Me in my new Marimekko shirt next to Sister Jorgensen. The boys laughed when I played with the cat.
April 2, 2012:
Much to think about
Well man. I'm really sad to hear about Mappi. It's hard to hear news like that when you can’t talk to anyone about it who could know how to comfort you. I guess I'll probably end up spending Preparation Day time praying. Thank you for letting me know. This week I read an article about death, so I think that was Heavenly Father preparing me.
Since two weeks ago we have increased the lessons taught with a member by 5 times. Quite the improvement. President told me he's really proud of the work we were doing. Bah. The only thing I can really think about is Mappi. I got a birthday card from her last week, and it was beautiful. Original Mappi, with her cut out magazine pictures and her beautifully written birthday wishes. She always called me “Satulintu”. I loved that. I already miss her so much. Thank you Daddy, for paying my way to Finland last summer so that I could say bye to everyone just in case something happened during my mission. I am so grateful I got to go with that in mind and just soak it all in. I have beautiful memories with her. I can’t wait to be with her again someday. Wasn't she such a beautiful person? She always made me feel so warm and loved. Everyone will be in my prayers, especially Mummi and Aulikki and Teemu.
Much to think about
Well man. I'm really sad to hear about Mappi. It's hard to hear news like that when you can’t talk to anyone about it who could know how to comfort you. I guess I'll probably end up spending Preparation Day time praying. Thank you for letting me know. This week I read an article about death, so I think that was Heavenly Father preparing me.
Since two weeks ago we have increased the lessons taught with a member by 5 times. Quite the improvement. President told me he's really proud of the work we were doing. Bah. The only thing I can really think about is Mappi. I got a birthday card from her last week, and it was beautiful. Original Mappi, with her cut out magazine pictures and her beautifully written birthday wishes. She always called me “Satulintu”. I loved that. I already miss her so much. Thank you Daddy, for paying my way to Finland last summer so that I could say bye to everyone just in case something happened during my mission. I am so grateful I got to go with that in mind and just soak it all in. I have beautiful memories with her. I can’t wait to be with her again someday. Wasn't she such a beautiful person? She always made me feel so warm and loved. Everyone will be in my prayers, especially Mummi and Aulikki and Teemu.
Me on my 22nd birthday morning.
Well, this week was a good one. Thank you for your package Mommy and Daddy. I also got Mummi's package and Aunt Anne sent me two packages, one with the photo book which made me so happy and then one with treats. Thank you. And thank you so much for the beautiful card and the candy and the Liahona necklace. I have already worn it. Thank you everyone for remembering my birthday. It means so much to be remembered although I'm far away. Thank you for showing that by taking the time to send me cards and beautiful packages. Thank you. I love the Marimekko thing Mummi sent me. I am attaching a photo where I am wearing it. Thank you everyone.
This week our investigator has made SO much progress. It is incredible watching it. This week we almost met every day, and at one of our lessons we had at a member's home, we asked their young 13-year-old son to help teach prayer, which he did beautifully. We invited the rest of their family in (the dad and the two other boys--they're all members), and we all knelt to pray. [Our investigator] offered his first prayer, and it was beautiful. The mom said to her boys, "That was [his] first prayer." And the youngest son stood up to him, and since [the investigator] was still kneeling, they were at eye level, and he said, "It was so good!" and [our investigator] was happy. It was beautiful! He is just so great! He came to all three hours of church yesterday, and the members just adore him. Haha, they are so cute, all the women were hovering over him asking him to sit by them. So great. So so great.
This week our investigator has made SO much progress. It is incredible watching it. This week we almost met every day, and at one of our lessons we had at a member's home, we asked their young 13-year-old son to help teach prayer, which he did beautifully. We invited the rest of their family in (the dad and the two other boys--they're all members), and we all knelt to pray. [Our investigator] offered his first prayer, and it was beautiful. The mom said to her boys, "That was [his] first prayer." And the youngest son stood up to him, and since [the investigator] was still kneeling, they were at eye level, and he said, "It was so good!" and [our investigator] was happy. It was beautiful! He is just so great! He came to all three hours of church yesterday, and the members just adore him. Haha, they are so cute, all the women were hovering over him asking him to sit by them. So great. So so great.
Me and Sister Neckarova on my birthday. She made us crepes before the lesson. So great.
