December 29, 2015 Hyvää Joulua!!‏

Well, Hyvää Joulua!! It was amazing this week how much love that I felt from the people around me and family.  The mission already has taught me so much. 

I also experienced the big blessing of the car accident just yesterday. I have played it over and over in my head and I think that its such a blessing that even though we did hit and probably totaled the car, everything is okay and nobody was seriously hurt. Its funny because I have been more aware while being in the car this transfer and I have tried to be really good about always second checking for Sisar Albiston and yesterday, I checked when she didn't, and when I yelled it might have changed her direction enough that we didn't get hit as much from the side as we would have. I think that in many many ways there are countless blessings that can be learned here, I especially was noticing them while we were sitting for a few hours in the hospital after just a few bumps and bruises. God really is watching out for us, even when we are not quite watching out for ourselves. 

Our mission car. : (

This is our district at our Christmas exchange. So FUN!!

BUUUUTTT now to the happy part: PICTURES!!! Christmas was the happiest time! We really had too much fun! Also let me just say that traditional Finnish Christmas food is the most delicious! 

Christmas in a box from my family.

 

Spoiled Missionaries on Christmas!

Must have been Daddy's idea!

Matching slipper booties with my Companion

Skype with the family on Christmas morning (for them) evening (for me)

December 22, 2015 HYVÄÄ JOULUA!!‏

Hmm...lets see if I can sum up everything in 5 minutes...wellllll:

-We had a really run night this week going to a dinner place for Christmas. Its was all traditional Finnish food with a whole lot of fish and very delicious. So I was eating this really weird sourish pudding fluff (I really have no idea what it was) and then I found out after couple bites that it was fish eggs and for some reason that was a little too much for me and I couldnt eat anymore of that. We had so much fun with the members who took us there! 

-We have done a lot of caroling this week. Caroling is such a good way to share Christs love and the Spirit of this season. A few of the people we have gone to were literally moved to tears. So precious.

-Crazy things about Finland...well the sun sets around like 2 everyday and when it is up in the sky its just on the horizon so its like the sunset...its quite beautiful and I actaully love it! I don't think I would mind all that much to have it like this always--but who knows, maybe that is just because I have only been here in the dark season. Oh also, yesterday was the "darkest day of the year" so now its starting everyday to get lighter. That will be a change!

-CHRISTMAS!!! "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be on his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, counsellor, The Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." I read this scripture this morning and pondered for a little while. Christmas isn't just about Christ's birth, but His life. Through His life we learn about Him and through our lives we find out what "name" he has for us personally.  Christ has many different "names", perhaps Hope, Love, Friend, Brother, Comforter, Savior, etc. This Christmas I hope we come closer to Him to find more names that he has that help us to know Him better.

(the middle top is the fish egg fluff...fooled me!)

December 15, 2015 HYVÄÄ JOULUA (Merry Christmas)‏

This week, was an incredible one. My journal has gotten significantly thicker. .What a wonderful blessing we have to be here and learn so much and be tried so hard and for our roots be forced to grow long and deep. 

Sisar Albiston and I are getting along a better than we ever have. We are trying to work hard and get a lot done. Its great to see the recent converts progress and grow. What a testimony builder that has been for me.
I loved the Christmas devotional that we heared this week. Its such a difference when we focus on Chirst during this season instead of so much on all the distractions that take away from him. I dont think that I have ever really tried my best to focus on Him fully at Christmas and I look forward to a new missionary Christmas this year.
I feel healthy and happy and still working hard with everything. I look forward to a week about Christ and the blessing He is. 

Now for the fun part PICTURES and STORIES!!

 This week we got 3 new investigators and they are all so great! We teach so much and I am just amazed at how fast you grow to love the people you teach. Its cool that Finland is such a melting pot right now and people from all over the world are here with an opportunity to hear the Gospel--something they might not have had the chance for otherwise.

We saw the NOTHERN LIGHTS last night (for real this time-dont worry-) and it was magical. Just imagine us with every window in our apartment open for over an hour with us going from side to side taking pictures and videos and just being your average excited girls. We might have froze with the -6 degree weather outide...but it was so worth it. I even did a little rearranging in the bedroom so my bed was right up against the window and fell asleep watching the sky. SO AMAZING!!

