Sprint to the End

There is an elder in my mission who calls me every once in a while to fill me in on District Leader responsibilities . . . but everytime he calls he just has to tell me the number of days I have left as a missionary. Ahh, I won't tell you, but I can't believe it's ending so fast! Pres Rawlings sent us all a letter this past week, to those who will be leaving with me, and it basically entailed his encouragement to 'sprint to the end.'  There is still lots of work to be done, so I am trying my best to 'sprint to the end.'

 

It was a week full of ups and downs. It was only down because we are in a bit of a finding drought right now. We keep finding new people that become good potentials, but we are just trying to find people that will become new investigators! Even our teaching pool at the moment is shrinking, since our current investigators are leaving, dropping, or just can't meet right now. So, we do have a lot of work on our hands, in a sense, to FIND. I am optimistic though. From day 1 in Vaasa I could feel the potential and the hope in this city. It feels as though something big is about to happen . .  .don't you love those feelings?!

This past Wedesday, our Zone Leaders drove down to Vaasa and together, we went and held a counsel with the District President (like Stake President but we don't have a stake up here) who lives here in Vaasa. It went quite well. It was cool to relay our goals and hear about his and try to unify ourselves to furthering the work here in the district. He is a great man, President Näsman.

 

On Thursday we drove down to our visiting city, Seinäjoki, to give a presentation about our church to a high school class. Seinäjoki used to be open to missionaries, but the work was slow and the branch there is super small and the number of missionaries in Finland was shrinking, so they had to be pulled out. The school present went well, probably one of the best I've been at. It was the oldest group I've ever taught, they being a group of about 15 averaging around 18 years old. We didn't have any pictures or a powerpoint or anything to show them except a copy of the Book of Mormon and ourselves. We followed a simplified version of the First Lesson and threw in some facts and basic beliefs that we had. In the end, about 10 of the 15 accepted a free copy of the Book of Mormon!! Good experience.

 

On Friday we held my second District Meeting as a district leader. it was here in Vaasa. I think it went quite well. I titled it 'Consecration Determines Elevation.' . . . me speaking about consecration obviously. Elder Christoffersons conference talk 'Reflections on a Consecrated Life' was a good guide for me and a few other things were used as well. Afterwards, a recent convert, who is also a chef, made us lunch, . . . . a delicious cabbage soup. It really was pretty good. . . . doesn't sound good I know, haha.

 

Speaking of food, we had a couple of interesting DA's this past week. In one, only crepes were served . . . .yummmmm . . . and the other was with an awesome family. In this family are 2 blind boys .  .both extremely talented and cool. They were such a happy family I think it just made my day watching them. :)

 

This coming Sunday we will be back in Seinäjoki since the branch there wants us to give talks. That same night, Pres and Sis Rawlings will be holding a fireside there . . . introducing themselves to the members, pumping them up for the work and the miracles about to happen here.

 

We have an investigator, Deo, who was in church yesterday. He should be baptized but since he is not officially married, it's preventing him. We had a teach with him and the branch president was present. We talked about marriage and plans are under way to get a civil marriage done so that he can be baptized!

 

Time is short again. But thank you again for your updates, encouragement and love. I admire each and everyone of you so much and send my love.

 

For you anxious souls, since I've been asked a few times recently from a few of you . . . . . . I fly home November 3 and will probably be traveling for a good 24 hours before I land in Anchorage because of layovers and stuff. I don't have any more details yet . . . just what I've heard so far. So the secret is out, but my heart is still here in Finland! Who knows, Change Calls are this Saturday . . .maybe I'll be transferred again, haha. We'll see. Lord, Thy Will be Done.

 

Rakkaudella,

Vanhin Watson

Spiritual Overdose

Well, this past week was honestly one of the coolest weeks of my mission . . . how many times have I said that before?!  The title of my e-mail says it all, ''Spiritual Overdose.'' On Wednesday we were in Helsinki at a leadership meeting that lasted most the day. Elder Texiera of the 70 and the Area Presidency was present and was able to train us and teach us. As much as I'd like to transfer my 12 pages of notes over to all of you . . . I can't, so you'll have to take my word for it when I said that it was great!! To make things even better, that same night, we were placed on a night train (yup, a train with beds and all) and sent up to Oulu where our Zone Conference was going to be held the next day. Elder Texiera was also present there, so for 2 full days we were richly instructed, trained, and edified by a general authority and our leaders, namely Pres. Rawlings . . .who never ceases to amaze me as he leads us here in Finland. As the meeting was coming to a close, Pres. Rawlings pretty summed it up quite nicely when he said, ''It is a rare opportunity to sit at the feet of prophecy (as you have today . . . embrace it!)'' Throughout both of the meetings, a lot of blessings, promises, and challenges were made, a few even stated by the power of the priesthood. It was such a great experience family, I'm telling you. Even all the Elders from my MTC group were there!! (see pic)

