Fun stuff

Hei Fam!

Well, as usual it was another packed busy week. We had splits here in Joensuu with the Zone Leaders on Tuesday. It was quite the adventure. V. Bailey and I tried to visit a less active way outside the city, but they weren't home, so we left the car there and walked around tracting and what not. We were a ways up the road when we saw the man we were looking for, the less active drive past us. We ran our guts out to catch him before he could run inside his house to avoid us, haha. We caught him just in time, but we were out of breath and he was in a hurry so nothing came out of it, but we had a laugh. Later, with V. Henderson, we went to a dinner appointment clear out in the middle of nowhere with a member family. When we go there only the wife was home, so, because we can't be alone with her, we went outside and shoveled horse poop until the husband came home. I was petting their baby horse when it got all excited and bit my leg, haha, it was nothing, just a huge pinch to my thigh, but it was pretty funny and unexpected. When the husband arrived it was then we found out that the DA was supposed to be the day before, so the wife called him up on his way home from work and he grabbed some groceries and we all made a nice dinner together. We felt stupid that we messed up our schedules, but all in all, it turned out to be pretty good . . . .steak. :)

The other set of elders on splits went and taught our investigator who we have been working with for a while now . . . and they got a baptismal date!!!! May 15! It was hard to get it out of her, but they talked about setting goals and with her they agreed to shoot for May 15. Yessssss. Awesome. This investigator is so awesome. She has come to church twice now and we've taught her almost everything. One of the members thought when she first met her that she already acted and lived like a member, haha.

The Zone Leaders spent the night and the next morning, for our exercise, we went out running. We were on our final stretch home when we saw a man unconscious on the street corner with 2 women standing by him. We went over to see if everything was alright. They were his neighbors and they said he usually goes out for a jog in the mornings, but one of them saw him fall. We turned him over and there was blood all over his face and there was a gash on his forehead. One of the ladies called an ambulance, and the emergency people said over the phone that we should push the man so he is laying on his side, just in case he vomits or coughs, so he doesn't choke himself to death. So the four of us elders held him on his side until the ambulance came, and even then we were still holding him while the paramedics worked on him and did some tests. The 4 of us even had to lift the man onto the stretcher while they just watched, haha, there's no way we would've been allowed to help that much in the states.

That same day we made the drive up to Oulu for Zone Conference the following day. The theme for conference was setting goals, and it was all amazing. After a lunch break I started feeling a bit nauseous so I went out in the hall and sat on a more comfortable chair. I ended up vomiting 3 times that day and basically missed the rest of Zone Conference because I was sitting in the hall. Everyone was very nice and offered their help. That night I almost asked for a blessing, but it was getting late and I was starting to feel better, plus I was tired, so I found a couch in the institute room of the building and slept there for the night. But I chuckled later at the fact that I could've had a blessing with 20 elders in the circle, haha. We slept the night at the chapel and drove home on Friday. Luckily whatever I had was only a day thing so I recovered quickly. I was just weak and hungry for a while.

In conference I found out that Finland has a privacy law. So, I'm not allowed to name names of our investigators and what not, especially if my e-mails are published onto a blog for the world to see. So I guess the rest of my mission these people will be a mystery to you. :P

This Saturday is Finland's labor day. Its called Vappu. Everyone gets drunk and parties and stuff, so we have to come in early and not go out till after lunch the next day. We do have a church open house that morning though, haha, should be fun.

I didn't hear from Mom or Dad this week, and my e-mail to Dad was sent back last week. The information was all right so i don't know what went wrong. Computer probs maybe. I don't know. Anyways, HYVÄÄ SYNTYMÄPÄIVÄÄ . . .HAPPY BIRTHDAY . . . Layne and Dad!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm going to try and send you both a letter today, but I doubt it'll get there in time. The posti is all screwed up here because of the volcano that blew in Iceland. The ash has shut down all the planes and what not . . .I'm sure you all know more about it than I do because that's all I know. Anyways, don't know what's up with posti or if it's affected. Hope you both have an awesome birthday, I'll send you more by mail. :)

So, I still need that number for the conference call on Mothers Day! And, I need Tom Holt's address before he graduates! haha

Thanks everyone for your love, prayers, and updates. Time is flying by so fast here. Summer is coming. Change Calls are this week. Zone Conference is already over. Layne is almost home. Jacob is getting old. AND I'M IN FINLAND. YES! I love you all and I love this work, no matter how hard it may be or what challenges it throws at me. This is the true and everlasting gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. He lives. I am his representative. His name over my chest always is proof.

Rakastan teitä. Hei Hei.

Sorry I'm so sporatic. I probably forgot something but my time is low.

Vanhin Watson

More to my list of travels . . .

Well, well, well, I'm back again. Man, this week flew by. As usual, I'll start where I left off last week. :)

After I signed off last week, a member couple took us out to eat at a place called RAX: Pizza Buffet. There we were stuffed to our content and then, for desert, this place has a deal, they give you an ice cream cone, and as long as it is still intact, you can keep filling it with ice cream. So, we had some towers of ice cream on these little cones, haha.

