Things are going pretty great! This week included 3 or 4 unplanned dinner appointments, giving away flowers, installing a light, moving a couch and culminated in one investigator and two less active members coming to church. Oh and a 10 minute hailstorm.
So first, let's talk about the dinner appointments. One thing I've learned as a missionary is that old ladies love the missionaries. They love to have them visit, often because they are lonely. And then they like to have you eat all of the food that is in their house, and won't let you proceed to your next appointment until it's gone. Sister Schellenberg and I had appointments with about three older ladies this week, and they all fed us. A LOT. It's really fun though, to see how much you brighten their day. I guess it also helps when you give them flowers.
We also had an apartment inspection this week. It was really fun. And we were tipped off about it about a day before it happened. A senior couple came up from Helsinki and checked it all out. They liked the glow in the dark stars on the ceiling, but noticed we were missing a couple key things. We then went to a kirpistori (second hand store) and bought some things that the apartment didn't have. For example, floor rugs, and a couch (well we had a couch it was just broken). They also gave us a new light fixture for our room (which I installed by myself! I thought you'd be proud dad.. even though it was really easy).
As far as missionary work goes, it's been good. Hard as always, and I always am trying to be better, but good. Sister Schellenberg and I have not been very succesful in the finding people to teach department, but we are getting better at talking to people on the street. Hooray!
Sundays are funny days for missionaries. While the rest of the Mormon world gets to use this day as a day of rest, a day for families, a day for spiritual nourishment, the missionaries just keep working. I love going to church and partaking of the sacrament. I really love it, especially when we can ride to church with an investigator and see two of the less actives we've been working with there with us, like we did yesterday. Church goes for three hours, finishes. But, missionary work is not over. Yesterday Sister Schellenberg and I ended up having a planning meeting with some ward leaders, visiting another sister in the ward (no unplanned dinner appointment this time), and then walking home. We still had three hours of studies left (we only get personal study in before church) and also weekly call-ins. On the way home we got stuck in a hail storm, which was fun! And then studied, and made goals. Which is great! I just sometimes wonder how the day of rest applies to missionaries.
Over my mission I've really learned to not compare myself to others, and to be content with who I am, while still striving to be better. It's helped to save a lot of stress, but at the same time I want to accelerate more at being an awesome missionary. I know I can't change all at once, but I want to change faster than I have been while not going crazy. Don't really know where to go from here.
These next couple weeks will be fun! We have splits this week, with the sisters from Turku. We then have Zone Conference. Then next Monday Sister Shellenberg and I get to travel down to Helsinki for her 6 week interim training! So, my emails might not come until a bit later. And following that it's general conference! Things should be great! Can't wait to learn and become better!
Rakastan Teitä!!!!
Sister Kastendieck
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