Turn and face the strange! Ch-ch-changes!

This week was full of surprises, miracles and was simply incredible! 

It all started last P-day. We had finished the day and were at our apartment. The mission president had texted us saying that our numbers hadn't gone through when we entered them in earlier that day. Sister Vincent asked if we should go and do them, and I said, "nope. We can do them tomorrow. It's past time to be inside anyway." A few minutes later the phone rings, and it was none other than President Rawlings calling us. Sister Vincent made me answer it, thinking it was related to the unentered numbers. Much to our surprise, it was mid-change change calls! Sister Vincent was to go to Jyväskylä and I was getting a companion who was currently serving in the Helsinki area. Also, this change was to take place on Wednesday, less than 48 hours away. It was crazy.

So, now I have a new companion! Her name is Sister Johnson. She's from American Fork, Utah and is fantastic! We like a lot of the same things, and already have countless inside jokes. She's a master at Finnish and has been in Finland for 9 months. We are going to have such a great time together!

Less than a day after the change happened, we got to do exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders. One of them (Sister West) came out to Espoo for the day and did weekly planning with us. Poor Sister Johnson hadn't unpacked, and was thrown into straight planning. It went well though, and I was so grateful that Sister West was there. She was one of the sisters that had been transferred out of Espoo when I came in. Between the three of us we ended up with a pretty solid plan for the week. 

On Friday, we got to go to the temple! It was my first time in nearly a year. I didn't get to see the new video, as it was a Finnish session, and the new video hasn't been done over in Finnish yet. Still though, it was fantastic. What made it better was that all the sisters from my MTC district were there. I hadn't seen Sister Gasser in almost a year. It was so perfect! The saddest part of it was returning to regular life. 

Sunday though, we saw the biggest miracle. We had this potential investigator who had said he'd come to church. We asked if we could walk with him to church, and he said yes. So, as we were walking to his house, we realized that we had a lot of spare so, we went the scenic route. As we were walking we were saying hi to everyone, as per usual. There was one particular lady out walking her dog. We said hi to her, and were about to say something about her dog, and how great he is, when she notices my name tag and stares. She says "I know who you are!" Sister Johnson and I braced ourselves for something unfavorable but the lady continues on, "I know who who are! You're church is just around the corner. Wait right here! I'm taking my dog home and I'm coming with you!" And then she runs off leaving a very stunned set of sister missionaries in her wake. In the end, we found out she's a less active member. She hadn't been to church, at least in Espoo, for 10 years. However, the moment she walked into the church, people recognized her and were welcoming her. She said she had wanted to start coming to church again, and then when she saw us and decided to come right then. So cool.

Other things that happened this week include:

- We found the friendliest neighborhood in Finland last night. No one, even while we were tracting, was unfriendly at all. For the most part they invited us back.

- We found out the bishop's wife is a better missionary than we are. We went out with her and she was talking to everyone! 

- Relief Society party, where we had a dessert competition. I had made something but, it didn't turn out.

- It been super sunny!

Yup. Life is good! Hope it's as fantastic there as it is here.

Rakkaudella,

Sisar Kastendieck

To the family...and anyone else who cares to read

How is life? Things are really looking up here in Espoo. Starting with the fact that today I get to go to Suomenlinna with my district! Second, this Friday I get to go to the temple for the fist time in almost a year, and see all the sisters from my MTC district get to come. Third, we have a movie night this coming Saturday, watching The Testaments. Fourth, I'm a missionary! Should be a great week!

The past week was interesting to say the least. We had several experiences where we felt like we were exactly where we needed to be right when we needed to be there. 

Monday night we had no appointments. So we looked up a few people who had investigated the church previously. The former investigator in the one building we could get into (because the others were locked) had moved away. But, her neighbor said we could come back sometime. As we were trying to see another former, we ended up talking to a couple just outside of the building. Turns out they have member friends who have invited them to church before, and the wife was especially interested in coming to the Relief Society party this week. Later as we were on our way to see a less active, we were able to talk with more people. However, by the time we stopped talking with one particular lady it was past 8pm... so we couldn't knock on her door. We called up another member who lived in the area to see if we could come share a message. She didn't answer. We started heading back toward our home, discussing what we should do, when we run into the member we called, walking her dog. She invited us over and we were able to share a message with her before going home for the night.It was great.

We also are starting up English and Finnish conversation circle.. class things this week. Should be interesting. Nearly everyone here already speaks English. And I definitely don't know Finnish well enough to teach it but, we have the other missionaries in Espoo in on it so, it should be good. At any rate we've pasted the town with flyers inviting everyone there. We've already got a call or two of people interested in coming.

