Taught By Our Mothers

Snow!  Again!  

Knitted Art Commemorating Finland's 100 years of freedom

Terve! Happy Mothers day to all those amazing Moms I know!!! I just want to say that you all have made a difference in my life and I love you :) 

This week was SO amazing! It has been full of ups and downs and middles and everything in between but that is the life of a missionary! That is actually one thing I have truly learned while I have been out is how to best rely on the Lord in every emotion. To say thank you for the blessings,  to ask for courage when scared. To ask for comfort when sad or worried and to ask for help when we fall short. The beautiful thing is that He is always there, ready to give and give. Some of these emotions help us so we thank Him for the bad as well as the good! Some of my goods this week were:

1. Hamburgers. Wow am I thankful for hamburgers! We ate them for dinner one night and I dont know why but it just gave me energy.......weird, yes :P 

2. All the seasons in one day! We will wake up, and it will be kind of like a cool crisp morning, and then will turn into a spring-ish mid day and at lunch summer comes and the birds are singing and its warm and then all of a sudden, conveniently when we are walking a long distance it blizzards. But the blizzards here in Turku are magical! Huge snowflakes just dance and swirl and it's so beautiful that you don't even feel cold :) 

3.Finnish stuff :) On Friday we were walking around after a canceled appointment and we were near the river and all of the trees along the river all have this fun knitted art! We discovered it was a contest because this year Finland celebrates its 100th birthday being a free country! YAY Finland! I took some pictures of my favorite :) 

4.Mothers Day! I was able to skype with my family on Sunday and talk to my amazing Momma and hear all the fun things that are happening with them and I was just overwhelmed at the love I felt for them and their support! 

One story in the Book of Mormon that truly brings to light the importance of Mothers is Alma 56. The two thousand Strippling Warriors had so much courage and bravery that even a war veteran like Helaman said that he had never seen "so great courage among the Nephites".  These boys had never fought in their life, but they said that because they had been taught by their mothers to fear God and to never doubt that they could do anything asked. That God would protect them. 

I am so thankful for a mother who taught me the importance of being a good person, and of sticking up for your beliefs no matter where you are. I am grateful that she taught me to rely on the Lord and to always have faith. To trust that He is always with us. I love my mom and I love you all too. Have a great week and tell your moms you love them :)

Rakkaudellani

Sisar Phipps

Hyvää Vappua!! :)

A cool museum we visited

Princess dessert and Sisar H!

Moi ystävät!! I hope everyone is doing well on this beautiful may day! :) Here in Finland the first of May is a big day and everything closes and there are lots of people "being merry" if you know what I mean :P about 90% of the Finnish population is drunk. The crazy thing is they are STILL super nice! and pretty funny. 

This week has been amazing! We have met some amazing people who want to come to know their Savior even more and we were able to share the message of the Restoration with many! One man even decided after one lesson to be baptized! We were a little shocked, but God prepares His children and puts them in our path. I am excited to teach him more about this amazing gospel and to see his testimony grow :) 

I want to take a moment to really appreciate the members here in my area! This week we were able to visit the H. Family! They are amazing and Sisar H. is an AMAZING cook and made us Princess Dessert! Chocolate ice cream, berries, and meringue with homemade whip cream! And many times have we received kind texts or messages from this family wanting to help further the work in Turku! 

We also had the opportunity so work some more in one of our members yard and this time we got to shovel and scoop sawdust out of the roof of an older building! It was SO FUN! We got to wear masks and climb ladders and we even found some cool magazines from the 1960's! And we got to keep them! Apparently a few days before we got there the member found a torpedo! (not active or filled with explosives) but still SO COOL!!!!

The thing I really learned this week is that God truly knows us. He knows our hearts and our desires and He wants to help us :) My personal goal this week was to say a tender mercy everytime I was going to say something negative. Well.......God heard my prayer for help in this goal. I know this becuase the next day I had the flu and was REALLY sick! But I am proud to say that each time I felt sorry for myself or started to complain I would say something like, " at least I have a pillow" or "I'm thankful to have a companion who makes me laugh when I don't feel good and makes me eat crackers". 

