January 23, 2017 Faith Leads to Miracles

The Finland Temple:
The temple that covers the most land mass of any in the world.

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The scriptures that would describe my mission, this transfer, and especially this week are some that I read this morning. Moroni 7:27 and 37. 

In verse 27 "...have miracles ceased...?" then in 37 we read, 
"Nay, it is by faith that miracles are wrought..." 

Faith is a principle of power.

Let me tell you what happened this week. Saturday of last week we had 3 investigators. We have gotten a lot of new investigators recently but they didnt stay interested for very long. We have been planning this transfer that we would reach every single standard of excellence as some point these two months. This past week we had our first full week without any exchange, conference or training (I guess we did have the transfer meeting with President and the Assistants but we forgot about that before...) We hadnt gotten 21 member present lessons yet, and even with so many investigators dropping us we had only 3 member present lessons the week before. We let our faith fuel a miracle.

Our weekly planning was critical. Our meals and extra time was ALWAYS spend calling and following up on potentials. I literally have never been so busy in following up with people, but it payed off. We had our first 3 days set up pretty well with members and investigators. On pday we even taught 4 lessons!! But then we got to Saturday. We were at 17 lessons and the days before about 4 had fallen through...the kind like, we did EVERYTHING we could and get to the door with the member and the person they weren't interested or didnt "jaksaa" ("keep")  (imagine Sister Cardon's patience growing immensely). Saturday comes and we have no members that can come...or so it seamed. The baptism had canceled. We were wondering what we were gonna do, and, like in the scripture, it says that it is by faith that miracles are wrought...well, we and faith enough to KNOW we were going to reach the goal. We didnt give up on getting the members...I dont know how it happened, but we found people who had a little time here and there and we organized it that we had 5 member present lessons that day.

I one week we had 23 member present lessons and 12 new investigators. (found 2 families)

The most remarkable thing is that, as we focused on the member present lessons, all the other standards of excellence came with it. We invited almost every single person we met with this week to baptism. One has a date, but many are praying in hope for one. I feel very strongly that next week there will be more baptismal dates. And this area will have many baptisms in the near future. I sat in church on Sunday, up on the stand giving my farewell talk and counted 5 different investigators in church, all sitting with a member, smiling and partaking of the sacrament. It was one of those moments that it feels like Heavenly Father is patting you on the back Like that. We, in one week, hit all but one of the standards of excellence..and that one I still feel like we got because of the progression people made towards baptism. It was because of faith...which led to great effort..that many great miracles happened this week. 

My companion is doing wonderfully. It truly is going to be so hard to say goodbye, but the good thing is that it wont be too long before we see each other again. Heavenly Father puts people in our lives for a reason. I am so blessed and humbled at all I have learned because of my amazing companions. 

I know that Heavenly Father is loving, and wants me to have all the Joy that He has. He also wants that for all of His children. I have been able to aid in that work here in Finland for a short time. What a blessing. I know that my Savior Jesus Christ lives and understands me. It is through His, fulfilling the will of the Father-the Atonement, that I will be able to have everlasting peace and Joy. I know that as I strive to change my will to be the Will of Heavenly Father, I will find true satisfaction. I know that God and Jesus Christ appeared to the boy Joseph Smith. My testimony of this has grown immensely throughout my mission. I know, that Joseph Smiths prayer was in faith, it brought about a miracle of the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God answers our prayers. We have a living prophet to speaks the words of Jesus Christ. When we listen to his counsel, our families are blessed eternally. I can be with my family forever. All will work out, because of our Savior Jesus Christ.

See you all soon :)

Rakkaudellani,

Sisar Cardon

Janita did our makeup last preparation day
(in honor of me having to do it for specific
activities that happen when I go home that
we dont think about yet) 

She is a gem, and made us look like gems.

Sister Rong, a recent convert from China
who I love more that I can say.

Janita Ahola...joy.

New inv. and friend in church :) Very excited for her

Animal coats in Finland.
I WILL BUY ONE SOMEDAY.

Downtown Helsinki

Downtown Helsinki

THE PATH

January 17, 2017 Ending With a Great Miracle...

At my last zone training. All those sisters
and I were crying together...I am one big baby!

So with this current week being my last full week here in Finand, we set some extremely high goals and made plans to accomplish them. Every mission has "standards of excellence" which are goals that the mission president believes we all could accomplish. My companion and I really wanted to reach one of these that we have never gotten before and have 21 member present lessons. So last weekly planning we planned all we could to accomplish this. After all the plans were set we went out to find people to teach. We to a previous investigators home to see if he was back from his 5 month stay in Texas. Right there at the doorstep he said that he went, loved it, visited church and institute. Without even thinking too much I asked him, "well, you didnt get baptized there, will you get baptized this Saturday?"....and he said YES! So unexpected. We were ecstatic! 