The Branch President also did so much work last week in regards to mission work. We had that meeting with him at his home last Sunday, and he was out of town all week, so we didn’t talk to him. But on Sunday at church he asked us to come into his office for a few minutes, and he invited two other priesthood leaders. He told us things he's worried about, and things he'd like to see done better. Sweet! I was so happy. Trust! We are gaining trust here; can you feel it? I can. And then he said that he decided to call a [Branch] Mission Leader! YES. Last week I expressed my concern with working hand in hand with the Branch without a Ward Mission Leader, and he called one! In one week! So great.
Also this week the English class size like tripled. The English program here has been really.... well, yeah not too great, and I saw what could happen from my time in Brno, so I really want to try to help that here as well; every city has so much potential no matter the size. So we sent out texts to every single member, and so last week we had 3 adults and 3 kids come, and this week we had eight adults and six kids come! We split into two groups, and I taught the adults in the front while Sister Jorgensen taught the kids around a table in the back. It worked out really well. I hope it keeps growing. We also got the English teaching manual from Prague last week (we had one in Brno), and so that'll help a lot.
Also this week the English class size like tripled. The English program here has been really.... well, yeah not too great, and I saw what could happen from my time in Brno, so I really want to try to help that here as well; every city has so much potential no matter the size. So we sent out texts to every single member, and so last week we had 3 adults and 3 kids come, and this week we had eight adults and six kids come! We split into two groups, and I taught the adults in the front while Sister Jorgensen taught the kids around a table in the back. It worked out really well. I hope it keeps growing. We also got the English teaching manual from Prague last week (we had one in Brno), and so that'll help a lot.
Sister Jorgensen, Ales, Roman, and I on my 22nd birthday.
So I have some time so I'll explain the set up here. The Branch here has about 40 people come every week, of which like 15 or so are Primary kids [= under 12 years old]. We have a building here, although it's rented. But a building nonetheless. I'll try and take pictures this week--it should be happier weather wise this week so pictures will be better. The building has a chapel, a Relief Society room [= women's organization], a kitchen, and a Primary room [= children's organization]. It's great. It's yellow, and according to a man we taught this week, is the "prettiest building when you're looking up from the bus station." We don’t live with members in this Mission, we all have apartments. This apartment we have here in Jičín has a kitchen with a carpet floor right as you walk in, so it gets gross and smelly, but what can you do, and then to the right is a bedroom, and to the left is the study room which has an opening to the bathroom. I washed the bathroom today. Took an hour, but Sister Jorgensen says it hasn’t been cleaned in months. Kill me. So things are starting to go uphill. Also this week we bought four plates and four bowls with [Mission] Office permission, because the only things we had to eat out of were Tupperware. Haha, oh my gosh, why am I going off about this. Moving on.
The ‘namesti’ is small, but cute. I am really hoping they'll start selling hand painted and blown Easter eggs this week. Everyone talks about them, and Sister Smith, my first one, said her biggest regret was not buying a lot of them to take home. She showed me some, and they are GORGEOUS. Some have holes burnt in them in Eastern European style, and it's gorgeous. I hope this city isn’t too small for those.
The car is cute, except somewhat of a hassle since we have to wash and vacuum it every Preparation Day. I'm grateful for it, but it takes a good hour to an hour and a half every P-Day to get done. It's red and little, and I didn’t take a picture, because we thought we didn’t have any miles left all week, so we didn’t drive at all. I'll take pictures however. Now that our miles are all refreshed. Yay. We get 2000 kilometers every month.
Sister Jorgensen is a Star Wars guru. She and Aunt Anne would get along. She's great.
Love you all, I have much to think about. Keep me in your prayers. Death has never been something I've coped with easily.
Love,
Satu
The ‘namesti’ is small, but cute. I am really hoping they'll start selling hand painted and blown Easter eggs this week. Everyone talks about them, and Sister Smith, my first one, said her biggest regret was not buying a lot of them to take home. She showed me some, and they are GORGEOUS. Some have holes burnt in them in Eastern European style, and it's gorgeous. I hope this city isn’t too small for those.
The car is cute, except somewhat of a hassle since we have to wash and vacuum it every Preparation Day. I'm grateful for it, but it takes a good hour to an hour and a half every P-Day to get done. It's red and little, and I didn’t take a picture, because we thought we didn’t have any miles left all week, so we didn’t drive at all. I'll take pictures however. Now that our miles are all refreshed. Yay. We get 2000 kilometers every month.
Sister Jorgensen is a Star Wars guru. She and Aunt Anne would get along. She's great.
Love you all, I have much to think about. Keep me in your prayers. Death has never been something I've coped with easily.
Love,
Satu