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