Even at the start of the meetings, when Pres and Sis Rawlings and Elder and Sis Texiera walked around and shook our hands, Sis Rawlings stopped at me and gave me some really nice, sincere compliments which I really treasure now. That was nice of her.

Just when I thought it was all over . . . .it wasn't. I was able to get an interview in with Pres. Rawlings so that I could renew my temple reccomend. Afterwards, we got to talk and I got some good advice and updates and time to talk with President. Then from there, he walked me down the hallway and told me that I'm next in line, pointing to the closed door, and he left. When the door opened, there was Elder Texiera inviting me in for an interview!!!! Turns out he was able to interview a few of us, but not all. I never thought I'd get an interview with a general authority!! It went quite nicely. I was able to ask him questions and he answered, and he gave me some counsel and advice. At the end, he told me to tell the family back home hi for him, so, ''Hello, from Elder Texiera to you all!''

It's not over yet. That same day, instead of heading home, we went to Kokkola so that I could hold Splitz there with the Elders the next day. So I was able to learn from that experience too.

So, back in Vaasa, finally, we were still able to get a couple teaches to end the week and then get a new investigator to church on Saturday! That's always a good feelign to see someone NEW in church! :)  There was a baby blessing so a lot of non-member visitors were present for the Fast and Testimony Mtg. I have to translate the meetings into English for the English speakers . . (not many of them) . . but regardless of that I went up and too kmy chance to testify, especially to all those non-members. It was a gooood day. :)  

Random: Last P-Day we were walking by a shop when I took a double take and saw a Christus Statue in the window . . . . . I bought it!! haha . . awesome!

Well, time is short, again. Another week ahead . . .and I'm kinda getting sick, ug. But, we have a District meeting this coming Friday here in Vaasa, so I've also got to prepare for that. But, anyways, thank you all for everything! I'll leave you with a short phrase from Jeremiah 20:9 . . . . fire in your bones . . . yup, that's what I feel like right now . . . excited to build the Lord's Kingdom here on Earth . . with fire in my bones! May we all feel likewise!!

Rakkaudella,

 

Vanhin Watson

Elder Watson sang as he walked, and walked, and walked, and waaaalllked

Well, It was a week of hard work and lots and lots and lots of walking. Yup. We tried hard this week: visiting a less-active, potential investigators, former investigators, other investigators, etc etc etc. In the end, hardly anyone was home or no one could meet this week, so, we went with Plan B and went Finding. Since we don't really have a car anymore, and no bikes, we had to walk a lot. One day, we had a teach set up a 2 and a half hour walk away and we were 15 minutes in to our walk when we finally found a ride with a member, whew, haha. There were many fruits for our labor though. We did collect some more potentials and hopefully when we go back we'll be able to harvest. Tis the season, right?! Speaking of which, get this . . . . . the Finns celebrate the END of Summer . . . . . .and not even the END of Winter . . . . . MITÄ?!! haha  It was crazy to see. On Saturday night fireworks were going off into the early morning. We had no idea why until somebody explained it to us in church. Welcome to the North, haha.

We've got a busy week ahead. Elder Texiera (sp?) of the Area Presidency, and also of the 70 I believe, is coming to Finland to tour the mission. All the DL's and ZL's are being called down to Helsinki for a leadership meeting with him. Then, the following day, he will come and visit our Zone at a Zone Conference . . . .which means after my meeting in Helsinki, I will catch a night train to Oulu to be at the conference the following day . . . .whew. Should be awesome.  Then, after Zone Conference, we'll be spending the following day in Kokkola so I can hold a Splitz with the missionaries there. 

