Ups and Downs

There comes this same moment every week. I log excitedly log on to my email, and read all of your lovely emails... and then comes the moment of realization that I need to tell you all about what has happened to ME this last week. And then I feel really tired. It's easier said than done. But I try my best.

So let's see. This past week was changes. Not that it really affected me. But we got a new Sister Trainer Leader. And we've already been on exchanges. We were able to spend a day together on Wednesday. It was really intense. I spent the whole day in over drive talking to EVERYONE... not just the convenient people in my path. It was really fun, and exhausting. We found some people who might want to learn more. We did some service. Helped some people pack their house. etc. etc. We found a new investigator.... or so we thought. She seemed pretty cool. But then the next day she sent us an angry text saying she didn't want to ever see us again. Such is missionary life.

On the brighter side I got to go to a 9 year old's birthday party on Saturday! She's the daughter of a part member family in the ward, and both of her parents want to help her go to baptism. The Dad is the member, and we had talked about it before with him but, had never met the mom. When we arrived at the house she was the only one home. She started talking with us and we talked about small chat stuff. And then she goes on and says "so, we were thinking that our daughter could be baptized at the end of May. How does this work? Do we need to meet more often?" Completely blew Sister Johnson and I away. We had no idea that the mom was that open to it. So we're going back some time this week. Also, that is not where the fun at the birthday party ends, in addition to the delicious food, and goody bags, they had other guests! Half way through the evening none other but my ward mission leader from Lahti walks through the door with his wife! It was a happy reunion. Turns out they are all family. Only in Finland. Or southern Alberta. 

Anyhow, we also got to meet our new district, and set some pretty great goals. I've learned a lot about goal setting and achieving on my mission, especially here in Espoo. When you have goals that you are really dedicated to it really does help you stretch. When you don't... you really don't go anywhere. It's one of those simple principles of life that I should have learned a million years ago. But, being on a mission there is never not a time when your trying to better yourself, or working on some sort of goal or another, even if it just is to eat more vegetables. Goals are so important. It's only through them that we can reach our potential. And it's great because we get to make them whenever we want. I find sacrament meeting the best time to think of new ways to improve. It's a new beginning every week! We are so blessed. 

Well, I hope you all have a good week. Hyvää Vappua (It's labour day here on Thursday. Hard red day. GREAT!). Hope the weather is beautiful there!

Love you lots!

Sister Kastendieck

Life is normal

This past week was really good. Not ridiculously good as the week before but, still good. We received change calls. Nothing changed. As far as my ward goes anyway. I have been sentenced to die here in Espoo, which is all good by me. 

On Friday Sister Johnson and I were at an investigators house. Our investigator asked us, as it was Easter season and all, what we had been doing to prepare ourselves for it. It caused me to think, as I really hadn't been doing anything too out of the ordinary to prepare for the celebration of Christ's death and resurrection. But, when it was my turn to reply I answered that I had the best job ever which was I got to tell all my friends, acquaintances and even strangers what I believed about Jesus Christ. I was blessed to just go around and talk about what Christ has done for me, and about how he can help others. Through doing this I felt like I was (and am) coming closer, and becoming more like Him, and thus remembering him and his sacrifice made on my behalf. It's also neat because as I've shared more and more of my testimony about the gospel and Christ that my faith has become stronger. But I have not lost anything in the process. As I have come to know Christ better, I also feel that I am becoming more and more like my true self that is on the inside. 

We have been working really hard here but, as always there is tons of work to be done and we could always be working harder. The weather her is beautiful. It's so warm. I haven't warn tights for the past four days, and haven't worn a jacket for the last three. The flowers are coming out and everyone is happy. The sun gets up long before we do, which makes waking up easy. 

On Saturday we were able to give our investigator a church tour. Church tours, by the way, are a lot of fun. We went from room to room explaining simply, what happened in each of the rooms. As we came to the end of the tour we were in the chapel. We asked our investigator how he felt being there. He told us that it felt like home. A lot of people, when they come to the chapel say something along those lines. It's a holy place, and they can feel it. It makes me wish I could feel what they feel. I mean, I probably do, it's just I've grown up with it,and so it's so normal that I don't really notice the difference. Anyhow, he then came to church on Sunday, enjoyed it and expressed he'd like to come the next week too.

Anyhow, I should go, Hope you all had a Happy Easter! Thanks for being great! Love you all! 

Sister Kastendieck

The complete turn around!

