Week 33, 12-30-2013

Another week, come and gone. Time just flies by. It still feels like yesterday that I was able to talk to you, but it has almost been a week now. Just like Jon and Jeff, I inherited the superman gene and I am just busting forward with power. I don't get home sick and I think it is because Heavenly Father has answered by prayers and continues to answer my prayers. And the fact I could banter with Kindsey again. We have a sister in the mission that reminds me a lot of Kindsey. Her name is Sisar West. So I have to remind myself that I have to be nice to every once and a while. But I pray for my family every night and I have been able to see the blessings that are given. We may be a world apart, but we are still very close indeed. We had a wonderful thing happen this week. Reino came to church all on his own this last week. We came in right before the sacrament, but instead of leaving after sacrament he stayed for pyhä koulu (Sunday school) We have been richly blessed here with members that are well trained in being missionaries. I am excited to start this new year with a running start. Reino, Sami and Luiza, Ville are some names that you can pray for.

Fun STory for you,

Elder Glasgow and myself were at the store earlier today. We meet a drunk fellow at the check out line. He shared some colorful words with us and decided he wanted to come talk to us closer......Building the drama. We had this young couple in front of us that paid little attention before, but as soon at this man wanted to pass through them the wife or girlfriend stood her ground and kindly told this man that he could move forward and place his items on the belt and when he tried to say more she gently reminded him that others we behind him as well. 

My thought was that Angels come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Heavenly Father protects his missionaries. I don't think this drunk man could have done much harm, but it was a simple testimony builder to me that others can be inspired too. I have heard other stories where some people will watch something happen and just try and ignore as best they can. I saw a bike crash happen like this. But to see this woman stand up for us was very heart warming. I made sure to thank her as well. Here are some questions for Bishop.

How is Max Knoble doing? 

How is Dean Larson doing? 

What can I do to help Porter? 

I have been blessed with such a wonderful family. Thank you for all you do for me. I have been well prepared by your example to come and preach the gospel to these children, our brothers and sisters. We are at a beautiful time full of miracles happening. I love an pray for you everyday.

Love,

VAnhin Sandberg

ps. I lied, letters are always nice.

Week 32, 12-23-2013 Twelve hours early

Dear Mom and Dad,

In answer to the questions,

I am doing great!

I received my package. Fleece.

Christmas will be spent with the Lintusaari perhe.

We will skype at the Lintusaari's house around 6 or 7. (MY TIME)

Reino is doing well. Keep praying for him and his family.

Ville is our new investigator. Prayfor him if you can.

The missionaries here in Finland broke 100 when I came into the country. If that helps.

Did I miss any questions?

Elder Glasgow....The Great and Powerful District leader. We get along great. I have been blessed with each of my companions. I have not killed anyone...yet. Just kidding.

Elder Glasgow is from Georga. He is an only child. He has been out on his mission just over a year now. It is awesome serving with him. Always nice when you are new to an area because everyone wants to feed you. So everyday this week is filled with meetings with members. We are going on our week mark tomorrow.

Funny Story,

Elder Downs and myself we given instructions from the APs to be in Helsinki by 8 last tuesday. So come tuesday morning we get ready and head off for Helsinki. We get there and we are waiting around seeing if any other missionaries will be at the asema. 8:15 roles around and we decide to call the APs.

"Hello Elder Green, We are here in Helsinki at the appointed hour. What next?"

You are already here?

"Yep, 8 o´clock."

I ment 8 at night.....

(Finland goes off of the 24 hour clock. So 8 sounds just like 8 to us.)

Good thing we always arrive 12 hours early for every appointment. I felt like Dumbledore at the MofMagic.

That was a fun adventure to start of our Companion transfers. I dropped Elder Downs off in Haaga and picked up Elder Glasgow. EVerything worked out just fine.

Second Story,

Elder Glasgow had a package waiting for him at the office. So on our way back from District meeting we decided we would swing by and just pick it up. When we got to the office we could not find is package. after 15minutes we found it under a table. We are about to leave when i noticed a box with disney stickers on it.

I didn't want to go looking at others mail, but I felt prompted to look. Funny I followed that, because It ended up being mine. If we had not found Elder Glasgows package and had to wait for Sister and Elder London we would not have found it. Tender Mercy.

I look forward to hearing from you on Christmas. I love you all and I pray for you everyday. Be good and Be Safe.

Love

Vanhin Sandberg

Quick third story,

Reino was feeling a little sick this last week and so he didn't know if he would make it to church. We know that if he keeps coming he will gain the testimony he needs to be baptized. Elder Glasgow and myself wanted to give Reino something for Christmas. We talked with another member and thought it would be a good idea to give him a Elävä Kristus framed for Christmas. We just wanted to stop by and give it too him. Well when we stopped by he was touched by our kindness to give him the Picture frame, and the Miracle was that He came to church the next day. Not only Sacrament meeting by SundaySchool too! That has never happened. I don't know if he came because of our gift, but it was a tender mercy to me knowing that Heavenly Father really does know what is best and that when we are praying always he is there prompting us at the right times. Miracles do Happen.

Week 31, Dec. 16, 2013 Transfers Vanhin Glasgow

Dear Family,

What a wonderful time it is to be serving our Maker Jesus Christ and our Eternal Father in Heaven. The miracle you shared testify to me of the truthfulness of this gospel. The past week we were able to have our ward Christmas party. We had a program shared by the primary children and we sang some traditional Joulu (Christmas) songs. It was a wonderful time for us to get to know the members better as well as to have some of our less actives come. The next day was sunday and Elder Downs and myself were asked to sing again. (They seem to like us) And I was also giving a talk.

I spoke about Jesus Christ. I shared the `Living Christ`by the Twelve apostles in 2000, as well as the message shared by the Shepherds. We as missionaries are sharing this same message. Jesus Christ our Savior Lives.

 We have also been able to make leaps and bounds with our Investigator Reino. We have learned of all of his concerns and are helping him over come them. One thing I that was really cool this week was after our district meeting. We had a district meeting about Prayer and how it is always good to go over that again with our investigators even if we know that they know the simple steps to pray.

We role played this in District meeting and later that night we had a teach with Reino.

At the end of our teach we invited him to pray. at first he didn't want to, but after doing exactly what we did in DM and showed him how easy it was to pray He was willing to do it. It was a wonderful tender mercy to see this happen.

We also had another change call this past week.

Elder Downs will be opening a new city in Malmi and I will be with another Elder called Vanhin Glasgow. (Hope I spelled that right) He will be our district leader so I will be the District leaders companion. I have been told that is the best companion position to be in. I will be staying in Kerava too. So I wont have to leave our Ward yet. :)

I don't have any new information about Christmas calling yet. We have been a little busy with the Ward party and changes, but I will have more information next week.

I love you all and thank you again for all you do for me.

I cant wait to hear from you on Christmas.

Love,

Vanhin Sandberg

Crazy Son loves the shock factor of things

Week 30 Temple

Dear Mom and Dad,

We had a wonderful week! Elder Downs and myself went down to Helsinki on Wednesday because Elder Downs was asked by Elder Anderton (language elder) If he would come and help with the Kieli Koulu for the 6 week missionaries. That left me and all the other trainers to go to the temple.

