September 9, 2013
. . .  I am in a bike city right now and they don't do chains just snow tires but my companion said last winter she didn't put snow tires on her bike but she did wreck a lot ha so I think I will invest in some. The traffic isn't bad because a lot of people us public transportation. Biking isn't bad I’m just glad I don't have to drive or find a parking spot in all of this ha. There are some really pretty areas that are part of my area just outside of Turku. Raisio is way pretty, really pretty homes and really green. The river is beautiful. The sea is beautiful. A lot of fun and the members are really nice.
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The weather is awesome. I haven't needed a jacket yet but it's starting to get foggy in the morning (which is when we do our studies) but it clears up by the time we go outside. Everyone is just hoping that winter holds off for another while. Our apartment is really nice I love it. One of the senior couples that is in charge of housing came over to check on us and took some pictures to send home to our parents. I couldn't remember mom's Gmail ha-ha so I wrote down the school email. Hopefully you got those. The language is still coming ha it's going to take awhile but I’m starting to understand and speak more. Every week I understand more of what is being said in sacrament meeting. I just have to laugh when I try talking with 6 year olds and still can't even understand all of their vocabulary! Most importantly though I am learning how to speak the language of the spirit better. I had a cool experience on Sunday.  My companion and I taught a Sunday school lesson and before class I didn't get a chance to read over the lesson so during the opening prayer I just said a short prayer that I would be inspired to know what to teach and from there on out the ideas started flowing. It was a blessing and the lesson went well.

The food is all pretty normal. Simple foods. Finns aren't huge on sugary treats (except ice cream) but they are good cooks. It is true, my mission president is so great. He has a huge heart and gives us very wise counsel. He is great and you can feel how much love he has for people whenever you are around him.

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We are teaching a 10 year old girl and my companion and I are struggling with fun ideas on how to teach her. If anyone has good ideas on how to teach a 10 year old girl the principles of the gospel, please let me know:) I know how to give her the doctrine straight, but I’m afraid she won't love that. I lack in creativity sometimes.

Ha mom! You will love this. My companion and I were telling stories of growing up and I was telling her my "change your ways" story and she has one too. She came in her house and her mom overreacted about something and told her "God will smite you!" she couldn't help but think her mom was crazy at that point either so now we say "change your ways...or God will smite you." in memory of our crazy mom's who aren't so crazy, I just took us awhile to get that figured out :)

One of my favorite things to study is the subject of Faith. I feel like you could study that topic forever and still have something to learn. This week I learned about faith in light of offering specific prayers. Multiple examples in the scriptures talk about miracles happening only after the act of faith. We went to teach a family on Saturday night that we are way excited and maybe slightly nervous about. In my prayers last week I asked Heavenly Father that they would be home and that their hearts would be open. We got there and the dad invited us in. They were curious and their hearts were open. They were all there and ready to learn. It was awesome. The Lord answers prayers. I love this gospel. The Church is true. Jesus is our Savior and older brother. He knows us and loves us. I hope you all have a great week!

Sisar Heggie

September 2, 2013

Moi! . . .  Yesterday the bishop asked me to say the closing prayer in sacrament that was a good experience. I finished the prayer and there were still no reports of lightning striking so that is good. The ward is great. I'm still getting to know people and it is a lot of fun. We taught a lesson last week to a part member family using the plan of salvation puzzle that Aunt Lisa and Jen got for me. It turned out awesome! . . .The dad is a funny guy. We had dessert with them and then he was getting me to try all these weird foods. They all have words in Finnish but I can't remember or spell them so I’ll just say in English ha raw milk, new milk, blue cheese, and I’m not sure what else. But dessert was way good. She made rahka which is famous in Finland. So I had that for the first time. Then riisipirakka with egg butter...also has a Finnish name I don't have down yet. And the juice here is amazing. And the chocolate is amazing. And the ice cream is amazing. And the summer is amazing. And the people are amazing. And my companion is amazing. And the mission president is amazing. And I love it. . . . .

