Hei taas

Wow, I can't believe I am sitting here again. The weeks keep going by faster and faster. The good thing though, which I have come to appreciate, can be expressed through a scripture found in Ecclesiastes 11:7 -

''Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.''

haha, yes, signs of spring are finally showing in Finland. The sun is getting higher, and now, instead of it being a big ball of light, it's also a big ball that radiates warmth too. :)

I'll make this e-mail quick this week in an attempt to write you all back personally, so here it goes:

-There is an old blind couple that lives here and they have known the missionaries for a while. We stopped by and got to know them a little and it turned out to be quite the interesting experience. They just LOVED the fact that I came from Alaska, and they couldn't stop asking random questions about it. Talking about Glaciers, Bears, skiing, etc isn't exactly in my Finnish vocabulary, haha.

- We continue to find some pretty promising potential investigators. For example, it happened twice this past week that we walked up to a building to tract, and the door was opened . . . .the only thing is, is that it was a type of building that is always locked and you have to buzz someone to get let in. We didn't realize it, but took advantage of the situation. Both times this happened, we found at least one promising come-back. Truly the Lord was making sure the door(s) were open at that time just for us, because both times, on our way out, the doors were locked again.

-One of the potentials we found was a lady that recently separated from the Lutheran Church, which makes up like 88% of Finland. She didn't know why, she just did it because she felt it wasn't right. Well, two Mormon missionaries appear at her door and find out she is now looking for the truth and now we are invited back in a week. The Lord prepares!

-We had a District meeting here in Kouvola on Thursday. Our new District Leader is Elder Ranzenberger, my previous companion of 7 months in Joensuu . . sweet.

- O is progressing very well, we had another teach with him just before our District Meeting started and we decided to read together Elder Eyrings 2007 Conf. talk, 'This Day.' Wow, the whole talk just fit him perfectly and there was a really good spirit there. He is soo close to baptism and I feel he will set a date soon.

- A member here turned 60 recently and invited everyone to a celebration party held in his honor. Of course, the members took us along. We ended up helping out in the party by taking coats and talking to people. It all went really well, seeing how there were a lot of non-members there. But, the star of the show was . . . .a giant . . . wild . . . pig. Yes. We ate wild pig. (see picture) haha . . . quite chewy.

-We went out contacting one morning and there they were, people serving FREE soup! I took pictures . . . . .Socialism in action. haha

-It's a new change here in Finland, and with new changes come new goals . . .and that is why I recently found this quote by Elder Wirthlin:

''Create inspiring, noble, and righteous goals that fire your imagination and create excitement in your heart. And then keep your eye on them. Work consistently towards achieving them.''

Wow, just reading that just excites me even more for the upcoming General Conference!!

Companionship: with another change (6 weeks) ahead of us to be together, the excitement of being 'new' has past, and the task of working together and staying consistent is on. We get along pretty well. Kuitenkin, I think we are both happy that we get to serve together a little longer.

Well, that's about all I have time for today. It was taas a great joy to me to read your e-mails this week. You are all amazing and I am soo appreciative for all you do!

Rakaudella,

Vanhin Watson