What I Learned: REPENTANCE

 

(Finland – week 71)

  16 May 2016

Rakkaat ystävät,

Wow it's been an amazing week! We had stake conference on Sunday, so I got to see all of my dear friends from Espoo, Haaga, and Neitsytpolku. It was a wonderful day!

I feel that repentance often has a bad reputation. It's looked at as the word yelled on street corners or something you do as a punishment for doing something wrong. But that is not right. Repentance as defined in the Bible dictionary is, “a change of mind, a fresh view about God, about oneself, and about the world. Since we are born into conditions of mortality, repentance comes to mean a turning of the heart and will to God, and a renunciation of sin to which we are naturally inclined." Repentance is change. It is coming closer to Christ, which means finding peace, hope, and becoming better. Repentance is what fills us with the love and light of Christ. "And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God." (Moroni 8:26) Elder Moreira spoke yesterday at stake conference, and he said something wonderful about the gospel. Life is complicated. So we think we need big complicated answers to handle our complicated lives. But we do not, we need only repent (change for the better) daily, and then we will be filled with the love of Christ. It is simple. It works. We know that the less parts something has, the less likely a problem will occur. I'm so grateful that the gospel of Jesus Christ doesn't have a thousand complicated parts, it's truly very simple. I'm so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ, if I have done or become anything good, it is because through Him I am able to do and become good. I love my Savior Jesus Christ. And I testify that He lives.

I wish you all the best! Have a wonderful week.

                                                                                                                                           

Rakkaudellani, Sisar Mendenhall

P.S. This is Julia's mom, making my last addition to the blog.  Julia comes home tomorrow!  It has been a fabulous 19 months and I have enjoyed posting her reports, thoughts and insights.  Just for fun, here is the first picture we received of her on her mission(in the MTC cafeteria) and the last image we got before she comes home(a screen shot of our Mother's Day call three days ago). 19 months of growth, she's beautiful!!

  

What I've Learned: JOY  

(Finland - Week 70)

10 May 2016

This past week has been wonderful!! Happy Mothers' Day to all of you mothers and to everyone
else as we celebrate our remarkable mothers:) It was wonderful to see my family! We also went to Suomenlinna last preparation day, it's a island castle fortress where people still live. The views were beautiful.

Part two of what I've learned, joy. The past 18 months can sound pretty rough if you focus on certain aspects. For example, I have never been so tired. But, the much more impressive aspect, is that never in my life have I felt so much joy. "Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name." (Alma 26:35) I LOVE this verse, we always have great reason to have joy. God wants us to have joy. He made us to have joy. Joy doesn't come from having a lot of things, or having time to clock out from responsibility, joy comes from actively doing good. We have fun with lots of these other things, I still definitely have fun from things, but I've learned what joy is, and it's better. It's more than just passing time in an agreeable way, it brings us closer to our Heavenly Father, and brings lasting peace and hope. It makes us better people on the way, and is independent of our circumstances. That means, we can create joy, we can create our own weather! My experiences here helping others find joy, has brought me more joy than I could have found on my own searching for my own.

Have a wonderful week!

Love Sisar Mendenhall

  

What I've Learned: PRAYER  

(Finland – Week 69)

03 May 2016

My dear ystävät, you have all gone way too long without a tale of a language blunder. Fortunately, my language skills have improved over the last 18 months (yes, I hit my 18 month mark last week!) so there aren't as many, but buckle up, this one is good. We were having lunch with a wonderful Finnish woman, she loves music so I told her about the Mormon Tabernacle choir. How they are a choir of members of our church that sing wonderful hymns around the world and such. Her eyes got huge and she said, "Wow! That's amazing! Just unbelievable!" I thought, yeah they are amazing but it's not that unbelievable that members of our church can sing... She saw that I looked confused and said, "It's just amazing that they are so accomplished even though they can't hear!" I then realized I had accidentally switched the words "choir" and "deaf" saying that there was a large group of deaf members, not a large choir of members. Those words are too similar! I was rather embarrassed, my companion didn't understand why, I explained later and she found it humorous.

