scattered sunshine

I feel like I should just say AMEN to all your e-mails and leave it at that. Seriously, Thank you for all of your updates, thoughts, advice, and love. It is such a good start to a week to hear from all of you.

So, week one with a new companion and . . . . . . it's gone great! Elder Edelman is an awesome elder and the work here has been so much more enjoyable and rewarding with him being here. We've been going running every morning since he arrived, so hopefully that'll help me get rid of these balls of fat on my cheeks I've developed while I've been here, haha. It was a transition week if we can call it that. I got him all caught up on what I could and we tried to just jump right into the work. We did, however, get a few cancellations that slowed us down a bit, but, that just opened up more room for FINDING! The weather has been great all week and every day there are hundreds of Finns sporting ice cream cones, walking down the streets . . . so jealous, haha.

A member that recently returned home from her mission a month or so ago from Sweden, who is also a recent convert, was able to accompany us on a teach with Olavi. She was so happy to be in a teach again and do the work she loved so much. She was a big help and we're definitely going to try and use her more often in teaches. Even though she lives about 45 minutes away, she's willing to help whenever she can. In the teach with Olavi she shared her conversion story and really brought a good spirit to the teach, and a new friend for Olavi in church . . .some one to relate to . . .her being a convert.

Our Italian investigator, Ottavia, left this past weekend back to Italy. We tried to contact her all week and we just couldn't get in contact. We finally tried her one last time on Friday, she wasn't home, so we went to knock on doors in her area for a while, then we tried her one last time before we were going to head home for the night. . . . worrying that she could be lost forever, since we didn't have any of her contact info to give to the missionaries in Italy . . . . and she was home! It was a miracle and an answer to our prayers. We showed her a short film called Finding Happiness, In Italian, and she loved it, and told us she is still interested, so we got her contact info and we're going to try and turn her over the missionaries in Italy. She was such a pleasure to teach, I hope she continues the journey in Italy.

Yesterday we had a DA with some members that live about an hour out. A temple missionary couple that was visiting came along with us and, even though it dominated our day, it was fun to be out and about with them and converse with these pioneers of the gospel. I think the temple couple even sent an e-mail to Mom and Dad with pictures and everything . . .so I guess if you want pictures of me you'll have to ask them. :P

There will be a lot ahead of us in these next 6 weeks. We are excited to be on the Lord's errand and hopefully things will go well. I am confident they will. I know that God's kingdom is once again established on the earth, the heavens are opened and the plan is revealed. Our Savior stands as our guide and points the way to eternal happiness, the happiness I can only taste while about doing this work. I love you all and wish you all another happy lovely week ahead.

Congrats Spencer! Good Luck Dan!

Rakkaudella,

Vanhin Watson

p.s. Yeah, I can never share EVERYTHING about my week's experiences, so forgive me on that. Things are going well though and I'm glad to hear the same goes there as well!