4/23/24 Splits: Two For The Time of One

The snow came back again. I guess that is spring in Finland for you.

We had splits in Haaga with the ZL's and it was pretty fun. I was with Elder Clements and I learned a lot about how to listen to others. We met with one guy who is notorious here in Finland for wasting missionaries time but he did take us out for lunch. Lots to ponder over afterwards because of the conversation. 

The following days consisted of DA's and a lot of contacting. We just picked the wrong times to contact. Anyhow, the DA's were really fun and I got to eat Porolaaikko (reindeer box). It was like a casserole but with reindeer and potatoes as the main ingredients. The food here isn't full of spices or flavors but this was good even though it was very simple.

Church on Sunday went well and we had a pie potluck afterwards and the food was really good. Then, went to the AP's place and had splits with them. Went door knocking for two hours and then listened to an recent RM's (returning missionary) talk. It was really cool to hear him testify of how good the mission was as well as how good the missionary work is. He didn't use this scripture but I believe it reflects the essence of is talk. In D&C 18:15, it goes, "And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!" In the end of his talk, he said, "If you are thinking of preparing to go on a mission, start now. If you are not sure, go." It is cool to see how this is truly the best thing to do with my time and the change in can bring in others and in myself.

Ok, this is a little long but here's the rest:

- Made riisi piirakkaa (rice pie) at one of the DA's and it was fun. A little difficult but I started getting the hang of it.

- The two splits was a grand total of nine hours, so it added up to one. Hence the title.

- Starting to understand the office better. Feel like a travel agent these days.

Hope you all are doing well and are having a warmer spring than here. 

The work awaits,

Vanhin Hsu

Photos:

 

Dinner with the district 

 

Mini Origami

 Literally snow in April

 Escalator pic

 

Making the riisi piirakka 

4/16/24 The Office...

Is actually kinda cool. Lots has happened so, lets get into it.

First, transfer day. As soon as I arrived in Pasila (Helsinki), I immediately started helping out with the logistic side of things. Made sure certain people were at certain place and such. Watched the bus pull away as we were helping the sisters going to Rauma get to said bus. That was slightly unfortunate but they did get to Rauma so don't worry.

The area is a little slow but with office work, there is a lot to do in the next few weeks. I have been on the same metro and tram ride every day to the office since coming to Helsinki and its a little old. 

Church was pretty cool and the ward here is really supportive. Some of them introduced themselves to us and they are all really nice. The talk we talked about in the second hour of church was The Power of Jesus Christ in Our Lives Every Day By Elder Joaquin E. Costa. One part that stuck out to me was this, "Although we are imperfect at remembering Him, our loving Heavenly Father never fails to remember us." Heavenly Father ever gives up on us and as we try and continue believing and exercising faith, you will see things as God sees them. 

Before this gets too long, here's the rest:

- Dropped off an Finnish elder who is going to the Fukuoka mission in Japan.

- Was at the office every day thus far but hopefully not too this week.

- Had DC and it was pretty cool meeting all the other missionaries in the district. Only 4 of them were in the same district last transfer. Most of us are pretty new.

- Street contacted with the AP's and a guy literally spat at us while we were walking. Thankfully not on us but right in front of us. That was when elder Johnson posed the question, Are they in the right and happy just cause they spat at us? Why are we happier than him then?

Spring is coming/here now so the weather is super nice. Hope you all are also having amazing springs.

The work awaits,

Vanhin Hsu

Photos:

 

Mini dragon

 

Doing companionship study at home

 

Dinner after DC

 

Sunset the other day

 

The super long escalator.

4/9/24 The Power of Words

Well, last week here in Turku and now I'm off to a new adventure.

So, met with a lot of people this last week. One friend is now praying about baptism, which is awesome. He has asked good questions and helping him find the answers to his questions is remarkable. Like Christ taught, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you," Matthew 7:7. The only way to search for answers is by asking good questions and that leads to learning and growth. In both temporal and spiritual matters, this principle is key.

Anyhow, on top of that, there was General Conference. In this conference that is broadcast worldwide, the leaders of the church speak and give advice and messages for our time. Many great talks but I still haven't watched the last session yet. Like my title says, one speaker gave a talk on the power of words and it showed a new perspective on how words are used. From scriptures to talks and messages to emails, words are everywhere. Also, applying the words we hear or read can greatly change our life for good.

If you thought it couldn't get crazier, it did. We had transfer calls, where we get to know where we go for the next two months. Tomorrow, I'm off to Espoo AND I'm going to be an office elder. 

Ok, here is the rest:

- While we watched general conference, we made some cinnamon rolls. I forgot how much sugar is in those things.

- On the packing game. I don't have too much stuff yet but it is still a little bit like Tetris at this point.

- Literally 50 degrees for the first time in forever and it is hot. I may have climatized too much. 

Hope all your springs are going well! 

The work awaits,

Vanhin Hsu

Photos:

 

Fox

 Sun

Sorry, I didn't take many photos this week, more to come next week

4/2/24 Pääsiäinen

Quite the week here in Finland. Here we go.

Return and Report (R&R) was this last week. We traveled to Espoo and got to meet with all the other trainers and it was pretty epic. Saw my old MTC companion, Elder Larsen, and a few others. Ate some good food from Sisar Lehtinen, the mission president's wife, and it was really good.

Then, we got to go to the temple. I sometimes forget how cool the temple is and it was nice to be in the temple again. As 1 Corinthians 16-17 puts it, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." Even though we go the temple on just a few occasions, we can remember that our bodies are vessels for the Holy Ghost. That makes our bodies like temples and it is just as important taking care of yourself physically as well as spiritually.

As Easter (Pääsiäinen) started, I started getting a little sick. Just a little head cold but on top of other missionary work, I run out of energy before the day is over and have to take it a little easier.

Anyways, here is the rest:

- Went on splits with the other Turku elders and found a new friend while tracting. That almost never happens here so it was cool.

- Went to the stake presidents house for a meal and it was pretty good. first time I've had meatloaf in a while

- For Easter Sunday, we went to another families place and it was really good Chicken with ham and cheese in the middle. Good stuff.

- That same day, had one of the bashiest lessons yet. It was via Zoom so it wasn't too bad but it didn't really go anywhere for an hour. It was all in Finnish and listening to it was interesting to say the least

- Made korvapusteja (Finnish cinnamon rolls) for some members

- Met with another family yesterday and they had a lizard. I don't know which kind but yeah. Then, the father gave us a ride and the gasoline smell mixed with the old stick-shift system brought back memories.

- Helped somebody move.

More to come and transfer calls are this week. Hope the spring for you all is going well. 

The work awaits,

Vanhin Hsu

Photos:

 

Stormy weather with thunder

 

Lizard

 

Easter Saturday around the city

 

The river

 

R&R group

 

Trainers shadow photo