10/18/10 Shroom Month...and All Saints Day

It was "shroom month" this month. Look out! their poisono

Hey fam,
Well this week was good and bad. ;) This week we finally decided to drop our investigator "P". He has been with us since I got here in Savonlinna and has slowly gotten better and better. But really he has had such a hard time with coming to church and not being afraid of his wife. She isn't happy about him being a member. So sadly, we will just start check up on him in a couple of weeks and keeping in touch now and then. :) We don't want to cause any problems, but we will leave the door open for him to contact us or other missionaries later. Thats the nice thing about backing off, you can always return later, but it doesn't work that way if they tell you to leave. Hopefully, he will recognize the difference when we aren't there.

And then, we also found some new people. This time, it is a young family who are from Burma. Weird huh. Anyway, they happen to already be Christian, so they get a lot of what we are talking about. So this week, we are meeting with them again and seeing how they doing with reading the pamphlet we gave them. Side note: the church still doesn't have a BOM in Burmese, so we are trying to teach them out of the gospel principles book.

Other than that there hasn't been any other new things happening here. It snowed here just last Wednesday, and we still have some snow around on the lawns. Because of this, I also changed out my tires for some snow tires that came with my bike. Yay. no sliding to my death this winter.

Also this week, we had a funny "run in" with a drunk guy behind a door. He came out and asked us if we were interested in seeing some witchcraft, and that he was a witch. Of course we said no, but it was really funny because he was trying to explain what a witch was to us and he used the holiday in which kids dress up as witches. He would say the finnish word for witch, and then he said in english "Easter". It took me a minute to remember that Easter is Halloween here in Finland ...only its not as big. (It's not Easter. It's called All Saints Day. In Finland there is not a tradition for children going door-to-door for tricks or treats on All Hallows Eve, such as Halloween in the United States (The closest tradition to Halloween in Finland is when children dress up like witches on Palm Sunday, and go from door-to-door collecting sweets). Don't worry though about sending some Halloween stuff, I'm sure my companion and I will love celebrating it anyway in our apartment. I didn't get the package yet actually, but I will keep aware for it. It will probably come some time within 1-2 weeks since you sent it. I've noticed it takes more time to come to Finland than leave though. FYI: change call is coming up this Saturday, so I might just get moved. Both me and Elder Slade are pretty sure that one of us will leave, seeing as we have had 3 changes together, and thats the usual longest for a companionship to last. I don't reallyknow what to say other than.... thanks a bunch for the package, pictures and the weekly letter.

I liked the insight too about the gospel principles class you talked about, Dad. It reminds me of something I learned on a different subject that I later applied to the basic principles of the gospel. If you remember... the scripture in James 2 talks about faith without works being dead. I made the comparison that we first need to have faith in a priciple of the gospel and then our actions must show that faith. For example... belief or faith in Christ leads to baptism. Thanks for sharing your spiritual highlight.

Well I love you all, can't wait until next week. Love Trev

Later email: I'm doing the normal stuff. It's late here though, so we will be headed out procelyting soon. And then another week. Oh, I bought a suit from a kirppu tori or a local DI kind of a store. plus some other small needed things for like 3 £!!! Good shopping! I'll send a picture of it next week, my computer here is on the frits. Actually I need to go, but have a good time in St George. I love you. (We emailed this week from St. George..Jason was participating in the State Golf Championship Tournament for 4A high schools.)

Oh, and ps. I got a letter from Cecilia last week. So we got that all good. I bet if you keep emailing her from time to time she would come visit. lol. She offered to let us come visit her in Sweden if you come to Europe. I can tell she really likes you and Linda.

10/11/10 Habaneras, Free Coat and District Conf

Hi Family,

Well so far this week things have some changes.... "D" had his restaurant fall through, when he tried to buy it. So he moved down to another city where he has another restaurant. Did I tell you that he had said yes to being baptised last week? Anyway, so last last Friday, he committed to a baptism, and then the next Tuesday, he was gone, out of our hands. He is still going to meet with other missionaries down south though so all seems good. The older lady we were trying to teach has Alzheimer’s possibly and so we can't teach her either. She doesn't remember who we are from one week to the next. But hey thats ok, I'm sure she will remember who the missionaries are in the spirit world.

I also got to go to Kuopio again this week for district conference. It was really good, and I learned a lot about faith and how to use my faith better. One particular thing that I learned about was how we need to have our faith in correct principles in order to tap into Heavenly fathers power. I was able to speak with President Brown in my interview with him. I always like being able to have some one on one time with him so that I can ask some questions.

