Tracting, Tracting and even more Tracting!!! GAH!!!

Hey everybody! This last week was pretty normal. Not too much going on. I heard about a lot of prayers and fasting coming my way and I want to truly thank all of you who have been praying for me  it really makes a difference and I feel a little stronger because of them. I love you all so much and I'm so grateful for how much you all do for me. You are really the best. All of you. Thank you.

Anyways this week was good. We didn't really do much last Tuesday but we had our ward council meeting where I realized how sad the rules of missionary life are. One woman brought her like 14 month baby to the meeting and she loves my ring and watch. And she wanted to sit on my lap. And I couldn't!! It was so sad and the mom felt for me. She asked if I was allowed. I almost said yes, but I didn't. I resisted. She was really cute though.

Wednesday we got up bright and early for ZONE CONFERENCE!! It was really chill and really fun. I have never been in the Tampere zone before, so it was really fun to see all these people most of whom I have never met. Also being able to see President and Sisar Aura was amazing as always. We rode the train there with our Pori elders and also the Rauma elders but only the Rauma elders came back with us because the Pori elders got to ride in the AP's car since they were heading our way. But it was so fun, we had dinner and just enjoyed the time on our way home. It was a blast! Then we hurried as fast as we could to a lesson that we were late for because of a delayed train, but the lesson went really well. It was with a recent convert and he is so excited. He is getting a bunch of vacation time and so he is planning on reading the whole Book of Mormon. AGAIN! How exciting!

Thursday we had a lesson with our other recent convert. We are going strong on the tea and cookies for our afternoon lessons. He is amazing and doing so well. And he's so kind. Until he (the only real piano player in our ward) threw the fact that he wasnt gonna be at church on sunday at us. So he volunteered us to play. And that will be talked about in a moment. I gotta keep ya on your toes! We didn't do much else. Just tracted outside of that. Just a lot of tracting. It was fine though.

Friday was pretty normal. Our ward coordination and Finnish learning time was good. We read a lot and it was exciting! He has us write a couple paragraphs in Finnish then we go through the grammar. It's good fun and we learn a lot. Then we came home to weekly plan and finished for once! Then tracted. It is a very normal thing. My mom said that her cousin told her that when he was younger he had a friend who went to Finland and it was told to that friend, "For every door you knock on in Finland, a South American missionary gets a baptism." That's unfortunately true. I guess I need to knock more doors! 😉 

Saturday we again tracted. All day. Just normal houses. Where people are more likely to say no. All day. Just walking down streets that we have tracted for the first time. And tracting. I was exhausted by the time it was over. I have not really anything else to say other than, ugh. It was a rough day.

Sunday was much better!! We had church in which I played the piano. For one song. Then our branch President pulled his musical talent out of a hat and played the other two. It was incredible. I did better than last time, but he did phenomenal! We also had a first lesson with the most adorable woman named Laura. She is so cute and she seemed really willing and even eager to read the Book of Mormon and pray. It was exciting! Then for dinner we went to the Vesterinens! (With some tracting in between) and had ROOT BEER FLOATS!!

Monday was okay. It was an emotionally trying day. We had a lesson set up but Liisa was sick so we couldn't go over, so it was another day like Saturday. SO MUCH TRACTING. Missionary life though. Am I right?

It was a good week altogether though, and we are excited for the future. We are hoping to extend a baptismal date this week and I found out the Helena the member referral from Lappeenranta has accepted a baptismal date! I am so excited! The work is truly good. I love you all and hope you have a great week!!

Love,
Sisar McCammon

Flu Shot - NOT HAPPY! LOL!!!!

 Elders sleeping on the train to Tampere for Zone Conference

 The chocolate there is to die for!!!

 Sisar Selfies!!!

 Ice Cream Advent.  She's going to do a daily pic with a thumbs up thumbs down. Finland has very odd ice cream flavors! 

BEING IN FINLAND

Hey everyone! 

I am so sorry about the lack of a letter last week! I will try to make it up, but I am limiting myself on time because, well I am. So I will try to make up for last week in the limited time that we have.

