December 22, 2015 Merry Christmas !!!

Kaikille:
Well another week.  Surprises never seem to cease lately in my life.  It's great!  Changes are good.

We had Interim training at the Mission home this last week in Helsinki.  There were about 18 elders, 5 sister, the 2 assistants, and President and Sister Watson.  It's so much fun to stay at the mission home.  We do lots of training and role playing and talking and learning and crying and sharing.  It's the best.  Well... While I was there I found out-- I will be getting a new companion.  Sisar Saarinen.  She is a Finn.  AHH... I get to serve with an actual Finn.  I am so excited.  So now I will be training both her and Sister Adams.  It's been a crazy last three days for sure since we all came back from the mission home to Jyväskylä.  So she was supposed to go to the MTC, but she still hasn't gotten her visa yet and they don't think it will come for at least 6 more weeks, so for right now she is going to be serving here in Finland.  Her call is to the St. George, Utah visitor's center misison.  How cool is that?  So close to home, so I have lots to tell her about there.  This is definitely going to be an exciting next few weeks.

Guess what everyone.  Dec. 21st has come and gone--- know what that means?? The days finally start getting lighter here.  I made it.  I made it through the darkness.  okei... so it actually wasn't' that bad, but definitely weird to get used to. It still hasn't snowed yet and i'm sad.  I hope it snows for Christmas.

I finally got to go to the temple too while we were at Interim.  It's the first time i've been through a session in English for about 10 months.  That was really nice.  I love the temple here.  Well everywhere I love it, but it's really special here.  It's just so Finnish.  I love the temple and I'm grateful they have one here.  Even though we don't get to go very often at all, I am really grateful to even have one.

Well that's about all the most exciting things for this week.  I'm sorry my emails everyone are getting more boring probably and less informative.  Hopefully those of you who have served missions or are serving will understand.  I love you all!  Hope you have a wonderful MERRY CHRISTMAS!

"And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son." (Alma 33:23)

Christ is everything.  Remember why we celebrate Christmas and contemplate the blessings your knowledge of Him has brought to your life.  Remember His life, and His example.  I love Him.  I am so grateful I can share my testimony of Him with the people here in Finland.  I hope you all can really think about Him this Christmas.  I love you all!  Have a fantastic week!

Rakkaudellani,
Sisar Jordan

Fun christmas cards from Sister Adams's Mom.  Lots of fun at the Mission Home! :) 

Sisar Saarinen, Sisar Adams, and ME! :)  I love my companions! 

Selfies with President's Wife-- Sister Watson.  She's the best! We sure love her! 

December 14, 2015 With Successful Planning You Can Accomplish Anything

Kaikille:
This week was great.

We had Elder Dyches of the 70 come speak to us.  We traveled all the way to Helsinki for that.  Long train ride (4 hours)... but so worth it.  Definitely will be a day that I remember for years to come.  We learned all about effective planning.  I really have come to see that when I really focus and take the time to plan as effectively and concisely as I can, we see greater blessings and success, and I feel much more accomplishment for the things that we did.  I'm so grateful for the life lesson I learned-- Effective daily planning will bless me the rest of my life to become the person Heavenly Father wants me to and knows I can become.  So grateful for Elder Dyches.

We had two recent convert lessons this week with our new family.  Members came to both, and can I just say... I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR MEMBERS. They seriously work magic in your teaching.  Their testimonies make yours and the things you teach so much more powerful.  I'm so grateful for this ward and the willingness they have to help the missionaries and for the testimonies that they share with those we teach.  I love Jyväskylä.

Christmas is coming up really soon, and it makes me sad that the Christmas holiday season will be over soon.  There is a special spirit in the air here.  People actually smile and say hi back to you, and they are much more willing to talk with us.  I'm grateful for Christ and the life and light that He brings in to the lives of others.  I'm so grateful to be serving here-- truly an instrument in His hands.  I love being a missionary and I'm so thankful for the things I'm learning and the ways Heavenly Father is blessing me.  I love Christ and I am so thankful for Him.

"For verily I say unto you that I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the light and the life of the world-- a light that shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not."  (D&C 45:7)

Enjoy this special Christmas season! Love you all!

Rakkaudellani,
Sisar Jordan

The Three amigos  FINALLY meet up again after so long... 

These are my MTC companions and we literally haven't all been together and seen each other since we very first got in the country.  Happy reunion! :) 

Finally got a baby christmas tree!! :)  

December 8, 2015 Another Week In the Life

Kaikille:
Sorry everyone... I've not been the best about emailing lately.