The Temple. This was my first time going to the Temple here in Finland. It was beautiful. The Temple offered to do a session for the missionaries in english so my mind was able to rest for a little bit instead of trying to understand the deep finnish. It was very kind of the temple to do that for us. We were also able to see the new video. I am still trying to wrap my head around it. As always I was able to find new things than before. Something I have come to notice here in Finland. We only have one temple in Finland. Some people have to travel from Russia and Estonia to come to the temple. Living here in Kerava we could go every week if we wanted to. We would just have to switch our P-Days. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to go to the temple. To be worth to enter into the Lords house and learn new things every time. I understood this a little bit before when I was preparing to come here, but now i can just feel it. I am preparing my brothers and sisters to come and enter the temple and receive the blessings here. Baptism is only the first step. It is so great to be apart of this work.

Reino was able to come to church. He only stayed for the first hour, but he still came. We are still working towards him receiving answers to his prayers and accepting a baptismal date.

I have not heard of Lucia, That is new to me. But I did meet a new missionary that knew Jeff when he was in Sweden. His name is Vanhin Strandberg. We were able to talk at his Interm training and Language school. That was another tender mercy this week.

Has Jeff bought Glögi yet? That is one of my new favorite drinks. If you can find it at IKEA buy it. It is like drinking Christmas.

In answer to your questions:

I did receive that primary package. I loved it.

As far as I remember we can email our friends. It changed while I was in the MTC, but I will check again this week.

I have some thermal underware, but I don't have a shirt. so that would be nice.

Thank you again for all you do for me. I love you. Be safe. Have fun.

Love Vanhin Sandberg

ps.

We are still finishing our planning for  Christmas, but I can tell you that we will be calling around 6 or 7 pm....I think. I will have more Info next week.

Week 29 Cookies and Missionary Work

Dear Family,

Update from Kerava,

Thank you for all of your prayers and support. Elder Downs and myself have been doing great! We are excited for the Christmas season to be here. With Christmas just around the corner it give us missionaries a wonderful way to share the true meaning of Christmas in a normal and natural way.

We have been working with our ward and have met almost everyone. We have continued trying to contact less actives and formers. One of our main goals this week is talking with everyone. I had the thought a couple days ago about this. This will help us even more in reaching our goal of 20 teaches a week. Things are looking great. I love it here and love to see how the Lord is preparing the people here.

In answer to your questions:

Sheet music would be best. I am not computer talented. I am a little old fashioned.

I hear from the Fearsome Four almost weekly. We keep in touch through email. Nothing big just a couple words here an there.

(Future thought, Packages that cost 60 dollars/45€ or more are harder to send through customs. Either the Office or myself will have to pay extra for it. Along with Fed-x and Ups packages.)

Alright,

Everyone loves a good story. This week we had a a special experience when we went to ward council.

Elder Downs and myself love baking cookies. This is a weekly treat we love to share. Well about two weeks ago we had baked cookies and wanted to take some to our members as well as some less actives. We baked a few and were able to take them to a few people. The next day was one of the craziest days. Nothing was working out. We didn't have time to do our weekly planning and our back up plan for our back up plan had fallen through. It was 19 and we had nothing to do....what do we do in these situations? Pray. I said just a small prayer in my heart that we would know what to do. We went to our area book and we found a section we had some how passed over before. It was a section of less actives. We had both felt impressed to find some one out of those names that we could visit. We only had time for one person as well. We also had just enough cookies for one last person...

I thought this was great. Our rough day was finally working out to our gain. So Elder Downs and myself found this one person and walked to their apartment. (because of Finnish Law, we are not allowed to tract or knock doors after 20:00.)

We were going to be cutting it really short with this last person we wanted to meet. We finally find it and knock on the door. a Woman opens the Inside door sees us and closes it with out a word.......

Sword to the Heart!

After everything we have done with this hard day and to finally finish it off with this. I will admit I was a little down hearted. I had no place to be mad, but I was disappointed.

Elder Downs and I decided we would just leave the fresh baked cookies there and just leave our pass along card too.

Walking home I don't think we even talked to each other. But we brushed the dust off our shoes and got over it.

       Now I want to draw your attention back to Ward Council.

Our Primary President was talking about some less actives that she had talked to that week and she mentioned that ONE of the less actives was touched by some cookies left at their door and that these were some of the best cookies they had ever had.

Come to find out after this less active was the Primary Presidents son. 

Just a fun little story reminding us that Heavenly Father is always in charge.

I love you and thank you for all you do for me.

Love your Son, Brother

Vanhin Sandberg 

Will you ask Annakaisa Who she knows in Kerava?  I have asked a couple families if the know her and George, but because I don't know her sukunimi it makes it a bit hard.

Bishop Sandberg,

How is ED doing? I went with the missionaries a couple times to teach a man that lived in the Browns old house.

Week 24 Service,Tracking a B&B

Dear Moma,                                                                 

                                                          10-15-2013

No niin, So little story to start off my email. Yesterday we were going through our normal routine. Scriture study the whole bit. We got a call from a member in our ward in the middle of companionship study and he asked if we could help him this morning.

Of course we can. We love service. (We don't think he knew it was our P-day) So we were ready at 10 am ready to go. (10:00 is language study) We headed out to his house and we raked his entire lawn after he already had once. We then took all the leaves and rubbish to the land field. We were with him about 4 hours. After Helping Veli Kervinen I let elder Speirs email. We then had bible study at 5/17:00 until 19:45.We talked after bible study. After bible study we headed back to the church for me to email...at the same time that i was suppose to email Elder Gourley and Sisar Gourley were having FHE with the YSA. So my email time did not work out so well. And that is the Story of yesterday.

We still had to get food for this week this morning so these last two days have been a little crazy different.

How is everything back home. So Kindsey decided in her sleep that she wanted to change the wall paper. I will pay her a Euro if she licks the wall next time. ;) BUT i need proof that it is really happens.

Elder Hampton, I have heard of him but i do not know him.

All is well here in Rovaniemi, We are down to no investigators again, but that means that finding is going up. We have also been working harder to meet with our formers as well as meet with potentials. Our branch is also being a great help. There is a real desire to do missionary work here. Elder Speirs and I have talked about it. We feel that Rovaniemi is on the edge of just exploding with missionary work. We are meeting so many really cool people that seem to really be interested. We set a new goal to have 5 teaches a day, With investigators, potentials, new converts, members, new converts. Teach when we Find and Find when we teach. We also have started a list of people that we are praying to find that our branch needs. We are building a stake here in the North Zone. I am excited to see where Rovaniemi will be in just a couple of months. It has already changed from when i first came here. And that is really fun to see.

We had a fun experience Sunday night when we went to visit a former. We had a former in our area book that lived in the boonies of Finland. (20 minute bike ride north) (Dirt roads) It was later in the evening and this would be our last house we would stop by be for heading home. After biking for about 25 minutes we find the house. In our Area book it had said that one of the children was interested. We didn't know about the family, but we decided to stop by anyways. We get there and the father of the house hold answers. To my surprise he invites us in. This has only happened three times since i have been here.

We come in and we start talking about stuff and we ask about church and what role that plays in their life. "Yeah, we believe in God and Jesus Christ....but are you not going to check in?"