The 29th was good. We did tracting about 45 minutes south of us, and we talked to a lady who we had already talked to. But the place is called Kokemäki. I tell you this because nothing interesting happened while we were tracting besides seeing a guy in a cowboy hat. Anyways where we were at is this hill. Not like huge, but normal, random hill. (For those from Ammon think Peterson park, for others use your imagination) So I ran up it and sang The Sound of Music! But I was wearing a white coat or I would have rolled down the hill too. Instead I just crunched the icy grass! It was fun! 

The 30th we had District Council where the normal stuff happened but then afterwards we went and taught a recent convert. It went really well and we invited him to bear his testimony in church. He is really shy so he said he would try, but he didn't really want to. He plays the piano too, so it would be a little bit awkward for him to go because he stays at the piano. But flash forward and he did!! it was seriously the best! He is amazing!! After our lesson where the Spirit was so strong we went tracting because the other lesson we had fell through. 😠😡 Lame!

The 31st HALLOWEEN! Nothing happened. I dressed up like America, I have one mirror selfie, but it isn't great. So just imagine me as America... I don't know. We had another lesson with a recent convert that went super well. He has already finished the Book of Mormon and has started again and really wants to get to know it better, so we helped him with that a little bit. It was really good for him. I want to see if we could get him so Finnish seminary stuff or institute stuff because he would just love that! He loves the gospel so much!!

The 1st we had ward coordination and language class with the Branch president because he is a linguist. He is so cool. So we did that and I learned more body parts. I need to study them more, but I learned them. Then later that night we had a lesson, a member, and everything, but he wasn't home. We were pretty upset. I hate when we have a member but not a person. But the member lived close by and seemed pretty chill with it. She really is awesome! I love the ward here! They are amazing!

The 2nd we actually had a lesson in the morning, and he was there, and actually is interested to learn more! It was amazing! We taught so Spirit led, and he had so many good questions. It was amazing and the member we brought along was perfect for him as well. They got along really well. He has a pretty big family too, so we hope we can teach them all! The rest of the day was just tracting or following up, so that was definitely the highlight of the day.

The 3rd was sacrament meeting, and I bore my testimony! I have never borne my testimony in a testimony meeting in my entire remembrance, so that was really cool. I just felt so confident and maybe it was because it was in Finnish, but I did it. Our recent convert also bore his testimony and it was his first time, so that was really fun too. All the members were so excited and loved it! They were so proud and honestly I was too. It was so fun! Then later that night we went to an area for a follow up, but I had never been to the area before. I had no idea what was happening. So we drove out there. And neither of us realized that the follow up was actually a member. The follow up doesn't exist, but we knocked on the member's door and played it off, and prayed with him, but the worst part was that it was an accident and we had a dinner appointment with them the next day... Whoops... Plus Sister Middleton had been there before. But in the dark it is different..

The 4th was a day of tracting and our dinner appointment. It was such a good meal too. I have never had quite the gourmet meal. It seriously was amazing! I loved every bite. Not much else happened, but it was such a good meal. Oh and the mashed potatoes were to die for... So good. 

After we went to the lighthouse last week! It was so cool and so fun and I got to touch the ocean! I also got to smash a lot of ice because guys, it is so cold here!! But after all that fun stuff, we went south by like 30 minutes and tracted there. Well this is the story of how we found one of our new friends. Liisa though is amazing! She was found last transfer by Sister Daily and Middleton (I don't remember how) but she let them in and they answered a lot of her questions about the temple because she has relatives working in the Switzerland temple. Her in laws are there and her husband (their brother) passed away 4 years ago and she is really interested in how she can be sealed to him. So we went to her area because a member just moved in on her street. So we went to welcome them but they weren't home. So we went to tract the street, and I noticed her house because I didn't realize where we were, so we went and knocked. She let us in and she is so READY! I have never met someone who was as prepared as she is. Apparently she went to church in Rauma several times and our branch president knows her and her family who is from Rauma, so we are so excited for her. We know the ward will just love her and help her because she is so ready! It was such a good experience to have. I haven't really had one yet, so it felt really amazing to feel the Spirit like that. It was so amazing. We are planning on extending a baptismal date to her this week! Please pray that she will accept it! Oh she also has been reading the Book of Mormon and praying about it!! So please pray on her behalf that she can feel the Spirit tell her that it is true!! Because it is!!

Wednesday was a bit normal. We just did a lot of finding. Contacting and tracting and all that jazz. Not literally anything else. I guess we had district council, but I don't really remember much. Must not have been a very good day. But it happened.