I can't believe I hit 18 months as a missionary last week! Serving a mission is without a doubt the best decision I have ever made. My time focusing on others and what is most important, the gospel of Jesus Christ, has changed and blessed me in more ways than I can say. Today I want to focus on one: I have truly gained a testimony of prayer. I have always prayed, my parents taught me how before I can remember, but I never prayed  before my mission like I have on my mission. Any time in the past 18 months that I have wanted to call my mom, my dad, my sisters, my brother, anyone, I haven't been able to. So instead I called on my Heavenly Father, and He listened. I asked Him my questions. I asked Him for advice. I asked Him for help. I told Him what made me happy, what parts of my day were a good surprise, I told Him when I was upset, why I was upset. This has strengthened my relationship so much with my Father in Heaven. I know prayer works. I have seen it work so many times. It's more than just a cry for help, it's communication from Heavenly Father to one of His precious children. I know that we are each children of God, and that He always listens to our prayers. I invite each of you to remember that relationship as you pray.

Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer! 

That calls me from a world of care

And bids me at my Father's throne

Make all my wants and wishes known.

In seasons of distress and grief,

My soul has often found relief

And oft escaped the tempter's snare

By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

And oft escaped the tempter's snare

By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

(Sweet Hour of Prayer, William W. Walford)

Have a wonderful week!!

Love Sisar Mendenhall

Here is my celebratory 18 month meal, carrot casserole and kiiseli:) And our Vappu meal! Brain bread and lots of other strange things that aren't really Finnish.

Reindeer Stroganoff

(Finland – Week 68)

26 April 2016

Terve, Moi, Hei,

This past week my companion decided to make beef stroganoff! We got to the store, and I decided it would be much more exciting as reindeer stroganoff! It was pretty good. I guess it might be those vegetarian years, but I really can't tell the difference between meats very well. I can only tell if it had four legs, two, or fins! Once I had salmon with reindeer meat sauce, which made me feel super Finnish!

This week I came across an awesome verse in Alma 33:23, "And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith. And behold, it will become a tree, springing up in you unto everlasting life. And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son. And even all this can ye do if ye will. Amen." I love how the gospel gives us new life, new energy. It's living like a seed, and invigorating like a constantly flowing spring of water. We have met a lot of people this past week, so many, it never ceases to amaze me that we are all different, but that the gospel works for everyone. And, no matter how many people drink from this spring, it will always be full, 

and those that drink will be filled as well.

I hope that you all have a wonderful, full week!

Love Sisar Mendenhall

Like the Army of Helaman  

(Finland Week 67)

19 APR 2016

This week we went to interim! That's the three day training for new missionaries at the mission home. We enjoyed lots of good food, very blessed food. I was asked to bless the food on one of the days, I said a great long prayer, one of those prayers where I'm sure people are wondering when we are going to actually EAT the very blessed food. I prayed for lots of great things, and ended, and realized I never actually blessed or thanked for the food. They had me pray again. Thankfully, God is patient and hears all of our prayers, and no one starved.

At interim we talked about our first memories of the Book of Mormon. I thought as far back as I could, and I remembered one night reading Alma 56 as a family. This is an amazing chapter about the stripling warriors, how they were so brave and strong in their faith. (They knew from their moms :) Yay moms!) Really though I remember it because I didn't understand what was going on. Armies and people were moving and someone was attacking someone and whatnot. My parents had us act it out so that we would understand. I remember running around the couch as the army of Helaman with a sibling and we were fighting as Antipus' army was on the other side and excitement was happening. It was a lot of fun. I thought the Nephites were super smart. Now that chapter means a lot more to me. It taught me never to fear as long as I was doing right, for then God would protect me. This meant a lot in big things like when my dad would be deployed, and in small things like "wow I have a super huge test and am way stressed". When we put our trust in the Lord, it all really does work out. Here is a great passage from Alma 56, verse 47, about the faith of the stripling warriors, "Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death;...yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them." I know that Heavenly Father really does exist, and He is watching over us daily.

IN OTHER NEWS, MY LITTLE BROTHER JUST GOT HIS MISSION CALL TO NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK!!!  I'M SO EXCITED AND PROUD AND I'M CRYING A LITTLE. YAY TAYLOR!!! LOVE YOU LITTLE BRO!

Here is a picture from interim, and a picture of me eating sardines.

 

Have a wonderful week!

Rakkaudellani, Sisar Mendenhall

My companion (and pulla) are on fire!

(Finland – Week 66)

11 April 2016

This week we answered the age old question, "What happens when you put pulla in the microwave for way way too long?" Well, it catches on fire, puts the smell of incinerated microwave parts into every room of your apartment, must be doused in a pot of water (thankfully you hadn't done your dishes yet), and prompts you to leave all of your windows open all day. No worries about all the open windows, we turned off all of the radiators, we're responsible!

