lettuja

Moi moikka moi!

I can't believe another week has gone by already! I swear life didn't go by this fast back home, haha. Well, I better get typing while I still have time. . .

Things were going slow there for the last few weeks, but we were able to get things going again this past week. We were able to get a few teaches in and even find a new investigator and a few new potentials. My Italian Sistas will be proud to know that our new investigator here is an Italian. She is here studying at the local university and is due to go back to Italy after this Spring . . . . so that should be enough time to find the restored gospel and get baptized, right? . .hope so. She is really nice and is now, hopefully, reading the Book of Mormon. Maybe Layne could look her up this summer. :P

There's a lesson I want to teach you all right now, at least to those of you who give the missionaries food . .aka DA's . . . . . KEEP IT TO AN HOUR!!!!!!!!!! We had 4 DA's this week and that did quite the domination to our schedule: traveling, eating, spiritual message, traveling again, etc. We are supposed to be only one hour! So have the food prepared before they get there!! haha . . . .AND . . .don't look at them with your puppy-dog eyes telling them to eat more . . . . we can only take so much, plus, we don't have the luxury of taking naps, haha, life continues for us after those things. If you have any questions, contact your local missionaries. :)

We had an unfortunate experience when one of our pretty promising investigators decided to drop us the other day. We were there standing at her door, ready to teach her, and she just flat out told us that she doesn't jaksaa 'feel like it' anymore, that she's too tired because of he busy work schedule and doesn't have time. She left it open for us to drop by in the future, but still, we were kind of bummed. But, when the Lord closes a door, He opens a window, and we were blessed with a new investigator the next day.

We had another teach with Olavi, our prime, main investigator at the moment. He's been investigating for about a year now and he still isn't ready to get baptized, at least in his opinion. We gave him Elder Anderson's 2007 Conf talk 'It's true Isn't It? What Else Matters?' . . . and even after all that, although he confesses that he knows God wants him to be baptized, he still won't set a date. Some progress WAS made though, when he told us he plans to be baptized within the year. Ok, well, better than nothing I guess! :) The man is ready, the water is warm, the angels are calling, but he just won't jump in yet!

In one of our DA's this week, we gave a spiritual message based of the scripture found in 1 Cor. 4:20 . . it goes something along the lines of, The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. I'd say, although the distractions and confusions of all the conversations and chaos all around us, it was probably one of the most spiritual messages I've ever given, at least to me personally. They were taking the subject we chose too hard and decided to talk about it in so many different directions, that it kind of lost it's touch, but in closing, I just bore my testimony of the power found in this the true church of God. I was overwhelmed with the warmth and feelings of the Spirit, and it was a powerful witness to me of the work I am about doing in this country. I was probably the only one who noticed it or felt it, but it meant a lot to me and I'll never forget it. The power of testimony is so strong. It can resolve anything and really bring the Spirit into most any situation. I've been trying to take that to heart and do it more often.

People were randomly giving away free pancakes (more like crepes) here the other day in the center! I think it was a political thing, but hey, free food and we're there! haha Hot Dogs were the next booth over, but we didn't have time. :(

Well, I better get going. But in closing, lately I've been reading in the Book of Mormon in 3rd Nephi . . . .wow. I like how when it talks about prayer, or fasting, or good works, the scriptures say to do it 'secretly. For the Lord God knoweth all our secrets, and will reward us openly.' Amazing advice and truth, found right in the scriptures. I love you all. I love the gospel. I love my mission. till next week,

Rakkaudella,

Vanhin Watson