Thursday we had a lesson with the recent convert who bore his testimony. It was such a fun lesson too. We talked a lot about the priesthood, and how important it is that we have it. We talked to him about preparing ourselves every week for the sacrament, and he was super active in the discussion. We brought along a member who is like his BFF and so it was a fun lesson. A bit distracted but still really really fun. I will send the video of the best part because he just whipped his phone out at one point and shows us this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7XrxX5xM40 please watch and enjoy. We also tried to do a game night, but it was at a bad time, so now we need to reconsider timing and such. So we ended up just having a joint dinner appointment with the elders at the branch president's house. We played games there though, and it was fund and worked out!

Friday was a day full of planning. We went to our ward coordination and then afterwards received a spare mattress, so we could have exchanges that night. The elders brought it over. We had to stop and get gas then we stopped and grabbed some pastries to say thank you and Happy Anniversary to our Branch president and his wife. Then we had to stop by their house so sister Middleton could figure out some documents she had to fill out. Then we had EXCHANGES! It was so fun with Sister Broderick and Allen from the MTC. I loved it so much. We basically did finding with them the whole time because we had no lessons.

So Saturday was literally the same. We just tracted all day. Sister Allen and I in the morning had two let in lessons in a row though. That was something that was really fun! One lady was watching Master Chef Australia and was playing music and the other lady's phone rang the whole time. It was really fun though. We don't get let into a lot of people's homes so its always fun when we do. Even crazier is when it happens twice in a row! That was the fun experience of the day of tracting though!

Sunday was good. Sister Middleton gave a killer talk about Fathers because Sunday was Father's day! It was so fun! We played a little trick on our Branch President and told him we couldn't come to dinner, but then the Elders showed up then the sisters! It was really fun to see him so happy because he was really bummed that no one could come, but it was so exciting when we both got to come!! We was really excited and we got to wish him a Happy Father's day!

Monday was pretty similar too. We were supposed to have had a lesson but we completely forgot to set it up, so we just did so much tracting! We knock so many doors in a week. I feel like that's all I've talked about! But some fun experiences that happened:

•getting invited in a house by an old man without any pants on

•driving back and forth to find a lost pair of gloves twice and a name tag once

•jumping on ice trying to break up the little frozen puddles

•getting snowed on!

•petting lots of dogs

•seeing Christmas start because Halloween is over and Thanksgiving doesn't exist

•BEING IN FINLAND

I really do love this country so much! It is an amazing place and I am grateful for it! I hope you can all feel my love for here and also for you! Have a great week! 

Love

Sister McCammon 

 This was Halloween so I am assuming this is the mirror selfie of America? LOL!!!

 So Gorgeous! 

 Pori Lighthouse

 The branch president and his family took the girls out to the lighthouse.

 View from their apartment of the snow.

 After a little research found out this was taken in front of the Fire Station. Still don't know what it is!

Its a moomin!

Pori Finland Here I am!!!

This week was absolutely insane! Last time I wrote, I was living in Lappeenranta and seeing a Russian every other person almost. Especially when we got to go to the Russian border! 😉 just kidding, we didn't see any Russians but it was awesome! I miss that place so much!! The known streets and trusty members and beloved friends. LPR was seriously home. But on Tuesday I shoved the last of my belongings into my bulging bags and headed to the train station. We were met by a member who drove us over there. I cried a lot when I said goodbye. And then I cried some more on the train and slept a bit and  talked to my sweet companion. I had roughly 20 minutes at the train station before bidding a bitter sweet goodbye to my dead sweet Sister Miller. 😥👭 I was sad to see her go but shes gonna be an amazing trainer. She's seriously amazing and LPR is gonna thrive. I boarded my train though, and rode to Tampere by myself. I cried quite a bit and tried to hide it from the few other passengers nearby. But it was a bit weird to travel by myself.

But I made is to Tampere and was met by Sister Allen 💕 from the MTC, Sister Middleton 💖 my new companion, and Sister Forrest ❤ who I was companions with for the day when Sister Nielson went to my plan. It was way fun. Then we hung out in the train station for roughly 2.5 hours before boarding the train to Pori with the Elders. Elder Hall (MTC) and Gatrell who was in Helsinki zone with me. I also got to meet my district and see Sister Broderick (also MTC [that makes 4 of us in the same district!]) Then Sister Middleton and I went and started working really. We bought some groceries and had dinner but just started working. We got to meet the most amazing members that night. It is the branch president and his wife and their one son. They are literally the best people ever. They are already good friends to me! 😁 They are so compassionate and loving. They are amazing!!!

