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