Love and Law

No Terrrrrrrrrve!!!! I come before you a healthy . . . . .er man than last time. . . . I hope. It has been another week of adventures and stories to tell to the future generations . . . I'll try to type out what I can . . :

- Our investigator H, who wants to be baptized, is kind of slipping away. Communication has been difficult with him, seeing how he only knows a little Finnish and no English. We thought his native language was Swahili, so we ordered and gave him a Book of Mormon in Swahili. It wasn't until our next teach with him when we found out that it's not his native language, haha . . .but he never told us! He was trying to read it through a Swahili to Burundi dictionary. Burundi being his real native language . . . .which the church has nothing printed in yet. That same teach though, a friend of theirs showed up who DOES speak their language, and better Finnish, so we were able to work through her in communicating to this man and his family. She was truly heaven sent and we were finally able to make some progression with this man and discern where he is at and how interested he really is.

- We got a let in! Her name is E ( :) ). She was in the process of moving in and let us right in. She, and the other man there, listened to what we had to say and accepted a Book of Mormon and want us to come back. It was a big relief to us because this past week has been rough on us with finding. From contacting to tracting, we've been getting shut down all week. Getting that let in combined with a phone number from a mother walking a stroller was a nice refresher and a boost to our spirits.

- We had 4 dinner appointments (DAs) this past week . . . . I'm telling ya, the members here are awesome . . . always taking care of the missionaries. They even arranged for a movie night later next month and told us to invite investigators and who ever.

- One of our 'eternal' investigators O was taught this past week as well. We brought a member couple along who have become good friends with him and his wife. With a new companion and all, we had a good lesson plan all set up where it would allow him to ask some good questions since he doesn't know him as well yet. BUT, the member couple kind of DOMINATED our lesson plan by teaching their own thing, a series of lessons they have been teaching O and his wife separately. . . . .yeah . . . . member missionary work is good . . . but that is kind of too far. O is still doing good, but he needs to make a decision. He needs the Spirit, not a series of lectures about the gospel.

- We made a trip to Kotka which went a lot better than we thought. I have only been there twice before and don't know the area, or the bus schedule too well. We ended up walking a bunch and visiting some grateful less active members before heading off to a DA. BUT, we got off our bus way too late and ended up having to walk a half hour to the members place, hurry and eat, then hurry and catch our train a 20 minute walk away. We felt pretty bad. But, in the midst of being lost we did find a sweet little Pizza place in the middle of nowhere, where the customers were wearing overalls and the walls had hallowgraphic pictures, haha. We wanted to join in.

- On Saturday we made the long trek down to Loviisa, where our investigator lives. We had to take a trip to Porvoo first, then another bus to Loviisa, then afterwards, another bus to Kotka, then a train to Kouvola. . . . all for a one hour teach with an investigator, haha. LOOONG unproductive day. Kuitenkin, the investigator N is doing well. It was our first time meeting him since I'm still kind of new, and so is my comp. N is in the Army so he is always busy, but when we gets out this summer, he wants to be baptized!! However, he hasn't been reading or praying, so, of course, we taught the importance of Reading, Praying, and Church Attendance. Oh, and did I mention that all of this was done at a hotel restaurant in a nice little booth?!! haha, the things you do as a missionary.

- Recently, my companion and I found Elder Oaks' Oct 2009 conference talk titled 'Love and Law.' We have been using it a lot, at least the things it talks about, and telling others about the same things it teaches. Lately , we've met a lot of people who have said that they have their own faith or own, different God. We know that we all have the same God, who loves us all, but doesn't necessarily love all the things we do, just like our parents here on earth. People these days have created their 'own God' and 'own faith' that will accept them and all they do no matter what it is. God created man, not man created God. and Gods love does not and CANNOT overpower His laws. Remember it Earth, haha.

Well, that is all I have time for today, this computer is acting up. But I love you all. Kiitos kaikesta.

Rakkaudella,

Vanhin Watson