This week was good-- but slow too.  We haven't found a new investigator, but we've been talking to LOTS of people.  We're going to find one soon.  I know it.

I really think it's a lot colder in Utah than here.  We don't have any snow on the ground.  It rains a lot.  It's light from about 9:30am until 3:15-3:30ishpm.  It's weird.  But oddly enough, there's a part of me that likes it sometimes.  Thank goodness for happy lights.

This week nothing too out of the ordinary happened.

We have a ward Christmas party this week on Friday.  I think Sister Adams is playing the violin and I am playing the piano.  Hopefully it goes well.

This week is the Mission Tour.  We're traveling on the train to Helsinki for that.  I think one of the members of the quorum of the 70 is coming.  I'm excited for that.

Sister Adams is awesome.  She teaches the Restoration like it's nothing to people on the street all the time.  It amazes me every time how she finds a way to just start telling them the first vision.  Seriously blows my mind.  She is teaching me every single day.  

I love the Christmas season.  It's special here in Finland too.  I am constantly reminded of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.  What a special time of year, and especially here as a missionary.  I get to tell people everyday about Him.  What a privilege? A scripture I've really been pondering this week, and probably will continue to ponder is found in Matthew 11:28-29.  It says, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."  I have truly come to know that my life is so much easier when I turn to my Savior Jesus Christ for help.  He is there in every our of my need.  He lifts me up and helps me to do things beyond my own strength.  I love Him.

Ponder what you will give to Christ this Christmas.

I love you all! Have a super week!

Rakkaudellani,
Sisar Jordan

We finally see LIGHT !!

Packages are the best !! (Even ones that come late LOL!!!!)

I Love SIS ADAMS !!!!!

December 1, 2015 Happy Holidays to All !!!!

No big email today from our missionary.  Their time emailing has been cut back, so today we just received pictures and our individual email.  She did mention in our email that the weather is actually warmer there than here.  Temps have been about 30-32 degrees 24/7 with some snow and lots of rain and 100% humidity - so it probably feels colder than our weather here in Utah.  Currently, she and her companion are a bit frustrated with no current investigators, so now the search is seriously on for "Finding" someone!  Keep them in your prayers.
This past week the YW of their ward prepared a huge thanksgiving dinner for the missionaries in this area.  This was a real treat!!! Schyler wowed them with her finnish creation of a frog eye salad.  It was a hit!!! Now she has to figure out how to translate the recipe into the finnish language as many requested a copy of the recipe.
Schyler mentioned to her Dad that Salmon is frequently caught there and eaten often!  She is right at home with all the fish and seafood.  That is one of her favorites!!!
Hard to believe she will hit her one year mark Dec 31st!!!!!!!!!!

Me and the Frog Eye Salad--
 Sammakko Silmä Salaatti in Finnish.  :) 

THANKSGIVING DAY !!!

ME.....trying not to freeze!!!!!

