Ryker's Helsinki Finland Mission: Unique Fascinations in Finland.....Crack One Open!

What a week we have had here! my word. Well last p-day we went to this far away city to see some 3 less active members there. And we had thought we had it all set up, but when we showed up there, the guy had a swedish class in 5 minutes and the other two were not home in their neighboring cities. So we ended up touring the cities, finding lots of cool churchs and having a good time with our branch president. He used to live there. It is about 3 hours one-way from seinäjoki. Honestly though it was probably my favorite p-day so far. On the ride, The branch president put on the book of mormon audio in english. It was ether and moroni. So intense in the end of ether. The most detailed battles ever. I thought about that for like 3 days straight...and not much else. I even read it again in english and then again in Finnish. So good. I cant wait till i get there in personal study!

Personal study this week was really good. I finished alma, and studied alot the plan of salvation. I got thinking, ya know, if we ever do get to teach it, i better know how to teach it. And so everyday I break it down and study one piece of it for like 15 minutes or so. I like it a lot. In alma chapter 60, moroni is sending a letter to the chief judge back in zarahemla, and he is scolding him because of the lack of support he has provided to the war for the nephites. I mean come on! they are defending the freedom, their families and the rights to worship and this guy is just sitting there. (but in the next couple chapters we find out that he got kicked out by some evil king men...so we can forgive him) Moroni goes on to say in verse 21 Or do ye suppose that the Lord will still deliver us, while we sit upon our thrones and do not make use of the means which the Lord has provided for us? I really like this verse...sometimes we may get in the habit and think that we will have everything given to us because we are being righteous and doing the right things, obeying the commandments. Isn't is also a commandment too that we should put forth work? The way I think of it is that we are provided with the provisions or ability to accomplish the task ahead based upon our righteousness and faithfulness...but then we have to take those things given to us and go do it. If we dont put forth our full effort what reason does the lord have for delivering us or helping us finish the job. The odds arent in your favor...But I do also know that if we do our best and our righteously living, that the Lord will provide for us and in the end deliver us. Ye need not fear...At night is a great time during your personal prayer, to submit your daily work to your father in Heaven. "have i done all that I could do today" Submit your work and then go to sleep in the lord's hands. I think he already knows what we have done but it is better when we tell him our self. This is something we can all do!

Also, this week we have discussed about what success is. It isn't based on the amount of people you get to baptize, but based on your own commitement to find those people and invite them to make changes in their lives. We can each have success in our lives when we look at it like this...base it on your own commitment, not necissarily the out come. Each time you put forth full commitment, you should grow, and there fore i think the out come should be better.

This week:

we did lots tracting this week and opened up a quite a few areas. President wants us to focus on farther away places where people havent heard our message before. It doesnt make sense to keeping walking the same route everyday does it? I say nay. We are going to try and get an english class here up and running. this week will be the week we hope.

yesterday, we were riding our bikes and there were these ladies in front of us, so my comp tries to pass them and i ring my bell to get them to move...but she turns around and moves sideways and crashes straight into my comp as he tries to pass. Her leg gets stuck in his tire and she is dragged like 2 yards until they crash on the side of the rode in a pile of snow...It was great..no injuries which was good and then we went on our way again. It is now one of the things I have ever seen. This place never gets old. The people here are great. I remember I used to be really excited for the cold. Let me tell you, I have had multiple dreams of the summer time....it is very close...I can almost feel it. It has been -20 - -25 all week but yesterday it was only -7 and we were pretty happy because we thought that was warm...but then we went outside and remembered that that was still cold. You get used to it though. after a good bike ride...sometimes it can be refreshing!

love you all!

elder christensen