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!!!

No time...but PICTURES!!‏

Its been a great week and so much I could tell you about...but I have no time!! I get caught up writing little emails then I never get the big one sent...anteeksi. 

Quick fun story...So the other day Sisar Harris told me that she woke up in the middle of the night to go to visit in the restroom and she said that I WAS SPEAKING FINNISH IN MY SLEEP!!!! Well that was a confidence booster!! Apparently I was saying the word, katu, which means -street- and some other stuff but she could quite make it out. Hahaha well comes to show that we really do continute to learn while we sleep!

Other quick fun story...well not super fun...kinda creepy. This week we met 2 different men on different occasions and they both ended up being creepy and wanting to marry us. Yes, now we stay away from men from Bulgaria and Morocco. Good thing that God is protecting us!!

Love you all!

We decided to have a picnic on the ocean and it ended up 

pouring rain and it was so beautiful and perfect!

Some Photos for the week

Sisar Harris and I in Seinejöki

 Eating Kebob for Sisar Harris Syntymäpäivää (Birthday)

(Kebob is a Turkish wrap, often made with lamb and fresh vegetables

 that is evidently a thing missionaries really enjoy!)

On the sea where we walk for special occasion nights.

Suomi on minun LEMPIpaikka‏

Fun Fact: I've been saying something very embarrassing in Finnish recently. So, to say Joseph Smith's first vision I have been saying "Josephi Smithin ensimainen naki". Turns out, that directly translates to 'Joseph Smiths first hotdog'. Who would've thought. The correct way to say vision is näky not naki...Good thing this life is all about learning from our mistakes, right?

So yesterday was Sisar Harris Syntymäpäivää (birthday) and we were actually up in Oulu for Zone training and then had a 5 hour train ride (through absolutely BEAUTIFUL forests and farmland and cities) and had an hour...layover?? Train stop?? I don't know what to refer to it as, but we were in Seinejöki for an hour so we went to dinner at a Pizza and Kebob place (just because Kebob is illegal in Amerikka) haha it was special. We then walked along the Meri (ocean) as the sun went down and contacted people. We met this girl (can't say any names) who was about our age and she was so enthusiastic that we were giving her a gift = Mormonin Kirja (Book of Mormon) and she wanted to learn more about how much God loves her so we were sooo excited...but she is in the Elders area, by one street. Too bad. But nonetheless, she is awesome and it was a blessing to meet her.

This week was a week of a lot of learning. I get complimented on my Finnish a lot...probably because these people are just so nice and feel bad for me...but tha'ts ok! We met someone downtown and we were talking to him and he asked how long we had been in Finland and when we said 6 months and 2 weeks he literally almost fell off his bike. He said he has NEVER met anyone who could speak like us in the amount of time here. He also told me that he thinks I know more vocab than him...haha he was just a sweetheart. It was one of those much needed compliments that day.

I love it here!! I love these people, even if they don't love me! A lot of people see us with our name tags and say some things to us in seemingly harsh tones...Doesn't bother me!! I can't understand what they are saying!! hahaha. The Finns are a great people, though. I love them.

<ps the mission address is=

Sisar Valerie Marie Cardon

Finland, Helsinki Mission

Upseerinkatu 3Ce

02600 Espoo, Finland

(Our usual meals)  DELICIOUS

Sisar Harris and I in Oulu for Zone training on her birthday.

 

MINÄ OLEN SUOMESSA JA MINÄ RAKASTAN SITÄ‏

                                         translation: I am in Finland and I love it

¤I apologize about spelling and my typing...these Finnish keyboards are quite...different than what I am used to.¤3

First, things first...I ABSOLUTELY LOVE FINLAND!! I cannot believe how stunning it is here. Every day I look up at the sky and see those clouds and think, "How did I get so lucky??"  I think that the beauty and seeing all that God has blessed us with is what gets me throught the stressful and difficult moments. 

I am serving in VAASA!!! So this is one of the places my anscestors are from and I am just dying to find a connection. I know its going to happen. How am I so blessed? This week has been great. I have seen so many of my prayers answered and I am going to continue to ask God to help me to better recognize the answers that come as well as recognize the tender mercies He gives me. I am so unbelievably blessed to have Sisar Harris as my trainer. She is a gem. She is helping me to be patient and better look at the positive. We love Vaasa and laugh together all the time. 

So, the plane ride went very fast and when we got out of the terminal and I saw President Watson, you better believe that I marched right up to him, grabbed his hand and said "President, I am here and ready to work!" (kind cheesy I know, but I totally got caught up the moment haha) He just laughed with surprised eyes and said, "Well I am glad, Sisar Cardon." He is the greatest. It blows my mind that I could come to love him and Sisar Watson so fast. They are like my long lost grandparents.

The food here is so fresh and delicious. Don't get me started on the suklaa (chocolate). I am going to be bringing a whole suitcase full when I come home. Speaking of coming home, I started tearing up when I thought about the fact that one day I am going to have to leave this place and go back to America. That is going to be such a sad and hard day. Finland just feels like a home that has always been a part of me...now Finnish on the other hand...I wish that had been a part of me. The language is difficult but I can already see how much I have improved. 

With writing about investigators...I cannot say much because of the privacy laws in Finland, but just know that there is one in particular that I KNOW we were besties in the maanpäälistää edeltävä elämää (pre earth life). Gah, she is fabulous. 

Well, when you picture me in Finland, just picture the most beautiful scenery, some very quiet and keep-to-themselves people and a goofy sisar walking in her rain coat smiling because life could not get any better. (also picture me a little puggy because the food is sooo yummy) ¤winkey face¤

We walk by this all the time. So pretty.

We went tracting and in this random building we found this....

SO FUNNY and RANDOM...where did it come from?    God.

​

our pieni apartment

 

Pictures from my first week...

Helsinki

The Temple in Helsinki

Helsinki, Finland

... and our MTC District

The Lake about 3 minutes from our apartment (In Vaasa) that we contact on‏

Our itty bitty little church in Vaasa. I love it. (also ps EVERYTHING is in both Finnish and Swedish and so I literally cant understand anything because I don't even know what language it is.)

Amerikankatu literally means "Americas street" figured it was fitting.
that an American was walking on it. haha

On the plane ride I felt like I was in heaven....soooo beautiful.

The Last of the MTC

Andria in Japan, Valerie in Finland... just a click away!

travel ready

a quick email! (9/1/15)

SOUMI!!!!!

I am here in Finland! I love it already and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY MISSION PRESIDENT!! All my prayers have been answered. Love you. I am safe!

Sisar Cardon [finnally in Suomi]