 

School is starting up here in Vaasa too. Which means a bunch of the converts that were taught here are coming back to Vaasa after going home for the summer. Most of them are Chinese. There have been TONS of Chinese baptisms here lately. They keep inviting their friends! :)

That's all I have time for for today. Gotta go. Thanks for your updates and love. Keep it coming! :)  I'll leave you with a quote I found this morning from Pres Harold B. Lee, ''Happiness comes not from what happens on the outside, but from what happens on the inside.''   Remember that the Lord looketh upon the heart, so we should start there and then work our way out. I love you all and wish you another happy week. I sent some pics. Eden is still the ONLY one that returns the favor. tisk tisk

Rakkaudella,

Vanhin Watson

pä svenksa?

Hei fäm, wassup? I could sense a lot of joy and happiness in today's e-mails, thank youy for that. It's always comforting to know that the family is doing well. And Dad, AWESOME picture. That thing is HUGE!!!

It's been another rollercoaster week, can you believe it? I think I say something like that every week, haha. I'm still feeling humbled by my new calling as District leader. Coming in, I only had met ONE member of my district before. The other 4 were all new to me. This past Friday, we held our first District Meeting together, and my first as a DL. I tried my best to prepare well, and, I think it went pretty good. I titled my lesson, 'Spiritual Cultivation,' as I taught about the importance about the Spirit in every aspect of our work. I'm really impressed by my district, we've got a good group of missionaries. All together, we make up 3 cities: Vaasa, Pietarsaari, and Kokkola.

I also was able to hold my first Splitz with some missionaries from my district this past week as well. It was a lot of fun and I enjoyed getting to know them and work with them. It was in Pietarsaari, a VERY Swedish city. One of the missionaries there is a Swede himself, and I'm pretty sure he gets to speak swedish multiple times a day, even while I was with him he used it most of the time while I just stood there and smiled, feeling like a new missionary again, haha. On Splitz, we went and visited the small area where the country of Finland was dedicated for the preaching of the gospel. We didn't go to the actual monument, but it was cool being in the area where the church actually STARTED in Finland.

As for back in Vaasa, the work is going well. We had a few cancellations and busy investigators, so the teaches were down, but we're fixing things and this next week is looking to be a lot more promising. We have some really solid investigators and recent converts that we are working with, and, for some reason . . . .especially last night . . . I was overcome with excitement about the work here and across the country. We're trying to 'build' a stake up here in the North Zone, and with our combined effort and prayers, I know it's going to happen. Miracles are already happening.

Our Branch President is doing fine after his accident. He had surgery and is back home now and it looks like everything is goign to be fine . . . .besides the nerve damage that has left him with no feeling in parts of his arm . . . but there's a good chance it'll come back over time. The branch got together and helped him build part of his house this past week, and we are going back again this week, trying to get things caught up and ready for winter. It was fun, standing up there on the beams of his roof, building a house!

I gave a talk on Sunday in church along with the new senior missionary couple here. It went pretty well. I talked about focusing on the things that matter most and gave the example of reading the Book of Mormon. The members liked it, and I felt good about it afterwards.

A few of you aked about my address here in Vaasa:

Kirkkopuistikko 22 B 28

65100  VAASA

FINLAND

I'd better get going. Thank you to all again for your examples to me and for your time. I ask, and thank, my Heavenly Father every day for the safety and health of my loved ones . . and I'm so grateful to see that fulfilled many times as I've been away in the Lord's service. I'm also grateful for my Savior, and for everything He did, out of love, for me, and for you.  1 Nephi 19:9

Rakkaudella,  (with love)

Vanhin Watson

saw accident

Hey!!

Well, here I am, in Vaasa. Crazy!! The transition went well. One of the Zone Leaders down in Helsinki, who was also my MTC comp, stayed with us for a day because he too was getting a new companion. It was cool to serve with him for a while before I caught my train out. He's been a role model to a lot of missionaries, especially me. So, since he had a car, we had to pick-up and drop off a few other Elders at the train station since they too were being transferred. It was cool driving all around Helsinki. One night we even had to drop off an elder to catch his train at 10:30 at night! haha, it was wierd to be up ''late''.  I caught my train on Tuesday morning and was with another elder for a part of the trip. So we stuffed our bags in a little compartment and got comfy when 2 Japanese tourists came into the same compartment . . .so we had to move our luggage around to make room for them. Then, just a few minutes later 2 Finnish women also came in! Ugh, we had to get creative and move our luggage around again and make room for everyone. It was fun though. I had one train switch, so moving ALL my stuff by myself was pretty hard . . . . I have WAY too much stuff. But i made it all in one trip. I'm so excited to serve in Vaasa. I've heard soo much about this place and no that I am here, I see that it is all true. It's nice being in the city again, with a center and good layout and everything, like Joensuu was. There are a lot of foreigners here, and a lot of Swedish speakers, since we're so close to Sweden and Swedish is Finlands 2nd national language.

