Sylvester Snaillone? hahaha

Last Tuesday we didn't do much but we walked around Saimaa and enjoyed the beauty of the greenery here in Finland. It really is beautiful. Then for the evening we just went and tracted and contacted. We tried to follow up with a friend, but only his son was there so we just talked for a bit then left. 

Wednesday was a little different because we didn't have district council since we had Zone Conference on Monday. So we went out in the morning to tract and follow up with some people who had said they were interested, but no one was home. Too many people at work. So we went and bought lunch at the market by where we were. It was good, and then we went out and tracted a little bit more before heading home. by the time we got home and did our studies though, we were exhausted and we fell asleep about halfway through and napped through part of our studies. Most of dinner too, so we had some leftover fish soup then went to our Bible Study. It went well. There was another member of their church there and he was pretty cool. He had a barber shop quartet mustache and that was really cool. But we read in Proverbs and I found out that a lot of Proverbs is written in a Hebrew poem form kind of like the English term Chiasmus. So it was fun to read and discuss with them. They fed us a little bit too and the couple that holds the Bible study are the cutest. The wife moved here from Japan and so she had this little Japanese treat. It was like a peach or a plum or something like that, but really sour and almost really bitter. It was good but I don't think I will try one again. 

Thursday we went out again in the morning and tried to talk to a returning member, but she wasn't home. Her husband was though so he invited us to come back and said he would pass on information to her. So far we haven't heard from her, but we are planning on going back soon. It was really rainy today, and that meant all the snails were out on the paths. So last week it was a duck, and this week it was a snail that I got to pet! It was awesome! There were so many, so we started naming them. Snackie Chan. Sylvester Snaillone. Snarnold Schwarzenegger. It was fun. Then we came home for lunch and studies. It was good. We went to visit a member in the nursing home again before our dinner appointment with a family in our ward. When we went out to their house, we helped move some boxes into a room that just opened up, and then ate a quick dinner before we went to their daughter's school's "Kevät Juhla" or Spring party. They reenacted a few stories from the Kalevala (The first book ever written in Finnish. Kind of like the Finnish version of Aesop's fables or Canterbury tales.) It was so fun! I didn't understand a thing, but it was fun to see and support their daughter. She did so well!

Friday was a normal weekly planning day, so not much happened with that. Afterwards though, we went contacting for a while before coming home to a quick dinner and a brisk walk to the train station overnight bags in tow. We had splits that night in Espoo. We contacted this really cool man who spoke perfect Finnish despite having moved here only a year ago. And when we asked what his native language is (after we had missed the bus and were starting to walk to the train station) he said Curdish. It was really awesome because that is one of the languages that I know how to say Thank you in. SO it was super sweet to say thank you to him in his native language! He just lit up!! We then had a bit of a travel to Espoo, but when we got there, Sister GODFREY!!! And I went and taught one of their friend who is getting baptized in a couple weeks about temples. IN FINNISH! It was so weird. Almost like the MTC but we know more of what we are saying now and we understand a little bit more. It was so fun!

Saturday was fun! I got to go and knock on door with Sister Hollingsworth. We talked to this guy from Poland. He was cool. It was just really sad to see that he was searching and recognized that, but he doesn't want an answer. he is searching, but expecting the answer to be no. So went the answer knocks on his door at 11 o'clock in the morning, he doesn't hear. It was sad, but he was way cool. Then we went and ate and studied. Then Sister Godfrey and I went to another lesson. This time to a recent convert, and it was so stinking cool. I was in Lohja when he was baptized, so I knew a lot about him and we is way cool. He is so excited about the gospel. He has almost every book from the church and reads them all the time because he's a retired man really with nothing better to do. So He knows so much already. It is so cool!! Sister Godfrey and I went and contacted and found one person who was interested. It was way cool. Then we got Bible bashed by a man on our way home. He was nice though and it was interesting to learn what he had to say. It is always just crazy to me when someone tells me, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, what I believe. I always just want to ask, "How do you know better than I do about what I believe?" Always interesting, but it was fun. Then Sister Godfrey and I started dinner and waited for the other sisters before we reviewed what we learned, ate, and Sister Nielson and I headed home. It was such a good day. Good to be home.