That was just Tuesday. Wednesday we did a lot of finding then in the evening we got to go out and teach a recent convert. He is was cool. He has such a strong testimony and it was amazing to teach him and meet him. I really enjoyed my time there. That plus he gave us some chocolate and snacks. He is seriously super nice. Plus he is a professional piano player for the Lutheran church and he plays the piano amazingly. It is incredible.

Thursday was our ward coordination meeting. Which means we get to be with our Branch President for a while and he teaches us Finnish by having us go through an essay we write in Finnish prior to our meeting. So he teaches Finnish then we get to discuss about our friends and how we can help the ward and so forth. It was absolutely amazing. Then afterwards, the elders were kind enough to serve us by putting winter tires on our car. Here come winter. I am partially scared for winter driving but bring it on Finland. This Idaho girl is ready to take you on!! 🦸‍♀️💪

Friday I went to TAMPERE! And it was legit the best. We got there and found our way to the chapel. (Halfway across the city) so we got to see a bunch of stuff. And i bought ice cream that is lemon flavoured and delicious. Absolute heaven. 🍋🍦we has district council and I was excited to meet our district. Although I know most of us already. It was way fun! I love to see other missionaries although district councils are sometimes difficult. I feel guilty a lot during them because I never feel like I'm doing enough. It feels like chastisement a lot. I hope that can change too because it puts a downer on the excitement of seeing other missionaries. After council we had like and hour and a half in Tampere. So we wandered towards the train station. We took pictures by the church and by some statues and we took a picture that looked like the paper mill. It was cool we walked around a while before going back to the station and getting on the train to go back to Pori. We got to go back with the Elders. It was seriously way fun.

Saturday we did some following. We met a bunch of people who we interested in the morning and got to teach our other recent convert. He is so cool. He is pretty busy, but has already read the Book of Mormon is his three months of being a member. His conversion is so strong and he is dating a member, so we are praying really hard on his behalf that it goes well for both of them. People here deserve eternal marriage and families so much. There is so much these people don't realize they are missing out on. Only when we go through the temple and are sealed can we really live with our families after we die. Only through Jesus Christ can we feel completely forgiven and become like Heavenly Father. Heavenly Father wants so much for us to be close to Him because He wants to help us out so much!! Anyways, we also got to drive out to Reposaari. That's where the ocean (Gulf of Finland?) is, so of course I took a picture. Then when we followed up at the next person, we were so far from the city that the stars were so clear. We also got to walk out to a little beach like 10 meters from our car, and saw the ocean and the stars and i just felt so happy. I wish i could have laid down on the sand for just 5 minutes and soaked in the evening and appreciated.  It was good for the moment we were there though.

Sunday I bore my testimony in church!!! 😬😬 it went well though. The biggest mistake I caught. I almost said I had been in Finland for 10 years and not months. Even though we are a Branch and we didn't have that many members at church that day, I was still pretty nervous to talk in front of everyone. But church was really good. I understood pretty much all of it and that is still something I am getting used to. I remember still remember sitting in the chapel in Espoo and thinking during Sacrament, "the only thing I understood in that was 'dear brothers and sisters' how am I going to ever learn this language?" And yet here i am almost a year later. It's incredible what the Spirit can teach you. Another fun thing and merciful thing was our branch President and his wife feeding us dinner. It was the best dinner ever. They asked about the food I missed most which was funeral potatoes so we got to eat funeral potatoes!! 🥔🥔🥔 I love them so much! They take such good care of us!! (They gave us the leftovers!!!)

Monday was okay. President gave us permission to go and get to know Pori a little. So we went to the tourist place and learned a bit about what there is to see for the next couple months then we went and found a book at the public library about Pori before stopping for burgers on the way home. Then we finished planning for our week before heading for some more finding. Lots and lots of doing this week, but it isn't terrible I guess. I'm still new here, and I'm driving, so that's crazy. All has been going well, and I'm really excited for the rest of my time here. I hope I can love it just as much as I loved LPR!!

I love you all and hope you have a good week. Feel my love!!!

