July 26, 2016 ESPOO!!

Tervetuloa Espooseen Sisar Cardon!  

It's been an incredibly busy but great week. I think the second that I got off the train, we were runnin'...and we haven't quite stopped runnin'. It's oh so good though. I feel like there is ALWAYS something to do now, and always someone we need to meet with, call, serve, ya know...the missionary stuff. 

Espoo is really beautiful. It's an extremely "wealthy area" where we live...apparently the President of Finland has one of his houses in our area? Yes. That is my next goal. Teach the President of Finland. He would surely make church attendance increase. 

My new companion is Sisar McAllister. She is a BLAST!! Wow. It reminds me of the glory days with Sisar Jacobsen. She is from Colorado Springs, sings like an absolute ANGEL (literally its her reputation in the ward, the angel singer, and it's well-deserved) and I dont think we can go more than 10 minutes without laughing at SOMETHING...well, we are forced to during lessons...but its sometimes not easy. :) This is her last transfer of her mission and we are going out hard.

We got to go pick up the new missionaries from the airport this week. It made me feel like I was just getting to the country all over again. They are all on fire with a spirit of missionary work and it was amazing to see. I loved hearing the "MTC Finnish" :) they all spoke so well! President gave us a tour of Helsinki (breathtaking pictures attached)

Finlands Temple is IN OUR AREA!! We actually run by it everyday. Angel Moroni is definitely cheering me on "keep on runnin Sisar Cardon! You almost made it to breakfast!!"

  

We got a new investigator this week. He is outstanding. I swear he teaches us. As we were discussing about the plan of salvation. One thing I learned from him was when he made the comment "Asking questions is good, it means that I am ready to learn more that God has for me". It's so true. Having questions shows us that we have the desire to progress. Heavenly Father will fill that desire with knowledge and a yearning for more growth. I see that with this particular man. He is progressing VERY well :)

Keep smiling and keep praying for us missionaries! We feel and see the blessings of your prayers.

Rakkaudellani,

Sisar Cardon

July 18, 2016 Change Calls, and JELLO Parties!!

We got change calls and I will be going to Espoo! Very exciting. 

This will be a HUGE change. 

Saying goodbye to areas is probably the hardest thing to do as a missionary. I always cry so much leaving the investigators and members. We have had so much fun here. I have been able to see so many people change their lives. People here in Turku have changed my life. 

 We had an American jello party with the Hyssälä family #2ndfamily (special thank you to Kristen and Averyl for the birthday jello!) 

Valerie wrote a personal letter to me with more information about her transfer. Here are some of the highlights: 

Heippa Hei (Bye Bye)

• She will be a Sister Training Leader (STL) along with her new companion. There are three sets of STL's in the mission. Her area is the largest, serving six sets of sister missionaries. 
• She is serving in President Watson's ward. Espoo is near Helsinki and it's where the mission headquarters are located, as well as the Finnish Temple. 
•  She and her companion will help the six sets of sister missionaries regularly. They will be traveling "all the time" 
• "... I'm terrified!"  "I'm literally so scared."  (direct quotes)
•  "I feel really god about it in some ways." (also a direct quote)
• If you know Valerie, you know she will give it all she's got. She will listen and help the sisters to the best of her abilities and it will be enough. She'll grow as she helps the other missionaries grow. I'm excited to watch her continue to become what God wants her to become.                                 -Valerie's mom

July 12, 2016 Where does the time go?

I LOVE TURKU

This week was full of a lot of memories and great people. 

We sang in church this week...that was terrifying. But good, and a memory :)

The BYU Synthesis jazz band was here in Turku. They played at our church and are incredibly talented! The Finns LOVED it! we were using it as a contact approach on the street for the past couple weeks. It was so cool because an hour before the performance, we were contacting our way there and met this old Finnish man who was so excited about this musical performance. He dropped his plans and CAME! We had multiple investigators there and a few people that we met on the street there! I am amazed at how, through music, we can be brought together and feel more of Gods love. Another man we met because of this came to church on Sunday. Miracles of missionary work. Thank you BYU ;)

BLuEBerRY SeAsON. There are so many blueberries covering the forest ground I feel like I am in some sort of heaven. Picture this: A walk with our dearest Saara, picking wild blueberries, along a number of little lakes in the forrest...in the pouring rain. (dont worry, I have pictures attached so you dont need to work your brain too much). Its amazing how being in the beauty that God has made for us, talking about good things, with good people, will make such good memories.

(If anyone knows how to turn a picture on a blog - let me know...    -Valerie's Mom)

One quote that I heard from a good friend of mine this week was "love people enough to ask them to change". I know when we truly love God, we change to be better in line with His will. I know when we truly love people, we want this kind of happiness, happiness that comes from change. This life is full of small and big changes that we make, and these are good for us. They are to help us grow. 

Rakkaudella, Sisar Cardon

This is what the houses in Finland are like...yes. I know. 

Picking our blueberries :)

-Pday ship lunch with our favorite Persians!
(yes, I know Sara looks like a Kardashian)​ 

July 5, 2016 Hyvää Syntymäpäivää Amerikka!! Happy Birthday America !!