...."no?"

That is when the husband and his wife began to explain that this was a B&B (Bed and Breakfast.) We had a good laugh about it. We ended up teaching the First lesson to the Owners of this B&B and they are now potentials.

Not sure how many Missionaries can say that they tracked a B&B.

Question for my Bishop.

I heard that Porter and Jessie are now in our Ward. How are they doing? How is Dean Larson and his wife? Do they still live behind us? If so could i get their contact information?

Look up the Mormon Message ´Earthly Father, Heavenly Father´ Changed my life.

Thank you for all you do. I was thinking yesterday about the miracles that happen every day and How little I really see them. Every day is a gift from our Father in Heaven. In just a couple minutes I was able to count over thirty miracles. That is nothing near what could be written. I love you and pray for you. Have a wonderful week.

love,

your son

Vanhin Sandberg

The Land Field

Relaxation or Meditation?  
Jeremy fell asleep while Vanhin Speirs was e-mailing
so he took the opportunity to take some pictures.

Week 28 "We are running out of time to do this work."

Dear Family,

Jamie reminds me of a Member back in Roi, Jarvis. He was the one that stayed in finland after his mission to be in the army. The next time you talk with Gwen our Jamie and their family give them my love. I love and miss them as much as i do my own brothers and sisters. I love the pictures. always nice to see that family members are still there.

We are really fighting a war. Not a war of mortal life and death, but a war between something much greater. Salvation.

In our last district meeting we had a quote that was shared to us, by a fellow missionaries father who just became Stake President. In his email to his missionary son he shared his experience of meeting with Elder Nielson of the Twelve and how he shared a very important phrase.

"We are running out of time to do this work."

If that doesn't just send a shiver down your spin. We don't know how close we really are to the second coming, but we know that we need to be ready. And my Job is to prepare those that have forgotten their "previous training" ;) (Since we are talking about Jamie and being warriors.)

What a blessing it is to share this precious gift with others. The beautiful news that Jesus is the Christ and he has prepared a way for us to return to Him and our Loving Father in Heaven.

Reino was able to come to church this week. That was a wonderful blessing he is making friends with our members very well. We are hoping he will be able to make it to our Ward activity this week. Valentin, Dimitri, and Ville are some that you could pray for. That would be wonderful.

Thank you again for all you do. I love you all so very much. Keep up to good work. I am proud of you and think of you everyday.

Love,

Vanhin Sandberg

Week 27 Our Captain is at the Helm

Dear Family,

We had a wonderful week! Both Elder Downs and myself are still getting used to the new area of Kerava, but things are still working out great for us. We had exchanges on Dads Birthday. So that was fun. We had a bit of greenie power going on. I was working with a brand new companion on tuesday. He has only been in the country a week and a half.

I was a little bit nervous because i still have times that I don't understand. But When we Give everything to the Lord he makes up for the rest. Elder Alhquist ( think that is how you spell it) We had a blank day. we only had two things planned for that night and the rest of the day was open. We did have a hard time finding places, but we were having so much fun together. The first couple of places we stopped by no one answered, but when it came time for our first appointment we made it there right on time, so things are going good. We get in to our members house and i realize. This is all in Finnish. My Companion wont understand anything. POOF Miriacle. We understood enought that we had a wonderful visit with them. After our member went with us to a teach. To our one investigator that speaks only finnish.

The LORD makes up for everything right?

We had a fantastic lesson. The spirit was there, we both understood what was going on! Elder Alhquist invites him to be Baptized and then....

Elder Alhquist and myself cant understand anything. EVerything was going great. And then nothing. I felt as if I lost all of my language. We barely made it thought the rest of the lesson by asking if we could have a closing prayer.

We both get out of this lesson just praying that everything went alright.

When we get into our members car we were feeling a little down at this point. He offers to drive us back home. And that is when we asked him how he thought our lesson went.

"That lesson Was Amazing!"

Even When we didn't understand what was going on our heavenly Father did. Our member understood and he helped take over. He Told us that we said everything that was needed. Everything went the way is was supposed too.

By the end of the night i was just amazed at how  the Lord really does just make up for the rest. We gave as much as we could and he took over for the rest. even if that means we go throught a small panic moment. Our Captain is at the Helm. He knows better then we do.

You are wonderful. If you need anything let me know. I love you and pray for you ever day.

Love,

Vanhin Sandberg

Week 26

Dear Perhe,

Another wonderful week In the Kerava town, We have been able to get to know more of our members and have contact with our Investigators. Our ward is just opening their arms to us. It is wonderful to see. We have set a goal for this week that we will teach more than twenty lessons. Our goal is 24. This is a mix of all members, less actives, investigators, and Potentials. In our last zone meeting we were given the promise that if we had more than 20 lessons every week our baptismal dates and baptisms would double. Our zone leader quoted President Perry. We have made wonderful goals to help us accomplish this. We are excited to see the growth that will come.

little bit of an update on Kerava,

I have wondered If George and Annakaisa have family our friends here in the south. I am so glad to hear that you are able to spend time with their family. It is your little piece of Finland.

Thank you for the story you shared about Jeffrey and him shoveling snow. Those are some of the best moments in missionary work. And Mummos, they are just the best. Sister Helander is my adopted Mummo.

We have had a lot of rain the past couple of days. We had snow up in Roi, but coming down to the south it was still a little bit warmer so no snow yet. Lots of Rain and Fog.

Yesterday we had a wonderful Fast. normally I am not able to keep myself happy when I am fasting, but yesterday It just felt easy. We had planned it that we would go 24 hours, and we would have a DA at the time of our 24 hour mark. I had much that was on my mind that it was easier to go without food. I looked forward to it as well.

And your story about Jordan and receiving the candy. That really touched me. Those people may not have realized what that ment to us, or even to me. I had to read that twice. I was really sweet to me. It just goes to show that Heavenly Father is really mindful of my family even when I am so far away.

Hey Dad,

Happy Birthday!!!!!!!! Thank you for all you do! Thanks for the update.

Love,

Vanhin Sandberg

Week 25 Kerava, Vanhin Downs, Sister Tiits, (love missionary moms)

Hello Elder Sandberg's and Downs' mothers!

Just wanted to let you know your sons are doing great here in Finland. They came to our ward in Kerava this week and we are so happy to have them. Today they had a dinner appointment with us after church. Our son is on a mission in Switzerland and I know the feelings of you mothers... I miss our son, too. And I'm so happy whenever someone in Switzerland sends me a message concerning him. 

Since in church I am the Primary Music Leader I asked your sons to sing with us in the children's sacrament meeting presentation next month. Today we had a rehearsal together. The song 'I Am a Child of God' (only the first verse) will be sung in three different languages: Finnish, English, Korean. The beginning of the verse will be performed by native speakers and all the children will sing the chorus part which means your sons will be singing as a duet the beginning of the English verse. We will have fun together!

Thank you for your sons, I know your families will be blessed for their service here!

Best regards,

Sister Helena Tiits

Jeremy and Vanhin Downs

Jeremy is 6' tall We are wondering how tall Vanhin Downs is.

Are they related? Grandma Mommy's maiden name is Downs.

Rakas Äiti ja Isi,

No niin, up date on sweet ol'Kerava.