Love Sister McCammon!! 💖💖💖

Bittersweet Goodbye's

Hey there. Sorry I missed yesterday. It got kinda crazy with packing, but I hope you like the Russian border pictures. It was a really beautiful drive and I'm glad I went. Afterwards we went and ate pizza, then E. took us to her art studio before bringing us back to Lappeenranta. I cried so hard when I said goodbye to her and R. It was so hard to leave the both of them, and I'm gonna miss them. We need to come back and visit mama. Then later we met with J. and when we said goodbye to him, I cried just as hard. I probably cried at leaving Lappeenranta just as much as I cried when you took me to the MTC. These people are my friends and I am going to miss them so much.

Our week was good though. We gave a school presentation last week, and that was another cool thing. This class asked a lot of questions and were really interested to listen. They were a good group. We weren't as prepared as we thought but it went really well. We later had dinner with a member's family and it was fun. Sad to go, but we had a good time with them. They feed us every week, and they are so glad to do it!

We had district council on Wednesday. It was sad to say goodbye to everyone. There are some people who I could never see again, and that is honestly really sad. I really like a lot of the people here that I have met. I know I can't keep in contact with all of them, but my Christmas card list is just getting longer.

Thursday we had a morning lesson which went well, then we got to serve a member. She had a group of men moving a piano from her childhood home to her home, and we got to help her make dinner. After dinner we got to have a little family home evening. We played a game called Ligretto. Similar to Nertz or Wacky 6 if you've played either. Or maybe a speed SkipBo if everyone plays at once. I don't really know how to describe it. It was really fun, and her kids loved to be with the missionaries. They all have special spirits, and it was fun to friendship the non members in her family that were there.

Friday we had a lesson in the evening. It went well. Kinda we started sharing and then she started asking us for proof, so I went to look up a scripture and she just started throwing so many scriptures to tell us we were wrong. I know we weren't, but she Bible Bashed us for close to and hour and a half. I got fed up and finally pulled out a scripture that says something like "those called of God aren't called to be taught but to teach." I basically said that my time is important and I have a message to share. I know I have the trust and you obviously have a lot to say too, but maybe we can come by another day." I tried to end on a good note. The woman and her son were really kind people. I'm friends with them both, but I just really don't like being bashed in English or Finnish. It hurts, you know?

Saturday we had our English class which was so fun. We read the story of Rip Van Winkle. It fascinated them and we had fun talking about what kind of future we would find if we slept for 20 years. I think it would be quite different. As they left, one of the women who comes gave me a gift and said she was grateful she knew me and honestly, me too. She is so precious and I will miss her and everyone else too.

Sunday went well. We taught a lesson and I spoke in church. It went really well. I didn't cry although I felt like I could have. I sure have cried enough since. I really don't like goodbyes. They are an unfortunate necessity in this life. We also had our last meeting with our ward mission leader. I seriously will miss these members so much. They have become such a big part of my life, and I love them so much. It's hard sometimes to get so close and know that one day you will leave. I was in denial that it was ever going to happen until I'm not on a train heading to Pori. I am sure it will be great. It's definitely a new adventure, but I will miss the door I just closed behind me.

I hope that your week went well. I love you and I miss you. Until next week!

Love Sister McCammon

P-day was on Monday because transfer calls came. She has been transferred from Lappeenranta to Pori. A few of the members took them on a trip to the border so they had a fun day of sight-seeing on Monday before she left.


Day trip to the Russian border crossing

 If you look real close you can see the border fence across the road.

Nuijamaa - At the edge of the square in front of the church of Nuijamaa, the war veterans and reserve officers of Nuijamaa have erected a monument to the Free Motherland.

This is called the Ringstone there are a few different stories. If you want to read about it a little here is a blog post from someone in Finland that tells a little history of it.   https://maurikin.blogspot.com/2015/05/nuijamaan-sormuskivi.html

Ready to Roll!

To be transferred or not to be transferred that is the question!

