Now, when it comes to being a missionary work -fan I have done it all: trackted, street contacted (that was once upon a time my favorite), done splits and everything. I even went on my own mission: Two weeks in Jyväskylä here in Finland. I have fed the missionaries, I have tried to help and support them, sometime we argued too. It has been interesting. I started doing missionary work with the missionaries in 1992 when I was 12. It was like a bit of a epiphany for me and especially after reading the book of mormon from cover to cover when I was 14 (in Seminary) I wanted people to learn about the gospel.
You must know one thing about missionary work: it is not easy. And it is 100% voluntary. Okay, that was two things. I was 17 when I went on my short mini/summer mission. I had two companions. One from the potao place Idaho and one from California with the flowers (I don't know exactly how to identify California). We had an interesting time. It was very intense for me. I took it way too seriously and coul not sleep in the nights. I ended up having a psychosis that put me in the hospital, after my mission, for eight months (!). I still do not regret my mission. Many of my friends at the time never went on missions, maybe my example scared them or they just did not feel like it was for them. I KNEW rthat I wanted to go and so I went at the age 17 on that summer mission. That was enough. The Lord kinda said: Thank you for being willing, I have seen your sacrifice and I will bless you.
He did bless me. I got many interesting experiences at the hospital and even though I suffered a lot it was the way it was meant to be. I know that now after years of reflection. I got very early retirement because of my illness, I studied on/off for 12 years in Stockholm Sweden and I enjoyed living there too. I studied English and Finnish as a native language.
I have been blessed with so many lovely missionary friends.
In 2021 I had a really tough time mentally and somehow I had stopped hanging out with and helping the missionaries for a while. BIG mistake lol. We got a new elder from Denmark, he was the coolest kid and such a great example of how to be a missionary. I invited all the missionaries to my place many times and got to know them better. The elder from Denmark and his companion at that time (from one of the Carolina's lol) became my first bonus children.
When they left in the Fall of 2021 I thought:No missionaries can live up to that level of being so good at missionary work and being friends with me and not get tired of me and put up with my problems. Wau, I was wrong. The next ones were from Nevada and Utah. The sisters became closer to me too. I continued adopting children.
All the missionaries are certainly brave, doing their best and serving with care and love.
Ever since 1996-1997 wanting to be a missionary was really an important dream. I wanted to be brave and love my fellow people everywhere. But because of my illness I never got the chance to go. And I was not blessed with either a husband or children. Until I started adopting these bonus kids. Wonderful children. I do not know if I need a man at this part of my life but kids in the form of young men and women who are far away from home and need someone to care for them while here are the best family anyone can get. Only problem they have to go home sooner or later and that is just heartbreaking.
I was asked to write an article about missionary work in the Liahona here in Finland, in Finnish. I was so happy to do that. We took this cool picture for it, see top of the page.
Now I have written enough for my first post.
Take care!
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