With the new missionaries in trainings

So that means that this week we planned all these member lessons, we have a surprise baptism!! We told our mission president and he was very excited. 

I have never been so busy in my entire mission, well, it feels just like the week of the 102 copies of the Book of Mormon with Sisar Jacobsen. Unreal. 

We keep telling ourselves that if its Heavenly Fathers will then we will do it all...we just need more energy! Pray that all will go well and that we dont go crazy. Sister Burden and I are having so much fun.

What a time to serve in Finland. I am blessed beyond measure.

Rakkaudella, 

Sisar Cardon

  

January 10, 2017 We have solved the concern!!

We have solved the problem! Dont want your icecream to melt? Just eat in in -20 degrees C.                                                                                                 -Sisaret Cardon ja Burden 

Reindeer pizza 

(with Susanna and Oona who came 

all the way from Turku to say goodbye!)

We also ate reindeer pizza this week..never thought I would do that. It is the new way to my heart.

I have learned many things from my time here, but especially that I have a loving Heavenly Father and I WANT to be obedient to all of His commandments. I want to serve Him and follow my Savior. My testimony is the strongest its ever been, I have have full confidence that it will continue to grow and blossom more. My testimony of the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is strong. This was not strong during the entire coarse of my mission, but just as we have seen in times past, when we are in the service of the Lord, our weaknesses and concerns are made strong and steadfast. I simply know that the boy Joseph saw what he said he saw. I have an increase of testimony every time I teach and testify. I am excited for our second training this coming week Sister Burden and I will do of the Restoration.

My companion is wonderful. We are unified and finding much joy. We have grown, through the gospel, to truly be best friends. I am grateful for her and admire how she has developed Christlike attributes. 

Us with the Zone Leaders about to brave it
out in the cold after our planning meeting

Basically I am one spoiled Sisar.

Pray that we stay warm! (or "worm" like one of my dear friends might say)

Rakkaudella,

Sisar Cardon

snow angels on exchanges

The Leppäset...yes, my 2nd family. 

Last Email from Sisar Cardon

19 Months...19 Things I Know.

1.God loves a little coincidence. 

2.Sometimes the timing of the Lord is different than we expect.

3.Jesus Christ leads the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

4.Joseph Smith is the prophet of the restoration. He saw God the Father and Jesus Christ. They spoke to him.

5. Our weaknesses truly can become our strengths, and those strengths (and learning experiences) will be to help more of Heavenly Fathers children.

6.Without consistent spiritual nourishment, one cannot achieve true Joy.

7.There are "calculus questions" in life, but we must first answer the simple algebra.

8.You will learn more by not sinning, but if you mess up, at least learn something from it.

9. The Book of Mormon contains the fullness of the everlasting Gospel. The prophets of old who wrote it, knew Christ.

10. All things can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

11."When ye are in the service of your fellow being, ye are only in the service of your God." Mosiah 2.17

12. As I, as a missionary, have stood in the place of Jesus Christ in Finland, the He has stood in my place at home.

13.Prayer, scripture study and partaking of the sacrament are the best stress relievers. 

14. Finnish food is wayyyy too good.

15. Every person in your life is there for a reason.

16. Repentance is aligning our will with God's will. It brings true satisfaction.

17.We have guardian angels.

18.Time is a blessing.

19. God is our Loving Heavenly Father and he desires that we all Remember.

(Add 2 pictures)

January 3, 2017 I ate reindeer in Finland yesterday, I repeat, I ate a reindeer.

ONNELISTA UUTTA VUOTTA!!

(Happy New Year!!)

Well, right now it's a snow globe outside, we are going to eat reindeer pizza on rye bread after we email with a member and investigator, and hearing from my loved ones today was just a little much for my heart to handle. I love you all!! Thank you for all the exciting news :)

We had a miracle this week with a less active we have been serving and meeting with. We had a lesson about missionary work and we she mentioned some neighbors that were from Estonia. We arranged to give her two Estonian copies of the Book of Mormon, she took them and in the meeting that she gave the books to them she literally taught them about almost all of the missionary lessons! She was so excited, she called us after and told us all about it for about 20 minutes! She is coming to church with them next week and we see this all as great blessings from Heavenly Father. 

We are excited for our investigator, who is getting baptized, to get back from Estonia TODAY!!! We are calling her and will meet as soon as possible. 

The blessings are all around us, we just need to choose to recognize them. I am blown away at the blessings from our Lord and am humbled to think that those blessings are with limited vision here in this life for me. 