On Saturday after we had printed off all of our posters we didn't really have many appointments. We were at the train station waiting, when we heard French being spoken. The ever brave Sister Vincent started a conversation with these 4 people. They were all from France (surprise), all here on exchange studies, and were super great. We talked with them for a bit, got on the train with them. Got at the stop where our passes ran out. Turned around came back  and sat down...right by another french guy. It was weird. Turns out he lives right next to us, and wants to come to our movie night. Hopefully he does. Perhaps this is a sign I need to brush up on my French. 

At any rate things are good. I'm starting to really get to know the ward. They are all great! So generous and welcoming. That's one thing I love about the mission. There's always a new friend to make.

Love you all. Hope this week has lots of great and marvelous things in store.

Sister Kastendieck

Happy one year to me!

Guess what is coming this week? If you guessed my one year anniversary in Finland you'd be absolutely correct! Isn't that the weirdest? One year. Wow. And still going strong. One year... and still not fluent in Finnish. But, it'd boring if I was fluent. One year, and still loving it. 

This past week, I'm pretty sure was one of the slowest weeks on my mission so far. It seems like all of our appointments fell through, and we weren't able to meet with any investigators. Terrible. It's a good thing therefore that failure is not in the going down but, in the staying down. So, I'm getting back up and forging my way ahead.

Some highlights of this week included: Zone Conference, exchanges with Sister Fronk and Sister West, and getting a working DVD player... so now I can listen to music!

So here's how the mission goes. Sometimes you're at the top of your game, and you're trying your hardest, talking to people, going, going, going. And then you have moments where you sit back, a bit burnt out and wonder if you're really the missionary you need to be, and what you need to do to improve. I've been having one of those moments for a couple weeks now.

And then I went to Zone Conference. I'm pretty sure it was meant just for me. We talked about desires, and how what you really desire is shown through your actions. If you desire to be someone who talks with everyone... you need to talk with everyone.  Sometimes fears, and things try to take over and we follow our fears... which replace our desires. Yup. Poorly explained. But, it really hit me hard. We also talked about family history and how important it is, how we can implement it into missionary work. Really cool. I recommend that we all jump on the family history band wagon.  

Exchanges were really fun. I got to spend a day with Sister Fronk, from my MTC group, and with Sister West. It was really cool to see how much we have all grown. Sister Fronk has always been the kindest, most patient, loving person ever... and it's cool to see it in action. She also just happens to have the magic ability of knowing exactly what I need to hear, right when I need to hear it. 

Anyhow, I got to go. I love you all! 

Sister Kastendieck

Spring on tullut!

I think I fell in love with Espoo this week. It seems to happen wherever you go on your mission. I've never felt so determined to work so hard on my mission. At least not since Oulu. Sister Vincent and I are really getting things going... even if it is a couple weeks later than we had wanted. 

We had a miracle in getting one of our investigators to church yesterday.  She's been a bit of an eternal investigator and hasn't come to church in the last two months. We had a lesson with her on Tuesday, and she said she wouldn't be coming. We booked another lesson for the Friday and we went with a member. The member invited her to church. Our investigator expressed that she didn't really love coming to church because she's a single mom, and so she feels like she's looking after her daughters the whole time and doesn't end up getting anything out of it. Our member offered to help keep the girls entertained, and we missionaries, offered to come pick her up. She accepted. We went with her to church and everything. Yesterday at church, it felt like the ward was helping keeping the girls quiet so that her mom could have a good experience. And she did. She loved it.

Also, yesterday after church we had a ward potluck. The theme was American Food. Most of us missionaries agreed that one thing we don't miss from home is hot dogs. Unless of course, it's done properly over a campfire.

Everything is exceptional. The weather is beautiful. Having spring come is a bit weird though. I feel like we haven't even had winter and now, we get these beautiful sunny days, and warm weather. 

Anyhow, I need to go. Love you all!

Rakkaudella, 

Sister Kastendieck

No More Strangers

This is weird. Right now I'm emailing you from across the street of the temple. With pretty much everyone from my district. There are too many people here. The quality of this email will most likely not be so great. Also once again, I find my self with the usual P-Day amnesia where I forget everything that has happened the previous week.

