Rakas Perhe
28 Dec 09
This past week has been wonderful. Thank you for all your encouraging words on the phone. I had a very Merry Christmas (a white one as well).
This past saturday we received change calls. Elder Nielsen will be going to Jyväskylä. I will miss him dearly. He was a fantastic companion. And for me, I will be training in Pori. I will be sure to send some pictures next week of us. Wednesday I will be in Helsinki for the trainor’s meeting and pick up my new (brand new) companion.
As you ponder new year resolutions please keep this quotation in mind:
‘’Vision without a task is only a dream. A task without vision is but drudgery. But vision with a task is a dream fulfilled.’’ (Bruce C. Hafen)
I love you. Please remember that the Savior is so near.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Dec. 21, 2009
Rakas Perhe
21 Dec 09
This past week has been amazing. First of all tuesday was Zone Conference. President Brown taught about how to make Christ more the center of everything. He focused on the basics and opened our eyes through the Spirit to a microscopic portion of the Savior’s Glory. I was truly edified. He showed one video which was niin voimakas (so powerful). Please watch ‘’Lifting Burdens’’ Mormon message on youtube. Especially focus on how you feel when it references your divine potential. It is true. I know it. One quote from the movie was Elder Wirthlin’s which said, ‘’ Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever. Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won’t. For He sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of transformation.’’ I know we can reach Heavenly Father’s expectations. Each day we are either improving or not. We are not perfect but if we focus on the Savior then we will feel the Savior’s grace make up for those weaknesses.
Weather- It is quite cold here. At night when we go tracting I wear two pairs of gloves, two thermal pants, and a sweater and coat. The Lord has blessed me with health.
Zone Leaders- This past week was splits with the zone leaders. I learned so much from them. We made cinnamon rolls for them. They were DELICIOUS!!!
Finnish Christmas- Here one tradition is to open all your gifts on Christmas Eve rather than on Christmas. Also they love to eat this rice hot cereal with milk, cinnamon, and sugar. At the ward Christmas party I ate too much of it and felt pretty sick. It was quite funny.
Love,
Vanhin Hamner
PS Im sorry that my letter was quite choppy. I have so much to write and so little time. Love from Suomi!
21 Dec 09
This past week has been amazing. First of all tuesday was Zone Conference. President Brown taught about how to make Christ more the center of everything. He focused on the basics and opened our eyes through the Spirit to a microscopic portion of the Savior’s Glory. I was truly edified. He showed one video which was niin voimakas (so powerful). Please watch ‘’Lifting Burdens’’ Mormon message on youtube. Especially focus on how you feel when it references your divine potential. It is true. I know it. One quote from the movie was Elder Wirthlin’s which said, ‘’ Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever. Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won’t. For He sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of transformation.’’ I know we can reach Heavenly Father’s expectations. Each day we are either improving or not. We are not perfect but if we focus on the Savior then we will feel the Savior’s grace make up for those weaknesses.
Weather- It is quite cold here. At night when we go tracting I wear two pairs of gloves, two thermal pants, and a sweater and coat. The Lord has blessed me with health.
Zone Leaders- This past week was splits with the zone leaders. I learned so much from them. We made cinnamon rolls for them. They were DELICIOUS!!!
Finnish Christmas- Here one tradition is to open all your gifts on Christmas Eve rather than on Christmas. Also they love to eat this rice hot cereal with milk, cinnamon, and sugar. At the ward Christmas party I ate too much of it and felt pretty sick. It was quite funny.
Love,
Vanhin Hamner
PS Im sorry that my letter was quite choppy. I have so much to write and so little time. Love from Suomi!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Dec. 14, 2009
Rakas Perhe
14 Dec 09
This week has been amazing. Elder Nielsen and I have been so busy. We love it. Heavenly Father is blessing us to so many degrees: personally, spiritually, physically, and other ways I cannot comprehend with this mortal brain.
Thank you for your prayers. The investigators in Pori feel them.
In the last zone conference we took a language test. Afterwards the language coordinator interviewed us to see where we are with the langauge. They have standardized it so no matter how long you have been in the country you can see where you are. They said if your score was between -3 and 3 you are right where you need to be. Higher the better. In my last interview with Pres. Brown he told me my score was 21. I thought he misread it. So the language is coming along. I only share this so you know the Lord is blessing me with the gift of tongues. He is very generous. I feel His presence often here in Finland especially when I pray and study.
