Week 48 in Rauma (Choppin' and teachin')

Welcome to another lovely week in Rauma, ladies and gentlemen!

Firstly, here's our official Tampere Zone Conference picture:​

​Look at us. So adorable.

This week, we've done a ton of solid proselyting work. It's been super hard, but super fun. And through it all, we found these people! ​

​Jean-Baptiste and Caroline! A little while ago, they were on vacation in America, and ran across the Church's monument in Palmyra, New York! Just a few weeks later, back at home, we ran into them, and we had an awesome discussion about God's Plan of Salvation for us! We're very excited to be teaching them!

We also went out to a member's mökki(summer cottage - every finn has one) and did about 3 hours of woodchopping! My back is still sore from that one, but hey - his mökki is right next to the beach, so we took some fun pictures!​

On the way back, our car's GPS told us to drive into the ocean.​

​That's what I get for driving a Toyota...

We also took a trip to one of our proselyting area's satellite cities, Uusikaupunki(which translates to New City. You see, that's funny, because the city is nearly 500 years old.) It's a bay city, so we took some pictures with the boats!​

​In other news on the mission, being a district leader is amazing. It's pretty tough too, it's a sacrifice on my already-packed schedule! Sometimes, it's easy as missionaries to see these assignments as a 'hierarchy', or as a rank of advancement, but as I've served in this capacity, I've realized that it's honestly, just what the Lord needs you to do. I've found time and time again that the Lord will put me in situations that I, specifically am prepared for. The Lord needs me to be District Leader here and now, so I will be. Our assignment as saints isn't to strive for greatness, but to strive to serve where we are called, and to magnify that calling. I always feel inadequate for the work I do, but I know that God "qualifies whom he calls", as the scriptures say. I love this Gospel, and being able to serve it with all my heart right now.

And I love you! Keep staying strong, and I hope you have a wonderful summer!

Love,

Vanhin Bolingbroke