Tallinn, Estonia

Sveiki!! Tere!!!

I hope everyone had a great week! This week was crazy and full of surprise and blessings!

So Monday as a zone we went to the KGB museum and it's always so sad but so good to learn about it. It always helps me understand and love the people better. Sister Mischenko and I also played basketball together for most the day which was so fun! She's a baller. Then that night we went to FHE and we had a quesadilla night!! Wahoo!! It was my kind of night  then we played games and just had a lot of fun. But while there I got a phone call from President telling me that I would be going to Estonia on Wednesday to be with another sister while her companion will be in America for her Dad's funeral. I was in shock because I don't speak Estonian haha. That night we also had two of the Russian sisters over because they had a visa appointment the next morning so we had a party with them! 

Tuesday was a crazy day getting everything ready for me to leave and meeting people. We had a phone lesson with a lady who lives in Latvia but was found in Croatia. She lives about 2 hours from Rīga but she is the coolest and has a desire to learn more about the Book of Mormon and grow her relationship with Christ. So we will continue to call her and meet with her that way for the moment. Then we had a Skype call with Liāna to read the Book of Mormon with her and it was so great! We read with her about King Benjamin and she just has the sweetest heart and wants to serve everyone and help everyone. Tuesday night we three had a party for the last night for a little bit and we ate all our favorite foods.

Wednesday morning we got up and headed to the bus station and we were sitting there waiting for my bus, thinking we were in the right place and so when it started to drive to our spot I got up but then it just kept driving and we realized I needed to get on at the other side but luckily there was another one leaving at 8 that hadn't left yet so I was able to buy a ticket and still make it at the same time! That was such a huge blessing!! Then I made the bus ride to Tallinn and it has been so fun to experience a different country and culture. On Wednesday we had a lesson with a recent convert and played games with a few members and luckily they all spoke English but it was so fun and they were just so sweet. After we went to dinner with the Russian sisters at the coolest place!!

Thursday we met with a member who is Estonian and Candanian and she LOVES family history work. And she has the coolest genealogy I've heard of and it was so fun to hear her experiences about it and how she came to love it so much. She drove us home from her apartment and she knew we had to be home at 9:30 and we had a few minutes so she decided to drive us around Tallinn real quick to see some of the sites since I would only be here for a week and a half and Tallinn is so so pretty!! There are so many hills here! Rīga is so so so flat but I feel like I could be back in Utah! Old Town here is on a hill and we walk near there every day so it's been some getting used to after having flat ground for so long haha. We also made cookies and that's all we ate for dinner so Sister Costa and I are having a party. Sister Costa is awesome! She is from Brazil and has been out for 6 months. It's been great being with her and I've learned so much from her already.

Friday for our morning workout we went walking and we went to this lookout point where we could see most of Tallinn and it was so pretty! I feel so blessed to be here! We also met with two other members. One was just recently baptized and hearing her story was really cool. She is so strong! We went to her house the next day as well because she loves having people over so we had lunch with her and she has the cutest house! That's another thing different about Estonia, I have seen so many houses! We don't have too many in Rīga so it was cool to see hers. She also has this big dog and Sister Costa doesn't really like dogs and but she overcame her fear and was petting it when she went crazy and tried to bite her. Luckily she didn't but it was crazy to watch! We also had game night!

Saturday after going to the members home we went to sports and played soccer and it was fun to get to know even more people. After we helped another member out and then had a lesson with one of the people they are teaching. Sister Costa taught her the whole first lesson in Estonian by herself. She did amazing! And then we watched the Joseph Smith movie with her and it was so powerful! I know Joseph Smith was a prophet and Jesus Christ's church has been restored to the earth. I'm grateful for this knowledge of the gospel and even more grateful for the opportunity to share it with everyone!!

Sunday! Going to church was so fun to meet everyone else and really see how the church is true and the same everywhere we go! And it was the first time I've heard church in English (thanks to translation) in a very long time haha. That night we went to FHE which was also a blast!

Being in Estonia has taught me a lot, but the biggest thing I've realized is how God really does have a plan for each of us and He loves each of us. I had been praying for something these last few weeks and I felt like it wasn't being answered but Estonia was my answer! I'm grateful for the people I've met, for Sister Costa, and this beautiful country! Always trust in God and His plan. His ways will always be better than ours. I'm excited for the rest of this week in Estonia and to be back in Latvija!

Have a great week!!

Love,

Māsa Brūnere

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