Week 76 in Lahti (So if Jesus walked on water, and I'm walking on a frozen lake... that makes me

Relax, Mom, I didn't fall in.

Wow, what a week! We had a pretty busy one, and it's gonna stay that way! Let's take a good look:

Zone Conference! Given that there's four zones in Finland, we've taken to calling the Tampere Zone the 'Fire Nation.' Pretty accurate. Look at all of us! I also can't seem to get away from my previous companions, because every companion of mine who is still in country is in this picture. Jordan, Ames, Hale, Owens, Vawdrey.

Reunions were had...

Funny pictures were taken...

And much doctrine was discussed. Among other things, we talked a lot about Family History in our proselyting, and our relationships with ward councils and members. It was a very enlightening conference!

Right after that, we had exchanges with the Tampere Zone Leaders, they came to Lahti and worked with us!

I was able to work with Elder Moats from my MTC group, and reunite with my beloved Elder Jordan! It was a really great learning experience.

We also saw the sun one morning(after a hiatus of approx. 3 weeks), so we took some blinding pictures.

We also saw a bunny rabbit.

And we walked on the lake!

The weather may be cold enough to freeze your blood and soul, but at least you can walk on the lake that makes up half of your city. We had a good little photoshoot on the lake, taken at sunset time(about 3.30 P.M., I think).

And this morning I found a blender that was only 20€, so I bought it. Protein shakes, here we come!

Well, I think that sums up our week pretty well. It's guaranteed to be a busy week again, so we'll see what we can concoct up! Love you all! Stay strong, study the scriptures!

-Vanhin Bolingbroke

Week 75 in Lahti (Lots of learning this week)

Gooooodday, all! No, I'm not frozen just yet. In all honesty, it's not even that bad - the weather's hovering right around 0 degrees(that's celsius, people. I've adjusted to that one pretty well.), so we've been mighty cozy. In the process of our work, I realized just this morn that we didn't take a single picture(Sorry, mom). So we took a video at the church while Elder Vawdrey practiced his organ skills.

MVI_8931.MP4

(I didn't remember that Toccata in D Minor was a hymn...)

But since I neglected this week's picture journal, let's share a few stories from the week!

A few funny contact rejections we faced this week:

-A guy who responded to everything that we said to him in Spanish.

"Iltaa! Meillä on sanoma Kristuksesta-"

"Si, si!" *starts walking away*

"No jos sinulla on pieni hetki-"

"Si, si, muchos gracios!" *waves us bye*

"Wait what did he just say?"

-A lady who just sighed and said,

"ei nyt, mä oon todella väsynyt ja mulla on nälkää ja ehkä ensi kerralla, ok?"

not not, I'm really tired and I'm hungry and maybe next time, okay?

Quite funny.

-On Sunday, we had the first lesson in Pyhäkoulu about the new Come Follow Me curriculum! The lesson was awesome - and I loved the topic, on 'olemme vastussa omasta oppimisestamme'. I think that we have a lot of opportunity to learn with and from each other in this regard, so I'm adding that book to my personal doctrine library. In finnish, of course.

-We had a pretty firey lesson with one of our investigators this week. She's been working on quitting coffee, and she keeps telling us that "I'm too old, I won't be able to endure to the end!" to which I'm really tempted to respond "That just makes it all the easier! You don't have that much time left, so enduring to the end will actually be easier!" Ah, finns.

Well, that's a summary of the week! I hope that you all know that I love this work more and more each week. I'm so glad that I get to be a part of it, and that it can change my life, as well as others' lives!

Love you all!

-V. Bolingbroke

Week 74 in Lahti (All I'll say is "Joy fires")

Man, the new year comes around, and you just get all nostalgic and sentimental about the previous year. Ah well. Celebrations!

So, where did we spend our time this week? Guess - not Lahti. We had a Hämeenlinna day, a Heinola day - both very successful! We saw some joy fires(ilotulitukset - fireworks. Literally means joy fires)!

Well, first, we had a huge shopping day last P-day. Got Elder Vawdrey some coats and winter stuff, and I got a nice jacket, because it was on a huge sale and why not? Gotta get them good deals! Did I take any pictures? Psh, naw. I forgot, of course. I've been really bad at that lately...

Hämeenlinna! We were able to teach our brazilian friend Newton again, with the help of Veli Calderon from the branch there! Elder Vawdrey knows some of his family, so they had a fun reunion:

And later on, we saw the castle in Hämeenlinna! Ooh, it's purty cool.

Aside from that, yesterday - the last day of the year - was pretty exciting. In the morning, we went out to Heinola - a while north of Lahti - to go talk to a referral. She was a wonderful woman, had already read the Book of Mormon in her native Arabic, and we were able to teach her through her daughter, who spoke finnish and arabic. Wonderful lesson! That evening, the Jäkkös took us for dinner and to see the fireworks! I got a bunch of super good pictures, but then me camera died...

But hey, they're awesome anyway!

Ooh!

Aaah.

Well, I think that's all I have for this week. I love the work here! Even in my short time thus far in Lahti, I've been able to see peoples' lives change, and most importantly, my own. All because of our Savior, Christ. He warms up my frozen little heart! Keep on keepin' on, all!

Rakkaudellani,

Vanhin Bolingbroke