July 7, 2014

dad i had to laugh after seeing you had "signed off" mid-sentence. My companions got a good laugh when i explained your skill of being able to fall asleep anywhere...including the driver seat! But good to hear you had a relaxing day. You don't get many either so I'm glad you enjoyed it. The 4th of July is great! Fun that you had all those friends over for a bbq! Have fun at camp Helaman. are they letting you take a horse with you?

. . . . .. I bet Mo didn't know what to do with herself this summer without planning out girls camp! What a blessing she has been to so many of us.

 

Tras good to hear that your phone answering skills are just sky rocketing! aren't you glad we gave you all that opportunity when you were younger to answer the home phone? It's paying off:) You must be enjoying going to work and getting off and not having any homework! You said awhile ago that you signed your housing contract. do you know your roommates? ha i bet smith will get a good laugh when she gets back. funny how you STILL haven't sent me any pictures!! remember how you graduated? and how you have a sister who loves you very very much and would love to see pictures of that very monumental day? oh yeah, i remember :) I'll be accepting emails starting today! love you:)

 

it's been a good week. lots of laughing. we had a guy on the tram comment how it isn't fair for a church to send out beautiful young women to teach people and went on to tell us how we are weapons of mass destruction. my companions and I got a good laugh out of that. 

 

We met a family from georgia who is here for the summer while we were on our way home one night. they were in a hurry to the train station but told us to stop by their house whenever and told us which house is theirs (then we really knew they were american). we went by last night and they are a lot of fun. we're excited to see where this will go! we found our her grandma is a member as well. so

 

funny how amercan and finnish cultures are so different!

the other day we were on  a train to a meeting and i was talking to a guy who wasn't interested in learning about the gospel (yet). We had a nice conversation but as i was getting off for my stop a lady who was sitting across the row stopped me and asked if that was a Book of Mormon that I had in my hand. She asked if we could exchange information and we got each others numbers before i got off. I found out later that she knew a member family in Norway and they are really nice people and have an "ideal family". because of their example she wants to learn about the Book of Mormon. People notice us. This is the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lord blesses us when we live according to His word. He loves us. He has given us the Book of Mormon as a guide and testimony. He blesses us. I love my Heavenly Father. I am grateful to be a missionary. I love you all and hope you have a great week! Remember the examples you are to those around you!

June 30, 2014

You all have had a very exciting week!!! Lot's of news all in one email! Mom congratulations on the calling! you are going to be a great seminary teacher for those kids. How grateful I am for my seminary teachers who always put up with us. I don't rememeber each individual lesson they taught but as a whole I look back and see how valuable my learning was in that key time of my life. Plus it was always a bonus to have a surprise treat here and there, remember that part ;)

 

We got to go the temple this week, which is really exciting because it has been awhile. I think it makes me appreciate it more. 

 

The new area is great. It has been a very crazy week but i love it. we had an extra companion with us most of the week until saturday which made it 4 people staying in our apartment. That was a lot of fun and i learned a lot from the sister that was with us for a bit. we still have laughing fits when we quote her. I am excited to get to know a new set of people. and it's always fun to see and area grow and help get things going. 

 

A couple of my friends from Turku surpirsed me by showing up in our ward here in Espoo this week. I haven't seen them since february so that was really exciting.  We were going to get ice cream on my year mark but it was rainy so all the street vendors were closed :( that's alright, i'm sure we'll find another one ;)

 

Trasie hahahaha your story was hilarious. I really hope everyone got a kick out of that hahahaha your life sounds pretty exciting. glad you're getting a good laugh.  Good job on your young women's medallion!  and speaking in your singles ward! that is still weird for me. 

 

let me just say again how much i love doing missionary work.  I love missionary work so much! it is so awesome to see how the spirit changes people. it is a physical change. I am so grateful for this gospel. I am so grateful for a loving, living Heavenly Father who blesses us daily and communicates with us daily when we let him. Thank you all so much for your love and support. Have a great week!!

rakkaudella, sisar heggie

lovely licence plate :)

 one of the sculptures from the sand castle in Lappeenranta

 

"sand castle" morning runs   (now my new apartment is within a 10 minute run from the temple)

June 23, 2014

Thank you for the pictures!!! It is good to see you all. reminds me of the pictures we took out by aunt lisa's a few years back. and stacey's yard looks really good! nice weather looks like.

longest day of the year was fun. i don't know how many hours of sunlight we are getting now haha the sun is up when we go to bed and up when we get up!

 

We planned a party and when we got to the church realized that the buses didn't run at all so people couldn't make it haha so we post-poned it until next week. but friday night we went out to a camp with the ward and one of our investigators came with us. we roasted hot dogs and made pancakes over the fire. it was  a lot of fun and our clothes almost don't smell like smoke anymore. reminded me of home to be around a campfire, it was fun and our investigator tried smores for the first time! 

 

sounds like a good trip you are having, drive safe. good thing trasie stayed home to hold down the fort. Happy Birthday this week Trasie!!! 18!! Hope you have a fun day :) 

 

We had a lesson last night with one of our investigators. he said he has been reading the Book of Mormon and praying every day and isn't sure he has an answer yet, but every time he reads he "feels peace, so maybe that's an answer". ah there is no better feeling than seeing our friends progress and find truth. I love the gospel. We have transfers this week and I am going to Espoo. It was a short 2 months but i got to see a lot of cool things and make a lot of lasting friendships. Always sad to leave but grateful for the new experiences to come. 

 

I love you all, hope you have a great week!

 

rakkaudella, sisar heggie

June 16

 

Good to hear from you:) looks like you had a late night! it's been a great week. We have seen a lot of success. My faith is continually strengthened. Prayer works. This week we were out of our area for 2 days and still were able to find more investigators this week than we have in the recent past. the members are great. always willing to do missionary work.

