Summer in Haaga

Email from 8/9/16

We had a fun ward picnic this last Saturday and played a game called Kuu. it was so fun! I love the ward in Haaga! And it is so great to have other missionaries in our ward as well, it makes it a lot of fun.

Thanks for keeping me updated on your holiday or louma as they would call it here. Funny story related to that-  They don’t hold ward council here the whole month of July. When you ask why, they just say, “Well, it’s July in Finalnd.” And  that’s enough said. J No one is home because they all go to their mökki (cabin) and stay there all summer long. The streets are empty all July. Why don’t we do something like that in America? A two-month vacation sounds amazing, right? ;) 

Here’s a great joke that the Elders investigator Paula told us:

One Fin talking to another “Man! Wasn’t summer beautiful this year?”

Second Fin “Ya, it was great! I remember!! It was on a Tuesday.” :)’

This last week was great! Man, Haaga is a fantastic place with amazing people. We have had a good time and are learning and growing so much every day. We are running into minimal drunk people. J Although one of them the other day yelled at us from down the street, then ran at us as fast as he could (it was scary and funny) and then started asking us questions in Finglish which made no sense. He then proceeded to point to my planner in my hand which has some sheep on it. He asked me 'if this is a lamb, then what is this?' and pointed to his dog. I said 'koira' and he said. 'aivan!' and then proceeded to yell ‘hallelujah!’ about 6 times at the top of his lungs and then he ran away. We died laughing and still die when we think about it :) its probably not that funny, but its good missionary humor. 

Fuzzy selfie with Sisar Neslon

Our ward in Haaga

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Ketchup Pringels are pretty good!

Haaga and Sisar Nelson

Email from 8/2/16

We had a great week! We went on splits in the sister training leaders area and it was such a blast. i love Sister McAllister and Sister Cardon and so we had a ton of fun and did a lot of work. Also, i received a sweet post card from Australia which was super awesome :)

         Yesterday we got rye bread reindeer pizza for lunch cause we thought is would be cool. It was really good actually. We have taught a few lessons and talked to a lot of people and walked a ton. We also laugh all the time and truly find joy in every day.

 Let me tell you more about Sister Nelson. She is awesome! She is from Las Vegas and she is 19 as well and turns 20 in December. We graduated high school the same year, and she played tennis. She has been out on her mission since March and we are having a blast trying to figure everything out. We know without a doubt that this is the Lord's work and that he is very active in the work. We scramble every day and forget things constantly and still it all manages to work out. It really is so amazing and we are so blessed.

Peace out Tampere!

Email from 7/26/16

Peace out Tampere pics! I said goodbye to the car, took a picture of a cool church, and got a pic with some of the coolest members ever, the Välimäkis. And a final pic with our investigator from America.

Transferred to Haaga.....

the Rantanens (piispas family) 

Us with sweet Sister Wilson    

the Lammintaus's (he’s the WML)    

Celebrating me being on my mission for 6 months

I will be leaving to go to Haaga tomorrow (its a part of Helsinki) to be senior companion and finish training Sister Nelson. To say I am nervous is an understatement. When President Watson called he reassured me that he and the Lord both have full confidence in me and that I will do just fine. Still freaking out a bit. It’s a little weird to think that I will now be senior companion because I still don’t have any idea what I am doing. But hey! I am on the Lord’s errand and He qualifies whom He calls. So I will just work hard and I know I will be okay. What’s the worst that could happen, right....? (Maybe don't answer that one) ;) I know the Lord needs me there for a reason... but I will be honest in saying that I am going to miss my Tampere. It’s my home, the people are awesome, and I am going to miss my investigators and friends so much.

This is sister Ahola :) We go and iron for her every other week and she is the funniest, sweetest person ever! She is so straightforward and so funny and knows that we don’t understand half of what she says, but loves us and laughs with us anyways.