Awkward  to Awesome 

(Finland – week 8)

24 Feb 15

Tervetuloa! 

It's been another great week and super warm, we are wondering why Spring is already here. It was a particularly delicious week thanks to the district bake off! Two companionships (us included) didn't actually bake, but it was all so good!

Finnish fun for the week:
Kun lakkaa satamasta, haetaan lakka satamasta. "When it stops raining, get the paint from the harbor." Things like this make conversation very exciting, when I only understand part of a sentence my response takes the conversation on a very different path. (My companion's reaction time has gotten really quick.) That's ok, my trainer said once someone asked her about the Restoration and Joseph Smith, and she was so excited to testify and share the gospel. Turns out, the person was asking about something totally different, but they then had a great conversation. On the bus the other day I was talking to a lady, trying to have a conversation on my own, one thing led to another, and suddenly she was crying. I testified of Christ and how through Him all wounds can be healed, I hope I didn't make her cry, but I know I made her smile at the end!

We have new investigators! It is wonderful! We are so excited to teach them and to help them grow in the knowledge of the gospel. What's also wonderful is when they read the Book of Mormon and do other things we tell them to do on their own. As missionaries, we tell people to do a lot of things, and often at first they are uncomfortable and awkward. However, once someone adopts these habits, they see why we tell them to do these things. This pattern of "man that sounds awkward" to "man this is awesome!" goes for lots of things God commands us to do. So what's the solution? Trust the Lord through the awkward! He doesn't give commandments without a purpose. Uncomfortable is a very good thing when it means we're trying to change for the better. Something that I definitely found uncomfortable about before my mission was missionary work. I never knew how to start. Lots of times we share the gospel without realizing it, and when people see it, they notice a difference but don't know why. We can find this in Acts 2:37, "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Lots of your friends, family, and acquaintances have probably felt just like this, and want to know what to do next. They probably won't ask, because remember, it's awkward. So you go be the icebreaker. Maybe they aren't ready yet, but you don't know that until you ask.

For all of you nonmembers reading this, I testify that this is true, and challenge you to visit Mormon.org, meet with the missionaries, and revel in the awkward. You won't regret it, and if you do what they say you'll come to love and know it. That's a promise at the end of the Book of Mormon:

"Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

"And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." (Moroni 10:3-5)

I testify that Christ lives, He love you, and He wants to be a greater part of your life. I know this, now you go learn it. 

Love you all!

Sisar Mendenhall