Merry Christmas!

What a week! Where did it even go? This week we had a lot happen. We had a fantastic Ward Christmas Concert that really just blew me away. We also got a new investigator this week who seems really promising. The problem is he speaks Finnish and Swedish and so does my companion so like half the lesson is in Finnish and then half of it is in Swedish. Needless to say I had a pretty big headache after the lesson.  

This week we were also able to go around with our bishop to a bunch of the ward members and deliver presents. Our Bishop seriously is the perfect example of a Christ-like person. We went to some less active members and we even were able to set up teaching appointments with them so that is really exciting. In one of the apartment buildings we went into they had a little Christmas tree in the entrance way. So we thought it would be fun to place a wrapped Book of Mormon under the tree and hopefully someone will read it. Like what gift is greater than Eternal Life. 

This week I read about the parable of the ten Virgins and how when the 5 foolish virgins come and knock on the door the Lord will say I know you not or in the jst translation Ye know me not. It made me think about how I am doing in my quest to come to know the savior. Especially during this time of year we can come to know our Savior by following his example. Christmas time is such a lovely time of year because everyone is trying to be more Christ-like. I know that as we serve others and as we try to follow Jesus Christ we will come to know him. As we come to know him we will have happiness in this life and in the life to come. I know that Christ lives and I am so grateful that I get to spend this special Christmas season serving him. 

Merry Christmas to all,

Elder Lewis

Enjoy the random pictures

Please enjoy

Well hello everyone. This week went by so fast I can barely even remember what happened. This Christmas spirit has definitely come to Turku and for that I am so happy.  We had a ward Christmas party this week and it was so much fun. I don't think I entirely understand jokes in Finnish but there was plenty of people laughing during the play so I assume it was pretty good. We got a lot of investigators and potentials there because it was combined with the other ward. It was super fun to talk to everyone and see how the ward just friendships so easily. I am so grateful for the wonderful members and how they all have such a strong passion for missionary work.  

This week we also had the opportunity to go on exchanges with the zone leaders. Elder Minson and Elder Johnson were super helpful and taught us a lot. We had the opportunity to show the Christmas initiative to a couple people on the street and it was really spiritual. One man was pretty reluctant to watch it but eventually he did. After we watched it with him his whole demeanor changed and we had a really spiritual conversation about how we need to make Christ the center of our Christmas. I know that as we make Christ the center of our Christmas by serving others and giving back we will find true Joy. I am so happy to be able to represent Christ this Christmas. I love the Christmas spirit and I wish that we could have it year round because it really is something so wonderful. With all my Love

Elder Lewis

These are some pictures from this week please enjoy

Independence Day!!!

I thought I would begin my email today by educating everyone about a little piece of Finnish history. Today is Finland Independence day. This is the 99th year anniversary of Finland's independence. Because they just gained their independence not too long ago many of the people here are super patriotic and they should be. Finland has gone through a lot of wars and so now they are just so happy that they can be their own country and have peace. So there's some Finnish history for you. 

So this week was really fun. Elder Vennerholm had mission leader conference so I got to spend the day with two other missionaries in Helsinki. The only problem was they both just came from the MTC and so I was going to be the senior companion. The position of power felt pretty nice, but when it came time to teach a lesson it stopped being fun. We did survive however and I feel like I have a pretty good idea of what went on during the lesson. Anyways we had a fun time talking to people about the Gospel. 

This week we were also able to go do some service for a less active member. Ok like very less active. Anyways we did some things around her yard and made it look siisti as she would say. We talked to her for a little bit about her life and she told us a bunch of stories about how she used to perform as a singer. I love how so many members come from so many backgrounds because together we all make one beautiful ward. Anyways we think we will be able to get her to come to church soon which would be super awesome. 

So this week I have been studying a lot about hope. Hope is one of my favorite words ever because it is such a powerful word. I like to think about the story of pandora's box and how everything in this world can be lost except hope. We always have hope and I love that. In Hebrews 7:19 It says "For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did." I know that this is true and I know that when we have hope in this life we will find true happiness. I am so grateful for the hope that I have found as a missionary and I know that as we hope we will have Joy. 

Love

Elder Lewis

Pictues!

1 This is a cool bridge with some lights

2 This is Elder Vennerholm with his advent calendar

3 This is me sitting on the couch