MORE BLOGS AND PICTURES TO COME...STAY TUNED

Onward

So my season here in Finland has come to an end. What amazing memories. What amazing people. What an amazing God. It has been a trip like none other here and it's tough to leave a place like this. Souls have been saved, bible studies started, prayers answered...God has truly done amazing things during this time in my life and here in Finland. Finland is in my heart for good. It will be amazing to see what God does here in these last days through this ministry and others alike. The Word of God runneth very swiftly (Ps. 147:15) and, as it has free course in us and through us (II Thess. 3:1), it will change many. 

These last few weeks have been amazing. Our student outreach team (Kati, Jouni, Lauri, Miia, Johanna, Kirsi, Elvis (not Presley), Saija, Hanna, Me, and many more), had a great time Thursday and Friday night. On Thursday we passed out these Gospel CDs (containing Pastor Schaller's message, "What is Man?", a gospel message in Finnish by Pastor Juha, and Matt Roberge's song, "Is it True?") to about one hundred students in a student housing complex in the center of town, with tracks and invitations as well. The response was unbelievable. People loved it and it sparked great conversation amongst the curious students. Then, on Friday, we had our very first "Vertical Link Helsinki" meeting in the Helsinki University. We had an amazing time there with about twenty of us just praying, preaching, fellowshipping together and with some students afterward. We met one girl who had received a cd from us the night before. She said that she had listened to it and called her mother, who is a believer, to talk about the message. The Word truly does run very swiftly. Who knows whose lives are affected and how many prayers are answered when we go forth, not knowing what we're doing, and preach the gospel. Only God knows where His Word runs to. All I know is that it has run into my heart and is making it's way to many more through the breaking of the vessel. 

For you in Helsinki, me, on my way to Stockholm, Sweden and Berlin, Germany, and all those reading this: ONWARD. DON'T LOOK BACK. DON'T BE SENTIMENTAL ABOUT YOUR NATURAL LIFE. MOVE FORWARD IN FAITH. 

"And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you."   Joshua 3:5  

Turkey: Istanbul

Suddenly I found myself strolling down Istiklal street, gazing at a crowd of thousands of Turks. The cloud of black coats and unknown faces passing by so quickly that I barely had a moment to notice individual people. As we were walking, I was reminded of Christ walking the streets of Jerusalem. Thousands of people were passing him by, groping him, bumping him, but one lady really touched him and was delivered. I felt we have the same mission here on these streets. No matter the size of the crowd, I really believe God has those people there, just waiting for us to walk by and reveal Christ to them. As we were walking through the endless sea of people, we came to an old Catholic church. It was this church where we met an amazing girl last year who has been in our church ever since. It was just one of those times. We happened to be in a certain place, walking in faith, and the Lord brought someone to us. It's so easy to be overwhelmed by the masses of people in Turkey, or depressed by the lack of them in Finland, but no matter the place God has these precious people there, waiting. We spent some time there soulwinning and then headed off to eat with the Pastor Matti and the team.

It was such a great trip to be there in Turkey again. I took with me Jope (or Tekno as we know him) from Helsinki. It was his first time in Turkey and I believe he had an awesome time there. I had so much fun with Roger and Lizzy Robbins and to see them in action as missionaries in Turkey was really refreshing. They have a great ministry and I believe the church will really grow because of having them there. It was so great to see my friends again; Umid, Ilhan, Faruk, Kemal, Clifford, Alp, and all the amazing people there. The church there is really a light shining in a dark place. They have the life, the message, and the vision that people need there in Istanbul. Keep Pastor Matti and the team there in prayer as they move into the summer months. Pray that the Turkish people in the church can get visas and come to Baltimore for convention as well. God Bless Turkey.