There are extra blessings here in Finland where you can eat reindeer and live within driving distance of the North Pole. I am so lucky.

Sisar Cardon

Kuvat  (Pictures)  

Only one of the pictures downloaded. When I figure out how to get the rest, I will add them to this page. The following will be their captions:

-We took our mission presidents wife, sister Watson, as a member on a lesson...we prayed EXTRA hard for the spirit on that one;)

​-Us eating Reindeer hotdogs...yes my eyes look crazy...it was the reindeer.

-us out contacting on new years eve...nice selfie for that...the fireworks were literally non stop.

-my hair looks like pulla

-President took a surpirse visit to our district meeting and took our picture after...district leader, Sister Training leaders, and Assistants to the President in one district.

-a verse we read today..yes that highlighted blue is ONE WORD. 

-New years eve star watching after planning....GLÖGI on the porch watching shooting stars and fireworks.

December 27, 2016 Christmas Traditions

 I will share some of the lovely Christmas traditions from here in Finland :) 

Joulu torttu 

TRADITIONS:

•  -Joulu torttu dessert

• -Joulu Leipä (Finnish Christmas bread)

• -They all go to the graveyard for "holy day" and put candles on the graves FAVORITE

• -Santa comes on Christmas Eve and they sing as he walks in the door. The Christmas Eve is bigger than Christmas day.

• The Christmas meal is a lot of different casseroles: Carrot, turnip and some crazy root.

• -Glögi is a Christmas drink that is like cider.

• 1 litre red grape juice (we used home made grape cordial)
• A few strips of organic orange peel
• 1 Cinnamon stick
• 6-8 whole cloves
• 4 cardamon pods
• 4-6 whole all spice corns (or 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice)

• In the northern part of Finland there is an actual North Pole where santa lives. It's INCREDIBLE.

• Everyone goes to Lutheran mass around Christmas time, its generally the only day they attend church besides Easter.

• SAUNA...its basically the life of the Finns. They also will jump in the frozen lakes then go back to sauna, then jump, then sauna, its quite insane.

• Christmas rice porridge...yes the kind we soiled :)

January 20, 2016 Hyvää Joulua!!! (Merry Christmas!!!)

How lucky am I to have a second Christmas in FINLAND!! Truth be known that I am just miles away from the Arctic Circle, and Santa truly lives in Rovaniemi. 

This past week was wonderful and this next week will be as well. I have pondered a lot about Christmas these past few weeks and love the message that it brings.

The celebration of Christmas, of the birth and life of our Savior touches all.  

"Fear not, for I bring good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all" Matthew 2.10

No matter ones situation, whether they be a missionary on the other side of the world, a broken family, a family of 11 children all together, someone living alone, or even someone with no knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ, everyone is impacted at this time of year. Our situations may differ but the message is the same. Christ our Savior is born and lives. 

I love the words of Isaiah

"for unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Eternal Father, The Prince Of Peace." 

The holiday season is a time for us to remember many things. We remember the blessings of the year, recognize the growth we made, remember to get the ham out of the oven and remember how much we love our family, but especially we must remember The Prince of Peace. We may celebrate the birth at this time of year, but we remember the LIFE. We remember that we all saw and rejoiced before this life when our Beloved Savior was born. We remember the example that He is, we remember the purpose that He had here on the earth, to do the Will of our Father. 

I hope we all take a moment this Christmas season to remember the true meaning of Christmas. 

Hyvää Joulua kaikille! Rakastan teitä ja olette ihania ystäviä

(Merry Christmas everyone! I love you, and you are wonderful friends.)

Rakkaudellani (My love,)

Sisar Cardon

P.S. PICTURES lots this week....but the most important one is:

 "MERR  YCHRIST   S" 

   -love Sisaret Burden and Cardon

December 13, 2016 Joulupukki!!!

We were contacting this week and saw Joulupukki (Santa Clause)  and decided to contact him!! We started out with "Moi Joulupukki, we are excited to meet you! We know that at this time of year we remember you a lot and get excited for the gifts you bring us, but we are actually sharing with people about Christ, whose birth we remember at Christmas..." time went buy and he TOOK A BOOK OF MORMON!! He even gave us free Glögi drink and cookies! Too bad we didn't get his address to teach him..he said the North Pole was kinda far...maybe next year Joulupukki! 

The video is attached!! 

We are super busy this week. From Saturday to Saturday we will go on 4 exchanges! Ho Ho Ho who wouldn't go! 

Oh yeah and also we washed our car in -8 degree weather...my favorite!! We may or may not have had an ice shell around our car!

