. It is amazing to see such wonderful examples that will admit they are not perfect. In fact, sometimes they feel inadequate and incapable. But, the important thing they know (and that I've been learning more and more on my mission) is that is does not matter where you are. Wherever you are now is a perfect spot to start. I noticed in the scriptures that Christ is referred to as the refiner, as in a refiner of metal. I imagine being in the refiner's fire isn't all that comfortable. Think about it, constantly being melted down, reshaped, and reformed. So what's the difference between the refiner's fire and the furnace of affliction? (1Nephi 20:10 "For, behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.") I've been thinking how much care the refiner has for his metal. He sees the potential, he sees something precious, of incredibly great worth. He spends countless hours and constant care, melting that metal over and over. Obviously to the refiner, this task is of the upmost importance and done with great care. What is the use of a furnace? To burn something down into nothingness. So although both are not comfortable, in the refiner's fire we have the constant care and attention of our Savior, we are constantly becoming better and valued for our precious divine nature. This discomfort leads to something better, and this discomfort eventually will end and be replaced with eternal joy. I'm so grateful for the constant refinement and care that Christ has for me, for each of us. He truly wants us all to have the best, and to be the best. We need only trust that He knows the best, and then follow His example. I love my Savior, I love conference, and I am so grateful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which is truly Christ's church on earth again. Everyone, go watch or re-watch conference. Ihan nyt. Right now.

Here is a picture of me, riding my teeter-totter horse to the rescue, and then getting down to business. To defeat the Hun(s)ger for the gospel.

Rakkaudellani,

Sisar Mendenhall

Go watch conference as a family and eat uugali.‏ 

(Finland – week 38) 

29 Sep 15

What a week!

I had Uugali for the first time! No idea if that's how you spell it. Our African recent convert made it for us, and I ate it with my fingers in a way that would make my poor father cringe. (Dad, maybe you should skip to the next paragraph.) So uugali is corn flour paste in a consistency thicker than mashed potatoes but thinner than clay. It's on a big plate in the middle and everyone pulls off a chunk, massages it into a ball, and dips it in this spinach sauce. We had it with fish, still no utensils. It was super yummy and I'm not even sick! Blessings are real. I was so impressed by this uugali, it inspired my cleaning today (see attached picture).

I went to the doctor this week and there was a TV in the waiting room. It was ok, until the second Harry Potter came on. We didn't know what to do, we shouldn't watch but we couldn't leave yet! We decided to go to the free hot chocolate machine. And then to go to the free hot chocolate machine again. We were able to resist the TV, and the hot chocolate was way good.

We met a girl on the train who was really nice! And then we learned she was deaf. We started writing notes back and forth, and we invited her to conference! I'm so excited for general conference this week. We've been telling everyone we can that twice a year God's prophets and apostles speak to the whole world, and it's happening this weekend! That usually gets people to stop and listen. And rightfully so, because it's amazing. Amazing that God loves us so much that He wants to be in direct communication with us through prayer, scriptures, church, AND living prophets (and a lot more). Amazing that God is truly the same, yesterday today and forever. Amazing that when we listen to the words of the prophets and apostles, we can literally receive answers to any question. Amazing that when we listen to the prophets, we cannot go astray. We are promised in Mosiah 15:11 "Behold I say unto you, that whosoever has heard the words of the prophets, yea, all the holy prophets who have prophesied concerning the coming of the Lord—I say unto you, that all those who have hearkened unto their words, and believed that the Lord would redeem his people, and have looked forward to that day for a remission of their sins, I say unto you, that these are his seed, or they are the heirs of the kingdom of God." I am so grateful for prophets. The other day we watched a talk by the Prophet, Thomas S. Monson, in Swahili with an African woman, it was amazing that I still felt the calming influence of the Spirit, even though I could not understand the words. I love hearing the words of the prophets, they bring me such peace and knowledge. Mosiah 15:14 "And these are they who have published peace, who have brought good tidings of good, who have published salvation; and said unto Zion: Thy God reigneth!" I know that God has called a prophet, and that he is speaking this weekend. Everyone go listen! Go hear the good tidings of joy, go learn of salvation. One of our investigators received a testimony of prophets recently, and hearing her sweet words talking about her knowledge that God still speaks to us, was one of my favorite parts of the week. I am so grateful to our Father in Heaven for prophets. I know they are special witnesses of Christ. I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on conference next Tuesday!

It's super dark at night now, the temple is so beautifully and brilliantly white against the sky!