My trainee right now never ceases to amaze me. She is so brave, she speaks great Finnish, and she teaches me every day. She reminds me of 1 Timothy 4:12,"Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." I thought I would be teaching everything, she is young in the field and new to Finland, but she is teaching me maybe more than I am teaching her. She has a great attitude, is happy to do new things, and is very happy to change to be better. Lots of times it's hard for us to try new things, we might mess up, we might not follow through, we might not enjoy what we chose to do. My companion has taught me a lot about not worrying about these things. Trust that the Lord will qualify you to do whatever you need, and then go for it! Jump in with both feet! With your clothes on! We don't have to know every step of the way before we can start. As long as we know in whom we have trusted, Jesus Christ, we can always go forward wonderfully.

 I love my companion, I'm really grateful she was put in my life to help me. I invite you all to look around you, and find out who's life you were put in to help.

Have a wonderful week!!

Love Sisar Mendenhall

Super sorry, I can't attach pictures for some reason. Next week!

We went and listened to a Prophet's voice!  

(Finland – Week 65) 

05 April 2016

Pro of Finland: leave your keys in the outside of your door overnight, and you'll find them there in the morning!

Pro-tip for life: don't leave your keys in the outside of your door. 

CONFERENCE!! My Dad last conference said that he didn't need to ask if I enjoyed conference, missionaries always love it the most. He was right! I hope that everyone was able to watch and re-watch and soon re-read the inspired words.

A few of my favorite things:

• I love how one speaker spoke about the tools that we have to invite others to Christ, and to fix our own lives when they get all jumbled. All of the tools are already provided, we already have everything we need. No one is ever truly lost, and no problem is ever too much. We can't always see how, but with Christ it will work out.
• Service! Service can be small things, it's all about people! People are amazing, literally each of us is unique, we should search for the things we can constantly we doing to build other people. "Love is making space for someone else in your life." Neill F Marriott
• "Choices determine destiny." from the prophet Thomas S Monson. We have the power to move our lives in the best direction, let's take advantage of that and choose to always move ourselves along the path back to our Heavenly home.

My absolute favorite is hearing the strong testimonies of Christ given by modern apostles and the prophet. They remind me of these powerful words found in the Doctrine and Covenants, "And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!" (D&C 76:22)

I wish you all the best! Have a wonderful week!

Rakkaudellani, Sisar Mendenhall

Here is a lovely picture of us in our elevator (with our keys), and of a Finnish lake.

HYVÄÄ PÄÄSIÄISTÄ!  

(Finland – Week 64)  

29 Mar 2016

So, I'm sure you are all wondering where my blog post was last week, let me explain:

• We got so lost that we just never made it to the library in time. (Just kidding! But our getting lost the other day made us a great friend that walked us to our destination, which was 5 minutes away. I love Finns!)
• I took candy from a stranger and had severe food poisoning. (Just kidding! The stranger's candy was delicious and helped my teeth! So she said...)
• I ate too much mämmi and went into a rye-induced coma. (Just kidding! But I did eat more mämmi at dinner than all of the Finns, combined...)
• I was kidnapped. (This one isn't true either, in fact, this one didn't even happen. But all of the other things did.)

Really, there just weren't enough computers at the library so I had a tablet and couldn't type fast enough. Sorry everyone! 

By the way... My new companion is awesome! She's so brave, and we are having a wonderful time together. This is a picture of us eating strawberry and chocolate peeps, a delicious gift from my parents. Funny thing, the only pictures I have of us are with food. Needless to say, we get along quite well.

HAPPY EASTER!!! Wow I hope everyone got to see the "Hallelujah" video on followHim.mormon.org. It's such a beautiful reminder of our Savior, and that everything it truly possible because of Him. We have had a lovely time telling everyone about our Savior this past week. The resurrection truly is my favorite story of Jesus. I love every story, but reading about Him speaking to Mary and His apostles after He is resurrected is my favorite, "And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay...And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word." (Matthew 28:5-6,8) I love how much joy this message contains, He did it! He broke the bands of death! He is truly the Son of God! He wasn't there, He was risen. And because He is risen, every single one of us can become better, can improve, and can be lifted to a better place. I also love that these women ran to tell others the good news, I'm so grateful I can share the good news with others.