Lastly... today, I tried some habaneras. We used them in some tacos we were eating for lunch. Luckily, the one we used wasn't too hot, but it did suprise me at first. So put that one down for things I have now tried. Have any of you tried those before? lol.

So, a coat? Well the funny thing is.... I found one. It's not anything great, but it seems like it would be warm. Another missionary left it behind when he left the country. I thought I would just use that one for the next winter as well as my two jackets if needed for extra warmth.
How much was the black coat that you found? If it's a good deal then I might agree to take it. The thing is though, I 've now got a good warm coat that is free and I can just buy a new one if I want when I get back. It might just be smarter to not buy a new one. What do you think?
Thanks for looking out for me. If I hadn't found this coat, then I would have needed that black one. Last winter was a little cold with just two coats. lol.

Also for my package ....FYI, you don't have to add in candy. I feel like I've got too much candy. lol. but I'm glad to hear that you are sending the pack of razors, gum, and the voice tape. I've been waiting to hear that tape.:) Well thats about all for this week, but thanks for the emails and prayers. I love you all, and miss you too.

love, Trev

P.S. How are your fingers recovering Nathan? Plus thanks for the pictures. They are sweet.
P.P.S. FYI, I am applying for a drivers license this next week.... so it may be about 100 dollars coming out of my acct. The mission reimburses some of the fee though. Gosh, I feel like I've spent a lot lately. Sorry.

General Conference -- Successful Beginnings

Hi,
So.... This week, things have gone pretty well.... Great in fact. "P" started to progress this week...he talked to his wife about going to church. She wasn't all that happy about it and we just found this out. He told us he did a lot of reading from the BOM. I was surprised actually. I had gone over there to exhort him one last time to read and come to church, and then we were going to try and check back in a month or so. But, he actually followed through with it. It was sweet, and he even told us when he wanted to meet with us rather than wait for us to ask. It looks like he might just keep going until he gets baptized...I hope so.

"D" (from Nepal) this week accepted a baptismal date and then expressed his desire to have us continue to really help him get an answer to the Book of Mormon. I was pretty stoked to say the least. Unfortunately, Elder Slade didn't think it would be a good idea to do a chest bump after the teach....lol. But that's how I was feeling. The french guy this week slowed down a little bit with his reading, and told us how he wants to read the whole BOM before he gets baptized. But luckily, he still knows that our meetings are to lead to baptism and is willing to continue.

What else.... We also found a legally blind investigator this week. An older mummo. She is quite old, but would like to hear the gospel so we will see how it goes from there.

General conference was great. There were some really powerful talks given. Some I especially needed to hear. I especially liked Elder Holland's talk (thanking those who helped him). It was good for me to hear all of the things I can work on in my life. As for our sleeping arrangements, we stayed in Kuopio both nights.... Saturday and Sunday. The bus ride was long, but I didn't get one letter off. I got nauseous and slept so that it didn't get worse....both ways....so no long letters. Sorry, I'll try to record a tape today and send it to you this week instead. I think the tapes are better anyway. Oh, we had 6 missionaries there: Pond, Gorringe, Slade, me, Ranzenburger, and Watson.

Elder Slade will finish his mission in about 3 months - just after Christmas. I think he decided to extend a little bit. Oh, and I did see Elder Ballam a couple of weeks ago. It was weird seeing someone from the neighborhood and high school here in Finland, but a good weird. He said Logan is still the same...lol.

Well ,thats about it. I love you all and hope you have a good week. I'm still praying for you all.
love, Trev

P.S. Good luck re-habbing your fingers, dad.... and linda, remember what Elder Scott said about becoming something--- consistency is the key... that is for your new diet....lol...sorry i'm a tease. Thanks for the pictures and the video of kate...

News about Finland's education this week: http://www.educationnation.com/index.cfm?objectid=D802BA36-CC33-11DF-8853000C296BA163

9/27/10 French, Nepal and A "Billet"

Savonlinna Lake at Sunset

Hey family,
Well this week has been the best in a while. Well, some success in the work. So this week, we meet with our new investigator by the name of "B". That's French for "welcome". Anyway, this is the guy that we met forever ago and gave him a French Book of Mormon. He was the one who ended up reading half of it and is still going. Crazy. But we needed a couple of supplies in French, and also, we needed to find some time when he could meet. Thus, it took so long to start meeting or teaching him. So, really we are just working with him and helping him start to pray about the BoM so that he can get his answer. Our other investigator from last week, "D", the Finnish/English speaking Nepalanese man. He came to church, and it was great. He even brought his friend who was visiting him for the weekend. I was soooo surprised. So right now, he is still at the same point as "B", looking for his answers from Heavenly Father. So we are just sitting pretty so to speak at the moment. They are on track, and we are still trying hard to find some more people.