Sunday! Such a good day to be at church. It was so nice and chill. Then afterwards we had a little party and ate with the members. Way fun!! Such good food. Finns seriously know how to do soup. Then we had a good study session before heading out to a Bible study. We talked about "taming our tongue" and how much power our words actually have. It all centers in love too. That when we love, we don't use our tongue for mean degrading things, but happy, kind, uplifting things. It was good. Then we hurried home for a quick dinner of leftovers, and then our meeting with our Ward Mission leader. It went well, but it always sucks when the week just sucks and you keep getting cancelled on. Over and over, so there isn't much to report. But it was a good day kuitenkin.

Monday was a hard day. We had a lesson in the morning that got moved back. So we went home and studied before coming to the church for lesson 2 which went well! We even got her to tell us we could help her on her farm. Which hasn't happened before. Then the first lesson that was rescheduled was cancelled, so we went out and tracted a little bit. It was good sort of. No success. It was hard, but we got a lot of maybe laters. So we did what we did before heading home for dinner. After dinner, we tracted a little bit more. Then went to another lesson with some people we met about 2 weeks ago. It was good at first. We did small talk and got to know more about them and them us. The woman also made some snacks and some herbal tea for us. It was delicious and really kind. But after a little bit of that, the man started kindly bible bashing. It was almost as if they were trying to missionary us up while we tried to do the same. But the woman really respectfully told us that she wasn't interested in changing but she'll talk to us if we want. So it was basically a dead end. It was fun for the most part, but we were almost late, so we had to run home. It was a crazy day! And that's that!

This week has been really discouraging. It has been full of disappointments and rejections. It definitely wasn't anything remarkable, just all the lows were thrown into this week. I don't even know what I can say much other than that. We had a lot of rejections and it really sucks, but the members have been so good, and we have gotten back into contact with a few people. So there were some good things, but also a lot of not great. Kinda like life... I guess I am just in the Petri dish of life right here. I don't know but Finland is just gorgeous. So green and full of life. It is really rainy right now, but still absolutely amazingly beautiful, so God makes up! I really do love Him and I am so glad that He is here with me. I have really felt my testimony of Him being with me strengthen so much this week. He is my Father in Heaven. Just as He is all of your Fathers. He loves you all so personally. And I love you all too. Until Next week!!

Love, Sisar McCammon

I GOT TO PET A DUCK!!!!

Wednesday: We had district council in Mikkeli! It was so good! I love my district and it is always good to be able to see them again and also the fact that I have two elders from my MTC days in the group. Elders Harlow and Robbins. It is always so fun to see them. Then afterwards, we had interviews with president in Kouvola so we went for that then we had an early dinner together with them and the Kouvola elders. We ate at a Nepalese restaurant and it was incredibly good. I am not usually one for foreign foods (bless up for Finland have basic foods) but this place was SO GOOD! I also know how to say thank you in Nepali, so I got to say it to the owner/ waiter, and he just loved it. It was so cool to see him just light up!

Thursday: We had two dinner appointments. One on a literal farm with the sweetest family ever. When we got there, the mom gave us a little tour and I GOT TO PET A DUCK!!!! Literally one of the coolest experiences ever. I want to go back and I wish I had a picture. It was amazing!! We also had really good summer soup. (Kesä keittö) Then we went home in just enough time to get picked up for our second dinner appointment. We went a little early and taught our friend from Slovakia who leaves on the 21st. We are sad to see her move back, but excited for her to learn in her native language. We talked to her for a little bit, and then went to dinner. It was a really good lesson and a really good dinner. It was another summer soup, but different variation and I ate so much. SO GOOD!!! Then we went to an area and did some tracting. We ended up tracting into a Jehovah's witness who wasn't interested but was so kind. As we were talking to her, this little boy came over and even introduced himself. He was adorable and I kinda wish I knew where he lived so we could teach his family. He was adorable and just liked to stare at us with the biggest brown eyes ever. It was adorable.