Our ward is HUGE compared to our branch from Roi. I was used to seeing 30 members in church, now we have and actual building and a stand and it is just crazy different!

Kerava is about a 30 minute train ride out side of Helsinki.

Elder Downs is from Portland Oregon.

He has been in Finland about 8.5 months.

One of the first things I asked him is if he had his family history chart. We are still working on it to find out if we are related.

Shotgunning is a Finland thing I have heard. But the whitewash has been alright. We are still working on the travel part of it, but we are doing just fine. Elder Downs and myself get along really well. Every day is an adventure.

Which leads me to my first story.

We were given instructions from the last missionaries that if we had nothing to do one evening we should go and visit two members that live in Savio. (neighboring down district, still part of Kerava area)

We decided we would walk there. It wasn't too far away. Well we walked for about and hour and a half and finally got to Savio. We got lost a couple of times and there was not a straight shot road that would take us there so we wove our way around.

We get to this members apartment and the first thing that happens is he answers the door in his Garments....

Keep in mind we are still new to Kerava, we have only met two memebers and it is only our second or third day.

Anyways, He answers the door in his underwear and invites us in.

He grabs a robe (thankfully) and then he begins yelling at us. Not only is he yelling at us, but he is speaking in a type of Finnish I have never hear before and speaking it extremely  fast. Bullit juna!

This goes on for about 45 Minutes. Elder Downs has not said 5 words. same with me. This guy is just yelling up a storm and after about 45 minutes of him yelling with us he walkes over to his book case and opens a cupboard.

I took this moment to give Elder Downs my wide eyed look and mouth the words "I have no idea what is going on."

He just smiled and told me he would tell me later.

Our member turns back around and is holding two plastic bags. In these plastic bags he pulls out his endowment clothing!

Before this point my eyes were already big, After he pulled out his temple clothes I thought my eyes were going to pop.

Elder Downs couldn't help, but laugh, at my face when this happened.

First this member answers the door in his garments.

second, he is speaking in such a way that i hardly understand

third he pulls out his temple clothes.

What is going on!?!?!

He continued to talk to us for over and hour and a half. We didn't really say anything, he just talked or yelled for us. It also took us and additional 30 minutes to get out the door. We both walked out of there in shock. What just happened?

I came to find out that this member was going to the temple the next day after not having been in 8 years. This would be his first time in the Helsinki temple. He was very excited. And he was not mad like I thought he was when he was yelling at us. All in all I have a new friend in Kerava :)

It sounds like everything is wonderful back home. So now both Jordy and Jonny will have glasses right? Does Jordan have xray vision because one of his eyes in 20/200? Or is he like a Hawk?

Thank you Bishop for the update on Porter and Jessie and Dean. I look forward from hearing from both of them.

Let all the Little Kids know How much I love them. Same with the big kids. I pray for all of you everyday. I love you and Have a wonderful week!

Love,

Vanhin Sandberg

Week 23

Week 22 Permission granted

Dear Äiti, 

I look forward to ready yours and a Isi's letters. They are another great place to  "add oil to my lamp" as Lloyd would say. I just get even more pumped to do missionary work!

Answers to your questions.

The Dear Elder letters are great, but i really don't have time to read them. I just barely got through the last ones you sent. I hear from the boys on pday and that works. But if you could collect them so that i could read them when i get home that would be great. Are you still doing that with my emails?

I was able to talk to Dmitry and he is just fine about you putting up his picture. Hanna i have not been able to ask yet. We have had a hard time setting up teaches with her the past couple of weeks. But i will ask her this week.

That is who that package is from. I got a call from the office saying that they had a package for me and that the Londons would be bringing it to Oulu. 

I didn't know who it was from, but that makes sense now. The Oulu elders have it at the moment. I had just barely missed the Londons last week from our District meeting. So Wednesday i should get it. 

Kiitos Paljon Annakaisa, That is very kind of her.

Isä, your questions. Sorry i have been so bad about answering your questions. Elder Speirs and myself are the last elders here in the North. We have wondered if there are any other missionaries higher then us. Our Area is from about half way to Kemi all the way up to where Norway and Finland High Five. We have a very large area. 

Elder Speirs has been in Rovaniemi since he got to Finland so he is going about 7 months here in Rovaniemi. He might leave the next transfer. We will have to see.

Alright, Story time. 

We met with our Young couple this past week. They are awesome, They love us. Tatu and Alisa are their names. Tatu is Finnish and Alisa is American. Alisa has a lot of questions and they are falling right into our lessons that we want to teach. We have met with them three times and have not had a real solid teach because she has so many questions, but we are about to share our testimonies and leave them with good commitments. 

So Fun fact. I ripped my pants for the first time yesterday. Elder Speirs and I were climbing over a small fence that was no higher them my waist. I help lift the bikes over the fence first and then when I went to climb over I heard a beautiful ripping sound. I have a hole from the middle of my groin all the way to the middle of my back half. That didn't stop us. I went another Hour and a Half until we made it home. We even visited one of our less actives at the time. That was a wonderful adventure. 

I think it is the extra 15 lbs i have gained. I only gained 5 in the MTC, but know I am getting a slight gut! Fist PUMP!!! 

Yeah, we have a new goal to actually go running in the mornings.

Second story. 

Jonathan and Paula had their wedding reception here in Rovaniemi the 28 of Sept. Your can ask Annakaisa about the difference in weddings. I still don't understand it. But before the party began we were asked if we had prepared anything to do....."Ummmm no." 

"Well make something up. You can use these wigs and sunglasses if you need."

All in short If you received a text or email from Sophia then that explains it. If not. Well Surprise, I danced while Elder Speirs played 'Lady Madonna' Speirs looked like John Lennon and I was called Skinny Fritz. We have some pictures with our Fans that We can send. Those were our too adventures this week that i can remember. 

Yesterday in Church our Branch President gave an amazing talk about Member missionary work. Our RS president also shared her testimony about how it is the members job to find people for the missionaries to teach. It is amazing to see the fire that is burning in our members. It amazes me how Heavenly Father wants his work to go forward and so it it. IT is moving and I am able to be apart of this movement. I am part of the Royal Army of God. Fighting alongside my Fellow Brothers against Satan and his fallen angels. WE will win. WE already have. Now it is the time to endure and help others get up and keep walking towards the finish line.

Thank you family for all you do. I love  you and pray for you everyday. Be safe. 

Love,

Vanhin Jeremy Sandberg

ps.Happy Birthday Kelsie!!! 

Week 21 Fun Stories

Dear Mamma,

No Niin, We have had a little bit of a crazy week.  From our last week to today. I was in Oulu for four days. Not completely planned, but it was nice. I also spent an unexpected night in Kemi. Things were really crazy the last couple of days.

I also just finished a meeting/interview with President Rawlings. It lasted about three hours.

That Man can not be explained. He is Called of God. That is as close as I can get to finding words. He had enough time to spend with us. In his busy schedule and our own.

Answering your questions..

1My week was Great!! more STories will be shared

2Zone Conference was ment just for me. President was speaking just to me...the entire time.

3 it was held in Oulu.

4 we traveled from Rovaniemi to Oulu. It is about a 2.5 hour train ride.

