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

5/6/25 We Did Almost Nothing

Crazy start to this transfer. I'll explain the nothing later.

Three big events happened. On May 1st, we had Vappu. It's the equivalent to labor day in the states and we couldn't do active missionary work due to drinking and other shenanigans the Finns pull. 

The following day, we had MyPlan. In the last transfer of a missionary, we go to MyPlan to discuss ways to adjust into 'normal life' while keeping all of the good habits acquired from missionary work. 

To cap the week, stake conference on Sunday. Sent a few messages to hopefully get a ride from members but to no avail. Watched the youtube link and just chilled in Mikkeli.

In a nutshell, we did nothing in terms of active missionary work. I was still able to get in my scripture study. In 3rd Nephi 28 after Jesus Christ gives his authority to the 12 apostles in the ancient America's, life got complicated for them.

Some were thrown into prison, others into pits, some into fire, and others into dens of beasts. 

Despite these challenges, the Lord lifted them up in their afflictions. Prisons fell, pits left empty, fires didn't burn nor did beast attack. 

We can overcome modern challenges with faith and hope. Difficult, bad friends, tight budgets, and everything else. Some blessings way come later, some sooner but as we strive to live the Gospel, blessings will come.

Here's the fine details of the week:

- Went to a members on April 30th and ate some good potato salad. They had some Vappu games and somehow, when using a nerf gun to shoot plastic cups, I shot in between the bottom center cups.

- Got to drive the mission van one last time.

- Playing a lot of board games with our extra time.

Hope everyone's having a warmer spring that I am!

The work awaits,

Vanhin Lucas Hsu

Photos:

 

Everdell

 

Archam ft. Elder Argyle

 

Black cat at the members

 

The Mikkeli park

 'Secret' room in the Lutherin cathedral

 

Old MTC Duo

 

Temple with everyone.