Diablo

There has never been a week on my mission yet where I could just say, oh, just another week come and gone. Each one has it's own stories and adventures. This week we have a few stories to tell. . . .

Our last P-Day when we went out for the night we met a former contact walking the streets with his bud. Eventually, they split, and we got talking to the friend and ended up walking to the church with him, giving him a church tour and a Book of Mormon. He was very grateful for it and loves learning new things, so he was fascinated with our religion.

On Tuesday we had a District Meeting in Savonlinna. Elder Gorringe, from my MTC-group is our District Leader, and Elder Pond, also from my MTC-group is his companion . . .so it was cool seeing everyone. As the last surviving member of the original Kuopio District, I was really able to see how much this district has grown and progressed since I first got here. We looked at some numbers and stats to see where we are, where we've come from, and where we want to go. It was a good meeting. As we waited for our train home we did some contacting in the streets of Savonlinna and we had a couple funny experiences. A drunk man stopped us as we were crossing a walking bridge. He wouldn't let us leave and just kept talking and trying to speak English (All drunks here speak English, it's like a switch for them, haha). We went to shake his hand, and when I did, he said OW! and low and behold his whole arm was purple and swollen and broken, haha, drunks.

The other day a less active member called us up and wanted to meet and have us discuss a bit about the Plan of Salvation. It was pretty cool, we all learned together and were able to have a nice discussion. Thing of how hard it is to teach the Plan of Salvation in English in detail, then transfer that to Finnish, haha, it was pretty cool to feel the blessings from the Lord in letting us get into, and survive and pull off, a deep discussion about the Millenium and the Degrees of Glory and Perdition and all that, haha. What's even cooler is that later that day, Investigator 'N' called us up and wanted to meet and speak a bit about the same things!! Already prepared, we brought that member along to the teach and were able to teach a good lesson. She's so close to baptism, SO CLOSE!!! AH! We basically laid it out infront of her that she can do this NOW, and she doesn't have to wait for life and it's adversities to clear up. We promised her as representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ that if she goes through with this, uncomprehendable blessings and help will come. She's really thinking about it. She's close. Oh, just yesterday she called us up way excited because her dad had just called her and said that he had a dream about her, where she was running towards him and she was really happy.

We had 2 other good member teaches this week with 2 investigators who are getting close to setting a baptismal date. It was cool because in both teaches they and the member really hit it off well and have become good friends. :)

We got let in twice last week. One was just a guy chilling on his bench in his backyard with his shirt off and his baby in his lap. Once we said we are missionaries he immediately ushered us over to come sit down. We talked about the plan of salvation and he seemed to take everything pretty well. Almost everything he already believes in runs in line with our church. The closing prayer was in the middle of him giving his baby a bath inside (it moved there). haha

The other let in was a young man who we go back to tonight. He's pretty open and has some good potential . .so we're excited. At the end of that teach he gave us both some Diablos . . . . which is like a yo-yo on steriods (see picture for details), haha, pretty sweet.

I crashed on my bike the other day, the first in years. Over the handle bars and everything. I got scraped up pretty good and some road rash on my upper arm, and bruised up my knee. Fun Fun. :P All is well though. Was wearing my helmet! haha

Well, it was good hearing from a few of you this week. Glad all is well. Fall is almost here . . . so wierd. This summer has been too short, way hot, and way to good to be true. School is already back. Mummos are still the scooter riding lovable ladies. Diablos are sweet. The apartment is clean. I love you. The church is true. There's so much more to write, but no time. . . . .Moi Moi.

-Vanhin Vatson (how Finns say my name, can't say their W's)