Me watching the Northern lights from our apartment... gahhh!!

We went to a Lutheran Joulu concert this week in a HUGE church here in Vaasa with one of our investigators. She has grown up Lutheran and really wanted us to have a little experience with what she is used to and we got permission from the mission president (it only makes sense that we could go because she comes to our church--Presidnet thought it was a swell idea). Its was absolutely breathtaking. We may not have known the songs well, but Sisar Albiston and I sang our little hearts out in Finnish Christmas songs.

Lutheran Church with our friend

We just have too much fun...and we are all just sooo different. I am the only one from Utah. We have a Finn, a Swed, 2 Austrailians and the others are from all over the US. We are a pretty solid group...may or may not be doing a secret santa next week for district meeting...of course with the mission rules the sisters buy for each other and the elders buy for each other...hmm I wonder who has me? ;)

The missionaries in my District

December 8, 2015 Christmas and McDonalds in Finland...

So there is a glorified McDonalds here in Finland that looks like a castle on the outside. One of the members who is in her 80s loves it here so we went for a "night on the town" (or maybe just a "hour-of-missionary-dinner-time on the town" with her and I ate my VERY FIRST BIG MAC in Finland.
No big deal... but kinda a big deal.

our sneekpeek at our christmas card...coming soon from yours truly! :)
We had too much fun getting these pictures...
​

December 8, 2015 Dorcas my Sweetie

What a good week. Dorcas is now a member of the Church and her baptism went just beautifuly!! She was and is so ready for this new chapter of her life. It was precious for me to experience this with her, especially when she received the gift of the Holy Ghost. I may or may not have peeked open my eyes for a second during the prayer (I know...I will be better and not do that anymore) to see her with tears spilling over. I was happy to see this, but also slightly nervous because I knew that she was terrified of being infront of the congregation and said she might cry in fear. When we later talked, she expressed with a full glowing smile that she has never felt so much warmth in her heart. She said it was so different, but "very very awesome". I didnt realize that these things actually happen in real life! The whole experience has been so tender and I feel like my testimony has been swelling. 

 

Its just incredible to look back on a week and see all that we accomplished (even if in the moment I didnt feel like we were getting enough done). I love the blessings that we are able to be because we are here serving the Lord. (I know..annoying missionary talk)

Dorcas!! :)

Salmiakki Suklaa--I have a new sweet tooth for p-day celebration black liqorish chocolate #cantspellinenglish

December 1, 2015 Happy Thanksgiving

So...Thanksgiving is an American holiday...not a Finnish holiday...did we celebrate? I think YES!! Jessica (my fellow American friend who is from Utah and married a Finn and is like my best friend here in Vaasa) put together a Thanksgiving dinner and it was our investigators and the YSA of the ward and the Elders. Sheesh it was probably the most fun holiday one could have as a missionary. We all brought part of the meal--Sisar Albiston and I brought stuffing and apple pie (we may or may not have eaten practically a whole pan of stuffing before the actual meal), the Elders made sweet potatoes and "accidently" tripled the sugar while leaving the potatoes at normal amount...yes, it was still a hit and Dorcas (our investigator who is getting baptized on this Thursday) made the most delicious cheese cake one could ever eat! Everyone else brought more food, but I just cant remember what it was because now my mind is consumed by the idea of that cheesecake and the ridiculous food coma I went into after our meal. Long story longer, it was one of the funnest nights as a missionary. 

Just a few of us on the far end of the ping pong table

Sisar Albiston and I eating chocolate angels :)

November 24, 2015 Winter in Finland

A picture is worth a thousand words...right?? First snowfall of the winter and its a winter
wonderland here!! (this is just right outside our apartment window the first hour it started snowing)

Finland the dream...

November 17, 2015 It's getting colder here in Finland!!!

This week was my first transfer week and its crazy not to be with Sisar Harris anymore! Sisar Albiston is my new companion here in Vaasa and we are doing a lot of hard work. She is really nice and she actually has started to teach me how to knit! So fun. I am like one of those crazy little old ladies knitting during the lunch hour....

