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
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