Sunday, December 21, 2014

Happy birthday to the best country in the world!

Letter received 12/8/14:

Rakkaat ystävät,

Here is a rundown of the week:

- M is still going strong. We had splits with the Oulu Sisters, and Sisaret Bunting and Hubner taught her the Law of Chastity. She actually really liked it and thought it made sense. She was in church yesterday and looked so happy!

- We found out that the sun only shone in Kuopio for a full total of 15 minutes during the entire week of November. We had two gloriously bright days last week, but since the days are so short here, it was only for about 3 or 4 hours both days. But it was the best 6 to 8 hours of my life.

- I ate moose meat for the first time. It was in pretty small pieces in stroganof, but man oh man it was SO GOOD.

- Finland celebrated their Itsenäisyyspäivä, or Independence Day on Saturday. It's a lot quieter of a holiday here than in America. The Finns treat it with a very quiet reverence. We were with a member family for dinner and the listened to piece of music by Jean Sibelius, about the war time when Finland gained their independence from Russia. The piece also contained the tune that later became their national anthem. In America, we know it as Be Still My Soul. These people have such a great love for their country, and it truly is a land favored of the Lord. They told a story (I didn't quite understand all of it) about how once when the Russian army was approaching the Finnish, they suddenly started retreating, and the accounts say that it was because many if them say an army of angels fighting on the side of the Finns. I don't know how entirely accurate that is becasue I didn't totally understand. But this country is really special, and God has really great things in store for it. My Finnish patriotism is really growing. I really love this country. I love these people. I'm so blessed to be here and to be with them.


If you haven't had a chance to all watch it, go take a look at He is the Gift (it's on YouTube or found here: christmas.mormon.org). Then share it with everyone. It has the power to change the world, or at least to bring more peace this Christmas season. Christ is the reason for the season. What can you give back to Him this year?

Have a lovely week and stay shiny!

Rakkaudella,

Sisar Hillebrant

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