Valerie's new address:

Valerie's Email Address:

valerie.cardon@myldsmail.net

Mission Address: 

Sisar Valerie Marie Cardon

Finland, Helsinki Mission

Upseerinkatu 3Ce

02600 Espoo, Finland

Pictures from the last days in the MTC

My Zone
BEST ZONE SINCE 1996
August 30, 2015

(I wasn't tall enough to touch Finland, so I resulted in just pointing to the bottom of
Russia...Don't worry Mom, I'm still going to Finland for the next 16 months)

The "dream team" and best district around

Last Days in the MTC

The Hungarian Noverek and the lone sisar. We will miss each other!

​Its been such a wonderful last few days at the MTC. We taught our last "investigator" who is just our teacher and we had ONE goal the whole time and that was to make her cry, we accomplished that goal...well, kinda. She actually had a coughing attack and her eyes watered from that but It counts right? 

Saying goodbye to our teachers was really hard and sad but still happy. One of our teachers, Sisar Egan, had been one of the biggest helps to me. She has blessed me so much more than just simply teaching me the language. I look up to her so much. Before she left she brought us all together and shared something with us. She said that before we came in she was looking at all our pictures and praying about us and she said that she got such an overwhelming feeling that this district--our district--was so prepared. She said that she has never had a district that has worked as hard and together as well as us. She said "I know I shouldn't say this, but you all have blown me away even when my expectations were already set high." It was such a special thing to hear. I look up to her and received so much peace from the words she said. 

I have honestly loved my time here in the MTC and there are some days that I really just don't want to leave. I have learned so much here about myself, this gospel, the Finnish language and our purpose here on earth. A lot of people complain about the food, I agree sometimes there are things about it that arent the healthiest or yummiest, but its such blessing and I don't have anythin to complain about except that its all you can eat and that definitely tested my self control sometimes with that chocolate cake...

Also, the Vanhimmat tried to surpise me with a going away party thanking me for being the 'district mom' and throwing all the birthday parties. They bought be gifts (poprocks because "I rock", starbursts because "I am a star" , a Lauluja (Finnish hymn book) and--because I always get confused about the scripture stories and am trying to hard to learn more--Vanhin Armond bought me a Book of Mormon Stories book. It melted my heart that they all went to such an extent to do this for me. They bought chips and salsa and donuts--obviously wanting me to gain even more weight--but it just meant so much to me. I am so blessed with my district and I would take being a Solo Sisar any day to be with them more. 

I have loved all that I've learned and I cant wait for all that is in store for me and the opportunity to hug a Finn finally!!! Love you all and I'll email next when I am SUOMESSA (in Finland)

Finland Here I Come !!!!

Our filght plans ROCK!! First we don't have to leave early at all (looks like that waking up at 3:30 am and heading to Salt Lake Airport was just a one time thing for LA hallelujah!) We leave the MTC at 8:00 am Monday, August 31st then our first flight is from Salt Lake to Chicago at 1:20 so we will get to Chicago about 5:30--Chicago time--then we have our next flight straight from Chicago to Helsinki at 10:00pm arriving in Finland at 2:30 pm (so all night flight and I can sleep!!) I feel like they are literally the best travel plans that I could have! #solucky. Our branch president said that we should hope for a seat on the left side of the plane because we might be able to see the northern lights that plane ride!! I am soooo stoked. They are on an 11 year cycle and we are at the perfect time. Just coming off the peak, so i am keeping my fingers crossed!!

This week has been good and we have had some fun! Last Sunday I actually sang a solo in sacrament meeting. It was a rendition of "I Stand All Amazed" and it went quite well! I have never done anything like that before but a lot of people claimed that they liked it and I actually felt the spirit while doing it instead of shaking like a dog so that was great. I think that music is one of the most important things and biggest blessings that we can have in this life. Now, sometimes at night after we plan some of us get together and sing and harmonize together and it is just a blast!! I wish we could do that all day! 

It rained this week a couple times and it was so beautiful! The Noverek and I took a 20 minute break and played in the rain on Tuesday and it was just plain old fun. There was a moment playing in that rain that my smile was so big I thought that my cheeks might burst and I was just so happy and content to be on a mission. I am just so blessed. 

