March 1, 2010

AUSTIN IS GOING TO GUAM!! THAT'S INSANE!!! Good for him! I'm a little bummed he isn't coming to hang out with me in Finland but Guam is amazing. What do they speak in Guam? How did you find out? I love that guy. Tell him I said Congrats.

I got your package. Thank you. I was looking through my pantry and I had no snack food. Then, my package came I got Beef Jerky. It was great and thank you for the pictures. Scott's new mower looks sweet. I like all of his work clothes. I'm a fan! Is there anymore stuff?

Things I need. I need a memory card charger. I have been meaning to tell you that but never remembered to. But yes, that is what I need. Thought I packed it, definitely didn't. Is Mr. Mac sending me free pants?

I bought a new coat. I figured that coats would be way expensive when i planned to buy one, so I got one know since winter is almost over. It was 45 euros. Pretty good deal for a new winter coat. It's got fur on the hood. It's sweet. I like it.

The ring. I just read your email but i don't have a ruler so i will let you know next week.

Did you like the chocolate? What did you like and not like?

DA's - dinner appointments.  We get about 1-2 a week. I think that's good. I'm not sure the average amount. I have no complaints. How many do the elders in Colorado get?

I am able to make dinners. I make a beefy barbque pot dinner which is awesome, the famous noodles garlic and peas, and spaghetti, every week. I don't want to change it haha. I learned how to cook some things, I learned how to make meatballs. I learned how to make Finnish bread called Pulla and also this fruit soup dessert thing called Kisseli, which is awesome.

I haven't gained too much weight. Iäm at 152. So I have lost 13 pounds since the MTC. I don't know what happened to me when I first came out here. I feel good though. I don't know if I still have jet lag cause I can falll alseep anywhere and all the time hahaha.

I do hear from Chris. I got a letter from him a couple weeks ago. I wrote him back. He should be getting it in about a week. That's cool that he wants to get my emails. I love that guy. I love how he got me that bell haha. It works great here. One ring and people move haha. Its great!

Finnish is coming. I still don't know anything. haha. But it will come more. There is no pride when it comes to learning Finnish haha. The minute you learn something, you get like a brick thrown at your face the next (thats the best way I can describe it haha). It's going alright though.

Slush. Slush is the kyrptonite to snow tires. It's warming up quick here and I love it. There is a bummer though. They did an ice sculpting competition and they made children's slides out of ice and they were way sweet. There was a cloud one, a monglionian themed one, and some crazy cool other ones. They are melting away. I liked them. I got some pictures on them though. :)

Dad, I agree with the Bible and Book of Mormon thing. However, Elder Holland talked about how the Spirit is so much stronger in the Book of Mormon and we should strive to use it as much as possible.That is why missionaries just teach from the Book of Mormon. Personally, I think we need to teach from the Bible to make a clear connection to the Book of Mormon. However, the Spirit is the converter so we need to teach from the Book of Mormon. It really depends on how you plan to teach it. Every investigator is different. Some need to be taught a from the Bible a little more. Example, we just found a new person to teach named Toni. He knows a lot about the Bible. We started teaching him the about the Restoration (first lesson), if you have a Preach My Gospel which I think there is an extra one in the house you can see the lessons we teach in Chapter 3,  with the Bible and then introduced the Book of Mormon to him. It made a smoother transition for him to relate and undersantd the purpose and importance of the Book of Mormon. Things are going well with him. We teach him again tonight.

We head off to Joensuu tomorrow for splits. It might be Elder Watson and I again. WOO HOO!

I will write you next week. Going to see the castle now. Haven't been yet. It should be fun.

Love you all,
Vanhin Behnke