I hope you all have a wonderful week! 

Rakkaudellani, Sisar Mendenhall

Hands of the Lord   

(Finland – Week 62)   

14 Mar 2016

"Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matthew 25:34-40)

This is how I felt this past week, so completely taken care of by the hands of such good people. We received transfer calls this week and after many months, I will be leaving the wonderful city of Espoo. I have truly loved my time here, because of the most amazing people. Sunday was a little hard to say goodbye to lots of people I love, lots of people that took me in. On Christmas, on New Year's, on every kind of day from summer to fall to winter and finally to spring (yes! We have seen some green in Espoo! It was quickly covered by snow, but it's there.) These wonderful people have treated me as one of their own. Their service has helped me come to know my Savior better, because they have taught me more of what He would do, were He here with us right now. Let us all do our part to be the Lord's hands, to help all of His children return safely home. And then when we all do arrive, we can hear Him say these wonderful words above that we read from Matthew.

I will be going to... DOWNTOWN HELSINKI WITH A TRAINEE!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW I AM SO EXCITED!!! (I might have cried a little bit when I got the news...) This is my last transfer, and exactly what I wanted to do. Train in the area with the most people in all of Finland! I will get to meet so many people, and learn so many things from my new companion. It's going to be a wonderful transfer. I literally jumped out of my seat when I got the news. I hope I don't cry when I get my trainee, that might freak her out. Katsotaan...

Best of luck to you all!! Love Sisar Mendenhall

Check out our Moses parting the Red Sea cupcake, and the traditional chocolate-nougat-eggs-in-a-real-egg-shell eggs!

"What work of  love was wrought for me in the stillness of Gethsemane!"  

(Finland – Week 61)  

08 Mar 2016

Terve!

Car adventure of the week: we didn't have our gas card yet last Saturday, but we were sure we had enough gas and wouldn't need it so we told everyone in the office that they could go home. Kids, always check your gas before you tell everyone in the office not to worry about your gas card for the weekend. To our dismay we learned that we were abysmally low on fuel. No worries! I had my card. Well they didn't accept my card. We then had to concoct a righteous scheme to obtain our gas card on Saturday when no one was in the office. Thankfully one of the senior missionaries just happened to be in the office! We never even had to push the car.

Wow it's been another good one here in Finland. My Mission President's family has been visiting for a few weeks, they're wonderful! They helped us wash our car today (see attached picture). They also sang a beautiful song for us called "Gethsemane" by Sally DeFord, it goes like this:

Gethsemane lay still and dark; creation watched in silent awe

As Jesus suffered His Father’s will to satisfy unyielding law.

He knelt in earnest prayer alone. His friends, o’ercome with sorrow, slept.

Beneath the burden of grief, He groaned; beneath the weight of sin he wept,

And with his blood so freely spent, He bought my soul; He paid my debt.

What work of love was wrought for me in the stillness of Gethsemane!

“This bitter cup wilt thou remove? Yet not my will, but Thine be done.”

Behold His anguish, and weep anew for love of Christ, the sinless one.

With His wounds my own are healed; my ev’ry pain o’ercome in His,

My shame, my weakness, my grief untold find ranson in His priceless gift.

For with his blood so freely spent, He bought my soul; He paid my debt.

What work of love was wrought for me in the stillness of Gethsemane!

This song is a beautiful reminder of what our Savior has done for each of us. And it was so wonderful to hear their children sing this song! It reminded me of a verse in Mosiah 3:19, "For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love," Christ was the perfect example of being humble and submissive to His Father, He knew His Father knew best. And I am so grateful that He completed the will of His Father! Because of that, the words to this song are true. So really, being childlike is not being childish, trusting in our Heavenly Father and turning our will over to Him is truly the most mature thing we can do.

I wish you all the best! Have a wonderful maaliskuu!

Rakkaudellani, Sisar Mendenhall

Juicing and Driving

(Finland - Week 60)  

01 Mar 2016

This week, we got a car! It's pretty crazy, I am way more uncomfortable driving now than I was in Vaasa, but we've been safe so far! We also had great fun with a juicer this week at someone's house. The bottom spun by itself so all you had to do was press the orange down. I've been upping my morning workouts lately and obviously they have paid off. I pressed too hard and instead of the top part that juices the orange spinning, the bottom part holding the juice went crazy and almost spun off of the counter. Luckily, no juice was lost and it was delicious.

