Week 3 @ The MTC (I"m running out of Finnish puns already)

Jeff Bolingbroke
Aug 28, 2017
4 min read

Terve, all!

Roses are red, violets are blue,

this email should be read

by someone like you!

Firstly, a highlight.

We had the opportunity yesterday to be the hosts for new missionaries(The guys that tear you away from your sobbing family). We had a batch of 600+ new people, so we had a lot of running around. While doing this, I was grabbing the bags for an Elder - his grandparents were dropping him off - when I took a look at the bags. An American flag. Team USA embroidered on the bags. I asked his grandpa, who said his right leg is a prosthetic - he's a TEAM USA paralympic athlete. I'll spare you the details, but suffice it to say I was geeking out over him the whole time. I have huge respect for both olympic and paralympic athletes, and it was really something else to hear the stories he could tell about his competitions.

Secondly, an interesting experience. Well, a few of them. The first just happened a few minutes ago, actually. SLC's Finnish Consul came and visited us. We were nervous, because we thought it had something to do with increasing religious turmoil in the area(we got word of a terrorist attack in Finland, but I know nothing of the matter), us being religious missionaries and all, but the Consul actually used to be an Elder in Finland himself, and just wanted to lend his support and counsel to us. He talked with us for about an hour, it was pretty cool!

The second odd experience happened last Saturday. I was working the MTC tour - for about a month, the MTC was letting in visitors to see the missionaries, as well as the new buildings - and my family bumped into me there. (No, we didn't plan that. The stars just so happened to align in our favor that day.) While I was overjoyed to see my family again, it was difficult - extremely difficult - to say goodbye all over again. It felt surreal because I had to remind myself that I'm no longer a child, I'm a servant of the Lord. It's painful for me to say even now, but I'm now in the Lord's hands. I was grateful, however, for a few reasons. Seeing my wonderful family again did remind me of why I'm here - because I love them, and I know that my sacrifice will bring blessings upon them.

I also had another experience while working the tour that I'd like to mention. In the new buildings, T3 and T4, we have a series of murals. On some of the walls, these murals cover the entire wall, giving a huge, beautiful look at scriptural scenes such as Paul's encounter with an angel, Christ ministering to various peoples, the Nephite city of Zarahemla, and other various Bible/Book of Mormon heroes. I was in front of a smaller rendition of one of the murals - one of Moses, standing on a mountaintop. On a plaque next to this painting was the scripture Moses 1:6 "I have a work for thee, Moses, my son." I know a pretty interesting story about Moses and that scripture, which I was able to share with some of the passerby, and which I'd like to share here:

Moses' name means "son of none." The literal translation is drawn up(from the water), but a connotative meaning is "one who has no family", on account of the fact that he was found on the riverside, with nobody to care for him. In ancient Egypt, heritage and family were paramount to the societal workings. So, while Moses was adopted and did live in the palaces of Egypt, his very name was a reminder that he was a nobody. No family, no heritage, nothing.

Now, we fast forward to the scene in the mural I was stationed next to. In this mural, Elohim(God) is speaking to Moses, showing him the workmanship of his hands - which, may I remind you, is infinite. God specifically says to Moses, "My son." I think, that after a lifetime of being called "nobody," that would mean a lot to Moses himself. I imagine he says something like this: "I'm not a nobody. I do have a family! Not just that, I am the son of The Creator of the World!" That sounds pretty good, no?

This idea is supported even more by what happens next in the book of Moses. As Moses is descending the mountain, after his encounter with God, Satan himself manifests to Moses. He says, "Son of man, bow down to me. Worship me!" To which Moses gives a pretty witty retort. "Where is thy glory that I should worship thee? Behold, I am a son of God, get thee hence, Satan!" [I'm paraphrasing here.]

Quite simply, that verse is pretty powerful when you look at it more closely.

As for our advancement in Finnish: se on tosi hyvää! Mina olen stressaantanut. Mutta, kieli jatkaa tulla hyvää! We continue to teach, and learn, and eat, and sleep, and repeat! It's great.

Now, for funny/inspirational quotes of the week:

"My dead's brain."

-Vanhin Olsen, after a long day of studying Finnish grammar

(at Sunday devotional)"You sing well, but it needs to be better! Make this next hymn really loud!"

-Elder Weatherford T. Clayton, Sunday's devotional speaker

"Ironically, the next hymn is 'How gentle God's commands!' (chuckles)"

-Brother Eggett, choir director, realizing the irony in this situation

"Velli Ryan, how do you say 'bear' in Finnish?"

-Vanhin Gamett

"In what context?"

-Velli Ryan

"(unintelligible growling noise)"

-Vanhin Gamett

And, one of my personal favorites. I found this one while reading a talk given by President Utchdorf - On the wings of eagles.

"He turns not back who is bound to a star."

-Leonardo Da Vinci

That's a very good quote. I encourage you to think about that one.

Well, this has been a pretty eventful week! As usual, I've compiled videos from this week, and you're free to ask me more questions! I love doing it, it adds so much spirit to my study time!

Videos

And please email back! We love to hear about the outside world! I also expect to know as soon as anybody gets a mission call, so keep me informed!