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.

Tender Mercies and Little Miracles

Rakkaat ystävät,

Ah, toinen talvi is upon us. The temperatures here had gotten up to near 10 degrees Celcius, and I had even pulled out my thinner spring jacket. But then it plummetted back down to the negatives, and yesterday it snowed! In the middle of March! Well, we are in Finland.

Last week, a friend of mine mentioned in her group e-mail that she has been compiling a list of little moments that she is grateful for. Tender mercies, so to speak. I've been thinking a lot about those tender mercies this week, and so I've decided that this week's e-mail will just contain some of those moments.

1) Seeing the Northern Lights. For real, we did. They were faint, so it was a miracle (or a spiritual prompting to look up) that we noticed them in the first place, but they were glorious!

2) Feeling the giddy joy of secret service when we washed a stranger's car. There is nothing that makes you quite so happy as being in the service of your fellow men.

3) E's wife gave us lemon bars, which are one of my favorite desserts. I haven't had a real lemon bar in over a year, and it was definitely a tender mercy :)

4) Setting a bunch of last minute appointments with some investigators (most of which actually ended up followíng through) and then finding members equally last minute to come with us to all of them.

5) As a continuance of the previous mercy, one member had not intended to come with us so she could spend some time with family, but felt prompted to come anyway. We still don't know why.

6) The Melby's held an open house for the branch, and E and his wife came! They made the hour drive in just for the activity and battled with their GPS the whole way.  But they came, and it was wonderful.

7) I was in charge of egg butter (which goes on the riisipirakkas) for the open house, and at one point our (very American) Branch Mission Leader was whining that there was too much butter and not enough egg, and I said I would keep that in mind for next time. The look on his face when he realized that I had made it was totally priceless, and we laughed about it quite a bit. He later made a point of profusely complimenting the rahka dessert I had also made. :)

8) After doing some service in the evening for the BML and his family, Sisar Lafferty and I sat in their living room for a few minutes while they put their kids to bed. A quiet peace pervaded the room while we listened to them read the scriptures and pray together, and I felt the Spirit testify to me that this is the reason for the service I am giving - to bring families together for eternity. 

9) Walking on a frozen lake. It never gets old. And as Sisar Lafferty says, walking on water is just a sign that we are getting more and more Christ-like every day :)

10) Singing Herrasta ja Kuninkaasta (Called to Serve) at Zone Conference. That many missionary voices raised in song fills me with the Spirit. We are here to serve our King. Shall we not go on in so great a cause?

11) Noticing a gentle peace as I partook of the Sacrament and made faces at the BML's two-year-old daughter, who was sitting in front of us - she's my little friend :).

12) Realizing I can understand the Finnish scriptures when I read straight through.

13) Having a companion who understands that I'm growing and learning, and also that I am, as she says, a little princess (we decided that I am Rapunzel).

14) After Sunday School, we were standing in the auditorium, when suddenly I heard "Sisaret!" I look up to the doorway, and there was the BML's daughter pointing at us excitedly. "Siellä on Sisaret!!" ("There are the Sisters!") she shouted to whomever she was talking to. It warmed my heart to know she loves us as much as I love her.

15) Reading an article in the Liahona (It Isn't a Sin to Be Weak) that addressed perfectly my current concerns. It's good to know that the Lord knows me!

I could probably go on and on, but I think you can see that this week I have been truly blessed. "By small and simple things are great things brought to pass" (Alma 37:6), and by these, and many other, small and simple things the Lord is changing my heart. It's a slow process, but it is sweet, and I'm learning that my Savior is with me every step of the way.

"Help form the Savior is available for the entire journey of mortality -- from bad to good to better and to change our very nature." - Elder David A. Bednar

Stay shiny!

Rakkaudella,

Sisar Hillebrant

It snowed again! Hmmm...

But the lakes are thawing.