Grateful to be an American, but I do take full appreciation for the 25% Finnish in my blood. You better believe that we celebrated well yesterday, I may or may not have drawn a Finnish flag on some part of my body (hidden of course) and we definitely sang the national anthem multiple times. I dont think there could be a better mix, Finland and America :) 

We met with the SWEETEST 90ish year old lady this week. We met her a few weeks back in the pouring rain on the street when we picked up my sweater after I hadnt noticed it dropped, finally got contact at her home, she let us in and we are teaching her! She is simply a sweetheart and after 90 years, she is so ready to hear the Gospel!

I think in honor of the Fourth of July, God led us to meet two Americans from New York this week! We met them through one of out investigators, they had a little different view of what LDS members are, but we cleared that up real nice and I have a very good feeling that it wasnt just a coincience they were here for a a few days and met "real mormons" haha. It's amazing the little "coincidences" that Heavenly Father has in store for us.

Sisar Merenluoto running!!

Sisar Merenluoto ran the half marathon!! She did great. Man, definitely the strongest 74 year old lady I know. Even though I wasnt able to run it with her THIS TIME, we had a lot of fun cheering her on very loudly, jumping up and down, in a crowd of very quiet Finns :)

One of our newly activated members bore his testimony in church this Sunday for the first time in many years. One thing that really touched me was when he talked about "I knew it was true the whole time in the back of my mind". 

Ilmaista Jäätelöä - Free Ice Cream!

FuN BleSsinG oF thE weEk:

This random sales guy came up to us and gave us free ice cream. We were walking home with a YSA after a lesson turned out to me a "noshow" I am fully convinced that it is because God was just giving us a little pat on the back saying "dont worry, next time...here is a little ice cream to make ya feel better"...and because Oona, the YSA, is a total babe. 

Quote from our "athiest" investigator: "I think believing in God is like believing in love...you cant explain or see love, but it exists". WHAAA?! I love her. 

Great week

Keep on keepin on!

Sisar Cardon

(I cut Sisar Toomeys hair...dont know why the heck she trusted me with that..dont worry, all went well...for the most part.)

 We painted rocks with Saara for the Fouth of July. I ADORE HER!

June 28, 2016 HYVÄÄ JUHANNUSTA! (HAPPY MIDSUMMER!)

There is a really good new video of Elder Holland that I think is worth seeing! It's from his talk "like a broken vessel" and he talks about the hard time that he had in his life. Watching this, I thought about how when he had this trial, he had no idea that he would eventually be an apostle, speaking of this to millions of people, and changing lives. If we only knew the extent of WHY we have the trials we do at the times we do. What we learn is for significant and eternal purposes. Heavenly Father has a reason for everything. ​

To see the video that Valerie is talking about, click on the following link: 

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=mormon+messages+like+a+broken+vessel&view=detail&mid=EE2C2DBEE5AC1F6ADD36EE2C2DBEE5AC1F6ADD36&FORM=VIRE


This week was "Juhannus" which is the Midsummer holiday here in Finland celebrating the longest\lightest day of the year. Let me just say that I have a new favorite holiday now. It is such a crazy holiday with a lot of alcohol so we are only alowed out if we have an appointment. We had one with our 80 year old sweetie in the ward...but because the buses dont go, and she is quite old for driving, we found an alternate of sisar Toomey riding my bike, and I ran next to her. It was the best 75 minute run to her that day!! I didnt think I would ever be able to have that kind of running luxury on my mission. Hyvää Juhannusta!

Making the traditional Juhannus flower crowns-yes we have the cutest YSA here in Turku. 

We also went to a Mökki with a member (like a little cabin) that is just a few meters from the Baltic Sea. UNREAL. Its in the middle of a forest and we have to hike to it. The spiritual talk we had there was amazing too because of how comfortable and easy it was for the spirit to be there.  

June 21, 2016 Excerpts from a Letter to President Watson

President, 

This week was very good. We may not have given as many books out, or talked to as many people, but I did feel like the conversations were just as, if not more, meaningful and spirit driven. Because of this we were able to find some very solid and new investigators which whom we are ecstatic to work! This truly is a beautiful work. 

These past few weeks I've felt some things really tiring me out, and I felt that there wasn't quite as much progression that we could have. So, I have been communicating and talking a lot about things with my companion and handling them maturely (something I should have done better in previous times) and I have already began to see a difference. While there are still things to work through, and progress we can BOTH make, I am grateful for the patience with me that my companion has and for the willingness we have together to make things work, and work well. 

I am learning so much on this mission.

I am grateful for the example of patience and love that Heavenly Father has shown to us in simply letting us come to this earth and make decisions, mess up, progress and learn. I love this opportunity to share the knowledge of God with others, here in beautiful, beautiful Finland. 

Sisar Cardon

We survive the long days by buying fresh berries and veggies in the market square.
Yes. I do love Finland with my whole heart!

  

 Finnish                                                                                         Cardomom 

             Bread - 

            PULLA

-We made Pulla with one of the recent convert families.
Yes...I am obsessed with Finnish pulla.