11/24/15 BELIEVE God Will Provide a Way... All You Have to Do is OBEY

Kaikille:
Hopefully this week I can fill you all in more on what's been going on these past few weeks.  It's been a whirlwind for sure, but a definite good one.  I decided instead of outlining my whole week for you this time, I just wanted to mention some of the most important things and things that I learned.  We'll see if I like it better and what not.
So FIRST... wanted to talk about our recent convert family.  GUESS WHAT??  We have a new member of the family.  They had their baby this week.  It was a little girl.  Definitely having a baby on the way so soon has made it difficult to meet and have the new recent convert lessons, but this has given the ward a good chance to step in and help-- and they most definitely have done so.  This ward is seriously so great! We were able to squeeze in a lesson with them last tuesday (she had the baby on friday).  So it was pretty soon before she had it.  They actually taught the restoration lesson to us, and they did such a great job.  The husband bore his testimony at the end.  It was so AWESOME!  I am so grateful for them, and that Sister Allen and I knocked on their door 4 months ago.  As we walked away from their house on tuesday night, we got about 20 steps out the door and I just had this overwhelming feeling come.  So I stopped and said Sister Adams this is right where I stood the very first time we knocked on their door and walked away after talking with the husband about the Book of Mormon.  I remember looking back and seeing him still standing their on the doorstep just watching us walk away, as if his life had just completely changed.  Little did he know, that it really would.  Definitely a tender moment for me and I'm just so happy I've been able to stay here in Jyväskylä for as long as I have and to continue to see, teach, and visit them, and be apart of their lives.
SECOND... We finally were able to talk with a less active that Sister Allen and I had been trying several times to reach.  We had gone to her house probable a hand full of times, but no one was ever home, and we had called and texted a bunch too.  Well I just had the thought to try one more time with Sister Adams, and what do you know?  She was just walking up the apartment steps when we got there.  We set up a return appointment and we're going to visit her this week.  It's so amazing to see the small miracles that happen each day and how much we are blessed.  I'm so grateful for Heavenly Father's direction and that His timing is perfect.
THIRD... we taught our one and only investigator at the moment, this week too.  We changed up a little bit our approach for lessons that we've been using and started talking about the Holy Ghost and promptings we receive in our lives.  This week we really want to talk about the Gift of the Holy Ghost and that we can really have Him in our lives constantly.  Our hope is to invite her to baptism, so we'll see how it goes.  (We've invited about 5 times now).  We're hoping the timing will be right this week, but katsotaan.  
FOURTH...Even amidst the craziness of having a baby and two crazy little boys to take care of, the husband of our recent convert family made it to church with both little boys this week.  I was so proud!! :)  Definitely a happy moment.  He hasn't missed a sunday yet since their baptism. It was a pretty wild Sacrament meeting, but we made it through alright.  It was kind of funny-- I get too stressed out I guess, because one of the ward members was watching the whole time we were trying to help keep the kids under control the whole time (obviously hard for us as missionaries because of the guidelines we have regarding kids).  He came up to us after the meeting and said "Sister Jordan, don't get so stressed out about the kids... kids will be kids.  It's alright."  It definitely reminded me that I just needed to realize that everything wouldn't be perfect and it's not worth it to stress about.  A good lesson to learn!
FIFTH... IT SNOWED!!!! Finally!!! It finally snowed a good 5 inches or more here.  It's seriously like a winter wonderland.  The snow sticks to the trees here like none other.  It's like snow snow everywhere!!!  The snow sticks really well together too, so I've seen quite a few impressive snowmen.  It's so fun!  I never knew I loved snow quite so much.  On the other hand though--- it's been rather cold.  I made an oath that I wasn't getting my winter coat and boots out though until December, so i'm trudging it through the cold this week.  We'll see if I can make it.  I thought my toes were going to about freeze off yesterday when we were out tracting for 3 and half hours.  I think the temperature was about 20ish degrees Fahrenheit, which really isn't too bad, but it was pretty cold.  I'm afraid when winter really comes (a.k.a really cold temperatures) that i'm going to turn into a loyd and harry from Dumb and Dumber and i'll have snot icicles hanging from my nose. It gets so cold when you're out for so long in it, that you just can't tell anymore if you're nose is running or not.  (sorry...but it's true). Oh the joys of winter in Finland as a missionary.  Gotta love it!! I sure do!

So a few other fun facts for the week.  The sun doesn't ever really completely come out, at least not lately anymore.  It's just kind of like this gray sky everywhere.  It's rather dreary looking, but eventually the sun will come back out.  It's about as light as it's going to get by about 9:30am and it starts to get dark about 3-3:30ish in the afternoon.  It's a weird feeling to have it be dark so early, but I just have to remember how light it is in the Summer and that gives me hope.  :)

The ice is slick here.... Sister Adams slipped twice yesterday while we were tracting.  So we're really trying our best to be careful.

Well in closing I just wanted to share about my amazing trainee and companion Sister Adams.  She is from Rexburg, Idaho.  She studied Finnish for a year of college and a lot of family and friends live here in Finland.  So all of the "new" things in Finland are already a normal thing for her.  It's really cool, because she already knows so much about Finland and about the language that really we can just go out and do work.  It hardly feels like a trainer/trainee companionship, it's great!  But most of all I really just wanted to talk about how much of an answer to prayer she was and has been to me.  This is something I really haven't shared with probably many of you, but I felt that it was a good time and it's really meant so much to me these last two weeks that I want to share.  So probably for my entire mission, I have had the hardest time finding the motivation, courage, faith, and determination to talk to people-- be it on the street, on the buses or trains or metros, or at their doors. One I just felt for so long that I completely had no idea what they were saying and I couldn't speak their language hardly at all (or at least anything understandable), and two when I started to understand what they would say, I just felt like I never had anything profound or very interesting to say to them, even if I bore my testimony.  There's probably honestly a whole list of things I could write of why it really was so hard for me, but simply put-- it was really hard and it frustrated me and I have prayed and prayed and prayed for help.  It never has been something I didn't want to do, but rather something I really really wanted to be good at and love doing and that's why it's been so frustrating. It has definitely gotten better throughout my mission, but I just never have felt like I completely reached the point of being comfortable and liking it like I should and like I wanted to.  Well then... Sister Adams came, and it has completely changed my life, my mission, and a lot of my fears and frustrations.  She is fearless, and brave.  She is full of faith and hope and ideas and energy. It's so invigorating and motivating.  She has what I like and probably many others to call "greenie power", except I truly believe hers is just who she is.  She carries a special light with her, and it feels me everyday.  She inspires me to talk to so many and to share the Gospel with everyone.  When I'm with her, I feel like I can talk to and discuss with anyone.  And when we do, I realize that I'm saying more than I ever used to.  I bear my testimony more powerfully, and I realize that Finnish is just coming out, and next thing I know, I'm just telling them all about the Godhead and the history of the Book of Mormon and all these great things.  We gave out 13 Books of Mormon this past week, and 12 potential investigators.  It was crazy and so neat!  I cannot tell you how much I love her.  It really has been an answer to my prayers.  She is teaching me more than i'll probably ever be able to teach her.  She is training me and I love her so much!