Me and sister Albiston

 

We ate fresh fish...REAL fresh fish and it stil had a hunch of bones in them...Its was absolutely delicious. I think my new goal in life is to be a fisherwoman and just eat what I catch. 

 

Also, funny story, so this week we were driving down the road and FREAKED OUT because we saw lights in the sky. We immediately pulled over to get out and saw, what we thought, were the nothern lights!!! It was so amazing and we were taking pictures and we even told one of the members that I was on the phone with...Ya, the next day that member, Sisar Bassett, saw us and explained that you cannot see the northern lights when its cloudy...and that those were most likely just lights from a nearby club. Yes, how embarassing. We were going nuts over the fact that we had finally seen the northern lights.. but no, we are just dorks. Feel free to laugh at us!! We sure laughed!

November 9 2015 JEFFREY GOT BAPTIZED!!!

Jeffrey--my first lesson that I ever taught in Finland as a missionary--has been investigating for 5 months and as of November 7/8th is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!! (dont worry I have permission to tell you about his from him) He is from Nigeria, and wants to follow Jesus Christ more dilligently than anyone I have ever met. The baptism went absolutely perfectly. The service was beautiful, about 10 of 15 ward members came and Jeffrey was so touched by how supportive and happy everyone was for him. Our second investigator decided that she feels better about getting baptized on December 3rd which we are very excited about. Its crazy, we had been planning this whole baptism for her and didnt realize that the Lord was actually having us plan Jeffreys, without knowing. Many tender mercies this week. Ive not seen Jeffrey this happy before, and last night as we taught our first "New Convert Lesson" to him, he was just beaming and going on and on about his experience and the happiness of it. He really is an incredible man, and I can just picture him being in the Quorum of the 70. Just 1 week ago, we committed him to be baptized and in this lesson he talked a lot about how when he told us that November 7th sounded like an "sure, fine day" he wasnt one hundred percent yet, but we called, President (the guidelines for what missionaries do when commiting someone to a baptismal date) and told the ward mission leader. When he came to church that next sunday and he heard that we had told President, he "took it by great surprise but as a sign from God" that he really was supposed to get baptized. I have seen him grow these past 2 months being in Vaasa so greatly.  It was honestly the closest that I have ever been to heaven when he got up to the stand on Sunday, after receiving the Holy Ghost, and bearing the most heartfelt testimony. I was in the most content, and perfect place, seeing him up there with the biggest smile on his face. I can only imagine how God feels about all of us when we make good choices. 

Transfers are tomorrow (hence why I am emailing on Monday instead of the usual Pday Tuesday) and I am staying in Vaasa with a new companion named Sisar Albiston. I am nervous but excited to meet her. I have heard from down the grapevine that she loves Disney "with all her heart" so this will be new for me. Sister Harris and I worked really hard to make sure that we ended this transfer well, and I feel so good about these first two months in Finland. I am trying to be more healthy and dilligent, and while sometimes it is completely overwhelming, I am progressing a little bit everyday. It looks like the Lord knows that I have learned all that I can from Sisar Harris now, and its time for a new companion to grow and develop with. I am excited to see what is in store for Sisar Albiston and I and the work that we will be able to accomplish. 

Sisar Cardon

The Big man on the Big Day!!!

This is Jeffrey after we gave him his "Baptism Present" of Jesus the Christ...he was practically jumping up and down. Its right up his alley. He is the coolest guy I know!
(just wait until this man is speaking at general conferences) 

Hyvää Pyhän Päviää!! (Happy Holy Day or Halloween) (November 3, 2015)

So fun fact, here in Finland Halloween isn't super big, but Pyhän Päivää is one of the two "Holy Days" of the year where all the people go to the cemetary and place candles on the graves of those who have passed. It is the most beautiful tradition!! So, in honor of Grandpa Reino Kolu, I went to the cemetary and placed a candle there for him in a special honorary area. I couldn't help but feel that my Grandpa was right there with me, so happy to have a candle lit in his home land, Suomi. It was such a beautiful night. Such a spiritual and tender experience!

