Friday, June 17, 2016

June 14, 2016 Moikka!! (Hello !!)

The pyramid was at the youth conference...
we did it once and then learned from that..
repented..
and didnt do it again.
This week was so neat with the Youth of Finland! Sisar Toomey and I were asked to hold a missionary class for the youth conference that was for all the youth in Finland! People had literally come all the way from the Arctic Line down here to Turku for this! It really was a blast to be with them. I fell like I am still one of them, I am in so many ways, but it was so nice to connect with them and build one another up. The Youth in the church here in Finland are truly elect. We played jeopardy. If anyone told me that Missionary jeopardy was that fun before my mission I would have laughed...maybe it was just fun to us..haha 

We are being taught to knit by an 80 year old Finn lady in the ward. She is the one who knitted me a skirt. Yes, absolutely, I am not a kitting prodigy. 

Bishop in our ward, who played lacrosse for Finlands national team gave me a gift... A FINNISH LACROSSE STICK MADE BY HIS OWN HANDS OUT OF WOOD. Yes, and I definitely freaked out.

Fun fact: I havent seen the sun go down in weeks. Seems like it just goes around in circles in the sky. Quite different, quite fun.

This week I was reading in Enos. In verse 3, Enos says, 
"Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests and the words which I had OFTEN heard my father speak concerning eternal life and the joy of salvation sand keep in my heart.." 
And I thought about how much we learn from our parents. How the counsel that they provide and how that blesses us in our own time. I am so grateful for my parents and the teachers in my life who have provide me to have my own "personal forest experiences" like Enos did, because of the faithfulness of one influencing him. 

What a blessing it is to be representing Jesus Christ here in Finland to these absolutely incredible people. I know this is the true church of Jesus Christ restored again on the earth. I am grateful to do this work among my sweet companions.

Sisar Cardon

p.s. B-day shout out to Colby and Momma :)

Finland..and tracting walks :)














For p-day activity we had Sisar Toomey and I, one of our investigators, a YSA member, a recent convert family in our ward, the American Stimpson couple and a potential all come.








 

 You better believe it was a blast....in a castle from the 1200s. Yes.



June 7, 2016 The Finns sure know how to WOK da WOK‏





We did enough this week to fill up a month I feel like. #missionarylife

"woking"




We had one of our ward members graduate so she is now an yliopplias! We helped with service at her graduation party-quite a big deal here in Finland- and we were put in charge of working the Wok for a bit. Never thought I would be doing that...in Finland. 
This week we shared a lot of spiritual thoughts about prayer. I am so grateful for the example that my father gave of ALWAYS doing family prayer both morning and night and scripture study. Even if he was praying alone, right before leaving to work and everyone in bed, he prayed loud so everyone could hear. Family scripture study at night was never a forced thing, but daddy always invited. He would come ask if our doors could be opened when we were "busy in our rooms" so that we could hear the scriptures. Looking back at my foolishness of not joining every single family scripture study and soaking up the wisdom of prophets as well as of my father, I am so grateful for the constant invitation that we have. Its the same with the Gospel, we are invited to do things that we are promised will bring us more happiness, but never forced. I am so grateful for the examples that I have in my life, especially the simple example from my father, each and everyday without fail.
My INCREDIBLE quilt!!!

On with a rant about my family: I have the BEST Aunt Sandy in the universe! Thank you for the Finland Sisar Cardon mission quilt that you sent. It is simply outstanding. Receiving that this week from the sweet family here in Finland on vacation was the biggest highlight. (picture attached)





So we have this amazing investigator Alexandra--I have talked a lot about her in past emails--but she writes us "missionary apporpriate" versions of the top hits and sings them for us after our lessons. Yes, I love every hair on her head. And, Yes, she does sound like she should be the daughter of Adele. 

Tracting in the rain with our new Ylioppilas!!
(her mission call will come soon!)







Quote of the week by Elder Holland:

"Dont Give up.
Dont you quit.  You keep walking. 
You keep trying.
There is help and happiness ahead...
You keep your chin up. 
It will be ALL right in the end. 
Trust God and believe in good things to come."

I love the part (emphasized by me) of "it will be ALL right" its not "alright" but ALL RIGHT. This is because of Christ. Things will not just be better or work out, but be Right. I love this. It applies to so many people that I love so much.

Keep smiling.

Keep working hard.

Remember your worth!