God answered my prayer, even if it wasn't quite the way I may have wanted, I learned that even when it gets really hard, we can still see the good all around us :) I am doing much better now and it has become even easier to see the beauty all around me. 

I love my Father in Heaven. I know He hears me and wants to help. I challenge everyone to think of a tender mercy when we think its hard, or to ask for help in our goals because he will help us :) 1 Nephi 21:13- 5 : we may forget Him, but he will never forget us :) 

I love you all and I pray for you daily!

Keep smiling and know that we are heard.

Rakkaudellani,

Sisar Phipps

Varnakonferenssi!

Waiting for our bus!

Moi! Mitä kuuluu?? I hope everyone is doing so amazing this week! 

This weeks is gonna be kinda short again, but hey, we are missionaries on the move :) 

Highlights of this week are:

1) One of our recent converts got married!!!!

2) It decided to be sunny and then randomly snow during the day! Gotta love Finnish weather! 

3) We were able to go to Tampere, a city about an hour and a half away and listen to Brother and Sister Charelson (?) from England for Stake Conference! It was amazing to see everyone come together to feel the spirit and learn more about how we can be better Latter Day Saints! One thing that really stuck out to me was that many of the talks were about being a member missionary. Ever since I became a missionary, I have seen that members are ESSENTIAL to helping move the work forward. I know it can be scary, and we may worry that we could lose relationships. But you have the help of the missionaries! We are here to help you and to be there. Please this week, if you have someone you know that would benefit from learning about the gospel (so....everyone) invite them to a church activity, or to meet with the missionaries in your home. INVITE! :) And I promise that not only will the people you invites knowledge and testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ grow, but your testimony will grow too.

When many of Christs disciples and followers decided to not follow Him, Christ turned to the 12 and asked if any of them would leave too, and Peter said to him (paraphrasing) Where can we go when we know what we know?" 

Where can we go? We can go and share this amazing message of hope and peace!

I love you all and I hope your week is filled with laughter and love.

Rakkaudellani,

Sisar Phipps

Because He Lives

It SNOWED on EASTER!

This week has been so amazing! Turku is definitely my favorite city so far and the people in it are amazing. Those we teach are so willing to come to know who Jesuse Christ is and to learn of the loving plan their Father in Heaven has for them! And the members here are FABULOUS! This week we were able to visit many of the members in our ward and share the Prince of Peace video with them. If you havent seen it, watch it. It perfectly describes and helps us see that Jesus Christ did all he did out of love, and that through Him, we receive peace, comfort and hope in the crazy things called our lives.

This week leading up to Easter, I have been studying about His life and His example and as I was studying a song came into my head. I sang this song back at home in church and I knew the words were true then, but as I have been on a mission and seen His hand in all that I do the words took on a different meaning.

Because he lives, because he rose in mighty triumph from the grave,

I put my trust in him, and seek to follow him in faith, because he lives

Because he lives, I shall find strength to stand against the tempter’s power

He is my refuge and defense in every troubled hour, Because he lives

Because he lives (Because he lives) I can bear whatever burden may be mine.

I am encircled in the arms of love divine, Because he lives.

Because he lives (Because he lives) He will banish every shadow of my pain,

Every sorrow will be swallowed up in him

For in his hand is healing for the weary soul.

This I know, because he lives

Because he lives, My heart is filled with peace amid a world of fear,

And through the blindness of the night, in him I rest secure, Because He lives,

Because He lives, There is no task so great that I cannot endure,

I bear no heart-ache that his tender mercy cannot cure, Because he lives.

Because he lives, I will fear no darkness; because he lives I will walk in light,

Because he lives, I will praise his kindness, because he lives, hope shines ever bright.

Because he lives, I will seek his righteousness,

Because he lives, I’ll follow where he leads,

Because he lives, I shall conquer even death,

And I shall live because he lives,

Because he lives I will glorify his name,

And with the willing voice of gratitude proclaim my Savior lives!

Because he live he will banish every shadow of my pain,

Every sorrow will be swallowed up on him,

For in his hand is healing for the weary soul.  This I know, This I know, because he lives.