We traded cars with another set of missionaries, so now we have to put all addresses in our GPS

Hope and the Sun

Rakkaat ystävät,

It's been a really good week. The sun has been shining, and our spirits are high.

Friday we had a first lesson with a new investigator, an older man M, who we found a couple weeks ago. He investigated about 30 years ago in Turku. He asked us in the lesson how we'd found him, when it has been such a long time since he had been taught. We told him honestly that we'd had no idea and had just felt impressed to knock on his door. He told us that because of his current life situation (divorced, ill) he has been softened immensely and is now willing to hear us out. Prepared. Gold.

If you didn't know, there are hardly any public restrooms in Finland. Most stores don't even have one. So, on Sunday evening when we were out and about and I had to go to the bathroom (even though I'd just gone an hour before - some things never change), the options were either pee in the forest - which I was completely willing to do except that I had no tissues - or call a member. This time we opted for the latter, and she just laughed and invited us over. I used the bathroom, then they invited us to stay and share a message. So it worked out in both our favor.

Yesterday we did something I've never successfully done before. We met a Burmese woman on the street and asked if we could come home with her and share a message about Jesus Christ, and she said of course. She said she was interested to learn about all "Jeesus asioita" (Jesus things). We walked home with her and talked with her about Christ and the Book of Mormon, and how it helps us come closer to Christ. Her Finnish is very simple, and it was pretty hard for us to communicate (who knew it would ever be hard for me to simplify my Finnish), but I could tell that she felt the Spirit, and she liked what she heard. We called the office right away afterward and ordered everything they have in Burmese. We have another appointment with her on Thursday :)

We also stopped by T and had a quick lesson on her porch. Her pastor forbade her from reading the Book of Mormon, but she really wants to read it and says she will read it if God tells her she can. We encouraged her to keep praying and promised that God would help her know she could read it. She wants to keep learning, so we will keep teaching.

Something I've been thinking about a lot lately is hope. Hope in Jesus Christ is understanding that He fulfills His promises and expecting Him to do so. Hope is a Christ-like attribute. It is powered by faith and is active expectation. When we have hope, it drives all we do. It helps us move forward cheerfully, because we understand that bumps and debris in the road are only temporary discomforts and setbacks that ultimately will not hinder our progression if we continue onward. It is expecting the sun to come out even when the sky is cloudy.  Nephi said: "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." When we have hope, we do all that we can do and we know that the Savior will fill in the rest. He will give us strength beyond our own capacity to accomplish the things He would have us do - especially when we can't do it on our own.

Have faith, hope on, and stay shiny!

Rakkaudella,

Sisar Hillebrant

The lakes are still frozen

Sisar Lafferty climbing the stairs from the lake.

Ski and sledge storage - we don't see that often in Richland.

Out of Quarantine

Rakkaat ystävät,

What a week.  Sisar Lafferty caught some kind of bad cold earlier in the week, and we spent much of the weekend indoors so she could sleep and get better. Suffice it to say that we watched a lot of church DVDs. So I got a taste of what normal life is like again. I don't like it haha. She is feeling better now that she's over the hump, but hopefully P-day doesn't completely wipe her out.

Before she got sick, our week was pretty much normal. We did a lot of contacting and found a lot of cool people with potential. One of particular notice is a young woman named T, probably about 16, with strong faith (I know there was a T a while back, but you can just assume that if I talk about T from this point on, I mean this one). We were really led by the Spirit to find her. The Sisters talked to a member of her family a while back, and Sisar Lafferty found the name in the Area Book and felt really strongly about it. When we talked to her at the door, and she said she was pretty religious (while her family is not), I asked her if she would like to know how she could have and even stronger relationship with God. I cringed when I said it because I was afraid of sounding presumptuous, and I wouldn't usually have said anything like that, but it just sort of came out before I had a chance to think about it too much. Well, it must have been the Spirit, because she answered something like, "Well, sure! Why not?" We met with her again yesterday and gave her a Book of Mormon. she is very interested and wants to come to church on Sunday.