I am so grateful to be here, to be serving in such a beautiful place! I know I say it all the time, but seriously Finland is so special and it's so beautiful no matter what season it is.  I am filled with so much gratitude this week in particular for all that God has given me.  It reminds me of one of my favorite hymns.  The words that come to my mind are these

"Because I have been given much, I too must give."

 I pray that I can do this especially this coming week.  I really truly have been given so much, and I too must share this amazing Gospel with others.  We are so blessed as members of this church.  I have such a strong conviction that this truly is the one true church-- Christ's church, restored on the earth today.  What a blessing to have that assurance.  I love you all, and hope you can each take time to ponder all the many blessings that are in your life this week and offer a prayer of gratitude to our Heavenly Father, for all that He has given you individually.  You all are wonderful!  Have a great week!

Rakkaudellani,
Sisar Jordan

Sisar Adams and I    

Alright so I had to! It was just so pretty,
and I love the Mormonin Kirja

My Winter Wonderland!!! I LOVE THE SNOW!! 

We are pretty wet from the snow!!! 

11/17/15 Lots of Change

Hey everyone... didn't have time to write a big one this week.  Want everyone to know how grateful I am for all of you.  I am so loved and so supported.  I'm grateful for opportunities to grow and to change.  This... is definitely one of them.  But it's an important thing.  Here is a picture of me and my new companion (eli) the trainee Sisar Adams.  She is great!

Quote for the day:

"Much more important than speaking, is listening" (Elder Holland)  

Make yourselves a great week! Love you all lots!

Rakkaudellani,
Sisar Jordan

Schyler and new comp - Sis Adams is from Idaho - studied finnish a year at BYU and a drama/forensics girl.

Three Generations -  My Trainer, Me, and my Trainee !!!!!!

11/10/15 Best Christmas Present Ever!!!!!!

Kaikille:
So transfer calls were on Friday and (drum roll please)............ I AM TRAINING!!  Ahh... I am so excited!  And to top that off, I even got my wish of staying here in Jyväskylä for the next transfer (Christmas, New Years, and Mission Conference).  Seriously it really was like the best early Christmas present ever.  I definitely am really sad that Sister Allen and I won't be companions anymore, or even in the same zone, but it has been so great to serve with her.  She too is really excited about transfer calls.  She'll be going to Kuopio, which is a little north east of here to be with one of her MTC companions.  It will be great!

So as for the rest of the week though...

TIISTAI-- We went and got Sister Allen's hair cut.  It definitely is interesting when the Finns who cut your hair don't speak a lot of English.  You just have to kind of hope that they understand "not too much"  and "just a trim" haha, or you use the words you think are right in Finnish and pray you aren't wrong.  Luckily though, it turned out alright and they cut her hair really well.  Did I mention... Haircuts here are like 40 £.  It's crazy that I used to get my hair cut for $12 or less.  They do a good job though and they sure are serious about their haircuts and hairstyles here.  So then that evening we had another lesson with one of our investigators.  We brought a member along and we read with her in the Book of Mormon again.  I think that it's helping, but I just am not really sure.  I'm kinda stuck at the moment with what to do to help her to progress.  I don't feel like this is not helping, but I'm not exactly seeing any super big progress either.  Any suggestions??

KESKIVIIKKO-- We had our very last District Meeting with this same District.  Then we ended up spending most of the rest of the day in an area pretty far out with member families that don't get visited very often.  IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!  We ate lots of yummy food and shared spiritual messages left and right.  They were all so eager to see us and shuffle us from one house to the next, so everyone could have some time with the missionaries.  The one family we went to, they practically live on a (farm) zoo.  Kind of like Pam does.  They have horses, cows, goats, a HUGE dog, chickens, and I think pigs too.  Then they grow all these vegetables and all kinds of things.  It's really cool.  They even have their own webpage where you can schedule times to come out and do workshops and have sleigh rides in the winter.  It was like I was right at home, when we got out of the car and this big 'ol dog just comes running at me.  Definitely the highlight of my day.  I sure miss the dogs at home.  But it was a really great day!