My favorite line in this song is : Because he lives I will glorify his name,

And with the willing voice of gratitude proclaim my Savior lives!

I challenge you all to read 2 Nephi 22 and to share with someone this week your testimony of Jesus Christ. I promise that as you do it, Christ will be there to help you.

I love you all and pray for you always! 

Rakkaudella,

Sisar Phipps

Turku Week 2

The view from our apartment

One of the members made us a PIE!

After a long day.....

Hello Everyone! ok. I promise I will get better at writing bigger emails, but I am almost out of time :P 

Highlights:

-I gave my first lesson in Finnish this week! It was so fun and I loved using what I have learned! I actually understand a lot of what people say, It's just really hard for me to answer and speak back with the correct grammar. But hey. Grammar isn't that important right?? :P

- I bore my testimony and everyone after kept asking me if I have a Finnish parent because I sound a lot like a Finn!! :D I was very excited!

- Me and Sisar DuPaix got to help a member in his yard for 2 hours hauling wood and cleaning stuff up and it was so fun because it reminded me of all the work I did on the farm! I am grateful everyday for our farm and my parents because they taught me how to work hard and to be cheerful while doing the work :)

- Sister DuPaixs' bag broke as we ran for the bus! It sounds bad but it was SOOOOO funny!!!!'''

- The weather here has been AMAZING! Spring is on it's way here in Turku! The birds are always up and singing :)

-One of the members in our ward gave us a pie!!! :D

- During personal study this week I re-read the story of the Strippling warrior and and the faith and courage they had. But what struck me was that each individual member of those 2,000 young men had to have their own testimony and strong faith. They all had to know for themselves. There was no piggybacking. On a mission you are surrounded by people with strong testimonies. Your companions, your Sister training leaders, and those in the ward. But it's SO important to have your own testimony. Strong enough to withstand wars and contentions and everything the adversary and life throws at you. 

I love this Gospel. I know without a doubt that Joseph Smith was a prophet directed by God to restore the true church, and that now, because of Joseph Smiths sacrifices and his testimony and faith, that we have the Book of Mormon and the eternal truths within it.

I love you all and pray for you each day! I challenge you to read more, ponder more, pray more and gain a stronger testimony each day. Never settle on anything. Continue with faith and you will have help from on high.

Smile and see the sun in everything :)

Rakkaudella,

Sisar Phipps

Turku (First Group Email)

A beautiful church near our bus stop.  A tender mercy this week was hearing the bells!

Hello Everyone! I hope all is well and that everyone got the chance to watch General Conference! I don't have much time but I just wanted to say that I know this Church is true! Hearing the words of the Prophets and apostles is the most amazing thing. Because God loves us, He has given us a plan and everything in that plan is perfect. But sadly we are not. I have definitely felt my inadequacies this week as I arrived in Finland and had to adjust to an entirely different but beautiful culture! 

The big thing I have seen and learned this week has been to always be real with yourself and to understand that you are not perfect. As I try and speak this language I learn each time I try that the spirit is there when truth is spoken. I may not say that truth in the right order, or with the correct conjugation or case ending, but it is still truth. I have also learned that the simpler I say something, the more powerful the impact. Saying things like, "God Loves his children" or "He has a plan for you" or "Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer." while simple, hold the most power.

I want to invite you all to share simply.  Don't get caught up in the crazy "pinteresty" ways to do something. Share a video, or invite a friend to church. Everyone deserves a chance to be invited, and to have the choice to accept or reject. Be brave my friends :)

That's all the time I have, but I want you all to know I love it here. Finland is beautiful and full of Gods children. I love the weather, the culture, my companion and most importantly I love my Savior Jesus Christ and His Atoning Sacrifice! 

Stay warm and smile :)

Sisar Phipps

Week One! Wow!

Some of the sisters watching General Conference

Sister Dupaix and I at lunch in our apartment

My first view of Finland!

The streets of Turku

Hello Momma and Dad and Family!! :D How is everyone!?? Im doing pretty good here in Turku! It is the oldest city in Finland and is absolutley stunning! I havent seen a ton of it yet but from what I have seen its gorgeous! It reminds me alot of Norway!

