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.