Most of the ingredients to make American cookies here are lacking. But I tried my shot at baking some for a lesson we had. Haha they looked disgusting. Can’t even blame it on the elevation :) . . . . It has been a good week. Lots of laughs and good things happening.

We met a family last week that I am way excited to go teach on Saturday. Finland is a special place. We taught a boy and his mom who are from Kurdistan and he was a refugee in Turkey for a year. Finland is peaceful. I was blessed to grow up in a place of freedom and peace. I am blessed to serve in a land of peace. I was studying a talk by Brad Wilcox this morning called "His Grace is sufficient". Most Christians understand we are saved by the grace of Christ. But latter day saints understand not just what Christ saved us FROM but what he saved us FOR. Moroni 7:48. He paid the price. Rather than paying off a debt to Him, we are investing. We could never pay the debt and he knows that and that's why he paid it then asks us to follow him and become like him. Find that talk if you can and read it. Things are so good. Thank you for your love a prayers and support. Love you all, have a great week!!

Scarves from Aunt Wendy

Cookies?! - not so hot:-)



August 26, 2013

. . . . . I LOVE FINLAND!!   P days are now Mondays.  . . . . . Everything is so great. I bought my first Finnish chocolate bar. And the chocolate here is just as everyone says...AMAZING. Mom you will love it. There are so many good people here. It's awesome to contact here because people don't generally say hello to each other so as soon as you say "moi" you already have their attention, then when you say "mitä kuuluu" they are stopped talking to you.  Nobody asks "how are you" unless you are really looking for an answer. Ha learned that when I asked then didn't have anything else prepared to say to a girl the first day I got here. The members are great. The other missionaries are great. We have a couple missionary serving in our district and they take good care of everyone and everything.

My companion is great!! Get this. She is from Montpellier!! she is the youngest in her family  . . .  She is the Sister Training leader right now as of last week so president decided to only give her 1 trainee as opposed to 2 like some of the sister are doing. Quite a few are in trios and I have to say I am very grateful that I got to be one of the few that is just in a 2 person companionship. She is very aware of other people, very caring.  She is adventurous and curious.  Loves to learn and she is a great missionary.

Oh I am in Turku by the way:) about a 2 hour train ride from Helsinki. It’s a bit smaller but still pretty bit. They just opened this area 9 weeks ago and my trainer helped with that so she is good with people and she is ambitious.  Because she is sister training leader I get to go with her to her meetings which means I get to go to the temple when we go! So I get to go through the Helsinki temple for the first time this Friday and hear a session in Finnish. I’m so excited.

Our apartment is great! It is new since this area was just opened and everyone that was in charge of housing did a fantastic job. Our apartment is adorable, very clean and tidy. Oh and we have a washer! Score! No one here has a dryer.  . . . .  The other night while we were planning there was a hot air balloon just outside our window.  We got a kick out of that. She likes to be active (adventurous) so we have played basketball and run stairs so far for our workouts. Super grateful that she is up for it. OH! And I am in a bike city! I was surprised because a lot of the people I talked to said chances are low of getting a bike city which I was happy for at first but now I love that we are on bikes!! I think I have ridden a bike once in the last 7 years. But it's just like riding a bike. I figured it out:) in a dress!! Haven’t even wrecked yet. Just wait for next week’s email I’m sure ha-ha.

Oh and my MTC companion is in my same district! So I get to see her here and there. Now she is the one with the bike wreck story. She learned how to ride a bike the week before she came to the mtc :) and now she's figuring it out on busy sidewalks.

If I were to compare Finland to Alberta, it is more like Raymond. No mountains. Lots of water. Lots of trees. Lots of boats and bridges and green. The sun is shining and it's been beautiful weather. We mostly cook for ourselves but like I said things are starting to role so we are getting more dinner appointments. Ha I go up to a family and let them know I am new in the ward; tell them we would like to get to know their family, then get an appointment. It might be that they have pity on my poor language ability or that they are just super nice but it is working so far :)  . . . . .