The plane ride was really fun! I got to talk to lots of people and eat Cafe Rio and SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS! Yeah! It was great! I still have some jet lag but its getting easier to get up in the morning so thats great! 

I have had some homesickness this week which was hard for me because I had none in the MTC but when people tell you the MTC is a kiddie pool they arnt kidding! I learned a lot and I can understand most of what people are saying if they talk slow and have a clear voice, so that's a HUGE tender mercy! I cant really answer yet but I will get there! 

Its been a little chilly the past week but Ive been doing great with my coat and tights and sweaters. 

We have about 6 investigators right now and I have met 3 I think. But because of Finlands heavy privacy policy I cant really tell you much about them or send pictures unless I have written consent that that is ok. With members as well. So sorry! You'll see plenty of Me and of the countryside :) 

Also, President Watson has said that chatting is not allowed and that means if you respond to this email I cant even look at it. until next week so please make it a little easier by waiting until next week to respond :P 

My companion is Sisar DuPaix and I love her! She is so kind and a great trainer! She is from wisconson and went to BYU for a year before coming on a mission. She has been here for 6 months and speaks SO well! I'm happy to be with her and she is very patient with me! 

My ward is probably the BEST WARD EVER! They are so kind and very helpful in the Work. Sister missionaries must have an adult sister with them if they teach a male investigator or member and many in the ward are willing and ready to teach with us and bear testimony on what is being taught! 

The food is a lot like Norway. Lots of open face sandwiches and healthy stuff! I have actually lost three pounds already ( Dont worry mom, Im still eating alot) I eat a potato at least twice a day and I don't think it will ever get old! So good. 

I wasnt able to make breakfast cake sadly but next time for sure! I made french toast though! That was yummy! Our apartment is small and cute and yes almost all Ikea! I love it though because that is where I sleep. Man I love sleep. You seriously cherish every second you are in bed! Its the best. I go home each day exhausted and sometimes not excited for the next day, but willing to get up and go :) 

General Conference was AMAZING! we watched it at our church building here and ate some yummy snacks. One of the families in our area is AMAZING! we already have several dinner appointments and they made us snacks for conference and even left me chocolate to welcome me to Turku! 

All in all I'm doing great! Sometimes I cry because I'm tired or I miss you all but I know Im doing the Lords work. I know He will strengthen me and help me if I just ask. I'm thankful to be here in Turku with an amazing companion, meeting amazing people and eating many potatoes! 

I love you all and I can't wait until next week!

Love lots,

Sisar Phipps

Hi Mom! I'm Alive and in Finland!

Mom Note:  Claire has arrived in Finland!  Her p-day is on Tuesdays and she would love to hear from all of you!

They took the train from Provo to the Airport

Arrived at the SLC Airport!

After a 10 hour flight to Amsterdaam and then continuing on to Helsinki.  Tired, but SO happy to be there!

I'm alive and in the most beautiful country I have ever seen! Everything is half frozen and wonderful and the Mission President and his wife are AMAZING <3 

Talk later next Tuesday,

Love you,

Claire

MOI MOI MTC!

Our District minus Vanhin Haws

Sister Dickerson and my relationship in a picture....

We escaped the MTC!

Moi! Hello friends! I hope all is well and that every day you see the good things in your life! This week has once again, been amazing! The highs were so great, and the lows just made me appreciate all the highs :) Some of my tender mercies this week were:

1) Hearing from Brother and Sister Zwick of the Seventy! Our Tuesday devotional was AMAZING! Sister Zwick spoke on patience and how we, as missionaries, are the resources, not the source. I loved that because its so true. I am just a tool of the Savior, but each day I strive to be the sharpest and most eager tool hes got :) Brother Zwick spoke on what matters most and shared with us 4 steps to be a builder of His Kingdom. One thing that stuck out to me was that he said that our faithful example of living the gospel will be more powerful than a lot of things we ever say.

As members of the LDS church, we are different. Everything we do should testify that we believe and follow Christs' example and teachings. We need to remember that with or without a name tag, what we do represents our beliefs. Choose the Right :)

2) All the flowers blooming at the Temple! I am so happy for flowers and spring and yummy smelling air! 