Happy (late?) Fathers day!! it's in december here, i think it's the 3rd sunday in June? weird that i gave my farewell talk a year ago. Hope you had a great day:) Thanks for being such a support to me and our family. love you:)

Happy birthday mom! also weird that that is coming up soon. When are you all planning on leaving for Alberta?

can't think of a lot to say. Sisar Hansen and I are still enjoying Lappeenranta. I love the people here.

I hope you have a great week. Good luck with the rest of haying!

rakkaudella, sisar heggie

June 10, 2014

It's been a beautiful week. Sunny with a little bit of rain every day to keep things cool. Somehow it always works out that we never get caught in a rainstorm. Tender mercies :) 

We had a great week. We met a girl on Thursday on the bus, had a teach with her and she came to church yesterday and loved it. My comp and I sang a musical number and a friend of one of the members played for us. it went really well, the ward liked it. I was sitting next to our friend and starting to worry if the meeting was getting to long for her then remembered to just trust the Spirit and prayed she would feel it. At the end of the meeting she said she really liked it. she was nervous at first to come but said that for some reason she felt comfortable there. Sacrament meeting is a special place, and we were glad she came. at the end she asked if she could come again:) 

We met a friend this week whom we introduced the Book of Mormon to. It was a good lesson but the next day he sent a text saying he didn't think religion was his thing. we asked if we could meet one last time before he gave it back and he agreed. we had a good discussion with him and talked about the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ and instead of him giving the Book of Mormon back at the end he agreed to be baptized when he gets an answer. The spirit is amazing. 

It's been great to notice the blessings of praying always as we have really focused on it this week. 

You have had a fun packed week! Good that everyone had plenty of opportunity to brand and move cows and what not. Cool that Abbie and Miguel blessed McCray, how are they doing? How long does Annie get to stay? sounds fun. 

Trasie! send pictures. congrats! life is thrilling. i hope you have some fun activities coming up for YSA:) 

ha there's a little girl here about Kambrie's age (also always refers to her mom by her first name) and whenever she says something i just imagine that Kambrie is that old and can say whatever she feels as well! weird! hopefully the siding goes well. football camps and practices coming up sounds like!

Love you all, thanks for the emails. hope you have a wonderful week!

rakkaudella, sisar heggie

June 2, 2014

Hey family! If I remember correctly, the house is busy with lots of family right now! What an exciting week! congratulations Trasieturkeybaby! don't forget to send some pictures next week. Carolyn said that the lemonade is almost ready to go for Tuesday evening. I hope it's an enjoyable evening:)

We had another last minute miracle last night. We were about to head in for the night when we saw a guy walking his bike and we knew we needed to talk to him. We talked to him and turns out he had met with missionaries before and he had been out of the country and lost contact. The Lord has a way of keeping track of those who are prepared!

We have been trying to work with a certain less active lady in our ward and before this week have only been able to contact her once. She was never home when we stopped by and never answered the phone. Well this week she was home when we stopped by so we decided right there to make sure we had the right phone number. We called and her phone didn't ring (land line) so we checked the number and while she was repeating the number to my companion I started seeing if there was something wrong with the phone connection...you might have problems making phone connection if the phone isn't plugged into the wall... ha I'm not sure when the last time was that she used her phone! we dusted it off and tried again and it worked quite nicely! ha we have been able to be in good contact since :)

It's been a good week. We had a great fast and testimony meeting and a former member we have been working with came to church and was all dressed up and looked very nice. it was wonderful to hear him say how nice it was to be in church. There is no substitute for the spirit that is felt in the chapel.

The gospel is a wonderful blessing! I love it! I have been reading "Our Heritage" and the sacrifices our forefathers have made. it's humbling to hear their experiences and the degree of gratitude kept in their hearts even during the deepest of their trials.

I hope you have a wonderful week!

I love you all!

Sisar Heggie

May 26, 2014

As missionaries our mission president has asked us to teach 5 different role plays to help train the members to do missionary work. It has been a lot of fun to share with the members the things we have learned to really bring the Lord's work together. This past week was fun, we did role plays with a family that lives a way out from the center and before we went in the house it was fun to see all the "farm life". Not a lot of that here so it was fun. They were a lot of fun to do a role play with, it's exciting to see members getting involved. After a lesson with one of our investigators our member just invited him over to her house for the next teach without us saying anything. It is such a blessing to have such willing members here to work with! We saw a miracle yesterday when we were going out to find a former member. When we got out to the area a realized i didn't write the house number so instead of knocking 200 doors looking for him we decided to start contacting potentials in the area. as we were walking we saw a guy outside and we ended up going to talk to him. He guessed that we were "Mormons" then went on to tell us that he is a member. Turns out his papers say he has moved and his number was wrong but we got his new number and we're in contact with him now!

Sounds like you have had a great week. so dad does that mean that you have got calving down to 80 days or that is what you are working towards? fun to have the family together next week. Maybe Kambrie the calf whisperer will teach Anbri her ways. I'm sure grandpa will love visiting as well. do you have any equipment malfunctions yet? how is grandpa doing? congratulations on the new calling, it should keep you on your toes :) scouts wasn't going to be my first guess! good thing Mark has volunteered to help...

. . . .

way cool that you got to have a chat with smith. small world! there are so many people i have talked to here that have family in america. wonder if she still has any close relatives here! 

. . . .

The next couple weeks sound like they will be busy at the house. fun to hear about family get togethers. tell everyone hello for me! Even though I wish i could be there I am so grateful I am right here right now. What a blessing it has been to serve as a missionary for the gospel. I love it. I am learning so much and earning a deeper conversion the Lord knew i would need. I love you all, have a great week!

Rakkaudella, Sisar Heggie