Hello All,

This week was a lot better than last. I am fearing transfers quite a bit to be honest. We get calls on Friday.  I am anticipating that I will be transferred though and I am really going to miss Sister Miller, but it's for the best I suppose. She keeps telling me that I am going to stay and we are just going to become a trio, but that doesn't seem quite right. It's alright though. I will miss everything about this place (except the difficulties that were shuffled as I was here), but I love Lappeenranta and the people here. I know that no place will be quite the same or hold the same place in my heart as did the people and places here. I remember when I was in Lohja and President told me to make memories in the places and remember who you contacted and what happened, and I can sure say that a lot of things happened. I can recall quite a few benches I cried on... And talking to quite a few people as I cried!! Not quite the best time to contact, but always a missionary!! But I really will miss this place. It will be hard to say goodbye to both Lappeenranta and Sister Miller, but I know I leave it in capable hands.

My studies have been quite peaceful. Lots of the happy light and lots of the Spirit. My transfer goal has been to become more virtuous, and I feel like I am more virtuous now than before. It really has helped to study that because I can control my thoughts much better now about home than I could in the beginning. I thought about home and how much I missed it a lot, and I couldn't stop. It is so much better now though. I still miss home and think about coming home, but I can stop myself and focus on something else. Even if I have to open the Book of Mormon for a second and read some verses. I am continually impressed with my Finnish ability when I read the Book of Mormon in Finnish. I have learned so much, and I realize just how much Sister Kristensen and Hansen knew when I was their companions. It seemed so unreachable when I was in training, but now I am right up there with them. Pretty amazing as I look back. The Book of Mormon has been a huge help too. I haven't quite started reading it from the start again, but just studying bits and pieces, and it is the most amazing book. I am grateful for how much power I have felt from it as I have been in Lappeenranta.

My health is good. Physically as always is fine. I am better this week than last week too. Although maybe that wasn't so hard, but it was a really good week. I use the happy light every day pretty much. Plus I think I allowed myself to be happy more. I realized this week that I was mentally at home. I had physically decided to stay, but I had mentally gone home (as characterized by going home dreams) and it wasn't helping. While I don't think I'm fully back or permanently here, I'm here now and working on staying. Now that I have realized this, I think the Savior can help me more. I know what I'm fighting against a little bit better. I have really felt the Savior a lot here and I truly know how much he saves us from. He is really a miracle worker and is working miracles inside of me everyday. I am grateful that I have learned a little bit better how to rely on Him.

Our friends are doing really well. E, I think is a little bit scared and backing off again, but she loves church. Plus, she was really excited to watch conference. She wants to watch it in peace because she was in Russia during the broadcasts. It was really fun to see how excited she was for it. Then our friend H. She is doing well too. Our miracle first lesson was great but the second lesson was less miraculous. We did get to show her the video Because of Him, and it went really well. We taught her the Plan of Salvation and she felt the Spirit. I think we are going to extend a baptismal date next time. We are excited for her as she progresses. Our friend R. in Imatra is doing well too. She really likes the Book of Mormon and has been reading quite regularly. I hope she can come to church and get to know some of the members though because I think she would really get along well with them, and they could help and encourage her. We will see though.

I think the biggest tender mercy is watching a returning member we have been working with go back to the temple. When we first started meeting with him, he didn't have any desire to read the Book of Mormon or pray or come to church, but after meeting and talking and inviting and influencing and asking, he found the desire within himself. It was amazing to watch that change in him. To have him go from thinking Heavenly Father hates him, to realizing that life is hard, but the Savior is with us helping us always, was amazing to witness. He has always had strong faith, but now he has decided to act on it. It has made such a change in his life too. He was always melancholy and sad before, but He's been really happy these past couple times we have seen him. It is simply wonderful.

I think another tender mercy has been to help a member friend as she has been dealing with the death of her beloved dog and grandmother. They passed away within two weeks of each other, and it has been really hard. Especially because she doesn't have family around just some close friends, and to have the missionaries with her and sharing scriptures and testimonies of love has really helped her. It has helped me to see that missionary work takes many forms because it isn't missionary work. It's serving and loving everyone. We emphasize helping those who aren't part of our faith but members need the help, love and contact too.

