Belgians and Brothers  

(Finland – Week 16)  

21 April 2015

Many adventures this week! We went to the temple on Wednesday because we have a companion that is new in the mission. It was amazing! It is so great to feel God's love in His house. We also had zone conference this past weekend with the Tampere zone (I'm in the Helsinki zone, there are four zones in our mission) and we had to be at Tampere by 7 in the morning. That meant we had to be on our charter bus in Helsinki at 4:30 in the morning, but the buses and trains don't run that early so that meant we had to walk, and that meant we had to stay at the Sister's apartment in downtown Helsinki. All in all we got up at the lovely hour of 2:30, got ready, and walked to the central train station amongst the revelers that had yet to go to sleep. It was totally worth it! Elder Nielson (he spoke in general conference about the prodigal son and his sister Susan) spoke to us and he served a mission in Finland! He knew exactly what we are all trying to do, and exactly what we needed to hear. It was obviously way super great because after only four hours of sleep we all stayed awake through a four hour meeting. 

I met a Belgian yesterday!! I was so excited I literally jumped. She knew Mons (my city) and good chocolate and lots of other life-and-death details of Belgium. We spoke in Finnish, I can't remember too much French, it made my day.

I was reading in Alma the other day and I just love the advice he gives to his sons. This first one is to Alma's son Corianton who had just been a huge punk and committed terrible sins, Alma 39:10, "And I command you to take it upon you to counsel with your elder brothers in your undertakings; for behold, thou art in thy youth, and ye stand in need to be nourished by your brothers. And give heed to their counsel." I just love the counsel to talk with his brothers. Imagine the humility it would take for him to go to his brothers and say, I really need help, and the comfort from knowing that no matter what he said, his brothers would still love him. I love my siblings a lot, and I just imagined us having a little pow-wow. Of course they would be disappointed, but they would care so much more about getting me back to where I needed to be than anything else. Christ is our older brother, and just as Corianton was to counsel with his brothers, we are to follow the counsel of Christ. "And now, my son, I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ. Behold, he is the life and the light of the world. Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness." (Alma 38:9) I just love how much the Book of Mormon talks about Christ. It truly is another testament of Him, and He truly wants us to come home. 

Much love from Finland! 

Sisar Mendenhall