5 Church was actually our District conference.

Vanhin Speirs has been kind enough to let me borrow his side of the stories with my commentary... is that how you spell it?

Story 1

Wednesday night we had the opportunity to go berry picking with the ward for an activity. A very new experience for me. So following our wednesday, 710 train, disrict meeting, 1240 train back from Oulu arriving at 320ish in Roi, to then having to meet at the Church noin Four oclock, we drove way out into the boonies of lapland, looking for a good spot to pick. Our member owns some land up here on which we were able to find a nice place to make a fire and then start picking. Elder Sandberg and I managed to pick a bucket and a half of berries! That is about 5 gallons of berries! We used this cool hand rake thingy, which you rake through the bush, (which really is moos, all of Finland is moss,) and these little claws pin the berries, and they fall into a little carrying chamber. Sorry, very spitfire, and not very good explanation, but oh well. Come back and I will show you! haha Veli Haavikko was so proud! He said we are adjusting into our lapish pants quite nicely haha He walked us over to the car, opened the back, showed us his bucket which had about 3 gallons in it. He looked at our buckets again and sarcastically said, how did two of you only get 5 gallons when I was able to get this with just my hands? Now that is Finnish Grit! He starts laughing (like gru!) and walks back to the fire. After the berry picking was over, we ate smoked salmon, fire roasted potatoes, and home made ruis bread baked overtop the fire! I am now starting to realize where that 15ish pounds came from... haha

( We also caught a frog! The boy inside of us... we cant help it. We had to leave it there because missionaries cant have pets.)

Story 2

Friday Evening, Veli Haavikko needed help pulling trees from the forest to heat his home in the winter. We loaded up onto the back of this big trailer, and headed once again into the boonies, now take into account Veli Haavikko already lives in the boonies, 30 clicks from anything, so it was pretty much the back woods of the back woods.  So anyways, Long story short, Veli Haavikko has a stack of chopped down trees just lying there in the forest. He would go through and chop all the branches off, and then Vanhin Sandberg and I would rig up log with ropes and two small "ramp" logs and then attempt to pull them onto the trailer. Stress the word attempt, many close calls resulting in only a broken leg. Not From the tree actually, from Veli Haavikko falling off of the trailer because he was laughing so hard at us. Ok just kidding, but really. All in all, the work was pretty great! You would be proud of me, for some reason being here, I have actually begun to enjoy yard work! After the logs were loaded, we took them back to his place and unloaded everything. He then cooked us moose stew. We shared a lesson with them and headed home.

Story 3

The final story. Saturday night, we had to take a late train due to our train, for some reason, being canceled. So we arrived in Oulu noin 1145. The ZL's left their car in the parking lot with the keys inside the fuel hatch for us to use to get over to their house. First mistake, the only GPS we had was the Elder from Holland, Elder VanGeenen's , so everything was in Dutch. After about 10 minutes of dinking with the thing, we found the home button. 2nd Mistake, Elder VanGeenen was transferred into Oulu a few weeks earlier, and never changed his home address in the GPS. Luckily, we caught this just after turning onto the highway, home destination, Pori, apprx. a couple hundred Clicks south of Oulu. So luckily, I remembered driving to the ZL's once before, so thanks to my photographic memory, we pull in to their place around 1230. So despite the 45 minute trip which should have been only about 15, we get there safe and sound, or so you would think. We arrive to find the apartment building locked, and for some reason, despite the 15 missed calls from us, no one wakes up to open it. Now it turned into a good night. For the first half hour, we sat, called and waited quietly. Then next half hour, we keksied up this great plan. Climb the drain pipe to get to the open window, jump through the window, while another goes around back, tries to get onto the parvekei, knock on the bedroom window, and the other two for some reason were going to climb onto the roof. As we (Kemi Elders and Us) were about to try, the thought came to our mind, what if someone saw this. Four guys, dark suits, climbing up the outside of an apartment building, breaking into the open window and hopefully open parvekei and roof. hmmm, The cops come, four non finns in dark suits tell them its all fine, that this is our friends house and we are supposed to stay the night with them. They tell us to call our friends, we try, the ZL's don't answer once again, and we get taken off to prison. Ya I President wouldn't like that phone call. So, that plan was scratched. We resorted to what I learned from all the lady killers back home, the romantic throwing pebbles at the window. Not even worth the try. No one inside budged. The next half hour resulted in us deciding to go back into the car, almost identical to the one Mr. Bean drives, and attempt to sleep. About 2AM, VanGeenen Calls asking with a very confused voice asking, hey are you guys here yet? Yes. We go inside and sleep.

Alright, I am back. The nice thing about Elder Speir is he and I are so much alike. So our stories are pretty much the same. We share much of that same views.

 District conference was amazing! Our small District filled the entire Oulu Chapel. It was a beautiful sight. We had Zone Conference the next day. So we slept in the church. That was and adventure in and of itself. You get all the elders in the zone and put them in the same room/chapel to sleep. yep...we really did get sleep ;) Well Vanhin Speirs and my self  slept on the stand.

President Rawlings told us first off to Relax. I needed to hear that. I still think too much and I get just a little stressed. Which is not good. It is like the spirit trying to get through a thunder storm. At least that is how i viewed it.

"Keep your eyes on the Savior."

Is anything too hard for the Lord?"

What have you done in my vineyard?"

Those are just a couple quotes I recorded. I have more notes in my planner, but i cant copy and paste as easily. But one of my goals this week is making sure the feeling that we felt in Zone conference is carried into two weeks from now.

"it takes a really good conference to be remembered on tuesday."

Also. Mom. on your blog. If you have any pictures i have sent home that involve anyone other then me. could you take them off? Because of Finnish Privacy law we need to be careful about that. In our Suomen Valo (Mission News Letter) we even have to have written permission from our Investigators to put their picture on the website. Thank you very much. I don't want anyone to get in trouble.

Sorry that my Letter is not full of more spiritual things this week. We are still on the Finding hunt! 

I love you, Be safe.

love Vanhin Jeremy Sandberg 

Week 20, Hanna baptized, Vorimo off to the MTC

Dear Mom,

We have had a wonderful week! Hanna was baptized on the 4th and received the gift of the Holy Ghost on Sunday. It was a highlight of our week! Elder Speirs was at her very first lesson and now he was able to baptize her. Vanhin Vorimo left Friday afternoon back to Helsinki and was able to spend a day and a half with them. It was happy with that, and was extremely ready to enter into the Provo MTC. He will be an awesome missionary. He already is.

We also had Vanhin Speirs interview on Tuesday. I guess i forgot to mention it. So i will now. Vanhin Speirs was interviewed by a Finnish magazine. They wanted to know about him. It was great. I was able to help with pictures. Those will be sent to me soon and then forwarded to you. We got an email from the interview today mentioning that the article was ment to go into the magazine two months from now. But apparently it was rushed sooner so Vanhin Speirs read a little bit before. That was something that happend right before i got on.

Bible study went great. There is a difference between teaching by the spirit and then also by teaching by what we know. Vanhing Vorimo and I spear headed it. WE talked about the Temptations of Christ. Bible study usually goes for two hours and for last week there was a mass going on for the new school year. So bible study would have been cut down, but our bible study group loved it enough that when it came time to the Mass, they didn't want to go. So they really liked what we were sharing. That was really nice to hear from them.