After we left there, we went straight to a Lutheran church and had a teach\discussion with a Lutheran priest there in his office. We weren't able to get the teach going and it really just turned out to be us sharing our beliefs to each other. He was from Tanzania though and spoke Swahili, English, and a bit of Finnish, but we spoke to him in English. Nothing really came out of it, but it was pretty interesting to experience!

We had another Tea Party this past week with a couple of mummos, one who is a member. There was a little dog there that is probably the fattest animal I have ever seen, it was hilarious. We had our hot chocolate and food and tried to teach the other lady but nothing really worked out. We had to go home and lint-roll ourselves off afterwards because there was hair everywhere.

Maire, our one and only investigator is still doing really well. We had a teach with her, this time in the chapel with a member present, and while there we extended the baptismal commitment. She still doesn't know yet and agreed to pray about it. She is getting old and it's going to be hard for her to change her life like this, but she agrees with everything we say, and she even came to church yesterday! My first investigator in church and I've been a missionary for 6 months, haha. The members did an awesome job fellowshipping her and one member even called her an angel and said she'll be going to the temple . . .random I know, but it made Maire cry! We think she had a good time and we're glad she came.

A member who is getting old and shaky, Veli Lappalainen, invited us over for a bite to eat. This man is starting to loose his mind a bit, and even drools everywhere, but he's very nice so we payed him a visit. He had pictures, newspaper and magazine clippings literally everythere: on every window and every wall and even in the kitchen on the cabnets. . . . i took pictures. :) We had a fun time.

After him, we packed and caught a train to Helsinki where all the District Leaders and Zone Leaders were having a leadership meeting. I was dropped off in Lahti to spend the night and be with Vanhin Fuchs, my MTC comp, and Vanhin Lytle, my baby Finn because their companions are also leaders. It was awesome being with them again and doing some missionary work together. All of us have only been in the country for a few months so it was fun. Vanhin Lytle had 3 of the same ties so we all wore one and went out fínding. We must've been quite the site to see, 3 Elders, all matching, haha. . . . I took pictures there too.

On Saturday we dropped another investigator, Antti. We had a teach with him and it basically turned out to be him the whole time trying to prove us wrong. He is a strong believer in the Bible and is a fulfillment of the prophecy in 2 Nephi 29, haha. We couldn't break him, he felt sad for us, we felt sad for him. Oh well, very good man, just needs more time I guess.

After church yesterday a member asked us and another member to give her a priesthood blessing because she is going in for a minor surgery today. So that was another good experience to add to my list. We gave the blessing in the chapel.

We had a dinner appointment yesterday also where we had makara . . . .basically hot dogs on steroids . . . . the size of a water bottle. They were HUGE. Random thought for ya.

Zone Conference is this week . . .so guess what that means?? . . .more travel!! haha, yay!

I'm running low on time, but, JACOB . . .HYVÄÄ SYNTYMÄPÄIVÄ . . .Happy Birthday!! Also, we need to make arrangments on when I am calling for Mothers Day . . .can't wait!!

I need:

-Tom Holts address

-the new Pacific Tile address

Thanks everyone! Moi Moi. Rakastan teitä. really gotta go

Vanhin Watson

more traveling!

Terve to all! Loved the e-mails this week, kiitos!

We had splits in Savonlinna last week, so that meant more traveling, but it went pretty well. I got to ride a bike for the first time in my mission there. Vanhin Beard and I drove out to visit a referral, where they let us in and we talked for a while, but nothing really came out of it, just some people that wanted to talk. Vanhin Behnke and I got a phone number from the first guy we spoke too, then later on, before we crossed a bridge, we stopped and talked to a guy for about 20 minutes . . . not bad for a couple Elders who have only been here 3 months. :) On our drive back we almost ran over a rabbit that shot out of no where . . . . .most wildlife I've seen my whole mission so far, hahaha.

The 3 new investigators we picked up last week\recently have all been dropped . . .ouch. The couple dropped us and then the other, Lauri, we decided was just not mentally there enough to be taught. We walked out of a teach with him and he was hysterically laughing . . .freaked us out, haha. BUT, even though we did drop 3 investigators, we did gain 2 this past week. One is Sari, a very nice middle aged woman who just moved into the city. She is very open and we've only taught her once so far, but she's got us excited. The other is Antti, a guy in his mid-20's. He's all about the Bible and kind of iffy about us, but still wants to learn more. He just got into religion about a year ago . . . through a website for an Orlando Florida Baptist Church, haha. We'll see with him.

Our less active that we've been teaching ever since I got here, Toni, is doing awesome! He has changed so much since I first met him, I'm so happy for him and the progress he is making. He has shaved, got a hair cut and yesterday, he even bore his testimony in church! Sweeeet.

Maire, our main investigator, is still doing well. We have been having member teaches with her, which have gone great. She told us that she'd come to church, and yesterday, she did, but she was a little late and felt bad and didn't go inside, but went back home . . . .so close! She called and apologized. She's awesome.