"And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ,whom thou hast never before heard nor seen. And many years pass away before he shall manifest himself in the flesh; wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole." Enos 1:8 I came across this verse this week in personal study, and I love it! I love how the gospel makes us whole. It doesn't just clean us or make us better, it makes us whole. Even if something has a lifelong guarantee, it's not an eternal fix like the gospel is. The healing power of Christ erases even scars, so that we can be at peace and have happiness. 

Leap day! A whole extra day of missionary work!

I wish you all the best! Have a great week! 

Love Sisar Mendenhall

Landing Pad Contacting  

(Finland – Week 59)  

22 Feb 2016

Last night we had a trio of sisters stay at our place. Due to this we exhausted our supply of sheets. I was throwing in my laundry and explained to my companion that I just couldn't wash my sheets today. They wouldn't dry in time, we don't have space to hang them up anywhere, and it just really didn't make any sense. She got a little quiet, and told me she had already washed my sheets. Oops! Then we both busted up laughing. I'm grateful for my companion's sneaky service, and we think the sheets will be fine.

Also, recently we were talking with people in a beautiful open park, really open. Suddenly a spotlight flashed on and an ambulance appeared. We looked up to see a helicopter descending into our open park. They did not teach me how to handle a helicopter-interrupted contact in the MTC. We just got out of the way, I hope that was the best option.

 We recently gave a woman we're teaching some Mormon Tabernacle Choir CDs (we don't have a CD player, so we figured she had better use for them). We called her and she expressed how she's been listening to the music and loves it! Music has so much power, it can be a direct conduit of the Spirit, if we're listening to the right music. I love this verse in Doctrine and Covenants 25:12 "For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads." The Lord loves to hear our good music, and He blesses us with the Spirit when we do so. We've noticed that when we listen to uplifting music, it has so much effect on our happiness and energy. I used to think that music really didn't have an effect, but it truly does. I think I might have written about music a few times before, I really don't remember, but that itself is a testament to how important the music we listen to is. When used right, it can elevate us closer to our Savior Jesus Christ.

 

We're so happy to see the sun more! The days are getting much longer. We're still covered in snow too, it's so beautiful.

Have a wonderful week!

Rakkaudellani, Sisar Mendenhall

Poro! 

(Finland – Week 58)  

16 Feb 2016

This week I had some really great poro at a member's house! The poro was in a sauce for salmon. I felt so Finnish. Reindeer sauce on salmon. Wow, it was way good! Here, Santa travels on a bike, so no worries about us eating his reindeer.

This week I was thinking about how I seem to always write about public transportation. I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but wow, I talk a lot about public transportation. I was thinking about one bus stop the other day, and all of the wonderful stories we have from this one stop. There is a member here who was found at that bus stop. Once we were talking to a woman, at this same stop, who was so interested she asked if she could give us her contact information. The other day I started talking to a woman at this stop, and a man about 10 feet away turned, walked over and asked if he could listen too. We had a great mini lesson with these two strangers at the bus stop. I think back on when I first came to Finland, public transportation terrified me. I didn't understand what anyone said. I knew I was supposed to talk to people, and didn't know how. I was so scared to ride the bus, but even more scared of bus stops because everyone could hear me even if they weren't in my conversation. I'm so, so glad that my perspective has changed! I wouldn't have had all of these great experiences if I never had been able to get over that fear. I know that Christ really does strengthen us to conquer all fear, all trials, all challenges. He cares about our concerns, whether they are great or small. And through Him, our trials don't necessarily become easier, but we become stronger and have greater capacity to face trials. I love the example of Nephi in the Book of Mormon, "And I said unto them: If God had commanded me to do all things I could do them. If he should command me that I should say unto this water, be thou earth, it should be earth; and if I should say it, it would be done." (1 Nephi 17:50) Nothing that we struggle with is meant to be hard forever. We don't ever have to think that we have gone as far as we can, with Christ we can always go farther. We never have to give up or in. Even death truly has no sting. I'm so grateful for my Savior every day.

I know I send a lot of pictures of trees, but these are really great trees. Trees here are just so tall, and the blue sky with the snow is just amazing.

Have a wonderful week!! Love Sisar Mendenhall

I Need Him Every Hour. (plus much anticipated pictures missed from last week)

(Finland – Week 57)

09 Feb 2016

I'm so sorry that I didn't send any pictures last week! I made up for it by dressing up really nice, and taking this picture with my companion. Check out my large smile. 

