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