#thenewbrazil

Explanation. Since there has been so much missionary success in the Espoo District as of late we have made up this joke that we are new Brazil (since they baptize like a million people there every week). Everything is up hill from here. And so, we sign the texts that we send to one another #thenewbrazil. Not that any of us really think that hashtagging things in real life is cool but, as a missionary some things just become funny. 

This week was busy. Really busy. We were putting together a baptism for our African investigator, rehearsing for our Music and the Spoken Wordfireside, and having a zone conference and trying to remain sane. I don't know how well the last item on the list was accomplished but, nearly everything else turned out.

The baptism was really good, for the most part. I mean, the person who was getting baptized came 15 mintues late, there were only seven people (besides missionaries) who attended, both our investigator and the Elder baptizing him forgot to bring towels, and Elder Gustafson had to baptize Dominic three times before he went all the under. But, Dominic really had a good experience. He said he felt so good afterward and now he has the Gift of the Holy Ghost and it's wonderful! In his own words as he left the chapel "I leave I better man than I came". Hooray! 

We had our fireside on Sunday. After lots of practice it really paid off. You all missed my debut performance as a soloist. Sorry about that. But, the whole program went really well. The theme of the night was Niin Suuri Oot (or in English, How Great Thou Art). We sang songs like Angel Lullaby, I Heard Him Come, How Great Thou Art, O Lord My Redeemer, I Know that My Reedemer Lives etc. and members had some stories they told in between musical numbers. It was powerful. About 95 people came which was twice the number we were expecting! 

I had my last zone conference this past week. I learned that it's never to late to be better. For example, I had kinda stopped focusing on Preach My Gospel over the last few months, as I feel like I've read it a million times. But, we were told that we should be studying mainly form The Book of Mormon and Preach My Gospel. So I've changed my personal study to go in line with that. And I feel like when I have a greater focus on it I have a greater excitement for missionary work.  I also had to give my final testimony. Might have shed a couple tears. This mission has meant the world to me and I can't believe that it's pretty much over already. 

And now I get to go so hard for the last little bit. I still have time and I intend to use it in the best way possible. 

Love you all!

Rakkaudella,

Sister Kastendieck