Annikin lane...reminded him of Star Wars

So, your adventures have sounded pretty awesome. I would have loved to go to the car show and check the Bugatti Veyron out. Oh well, I'm doing more important things here. AND, I will be watching General conference in Kuopio probably this next week. We are staying with the district leader, and having a "billet!!!"... that's a party. No, not really we will be behaving ourselves. But, both me and Elder Slade are super excited to go to gen. conf. I don't remember being this excited ever for gen. conf. to roll around..... odd how the mission will affect that.
Also, the new rims ought to look pretty good. Send me a picture if you get a chance when you get them on the Jeep. Thanks. Good luck with your fingers this week. I hope you get all five back, too. And remember, I am praying for those fingers, as well as the whole family's safety. Thanks for your support.

love, Trev

P.S. That was a really cool idea to send me Emily's mission blog from the last week. If that is a regular thing, let me know. I would like to keep updated.... if not, no biggie.

9/20/10 Shotgun Talk & New Investigator

Family,

As for what has been going on here.... a lot has happened in the past week. Last week I said that this week would be the best I've had in a while. and it has...

This week I started out by just doing the normal stuff, but I had a meeting with one of our investigators. "P", we went over to his house and taught him about baptism. We then asked him if he would be baptised in like a month, and of course he said no. We expected that. So we then used the situation to ask him what would be holding him back, and trying to help him see his concerns about changing his life. Really though it felt and he acted like he just didn't fully desire to do anything. so in the end we asked him to come to church and he said he would.( later in the week, he ended up not coming which by this point is a good indicator that we should give him some time and come back in about a month or so to see if he is ready to start acting on what we are teaching. Some good news though is that we have been in the process of meeting with some other man"D", who is a Nepalese man. We were able to get ahold of him this week, and he said that he was really busy, but he would be at church and we could discuss the gospel then. Funny thing was, that he actually did it. He came during sunday school, and we taught him a little of the gospel. He was really open and agreed to meet with us some more and start reading the Book of Mormon. OH, he speaks English well , and he can speak Finnish well enough to get by. He is buying a restaurant here in Savonlinna. Anyways it was really good,and the best part was that I could tell he was feeling the spirit, despite some other factors,( that is another story). Thats about how the work here is going.

Another thing, this week was that we had a special training meeting in Oulu, and it was really good. President Brown focused on teaching by the spirit, and receiving revelation as you are teaching. It was really good, and I have been trying to work on this for a long time so it was nice to get that form this meeting. Another thing was that pres gave us a challenge to re read the B of M before Christmas, while marking 4 things: Christ and his references(names), his attributes, his words, and the doctrines of the BofM.... all in different colors. His challenge was aiming at giving us more spiritual power that would come from the Book of Mormon. Personally, I was and am excited to do this. I definately felt like this would help me have a stronger conviction and more powerful testimony.

Lastly, this Sunday I gave a shotgun talk... I found out sat. night that the person who should be giving a talk was out of town for his son ( another story) and so I gave a long winded thought as a talk. It wasn't very good. ....lol. I laughed at how dad this week, in his letter, said how great his talk was..... sort of ironic.

anyways thats this week. Thanks again for writing and I love you all.
trev

ps oh, I got the retainer fixed already.... it was 25 euros. but I have the receipt... so I'll try and get the form filled out. bah... I'll have to talk to you next week about it more though. Pretty much, its under control at the moment. oh and I wanted to ask, but you can answer in your next week email--- What are the girls sizes and yours? I would like to be ready this Christmas on gifts and I thought I should know. lol. I'm guessing you are a medium and what is that in euro numbers? 40? or an american 8?..... anyway, just curious.

oh lastly, I got a letter from Elizabeth today... I was quite surprised.... thought you might like to know. lol. It was good to hear how she was doing. Yes, I did get my present off to Emily for her birthday.... last week in fact..... me beaming......:)
I'm on the ball ....oh, yeah.....
ok well, I got to go..... love you !

9/13/10 Birthday Cake & Awakening Finland

Fam,

Oh yeah, I did make Elder Slade a german chocolate cake and change calls came. We are staying put. nothing terribly new. I also fixed one of his ties for him and made him breakfast too. Unfortuantely, that was the best part of the day....lol... rotten luck. Also, I soon realized that you can't hide a birthday cake from your companion when he lives with you.... lol.