My current feelings... Alma 17:23    "..yea, I desire to dwell among these people for a time; yeah, and perhaps until the day I die"   #sorrymomanddad 

Finland:

1. has the most incredible sunsets and sunrises that I have ever seen in my entire life. 

2. Is my favorite place in the entire world.

3. Has the most incredible, loving, kind-hearted people I have ever met. 

Just the sunrise one morning...CAUTION this beauty occurs everymorning and I die every time!!

We decorated one of our investigators doors because she is amazing!  has a baptismal date and we are so excited for her!! 

Sisar Cardon on the daily...and train rides‏ (October 27, 2015)

Dont be fooled my the umbrella. The second the wind caught it, it was folded backwards and moments after this picture I was soaked, with an umbrella that kept folding back every couple seconds. Nonetheless, this was a happy day!!

The train rides in Finland are my absolute favorite thing. Words literally cannot express the beauty here. I wish a picture could capture it. But the memories of them will forever be treasures to me. (Me on the 5 hour train ride to Oulu for a zone conference.)

Sisar Harris' mother send a package of amerikkalainen ruoka (american food)
and this is the last thing we ate before our sugar and gluten stop. SO HAPPY!!

Where we go tracking in my favorite area. There is forest in between every house and it's
completely silent. The pink in the distance is the sunset on the Meri (sea) with a bunch
of fishing boads docked. The picture does absolutely no justice, but just know that it's incredible here!

Sisar Nieminen who is pretty much our 3rd member. She comes on 2 or 3 lessons a week with us (we cant teach men without a 3rd woman) and I always have complimented her on her hats (a very simple Finnish phrase) so this week she opened the door of the car and without saying much, just "Lahja" (gift) and handed me this pink hat. It was the sweetest thing!! We now wear our hats together and she smiles so big when she sees me in it. Bright pink is a good color on my head, dont ya think? ;)

(Sisar Harris, their wonderful friend, and Sisar Cardon)

Loving It!

Here is the worlds fastest email for a week that I could go on for hours about. 

-Sisar Harris and I laughed more this week than we could handle. We really have been able to find a lot of happiness and businness in the work.

-We went on splits and I was initially terrified of the idea of spending a full day with the sister training leader but it ended up sooo fun and I learned a lot. Sisar Pace said that I was the fastest progressing trainee with the language than she has seen in the mission. It was good to hear that. I have been working really hard and day to day its hard to see progress but nice to see that others can see the progress.

-We went with a member to Hesburger (Finlands glorified McDonalds) and it was quite delicious! I got a rye bread burger. Rye bread needs to be as big in America as it is here.

We have this investigator who is from China and he made us chinese dinner the other day and it was delicious! (I imagined my best friend Millet Shimai and how that is probably what she is doing every day...#chopsticks)

(awkward "mid smile" picture but the food and the lesson was great!)

--So, one of our friends  is having a hard time with some of the things she is giving up, so what Sisar Harris and I have come up with is that we are going to do it with her. We are stopping eating sugar and gluten from here on out. It's a sacrifice and a very big thing to do, but if you really think about it, living the gospel is a lifestyle change for so many people and asking someone to do make changes can be a big deal so we are doing it, too. It's only fair that we understand how difficult it is. So we start tomorrow, keskivikko (Wednesday) so feel free to pray that we can all have the strength!!

I wish I could write more but #notimeEVER

  

Also, fun fact, I used to deal with stressful times by watching tv shows because then I just go into their world and don't deal with mine, but now I read Mormonin Kirja and I literally get so sucked into it! It's my missionary addicting tv show! Honestly, I am so that annoying missionary now...hahahaha

Crazy, different and fun Week!

So I was in Helsinki for a training for new missionaries this week. We were at President Watsons home for 4 days and it was full of the sprit and learning and Sisar Watsons delicious food! It was so great. I learned a lot about how to be a better missionary that I am implimenting in my work now. 

We had the opportunity to go to the Finland Temple. I can't even explain in words how much I loved it. It is just the most beautiful temple. Also, we did the session in Finnish...I was the only newbie to do everything in Finnish. It was incredible. Actaully, a lady in the temple (she is from America) asked me as we were about to leave where in Finland I was from...She thought I was a full Finn!! I was so happy. 