Sisar Cardon

p.s. we are going to the castle today again for pday. Better believe we will be taking more knight photos. Stay tuned next week.

p.p.s. we explored a church from the 1700s last week. Its incredible. 

p.p.p.s We went tracting this week...walked trough a field and forest (common here in Finland) and got eaten alive by the bugs. By the end of our night I had over 20 bites, one on my right temple which swelled up so I literally looked like Kuazi Motto-no idea how that is spelled--and we may or may not have gotten stinging nettle on our legs...Dont worry, we documented the memories. I spared your the terrifying pictures though. Don't worry, all is well here in the Turku Finland :)

We explored this church from the 1700s last week. 

It's incredible!!! 







Here is a good scripture I want to share with you this week:


John 16. 33 will you all please read it?? Thanks. love you. Keep in real over there in America. 
                                                                                              -Sisar Cardon teidän siskonne

 These things I have spoken unto you, 
                                          that in me ye might have peace
                     In the world ye shall have tribulation
                       but be of good cheer;  
                 I have overcome the world.  
                              John 16:33



1. 
2. tracting in the rain with our new Ylioppilas!! (her mission call will come soon!)
3. 

May 31, 2016 Hyvää Päivää Kaikille!‏ (Good Day Everyone!)

Us with a 10 minute break taking "pinterest pics" - we needed a little break.
It's been another great week. We have been doing a lot of work with our less active members which feels so good. It's a focus we want to have to make sure that all of the people are in constant conversion and remembering the testimonies they had and recognizing the testimonies they DO have. I cannot write the miracles we saw this week with that. We were able to meet a less active family this week, they all ended coming to church on Sunday, and the mother actually wrote us letters because the experience that we had together meeting during the week was quite significant to her. It was amazing. I felt so blessed. We had 6 less actives in church this week!!! 

My companion is so strong and we are working hard. Adjustments make us grow, they stretch us, yes, but make us grow. 

"Sisar Cardonin ajatuksia" for the week :) 
----"There is no life so shattered that it cannot be restored....our Savior, the Good Shephard, knows and loves us-He knows and loves you. He knows when you are lost, and He knows where you are. He knows your grief. Your silent pleadings. Your fears. Your tears. It matters not how you became lost-whether because of your own poor choices or because of circumstances beyond your control. What matters is that you are His child. And He loves you. He loves His children. Because He loves you, He will find you. .. While our loving Father desires that all of His children return to Him, He will force no one to heaven. God will not rescue us against our will. So what must we do? His invitation is simple "turn..to me" "come unto me" "draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you" THis is how we show Him that we want to be rescued" President Dieter F. Uchtdorf  I pondered this a lot this week. We never need to feel like we arent understood or that we are alone. He is always there.

----I have been reading a journal entry everyday from my first half of my mission so by the end I will be half done. I am currently in the MTC. Good days. There was a talk by Elder Holland that I heard there and it is one of my favorite missionary talks. He said this story:
"go to the edge" he said.
"no, we will fall!" They said.
"Go to the Edge." He said
"We cant we will fall!"
"Go. To. The. Edge." He said.
They went to the edge, He pushed them, they flew. 

Heavenly Father knows what we are capable of. He wants us to have success and we will, when we put our trust and faith in him.

----one of my favorite conference talks that I am reading is from the priesthood session by President Uchtdorf. He quotes: "If we look for the imperfections in people, we will surely find them. We all have them. But if we look for the good, we will surely find it, for we all have good in us". This is one of those "self check points" that I had. How much "good" am I looking for in everyone I meet around me? We can always find more.

Last thought I promise----"Q: Why is it so hard? A: It wasnt easy for Christ, why should it be easy for us? I CANT be easy, because it NEVER was easy" This was also Elder Holland. Remember this next time you are in a trial that seems simply Too Hard.

Its been a great week. I am growing so much (luckily not physically outwards as much anymore). Keep smiling and remember that we really can always to better, and to figure out how, study about Christ and we will know in what way to better refine ourselves to come closer to our Heavenly father.

Rakkaudella,
Sisar Cardon

 Finland and Finland and Finland


The District part 5
Our friend Sisar Ylinen who has 34 rodents living in her home.
Yes and she has won rat competitions. I repeat, she has WON rat competitions. 






____________________________________________________
So we have this RM, YSA who rocks! 
and comes with us to lessons all the time...


...and we had a bubble blowing contest on the bus. 

                                                          I won.