3) My Zone. Ok people. I have the BEST ZONE EVER! They seriously know how to bring the spirit, build you up and make you laugh so hard your sides hurt! I'm really gonna miss them all and I want them to know I love them all and wish them luck on their missions! Scandinavia is getting some fantastic people! 

4) Chiropractors. Yup. This week my back decided to protest all the sitting I have been doing and so I had to go see a chiropractor for the very first time! We left the MTC! It was weird driving by King Henry and seeing the places I ate at for dinner ( Wendy's mostly :P ). But it was fun to go and have a grown man pretty much sit on me, make my back and neck crack so many times it really shouldn't be healthy and then lay with little electrode things on my back for 15 minutes! Honestly that last part was great. I got about a 15 minute nap :) 

5) Something that my fellow Finn, Vanhin Jordan, said in class that really stuck out to me. He said,

" A ship in a harbor is safe, but that's not what a ship is built for."

As I prepare to leave the MTC this Monday and go to Finland, I have been so nervous. When you do literally the same exact thing each week, for 9 weeks straight, you start feeling pretty safe. Well, as I thought about all the new things I will be doing each day in a place where I don't speak the language too well, and I got scared. But when Vanhin Jordan said that, all I could think of was when Peter walked on water towards the Lord. When he saw his Savior, he called out and asked to come unto Christ. When Christ beckoned him, Peter didn't hesitate. He jumped out of that boat and walked on water. It was only when Peters' focus was not on the Savior, but on the tempests and storms around him that he started to sink. I want to be what the Savior wants me to be. I want to walk off that plane in Finland and never take my focus off the Savior because I know if I do, I will sink. I want to do what I came out on a mission to do. To invite others to come unto Christ.

 

 I love my Savior, and the Atonement that He provides. I know that because of Him, we have a perfect example to strive towards. That if we focus on Him, we will never sink, no matter how big the waves of life are.I thankful for my beautiful companion Sisar Dickerson and all I have learned from her sweet, kind, and caring example. It has been a blessing to learn here at the MTC. I will miss the cereal, the people and the Spirit I have felt each day. I am so excited to be in Finland and to teach the people I already love with all my heart! 

Moi Moi (goodbye!) MTC! You will be missed! 

Smile and see the good!

Sisar Phipps

Usko kautta vaikea ajat

Our new, and much bigger, zone!

Moi :) Mitä kuluu?? Its been ANOTHER incredible week! I love the MTC and the people I'm surrounded by! This week has been a pretty busy one full of laughter and the hand of the Lord. We had to say goodbye to some amazing Sisters and Elders going to Sweden and Norway but I know that they are doing amazing things and I wish them luck!!

 A few of my favorite memories of this week has been:

1- Getting 18 new missionaries in our zone! They are all really fun and I am now convinced that the best people are sent to Scandinavia! I love them all already! Sisar Dickerson and I are the Sister training leaders now that we have 5 new sisters who all make me laugh and I feel so blessed to help them in their journey here at the MTC. 

2- Seeing the flowers! Its been so nice here in Provo and a bunch of the trees are starting to flower. 

3- Being able to do a skype lesson with an ACTUAL FINNISH PERSON who was in Finland! It was so cool! I loved just attempting to talk to him and teach about the importance of doing member missionary work and hearing his testimony! I am beyond excited to meet the people of Finland I have already come to love.

4- Knowing I will receive my travel plans tomorrow!! I have a week and a half left here at the MTC and I am SO excited to go and start teaching the people of Finland and love them more than I do now!

This last point is what I want to focus on. While my stay here at the MTC has been SO fun and I have grown and learned so much and met life long friends, it has been one of the hardest things I have ever done. You get discouraged and think "Can I do this?" or "This is so hard, maybe I should just go home" But I can testify with my whole heart that these thoughts are not from our Father in Heaven. Our Father in Heaven knows what we can do. He will NEVER give us anything we can't handle. Whether its the death of a loved one, a job that seems too hard, or a language named the hardest in the world, the Lord will ALWAYS be there to lift us up. An amazing missionary said to me that on our name tags Christs' name is on the bottom because he descended below ALL so that he may lift us up. He loves us and because He loves us, he won't do it all for us. We have been given agency to choose to have faith in Him. 

