Is it morning already? Mornings are the worst and after changing another two time zones, I feel very lethargic in the mornings. I am taking my vitamins very faithfully for the energy they provide. Still, it takes some time to “warm up” and get my body going each day. Each day gets a little better, but I’m still struggling a little.
Today I am preaching on “Nineteen and Younger” about the group that took the land of Canaan. Joshua and Caleb went in to the land, but so did those who were nineteen and younger. We talked about who we were, and that God was ready to use this generation to go in to the promise. I was encouraged by it and I’m sure the people were too.
After service was dismissed we had a light lunch, said good byes, and took selfies of course! I’ve grown to love these people quite a lot. Many of them are really opening up and talking, the danger of time’s passage loosening them up. Talk now, or it won’t happen!
One brother tells a joke about the Finnish people. There was a man once whose car broke down with a flat tire. He had a spare tire, but he did not have the jack to get the car up to change it. Seeing a house in the distance, the man decided the best option was to walk the distance to the house to ask if they would have one he could borrow.
As the man walked, he began to think In his mind, “oh, they probably don’t have a jack.” Still further the man thinks “even if they do have a jack, why would they let me borrow it?” As the man continues walking his thoughts continually go in this line, and the man gets angrier and angrier about these people that while he hasn’t even asked them, he has become convinced in his mind that they will not loan him the jack that he needs.
Approaching the house, the man in anger picks up a rock, throws it through the window and yells “keep your stupid jack, I don’t need it anyhow!”
So this is kind of how Finnish people think, they are very inward thinking, very quiet to express things, and very pensive about expressing things to others.
LV and I are having a chat sometime later; we tell testimonies of how the Lord worked in our lives as younger men to give us the Holy Spirit. As we talk about the Finnish nature he says how the Finns breathe a sigh of relief when they hear brother Branham say that you can receive the Holy Ghost without sensation.
260 The mystery of the baptism of the Holy Ghost, without sensation, but the Person of Christ performing in you the same works that He did. ~ WMB 62-1230E
This quote makes a Finn shout!
Ok, the shout part was the joke, but LV really said that about them breathing a sigh of relief.
During the meetings some brothers have had questions about marriage and various topics. I am so happy to be a blessing to people and work with them to see God through the problems they are facing. After the meetings another brother wants to talk privately. He shares his heart about what he wants to see for the believers in the area. He wants prayer for the unity of the faith of the believers there. We pray together and he weeps – what a sweet, tender moment. God has begun the healing. Later I will encourage a different brother with the same thoughts on his heart, that someone must take the first step to display the love. Everyone wants the same thing, but they are being Finnish and not expressing themselves except to me. I encourage them to break that shell and start.
Finally, after the work is finished, the mansion is cleaned and everyone is ready to depart. Kristian and I say good bye to our hosts Petteri and Rebekah, and sweet little Esteri who is the most adorable Finnish child you will ever meet. Beautiful blond hair in two braids, a happy smile, and constantly jabbering. Except it’s not jabber, it’s Finnish! You know how kids who speak a foreign language seem so smart? You think “how can you do that child? I can’t speak that language, you’re so talented!”
Kristian and I head down to his parent’s house a few hours away. Tonight we are having reindeer stew! A Finnish meal that I sure won’t get in the US. The stew is quite good and so very filling. I didn’t think I had that big of a bowl, but I was so full when I was done. We also had some nice cold smoked horse meat, it was soooo good. It was sliced thin like prosciutto and had a wonderful smokey flavor. I am just stuffed!
Bro Kristian’s father is message therapist, He wants to give me a therapy session. Yes please! We head over to his practice and he begins to work on my shoulders, neck, and back. He is such a fine brother. A lovely man. God Bless Bro Ari!!
Bro Ari tells me that one of his patients is a “world’s strongest man” competitor that has won. I remember watching this in my 14/15 age range when Magnus ver Magnussen was winning this competition. They throw boulders and lift cars and stuff. How can you not like a competiton where guys have names like Magnus ver Magnussen? It must be my Nordic blood coming out. Anyhow, so the winner of the World’s strongest man competition Janne Virtanen has been on this very massage table that I am on. The awe of it overwhelms me…or is that Bro Ari’s hands working that knot…I’m not sure.
We head back to Bro Ari’s for tea afterwards, but I am ready to sleep. I am relaxed and feeling good, but tired after the long weekend of meetings and preaching. The Finnish people are different in respect to a minister than the Africans, but they still show their respect and love. Again we are reminded how the Lord worked in the meetings as we discuss all that was said and done.
I am again reminded how small things are in Europe. At Bro Ari’s house the bathroom, laundry room, and shower are all in the same room. No one seems to have clothes dryers here either. They just hang clothes up. Also, even if all those things are combined into one room, it’s STILL tiny. The shower doors, if they have them, collapse inward to the wall to move out of the way even. My American elbows are hitting things every time I turn around, quite literally. I am longing for the American space to move around in!! Europe is nice, and much more similar to the US than Africa was, but there are still some things that I sure like better about America!
We finally retire to Bro Kristian’s house. It is late and time for sleep. Don’t worry, I’m not at a ritzy hotel! I am staying on Bro Kristian’s couch. The missionary life is rough sometimes, but you do what you have to.
We are waking up early tomorrow to maximize our time spent downtown Helsinki for our tour. I sure could use some more sleep though.
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