March 14, 2016 Transfers!!!!!

Moi Moi Moi!! 

We got transfer calls this week....I am going to TURKU!! :) I am excited (even though I have shed some tears leaving this family of mine in Vaasa). It was my last Sunday yesterday...so many people were so sweet and gave me letters and pictures and things. I feel so loved, and I LOVE ALL of these people here. I can't believe that I have been in Vaasa for half a year! I am the luckiest. 

FUNNIEST STORY: Okay so, this week we had a meeting scheduled with this new guy. We got to his apartment and as we got out of the elevator and looked down the hall he was waiting with his door open, ready to come out, with a platter of tea and coffee. He didn't really say much except to hold the elevator and we were going somewhere else. We were so confused. (we had only met this guy once before briefly and set up a return appointment) We, Sis Kwok, our ward member, him and I, all squeezed in the personal elevator-much much too close for comfort. We get off. He then led us down the hallway and opened the door to...drum roll please...THE SAUNA!! Hahahaha we had no idea what was going on. He just set down the drinks and said that he "didn't want to meet in his home because this was a more neutral place" so we sat in the sauna...all very close..fully clothed (even with coats on) and talked about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was one of the weirdest experiences. So FUNNY!! (we have a mission rule that missionaries are NOT allowed to sauna...but good thing that there is not a rule that we cannot have lessons there.)

We are gonna cut email time because I need to go pack. Love you all!!

some quick pics :)‏

We had our last district meeting all together before the change. It was ridiculously fun. The Seinäjoki Elders had us do a "farewell meal" that I truly believe was to give us all heart attacks. It was a casseroll of one layer of mashed potatoes, then a layer of McDonalds hamburgers, another layer of mashed potatoes and then cheese and then bacon...I almost died.  

March 8, 2016 CRAZY AWESOME WEEK :)‏

Sisar Kwok and I were SOOO busy this week and we made so many memories. 

Being a missionary is so stressful, but oh so rewarding. 

We did something crazy....haha so you know how it's freezing in Finland? Wellllll, Sisar Kwok and I were out kinda further from our apartment so we decided to just get some food at the grocery store here so we could stay out in the area. We found swings by a forest by the ocean. We were just swinging eating our pickles looking out at the frozen water...and got the best idea....just 10 minutes later we were on out bikes crossing the frozen water to get to our next point of destination. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!! What missionary can say that they took their bikes over frozen meri (sea) by a cross country skiiing path. So cool. The sun was setting too. It was definitely a highlight this week. 

We did the traditional pea soup and lettu for lunch on Thursday. So fun. I love pea soup.

Shout out to Lew for the world's BEST birthday package ever.
I opened it with a chefs knife. :)

I finished the Book of Mormon this week. It is was the first time I have ever REALLY read the whole thing. I started in the MTC and yesterday read the last chapter. It is an amazing book. I believe that it is from God. I realized when I read the promise from Moroni at the end, while I pondered his words, that I have had a stronger testimony of it than I thought. There were times that I read and didn't want to put it down! It's like a TV show with cliff hangers sometimes! I love the Book of Mormon. I am happy to now be able to say to my friends I meet here in Finland, "I have read this book, prayed about it, and know that it truly is God's word". I am happy about the testimony that is challenged everyday, but grows every day. 

So much happened this week I can't even write it all!

Keep smiling and if you can, come to Finland :)

March 1, 2016 Maaliskuu :)‏ (March)

A scripture I loved this week (I know totally one of those missionaries right now) is Ether 12:35. It's true in the sense that in order for us to develop our talents and progress, we really have to focus on Charity. Charity is the most essential building block. (and also sometimes the hardest) 

KEEP WORKING HARD :)

We got burgers this week #Americans and,
of course, ate them the European way. Miksi ei? (Why not?)

A beautiful woman in our ward got married this week! I am so happy for her!
(too bad she is moving to Helsinki now so we are losing our almost 3rd missionary
who would come with us on lessons) She is BEAUTIFUL!!! :) 

You know you are in Finland when you just throw your bike
in a giant snow bank and go tract in the forest for 3 hours. 

February 23, 2016 Oulu for Zone Training....Baptism...Snow...PICTURES‏

So have I ever told you all how much 

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE FINLAND??? Well, I do. 

Sister Watson our missionary mother. She is so beautiful and it was so
good to see her and President up in Oulu this weekend.
We also have the best Sisters in our zone :)

We turned into aliens on splits...

S\O to my other-half in Japan for the cat and the hat (pun intended). 

My companion got so cold she froze into a snow woman...

I have a new found love for cornflakes...
the box was gone by the end of the week...
#mostawkwardphotoawardgoestosisarcardon

The Elders in Seinäjoki had a baptism but their church doesn't have a font so they traveled all them to Vaasa...Sisar Kwok and I sang at it. It was the song "Abide With Me"...it went quite well...until after the baptism this man came up to us and informed us that the song we sang, in the Finnish translation is a song they sing at funerals...and that it was sung at his wife's funeral 3 years ago...I FELT SO BAD!! We had no idea....ahhhhh!!!