In Ether 12:18  Moroni states that no one had ever seen or performed miracles until AFTER showing their faith. The brother of Jared had to have faith first before he saw the hand of God. In fact the brother of Jared had so much faith that in Ether 12:20 Moroni says that God could not hide his finger from him because of his exceeding faith. I want this kind of faith. I want to go out and testify to the people and bring this gospel to them so that they may choose to love it. I want to share the power faith can have. Faith has healed the sick and caused the blind to see. It has raised people from the dead. But the point I'm trying to make is that those who witnessed the miracle already had faith. They knew Christ could help them. I challenge everyone to have faith first. Build up your faith by serving others and coming closer to Christ and I promise you will see miracles.

I know Christ and our Heavenly Father love us more than anything. I know that they have given us a plan to make us happy. In the words of Joseph Smith, " I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it." 

I love you all and pray for you daily. Smile and have faith :)

Sisar Phipps

The flowers are blooming!

My desk.....it's actually one of the cleaner ones in the classroom!

Mom sent me a bigger bag!

Life is like Feeding a Duck....

March 9, 2017

Feeding the MTC resident ducks!  Highlight of the week!!

Finns and Icees (Finnish and Icelandic missionaries)

Aeldste Birch!  (One of the departing Danish missionaries)

​​Hello everyone! I hope your week is going as good as mine! Thank you to my family who has sent me letters and packages and thank you to everyone who sends emails :) They really do brighten this missionary's day! 

This week has been so full of Gods mercies! Today the sun came out!!! I was so excited! And I got to go to the most amazing place on earth! The TEMPLE!!! I go every week but each time I just sit and wonder how such an amazing place where I can be close to the Savior and be where He walked could be on this earth! I swear every week I get more and more blessed! Don't get me wrong, this week was the hardest one yet, but I feel like when you're at your worst, its easier to see the good things around you! For example:

1) Even though our favorite Danish Elders left us for Denmark, the night before they left we had a big dance party and drank Martinellis.......Priceless. ;)

2) Getting to sing at several events around the MTC with my companion, favorite Norwegian sister and the coolest cellist going to Finland. Scary? Yes. Crazy fun? Heck YEAH!  :) 

3) Getting to feed the resident MTC ducks! So this was SO fun!!! I was pretty scared it was gonna to bite me, but it didn't! and it ate my gross bagel :) Win win.

Those are just a few from this week but there were so many more! This weeks Tuesday devotional was attended by Elder Costa of the Seventy and his wife. Something that Sister Costa said to us was,

"You're going to laugh about it later, so why not laugh now?" 

This is probably the best advice I have ever been given. I look back on different things I did before my mission and just laugh. One time, my dad told me to go check one of the spigots out in a field and of course being the typical teenager I was, I didn't want to walk all the way out in the field. Being so smart I thought I could just drive the truck out there and be just fine........wrong. Within about 10 seconds, I was stuck super deep in the mud and I was all by myself. I was FREAKING OUT! I kept thinking my dad is gonna KILL me! I honestly thought it was the end of the world. But it wasn't and now I laugh so hard every time I think of how scared I was! I really wish that I could have just laughed and called my dad and not freaked out.Now I know I pretty much say the same thing every week, but it is SO important to just have a good attitude! There are so many hard things that have happened in my mission and I'm just at the MTC! But a good attitude is the key. Never once did our Savior complain about the burdens he bore. He did it gladly because He loves us and wants us to be so so happy. I love my Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ! I'm so humbled how we could have a Heavenly Father who loves us so much he sent His Son to atone for our sins, just so we can 1) be with our families forever 2) Be forgiven of our sins and have the guilt of sin taken away from us and 3) Return to live with Him. 

I love my mission. I love being a missionary and I love my Father in Heaven and my Savior Jesus Christ.

Smile and Keep on keeping on :)

Sisar Phipps