Moikka

Moikka perheni!

Ah, I love e-mail time . . . . even though it flies so fast. I love hearing from all of you. It's so uplifting and I really appreciate it. Well, i'll just start off from where I left off last week. . . . .

Last Monday during our P-Day a small local university class came to the church building and we got to do a small presentation with our Bishop. When I say WE got to do a presentation I mean HE got to do a presentation . . . . he talked the whole time. Ugh, that's the second time he has taken control of a teach with us there and we didn't get to do anything. Even worse, the presentation was boring and he didn't even finish because he talked to much about irrelevant things. I'm telling ya, missionary work is all based off SIMPLE. SHORT. TRUTHS. Not detailed, boring, lectures. One of the students asked an interesting question though, Why does our church use the steeple? haha None of us could answer the question and it's on all of our church buildings. Does anyone know? Never thought about it before. Anyways, after they left the bishop went on to say how stupid these kids are getting these days, saying they didn't know anything and they've been studying for 5 years. He was amazed, we were annoyed and finally got away. Too bad. He's a good guy but i think he is really going mental from being bishop 18 years of his life. In meetings he gets into a routine of things, even his prayers. The ward here struggles with not being optimistic enough. It's sad and its something we are trying to work with them. 600 baptisms have come from Joensuu and we want to bring it back to its former glory.

We got off to a good start this week by being let in 3-4 times from tracting. The first one was the best. A young couple, Timo and Matlena, and their little son. They said they aren't very religious but they are open minded to anything. We were able to give them a Book of Mormon and he gave us their phone number, so this week we are going to call them and try and set up a return appointment. They were really nice and I think could be great potentials. The next let in was an older guy who made us some blueberry-herbal-tea stuff and he talked basically the whole time, so we didn't get to teach much, but he said come back anytime. Finns leave their tvs on when you talk to them, and such was the case with him. It was the Olympics and it was hard to not look, haha. The next let in we didn't actually go in because it was a single younger lady. She didn't get why in the world we couldn't go inside, haha, but she said she'd come to church . . . . . She didn't . . . . so we'll check up on that. Another let in was yesterday, a retired university professor who already had a Book of Mormon, but it was old . . . .it still had the angel Moroni of it, haha, so we gave him another, newer copy. He was very nice and was into religion from what we could see in his apartment. So this past week was pretty good. Success breeds success . . . . .I hope. :) Joensuu needs it.

We also visited some less actives this past week. One of them was baptized, but he doesn't want to be a Mormon, and he didn't when he was baptized either, just wanted to be baptized. . . . . . Kinda weird story there.

We found out that we are now home teachers to some people in the ward, mainly because they need our help and no body does their home teaching. So we've been trying to visit those people too.

This past Friday we had splits in Kuopio. It was a lot of fun. We had a really good schedule planned out but it all fell apart with teaching cancellations, missed buses, both people on one side of the split having both cell phones (so no communication on where the others can pick us up), and forgetting things at the apartment. But, we ended up working things out and did some contacting and tracting. For lunch we found a place that sold amazing pizza for only 2 and a half euros. Before we left we discussed the day over some delicious finnish ice cream. We got back late though, long drive back . . . .2 hours. We do a lot of traveling as you may have noticed, mainly because I have been companions with District Leaders, so they need to have splits, so I tag along, and also we just live in a unique part of the country where transportation to other places by bus or train is hard so we drive a lot. Fun though, I get to see more of the country and more of the missionaries. :)

A few of you mentioned my language training. Yeah, Language School only happens twice in the mission, 6 week mark and 6 month mark. The rest we fend for ourselves. Its nice though. We have language study every morning too for one hour. Kinda hard though, so many things to study that it's hard to choose. But I read the BoM in Finnish and do what I can.

Well, almost out of time, still have to write president. Thanks for sending the package! The mission office will probably give it to me next Zone Conference, which is in 2 weeks, otherwise it costs money. I can't wait to get it!! I've been hearing about it for 2 months now! haha

Seth, good luck with the project, looks like you have a TON of awesome help with it. Jacob, after you learn dada you need to learn Eric. :P Everyone else I wish I could write you personally but NO TIME, literally. Its my comp's B-Day today so we are making cookies and doing whatever he wants to today, haha. Gotta go. Moi. Rakastan teitä!

-Vanhin Watson . . . . . . . . I always feel like I am forgetting something . . . . . . . . .oh well :)