Surprise!

{Sent 2 Feb, 2015]

Rakkaat ystävät,

You may be wondering why I am writing on a Monday with no warning. Well, that would be because I forgot last week that we are going to be in Helsinki for Sisar Lafferty's 6-Weeks Interim Training, which will be in the mission home Tuesday through Thursday. We are leaving this afternoon for Helsinki, and we will come back Friday morning. So surprise.

This week:

- I got pulled over by a Finnish cop. I accidentally drove in an area reserved for taxis, buses, and, apparently, police officers. Actually I had seen the signs too late and had already driven into the area, but I saw the cop pull through and thought that if he was driving there I was probably fine. I had driven all the way home before we realized that he was following with his lights on. We pulled over, he asked for my licence, made me blow in the breathalyzer (that much is policy for everyone here, because I do not drive like a drunk person, thank you very much), told me not to do it again, and let me go. I am pleased to say that I handled very well, I wasn't shaky at all, and I even did it in Finnish!

- We had to stop at a Lidl on Tuesday evening, and saw yellow roses for sale. Sisar Lafferty is a peach and bough them for us. We went to see a less active woman that evening, and as we were getting out of the car, I felt that we ought to bring her a yellow rose. When we gave it to her, she told us a story about why yellow roses are her favorite (which I had not known at all) and a few days later sent us a message telling us that it had really brightened up the winter landscape for her, and that she had included it with some other flowers that she had given to a friend on sick leave. I thought it was cool how even giving a yellow rose can be following the Spirit, and that the Lord knows they are her favorite.

- T came to church! She really liked it and said she felt the Spirit. However, it is becoming clear to us that we will probably have to give her to the Lord for a bit because she has no desire to find out if the Book of Mormon is true. She's really content with where she is in life and doesn't think she needs anything else. It is sad because we really like her, and obviously it it sad to let anyone go. But we are still friends, and will stay in contact with her.  Ultimately, we aren't doing her a service by coming over and trying to help do something she isn't interested in doing right now. But, she came to church, and at least it left her with a good impression! Hopefully in the future sometime :)

- We somehow managed to teach 30 lessons this week. That is more lessons I've taught in one week than I've done in months. Recently the number has been hovering around 20. I'm not sure what changed for us, but hopefully it is a positive trend that will continue to only get better. I think Sisar Lafferty's faith and drive are rubbing off on me. That's not a bad thing.

Update on M. Well, it's not that much of an update because honestly, not too much has changed. We didn't have an official lesson with her, but we stopped by last night to bring her cookies and talk for a couple minutes. She is doing well, still believes everything and wants to keep reading the Book of Mormon and feeling the Spirit. We assigned her to read Mosiah 18 and will talk with her next time about the blessings of being a member. Hopefully once she realizes how many blessings are waiting for her after baptism, her progression will speed up again. We love her :)

Have a great week and stay shiny!

Rakkaudella,

Sisar Hillebrant

In a car with the sister training leaders, Sisaret Pack and Woods.  (Note this photo was actually taken with Sisar Woods camera, and we just re-posted it (stole it) from her blog - Thanks Sisar W!!)