This next year in Finland is going to be miraculous. President Brown has challenged us to prayerfully set goals and increase our faith.
This is my challenge to you. Prayerfully ponder what you can do better this next year. Invite the Spirit to guide you in this. You cannot do this successfully without divine assistance. Include your patriarchal blessing. It is a guide.
I pray for you all and love you each individually. Please know this. The church is led by the Savior.
Love
Vanhin Hamner
14 Dec 09
This week has been amazing. Elder Nielsen and I have been so busy. We love it. Heavenly Father is blessing us to so many degrees: personally, spiritually, physically, and other ways I cannot comprehend with this mortal brain.
Thank you for your prayers. The investigators in Pori feel them.
In the last zone conference we took a language test. Afterwards the language coordinator interviewed us to see where we are with the langauge. They have standardized it so no matter how long you have been in the country you can see where you are. They said if your score was between -3 and 3 you are right where you need to be. Higher the better. In my last interview with Pres. Brown he told me my score was 21. I thought he misread it. So the language is coming along. I only share this so you know the Lord is blessing me with the gift of tongues. He is very generous. I feel His presence often here in Finland especially when I pray and study.
This next year in Finland is going to be miraculous. President Brown has challenged us to prayerfully set goals and increase our faith.
This is my challenge to you. Prayerfully ponder what you can do better this next year. Invite the Spirit to guide you in this. You cannot do this successfully without divine assistance. Include your patriarchal blessing. It is a guide.
I pray for you all and love you each individually. Please know this. The church is led by the Savior.
Love
Vanhin Hamner
Monday, December 7, 2009
Dec. 7, 2009
Rakas Perhe
7 Dec 09
This past week was fantastic. I had district meeting in Tampere (2.5 hour drive because we pick up the Rauma elders). During the meeting I had my interview with President Brown. I love him. I know he was called by a loving Heavenly Father.
This week my companion was talking about how the sun rises and sets within 3-4 hours. To tell you the truth I knew it was dark but I didn't really notice until he pointed it out. It definitely helps staying busy in this blessed work. I love the Lord. As He teaches me I try to write as much of it in my journal/ tiny notepad. President Kopishke (Europe Area pres) challenged President Brown to raise the level of faith amongst the missionaries. We are at a 10 year high in numbers. Pres. Kopishke said that it is not a matter of skill. We are applying preach my gospel in every avenue of missionary work. Now he said we just need to increase our faith. In the lectures on faith by Joseph Smith are given 3 general ingredients for faith
1. To know that God exists
2. To know His attributes, qualites
3. To know that our life is in accordance with God's will
These are three points one can self-analyze and identify areas of improvement. This is my challenge to you all. How can you increase your faith? Whenever I give you a challenge I do it too.
Lastly, could you pray that we will find at least 2 new investigators this week (this is where faith kicks in :) ) Specific prayers are powerful. Remember that Heavenly Father answers our prayers but according to His time.
Love you all
Vanhin Hamner
7 Dec 09
This past week was fantastic. I had district meeting in Tampere (2.5 hour drive because we pick up the Rauma elders). During the meeting I had my interview with President Brown. I love him. I know he was called by a loving Heavenly Father.
This week my companion was talking about how the sun rises and sets within 3-4 hours. To tell you the truth I knew it was dark but I didn't really notice until he pointed it out. It definitely helps staying busy in this blessed work. I love the Lord. As He teaches me I try to write as much of it in my journal/ tiny notepad. President Kopishke (Europe Area pres) challenged President Brown to raise the level of faith amongst the missionaries. We are at a 10 year high in numbers. Pres. Kopishke said that it is not a matter of skill. We are applying preach my gospel in every avenue of missionary work. Now he said we just need to increase our faith. In the lectures on faith by Joseph Smith are given 3 general ingredients for faith
1. To know that God exists
2. To know His attributes, qualites
3. To know that our life is in accordance with God's will
These are three points one can self-analyze and identify areas of improvement. This is my challenge to you all. How can you increase your faith? Whenever I give you a challenge I do it too.
Lastly, could you pray that we will find at least 2 new investigators this week (this is where faith kicks in :) ) Specific prayers are powerful. Remember that Heavenly Father answers our prayers but according to His time.
Love you all
Vanhin Hamner
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Helaman 5:12
And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.
