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