Week 99 in Mikkeli (Duck!)

Goooood afternoon, fellowmen. We've had a pretty amazing week here in the city of Mikkeli(fun fact: Mikkeli is named after the swedish Saint Michel, which is swedish for Saint Michael. As in Michael the archangel, if you know your scriptures. Duck!) The sun's been out, the suomalaiset have been out, and so have we. I've been really trying to focus on studying the message of the restoration recently, so that I can repoint my sights on the absolute basics of missionary work. And it's turning out great!

First thing of the week: 

My Plan! For those of you not familiar, My Plan is a little program for missionaries who are getting near to going home. We all gathered at the mission home, and talked about such stuff as continuing our paths of discipleship as returned missionaries, how we always bear Christ's name even when we don't have the nametag on our chests, and how we can use our missions as springboards to the rest of our lives(For the record, yes, I return home soon. Duck!). President Aura hasn't given us the pictures from that yet, but there was one that we grabbed at the train station. Travel was a bit awkward(tends to happen when every city in this country is miles apart from the next with nothing but forest and lakes in between), so one Sister was left alone with about a hundred Elders as her bodyguards:

What goobers.

Friday was Juhannus, the day where we celebrate the longest day of the year! The sun didn't set once! At the same time was an international market, so we visited and talked to a bunch of people, saw a way cool street artist working his magic,

(he made that black-and-red one in five minutes!), and even found some members at the market from Ecuador! They were stoked to come to church with us on Sunday!

The rest of the week went by fast, and featuring many awesome people. Elder Skinner is awesome, and we make a pretty great team. He's a way hard worker, and is inspiring me to do my best!

We had some fun today though, for P-day - got me a haircut, went shopping around a bit,

visited this place(put it into google translate. Yep, that's what it means),

looked at some fish tanks,

and bought a duck.

You'll see why soon. DUCK!

Well, not to take away from the spirit with that picture montage. We have a lot of fun here. But it's been a very spiritual time in my mission as well. On Sunday, we had an amazing discussion in Priesthood about Elder Bednar's talk from last conference, about becoming 'home-centered and church-supported' as saints in these latter days. I was very struck by what Elder Bednar said: "If all you or I know about Jesus Christ and His restored gospel is what other people teach or tell us, then the foundation of our testimony of Him and His glorious latter-day work is built upon sand. We cannot rely exclusively upon or borrow gospel light and knowledge from other people—even those whom we love and trust." I thought about that a lot - that's really interesting. Elder Skinner and I have been talking a bit about the parable of the ten virgins, and I think that it plays into this idea really perfectly. Alma the Younger also said a bit about it: "And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety? Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me."

In the words of Elder Bolingbroke: Personal revelation is essential. We can't progress in the gospel without it. And personal revelation doesn't just mean going to church and listening to what others say(altough that's not a bad thing at all. In fact, it's good.), but personal revelation is what Alma said: The Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit. 

Hmm. I would challenge you to think about how you seek personal revelation. What does it mean to you?

Well, that's my doctrinal dissertation for the week. I love you! I hope that you have a grand week, and that you're able to enjoy every moment of it. I enjoy every moment of my life, and I hope that that will continue! I know that this church is true! Keep up the good fight! Duck!

Rakkaudellani, ja jos kännät tämän, tiedä vaan että meillä on pieni muovi ankka. Se tekee minut onnelliseksi.

-Vanhin Bolingbroke