SUMMER!

For some reason the Lord just keeps deciding to bless us more and more. Espoo is a place of miracles. Don't really know where to start but, here goes.

We went back and helped that family I mentioned last week finish moving. This time we wore pants. We talked with them a bit how God never changes, and how he still works miracles today. The husband was really interested, and actually has met missionaries before in his home country, Estonia. He said he was amazed that they could speak Estonian after being there for just a few months (Estonian is pretty much just as hard as Finnish). We explained that that's one of the miracles that God grants us today. I mean, my Finnish is far from perfect but, I can communicate fairly easily with most Finns. Many people have lived here for years and still don't speak more than a couple words. God definitely helps.

There was also a baptism this past Saturday. Really amazing. The man who got baptized is from Nigeria. It's really exciting and we hope that he and our investigator from Kenya will become good friends. They've started to sit together in church and in Priesthood meeting they get translated to by the same person (or so we hear).

Speaking of translating, I translated all of Relief Society into English for three women yesterday. I haven't translated for anyone in about six months. It was hard but, I feel like it went well. The topic was Elder Bednar's talk entitled The Windows of  Heaven about tithing. I had read that talk a bit a go in Finnish, so I was able to get some of the smallerish details I wouldn't have gotten if I never did. I felt a bit silly because there were a bunch other women in the room who could have done it a million times better than me. It was really cool experience though. I would actually like to do it again and hone my translating skills. It really helps me to know what I do know and how good my comprehension really is. 

Another fun experience. We got a call on Friday night from some leaders telling us that the mission president really wanted to have as many people as possible in church on Sunday. I really don't like when these types of invites come. There's no time to plan, and I generally feel like they lead to nowhere. Well, my companion, Sister Johnson, is a million times more faithful than me and accepted the challenge. We called a bunch of people, texted some more people, some of which were just names on lists of people who said they'd maybe, kinda be interested. None of them came. BUTon Saturday night when we were headed home we were walking to a bus stop. The only man waiting at the bus stop we were going to looked at us and said "I didn't know they sent girls out too". This started a brilliant conversation and we ended up inviting him to church. He came! and is interested in learning a bit more. And thus we see that when you put in your effort the Lord blesses you. 

Other fun things happening this past week include: a farewell bbq with my district (one of our zone leaders flew home this week), playing memory with the ten commandments, suprise dinner appointments, a heat wave, and having fun in general. 

Anyhow,

I got to go.

Love you all! 

Sister Kastendieck

Kesä on tullut

Warning: There are some cool stories contained in this letter. You might be taken aback by the sheer awesomeness and miraculous power of missionary work. Okay, maybe not but, at least I was this week.

On Saturday we had a mostly blank day, with tons of plans to visit and drop n on tons of people but, no appointments. Our first stop was our favorite older Swedish Finnish lady who lives really close to us. We went into the building and called the elevator, and waited. And waited. We then realized that someone was moving so, they were keeping the door open a few floors above. Eventually the elevator came down. There was a man and a mattress in it. We said hi and he told us his family was moving that day but, was stressed because it was just him and his brother who were moving all the things. (his wife was there too but, she's really pregnant) He then asked (jokingly) if we wanted to help. And we said "Yes!" which, shocked him completely. We ended up helping them for a few hours, skirts and all. Now, this is where the big miracle comes in. Him and his family had been potentials a few months early, we had tracted into them and they said we could come back. Upon a returning time though, he had said we shouldn't waste our time on them. Now, they love us and he just called a couple minutes ago and we're going back tonight!

Another story. On Monday we we're walking around on our way back home from the park we go to when we don't have much to do. We ended up talking to this lady from Rwanda! She has a young family and knows it's important to teach her children about God but, doesn't really know how to go about it. We offered, once again our services. So Friday night armed with our greatest member missionary, who happens also to be a mom, we head to her house. She is is SO prepared. We talked about the restoration, and she was always one step ahead of us, asking questions. Really good questions too like, "how do I know someone is a true prophet?" She loved it all but, my favorite part was when we got to introduce her to the Book of Mormon. She had just asked us, "so, what is the Book of Mormon anyway?" We opened with her to the introduction. We read just the first paragraph that talks about it being an ancient record of a people in America. As soon as we read that something clicked. She told us that she had always felt a bit distanced from the Bible because, how could after all God just love one people and talk to just them, when there his children are all over the world. I have never seen anyone light up like that over the Book of Mormon. Our member, also (without us even prompting) testified the whole time of how the gospel has helped her raise her family. It was amazing!