This week was absolutely the most amazing, miraculous, beautiful, awesome and wonderful week EVER. So, remember last week when no one wanted to meet with us, we had no investigators and things were going no where? Well... this week was the exact opposite! Both Sister Johnson and I were breaking personal mission records left right and center. There were far too many miracles to even count! But, I'll tell you of a couple. 

The first happened on Tuesday after zone meeting. In Zone meeting we had talked about how we can help people on the street feel more comfortable discussing things with us by inviting them to a church tour. That evening we were on our way back home from a lesson. There was a man walking ahead of us. We caught up with him and asked him how he was doing. Most people usually ignore us but, he answered! So, we started having a conversation with him, which turned naturally and normally into a gospel conversation. At one point my companion started saying "No, olisi niin kiva jos me voidaan joskus... ( well, it would be really great if we could sometime...)" she paused trying to think of how to phrase the next part to invite him to a church tour when he joined in "keskustella? Totta kai! (discuss? Of Course!)" Of course we said yes, and then proceeded to set up a church tour, and a time to teach. 

Next on Saturday we were in an area trying to visit a less active couple who had cancelled appointments with us a few times. We knocked on their door with cookies, and as our luck would have it, only the husband was home. BUT, he said his wife should be back soon, so we should come back. Well, we had no work to do in that area, so we started knocking some doors by their house. Now, no one likes tracting.  It's super ineffective and we're trying to move away from it. And for the first bit it seemed like our suspicions were confirmed. Hardly anyone was home. Those who were home wanted nothing to do with us. However, one person answered... and he was not interested but, my companion asked him if he knew anyone that might be. He replied that we should try his next door neighbor. And we did. His neighbor was a young Finn. We talked with him about the purpose of life and the Book of Mormon. He was super interested and we have agreed to come back! We were then able to also go back and teach the less active couple! Super cool! 

So, that is two Finns as investigators! Our ward mission leader was blown away! Oh, by the way, the ward here is awesome. It seems like all Finnish wards are! Tonight we have plans with one of our investigators to have family home evening with a member family! Really excited!

All this is just the tip of the iceberg. I wish I could tell you EVERYTHING. But I can't so, this will suffice for now.

Missionary work is so much fun! And I feel that I have just gotten the hang of it... and now it's pretty much time to head home. Not fair. What I wouldn't give for another six months. Elders are so lucky! Good thing every member is a missionary. I can be one forever! This coming Friday will be my last official change calls before I head back to all y'all. It's also Good Friday. Well see if something changes.

I love you all so much and I hope that you have a great Easter! 

Rakkaudella, 

Sisar Kastendieck

Hooray for Yleiskonferenssi!

So, some weeks it feels like NO one wants to meet with you. Okay, maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration. Members always want to meet with us. Investigators... not so much. Or they do, but they are just incredibly busy. Such was last week. We went a whole week without seeing our investigators. We tried. But it didn't succeed. It's times like that when you become really grateful that you have a fantastic companion and General Conference.

This past week I finally realized something. Sister Johnson and I are trying to get better at talking with everyone. We're both super comfortable talking with people, if they are being still in one spot, and we don't bring up the gospel too flashily, which defeats the whole point. We've been trying harder. Often times when we are walking somewhere and we pass people, one of us will try to stop, and the other won't notice, or we just don't stop, or we both stop we don't know what to say. Then I figured, all it takes is a bit more unity as a companionship. So, when we see someone walking towards us we'll have a quick conversation just including: Are we going to stop them? (answer is most always yes... exceptions include small children walking alone and drunk people), and then what do we want to talk about. It's been super great and fun. 

General Conference was simply amazing this past weekend. I got to see the first two sessions and most of the Sunday morning session. Not all of it. Still though, it was incredible. Can't wait to see the final session. I went with a lot of questions and came out with even more answers. My favourite talk was probably Elder Nelson's about letting you faith show. I loved how he talked about not compartmentalizing ourselves. It's something that I've been really thinking a lot about lately. He pretty much summarized, and confirmed all the hypothesis I had made up concerning the whole deal. It's amazing how the Lord can talk directly to YOU  through a man you don't even know and who lives across the world. Also, I challenge all of you to take up Elder Ballard's challenge. Study Preach My Gospel. Tell me what you learn! It'd be really cool to see. 

We are all Heavenly Father's children here on earth! As such we should all be on each other's side. We have no right to judge and should all treat each other as though we were very best friends. When we do so we are filled with the love which Heavenly Father has for us and we desire to help them on their way to more blessings! Always remember that! 

I love you all! Hope you have a beautiful week! 

Rakkaudella,

Sisar Kastendieck