Temple, Helsinki, and Spring

This week has been ridiculously busy, and this next week is going to be even busier!

So, let's see where to start. I want to tell you about the temple. So I got to go the the Helsinki Temple last Wednesday! Hooray!

Okay, here's the whole story. Sister Vath had her sixth month kielikuolu (language school) in Helsinki last Wednesday. And when someone has kielikoulu, their companion gets to go to the temple. So Tuesday night Sister Vath and I took the night train down to Helsinki. I personally love the night train (or yöjuna as it's called in Finnish). I feel so productive! I can travel halfway across the country, and I sleep at the same time, without having to worry about someone running off the road. So we arrived in Helsinki Wednesday morning, and went to the mission office. Now, the MTC group that Sister Vath came with consisted of her, and two Elders. And so, it was a bit weird because my companions when I went to the temple, were those two elder's companions . It felt so weird walking around without another sister. But, the temple was really beautiful. The flowers were out and the sun was shining! And the temple is always just great! except they gave  me everything in a size too large. It made things interesting. 

So when we left for Helsinki on Tuesday, the weather in Oulu was kinda miserable. I believe is was rainy and windy and not very warm. When we came back it was full out spring! Now there are leaves on the trees, the grass is green, and it's maybe even a bit too warm for my liking. Sister Vath loves it though. 

And even better, our investigator who is getting baptized this weekend is doing great! So far he's gone 48+ hours without smoking, coffee or nicorette. He is just really amazing! And, if all goes well there should be a double baptism this Saturday. The Elders have a Vietnamese man also going to baptism. (Sorry... I know "going to baptism" sounds a bit awkward... it's how you say it in Finnish... and now it sounds weird any other way... even in English. Crazy Finnish)

Oh! Exciting news. For the first time in my mission I'm emailing from a library! We've always gone to the chapel before for some reason. And it has only one computer that you can use at a time. BUT we booked computers at the library today! Hooray! I know it's kinda ridiculous, but seriously it's like coming home. It's the first time I've been in a library since I left Canada, and it's making me borderline giddy. And it's way better emailing here anyhow.

Also, it's weird. I keep running into people who look like people I knew in Canada. Sister Vath and I talked to a lady on the bus the other day who reminded me a lot of Jessica, my old roommate! And then one of our investigators (who has long since dropped us) looked so much like one of my old co-workers that I could never remember her real name, because in my head she was a Finnish version of my co-worker, and I expected her to start talking about the SClibrary at any moment.

Oh, and more exciting news! One of our less actives, is no longer less active! It's the one I've been telling you about! Except I think it's against the law to send her real name to you. So, we'll call her Riali. Anyhow, she's an RM from a few years ago, and has been living with her boyfriend. Anyhow, now she's moved out, broke up, and is coming to church and institute, and is also going to Festinord this July! (it's a YSA gathering for all YSA in the Scandinavian countries). Only I don't think us missionaries did much. She's always had a testimony, she just got a bit lost for a bit. 

Anyhow, I should go. 

Sisar Kastendieck

Hyvää Vappua!

Hyvää Vappua! 

Okay so, Vappu was nearly a week ago. But you haven't had the chance to hear about it yet. So last week I was down in Helsinki from Monday to Thursday for some Interim Training and Kielekoulu (Language School) and it was so much fun! I got to see my MTC group, which was grand! I hadn't seen any of the Sisters since coming to Finland. I did lots of role plays in training... which wasn't so great. I really don't like role plays. They are awkward. And I got to play sählö... which, for those of you who don't know is pretty much floor hockey with shorter sticks, and smaller nets. But it is so much fun! I got to play every morning I was down there for exercise  which beats doing crunches and push ups in my apartment any day. Kielikuolu was fantastic! We got to make milkshakes and go over common language problems. I guess our language coordinator was blown away by our mad skills in the Finnish Language. Although... I still really don't feel all that great at Finnish in the least, especially my comprehension when others speak. I also got to experience (or at least watch) Vappu from a safe distance. 