Much love! Have a fantastic week (even though I know you will because you all with go watch general conference on www.lds.org/general-conference)!

Sisar Mendenhall

Finding my way back, squared.  

(Finland - Week 37)  

22 Sep 2015

           This past week I had the scariest 30 minutes of my life. I was talking to a lady on the bus and my companion was a few seats back, talking to a couple of girls. Our stop came so I finished my conversation and hopped off. The doors started to shut, and with obvious and complete terror on my face, I realized my companion had missed our stop. She turned in time to see my dropped jaw and paralyzed limbs. Frantically, she motioned and mouthed, "GO HOME! GO HOME!!!!" and then the bus took off. And for the first time in nearly a year, I was alone. Wow. You would think I would enjoy being alone for a bit, I did not. I got this nervous laugh for a few minutes, realized how crazy I must have looked, and then walked home as fast as I could without my skirt flying everywhere. I made it home safely, surely dodging thousands of miscreants along the way (not really, Finland is as safe as you can be, I was just not used to being alone), and waited. After twenty minutes I heard a loud thump and jump, my companion had decided to creep in the back window instead of using the door. That was exciting. I let her in and felt much, much better.

           Also this past week, I have been really, really tired. Missionaries are always tired, but sometimes we are just exhausted. I felt really down, and did not have the emotional energy to talk to a stranger that probably didn't want me to talk to them. I plopped down on the bus, refusing in my heart to open my mouth, and then something told me, just do it, it will be worth it. So I did, and I met one of the nicest people I have met my entire time of being a missionary. She was so grateful I had talked to her, so grateful for the Book of Mormon (she started showing it to others saying, "Look at the gift she just gave me!"), and such a good-hearted person. My companion saw how well the conversation was going so when the lady stood up to leave, she hopped off the bus (I followed, no separation anxiety anymore!) and we continued talking to this wonderful woman. I am so grateful for that woman. I needed someone right then that was going to be nice, that was going to give me energy when I had none. Our Father in Heaven and Savior are so, so attentive. Sometimes we think they aren't, but they always are. They are always watching and always know what is best. I am reminded of the promise we make at baptism, "to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;" (Mosiah 18:8) as well as the Saviors words in Matthew 11:28-30 "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." We are promised rest when we turn to the Savior, and I can testify that this is true. We cannot always find rest within ourselves, it's just not always there. But in Christ, it is, rest and peace are always there. I love my Savior, I know He is the way for each one of us.

In other fantastic news, I found a frog!!! I named him Leopald III, I intended for him to be named after a Belgian king, but I could have spelled it wrong. He is a very classy, very kingly frog.

This other picture is of my companion in the woods on a walk home.

Thanks for all of your support! I love you all! Until next week,

Sisar Mendenhall

The Wallet Prayer

(Finland – Week 36)

15 Sep 2015

We are currently emailing in a new place, and it's the coolest library ever. It has all these modern chairs, glass everywhere, and a bridge that leads... to no where! I can't even comprehend all the symbolism and deep thought, it's super great. I'm more cultured just by sitting in here.

This week we had an awesome experience with prayer! A lady was looking through the bushes with a shovel, obviously she lost something. We asked if we could help, she said she had misplaced her wallet which had everything in it. ID cards, bank cards, bus card, everything. We happily whipped out our umbrellas and started parting the bush sea in search of the wallet. After about 10 minutes of fruitless searching, my awesome companion said, "I know how to find it! Let's say a prayer!" So the three of us huddled together and prayed right on the street. After the prayer the woman let out her breath, and thanked us for the beautiful prayer. Her stress had melted from her face and she said that she knew her wallet would be found. She said that from the moment we approached she new who we were, one because no one else wore skirts like ours, but also because only people like us would stop to help. She accepted a Book of Mormon, and promised to read it. We never found the wallet, but we saw her again just last night. She was with a group of friends, and she flagged us down. She yelled across the square that she had found her wallet, and that she knew it was because of our prayer. She then excitedly started telling her friends about prayer. It was so wonderful to see this woman recognize an answer to a prayer. I don't remember even learning how to pray, I've done it my whole life, seeing someone who just discovered the miracle of prayer for the first time was fantastic. It reminded me of how special prayer really is. Enos in the Book of Mormon received an answer to his prayer, and he asked, how did this happen? His answer was, "And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ,whom thou hast never before heard nor seen... wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole." (Enos 1:8) I know that prayer works, that it's so simple but profound. Think about it, every time we pray we are in contact with our Heavenly Father, we feel the Holy Ghost, and we pray in the name of Christ, we involve every member of the Godhead! I love prayer, I have found so much comfort, peace, and answers. Prayer is real, it works.

