Slow and Steady!

This week has been really slow and.... actually ya... it's just been slow. We started out with a great week planned, but then people cancelled, and we also had to cancel appointments due to another doctors appointment for Sister Holt's foot. It's healing. Just super pikkuhilja  (little by little). She has a new ankle brace and is still on crutches. Sigh. But on the bright side... it's a fantastic contacting technique. Tons of people stop us just to ask what happened to her leg and we then invite them to church or some such! 

As of right now we only have a couple investigators. One has a baptismal date for next month, and is super excited about it. Every time we visit her she's like "I haven't changed my mind. I'm getting baptized" before we even start teaching. It's great! We asked her if she had any questions or concerns about baptism, the restoration etc., and she said "YES! .... do I have to bring my own towel?" So it's really great. She then proceeded to give us freshly made bread and lettuce from her garden. 

Also. Had a "mom moment" this week. So, earlier this week, I lost my planner. After about three days I despaired and started a new planner. And then this morning I was digging around in the fridge and noticed the bag of lettuce that our investigator gave us. And I took it out and noticed something else heavy and not lettuce like. And I was like... she didn't give us anything like that... did she slip some chocolate in without us noticing or what? SO I looked inside and... it was my planner! Hooray! It's been in the fridge chillin' (literally) with the lettuce this whole time. sigh. 

A new goal of mine is to become a person who really does what they say they're going to do. I've noticed that I am really fantastic at coming up with awesome plans. And that's about where that ends. So, I've been trying to implement the plans I put into place. It's cool. I really do now just need to get over my fear of not understanding people on the street and just talk to them! 

I've also noticed I really do love organizing things, even if things don't stay organized. We helped an investigator organize half of her sewing room last week. I wanted to do the whole thing, as did Sister Holt, but the investigator just didn't jaksaa to do the whole thing. (Jaksaa is an amazing Finnish word that we should have in English. It kinda means to not have the energy/will power to do something coupled with just not feeling like doing it)

So there you have it.

This week I get to go on exchanges with a sister I've never met. Should be great. And tonight Sister Holt and I get to teach FHE for YSA! Really excited for this week. It's going to be great. Also, President Rawlings is coming to our District Meeting. That's a bit nerve racking for me simply because being around people who are "in charge" makes me anxious, but it should still be amazing. Really looking forward to it! 

So that is all for this week! Don't worry be happy! 

Rakastan teitä!

Sister Kastendieck

Another week, another...something or other

This week has been Great! Slow again, but great! 

Canada Day was not too eventful. After I am in Finland. But due to 80% of my district being American we had 4th of July celebration in coordination with our district meeting. It was pretty cool. We mostly just barbequed (or grillata in Finnish) a bunch of food and ate. We couldn't have a real 'district activity' as it wasn't P-day.

As far as real missionary work goes it's good. We're getting back up on our feet (literally in the case of Sister Holt) and slowly moving forward. The elders were great to us last week and let us use the car a bunch. Both good and bad, since I have to do the driving (sister Holt doesn't have a license). 

Yesterday was really cool. Mostly because I was able to follow what was going on all throughout church! I  didn't get all the details of everything, but I could follow along well enough. Usually I end up zoning out because I can't understand. Now, I think that it'll be weird to go to church and understand everything that is said.  But my Finnish is improving, and it's all thanks to the Lord. Especially considered that supposedly this is one of the hardest languages ever and I've only been studying it for 6 months! Still got a long ways to go though.

Finland is awesome. 

Love

Sisar Kastendieck

Happy Canada Day!

Happy Canada Day everyone! Not that it means much in Finland. But still, I'm proud to be Canadian! 

Guess what happened this week? You never will! Well, maybe. But, I'll tell you.

So on Wednesday we were a bit late headed out the door for a lesson. And so, we were running for the bus! AND Sister Holt fell and sprained her ankle! AHhhh... Needless to say this week has been a bit slow, and we've spent a lot of time in doors. Not fun. But it's given us an opportunity to update out ward lists and map books, something I really don't mind doing. I have also become the cook. Something I'm not that great at if I don't have recipes. 

And now my time is up. This is weird. I feel like I just got on the computers. I guess that's what happens when you email the mission president first. 

Anyhow. Happy Canada Day to all! 

Sister Kastendieck

Hyvää Johannustaa!

I never know where to begin. This week was busy. Really busy! But also not busy at all! 

So, I don't remember the beginning of last week. Only that Wednesday was really long, because that was our change day and my train didn't leave until 5:30pm. So, we had to work all day, before I could get on the train. Longest Day Ever! But, it's over and now I'm in Tampere. 

My new companion is Sister Holt, she comes from the states, and mostly grew up in Las Vegas. She has a ton of random skills which include mushroom hunting, music box making, and contact juggling (YouTube it if you don't know what it is... it's really cool!). She super easy going and we have a ton of things in common. It's awesome! Also, in my new district I get to be with Sister Egan, my MTC companion! yes! although, all my MTC elders are still up north... that's kinda sad. 

Tampere is great. I'm helping open a new area for sisters. There have been sisters in the Tampere 2nd ward forever, but now we're in the process opening the 1st ward. This means that we mostly don't really know what's going on, and ya. Hauska. 

Oh! and this past Saturday was Juhannus! which is the midsummer celebration. Longest day of the year and whatnot! It also means that we can't tract or contact people on the street, since it's another big drinking fest. So, unless you have appointments you have to stay indoors all day. We had only one appointment where we got stuffed full of this potato casserole (seriously, we ate like 3-4 helpings each, and the member was still saying he'd be offended if we didn't finish it all... there was still half a pan left at the end) and learned some Swedish at the same time. Not much. In fact, I don't really remember any now. And then we stayed inside. and didn't do much.  I'm really looking forward to things picking up this week. 

Friday night was also a 'red night' meaning we had to be in doors. So Sister Holt and I used that Plasticine mom gave me before I left to make gifts for ward members. I attached a picture of our creations. 

Last night, Sister Holt and I went to the best dinner appointment ever! It was out in the country a ways, and we helped pick the salad from the garden, and everything was super delicious. And even though the family knew English, they didn't switch into talking English! (it's really annoying when they do switch, us). It also turns out that the husband is a member of the seventy. We didn't know that before the appointment. Isn't that crazy! But it was funny, because our whole dinner conversation was about missionary work, and the husband (i forget their last names) was talking about how the members and leaders don't understand their part in missionary work, and how if they did the work would go faster. This is true, but kinda refreshing. Regular members are really the most important and most effective missionaries, when they decide to take it seriously.

Anyhow I should go. sending you all my love from Tampere! 

Love, 

Sisar Kastendieck