Reminiscing my 5years in Finland - yr 2

Before welcoming 2008, I had a privilege to go back to Spain with my friend. I felt like there was an unfinished business that I had to go back to. It was where friendships I've made were put to the test -  whether I'd still trust people despite the painful words uttered; and I'm so blessed by those friendships to this day.

          crossing borders...
I was so privileged to witness the transformation in the lives of the students at the Discipleship Training School. I've seen individuals crossing the border of comfort zone to a life of fullness in Christ. It was my first time to staff a school so I felt quite inexperience. However, there were both challenges and times of rejoicing. I saw myself becoming even more free to express myself, and use the giftings God has given me. To walk across the border of "holding back", unforgiveness, and being hard on myself - was one of the biggest steps I've taken.

Another border that I've crossed with my team was, from Finland to Russia to China via the trans-Siberian train fro 7 days. I remember I almost had dreadlocks after not having a shower for more than 5 days. It was worth it though coz just before we crossed to the Chinese border, we were able to stay the night at a hotel in Russia. Then after being held for more than 6 hours at the other side of the border, God turned things around for good - our translator took us to our hostel and ordered food for us at a nearby restaurant. Boy, did we feast that night! :)

          being equipped for a purpose...
Less than a week after China, I found myself flying out to Romania for another training school - this time in the area of worship and leadership. I was a week late for the school but I've immediately bonded with my team. I was stretched in many ways: food preference, learning to love people I did not like, and my musical ability. Part of the equipping was meeting my mentors-to-be, who later on have helped (and still helping) me in the area of the prophetic and leadership. For this I'm so grateful for the key people God has been bringing to speak into my life.

          reunion at a wedding and at Christmas...
Two special people, whom I've known since last year, found each other and have decided to tie the knot. Whilst in Romania, I thought of something to bless them so I wrote a song and sang it on their special day. A couple of my friends from the training school last year came too. I thought it was a nice little reunion. Then just before Christmas, three friends whom I met in 2007 came to join me at the base, which I was so happy about, otherwise I would have spent Christmas by myself.

sunset on Christmas day



Reminiscing my 5 years in Finland - yr 1

Yesterday, I baked a real nice carrot cake to celebrate in advance, my FIFTH year in Finland. One asked me what were the highlights during my stay here, so this inspired me to share them. Enjoy!

- year one -

          walking on fresh powder snow...
January 2007, it was -27 degrees celcius past midnight when I first arrived in Finland. I remember how I've put a smile on people's faces as I walked on fresh snow and hear the "crush-crush" sound, and I'd do it again and again. I guess I was just fascinated by it and found out later how much I love winter.

          my first sauna experience was an epic...
My Finnish roommate, who later on became my first Finnish bestfriend, asked me to go to the sauna with her. I was too shy to go naked but I wanted to respect the culure so I did. Anyhow, my friend asked if it's ok to pour water on the hot stones, and I was thinking maybe the temperature will soon go down a bit when she does, so I said yeah go ahead and pour some. I thought I was going to be steamed alive so I screamed and the rest of the girls who were on their way out came back in to check out what happened. After that, it became the inside joke of the team. Despite this experience, I have come to love sauna to the extent of rolling in the fresh, powder snow; or going on a tobogan at the ski ramp near the sauna; or even better to the lake. One thing I still haven't done, which I often miss when there was one, was going into the icy water then run back to the sauna. They have a thing called "avantu" where they dig a hole in the frozen lake, and you go in it for a few seconds, some people do it longer, then run back to the sauna.

          from a city-slicker to a forest-dweller...
I worked in China before coming to (a small village in a small town) Finland. I remember how I nearly cried when I asked if I could walk or take the bus to town just to find out that we were about 18 kms away from the center. "God, are you turning me into a hermit?" I cried to God. I've learned to appreciate the value of solitude after being here for five years, although, I'm grateful for the trips I've had in and out of Finland.

          coming out of my "shell"...
Getting to know the Finns helped me get out of my own protective shell. It took a lot of my energy to socialise let alone being transparent to people. If there was one BIG thing God worked on my life was to trust Him even when painful issues of life surfaced. I could not run away from them and did not want to deal with them ever again so I succumb to the loving hand of the "Gardener" - to prune that which have been hindering me from becoming the person God made me to be.

         climbing my first mountain...
I have to say I miss the mountains but an 800-meter mountain in Lapland would suffice. the cool thing about this was, we started really early in the morning and head on to Pallas tunturi, carried our snowboards, and got on the top just when the sun rose. It was glorious! Although it was my fourth time to snowboard, I managed to come backcountry snowboard down the mountain, and even if I fell a few times, I must say I was proud of myself.

          first Finnish and white Christmas...
My Finnish bestfriend invited me to spend Christmas with her family. It was such an experience. I felt so loved. It was in 2003 when I last celebrated Chrsitmas with my family so this was really special to me.

These are just a few of the many good things God did in my life here in Finland. There will be more stories I'd like to share. Until then! :)

and the moving around continues...

God was not kidding when He said to me early in January of last year, that I'll be moving around the country. Doors of opportunity to minister His love were opened like I've never seen before. It's a challenge for me to give a compact details without boring you with such a long narrative, so please bear with me for a while.