Well gotta go, Hyvää Viikon Jatkoa :)   (Have a nice week)

Rakkaudella,

Sisar Cardon

This past week we had a musical number at our ward Christmas party. We came up with a "cup song" and sang our own made rendition\medley of about 7 different Christmas songs. We had a really fun time preparing it and practicing during meal times the week coming up to it. It was a "fun goal" that we had, we accomplished it and the ward absolutely LOVED it! That very night we had 3 people come to schedule appointments with us for Christmas Eve and Christmas as well as two different young couples said they could come with us on lessons! It was a great opportunity and we found joy in bringing a sweet spirit of Christmas to our ward. Basically we are the favorites in our ward now...well we are the only sisters so..;)

JOULUPUKKI!!! 

December 6, 2016 Hyvää Itsenäisyyspäivää!! (Happy Independence Day!!)

(apparently even the Google page is  a Finnish flag!) 

A week full of meetings and miracles. 

We were 3 days at the Watsons home for conferences, meetings and MLC. I am amazed at how much more there still is for me to learn!

Jared Ongere was baptized on Saturday!! It was a wonderful baptism. He is from Kenya and Sister McAllister and I taught him when I first came to Espoo, then he moved to Kenya for a month, but when he came back he moved to a different area (not our area) in Espoo and was taught and now is a MEMBER! We had the privilege of going to his baptism. What an outstanding man. He has such incredibly strong faith.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

So we have some new investigators, a mom and two kids, and we asked them each "do you believe in Jesus Christ?" the response from the 6 year old boy resulted like this:

"Veli Rooni, do you believe in Jesus Christ?" minä (Me)

"yes, of course" poika (Boy)

"why do you believe in Him?" minä (Me)

"because he made FINLAND" poika. (Boy)

I couldnt have said it better myself.

And of course today is Finland's Independence Day and all of the country is celebrating! I am so blessed to me in the land of my heritage and the land I have always loved.

Doing the most important work.

Rakkaudellani,

Sisar Cardon

November 28, 2016 Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

I have a new companion!! She is basically perfect. From Indiana, plays flute like you have no idea, we laugh all the time and she is the baby of the family. It basically like serving with your best friend...IN FINLAND. 

Fun facts for the first 6 days of this transfer:

-LIGHTTHEWORLD came out and we show it to everyone! Look it up on mormon.org! It's amazing.

-We have had as many dinner appointments in one week as I had all last transfer. Welcome to the Christmas season.

 

-Last week, our first week together we got 7 new investiators!!! The most I have ever gotten in a week is 3...we cannot believe the miracles we are seeing.

-I got to bed everynight and think "how did we make it through today? How did we do SO MUCH?"

-We had a night before notice that we had a muscial number in sacrament meeting....that was our first time hearing about it. We practiced for 20 mintues the next morning and sang. It actaully was probably the best musical number I have ever done. #blessings

-(same Sunday) The relief society president came up to us while we were sitting in relief society opening exersizes and said "Sisters, our teacher just went home sick...will you teach the lesson today? You are always prepared right?" uhhh.....We had literally, 30 seconds of preparation. We taught....the Restoration lesson! I started crying when teaching about Joseph Smiths vision (what's new Sisar Cardon) and I kid you not, half the Releif society was criying too. 

I can't explain how we are pulling these things off...well...TENDER MERCIES of the Lord.

Have a happy week. Stay Grateful and #LIGHTtheWORLD

Rakkaudellani,

Sisar Cardon

November 21, 2016 My last transfer call....

Exciting news! I am staying in Espoo! I love it here and feel blessed with how busy we are and never stop going! Sisar Burden is coming to serve with me and it's just about a dream come true because on exchanges we would daydream about how we would one day serve together and just speak Finnish all day long...the days has almost come. 

I just about died when Sisar Norman, my baby, got called to VAASA!!! MY HOME!!! I served there for my first 6 months!!! That ward is gonna love her just right this Christmas season! 

Poor Sisar Carter was called to Nephi, Utah...a little too far for my liking. Luckily we will reunite soon.

In the book of Isaiah we read about all the wickedness and destruction that happens because of poorly used agency. I pondered a repeated line this week "for all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still" 2 Nephi. Of course the Lord is sad when we make poor choices, but aren't we so lucky that He never pulls in his hand? He is always patiently waiting for us to turn to Him, to grab hold to his outstretched hand. This gave me comfort.

Happy Thanksgiving!! 

This year I am thankful for:

My loving companions who have and will stay with me 24/7 (is it because its a rule or we just love each other so much...you tell me).

My sweet family back home that is eating my portion of Thanksgiving turkey for me:).