The Language is coming. I am still working on rewiring my brain so i can think in Finnish. That great thing about this language is it is completely opposite of english. Word order and everything. What ever i say in Finnish is what is ment. We even have words for the act of blowing your nose.

Remember why I am learning this language is one of the most important parts. I am not learning it to talk to people after my mission or just comunicate better with the members so we can have more/better dinner appointments. I am learning it so that my fellow brother and sister can understand what is important to me and what can change their life. I hold the greatest gift of all. And it means even more to those i teach that i am learning this language for them. Vanhin Speirs and myself had a long talk about this two days ago.

Thing have been a little slow. We have no investigators at the moment. So our finding time has shot through the roof. Friday and Saturday were all day Finding days. It was a jump from where we were at.

Secret side note...

Dear mom, I know you have asked what i wanted for my birthday and for Christmas...well i have tried to avoid those questions. I must be honest. I did. But I have had a thought. I sent money to KIndsey in my last letter to my sisters. I would really like a Joseph Smith ring. I don't have a Ctr ring and I have always wanted one like that. The problem is i have no idea what my ring size is...and I don't want to be a burden in anyway. And somethings i can still buy out here. So things work out....But this was just and idea. I don't really need anything for Christmas. Just letters. Those are still my favorite. Alright, end to secret note to mom. Kiitos.

I still have your package for you. I have been busy and lazy at the same time. I thought i promised last week. But if nothing else i will send it tomorrow or today. I have that letter for you. I wrote it in my "pretty handwriting" as the elders call it.

I love how the Lord is always mindful of us. How I am all the way over here in Finland and he Lord really is right there watching over you. It is so fun to read your email about how Something may happen. Whether it be about Justin almost dying as work or finding out the Jonny picked Kaylee up. (added blessing) Finding Jordan. Can you imagine the Angels that were watching over each and every one of your children. I can. Jordan just sitting there under the tree and you know through the powers of our Father that there were Angels watching over him. The same with Justin. Kim. Jon. and all of your children.

I know this is sounding more deep, I didn't mean for that to happen. But It is just a continual testimony builder to me. How much Heavenly Father is watching over my family. It is wonderful.

Question. Are my emails forwarded to others or are you just putting them on the blog?

Also, next week my emails will by on tuesday. Zone Conference. Just so you know when you don't have and email from me on Monday. No need to call President. I will be with him!haha, bad joke. I love you Tosi Paljon! Keep Praying, because it works.

"Until you tune in next week! I am Elder SandbergReporting from Rovaniemi, Finland."

Love, Vanhin Sandberg

Hanna and Vanhin Speirs.

Week 19, Hanna, Bible Study

Happy Birthday Mamma!!!

I know that I may not be the first or the last, but know that I was thinking about you all day yesterday!

We have had a wonderful week. It still amazing to me how the time just flies by. It has already been a week, but it feels like yesterday.

We are no longer teaching Seraph. One of our members called him and shared his testimony of the gospel and how it is important that we continually read and pray and the joy and guidence it brings. We were worried that Seraph was not progressing and it ended up to be. We had prayed about it, wondereing what we could possibly teach him. And what he needs. When he talked to our member he shared that he did not understand why he had to put forth the effert when a Preacher could do that for him. It has been a little sad for us to see him leave, but he has a book of Mormon and I think that one day he will meet with the missionaries again. He really does love us. He loved talking to  us even if we were just his American Friends.

Hanna is coming very close on here baptizm. We have had trouble with the baptismal date. We started out with a hesident...is that how you spell it. Well we started with a possible date in November, then things worked out that she wanted to move it up to September.

WE were Thrilled. It has danced around from being the 14th to the 21, and to the 7.And  now to the 4th. We are praying to know what is the best for her and what Heavenly Father wants us to do. It is really exciting to see that change that she has gone through. Vanhin Speirs has been here throught her entire process. I know that has been really special for him. Who knows. Mom, might have another baptizm for her birthday.( a couple days late)

By the way. I have a package for you Mamma! BUT...that is a big BUT...I have been trying to get the Chocolate for you. I have been awful about sending it. I wrote a special letter to you and everything. I feel really bad that i have not sent it off yet. But this week I will. :) Chocolate. I got that gene from you. Speirs and Vorimo have had some funny experiences teasing me about it.

eh hem....like eating three whole bars in a week....Im not proud, but i have cut it down a lot! :)

Dmitry is also doing wonderful. I think if he was a little younger he would be a missionary if he could. He is great about going to teaches with us. He helped a lot with Seraph. Tranlating into Russian. Hän on minun Brat Moi.

In a couple hours we have Bible study. Guess who was asked to guide it...Vanhin Vorimo and myself.

We are talking about Matthew 4. The temptations of Christ. I will let you know how that goes next week.

I don't talk a whole lot in Bible study, and we had an interesting conversation about it last week. MOM, this is how you know that your boy is being watched over.

So BIble study is at the Lutheren Church down the street. It is a really pretty church. you can probably find it on Google Maps. but anyway. Last week they found out that it was my birthday so they sang to me and we had a wonderful bible study. but at the end of the study. Erikka asked how we could improve Bible study or if everyone liked how we did it. Abel is a missionary for wym. and is very learned in the bible.

He made the comment that he thought bible study would be better if everyone would be forced to share. (picking me out) ( he says he does this because he loves me.)

OH boy, did Erikka and Piirita jump on that. They were standing up for me! Abel didn't win that argument at all. never before have i seen bible study become so heated. It was awesome!

Just a little story showing that Vanhin Sandbery is loved even by the Lutherens.

Our bible study group really love us missionaries. It has been a lot of fun being with them.

Thank you for all you do. I look forward to hearing from you every week. I love hearing how the Heavenly Father is always mindful of you and how each of you are growing.

Hope you all have a wonderful week. Keep smiling!

Love,

Vanhin Sandberg

Week 18, Seraph and a Drunk

Dear Family,

IT is so good to hear from all of you today. I have recieved a lot of emails and because time is so short I will only be sending one email. But I am really thankful for all of your letters and emails. Today has been wonderful! I got my boxes on Friday at our District meeting. So i got them before my birthday. Thank you so much. It is alwasy a high light to recieve something from home. Speirs and Vorimo were just as excited. We have been eating like Kings. The notes, Ties, and candy have been a real hit.

 Dad, in answer to your questions.

I never received my Priesthood Line.  I did get Aldina´s email and i wrote back that week. I baptized Dmitry in the River just a couple kilometers away. Still within the city. The Language is hard, but everyday i am doing better. Coming from english to Finnish is like trying to rewire my brain.

Ok, This is a really cool tender mercy that has just happened. Ethan and I are on emailing at the same time! just a cool side note.

We had some really fun experience this week. We had a lesson with Seraph and he had some questions about the Law of the Land. We went throught and shared the we live accourding the laws of the land in which we live. Simple as that. WEll then Seraph asked about killing. We go to war to protect our families, our God, and our Freedom. (shortened)

Then he posed this question. "What if you come home and find your woman with another man?"

"WEll Seraph, We ask him to leave. We don't want to fight with him."

"what if he comes and starts hitting me?"

