Week 7 @ The MTC (Hain viikolla!)

What a week to be a missionary! We've had quite the week - but I don't have a whole lot of time, so I'll try to condense it a bit this time around!

First, however, a poem: (To the tune of "Follow the Prophet")

Elisha was a prophet,

didn't have much hair

So the children teased him

said his head was bare

Then came out the grizzlies

Ate them through and through

If you mock the prophet,

Bears will eat you too

-2 Kings 2:23-24 (Yep, that's in the Old Testament. I'm not sure that's true doctrine, but it is funny!)

Firstly: regarding the subject line, we had some seriously mind-blowing grammar lessons this week. In one of the attached pictures, there's a small chart/drawing of a shark eating a man(his name is Hannu) in Finnish. That was one of our grammar principles! But we learned from that lesson that every single Finnish verb has 2000+ ways to be conjugated. No, I'm not exaggerating. In one of the attached videos, I explain why that is in a bit more depth.

Next, we had a devotional on Sunday from Elder Quentin L. Cook, of the Quorum of the Twelve! (The count's at five, in case anyone's wondering) He gave an amazing message, with some Spirit-driven promises for us missionaries. These apostles are truly inspired men, to say the least.

And one of my personal favorite happenings of the week: One of my bestest friends in the whole wide world, Jackson Sahleen, got his mission call! Now, I'm a bit salty, because he told me he got his call last Saturday, and didn't tell me where he was called to until THIS MORNING. You, my friend, made me wait through FIVE DAYS OF AGONY, waiting to know where you will be serving!! I forgive you, though! (Forgiveness is, after all, one of the principles we teach as missionaries. What kind of Vanhin would I be if I couldn't forgive my friend for MAKING ME SUFFER?)

Our next exciting happenstance was at the water fountains! You know how some of those new ones have the water bottle feature that fills your bottle up really easily and tells you how many plastic water bottles you've saved, so that you can feel like you're being environmentally friendly? Well, ever since we got here, the one next to our classroom has been steadily approaching the number 33333. And yesterday night, we got it to 33333 evnironmentally-friendly-water-bottle-filling-ups! It was a momentous occasion, one that truly merited the celebration that followed. We took pictures, it was great.

Well, I think that's all I've got for this week! I have to apologize in advance - next week's email won't be very long, I fear. Our final P-day is to be spent packing and preparing for the long haul - our 22-month Grand Adventure in Suomi! Next week, I'll let everyone know what my flight plans are, I'll give some final thoughts! (Hmm, I feel the sudden urge to sing The Final Countdown...)

As always, stay amazing! Remember your worth as a Child of God, and keep pressing forward in life's adventure!

Rakastan te kaikki,

Vanhin Bolingbroke