If you all would open your May 2015 copies of the ensign and look on page 108, you will see a cute family sitting on a lovely bench. That bench is in the church of my first area in Finland!! You can look at that and imagine me sitting there, doing something missionary-y like reading my scriptures. I definitely have read my scriptures there. I think I also napped there once, we had to skip dinner for something so we took a little break at the church and I took a few minutes to re-energize. Anyway, it's a pretty great bench. I don't actually know the family though, I think they were from a different congregation. Also in the same Ensign, on the computer screen on page 74, is Finnish!!!! Also, read the talks from this Ensign, they're even more fantastic than the bench.

This picture is of my companion! And the beauty of Finland never ceases to amaze.

Much love! Have a wonderful week!

Sisar Mendenhall

        

Real Love

(Finland – Week 35)

08 Sep 15

The other day we were at this old couple's house and they had this strange meat that they said missionaries weren't allowed to eat, but that they had made chicken for us. I asked what the suspicious meat was, and was appalled when they told me it was hedgehog! What?! I imagined my little sister's poor pet upon our platters. I didn't really want to believe it was true so I asked, "Do you mean the little animal with spikes that runs around at night?" (There are lots of hedgehogs here.) They looked at me funny, and said, "no, it's fish." I was super confused so I had them it spell for me, S-I-L-L-I.   I went home and looked up hedgehog in the dictionary, it's spelled S-I-I-L-I, how could I possibly have mixed those two? To add to my shame (just kidding, I feel no shame, those words are basically the same) my companion saw this sign advertising Finnish classes a few days later, it was too perfect in light of that meal. I'm just grateful that people here don't eat hedgehog, and if they do I'll pretend it's silli (herring).

A lot of other missionaries ask us how to find joy, and it all goes back to the same thing, knowing that our Savior Jesus Christ, and our Heavenly Father love us perfectly. I read 2 Corinthians 4 this morning, here is a good chunk from it:

 "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." 

Wow. I know that Christ has been there for each and every one of us. He is with us always, and thus we never can be beaten. We will be beaten down, hurt, and slip, but we will never ever be done. That gives me such joy, to know that we are already destined to succeed. God doesn't give us the spirit of fear, "but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2

Tim 1:7) God's entire purpose is literally to help us, "For behold this is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39) The more we can realize that, that we have literally the Creator of the universe on our side, the more we can confidence in our lives, joy in keeping the commandments of God, and happiness in the life to come. I love my Savior! Every time I study joy I am reminded how much He loves me. That love is very, very real.

Much love to you all!

More wonderfully dramatic shots from my fantastic photographer companion.

Much love, Sisar Mendenhall

Stopping a train, with my face.‏  

(Finland – Week 34)  

31 Aug 2015

Ok, so I guess I stopped the train with my whole body, not just my face. I was hopping off a train the other day and a man that was just about to hop on said, "Hei Sisaret!" He quickly got on so I whipped around and punched the button to open the doors. I asked the man if he knew anything about us, I don't remember what he said, the doors started to shut again and because the train was ready to go I couldn't push the open door button again, but I couldn't let him just go. In a moment of slightly-less-than-clear clarity, I stuck half my body in so the doors shut on me. Thank goodness for safety features that prevented half of my body from traveling back to Kerava, the doors popped back open again, and I was able to hold the train and give this man a Book of Mormon. He was really grateful, as was I for my intact torso. The conductor was less grateful, I hope the rest of his day went well.

I came across this scripture recently and I was really touched as I focused on the first 12 words. This is Alma 7:13, "Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me." The Spirit knows everything, Christ could have been taught everything he needed to know by the Spirit, He did not need to suffer for us so that he could know how to succor us perfectly, to love us perfectly, or to have any personal gain. Our Savoir suffered purely for us. Everything He did was for us, everything He still does is for us. As I've come closer to Him on my mission I have felt more joy than ever before in my life. I know He lives. I know He loves each of us. This motivates me so much that I feel like Lehi who said, after having a dream in which he tasted from the Tree of Life (representing eternal life), "And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit." That's why I'm here, that's why I find joy in being shut in train doors, Christ truly can give us all the peace and happiness possible, which is much more than we can imagine.

Oh, also we got change calls! I'll be staying in Espoo and so is my companion! It's so nice to not have to pack. This picture is courtesy of my companion, she enjoys dramatic settings.

Have a fantastic viikko!

Love Sisar Mendenhall