Hey, so that's ok about the dental stuff.... I am going to take care of the re glueing thing and like I said last time you can find out the stuff about the dental insurance. I don't think it will be a problem just yet.

(We test drove a car this week for fun.) So are we getting new cars? an audi a 6 supercharged sounds pretty cool. Is it faster than the Jetta? that's what I want... lol.... faster and quicker. You should definately keep me updated on what kind of cars you end up looking at. Oh and I will most definately have a couple of parties at the house when I get home. Hopefully my friends/college dudes/dates won't think it's tacky being at the parent's house. ...lol Send me a picture of the new sectional when you decide on one. I would like to feel at home if I can when I actually get home.

I did get Kate's "kisses email" from Celeste, but i dont know if i can open it just yet. ...but I'll figure it out in a second. Thanks for telling me 'hi' from Elizabeth... How did you see her? I'm assuming you met her at a golf match for Jason. BTW, how did she seem like she was doing? I haven't heard from her for a really long time. Oh, and I haven't ever gotten a letter from Cecilia. I was hoping that I could eventually get in contact with her someday. I might even be able to say a couple of things in Swedish with her. ...lol.

So this week... the overview of it all.... is that we still don't know what is going on with "M" We did find a congo french guy.... we just haven't been able to get over to him. We are still waiting for our supplies in French to arrive as well, so we can't really teach him until those get here. We get those this Friday, so maybe next week I'll have something more to say about him. "P" our other inv. from way back... we are trying to get ahold of him and ask him how he is doing. We are getting a lot of support from the ward members. They are getting behind us more and more the longer we are here. It helps to be in the same area for a while. We even got one sister to now believe that there is a new awakening coming to Finland and Europe. We had a good DA with her and were able to testify strongly.... so hopefully, we can get this ward to change the Savonlinna area with us. ;)

Lastly, I will send some picts next week when I remember to bring my converter with me. I forgot. ....sorry. Also I'm trying to get caught up on letters so I'll write you another letter when I can..... maybe on that bus ride I have one this week. Once again, thanks for all your prayers this week. I can tell that they are helping out alot, the members seem to be more open to what we have to say.
love
trev

9/6/10 -- Wisdom Teeth and Home Teaching

Hey Linda,

First off I wanted to ask you some stuff.... It's about my dental stuff. So, my retainer has once again broken. lol. It's terrible how many times its happened. So, good news is that I'm in Finland where I can see a dentist. Anyways, I was wanting to know if our insurance would cover it or if I would have to just fork over the money with my credit card. I have a $800 limit so I think I could cover just a glue and tweek job if it didn't get covered by the insurance first off. I really wouldn't mind having a bracket broken, but I noticed that my front two teeth are getting a slight gap in the middle. I don't know why they are doing that. It should just be an easy glue job like last time, but this time I have two brackets that are broken.

Also, another item I felt like I should have checked maybe just through you, is about my wisdom tooth. It is coming in (one crown is poking through) and I just wanted to make sure that it wouldn't have any interference with my other teeth (make me loose my other tooth next too it). I've tried feeling around with my tongue, but I can't tell for sure what is going on. If you could go to Gunnel and get my last x ray records maybe Celeste could tell if it will be a problem. I haven't really had a problem with it, but I just wanted to check before it would become a problem, now would be the time to have it removed if I needed to....

that's about all for now. I'll be getting on again at 5:00 pm, my time.... 8 am yours. we can chat then and see what we should do.
tell you more about this week later. bye.
trev.

2nd email: I just noticed that my teeth don't have such a large gap like they did a day ago. wierd.
I am also not in a rush to get my wisdom tooth looked at but if I can I'll have the dentist look at it.

Hmm, sounds like a eventful week.... for you all. What with the sod laying and yard work at Arica's. Well, this week for me has been quite the opposite, a little dreary. It's been raining almost every day and "M" still says she is still sick. So we have been patiently waiting for a chance to meet with her, as well as working really hard at finding someone new. OH, this week had a little funny story...well not really but this week when I was out on the steets I tried approaching this young man. As soon as I got his attention, he saw my name badge and freaked out, and started running. Only then did I realize he might be handicapped. I felt a little ridiculous. Another thing about the missionary work, is that the bishop has asked us to help out with the home teaching, (we only have two priesthood holders) and so that should give us a good chance to get the members to spread the gospel with their friends. I think that it is going to help a lot. Well, that's about all for the week.

Well tell me what is happens next week. oh, and I didn't get the pictures of the grass being laid, but i can imagine pretty well. I've done a few in my days. lol.
love you all and hope that dad's fingers get better.
Trevor.