E is still doing well. Plugging along slowly, but surely. We're trying to get to the pure doctrinal basis with him, because he's not going to be satisfied with straight answers to his questions if he doesn't first understand the Restoration. But how to get him past the little details to the big picture? Time will tell.

I gave my first talk in Finnish in church on Sunday. I bore my testimony in both Truku and Kuopio when I came, but I have never given a full length talk. When Sisar Lafferty gave her talk a few weeks back, she was pretty ticked (in a joking way) that she had to give one so early and I'd never given one.  So, she told a member of the branch presidency that I've never spoken, and lo and behold I got a call a few days later asking for me to speak in Sacrament meeting. I knew it was going to happen someday. I wasn't really nervous at all, but it took a while to translate it to Finnish (it's a good thing Sisar Lafferty got sick, or else I wouldn't have finished in time!). It went pretty well, and I at least am pleased.

Hope all is well in the real world. If you ever feel down or in need of any kind of help, remember that Christ is the physician, and he will heal us of all our infirmities (Alma 7:11-13). Love life and stay shiny!

Rakkaudella,

Sisar Hillebrant

Sisar Lafferty trying to get well again. 

What to do when your companion is sick? Study, study, study, draw. 

Ch-ch-ch-changes take 6

Rakkaat ystävät,

Due to it being transfer week, President had requested that P-days were to be on Monday. Well, there had been a technical difficulty, so I did not get his e-mail and the information came from secondary sources, and now it turns out the Monday P-day was only for missionaries who were affected by the transfer.  As Sisar Lafferty and I will be staying together in Kuopio, we actually were supposed to keep the Tuesday P-day. But here we are anyway, because we had incorrect info and have already set up plans for tomorrow. So.

This week, we had a lesson with E, though it didn't quite go as planned. They actually had called while we were driving to cancel, but thankfully the Melby's had given us some muffins, so we used those as an excuse to just drop by. E's wife had just gotten back form the store, and invited us in anyway and said they actually did have time right then if we wanted to share a lesson. We talked about how he'd felt at church, and mostly he just had a lot of questions about things like why we sustained people, and what "Priesthood Meeting" means. We also talked about the purpose of church, and about the importance of family prayer. We know that will provide a greater spiritual boost into E's day, and hopefully help him feel how important this is for his family.

We also stopped by U, the referral from a member family that we stop by periodically. At first when she opened the door, she said now was a bad time. We said we understood and offered to keep her in our prayers. Suddenly her whole demeanor changed and she let us right in. We talked with her and her husband for a while. Her husband has met with missionaries before and isn't really interested to learn from us, but U seems to be a pretty spiritual person and may still be open. We didn't have a chance to have a real lesson, but it was good contact and hopefully opened a door to teach them in the near future. They did say we were welcome back any time.

Honestly, I don't have a whole lot else to say, because not a whole lot else has happened. We only really have E as an investigator right now, and have spent most of our time this week trying to contact potentials and find new people. It's been kind of slow here in Kuopio (but don't worry, it's going to spice up again soon!). 

In the meantime, take a couple minutes to ponder where you have seen the Father's hand in you life. In Matthew 28:20, Jesus Christ said, "And lo, I am with you alway, even until the end of time." We are never alone. The Father touches our life every day, and our Brother has made it possible for us to use His Atonement every day. We need not ever feel abandoned or alone. I can testify that this is true, because I felt it this week. Consider taking a couple minutes at the end of the day to look back and see the tiny miracles, and then write them down in a journal. Then look back and see the patterns. You will be amazed.

Hyvää viikkoa teille! Stay shiny! (I need to figure out how to say that in Finnish...)

Rakkaudella,

Sisar Hillebrant

Ice Formations Near Our Apartment

Snow or a Snake?

I must truly be related to me father to have come up with a lame cross-language pun like this...  We were returning this bike lock key to our branch mission leader, and I couldn't resist.