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