Espoo has been pretty good. Can't complain. Things are a bit slow right now, which is to be expected. Give us another couple weeks and we'll be flying. The slowness of it though seems to be affecting my companion more than myself. She had a lot of success and was very busy in her old area... and I don't think she's ever really experienced a slow week. I've had quite a few over my mission. I think I may have become a bit too complacent. Slow weeks don't really bother me. And I do want things to pick up. But, I'm not terribly upset that things are as they are. 

We had a zone meeting this week. Which, is always a bit weird when you move to a new zone. There are lots of missionaries you've never met, and the one's you do know are now closer with their new districts, and I don't know. Anyhow, Elder Call and Elder Richards from my old Lahti district were there, and that made life better. Also, Sister Egan, Sister Fronk and I are all now reunited in the same zone. The zone meeting went well. Some general authorities in charge of family history came and talked. Afterwards on the way home Sister Vincent and I were just talking with each other on the train when a man approaches us. He asks if we are Mormons. We say yes. And he was really existed to talk with us. Unlike the last time someone approached Sister Dayton and I if we were Mormons, this man was very nice and polite. We had another meeting with him the next day and were able to give him a Book of Mormon. He has a lot of questions, and is really interested in figuring if God is really there, and how he would actually know that he is there. He's gone to Holland for the week but, we should be able to meet with him next week. That's exciting! 

We also met an old lady at the train station the next day. She had been glancing over at us every now and then as we were waiting for the train. And so I went over and said hi. It turns out she's a Swedish Finn... who doesn't really like Finnish and so spoke to us in English. She said she loved being with younger people. She also said she had seen us walking around the neighbourhood earlier, and wants to talk with us. We said we'd come over and sing to her. Really cool. 

That is one thing that I love about my mission. I make so many friends, instantly! Every time I'm on the bus, street, anywhere where there are people I don't know the scripture Ephesians 2: 19 comes to mind. (I may have mentioned this in an earlier email. Forgive me if I have). It says "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God." I think to myself "I may not know you right now... but, one day we could be in the temple together. We could be friends!" And then depending on the day, or minute, or hour... I summon up some courage and I talk to them.

So that's my thoughts for this week. I love you all and hope that you have a fantastic week! Love you!

Sister Kastendieck

Shotgunning and Area. Take 2

Look at me! I'm in Espoo! Or at least try to imagine me here... since I don't have any pictures from this last week, and you can't actually see me in real life.

I am not going to lie. When I got the call to come to Espoo I was heartbroken. I was all smiles on the phone with President Rawlings but, as soon as I hung up I almost cried. I ate some chocolate, couldn't sleep, was super nervous, did not want to shotgun again, did not want to leave my ward, or my district, or my investigators. Lahti was pretty much home. I was also nervous to be in a new area with a companion I didn't really know, who also didn't know the area.

And then Wednesday came. The Elders made Sister Dayton and I pancakes. They had originally offered to get us a ride to the train station but, seeing as we lived right across the parking lot from the train station we declined.... and then we got pancakes out of the deal. I rode the train for an hour and arrived in Helsinki! Met my new companion, Sister Vincent! Saw my trainer, Sister Vath, for the first time since leaving Oulu! Had a couple other happy reunions. Got a key and a map. Sister Vincent and I got on another train, headed to Espoo. We got off, went home and unpacked. We settled in. Sister Vincent and I clicked right away, and we are having lots of fun together. I feel like I'm serving with Jessie MacMillan, for those of you who know Jessie, and it's brilliant!

So Sister Vincent has been in the country for about six months. She has crazy curly hair, and is not shy in the least. She hails from Salt Lake City, Utah and is the oldest child in her family. She's really positive, is always smiling, and is really good at getting to know people. She loves everyone and everyone loves her. She also has tons of faith and lots of missionary know how. In my opinion, President Rawlings sent us to Espoo together because, 1) I've taken over an area before so I have experience and 2) Sister Vincent has the drive, and knows how to get missionary work really moving. Of course there's probably more reasons but, that's my opinion on the matter. There's a lot of work to do here and I've never been more excited to be in a new place. There are so many people here just waiting! 

Lots of good things have already started happening. We've been able to meet a ton of ward members, receive some referrals, and find some people who are interested in learning more about the gospel. I'm so excited to be here and to really just have another chance to start again. It's really fun. 

So that's that! I love you all! 

Rakkaudella,

Sisar Kastendieck

p.s. HOORAY FOR CANADA! My new district has been ridiculous. They were determined that USA was going to beat us. My faith in my country never faltered though. We won. And then I had almost all their support for the final match against Sweden. Most everyone... except our Swedish Elder. He now owes me cookies.