TORSTAI-- We tracted quite a bit and went to do service for the one less actives wife that we go to each week.  I love their family and she always gives us such yummy treats before we leave.  We had pannukakku again this week! YUM!!

PERJANTAI--MOST NERVE RACKING THING EVER.  We got to give a school presentation to about 30 high school kids (15-18 yrs old).  That was pretty scary to say the least.  I can't say I understood everything and the members that were there helped us on some of the questions that we didn't understand them ask us, but other than that, I would say we did a pretty good job.  Definitely isn't something I'll be praying to do in the near future, but it was a good experience.  We also had weekly planning and found out that one of the Elder's investigators is now ours.  She is the one that we taught for them a few times, a couple of weeks ago when they had to go to Interim training.  She might be having to go back to Spain at the end of this month and she's been investigating since July I think.  She has a baptismal date set for close to the end of the month, but it's hard to communicate even in English with her.  So we are finding ways to be creative to help her understand better and hope that we can continue to teach her, and possibly even baptism before she goes back to Spain.  That would be really awesome!   We also practiced a song with the Young Women that they will be singing in church sometime soon.  It's really great to be able to play the piano to help so many people!  If you're thinking about quitting... DON'T!  Then we also had a chance to visit our recent converts house.  They are doing great and we had to tell them that Sister Allen will be leaving.  We all had a family prayer together and it's just awesome to see how much they continue to progress.  The home teachers have already been over there, and the ward is doing such a great job to stay involved and help them feel welcomed!  It's awesome!

LAUANTAI-- So for times sake, I'll just tell you about the evening.  The Elder's had planned a lesson with this investigator who now would be ours, for this night.  So we took a bus and headed all the way over into their area and to her house.  Well when we got there, no one was home.  We knocked about 5 times, but still no answer.  All the lights were on, but no one home.  So then we decided to wait a bit, and then even walked around the  back side of the apartment to look in the back windows.  I was scared out of my wit.  It's a really sketchy area and I've never felt so scared in Finland before as I was being in that area.  We never got to have a lesson with her which was a bummer, but hopefully we can meet lots this coming week.

SUNNUNTAI-- We had Stake Conference.  It was broadcasted to our church.  President Watson and his wife spoke and I am just so impressed with how well they do.  They gave their whole talks in Finnish.  They are amazing!!  Sister Watson is always so happy and is the kindest, sweetest person I know.  I love them!  Then we practiced with the ward choir and Sister Allen said all of her goodbyes.  It reminded me of leaving my first area and I sure was sad. I love Marjaniemi so much! So then in the evening we were able to visit our cute old lady again.  She talked all about how much it means to her that we come and visit and how lonely she is. It has been such a huge blessing for her to have us come once in a while.  Her testimony is so strong and she is always so willing to share the gospel and make it known to others how much she has been blessed.  She pretty much does missionary work just like we do.  She has her own stack of pass along cards and pamphlets, and everyday on her walks she talks to people and passes them out.  It's so great!


Well that's about it for the week!  I can't tell you all how excited I am!  I feel so privileged to be able to train.  Sister Wunderli, one of my MTC companions is training the other sister that is coming in, and so we'll get to see each other quite a bit in the next few months.  I haven't seen her since we both first got in the country.  I can't wait!  It will be lots of fun!  We also have a mission conference in December which means the whole mission will get to be together.  It only happens once a year and it's so exciting.  I CAN'T WAIT!

As I walk the streets of Finland or get emails from friends or family hearing about their trials or those around them, I am just so impressed with all the people in the world who can do hard things-- whether it be having a physical or mental disability, or illness, or whatever it may be, I am so impressed with their determination to move forward and upward, to be happy and to love life despite challenges.  I just wanted to end with this quote that I really like:

"The best paths in life are rarely the easiest." (Elder Carlos A. Godoy)

Remember that trials, if handled right, make us stronger, more wiser, more understanding, more charitable, more loving.  They help us become more like our Heavenly Father-- the beautiful amazing people we are capable of becoming.  I like you have to remind myself of this often too.  I love you all and I am so bless to be here!  Have a wonderful week!

Rakkaudellani,
Sisar Jordan

Last Picture of these two wonderful sisters before transfers !!!!