Also, all the members are great. We've been encouraging a lot of them to do their own missionary work. We had a good experience last night where we learned the members were already doing just that. It's quite hard to really do it in Finland  especially in the work place where it's mostly illegal to talk about religion. But, opportunities still come, and they just take them!  Really cool. Afterwards they made Sister Johnson and I play piano for them. Sister Johnson is quite good. Unfortunately all I know without music is Canon in D, which is really nice... I've just been playing it since I was 12 and it's getting a bit old. At least everyone else enjoyed it. I also got to play in Relief Society yesterday. So, that's fun.

Other than that things are pretty normal which, by the way, means fantastic. Ever since coming to Espoo my faith in missionary work has grown in leaps and bounds  The things that we're hard, are now natural. Things that seemed impossible are now in my grasp. Espoo is a beautiful place. Especially today. and yesterday. Everything is now green, and it's ridiculously warm outside.

So that is where life is at right now. Hope things are just as good where you are.

Love,
Sister Kastendieck

Moika!

Missions are weird. They change you so much. But, I feel like I expect some components of life back home to stay the same, but they change. Other components I think should change but, they stay the same. Time does weird things to everything.

Things have been going pretty great. We had planned fairly well to teach with lots of members. We were able to be with a member for a  good amount of time, teaching, nearly every day. It's not only a great time to  get to know my ward but, also a good time to show people what missionary work is really all about... not that I'm an expert at this or anything. 

Last weekend was Stake Conference. It was really good. Someone in their talk was talking about the attitude we can have towards things. We can, for example, go to a church meeting excited to learn, or we can go just because it's expected of us, or we can also go because some one made us. Those who will receive the most out of conference however, are those who are happy to be there. It's true about all situations in life. Those of us who may not have the best attitude don't get as much as we could. It's a principle I need to personally work on. We had a zone conference this last week and I didn't want to go. When I was there I didn't want to be there. And as a result did not get much from it. The zone conference before I was excited and I got tons out of it. A lot in life depends on our attitude. Life is what we make it.

This week I also met a boy on the train wearing a Winnipeg Jets hat. Now, it often happens that Finns will buy merchandise with American/Canadian League teams on it, just because they like the looks of it not because they know anything about/ support that team. But I saw his hat and I was thought to myself I should ask him about it. And then I told my companion about his hat and she convinced me to talk to him about it. So I dragged myself across the aisle and awkwardly starting talking to him. It actually went quite well, and he did know about the Winnipeg Jets, and we had a good chat. We don't have a return appointment or anything but, it's just another fun happenstance, that made me feel good.... and a little patriotic also. Look at me all Canadian, knowing about hockey teams and everything. (I also found out Team Canada lost to France in the world cup... not so cool. But Finland lost to Latvia so, our countries have about the equal amount of shame currently. Fun things you find out from random people)

Anyhow, I should go. I love you all. 

Rakkaudella,

Time marches fort

This week has been rough but, really fun. We got to enjoy Vappu (Finnish Labour day), and do a ton if random errands that came up unexpectedly and teach a little bit. 

So Vappu is red here in the mission field. Supposedly alcohol sales go way up. Last year I was right in the heart of Helsinki for this celebration, and most everyone was more than a bit drunk. Except us. This year, everyone in Espoo went to Helsinki to celebrate, so it was actually pretty peaceful here. We were able to meet with a couple members, eat some traditional Finnish vappu food (like munkeja... which are doughnuts... like mom's homemade ones), drink some sima (traditional Finnish vappu drink), and share some messages. I also got to play Yahtzee with most of my district. I got beat really bad, so nothing else is new. 

Things missionary work wise have been a bit slow. We've been kind of weeding out a lot of people who always stand us up, are really not that interested etc. It's hurt a bit but, we have really cool people that we are now teaching. One of them is coming with us tonight to a family home evening. He's from Africa and is really sincere. He reads, and prays, and is excited to meet. He also comes to church... except for when he sleeps in. But, he's a really good guy. 

I've really been impressed lately by the fact that there are really so many people ready. Everyone needs the gospel blessings, but there are people who are more ready to accept them than others. And it's those people that Sister Johnson and I have been trying to make more time for. 

Anyhow, I should go! Time is up! 

Hope you have a great week! 

Rakkaudella,

Sister Kastendieck