Also, here is a picture from downtown Helsinki. *Commencing everyone planning their next vacation to Finland. Wow I love Finland. When I first received my call to serve in Finland, I thought it was literally the most random thing that ever could have happened. Now I can't imagine being anywhere else.

I was thinking about the hymn "I Need Thee Every Hour" especially this fourth verse:

I need thee ev'ry hour,

Most holy One.

Oh, make me thine indeed,

Thou blessed Son!

I need thee, oh, I need thee;

Ev'ry hour I need thee!

Oh, bless me now, my Savior;

I come to thee!

I was thinking about how I need my Savior. There are so many reasons why. But I really want to focus my whole life on needing Jesus Christ every hour because I'm doing something for Him every hour. I don't want a single hour to pass by without having my Savior in my thoughts and heart. I used to think it was strange when people limited their movies and music stricter than I did, I thought I had a pretty good filter. Now I see that there are so many things that can pull our thoughts from the Savior, I don't want to make it worse by choosing to fill my head with things that will pull me from Him. I'm really grateful for this time to focus so much on Christ, because now I know that I want Him to be the focus of my entire life. When I was baptized I promised to follow Him, and I grateful to learn every day ways that I can better do that. I love my Savior, I know He's real, He really died for us, and He truly lives for us today.

Much love to you all!

Have a wonderful week!

Rakkaudellani, Sisar Mendenhall

The Englishman and a Hymn  

(Finland – Week 56)  

02 Feb 2016

Terve!

First off, HAPPY BIRTHDAY FAMILY!! February has 5 birthdays for our family, everyone wish them the best from me on the right days.

This past Saturday was awesome! So many things went just right. One really great thing was a man we met (not on a bus this time, at a bus stop! I love public transport.) from England. We started talking with him and he laughed a little, and told us that many missionaries had talked with him before. We asked if he had ever received a Book of Mormon, he said no but that they had sure tried! He was not interested. We talked a little more, and found that he had almost the exact same question as the Lamanite King in Alma 22. We explained the story to him, and he started to pay more attention. We offered the Book of Mormon to him, and asked him to read that chapter. He accepted! It's wonderful to see people change.

We've been thinking a lot about this song, "Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd",

1. Dear to the heart of the Shepherd,
Dear are the sheep of his fold;
Dear is the love that he gives them,
Dearer than silver or gold.
Dear to the heart of the Shepherd,
Dear are his "other" lost sheep;
Over the mountains he follows,
Over the waters so deep.

This is the first verse, and I love how it addresses God's love for each of us. This last verse I love because this is how privileged we are when we get to be missionaries,

4. Green are the pastures inviting;
Lord, we will answer thee gladly,
"Yes, blessed Master, we will!
Make us thy true under-shepherds;
Give us a love that is deep.
Send us out into the desert,
Seeking thy wandering sheep."
(Chorus)
Out in the desert they wander,
Hungry and helpless and cold;
Off to the rescue he hastens,
Bringing them back to the fold.

This is a perfect missionary song! God truly loves each of us, and I love that I get to focus on that love so much right now.

Have a wonderful week!!!

Love Sisar Mendenhall

Sunsets, WOW they're beautiful here!

(Finland – Week 55)

26 Jan 2016

This past week we had an amazing worldwide missionary training meeting. The man conducting the meeting visited Finland last year! His name is Elder Brent H. Nielson, at the very beginning he said, "We have missionaries in Hawaii watching this at 7 am, and missionaries in Helsinki, Finland watching at 7pm." I did an involuntary double fist pump. Our Mission President was sitting on my left, he was amused. The meeting was wonderful in that it taught how simple the Doctrine of Christ is. Faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. It doesn't have to be complicated, it's meant to be quite peaceful. I know that everyday I feel peace from the gospel.

My ponderizing scripture right now is Helaman 3:35, "Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God." I love how this verse says that they waxed stronger and stronger in humility. Usually humility is associated with weakness, with being broken down. We do want "a broken heart" and a "contrite spirit", but these things do not make us weaker. They make us stronger as we rely on and trust in Jesus Christ more and more. Increased relying on Christ leads to greater faith in Him, and thus a firmer foundation.

It's getting a little warmer now, we're sad to think the snow might leave! It's amazingly beautiful here, just look at this photographic evidence.

