6/23/25 That's All Folks!

As this week ends, my time in Finland will also end. However, not without some memorable moments.

The second biggest holiday in Finland is Midsummer. We went to a members place and met their whole family. Ate some good smoked salmon and made a bonfire. We tried four times to light it with gasoline but the wood was super wet. After everyone but me and my comp gave up, we kept going. the fourth time was the charm and it was a great sight.

An international market was also in town and tried some good English fudge and picked up a souvenir or two. 

In church, I gave one last testimony and prayer. This was a week of lasts, which means next week is a week of a lot of firsts.

In closing, I'd like to share my short testimony. God has a plan for you. I know he had one for me and I experienced so much good. You are his child. He loves you, me, and everyone enough to give Jesus Christ for us. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the most important event in history. Because of it, we can repent and continue to follow Jesus Christ's doctrine. for with God, nothing is impossible.

I'll speak more on what I learned and experienced in Finland this Sunday at 10. The address is: 15205 SE 28th St, Bellevue, WA 98007

Message me for the zoom link!

A new adventure awaits,

Vanhin Lucas Hsu

Photos:

 Statue mirror

 

Fire

 

Us by the setup fire

 

The lake

6/17/25 Mission 99% Complete

751/758 days and now its just one week! Here we go!

Started off with zone conference. I gave my final testimony. On the same day, we had a huge scavenger hunt organized by the zone and we won (kind of). Ended with some fun beach volleyball.

Lots of member work too. We were able to meet with more members and just get to know them. Super good stuff.

Well, I have been pondering a few things and today, this seemed like the most important. First, from the talk Foreordained to Serve, "Protect the private times in your life". Second, Psalms 46:10, "Be still, and know that I am God." As missionaries, we take 10 minutes a day to pray and ponder on what is on our minds. As I have done this these last few months, it has helped center each day. My small invitation to you all is to take a small bet of time (1 minute, 2, 5, or 10) and ponder on the goodness of God in your life.

Well, the rest:

- When at two different members places, I received two opposite pieces of advice about marriage. 1, Get married first and then pursue an education. 2, wait to get married and then wait to have kids. I think the second one is a little better.

- A 1 hr service project turned into 2.5. Changed oil for an drivable lawnmower and then proceeded to mow their overgrown lawn. Super fun time and he gave us hats the next day.

- Zone conference: we had ribs for lunch and those hit different. One of the best conferences I'd been in.

There will be 1 more email after this one. Its been real everyone and till next time!

The work awaits,

Vanhin Lucas Hsu

Photos:

 

Us with the hats

 

The mower

 The zone without us?

 

Scenic shot

6/10/25 And Another One

And another one in the books. Time is not on my side these days.

We had splits with the Jyväskyä ZL's and did a lot of work in Jyväskylä. One of them lifted too much the day before and hobbled all of splits. Quite a day for sure.

Followed that with a solid DC. Managed to make our way through it all and ate the smallest DC lunch I've ever had. 

Last bigger thing was service. We shoveled dirt for about two hours and it was satisfying seeing the start to end result. We then proceeded to eat too much food at that members place and felt it later.

This last week Has been a reflection week and the scripture D&C 6:36 came to mind a lot. 'Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.' A different kind of fatigue has beset me these last few weeks but whenever I remember who to look towards, I find strength and power to keep working. 

It also reminds me of another BYU devotional named Stand Forever. In it, he said he has questions, but not doubts. I still have questions but I do not doubt God. He has guided me these past two years and given me what I needed and not what I thought I needed. 

Spoiler, not my last email. Just one of the last. The best is yet to come.

The rest:

- Drank a mudcake shake (only a quarter but it was good.)

- There really wasn't much else. Stay tuned for next time!

Till then!

The work awaits,

Vanhin Lucas Hsu

Photos:

  

Dirt

 

Jyväskylä cathedral 

 

Average cloudy day

 

Flowers

6/3/25 After 2 Years, I Found Myself!?

Terve kaikki! It has been a more normal week but a good one nonetheless.

While knocking doors yesterday, we saw a door with my name on it. As one might suspect, Hsu is not a common name in Finland. They weren't interested in talking but funny.

Not too much else but I was listening to a BYU Devotional from Elder Jeffery R. Holland named Lessons From Liberty Jail. 

To paraphrase, the prophet Joseph Smith and many other church leaders were placed unjustly in Liberty jail. In that trying time, God revealed to Joseph Smith that even admist the strongest persecution, he could be spiritually refined into the person God wanted him to be.

We all have difficult times and sometimes they show us our limits. Even in the darkest of times, God is still there. As Elder Holland put it, these times serve as 'temple experiences'. The temple is the holiest place on Earth but being sunk in debt, homework, stress, medical challenges, and every other thing might not seem like a temple experience.

The key is what we do during and after those moments. Who do we turn to? What changes do we make? And even in that darkness, the light of Christ will always be brighter and He still loves you.

Ok, the rest:

- Played a Danish game at a members against Elder Argyle. Did pretty good.

- Super goofy District Council on Friday. We probably laughed a little too much but it was fun.

- Fast Sunday was a day. An Elder's family right now isn't doing well so we all fasted for them and it felt unifying.

- Hit my 2 year mark. Kind of an old missionary these days.

Rain has plagued us in June so I hope you all have better weather than me. Till text time!

The work awaits,

Vanhin Lucas Hsu

Photos:

 

My door but not my door

 Mikkeli in Grey

 

Avg cat person door decor

 

Biking

5/24/25 He's a Machine

Welcome back! This week was crazy but I'll get to that in a bit.

