A Lot of Things Happen, But They're All Pretty Small

                                                                                                                                   March 31st, 2015

Rakkaat ystävät,

It's been one of those week where a lot of things happen, but they're all pretty small. So here two of the bigger things:

1) Saturday, we were contacting in a neighborhood and weren't sure what to do. I wanted to just knock on a couple doors there, and Sisar Lafferty wanted to drive up the hill a little further and try some doors there. She left it up to me, and I felt impressed that we needed to do what she wanted to do. So we went up the hill and saw a name on one of the mailboxes that stuck out to us, so we tried it. The woman we talked to was pretty interested in learning about all religions, had talked to missionaries before, and invited us back.

Monday, we went to see her. We had a really great lesson with her and her husband. They are a really wonderful couple, very friendly, and still potentially really interested. But they don't want to set anything else up until after Easter. So we'll see what happens next week.

2) Later on Saturday, we were in another part of the neighborhood trying out a particular apartment complex. We really felt like something was holding us there. We tried a couple doors, to no avail and spent a few minutes just talking and looking around. Finally we knocked on one last door. The woman who answered let us talk for a minute, and expressed that she didn't have a super strong belief in or understanding of God. Her little daughter came to the door, and we mentioned that the gospel would bless her family and that they could be together forever. That got her thinking, and when we asked if they had a few minutes now for us to share a message, she let us right in. She's a single mom with three daughters. Both Sisar Lafferty and I feel very strongly that this is the time for them, and we're really excited to keep teaching them.

I know that the Lord leads us to places for a reason. These experiences teach me that. There are people who are prepared for the gospel. He knows His children and He knows when it's their time. We just have to be open for the Spirit to guide us to them.

And as the Easter holiday approaches, remember the reason. Among the brighlty colored eggs and the plastic grass, do you see yoru Savior? He lives so that we too could live. He rose from the tomb so that we can rise again. Because He lives, there is no despair, no pain, no hurt that cannot be taken away. Watch this video (Because He Lives) and consider, what have you received because He lives?

Stay shiny!

Rakkaudella,

Sisar Hillebrant

#BecasueHeLives

Hmmm!!! Riisipiirakka!

April 14th, 2015

Rakkaat ystävät,

Here are some highlights from our past week:

- Between last Tuesday and today, we met with E twice. We finally asked him a big question: Are our visits even making the slightest difference in what he feels is his spiritual progression? We were nervous for his answer, but our fears were abated when he said that the visits certainly aren't a bad thing. Then his wife sealed it all of by telling us that, if nothing else, we have made a huge difference for her. I know that E may be moving slowly, and that is sometimes frustrating, but to know that his wife, now really active once again, has benefited so greatly from us coming reassures me that I'm doing my job with them.

- We learned how to make riisipiirakka with a woman in our ward. It was a lot of fun and pretty easy, and now I can make them all the time at home. (Riisipiirakka is a rice pie with rye crust. Click this link for the recipe if anyone would like to try.)

- We stopped in on a less active woman that I've never met before. She told us that she doesn't really like it when people from the Church (missionaries, visiting teachers, etc.) visit her, but ended up letting us in anyway. We just got to know her a little, and while she wasn't too keen on discussing gospel topics, she said she'd be willing to teach us how to knit socks!

- One of our former investigators came to church with a ward member who lives near her. We haven't had any contact with her in months, but her brother recently passed away and she said we could give her a call and come see her. That's progress! It sounds to us like she may be open again.

- We found a few way solid potentials, and two new investigators. We got in touch with a former investigator who had at one time a scheduled date for baptism, and he and his friend, who came to the lesson, both expressed interest in learning.

So it was a decent week and I'm pretty happy about a lot of the good things that happened. Miracles are coming to Kuopio. I can feel it.

In the mean time, I continue to enjoy the message of the video, Because He Lives (and, if you'r interested, in Finnish). I know I've talked about it a lot, but we've had quite a few chances to share it and every time I watch it, the message is more powerful. Jesus Christ loves, and because  He lives we can have peace and joy more full than we've ever before experienced. Watch the video, and watch it again if you've seen it already. Ponder what the message means for you. And share it, so everyone can know what Christ can do for them,

Stay shiny!

Rakkaudella,

Sisar Hillerbant

#BecasueHeLives

#KoskaHänElää

Making riisipiirakka.

Sisar Lafferty making riisipiirakka.

Ta da... the finished product.

Viili (Finnish yogurt ) Like eating slime, Not worth it!!

We have to take a ferry to get to the family's house where we made the riisipiirakka.

Sustaining our Leaders

                                                                                                                                April, 7th, 2015
Rakkaat ystävät,

This week was a little slow. Part of that was, of course, that we spent nine and a half hours watching GeneralConference and the General Women's session. The Easter holiday (which in Finland includes Long Friday, Easter Sunday, and the second day of Easter on Monday) was especially slow because so many people were out of town or with family, but luckily, we were able to meet with quite a few members earlier in the week, then had General Conference to look forward to over the holiday weekend.

One particular appointment of note was on Saturday with an older less-active woman that we visit regularly. I've noticed recently that she seems to be opening up to us, and when we met with her on Saturday, we brought her a little Easter basket and she was so happy. We sang to her songs about Christ and talked about the strength she can find from the Atonement. Sisar Lafferty and I have both started keeping a prayer journal, and we thought this sister would like one as well, and when we gave it to her she lit up a little. She was so grateful and I could tell that she felt a lot of love. I felt more love for her in this meeting than I ever have before.

For Easter, we had dinner with the Melbys, and after the dinner, we went to the school to watch the Saturday morning session of Conference. No one showed up to watch in Finnish, so we (Melbys, Elders, us and a recent convert) had the whole auditorium to ourselves. It was great.

On Easter Sunday, after our studies, Sisar Lafferty and I dyed eggs and delivered secret Easter baskets to the Elders and to the Melbys. We then spent pretty much the whole afternoon and evening with the Melbys to watch Conference. We watched the Saturday afternoon and the Sunday morning sessions, then on Monday we came again to the Melbys to watch the Sunday afternoon session to cap it all off.

I've thought about a lot of things because of Conference, and I thought especially of how critical it is that we support our leaders. We sustain the prophet. We support him and have faith in the things he says, for he is truly a mouthpiece for the Lord. When we oppose him, we are really opposing the Lord. Obviously, we do need to be careful and not follow blindly, for our leaders are men and prone to imperfection. But thankfully, we can turn to God to ask and know for ourselves whether or not the prophet is truly a prophet. I'm grateful that I have my own testimony of this. These men are inspired. The messages we heard are inspired. My prayers were answered. Were yours?

I hope you were inspired and uplifted this weekend as we had the chance to not only watch Conference but also to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior. I know He lives, and because He lives there is always hope. There is always peace. There is always truth. There is always lights. And there is life again.

Stay shiny!

Rakkaudella,

Sisar Hillerbant

#BecauseHeLives

Easter baskets.

Spaghetti tacos - yes there is such a thing.

Comp selfie.