Friday: We weekly planned and that feels like all we did. But we also went to the people's house who we have Bible study with, and we helped them to move into their new apartment. It is smaller than the old one, so we have to move things around a bit and figure it out, but it was fun. It really helped them to feel a bit better about their move, and they are the cutest couple ever. Then they drove us home, so we could give them our leftover fish soup because we wouldn't have time to eat it, and they loved it so much. It was so good to watch their faces light up over it. So nice! Who knew that fish soup was the way to people's hearts.

Saturday: We went to a satellite city of our area this week called Imatra and tracted there. I took a picture from the inside of a 15 story building that we knocked doors in. It was missionary heaven to have so many knockable doors in one place.It was awesome and we met a couple of interested people, so that was sweet too!! Then before we left the area, we bought KEBAB!!! I ate kebab calzone and that was legit! Then we caught our bus and came home before following up and contacting before going home for the evening. It was a really fun day!

Sunday was Stake conference and such a tender mercy. I got to see so many people from my first area of Lohja and also my last area of Marjaniemi. I was worried about people forgetting me, and everyone I saw remembered who I was even if the name wasn't immediately there. (GO nametags) It was such a blessing to see that I really had touched people's lives in both places. Such a blessing! We also got to ride with some members in their car so after stake conference we stopped at a truck stop for dinner and one of the members bought us little ice creams afterwards. It was so nice. We really have the sweetest members here in Lappeenranta and I love them all so much already!

Monday: ZONE CONFERENCE!! So we got to go to Imatra, then Helsinki, and now Mikkeli!! Such a travel-full week! It was so good! It was exciting too because we got our smartphones!! So sweet! It is so different and so nice. I have a cell phone!!!!!!! It is weird though and soon it will be normal, but we have a lot of things to use now to hasten the work of the Lord. It really will help I think to help people come unto Christ. Because that really is what I am here for. Not to knock on doors or to eat at members houses or pet a duck or whatever, but to help others come unto Christ and build their relationship with him, by accepting the truth of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, and making sacred covenants with God to receive the blessings in this life and the next. I really do know that what I am doing here helps. And Sunday evening, we had a meeting with our ward mission leader and we really got to discuss about the best ways to not just help the area but the ward members. It was really helpful to see that even when we are strong, we still need help. So let the missionaries in and let them help. And if you are not a member of this church, give it a chance. I know that you will receive more joy and peace and happiness than you could ever imagine. It really is the truth and I know that with my whole heart. I really do encourage everyone, regardless of age, sex, status, or position to read the Book of Mormon. It has helped me to come to know Jesus Christ better as my Savior and Friend, and has brought me peace. Life isn't easy, but the Book of Mormon is. It comes straight from God. Read it. and look for answers. I promise you will find them. I love you all and I hope you have a good week.

Love Sisar McCammon

 Pretty sure the pictures from here down are taken in Imatra

Hyvää äitienpäivää! Happy Mothers Day!

6/8 We had district council today which means it’s all day.  Especially because we stayed a little longer and had lunch and contacted before catching a bus.  But we were sitting at lunch and one Elder to another said they have a family connection and explained who it was the second elder threw his hands up and said, “you know Donna? I love Donna!”  It seemed like a scene straight from Mamma Mia. It was spectacular. Then we had a contacting block in Mikkeli and we talked to quite a few cool people. Then we had to leave for our bus, but it was fun.  The zone leaders have phones so we got to show people videos!  So Cool!!!  Then we rode home through the quiet woodsy nature of Finland.  We got home and ate before heading to a bible study.  It was just us and the host and she is so cute!  We brought her some cookies and she was so happy! It was so sweet.  We had a really nice discussion about Proverbs 15 and I got so much out of it.  After, we dropped more cookies to one more person then waited for our bus and came home.