We did a lot of service. Painting a shed, helping repair a dock, and lots of picking up sticks. Service is truly one of the best ways to get to know people too!

On top of that, we had our interviews with President Lehtinen and they went well. Got reminded again to give it my all before I go home. While I was talking with Sister Lehtinen, she laid out these cards. Each one had a different word/trait on it. In the activity, I was asked to pick three. There was easily 30 out but I eventually picked three.

Hardworking, inquisitive, and determined.

It let me reflect on all that I've experiences as well as what traits I've seen grow on the mission. I also got to see what three my companion picked for me. At some point in their conversation, Sister Lehtinen said I was like a machine. The three were;

Systematic, hardworking, and calm. 

It was cool to see that my set of traits or 'talents' are pretty strongly linked to each other. There are many good gifts and as Moroni 10:18 puts it;

"Remember that every good gift cometh of Christ"

Traits, gifts, whatever you want to call them, we all have some. They are all important and can be used to bless others. The challenge this time, Try to write out your 3 strongest traits and reflect on them.

The rest:

- We had 4 DA's in the last 4 days. That doesn't happen and I've been quite stuffed.

- Splits with the ZL's. Had some super good conversations with people that day. One was quite sick but feeling better now.

- I almost found a family history link but it didn't really exist. More digging into my Finnish family history is a must.

- Its finally in the 60-70 degrees here!

That was pretty much all but till next time! (I don't have much more next times either but till then!)

The work awaits,

Vanhn Lucas Hsu

Photos:

 District on district pday

 

Splits with Elder Howells

 With Elder Olesen

 

Painting 

 

Place we helped with the dock

5/20/25 Mikkeli Side Quest Compilation

And another one in the books. 

Met with members, ran into a few surprises and had a good, warm week in Mikkeli.

On Wednesday, life got interesting. With a board game night already planned and a short call with a member, we had a reasonable plan. The day before, we received a text informing us that we had an apartment check. 

With that dropped, our schedule started to go. On top of that, they came an hour earlier than expected. Apartment is intact and we got some good Indian Curry too after. Each day was less crazy but nonetheless crazy.

Our district has also started a parable review thing during DC's and this week is about the ten virgins. As the story goes, ten virgins all went to a place to wait for the bridegroom to come. When he came, only five had enough oil to light their lamps. The other five were late to get oil and didn't make it to the party.

Across a lot of digging, I found that the main idea is preparation. Sometimes life throws us a surprise (like an apartment check). We may not know what will happen tomorrow but we can do what we can today to prepare physically, mentally, and spiritually for whatever surprise comes. 

Invite: What is the best way to prepare physically, mentally, spiritually? Then do it.

The rest of the chaos:

- Ran into an old friend on Saturday. Proceeded to run into the AP's right afterwards. 

- Went to a Jesus night event hosted the protestant churches in town. Had a decent conversation with one person from Helsinki. Then, another came and opened with "Heavenly mother isn't real". Long discussion later, we departed with no hard feelings.

- One member here has nearly every Donald Duck comic book in Finnish and its impressive. 

- Made dumplings for probably the last time in Finland. I don't like the fact that I have lasts now.

- Nearly full chapel in church! Summer is here and so are the Finns with summer cottages. Had one kind of friend come but he might think I'm a Chinese spy.

- Played a 30 hole disc golf course and didn't do too bad.

Might be longer next time but that's for next time. Enjoy the summer guys!

The work awaits,

Vanhin Lucas Hsu

Photos:

 

The local track

 

Disc golf

 

Train station

 

Summer

 

10:20 (didn't send last time)

Watchtower (see above)

5/13/25 Scuffed Eastern Finland Travel

And we're back. A solid week of finding but it was a good week.

First DC was a little rushed because of, well, a story for later. 

Life updates: Its warm (nearly 60s), its bright (sun sets at 9:45, rises at 4:25), and quite peaceful (3 holidays this weekend).

In Elders quorum at church, we discussed spiritual preparation as Elder Dale G. Renlund spoke about in General Conference and two main points came up.

1. The parable of the ten virgins.

2. A Finnish farmer named Paavo.

The ten virgins were all in the right place, waiting for the same event but half of them were not ready to meet the bridegroom. So first, we need to prepare ourselves spiritually to be ready.

Paavo, a Finnish farmer, has a different story. In the 19th century sometime, Paavo is battling every kind of weather to try to harvest enough wheat for his family. He only managed to harvest half the needed amount each time. To survive, he told his wife to add bark to the flour and they got by.

One day, the crop was abundant and there was plenty for the whole winter. While the wife rejoiced, Paavo looked outward know he could help others and gave some flour to his neighbor knowing it would mean some bark was needed to survive the winter.

From this, helping others can only come once you've helped yourself. In a spiritual sense, working on a testimony and nurturing it will allow you to help and bless others. The challenge this time: what is one way you can help yourself and others? Ponder and act on that answer. 

The rest:

- Got a call from the mission office about the old apartment here. The storage had some left over stuff and we cleaned it out fast with the help of a member.

- Cursed travel. We had our first DC but it requires us to go to Pieksamäki and switch trains. The catch, that train wasn't coming. The board just said "Train not in use due to a personal injury".

With that, we all got on a bus and showed up half an hour late. It all worked out thankfully so life was good.

- Did some brush pile service for a member and that was fun. Reminded me of my grandpa's place. Ate some good ribs too.

- checked out a watchtower. Good view.

- If this seeds twice, my bad

Thanks for tunning in and till next time!

The work awaits,

Vanhin Lucas Hsu

Photos:

 

Bonfire!!

 

Summer streets