We were contacting the other day and in one particular building we ran into a few foreigners: some Muslims and some Russians. We feared for our life with the Muslims when they found out we were Americans, haha, mainly because they were drunk and didn't seem friendly. For the Russians, since my companion is a native Russian by birth, he did his best to talk with them in Russian. One was a teenage girl, home alone, so we were trying to just close it up and move on to the next door, but she kept it going at the door. I just had to sit back and watch, and try not to burst out laughing because I knew she was flirting with us, haha. When we finally escaped Vanhin Falk told me she said she thought I was cute and that she thought he spoke beautifully, hahaha. At another door there was a sign taped up showing missionaries crossed out . . . I took a picture. At another door the person just left their keys in the lock, haha . . .also got a picture. Fun times.

Yesterday we went to the hospital with 2 members and our branch president to give a blessing to their non member friend who was dying of brain cancer. She was unconscious and she had a huge lump on her head. Our branch president gave the blessing while we were in the circle. Sad to see, but a good experience I will never forget.

Today, our P-Day is getting dominated because we have a teach INSIDE a Lutheran church with their priest who we tracted into. It's going to be in English because I think he's from Africa and doesn't speak Finnish. Should be interesting.

I can't believe it's been 6 months since saying goodbye to you all. Time flies while about the Lord's business. I know this is His gospel, His message, and His church. A living prophet leads and guides it, and our Savior stands Supreme at the head of it. He lives.

Thank you everyone. To answer some of your questions . . . YES, it finally is warming up here. Woohoo to 8 degrees Celcius! Feels niiiiice. Snow is almost all gone too.

Gotta go. Moi Moi! Rakastan teitä!

Vanhin Watson

Busy Busy

Thanks again for the wonderful e-mails everyone. It's great hearing from all of you and reading the updates, advice, and uplifting comments.

As usual, I'll start out from where I left off last week . . . Oh, sorry this is late, Easter is a 2 day holiday here so everything was closed yesterday.

Last P-Day we went and checked out some of the local stores. At a popular one called DressMan, I bought some European pants and a cool tie, and it all cost me only 25 euros. :) The pants are quite tighter than the American style, but very trendy here, haha.

I had my 1st member teach of my mission the other day! It was with our investigator, Maire, an older woman. The teach went very well, and she almost got emotional again. We used the new agenda we learned in our last District meeting, where we share with the people we teach what we want to do and how we want to do it and how often and stuff. She said that she was interested and just today we had another teach with her, with the same member present, and it also went very well. Maire is a sweet old lady and today she got emotional when talking about the Plan of Salvation. She had a child die at birth and it hit her pretty close. Good teach.

We also had two other teaches last week which produced 3 new investigators! They came from tracting and let-ins. The first was a young man, Lauri. We heard from a member that the area where he lives contains a lot of mentally handicapped people, and we have our suspicions he might be, but we aren't sure yet. We used the new agenda with him too and he agreed to it and we went back again today. I was finally able to recite the 1st Vision in Finnish at our first teach with him, which I only just recently learned.

The other 2 investigators are Sari and Mikko, a couple we tracted into. They let us in and it went great! We also used the new agenda with them and they seemed excited and agreed to it. We went back today, and at the door Sari dropped us. Totally unexpected and kind of suspicious. I wonder what happened. :(

We had another event with that same member from 2 months ago, where she invited some nonmember friends and us over to talk together. She controlled everything again and we didn't get to do much, but the people she invited seemed to like us despite the awkwardness and uniqueness of the event. We watched The Testaments together and then talked for quite a bit and ate a little. The member had us read an article about the Devils Mark, or mark of the beast, spoken of in the book of Revelations . . . .awkward, haha. It lasted four and a half hours before we all finally got to leave. Good member missionary with a great heart and good intentions at least.

We had splits in Kuopio on Saturday, then, with the Savonlinna Elders too, we went to watch conference. Because of the time difference we only saw the Saturday morning session, then had to go home. Sunday morning we watched the rebroadcasts of the Saturday evening session and the Priesthood session, the only problem was that the English didn't work for the priesthood session, so we younger missionaries basically missed it, but our senior Finnish-speaking companions did fine, haha. We then got to see the Sunday morning session then we missed the Sunday evening session because it's too late here. I guess I'll have to wait for the Conference issue of the Liahona, which each companionship gets every Zone Conference. BUT, wasn't conference AMAZING??!! Here are some of my favorite quotes:

-Awaken the power of the priesthood of the Almighty -Elder Packer

-What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you speak. -Ralph W Emerson

-I made this my rule: when the Lord commands it, Do it. -Joseph Smith

-The only real control in life is self-control -Elder Holland . . .loved his talk

-No matter the size of the issue, how we respond sets the course for our lives -Elder Hallstrom

-MANY MANY more but I don't have time to write them all . . . .But, all in all, conference was amazing!

Well family, I have to go but thank you and love you! We have now heard from our leaders, but are we going to put them into action? Hope so. Be ye doers of the word, not hearers only. I love you all, I know this is God's work, and I am honored to be a part of it. My prayers are for little Jacob, hope he is alright. Oh, and can I have the birthday list of the family members that I requested? Kiitos, Moi Moi . . . Sorry if I am forgetting something.

-Vanhin Watson

PS. Random note, a bird today flew right over me and slapped my head with its wing, haha.