Vappu is the Finnish Labour Day. It takes place on May Day, and is pretty much a big drinking fest. Everyone wears the cap they received when they graduated and drinks. Don't really know if there's any logic in that, but they seem to think it's dandy. They close down a whole ton of streets in downtown Helsinki due to the amount of people celebrating Vappu. At any rate, us missionaries are not allowed to contact, or tract. We can only go out if we have appointments... or in my case training. 

So Helsinki was fun. But I am glad to be back in my area. I love Oulu. And this weekend was really good too. We had Piiriconferensi (District Conference), which is like Stake conference... only Oulu is in a district. The President Rawlings, my mission president and his wife both spoke, along with a member of the Seventy. We also had a meeting later that day for just ward missionaries, and full time missionaries in Oulu, where President Rawlings talked and instructed us. I've received a lot of training from him over the past week or so. Oh, and there was also a meeting for new converts, and investigators with baptismal dates. One of our investigators was able to go. He was a former investigator we found a couple weeks ago. His biggest obstacle to joining the church is his smoking, but yesterday he got a blessing to help him. It was really cool. Afterwards he said he felt really peaceful inside. We have an appointment with him later today. 

Also, one of sisters in my branch has been inactive for a long time. This is because she's been living with a boyfriend, who doesn't like her to come to church. Anyhow, a couple days a go we got news that she's moved to her own place, with no boyfriend, closer to the church! She came to district conference and loved it! It's so exciting! 

One thing that I have learned is that I have nothing to do with the changes that happen in peoples' lives. Absolutely nothing. I mean personal worthiness, obedience, and always having the spirit helps, but when it comes down to it, I'm pretty sure that I play a very minor part in helping people come to Christ. They do it themselves.

Love you all!

Sisar Rachel Kastendieck

Helsinki is Beautiful!

This past week was really fun. I had my first Zone conference and am now in Helsinki for training. This means I get to see Sister Fronk, Gasser, and Egan! I haven't seen them since I went up to Oulu, so when we saw each other it was a pretty happy reunion. And even better I get to stay with Sisar Fronk and her companion for the next few days! And I also get to see all the Elders from the MTC... but I see them a lot. Two are in my district, and the other is in my zone. But it's still fantastic.

Anyhow, back to last week. Last week I got to eat a LOT of fried bananas, compliments of Sisar Vath. It all began Monday when every single appointment we had fell through, as did our back up plans. It was also windy and cold... and maybe a bit rainy. Not fun. So at the end of the day I said we should just go and eat some ice cream to make ourselves feel better. and Sisar Vath said, "And I can make fried bananas!" Then the next day, we had a good day. But we also had some Sisters coming up from Kuopio (Sisar Francis and Sister Foster) for Zone conference so, we decided to give them a treat. And they liked them so much we had them the next day. And then a couple days later we made dinner for a less active family... and made them again. And we are making them again tonight. 

This week we met a great former investigator. She's an older lady, and was a bit lonely and sick  that day. When we visited her we asked if she was Tanja, as we always do with formers, to make sure we have the same address and they haven't moved. And she was so touched, and amazed that we knew her name. At the end of our time with her we asked if she could say a prayer before we left. She did and she told Heavenly Father how grateful she was for us missionaries who knew her name. It made me think of the first vision, when Joseph is called by his own name by the Father. In our mission statement it says that "we can stand in the place and stead of the Lord Jesus Christ" and I really felt like we did that day.

Zone conference was really alright. But I like the training I've been receiving this week better. Over the last couple weeks I've been thinking about how no one is really interested in religion nowadays. It's true too. If you show up at someone's door and say you're a missionary and have a spiritual message, they pretty much block you out. What the President told us yesterday is that, they can see we are representatives of the church, we wear our name tags where ever we go! Just talk to them. Tell them that we can help strengthen families, and find peace. And to also just start serving people from the get go. Last night I was able to apply those principles while on splits and it really works! We were knocking on doors, and we had a really great conversation with a family from Serbia, and then as we left their door, we turned around and there was some people moving into the apartment across the hall. And so we started helping them. And they were super appreciative. We never said that we were missionaries to them, but said we could come back later to see how they were settling in. 