There is a nice branch here. The branch presidency is made up of some brothers that come from an awesome family. There is a center for Young Adults that is run by a  nice senior missionary couple who just arrived here too, the Bergs. They actually kind of stole our car here, and now they own it and we borrow it only a couple of times a week for a little bit. It's kind of confusing to work out, but it's still nice 'kinda' having a car again. It's so wierd to drive again! haha

So, it's been a crazy week. . . .one of adjustments and new faces and experiences. The Zone Leaders already came down from Oulu and had Splitz with us, which was fun. Elder Behnke, an MTC friend, and I went to a branch activity that the branch president asked us to be at. All across the city was held a Taiteiden Yö . . .Art Night. There were exhibits and concerts going on everywhere and the church decided to be a part of it, so we were invited to see if any visitors would walk in. Well, it ended up being a Rock Concert, haha. Yeah, our branch presidency is yound and extremely musically talented and they put on a rock concert . . . .not heavy metal rock or anything . . . I'm talking Coldplay style here. It was REALLY good and there were a lot of people there . . . it was just hard being a missionary in that environment, haha, and we didn't know anyone. But, the branch president wanted us to be there and we did get a few chances to talk with people. Let's just say that right afterwards, when I got home, I read a bit out of the Book of Mormon to get focused again. :P

Another crazy thing that happened was when we were doing service. We were helping our Branch President for a little bit as he is building his own house all by himself and he needed our help. He was cutting a piece of wood with an electric saw and, while using one hand to hold the wood and another hand on the saw, the saw jerked hit the arm holding the wood, just below the elbow. It cut pretty deep, probably to the bone, and it literally sent blood EVERYWHERE. I'm talking squirting here . . . it was bad . . . .and I watched it all happen. He jumped down, my companion wrapped his shirt around his arm, we popped him in our car, and sped to the nearest health center, with me holding a water bottle to his mouth because he needed water after so much loss of blood. The health center couldn't treat him, so an ambluance took him away to the hospital, but the hospital cound't treat him so they sent him in a taxi 4 hours away to Tampere where there was a specialist that could treat him and check for possible nerve damage. Last I heard, he's STILL awaiting surgery. So, crazy experience there. I think the branch is getting together tomorrow to work on his house for him, since it still has a way to go before winter hits, and there are some things that need to get done.

 

We were teaching a family from the Congo the other day. They only spoke French so we brought a member from another city along to translate for us. They ended up not being too interested, but when I alsed them if we could help them in any way, they gave a uniquie response . . . . .to teach them how to sing some of our church songs! Surprisingly they already had some of our church hymn books in french, so, together we taught them how to sing 'I am a Child of God.' It was a cool experience.

 

Alright, time to get going. Busy busy busy. My first District Meeting as District Leader is this Friday in Pietarsaari. We also have splitz with the elders there the day before. There is so much going on, but I'm happy to be here and humbled by my new calling. I already feel a deep love for my district and hope things will go well and that together we can help the work go forward at an even better rate.

 

Out of time . . . Thank you all again for your updates, upliftings, and love. Glad everyone is safe . . . even Seth after that crazy bear encounter! Keep the faith and march on!

Rakkaudella,

 

Vanhin Watson

ps, the pics are of me in the train compartment with mine, and the other elders' luggage.  And the other pic is taken from my apartment window! The bell rings on the hour every hour, haha.

More Changes!

Hey everyone, so. . . . just when everyone was beginning to think that Elder Watson stays in his areas for a long time . . . .that pattern has been shattered as I am being transferred! Change Calls came Saturday during our study time, which was unusual because they usually come at night. President Rawlings made all of the Calls for the mission this time instead of the AP's. 