5/9 Just a normal Thursday. But!  We are teaching our friend who is from Slovakia and she’s moving back home, so we got special permission to email them (missionaries in Slovakia) so at our lesson tonight we could skype them in! So we hurried to the church to arrange that, before really starting our day.  We were also supposed to have a lesson but he never showed up.  I swear that in missionary work, you can either get a member OR he person to the lesson. Kinda Crazy!  So we went tracting instead before heading to get picked up for our dinner appointment.  The family is so cute and we get to have dinner with them every week.  They are so sweet!  Then after, we had our lesson and got to skype the Elder in Slovakia.  They were so nice and our friend know like 8 languages and tried to speak all of them to the elders. It just made her laugh.  It was the cutest experience to hear how joyful she got to hear about the gospel in her native language.  Technology really is remarkable. After that, we got a ride home, but it was such a good day.

5/10 Today was so crazy! We had a pretty normal morning with studies and some weekly planning but we had a lunch appointment with Relief Society President and her husband and son. They are so cute!  She just had the last in a long line of surgeries so she was recovering but she was so nice!  The people here are so chill and so loving.  After lunch and a spiritual thought we headed to the church for a lesson and the member showed up but not our friend.  The member was so nice though, we chatted with her and had language questions answered.  I also found out she is fluent in Swedish and English. So besides being the most beautiful human being ever, she is extremely intelligent too!  The more you know… We had another lesson later that fell through so we got on our bikes and rode to follow ups that were all locked…So we contacted.  It was weird on bikes, but we did it.  SO MANY HILLS!!! Conclusion of the day: Lappeenranta is the San Francisco of Finland.

5/11 Saturday is kind of a slow day plus it was a little rainy but luckily not too cold until later.  Everything was normal, but much more exiting today!  During our personal study we picked a contacting theme that was different, so we didn’t feel so repetitious.  It was hard to bring up sometimes but so fun! It made the day faster and easier to bear. Not a whole ton happened but when we knocked on one lady’s door, she cried when we testified about Jesus Christ and she took a Book of Mormon.  It was so special.

5/12 Hyvää äitienpäivää! To all you mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, friends.  I hope you had a wonderful day and were treated like Queens!  We got to teach a friend a little bit after church and we told EVERYONE Happy Mothers Day! It was the best contacting method.  It make everyone smile especially when they are with their kid.  We also got to visit a member in a nursing home and sing to her and help her feel loved!  And we knocked one door and talked to the lady about being a mother and then ran to the church and grabbed a rose from the Relief Society before running to bring it back to her.  She was so happy! And of course I got to Skype my mom and grandparents! It’s always so fun to hear people from home! Then we got to chat with our ward mission leader before going home! It was a good day.

Love Sisar McCammon

Lappeenranta with Sisar Nielson

4/30

Transfers!  Also VAPPU! We got to go contact some people this morning and a parade of children accompanied us down the street all dressed up in Halloween costumes yelling “hyvää vappua!” It was incredible! We eventually contacted a man who wanted to know more.  We had to make sure everything was filled out properly before we went to the train station. I got to meet and see a bunch of missionaries. It was so nice.  But I have never gotten a train ticket before and we didn’t get any information which means we missed the train.  So we got to talk to even more missionaries!  It was awesome!  Eventually we made our way to the trains and I left dear Helsinki for my new home Lappenranta! We didn’t have anything planned that night so after dinner I got to get to know the area a little better.  It was sweet!  My new companion is Sister Marta Nielson.  She is so smart and so kind and so good at Finnish.  I love her!

5/1

On Wednesday in the morning I was studying about Ammon and King Lamoni and one part really stuck out to me. The queen looks at Ammon and tells him people are saying her husband is dead and she only has Ammons word that he isn’t.  And she basically tells him that she has no idea what is going on, but “nevertheless, I believe…” That really stuck with me.  She had such faith to just accept.  I tried to keep that attitude with me.  Something like “I don’t understand Finnish, nevertheless, I believe God will help.”  It really helped when we taught the coolest man!  He an insane bike rider!  He’s going to bike from somewhere in Russia to here, Just Because! (I think anyway) But he is way cool! We contacted after his lesson and came home.  We were supposed to have another lesson but he wasn’t home, so the member took us back to our home area and gave us donuts (so good! and Homemade!) And we did some work here.  It turned out to be a good day!