I am so grateful for this gospel. The Lord is preparing people to accept His gospel. The enabling power of the Atonement is real. Gifts of the Spirit are real. Heavenly Father loves us. I love you, thank you for all your love and support and the things you teach me. Talk to you next week! Good luck with the first week of school!

Rakkaudella, Sisar Heggie

Helsinki !!!

Sisar Heggie & President Rawlings

She is on her way!!!  Salt Lake to Chicago to London to Helsinki!!

 

August 15, 2013

Rakas Perhe,

. . . . You will be busy your whole life. You will feel stress but as you trust Heavenly Father and learn to rely on Him, he will help strengthen you. Work hard. Do good. You are going to love it. :) and don't forget to write in your Journal!!!  . . . . The skirt is great!! So grateful for her and her love and willingness to help me :)

I'm excited to use the alpaca duvet. Ha I do have to admit I was a little confused when it didn't look like a furry dead alpaca was vacuum packed into my package hahaha  the socks have been great. Not a night  I haven't used them yet so thank you thank you thank you. 

. . .Consecration week went great. It was very hard but I learned so much. The Lord knows our strengths and He also knows how to strengthen us. I was definitely strengthened and learned a few things.

I can't believe I will be leaving for Finland on Monday. Our flight leaves the SLC airport around 11:30 so I should be calling around 9 your time I'm guessing . . . The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints contains the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is true. The Savior lives and loves and supports you. I love you. Have a great week, talk to you soon :)

Rakkaudella, Sisar Heggie  

August 8, 2013

Terve!

. . .It is true, friendships are the start, good to hear the goals of their branch. I really like what Dianne Hanson said to Aaron "Just go out and make friends". . . .I was telling my companion that being on the MTC west campus is a lot like growing up in a small town. You know everyone and everyone knows you and we're all friends.

We started "Consecration Week" last night.  We won't be speaking any English until next Wednesday night and we all chose things we could consecrate to help us be especially focused this week and show the Lord our dedication. We did 3 days in a row last week of "SYL" speak your language days and that was pretty tough. It's humbling and really makes me put my faith in and rely on the Lord.

I love this gospel. It is the only source of true happiness. The gospel is simple. Follow Christ and you will be happy. Endure to the end. Like my teacher Veli Christiansen said "The Plan of Salvation is progressive, and if you do it right it just keeps getting better" He was a great missionary and now is a great teacher.  He is getting married in 2 weeks and is an example of the progression Heavenly Father intends us to make while we are here. The Savior lives. He atoned for all of us. He loves us. The Book of Mormon is true. This is the true gospel of Jesus Christ, restored through Joseph Smith.

Study your scriptrures, pray, go to church. Do the small things. Do the big things. Go to the temple. Serve. Strive to be more like Christ. I love chapter 6 in PMG which is the attributes of Christ section. Attaining all those attributes is a challenging balancing act. It comes bit by bit.

I love you all. . . .  Have a great week!!

Rakkaudella, Sisar Heggie

August 1, 2013

Rakas Perhe,

Mitä kuullu? . . . . . It rained a couple times this week here, did you get any rain? One of the days it rained was during gym time so I got to stand out in it and get soaked. It helped that I got a super hard block on one of the elders that is pretty good at volleyball in my district. It was an especially good day. . . . . .. You have to let people know that you really do care for and love them before they will listen to what you have to share with them. My comp and I helped with a "How to begin teaching" thing for new missionaries coming in. Only 12 companionships get to do it each week so that was humbling. It was a good experience. I really just need to figure out the needs of people by showing them I care. And that their Heavenly Father cares, which is what our message is. Ha the new cafeteria opens today!!! . . . . . I love you all. the church is true. Heavenly Father loves you and is aware of you. He is all knowing. He know what you need. Have fun in Kansas! Love you.

Rakkaudella, Sisar Heggie