So I have more training now. It should be good. I can't wait to see what else I can do better! 

Hope you all have a great week! 

Sisar Kastendieck

Another Long, Fast Week...Missionary Time is Weird

Missionary work is hard. Pretty much it goes against everything in my normal nature. Talking to people on the street, telling strangers about my beliefs, planning, reading only church material, studying for the needs of others, calling people for appointments, not comparing your efforts to other's etc. And then having to get up each day and do it all again. Super hard. But not as hard as it would be if I was without the Lord's help. And surprisingly I am more of a people person than I thought I was. I thought that having to be with someone 24/7 would kill me on my mission. It's really not so bad, and hasn't been a problem in the least. Of course, when you are with someone that much it's not all roses and daisies, but it gives you opportunities to serve, practice humility and right wrongs. That's one thing I've learned. If you and your companion are even a little bit at odds with each other, the Spirit is not with you in the least! It is best to get over misunderstandings as fast as possible and move forward in unity.

The things I do miss are mostly: sleeping until I'm rested, reading to get my mind off things, being able to understand everything around me, being able to go hang out with friends and family, and playing piano whenever I want. Although, I am the piano player... at least for hymns... in the zone. So I get to be the pianist this week at zone conference. And also accompany a musical number at zone conference too! Should be interesting... because to be honest I'm really not that good.

So Sisar Francis left this week to go open Kuopio for the sisters. I think she's having a good time. So now it's just me and Sisar Vath against the world aka Oulu. It's so good to be in a 'normal' companionship. I don't feel like we're a big group attacking people when we go contacting now. Sisar Vath is pretty much the most loving person in the world. Loving and yet super persistent  If someone says 'no I'm not interested' , she invites them still to church, or to read the book of mormon, or take a pass along card, or if they know anyone who would be interested. Usually it doesn't come to much, but sometimes they do become interested. Having a companion that speaks perfect Finnish is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because I always know that she knows exactly what is happening, and I can ask for help for vocab and grammar. A curse, because I know she knows exactly what's happening and I then get lazy and stop trying really hard. Also, I don't do things like try to order train tickets, and usually leave phone calls up to her because it's more efficient. I really should do more though.

Also, so in my district there was one other missionary, Vanhin Speirs, from my MTC group. Now, they've moved a new city into my district, and now there are two! Vanhin Nemelke is now in my district. It's so exciting to see them every week. You really get close after spending nearly 16 hours a day together for 12 weeks. Also, my baby finns arrived in the country this past week, one of them is also in my district. He is really great.

As far as biking. It's not too difficult to keep clean while cycling. The boots and legs take the most dirt. The hard part is staying modest as you ride. At least for me. Both Sisar Francis and Sisar Vath seem to have a secret I've yet to find out. It doesn't seem to matter what skirt I wear I am constantly trying to pull it down. I've become quite adept at riding with one hand while fixing my skirt with the other.

Teaching has been going alright. We were able to find a couple new investigators last week (yay!), along with a couple potentials. One of our investigators is coming to institute this week, and then we're taking her for a tour of the church. And in about 2 minutes I also get to meet with one less active sister, who is super great. Sisar Vath and I met her for the fist time last week. She had had a bad day, and it was amazing the outpouring of love I felt for her. I think Sisar Vath and I can really help her. I mean I hope we can help everyone we meet, but I have a good feeling about this particular Sister.

So next week I will be in Helsinki from Monday to Thursday. I will have been in the country for six weeks so I will be getting some training .. both spiritual and language  I'm super excited to see the sisters from my MTC group. 

So that is my life right now. I will talk to you maybe next week. Love you all! Minä rakastan teitä hyvin paljon!

Sisar Kastendieck