You Protect yourself and still ask him to leave."

What if I have a Gun?!"

Seraph, Where did you get the gun?

I am a police officer...

We are still working with him. He is awesome. We are setting a new baptismal date with him on wednesday. He also tore up a Jehovah Witness paper yelling. "This is not mine, I do not know why it is here. This religion is not for me."

Seraph is awesome, I love him.

Hanna is also doing well. We are setting a new/sooner baptismal date with her on tuesday. She has been working towards not smoking and she is doing very well. Her Grandparents are also coming to church almost every week.

That is just a quick update on our investigators. I am sorry that this is so short and a little impersonal. Today has been a little crazy. I am so greatful for all of you. I wish i could reply back to each of you , but time does not allow. It has been wonderful hearing from each of you. I feel for each of you. Today I have just experienced love from everyone. I woke up and opened one of my packages. Vanhin Speirs made me breakfast and after our study we have came to email. So the day is still new, I am also the last to email.

Dad, Mom, Justin, Kezia, Emily, Kim, Beej, Peter, Ellie, Jon, Kai, Jeff, Kindsey, Kaylee, Kelsie, and Jordan. Grandma and Grandpa. Thank you for all you do. It has been a little different being around the world and celebrating my birthday with out you. BUt know that I love you all. Thank  you again for all the letters, emails and notes. They have really helped. I love you all. Until next week.

VanhinSandberg :)

 Heikkavuori

Sand Mountain

Another fun adventure with the Drunks

I think Jeremy is top right looks like his profile

Week 17 Reindeer, Hair Cut

Dear Mama,

 Hello From High up Rovaniemi. I have actually been to the Santa Claus Park, not the village. We went and took pictures there. Anyway. My week has been great. We had change calls Saturday. So you can start counting the 9 weeks a change. We have been blessed to stay together another change. That doesn't happen very often as far as i know. So Vanhin Speirs will be here in Roi about 8 months and i will here about 18 weeks. Crazy how time flies by. Soon i will be 19, that also is a little weird. It blows some of our members mind that i am only 18. We also have Vanhin Vorimo with us another three weeks. It has been really fun to have three of us together. We have so much fun getting work done. We all get along and work really well together. So this next change will be fun!

How is the PTO presidency going? I got an email from Jerry, It was wonderful to hear from him. Answer to prayer i would say. Don't let it become stressful at all. We have a saying here in Roi. "If you are not having fun, you're not doing it right." I have to remind myself of that. If I am not having fun then i am not doing something right.

We have a soccer field just down the street from us. So that is really cool that he is playing. The Oulu elders have an investigator that plays soccer and he travels all over Finland.

How often do we have a ward campout? that sounds like so much fun! I am glad all of you were able to go. next time you see Steve, will you give him a great big hug from me? He is great, I have learned so much from him and he is another one that has prepared me for these people. I reread my P' blessing two days ago and it talks about my leaders and teachers and how i will glean from their teachings. I thought that was cool.

I am sorry that i am asking for a lot, but could jonny send me a work out schedule? i only have 30 minutes to work out in the morning and we only have our own body weight. So if he as some ideas to help me that would be great.

I will definitely keep Ashley and Nate in my prayers and totta kai I will pray for little Elijah. Prayers are heard. I found that out this week when I was praying about changes. Praying that that will of the child will match that of the Father.

I have not heard about packages at all. But most likely this week. "Don't worry about it." that is my famous quote to say everyday.

Cool story about tuesday. We went tracting in area 8 and we had this feeling to go to this house that looked like it was having a party. At first we were not so sure, but we kept thinking about it so we decided to go knock on the door. We get up to the door and this lady comes out before we can knock and askes what we want. We asked if there was a birthday going on. And she told us that there was not, but a confirmation had just happened that day. Our intent was to sing to the birthday person, but instead we asked if we could sing to the Confirmation....er... She asked who we were and Vanhin Vorimo said that it didn't matter. "You bet it matters if i am going to let you into my house." she exclaimed. we replied that we could just sing outside. Se became nicer when she found out we wanted to sing and not preach. instead of just sing to the one person we sand to all 30 of the family members. And instead of saying happy birthday we sang happy Confirmation. It was one of the weirdest things we have ever done.But it was wonderful. We try and pray always so that we are ready to do anything the spirit directs. And who knows, maybe in the coming years someone will remember the three mormons singing at the confirmation.

I love you all. I pray for you every day. Be Safe.

Love,

Vanhin Sandberg

Week 16, Back from Helsinki, Cool Night Pictures

Dear Family,

This week has been great! we got back from interm training on friday morning. We went down Sunday night on a night train and from monday to wednesday we had training on how to be better missionaries. We did a lot of Role plays. And then we had Kieli Koulu on Thursday. This was all down in Helsinki at the Mission office. It was only for the new 6 week missionaries and our trainers. It was a lot of fun.

I am also in a Tri Companionship. We have and Elder from Espoo that was ment to go to the Mtc in Provo, but his visa is not gone all the way through yet so he had the Choice to start his mission now or wait 6 weeks. His mission call is the the Ukraine... I dont think i spelled that right, But he came up with us unexpectedly. It has been so much fun. This is only our week mark today and it has been a blast! His name is Vanhin Vorimo.

How was Kezia's Birthday? Did Justin do something nice for her? I forgot to mention it in my email last week , but HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEZIA!!!

How are they doing? Are they still not there for family dinners? I miss our family dinners. Since i have been in Roi we have only had one DA. Dinner Appointment. But that is ok. We cook fairly well for ourselves. That reminds me.

Can you send me a Crepe recipe? I have been craving crepes for weeks. How is my account looking also? I am hoping to buy a suit today...I hope that is ok. I only have too. I bought a ring three days ago. It was kind of like a companion ship thing. I will send a picture of it.

I also bought a nice coat from a departing missionary. i bought it for 20e. i will be sending him another 10e this week. He only used it for one winter and normally coats can easily cost 100e or more so i thought of it as a blessing. It is super nice.

If you want to just save the Brethren Emails that would be great. I don't want sending them to be too much of a hassle.

It makes me so happy to see how the Lord is blessing all of you while I have been gone. Life is hard, but it is never harder then we can bare. That is the beautiful thing about Jesus Christ and his atonement.

He knows us as our Father in Heaven knows us.

Dad, Vanhin Murray wanted me to tell you that you need to get yourself a scottish flag pin. Do that for my birthday and then send me picture. Vanhin Murray is from Scotland, Dun...something. I dont remember the town, but he is a convert of only three years. one and a half years before his mission. He is one of my Favorite missionaires.

I love you all. If you need anything let me know. I pray for you everyday.

Love Vanhin Sandberg

Cool Pics With Elder Silvennoinen

Debbie,

Hello! Elder Speirs asked me to send you this picture from your son.  It is difficult to see the boys, but I think the background is cool. It was taken at night when it should be dark.  The other boy is the youth that spent a week with them. I title it "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego" haha!!  I hope Elder Sandberg is doing well.  Elder Speirs loves him and really enjoys working together with him.  They are doing great!!!  I hope you are doing well.

Enjoy the pic!