Fall 2011, Perheniemi (Kausala, Iitti)

free women, taken on 6Dec - Finland Independence Day

This is so far one of the DTSes I've staffed, though I came in almost half of the lecture phase. It was a priviledge to witness the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of these disciples. During my first time to lead worship for this school, I saw how ready they are to enter into the place of worship with such hunger for God's Presence, that I did not need to encourage them to be free in expressing their praises to Him. In just a short time I was there, I've seen God transform someone who was so broken, bitter and hurt into a son who knows he's loved, accepted, and have come to a realisation of his calling and purpose. A married couple healed from deep hurts; a young man gradually freed from demonic chains and getting more free from panic attacks; or a young lady who has come to understand that she did not have to become like her friends in order to feel accepted. I've seen these played out again and again as I release in obedience, the things God has been speaking to me about the school. Yes, there were heaps of challenges but it sure was a BreakThrough Discipleship Training School! Now there are two teams out of this school that are in Argentina and Estonia, sharing God's love to the people.

Late Fall – Early Winter, Oulu and Helsinki

Every time I went to Oulu, God showed me how the city has changed in just a short time. I would say that there is such an openness in the ”spiritual atmosphere”. I've witnessed hearts being stirred up for the supernatural work of God, willing to say NO to compromise, and to see heaven invade their community. Home groups are sprouting like mushrooms – groups of people who want to see transformation in the lives of many.

"a son is secured in who he is
when he knows he's loved by his dad"

A cool thing God did on my flight from to Oulu to Helsinki - I was flying with two precious friends and we went at the same time to the check-in counter, got our boarding passes and straight to the boarding gate. Then I realised I had a different seat number so I asked my friends. They were seated on 16E & F so we assumed I'd be on 16G, but no, I was on 01E. I got upgraded from economy to first class! I thought there must be a mistake coz the lady at the check-in did not tell us anything about it. We took off and then the stewardess came serving me a full meal with a nice, small bottle of red wine. I looked at the back to see if my friends would get the same thing but they only had complimentary drinks. So I thought, ”God, what's on your mind?” I was seated in between two businessmen so I thought maybe God wanted me to talk to them. Then I felt God whispered to me, ”I love you too much that I just wanted to surprise you!” Oh that was so encouraging!!! We got to Helsinki and I had to wait for my friends. I told them I got upgraded and they said, ”yes you were but you know, as much as you were blessed, we were also blessed to have talked to the lady next us about the Lord!” She was so open that my friends prayed with her before she went on her way.  

waiting for coffee

 Then we had an opportunity to do a worship workshop in Helsinki. The connections God has given me with some amazing people who love to worship God was such a blessing. We got to work with friends from the 24-7 Prayer and the local churches. We had a half-night worship and prayer at an international fellowship, where we stood in prayer for Helsinki and Finland. I looked around and there were 5 continents represented (Australia, W. Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America). To me it seemed like God gathered these nations in Finland to pray into the destiny and calling of Finland.

Then the next day, we had a worship gathering at another international fellowship. There was quite a number of worshippers that came. I also got to meet a number of Filipinos who have been living in the city. Now, that was a real surpise for me because I've never met that many IN Finland. The heart of the event was to gather the worshippers to bring God's praises in Helsinki; to open up an avenue for hearts that burn for Jesus, and pour out a fragrance of worship. 

Christmas in Kemi

a Christmas treat

 For the second time, I spent Christmas with a family friend in Lapland. My friend, whom I co-led the SOW in 2010, invited me to spend the holidays with her family. It was a blessed time, meeting not just her family but also some of her friends. I think though, that what I've enjoyed the most was the breakfast times, where we'd have a long chat just to end up being touched by the Holy Spirit. We'd start talking about our family and friends then the next thing that happens is that God gives His heart to us for our loved ones. That convinced me more and more that when God's Presence is invited in our conversations, even the smallest topics we talk about become prayers.

Gearing Up for 2012

This was probably one of the best conferences I've ever been to. It was also quite intense in a good way – big crowd, people from different nations, and series of ministering to people, but it was such a priviledge to be part of this youth conference. One highlight I'd love to share is that I heared testimonies played out over and over, especially from our guests; phrases like - "I felt belonged and accepted." And countless times during the whole conference, I heard someone saying, "I felt being embraced by the Heavenly Father and just being showered by His love and joy." I've witnessed God pouring out  His healing power that brought people on their knees. Destinies and identity in Christ being embraced. Or I've heard it said that Finland is such a special place... that as God heals this nation, others are also being blessed by it.

everyday is a celebration

King's Kids Joy Days, Savo Area

                I have to be honest that I was so exhausted but God encouraged me with this phrase ”every meeting is a God encounter.” That motivated me to see what He has in stored for the King's Kids. All KK networks in Finland gathered in a small town called Maaninka. It felt like God wrote something really good in this area that's never been written in history. Of all the Joy Days celebrations I've been to, this was the first time we had a meeting at a Lutheran Church. I saw such a sense of unity and breakthrough. And what a way to celebrate 'Loppiainen' or Epiphany – reenacting the wise men following that bright star that led them to where the Saviour was born. For me, it meant refocusing my eyes to the Reference Point – Jesus. I believe that God did more than we have expected to see in this event. We may have been exhausted from having to drive back to the base each day and late nights but it was worth it. Praise God!