Last tender mercy was in church. So the member, E., who's dog passed away, gave a talk in church. She speaks only English though, so I had the opportunity to translate for her. Not only did I translate, but I offered support as she talked about the loss the has recently touched her life. It was a special moment for both of us. When we sat down, I translated the next talk for her, which was difficult a bit because the man who spoke talks really fast, so it wasn't perfect translation by any means, but it worked. Then I translated for her in Relief Society which wasn't too bad. The talk (President Nelson's from women's conference) was a big focus, so it wasn't too bad. But after church we were invited to a member's house for dinner, and E. was invited too. It was a blessing to her for the invitation because she appreciated the support. But these members only speak Finnish, so I translated there too. I really felt the Spirit because I know I couldn't have done it all by myself, but by the time we got home, i was exhausted. It drained my energy to do that, but it was a blessing and a tender mercy from the Lord that I was able to serve her in that way and I know the Lord was helping me SO MUCH!

I think that's all for this week. We were busy with trying to finish follow up and calling and inviting and working. We had a school presentation this morning at Lyseo again. They had a lot of questions and I'd say it was our best one yet. The teacher even seemed impressed by what we had to say, and R. has told us that in the past, she has been pretty aggressive, so it's nice that she has softened a little bit. I love you all!

Love,
Sister McCammon

I love this picture so much!  Its gorgeous!

I have so much love for someone I don't even know!  How is that possible?!?! Sisar Miller 💛

 I have a really good idea! Donuts! Abbie and I were at Walmart once and we overheard a little girl tell her mom "I have a really good idea! We should get donuts!"  Now that is a running line between us! Looks like she's carrying on the tradition!!!

 She said they were told it was a tick, but its not. Its a psuedoscorpion - Google it! We did! So Gross!

Bus rides and missionary work = sleep

Grocery Shopping

Zone Conference, Exchanges and General Conference...OH MY!!!

Good morning!

So, this week was more difficult. There's a short film in our apartment called "Our Heavenly Father's Plan" and at the beginning the narrator is asking people what the purpose of life is. There are all sorts of answers but the one that describes my week is by a construction worker that says, "I don't know. Just working towards retirement is all." That pretty accurately describes this week I think. Just going through the motions sometimes. I was really excited for conference and that was a highlight.

My studies are good though. I finished the Book of Mormon this week. It felt really good and I know my testimony was strengthened. I prayed about it a lot, and wrote my testimony down. It was definitely a highlight of the week too. I also found out my dad finished on the same day as me. It definitely strengthened my testimony of Heavenly Father being aware of me. Another thing that strengthened my testimony of that was in conference. When the choir stood up and sang How Firm a Foundation, I was brought back to another time when I heard that song. I was struggling in the MTC and had a blessing that directed me to a scriptural cross reference to that song. I found comfort in the scripture and while in Californian airport, the Elders sang How Firm a Foundation. The third verse really stuck out to me and reminded me of the scripture. It brought an added strength to a rough time, and here I am almost a year later. It was a blessing to have them sing the song at conference. A little reminder of God's awareness and love.

Our friends are good. We had H., the referral from Veli K. come to conference. She said she really liked it, and we have a lesson set up with her for Friday, so we can talk more about it then. We also got to teach E. and she really felt the Spirit. We really tried to help her understand, and she prayed and felt the Spirit. She is so close! We are excited for her, and I hope that conference answers some questions for her. Helps her get to baptism.

My tender mercy this week is seriously got to be my companion. She is such a strength. She hasn't been here too long, but she takes charge, and is so ready for everything. Her missionary skills have grown so much, and she helps me more than I help her I think. Her testimony is so strong, and she is such a  light in my life. I can really tell she cares with how much service she does for me. I love her so much!!

Another tender mercy happened with Sisar S. We have a dinner appointment with them every week, and when we were in the car on the way to her house, we were just talking. I asked her some questions about missionary work, and she just shared her motherly wisdom. She talked about her daughter, being on her mission, and about her mission. It was a really Spirit led conversation for both of us, and was really good. I was grateful for it.

Last tender mercy was on exchanges. We had a plan, but because of a member being home at a different time than we supposed, we switched the plan a little bit, so we could stop by for a few minutes and talk about her daughter in law and recent convert. Because we switched our plans last minute, on our way to an area, we got in contact with a potential that Sister Godfrey knew and I hadn't met; we met a less active who we have been trying to get in contact with a lot; gave a man a Book of Mormon; and met and talked to a woman from Mexico- in Spanish; taught a new investigator; uplifted a member and asked her to invite her daughter in law to conference; and so many other things that happened just because we followed the Spirit. It was really good, and a blessing.

That's all for this week.

Love,
Sisar McCammon

Zone Conference Pic