 

Well, I'm off to a city called Vaasa, over on the West Coast up in the middle of the country. To make things even more humbling I have been asked to be the District Leader there as well. I think my heart has been beating at an irregular rate ever since I got the call. Just as things were finally getting comfy in Espoo, boom, I'm outta here. I am truly brought down in thanks for all of my many blessings and experiences that I have had here, and in such short a time. The Lord now has a plan for me elsewhere, as a leader, in a new area, with new opportunities awaiting. It's a tender mercy. I hope and pray my new district will be ready because I will need them as much I they might need me. 

 

I leave tomorrow morning. I think Vaasa even has a car there. :)  Also, a new missionary couple has been placed in Vaasa to head the awesome youth center up there, so that'll be cool to work with them.

 

So, for a last week in Espoo things went really well. We did a bit more service, got some cool new investigators . . .and a referral now with a baptismal date, and a good handful of other progressors. The work moves fast here, and it is moving forward at an ever increasing rate all across the country. I'm so blessed to be a part of it and witness it for myself. I bore my testimony in Fast and Testimony Meeting and said goodbye, and it was just one of those moments where I don't remember much of what I said, or of what I tesified, I didn't think about it, I just opened my mouth and the scripture was fulfilled. . . . the words were given me by the Spirit. I love this work. It's so true and so real.

 

There is so much to say but no time to explain! But I'll leave you with a man's desription of he thinks the Bible really means. . . .

 

Best Information Before Leaving Earth . . . .haha . . . the scriptures are truly the best information and source for happiness and salvation. Read them. Searth them. Love them. And the Lord will reward thee openly.

 

Thank you for everything. You're all great! Sorry,this is short, but I gotta go.

 

Rakkaudella,

 

Vanhin Watson

Sacrifice

Well, I'm e-mailing a day late because I had to go renew my Visa yesterday at the police station and we had to wait in line for FIVE AND A HALF HOURS before my number was called!!!!! Talk about P-Day domination. Good news is though that I got my Visa and it all went smoothly . . . .just slowly. Brought back memories of waiting in line at Disneyland, haha. All the wait for a 3 minute ride.

 

I know I say this EVERY week, but it was another good one. We have just been getting busier and busier and the work continues to progress. Even this week we have a lot to get done and a lot of appointments . . .tis life in the big city. 

 

So, I gave a talk yesterday in church. It was the biggest congregation of Saints I have seen since I left home, haha. So speaking in front of a big crowd was a bit nerve-racking. It's weird that I feel so much more comfortable in the streets and with complete strangers when talking about the gospel than I do in front of a congregation of Saints, haha. I was asked to speak about Sacrifice. It went well. I tried to put a positive spin on the subject. I also found an awesome quote from Joseph Smith that said something along the lines of how ''God's church HAS TO require much of it's members, or how else would we be ready for the eternities?! '' Sacrifice is an essential part of life. I'm so grateful for the many sacrifices you all make, and have already made, as you continue to follow the will of the Father and not your own. 

 

For some reason we have been doing a lot more service lately. Yesterday, after a half day at the police station getting my Visa, we changed clothes and helped a member move apartments. Her new place is only a couple blocks away from the temple, I'm so jealous. Then we did even more service when we helped some members 40 minutes away do some remodeling and cleaning. And today we are going back to help them again! I'm grateful for the chance to serve  . . . . and show the world my awesome tan-line on my neck when I wear a regular t-shirt, haha. 

 

Some interesting experiences we had this week were:

-teaching an investigator in the guest house built right next to the temple.

-gave blessings to a family going through a hard time and asked for help from us. 

-got Dad's little package . . . THANK YOU . . . .and have been enjoying some new music ever since. :)

-talking in english with some men in the street and then we broke into Finnish when we found out they were actually Finns and they were blown away that we speak their language . . . I still love it when that happens. :P

-an investigator came to church for his first time and he and a recent convert hit it off really well. 

-our baptismal date got delayed a couple weeks instead of being this weekend. We feel good about it though and so does she. At the end we had a kneeling closing prayer which she gave and it was amazing!

 

Well, there's my week in a nut-shell. Thanks again to all of you for all you do. I'm glad to hear about all your experiences and joys you've had over the past week and I hope they continue. I know that this is the restored gospel of Our Savior Jesus Christ. Sacrifice, faith, hope, charity,  . . . . . the list goes on. But hey, ''Unto whom much is given, much is required''. We have been given MUCH. I love you. 

 

Rakkaudella,

 

Vanhin Watson