5/2

District Council.  So much travel time!  Bike – train – train – walk to the meeting then walk back 1.5 hours later – train – train – bike home.  This whole thing takes from about 8:30am to about 3:45 but I had to get a bus card and fill out a change of address form. So we got home around 4:30. Crazy day. We have a cool district.  We are the only sisters but besides the zone leaders, there is Elder Robbins and Harlow in my district from the MTC.  So its pretty fun. We were going to have 2 lessons that evening, but nothing worked out.  So that kinda sucked. So we tracted and did some follow up before heading home for the night. For some reason, we were just exhausted and most of our day was travel.  Weird how that works out.  

5/3

A good Friday today.  We had studies and weekly planning today. It was weird to do my 1^st weekly planning for my new area. So weird, its all new people! So it was a lot of learning names and where they are, but still good.  Then we met with a friend and he’s cool.  A little bit of a sign seeker, but he’s willing to learn and discover his answers.  So he’s way cool.  His lesson went so good and ALL in Finnish! And I understood more than I expected.  After his lesson we went to follow up with someone and set up a lesson then headed to the church for our language class, to which no one came.  But! We got to talk and get to know a member who is so cool!  She just got back from a mission in Winnipeg Canada.  After waiting for a bit, we headed home for dinner then out to talk to some people.  It was a good evening.

5/4

Saturday was a distracted morning.  Our landlord and his wife came over (they are members) to set up screens for our window and to help with some maintenance. All during studies it was a bit hard to focus.  Then we visited and sang to an older member who was just put in a nursing home. We were able to make her day a little bit brighter. Then we thought we had a lesson, but the lady wasn’t home. So we went on our bikes for following up with some returning members. And one was actually home! He was alone though, but said we could come back later! Miracles! Then that evening after dinner we went tracting and on the way home, we were at a bus station and this lady sopped us and asked if we ere speaking English. We were like, “yeah..?” and we talked to her about her family and her life and her travels and she was so cool. She has lived in Italy and England and all over so it was cool.  And we started talking about the church and she was pretty interested to learn more.  So we swapped numbers and then she was gone, but it was way cool.  Then we went home.

5/5

Happy Cinco de Mayo!  Church! So many new people! It was so fun though! We had a friend there and she is the sweetest ever!  We talked with her a little after then came home and napped instead of lunch (yay fast Sunday!) Then we went to visit these returning members.  The wife just had surgery so we just went for a few minutes to get to know them and introduce me.  It was good.  Then after some contacting and studies we had dinner of TACOS [cinco de mayo] Then we went to tract some more before our ward coordination meeting which was good.  The mission leader is like 25 so it was really fun to have the meeting.  Plus ENGLISH! But we had a good meeting and I got some good dating advice, life advice, and mission advice.  It was way fun!

5/6

Today was way fun! We walked more than 10K over the whole day.  We had studies then went out and walked for about 3.5 hours and tracted and contacted and followed up! Then we went home and had dinner and a nap before heading out again.   But this time we missed the bus coming back so we had to walk ALL THE WAY HOME! It was so long  More than a 5K just by walking home.  It was insane. We got a couple “sure you could come back” and had 2 drunk Russians try and get us in their apartment and talked to so many nice people.  It was sweet! It was a long, tiring good day!

Love

Sisar McCammon

 Seeing Sisar Kristensen at the train station was a highlight!  Abbie and Sisar Hansen said goodbye.

 Abbie with her new companion Sisar Nielson! 

 The view from their apartment

 Cherry Blossoms

 Puunjalostuksen historiaa (Lappeenranta) = Wood Processing History

 The monument of Lauritsala city center tells about the long industrial history of the area. The Kaukas factory has donated a piece of a rocky paper machine with a small tile attached: The history of wood processing in Lauritsala.

 Golf Course