Then we went to Pietarsaari for district confernce (pretty much just stake conference) and because we are the only sisters in our district and it was so far from Vaasa we got to stay in a legit Finnish hotel!! President said that we are literally the ONLY people in the whole mission who would get that opportunity. It was the coolest thing! There was this breakfast in the morning...you better believe that we made the most of that. Here is a fact for you: Finns don't mess around when it comes to breakfast. I have never, ever, ever seen a breakfast with so much delicious food. I literally felt like a queen. Sisar Harris and I literally tried one of everything. It was the happiest morning!

Well, this week was a great one! I have lots of pictures to prove it! 

Love you all so much!

(Breakfast fit for daughters of God ;) )

Pictures from last week!

And when I thought it couldn't get more beautiful then Vaasa. We went to Pietarsaari for District Conference this week and it was SOOO wonderful. I am so blown away by the beauty of Finland. I just want to travel all over the country and see everything!

It's true, in the creation when God made the earth and looked back and said, "it is good" but then when he looked at Finalnd after he made it he said, "wow it is VERY good".   I love it here.

Oh also, our apartment talomies (building manager) asked us for our last names because he needed to update our door name. It hasn't been updated in years simply because they thought our last name was LATVALA but now it says "Harris Cardon" and I am sure it won't change when new sisters come in. So pretty much, Sisar Harris and I are going to be legends in Vaasa because even for future sisters,
it'll be our name on the door and building. YES!

The temple :)

Sisar Valerie Cardon with Sister Faye Wade, both from Bountiful!

Sisar Cardon and Sisar Wade at Interim Training this past week at the Mission Home.

Sister Faye Wade is also from Bountiful. She and their family accompanied her husband as the Mission President in Finland in the 1970's. He has since passed away, and Sister Wade is serving in the Mission Office, and occasionally helping with the meals when groups come for training. Valerie attended Sister Wade's mission farewell last summer.

Sister Wade said of Valerie:
This week, she is at Interim Training where all of her group who arrived in September have come to the Mission Home for some training along with their trainers.  My companion and I were able to help with some of the meals, so I got to see your adorable daughter!!  She is doing so well and progressing well.  It's always hard at first because you want to be able to speak Finnish right away, which just doesn't happen for anyone.  It is such a difficult language and I never did get so I could speak fluently.  I know words, but putting it all together in conversation is a whole different level.  The missionaries do such a good job and come well prepared after nine weeks at the MTC. 

 Note: as a missionary mom, this kind of email is very much appreciated! I have read it and looked at it several times today!

General Conference

(Just the view of the ocean from our afternoon contacting. I dont know what the Finns did, but God must really love them to have given them this breathtaking land....oh and also, dont be fooled, it was just about freezing when I took this picture #worththecold)

Well, this week was a great one. I think that I have never enjoyed conference as much as I did this weekend. What a blessing to hear from such wonderful people of the world. Its such a testimony builder first off that these men are not "dumb guys" but very intelligent and successful men who wouldnt be fooled by an untrue church. They speak truth. Secondly, a big testimony builder that some of my questions were answered that I didnt even know that I had. I already cannot wait for next General Conference because not only does that mean that I am halfway done with my mission, but that I will have grown so much since this Conference this weekend.