My companion found a massage chair "oh my gosh, Sisar Cardon!!! Its only 1 £ for 3 whole minutes!!!!". It was a lovely experience for her. #tendermerciesasamissionary

Kaikki te olette mahtavia ihmisia!! :)  

(You are all great people)

Rakkaudellani, 

Sisar Cardon

Sisar Kwok, my beautiful companion and I,
moments before we stuffed our faces with Indian food...haha

February 16, 2012 Hyvää Ystävänpäivää!!!‏ (Happy Valentine's Day)

LOTS OF PICTURES THAT HAVE HOURS WORTH OF LAUGHS AND STORIES BEHIND THEM!!

Weird bear statue eating a woman in the middle of the park...welcome to Finland...hahaha

LONGEST BRIDGE IN FINLAND....It didn't quite compare to San Francisco, but it was beautiful.
There were tons of holes in the ice underneath from people ice fishing and little islands
with summer cottages on them. I 100% felt like I was in a movie....

We went to a darling little bakery place with our recent convert Dorcas...
we can't go back because it was TOO good and we are afraid for our figures...

Our district...pictures in pictures in pictures....gotta get creative somehow!

(????)

(Picture's weren't sent...)

9. Niina Kronqvist=my idol of the mom I wanna be. She is handsdown the funnest and funniest human. 

10. Sisar Kwok and I taking a quick phone call break on a random swingset...yes. 

11. We ate a Swedish dinner with a sweet couple in the ward...the lady just kept calling it "flying chickens!" in English but she doesnt speak english so I just dont really know what was going on. It was interesting, it had bananas, chicken, bacon, sweet and sour sauce, more bananas and cream. 

And the quote from the week is from Jeffrey Obazee, our African recent convert (imagine an african bible lover who is really loud and hilarious and you will have a pretty good image) said to me after I told him I had near 100 first cousins, "OH MY!! CARDON, YOUR FAMILY COULD START A NATION!!" hahaha He still mentions it EVERY time he sees me now. 

Hyvää Ystävänpäivää kaikille!
(Happy Valentine's Day everyone!)

February 9, 2016 Hyvää Hyvää Päivää!!‏ (Happy Happy Days!)

Sisar Cardon´s HUGE week in tiny bullet points:

-With the weather here in Finland we have ice covering practically every inch of ground here....We seriously        ice-skate everywhere we go. (makes it interesting for us to get from places when we need to run) #prayforus 

-In church on Sunday, Veli Leirimaa (who was going to translate the meeting) came up to me last minute and put it in my hands saying "Sisar Cardon you have to do the beginning cause I have to be up there"...so of course, Sisar Cardon who has been in Finland just 5 months translated the beginning of sacrament. This is how it went down: They were calling people in church to new callings and I could make out who they were calling or releasing...and thats about it...so in the microphone I may or may not have just said "yep so raise your hand now like they just did on the stand" Oh gosh. Pressure of not only speaking but translating for others is not something that Sisar Cardon does well at....not to mention the best part..Our mission President just so happened to be in our ward that day and hear me through his translator. Funny story for the grandkids right? 

-It was Chinese New Year yesterday so we celebrated #chinesecompanion and trust me...we made the most of this day with videos...consider yourself lucky if you can one day see them. 

-Many blessings this week and priceless memories....take my word for it! 

Rakkaudella, (with love) Sisar Cardon

Chinese New Year Celebration

February 2, 2016 TERVETULOA HELMIKUU‏ (Welcome to February)

Siis, Sisar Kwok and I had a really interesting talk the other night about Christ. (you know when you are missionaries and doing church stuff 24\7 its kinda a normal thing to have late night pillow talk about gospel principles...#missionarylife) But we were talking about the literal way that what we do to those around us Matt 25. 40 "even as you have done it unto the least of these brethren, you have done unto me". When Christ suffered in Gethsemane He felt all our pains and our happiness, so that would mean that in a literal sense, when we bring another person happiness, it is something that Christ felt and "knew" when He suffered the Atonement of all Gods children. This has brought me thinking in a new way this week. We are so appreciated for the good we do, not only just by the person that we help, but by Christ as well. (this is just the quick version from Sisar Cardon's p-day scatter brain at email time.) 

Rakkaudella, (lovingly) Sisar Cardon

p.s. We played Sähly (floor hockey) last saturday and I was informed in the middle of the game (about 13 hours before church) that I would be giving a talk. Suomeksi (In Finnish). For the first time. You better believe that I killed it (the definition of "killing it" is debatable depending on the person) but it was an experience. :)

Waiting for the bus with our recent convert Dorcas :)
(we totally were such weirdos and set up the camera...no worries..it was
freezing outside so nobody was out there to see)

Kebob with the district...I dont know why the elders love it so much.
I feel like once a year is quite alright for Sisar Cardon when it comes
to eating  a pile of practically raw meat..but nonetheless, its was an
eventful after district meeting lunch.