Have a wonderful week!

Love Sisar Mendenhall

Musical Vans and Strengthening the Tree

(Finland – Week 54)

 19 Jan 2016

This past week there was a solo sister going home, that meant my companion and I were companions with her for a day and took her to the airport! It was a huge blessing. She's a really fantastic missionary, she taught us a lot in the short time we were with her. It was really great to be with her, not so great when we had to go to the airport with two large vans, an equally large luggage trailer, and snowy hills. We were about 70 seconds out of the mission home before we got stuck, really stuck. The van with the trailer would not budge, and the van without a trailer budged about halfway up the first hill. Then commenced an intricate, complicated game of Musical Elders and Luggage. Bags and bodies were being tossed about, at one point there was a rope extended between the vans (that didn't last long). We finally got one van up after loading it with as much luggage as would fit in the back, and as many Elders as would fit in the front. The second van was taken up in like manner, and then only the trailer remained at the bottom of the hill. A few self-sacrificing Elders ran down, and like humble work ponies towed the trailer up. Much cheering ensued, and we had no more problems to the airport.

This week we had a really, really rough lesson. It was with a man that we thought was really prepared. We were devastated. This is literally the first lesson I have ever fought back tears in. This is the first lesson my companion and I have ever cried over. It really hurt. But it didn't hurt so much because of what was said, but because it meant that he wasn't going to learn anymore. He was choosing to stop something that I know only brings happiness and strength. That morning I had felt the need to study Jacob 5 with the question, how does God feel about His children? I was impressed with how many times it says that it "grieveth" the Lord to lose His tree. How hard it is for Him to see us distressed, lost, or not as close to Him as we could be. He loves us so much. That lesson really packed this point in with a punch. God is there. He is here with us in fact. He loves us. Jesus Christ is His Son. I felt that in no circumstance could I possibly ever deny the fact that God is our loving Heavenly Father. We went to bed that night so grateful for God's love. Still saddened by how the night went, but with even deeper testimonies of our Heavenly Father.

Jacob 5:13 "And these will I place in the nethermost part of my vineyard, whithersoever I will, it mattereth not unto thee; and I do it that I may preserve unto myself the natural branches of the tree; and also, that I may lay up fruit thereof against the season, unto myself; for it grieveth me that I should lose this tree and the fruit thereof."

A few more important thoughts:

According to my dictionary, the word "lama" means recession, depression, or llama. I'll be asking a Finn about that one...

Something truly wonderful about the cold, is that the snow doesn't melt! You just shake it off, no melting in your socks, no soggy gloves!

Love to you all!

Rakkaudellani, Sisar Mendenhall

30 Below

(Finland – Week 53)

11 Jan 2016

 New level of cold: when all exposed hair freezes (head, face, eyelashes). This picture is from exchanges, in negative 30 Celsius. It was a little chilly, but it was a fantastic day! I love exchanges, just talking with my peers about what really matters in life. I've learned on my mission how to do that, how to talk about what's important, it's awesome. It's wonderful how much we all learn from each other, and how many things happen in our lives so that we are better equipped to help others.

The cold made for an awesome contact the other day! We knocked on a lady's door, introduced ourselves, gave her a Book of Mormon, and set up a return appointment all in about 20 seconds! Keeping the door open is a little harder when they see frosted sisters outside.

We have received transfer calls, and I will be STAYING! I'm so excited!! I love Espoo. The ward, the land, everything. Our transfers are 9 weeks, this being my fourth will put me at nine months in Espoo, and wow, do I feel so blessed! I see the temple everyday. The sight just reminds me of God's love.

Every new transfer we have a new scripture to ponder and study as a mission. The scripture for this transfer is Joshua 1:9, "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." I love how much we are promised in this verse. We can literally do all we are asked, we have hope, we have the Lord of all with us in each step, and this is true no matter our circumstance in life. We talk to lots of people, from lots of different backgrounds. I've shared my testimony with so many, and something that is the same for everyone is the feeling of peace that comes to people when they study the word of God. One of my favorite things is reading the Book of Mormon with people on buses. Their entire countenance changes, it's lighter. I know the Book of Mormon testifies of the Lord, and His is always nearby to tell us of this truth.

I love Finland so much, I can't imagine being happier anywhere else.

Have a wonderful week!

Love Sisar Mendenhall