Erika

Week 15

Dear Family, We are heading back down to Helsinki for the week. So my email is pushed up a day. We leave on a night train tonight at 6. Jordan would love the Night Train. But the Bathroom is a little different. Reminds me of Star Wars as it slides open. All you need is the beeping sound and Han Solo poster.

Fun experience yesterday. Testimony builder for me. We went to teach a new investigator. He is a Full Time Missionary for Wym and has been Preaching form the age of 15. I think. Not positive. But He loves the Bible and knows it like the back side of his arm. If you have a question about the bible you ask him. Because he can tell you about it for hours. Any way. We went to teach him about the Plan of Salvation. He has had a hard time reading the Book of Mormon because he needs time to study his scriptures and pray to Jesus. As we began to teach him, we read through all of Alma luku 40. He had Had a question about life after death and the time between death and judgment. So we Read this luku and began to draw out the circles and lines to represent the plan. When we told him we lived with God before this life. He stopped us right there. "I can not believe that, Where is it written in the Bible?" We tried to share that it was in both books. Alma had asked and inquired about this same thing. But he wanted to know why Samuel was called back from the dead by some witch in the bible.

I asked him about the Breathe of Life and how the body was just a glove for our spirits. Things started to get a little heated because in past and present lessons he has told  us that what we believe can not possibly be true. he has had other questions about Angles appearing to Prophets and if it is not Gabriel then it cant be right.

But we ended our lesson after countless attempts to simply and gently show him what we believe. Challenged him to read the book of Mormon. And left. We were so close to Bible bash. It was not good. I got to a point that I had to stop talking. The spirit was leaving the lesson and I knew that things were not going anywhere. Our friend would contradict himself over and over. But the best part is that I have been trying to understand my own conversion and testimony. And After our lesson after cooling down a bit. I had a sweet realization. Why was I so mad and frustrated? Because I was defending what I knew to be right and true. The Holy Ghost in just the short time that it was in our lesson what baring witness to me. It was beautiful to notice after.

Don't get me wrong. We love our friend and investigator. He really is great. But there are times that you want to just throw that book as some people so they can really feel the power it holds. obviously we would not really do that. because that would not be nice and disrespectful to the Book of Mormon. BUt I have had the thought every once and a while.

Side notes. Jeff

Jeff, Do you know the song about being" forsaken for a little while"? more of the lyrics are " And the hills shall be removed and the Mountains shall depart. and The Valley shall be lost beneath the sea, but know my child, my kindness shall not depart from thee."

'some thing like that. It is from the CD Praise to the Man, number Seven.

Thank you family for all you do. I love you very much. How are the married couples? Jon and Kai. Kim and Beej, Justin and Kezia? I love you. I hope your week is great! I pray for you!

Be safe and Strong.

love, Vanhin Sandberg

Week 14

Hello Family, 

First question answers first... if that makes sense. My week has been great! unpredictable as always. But it has been great. many miracles are given to us. Our Branch is about 25-30 active members. Our meeting house is a rented out floor of a building. We live just three buildings away from it, which is really nice. That is also where we email from, It is the Seminary/ Institute room. We actually get our Mini-missionary tomorrow. We thought he would be coming last week, but we guessed wrong. Sounds like Life is great back home. It is always wonderful to hear the fun stories from home. And to see how Heavenly Father is taking care of you. Dmitry is also doing great. He is in Helsinki visiting the Temple at the moment. He is a solid member. He helps we all the time with the Language. And I help Him with his english. Two way street as we say in America. 

The Language is coming. every week i am able to see the improvements, but during the week it can be a little harder to see. And Jeff might like this, but almost everyday I am asked if I am from Sweden. The Name helps with that a lot. But then I am able to talk a little bit about our Family. How did we come from Sweden exactly? 

When Jeff and I come back to visit Sweden and Finland we will have both Languages down. We could live up here ;) 

I tease my companion that I will buy a swedish to Finnish sanakirja before i completely know Finnish because it has happened a couple times that someone will speak to me in Swedish and I will just answer them in Finnish. I cant quite understand the difference yet. But I did understand which is the funny part. So, maybe someday I will learn Swedish. 

The story about Vanhin Speirs in the Hole. We found a different way to tract. We dress in our P-day clothes and we tract. We call it service tracting  because we go and ask anyone if they need help. If we see someone in there yard then we hop off our bikes and ask. It is a good way for others to see that we are normal people. and that our service is not always spiritual. We do hope that it can lead to that, but this kind of tracting has shown to have a different effect on people. We really like it. 

But the story behind it is we went tracting and found ourselves in the area of one of our members so we popped by and said " we are ready to work. Put us to work." 

iT ended up being a blessing because our member we digging a compost hole and had hurt his back. So we showed up ready to finish the job. It was probable ten feet deep. Miracles happen everyday. 

I love you all and pray for you everyday. If there is anything i can do for you, just let me know. 

mom, Read Alma luku 26-27 and think of your `boys` Jordan, Kb, and Ethan. I read that yesterday. Thought you might like it. I love you all! 

love Vanhin Sandberg

Start of week 13

We received his e-mail YEA!!!! No worries this time.

Dear Mama,

I am alive. The Londons gave me a call to asking if I had emailed. If you dont ever receive and email and want to get  on and look at my emails that is fine. Sounds like life is crazy back home. I love hearing all that is going on. Is there anything I can do with? Just let me know. Our weeks go by so fast. Our days at times seem to be drawn out but our weeks just fly by. I am going on my fourth week out in the field. Can you believe that? I am having a hard time wrapping my head around it. I feel like i still just got here. My companion likes to joke and say that i will be training on the next change. He had that happen to him. So, if that happens to me then it is all Vanhin Speirs fault. That is great to hear that you had dinner with Annakaisa and George, I hope all it going well with them. 

Love Vanhin Sandberg

Moma, Email has off schedule today so I am now able to finish emailing. It is 17:43 We left Bible study a little early so our branch president could have another priesthood holder here while he help interviews. Our Branch President looks just like Mr Gru from Despicable me. Has anyone seen the new movie yet? My Companion and I see the posters every day and he want to see it. It does look cute. Has anyone seen the Man of Steal? I want to see that one when i get back. 

Is there anything that I can do for the family? It sounds like everyone is doing well. Keep me updated on Beej, Two Kidney stones! That must be awful. 

Next week we get a mini missionary. He will be a native Finn that spends one week with the missionaries.  I dont know a whole lot about them, but we have been chosen to help train one. It will be a wonderful experience. Have you talked to Veli Boyer and Amy yet? 

They are wonderful people. You will love them. 

How are Grandma and Grandpa doing? I know I dont say it a whole lot, but I do miss everyone. May be I do say it a lot. I Do not say it individually. We are very busy on our P days. Our normal schedule is we wake up at 6:30. Exercise until 7. Eat and shower before 8. personal study from 8-9. companion study from 9-10. 10-11 is Language study. 11 we come to email. that takes two hours easily. and then at 2 we had a lesson with Hanna. at three we had lunch. 4-6 is bible study at the lutheran church and then we go get food. It may not seem like a lot, but it really is. Monday is our most busy day. and we only have three hours of missionary work. We still contact every place we go. It is great. 

I love you all. Sorry this came in two separate emails. I pray for you ALL the time. Love ya

Vanhin Sandberg