My dog sininen. (Blue)

Finnish saunas that smell rich of burning wood everywhere we walk.

The people that smile at us when we talk to them.

The people who listen to us say the church name and say "good day".

The people that hear our message and invite the Savior more into their lives.

The people of Finland, and all over the world who make this time so worth it.

Riisi piirakka. (Rice Pie or pastry)

Snow that never stops falling.

Crazy cats that scratch us silly when we teach old Russian ladies.

The smile on my face that never ceases doing the work of the Lord.

The tender mercies of the Lord that are never ending.

Hyvää Kiitos Päivää!!  (Happy Thanksgiving!!)

Rakkaudellani, 

Sisar Cardon

November 15, 2016 ei mitään aikaa (No Time)

So today is Sisar Normans birthday so we are just doing really quick emails and then partying (as much as 3 sister missionaries are allowed) for the pday!

It was a great week, many miracles. We have a new investigator we tracted into last night...100 percent Finnish. So great. She let us wear her slippers while we taught because it was "such a cold night". I love this place, and these people have my heart.

Keep all smiling and be obedient :)

Rakkaudellani, Sisar Cardon 

November 7, 2016 Moikka! (Hello!)

No niin, (Well,)

-Sister at interim training

A few weeks updates in one? okay.

Sisaret Carter, Norman and I had a week long training at the Watsons, Sister Carter and I did a few of the trainings for all the missionaries, it was great. Then we hopped on a train, left sister Norman at "babysitters" (other sisters in Espoo area) and we went 5 hours north to Kuopio for our first of three exchanges this week. Its incredible the miracles you can see in just one short exchange, let alone three, doing the work of the Lord.

-our Temple tour with investigator Sisar V.

I had a "not good future mother french toast casserole moment". Have you ever had one of those? Well....yes, leave it to Sisar Cardon to switch up the spices and end up pounding in the oregano instead of allspice for our breakfast. #acquiredtaste? Sorry future family.

We had the primary program a couple weeks ago and the kids sang "love one another" in 4 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES! Yes.
#welcometoFinlandwhereeveryoneisfluentinalllanguages

A cute moment this week was when one of the trainers said to her trainee in our Finnish language class, "Im not putting you on the spot, I am just giving you the spotlight"

Espoo, this is the place! (please sing in the "utah this is the place" song learned usually in the 2nd grade)

Keep smiling all!

Sisar Cardon

PS it looks like Christmas here! The Christmas songs are already well on their way for us and you better believe we belt them out in our car. 

-Jared (investigator) came back form Kenya!

-Our workouts to the lake..prime yoga.

-we love Espoo

-Day well spend in downtown, Helsinki.

November 1, 2016 (BUSY WEEK!)

This is all we got...

MOM I NEED YOU TO AṔPLY ME FOR BYU SPRING SEMESTER NOW!!! sorry no time today we literally only are taking 15 minutest for email but I am so sooo happy and healthy and great.

love you!

October 24, 2016 Puu palaa poroksi (wood burns down)

Terve, 

We dont have much time because are going to help Sister Watson get ready for a week of training today for the trainers in the mission, we just finished shopping with her and now we email really quick. 

Sister Carter and I did a few days of training for the missionaries last week and it went really well. We did a Restoration roleplay, so powerful, and I thought of this quote "knowledge is knowing what to say, wisdom is knowing when or whether or not to say it" There was a moment in silence, during the role play we were doing as a demonstration for the 25 missionaries in the room, while we role played teaching President Watsons wife, sister Watson. I had just recited the first vision and after there was a pause, a time of stillness...My companion and I both knew exactly what we wanted to say, exactly the next step of the role play, but we waited just a second longer. The room was so still. So powerful. The Spirit so strong, and Sister Watsons eyes filled in tears. In this few seconds of silence, the Spirit could speak much louder and with more force than we could, then we continued. There was knowledge, yes, in knowing what was next, but wisdom in knowing when to speak.

The story of the boy Joseph and the Restoration has always held a dear place in my heart. Joseph Smith truly saw what he said he saw. God the Father and Jesus Christ came to him and truly called him by name, answered his prayer, and prepared and called him to be a prophet. The prophet of the restoration. That is why I am here in Finland. I am here because I know this happened, Christs church is restored and more people deserve to know this beautiful message. 

I love being able to say, "you can know this for yourself, you dont have to take our word for it. Heavenly Father will answer your prayer as he did the boy Joseph that spring morning." What a love filled promise from our Heavenly Father.

Sisar Cardon

(Sorry, no pictures this week. The format is not compatible with the computer we are using. Maybe later...)