I can't belive that in just a few days I will be in Finland!!! I honestly can't wait to hug a Finn. I love you all so much and hope all is well. Just remember when you are having a hard time, or even a great time, to sing and play in the rain. It makes everything better than it is--even if its already the best. 

Rakkaudella, 

Sisar Cardon

Featuring "oreos for eyes" and us trying our best to get a picture but...ya.

This beautiful view was one of the 'tender mercies' that God gave us here at the MTC.

(p.s side note for the fam. Dont you think that Gordon Nover--
in the floral dress-- looks like aunt Sheree??)

*you know you are best friends when you see each other in
the MTC and everyone around you hears you freak out.

MY FLIGHT PLANS!!!

 Elder Cole who left for Taiwan this past Tuesday.

more pictures of "Good ol' fun"

We sometimes dress up really cute in the MTC with really large clothes.

My "Finland I want to be with you right now" face and outfit. 

I saw Elder Parrish (wardies are the best to see)

In our fort we shared this lovely cupcake 
from Vanhin Armonds mother. Special times.

me wearing grandpas shirt 
which is my all time favoite shirt now :)

Good ol' fun week‏

Just so you all know: my mother has started a blog for me ---valeriecardon.blogspot.com---and so if you want to read emails and see pictures feel free to go to that from now on so you don't have to get annoying missionary emails every week. (if you really do want to keep getting these then let me know and I will keep you on the weekly email list).

ANYWAY, happy valmistautamis päivänä (preperation day)!!! I am excited today because tomorrow I will get my flight plans for Finland and then in 11 days I will actually be there! Weird that I've been on my mission almost 2 months and haven't even gone to Finland yet. MTC has been fun and all but I am so ready to get my Finn on!

Nashville Tribute Band came this past Sunday. It was unbelieivealby fun! I sang in the choir of 1,000 missionaires as back-up for the songs "I Was Born" and "John's Song". (I think I found a little bit of inner Baptist in me when we were singing John's song...SO FUN). I litereally havenet had so much fun singing in a choir before.

Note from Val's mom-
To see/hear the Nashville Tribute Band, follow theses links:
I Was Born:    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ1iw1w02JE&list=RDDZ1iw1w02JE#t=9
John's Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAWUc-mgHUw&list=PLFQkaaxIPmP6yMialpMxW2SN_AUzYnuWu

Our Fort: So, after a long and stressful day, the Noverek (Hungarian sisters) and I decided to make a fort. Yes. We transformed our room into a world-class fort with brownies to eat inside. Don't worry, we cleaned up our mess, Mom. ;)

Michelle's Wedding: Well my sister is now a voimo (wife) and I LOVE the pictures. I died when I saw how beautiful in the dress you and mom made. Not fair, give us some of that beauty. Also, BIGGEST SHOUT OUT TO MY MOM for the wedding package. So I get a package delivery and it turns out to be this gigantic box. We don't open mail until after we go back to the residence for the night at 9:30 so the anticiation was killing me. When I opened it I found breathtaking pictures of the newly-weds, beautiful dining supplies--table cloth included--with bubbles from the wedding and a gigantic piece from Michelle's wedding cake. I literally was tearing up it was the sweetest thing. So, now I can say that I attended the wedding with all my Noverek. How did I get so blessed with my mother?

This was a week of hard work and good ol' fun. We dressed up, built forts, attended a wedding and took wayyy to many pictures doing it all. 

Life is good, church is true, love you all and I love being a missionary!

Terve!! (8/13/15)

I feel like I just emailed my last P-day letter yesterday...weird. Anyway this week was so full and I have decided I very much like being busy here on the mission. 

TRC: So every week we give lessons to return missionaries from Finland and last Thursday was THE BEST LESSON I HAVE EVER GIVEN. I felt so good about the language, and understood about 80% (granted these arent native Finns but thats ok) and then yesterday we, instead of TRC, skyped with a native in Finland and that left me shellshocked but it was still really great! I cant believe how much I have learned already. And how much I still have to learn. Finnish is great.

