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