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