Spiritual Day: So this Monday I had probably my most spiritual day on the mission thus far. It started with Vanhin Grooms in our district getting the really sad news that he might have to go home because his back problems were causing so much trouble for him. As zone leaders, (btw I am sister training leader by default hahahaah) Vanhin Craft, Vanhin Hatch, The Holy Ghost and I, came up with the idea that we would do a district fast for him. When we discussed this with the district we had such a positive response and then about an hour long discussion that brought the spirit so strong. It was so wonderful. We talked about the true meanings of missions and what our purpose is here. Everyone was participating and sharing very personal experiences that helped their testimonies grow. By the end of the discussion 5 of us had cried happy tears (of course I was one of them cause #totalbaby). Then that night Vanhin Grooms asked that I would open the fast with the prayer and after he was given a blessing by Vanhin Aldous. During the blessing, I was struck with the realization that we are real missionaries, and these elders actually hold God's priesthood power that can bless His children. It's so odd to see a group of 18 and 19 year old boys, who normally are total immature dorks, hold themselves to a standard because they have such a sacred privilege and responsibility to be priesthood holders. It was just one of those "hit you moments" you know?

Sunday Talk: So this is how Sundays work now. We all prepare talks in our languages and then when it comes to sacrament meeting the Branch President will announce to us, after sacrament, which two missionaries were speaking. So, because I had such a busy day full of meetings and I had already given a lesson the week before with a second lesson that day in relief society, I really didnt think that I would be chosen...think again Sisar Cardon! I was the first talk and I did the whole think Suomeksi (in Finnish)!! It was actually so great! I was surprisingly calm, collected, and spoke quite well! I, again, cannot believe how much I've learned here!!

Sunday Choir: So there is choir practice every Sunday and Tuesday and its soooo fun because the director is just so funny and shares the best stories. Anyway, so I went and it was really full buuut it was so packed with missionaries--approx 1000 he said--that there was only extra room on the stage so they had us sit up there for the practice (dont worry, everyone could just watch us 8 sisters sing...special). At the end of the practice it was so spiritual because we sand the song "The Hardest Thing I've Ever Loved To Do*" which is actually a super cheesy song but if you read it as a poem it just melts your heart. As I watch all 1000 of these missionaries sing this, about 20% of them are just crying because the words are so touching. It was a precious moment...but then the choir director asked me to say the closing prayer...that was not a precious moment. I wished I could've said it in Finnish so nobody could understand. Lol. 

Well I love it here a lot more than I thought I would! The mission has already taught me so much about who I am, who I want to become, and how I can help the people I love and God loves come closer to him. These are definitley the most important 18 months of my life and I am determined to make them count. Michelle, you are getting married tomorrow.  I wish I could be there, and I wish I could be with you on such an important day. I know that you are going to be the most beautiful bride. I am grateful I can at least be there as a cardboard cutout ;)

Willets Nover and I :)

Love you all and talk to you next week!!

Rakkaudellla,  (Love, affection or devotion)

Sisar Cardon

*The Hardest Thing I've Ever Love To Do

by Nashville Tibute Band  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr5Kzy4FF1g)

The hardest thing I've ever loved to do was letting go of everything I ever knew.

19 years of dreams left in my room as I buttoned up the jacket of my suit.

And the hardest word I've ever loved to say was goodbye to my mom and walk away.

Choking on my tie and on my tears, as I walked down the hall into those years.

And the sweetest song I ever loved to sing filled the MTC on angels' wings.

And the chorus filled my soul, five thousand strong

And I wished it would just go on and on.

The firmest hand I ever loved to shake was my trainer's with that big grin on his face.

He grabbed my bag and put his arm 'round me and whispered,

"I'm gonna work those Mr. Mac's right off your feet".

And the hardest words I ever anguished for came just before some lady slammed the door.

And my trainer left me hanging out to dry as a minute of painful silence rolled right by.

But the hardest tears I've ever loved to cry fell as I opened up my mouth and testified.

Between the tiny walls of strangers' living room, the Spirit told their hearts my words were true.

And the most wonderful sound I ever heard is the sound of water running in the church

As someone I've come to love got dresses in white

My eyes saw their first glimpse of heaven's light.

The hardest thing I've ever come to see is a Man down on His knees in agony.

A drop of blood falls down on olive leaves; for a moment, He suffers there for me.

The hardest thing I've ever loved to do was getting on this plane, and coming home to you.

In a million ways completely torn apart as a land so far away still owns my heart.

In the most sincere prayer I've ever prayed I thanked my God for each and every day

For the blessing of the man I've come to be as I walk up and kiss my momma's cheek.