January 26, 2016 Tammikuu :) (January)

                                           

                                           Hauskaa Aikaa  ‏(Having a nice time)

A beautiful Lutheran Church (the buildings here are stunning) S\O to my mom for the earmuffs :)

American food hahahah. it comes pre-made in boxes here....can't get more American than that ;)

Pictures worth thousands of words ;)

-We went out on the frozen lake and made snow angels...probably 

not the smartest thing to do but hey...it made for some good laughs 

and beautiful snow angels. (as my best friend Murret Shimai would 

put it #wompmissionary)

I made fish this week (action shot photo cred:Sisar Kwok) and one of the fish wasn't
cleaned out all the way....I won't go into detail but lets just say that Sisar Cardon
doesn't have a very brave stomach sometimes...haha

Sharing is caring. So..there was
 only one icecream bar left...yes,
 we did cut it in half with a chefs knife.
#bestcompanions

January 19, 2016 Sisar Cardon's Annoying Picture Overload

Sisar Kwok got stuck in this entrance and the doors broke....She was in there just like, "...uhhh Sisar Cardon....uhhh...help." and I couldnt stop laughing. Finally after a few minutes of her standing and trying to get it to open with me laughing my head off in the middle of the train station and all the Finns looking at me like I was a lunatic, it opened. God bless us awkward missionaries...Voi että. (Oh Boy)

Sisar Kwok and I giving you "peace" signs and "I love you" signs...love it! 

 The days are getting longer…already there is 1 additional hour of daytime since Christmas Day now in Finland!!!!! HORRAYYY!!!

January 19, 2016 More Picture Overload

This week we went up north 5 hours by train to Oulu (my favorite part of the month) for zone training. So fun. It was below -30 there. FINNISH LOVE. 

Picture with waterbottle) so our train home kept getting delayed over and over because of weather or something. For some reason I thought I was going to die of dehydration so we went to a nearby kioski and I got the biggest water bottle of water that I could find...ya turns out that I spent over 5 £ on carbonated water and couldnt even drink it (I dont know why they love it so much here). This was my face when I opened it on the train....Sisar Kwok was laughing so hard.

Oh also FUNNIEST THING. so in Vaasa where is serve there are TONS of immigrants from all over the world. A lot of Asians and Africans (yeah you know i love it here) and there are multicultural stores everywhere. So we went to this asian place cause #asiancompanionsisarKwok and found JAPANESE FOOD so obviously I bought some and I am making it in honor of my best friend in Japan serving the cutest people (besides Finns). So fun.

We walked through the middle of the forrest with probably my favorite human in Finland this week. The picture is of her poodle dog. I feel like everywhere I go here is worthy of a picture or movie...Finland is heaven and I just wish you all could understand what I mean. 

Picture with our recent convert Dorcas from Kenya. She is an angel. She speaks Finnish 10x better than I do and she loves God with all her heart. Pretty much my heart cant handle these people that I love here

January 19, 2016 Love You!

So to be honest, this week started out a little rough. I began to feel like things were steering more towards the way that they were with my last companion and that terrified me. The thing is, I noticed it and reacted to it. These past two days have been very good and I think that has shown me that I have learned from past mistakes and trials. I am very happy. 

I am doing well since the accident. I do still shutter every time that I hear a siren and it makes me a little nervous, but once it passes all is well :) Its interesting to have that reminder every once in a while to help me remember the blessing that God gave us. 

I got the bike. Its an elders bike and needs some fix up so I am trying to decide if its worth it or if I want to look around for a woman bike (the convenience of being able to get on and off easily with a skirt and short legs). We are going to a Kirppis today to see what they have. We are doing well with walking though and we have used the bus a few times. We really are doing well together. 

I realized something that has gotten me thinking while we were in Oulu for Zone Training. I recognized that I need to figure out what my real intentions are with missionary work and they start from the foundation to become the missionary that I want, need and am able to become. I also thought a new thought, PMG isnt just a book, but it is words of inspiration from God to His church leaders. That is something that deserves more study, consideration and following from Sisar Cardon. 

It was, honestly, a perspective changing experience for me in Oulu yesterday and as I talked with dear Sisar Powell, I realized that this big weight that I have been struggling to carry, doesnt have be be so burdensome. I feel much happier already and am trying to keep my progression up. I am so blessed and want to be the best blessing that I can to the people around me. I got some wonderful advice from Sis Powell, "the MOST important thing to do is make sure that your companion is in the green zone, until she is there, my priorities are there too." I am going to try my best to focus on that and truly learn that. 

Thank you for your confidence in me, well actually, thank you for your confidence in the Lord for what he can do through me. This is a blessed time.

Sisar Cardon