July 7, 2016
The time is coming near and my district and I are anxiously awaiting for our flight plans to come in this weekend (in the mail). We've had "senior-itus" for the past couple weeks (anxious to graduate). We've watched our danish missionaries leave to Denmark two weeks ago (Finns and Danes got to the MTC on the same day), as well as our Swedes and Nords this last Sunday. It was a rough goodbye because they came the week after us and we kinda felt like we raised them. We now have their replacements and are getting to know them better. Knowing us, we'll get attached to them again and it'll be hard to say goodbye. But at least the next time anyone leaves in our zone, it's going to be us!
This morning, since the temple is closed, we got to go and clean the temple. We were assigned to clean endowment room 3. They put in new carpet and re-upholstered the seats. I ended up cleaning the backs of the seats with a toothbrush because patrons tend to use them to help them stand up, so the oils and dirt from their hands collects there. So that was fun. I also ended up dusting some of the plants on the 3rd floor. It was a really neat experience, and I'd love to do it again some time. When we finished, they took us downstairs and we got to see the brides room.
On the 2nd of July, we celebrated independence day. We had a devotional that talked about how the history of the world was laid out in place so perfectly in order to have the restoration. After Christ's Apostles were killed, then there were many years with no progression. Books were only hand-written, and almost no one could read, and Marin Luther decided to branch off from Catholicism, and William Tyndale translated the bible, Johannes Guttenburg invented the printing press, Columbus sailed to America, the want for religious freedom, then the pilgrimage to America. Years later, America gains independence from England and we gain the freedom of religion, assembly, speech, press, etc. and less than a decade later, Joseph Smith Jr. is born. Joseph's sole purpose on the earth was to restore the gospel. As soon as his work was done, he was taken up into the Lord's rest. After the devotional we went out to the north parking lot and watched the stadium of fire fireworks. It was pretty fun, but also the closest thing to a party that we could have at the MTC. The MTC presidency let us stay out till 11. Our zone found some tables outside where we could watch the fireworks. Once of the Elder's mom had sent them a whole lot of food. So we hung out with all of them before they all left the next day.
It's finally getting to the point where we can say normal things and actually have conversations in Finnish. Sometimes we even accidentally conjugated English words the way we would in Finnish. The gift of tongues really is quite amazing and I love it. If you learned a language, I'd encourage you to do what you can to keep it up. Whether it's by praying in your language or chatting with other who know the language. It is an amazing gift and we can't let it go to waste. You never know when it may come in handy again. It is truly a divine gift from above. I have no doubt about it. (Colby and Melissa you get to just speak Russian to each-other, so you have it easy).
We've made a habit of going out around the MTC campus every Monday evening during out study hour to practice bearing our testimonies in Finnish. We pick three companionship's that are randomly out studying and share our testimonies. It has proven to be a very spiritually beneficial tradition. We learn something new every time, and every time it's a different experience. As we try to listen to the spirit guide us to what we should testify of, even though they have no idea what we're saying (we try to pantomime when we can), they feel the spirit testify to them, and it's an awesome experience for everyone. I love seeing how much my testimony changes depending on who I'm testifying to, yet the message/thought is almost always the same. I'll be sad to leave such a holy place where the Lord's missionaries train and where I know the Lord has walked these sacred grounds. Where we are literally surrounded by the spirit 24/7. But yet I am excited to go bear my my testimony and share my witness and share the good news of the restored gospel to the people of Finland. Tiedän että tämä kirkko on Jeesuksen Kristuksen totta evankeliumi. I know that this church is Jesus Christ's true church.
Love you all and miss you! Hope everything is going well and everyone's having a great time. Remember our Father in Heaven is only a prayer away. If you ask in the name of Christ, believing in His name, you can receive answers to your prayers.
-Sisar Capps
Myöhempien Aikojen Pyhien Jeesuksen Kristuksen Kirkko
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