Really cool story for ya... So about a week or two ago, we were contacting around the park lake here in Vaasa and we talked to a 21 year old guy, very briefly, from China. His name was (Bobby), and when we asked him about his religious beliefs he informed us that he doesn't believe in any God, that 'we really do not have any purpose here on earth. We simply just exist'. He didn't seem interested in learning anything more so we gave him a pass along card and went our seperate ways. Then, look forward to this past Saturday. We are walking down the street, making our way from a potential investigators place to the church to watch the Women's Session. We encounter this man again and recognize him. We ended up talking for about 15 minutes and really established a good friendship, learning about where in China he is from, why he is in Finland, what he is studying, and so on. As we were about to walk away, I just mentioned--without really thinking much about it-- that he should come to watch our prophet and apostles speak to us tomorrow (Sunday) and that we would be eating in between sessions. He said he might come and we parted ways again. Yesterday, to our pleasant surprise, (Bobby) walked in about halfway into the first session. It was so awesome to have him there. We also had two of our other investigators there and they really enjoyed it (I quote my mother in saying that 'if everyone in the world would just listen to conference with an open heart and mind, then everyone would want to be converted' and this was the light that I saw in these three peoples eyes.) In between sessions we ate some homemade American apple pie that Sisar Harris and I prepared in celebration for one of our investigators birthdays. We talked and laughed and honestly just had a good, normal, fun time. After the second session, (Bobby) came up to us and said, "this is pretty interesting, I think I would like to learn more." It was amazing! Here, this guy that we met a week or two earlier that had absolutely no interest in hearing what we had to say, and after an, initally unrecognized, spiritual prompting, we had made an appointment to teach him, he had a page of notes from the prophet and apostles of the Lord, and he had even joined the facebook group of the YSA's of our ward so he could come to activities in the future. WHAT?!? So awesome. We really are led to those who are being prepared.

I really loved being able to hear the words of such wonderful people this weekend. It is impossible to walk away from conference, after truly listening, without an increased testimony and desire to be a better person.

Sisar Cardon

We picked literally about 3 million apples last pday and have made applesauce, 4 apples pies for members, baked apples, apple salads, and eaten our weight. So so so fun!!

Week of Learning

What a wonderful blessing we have to be here and learn so much and be tried
so hard and for our roots be forced to grow long and deep. 

What a week. I feel like I have grown more in one week than I have in a year. There were so many emotions, trials, blessings and tender mercies; I don't even think I could fit it all in with even the full hour and a half. Let me first start with the blessing of following the spirit without even realizing it (its always crazy to look back on decisions and moments where you had no idea that you were being led, but the Lord's hand was in it all). Last Wednesday we went tracting in a seemingly random street and I felt like it started out really well, I was full of energy and just knew that we were going to get let in. Well, after about an hour and a half we had not had much luck. As we were walking back to the car, we ran into a former investigator, (Heather) and her boyfriend, and ended up being able to help her out, talk for a while and she even invited us in to speak with her. It was literally such an answer to my prayer. I could go on and on about the moments with her, but I simply don't have the time. She did, however, end up walking us back to our car and she said to us that she believes we were there that night for a reason because of her boyfriend who really needed to hear what we had to say.  I can't even tell you the impact that this experience had on my week. My purpose and testimony was so strong and reinforced. 

 We taught, (Elise), yesterday and really expressed how grateful we are that she would open up so much and be so vulnerable with her thoughts. It was such a personal lesson. Which brings me to my next point. In that lesson yesterday, I spoke Finnish. I spoke so well. Sisar Harris even told me after, that there was no way she could've spoken like that her first month. I feel like I really witnessed and for the first time saw that God really is helping us with this language. I shared personal experiences, and testimony like I never have before. I really spoke with the spirit and my heart was so full.

This week, again like I said, was an incredible one. My journal has gotten significantly thicker. My testimony has grown. My faith in myself and knowledge of my personal purpose here in Finland and how I, Sisar Cardon, am here for a reason and there are things that I can do and lives that only I can touch. There are people here that are exactly what I need. I am so unbelievably blessed, I can't even express it in words. What a wonderful blessing we have to be here and learn so much and be tried so hard and for our roots be forced to grow long and deep. 

Also, FUNNIEST THING EVER!!! So, the other day, we are just walking on the street and get chatting with this really nice guy from Switzerland....well he was a little too nice. He talked nonstop for about 20 minutes and then we just ended up having to tell him we had to go. As we were leaving, Sisar Harris held out her hand for a handshake and he looks at it, chuckles, and then goes in for the world's biggest bear hug...I have never seen a more awkward thing in my ENTIRE LIFE!!! He was like "what? Are Americans not allowed to hug?" and we tried to explain that as missionaries we just really like to shake hands....oh. my. heavens. I don't think you could ever see a funnier and more awkward situation. Missionary life is the best. hahaha

Sisar Cardon

Ps we found a huge apple tree...that was a tender mercy. Now we can make pie!!!