Happy Birthday Mom!  

(Finland - Week 28)  

21 July 2015

This week we:

·   Witnessed a crazy intense thunder storm. Whilst on the back porch the air flashed and the thunder followed right after, I am now endowed with the power of lightning. 

·    Had exchanges in east Helsinki, were late getting out the door, and booked it to our train with suitcase and cups of soup in tow. We missed the train, but we had delicious soup.

·    Could not find said sisters in east Helsinki, so my companion started whistling "Called to Serve", shortly thereafter we heard the tune being whistled back! We found the sisters.

·    Contacted a man on the street who had been praying to know what to do with his life earlier that day. We walked him to the temple which was conveniently around the corner, and he said "Thank you, I'm going to go pray there now." 

Most amazingly, this past Saturday two of our investigators were baptized, confirmed members of the church, and given the gift of the Holy Ghost. They were a mother and daughter and wow, the Spirit was incredibly strong. They were so happy, there was such a light in their eyes. We sang this together at the end of the service, 

"I have a fam'ly here on earth.
They are so good to me.
I want to share my life with them through all eternity.
Fam'lies can be together forever
Through Heav'nly Father's plan.
I always want to be with my own family,
And the Lord has shown me how I can.
The Lord has shown me how I can."

I am so grateful for my family, and that Heavenly Father has made it possible for me to live with them forever. No one has a "perfect" family (honestly though, mine is pretty close, well perfectly awesome, maybe not perfectly perfect) but everyone has a perfect Father, a Father that lives and loves them. Yesterday a fellow Sister taught me more about how important that is, that we literally have a Heavenly Father. We literally cannot do anything to stop His love. If we take one step and think we should have taken ten, He doesn't care, He's clapping like it's the first step of a newborn child. I love my Heavenly Father a lot, I'm grateful for everything that helps me get to know Him better. 

Much Love from Suomi! (Where one can find the gate to Narnia, here is photographic evidence)

and, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!! Everyone go tell my Mother Happy Birthday! Love you Mom!!

Love Sisar Mendenhall