First time in Finland!

Here in Finland... reminds me of my homeland, northern Minnesota. And I see why so many finnish people settled there. I feel "at home" here because the birch and fir trees, all the lakes, and the countryside are familiar to my soul. Even the mosquitoes!

The Call2Worship staff team is gathering from the north, south, east and west! North: Alice, Mirjami (northern Finland)... West: Hilde (Norway) and Cindy (Sweden)... East: Mary (Phillippines)... South: van de Wetering family and me (Holland). We've been getting to know one another for a couple months via Skype meetings and now we are face-to-face... talking, worshipping, praying, seeking God.

We have the sense that God wants to lead us day-by-day in this adventure... so we are committed to "wait for Him". Not always easy to do when many of us are used to leading and structuring and being responsible.

I'm reminded of one of my "take home" thoughts from the popular (and recommended) book, "The Shack" in which the main character asked God about responsibility. Basically it went like this:
"God, I thought it was a good thing and expected of me to be responsible?"

"I never asked you to be responsible, that's MY job... I want you to be responsive to Me. If I direct you to take up something, then you have ME behind you, directing you, supplying all you need to accomplish that thing"

Hmmm, that idea resounded in my over-responsible soul and I've been chewing on it ever since. My application is to learn how to be responsive to God, the Responsible One.

So, we are here in Finland... in a small place called Koivumaki (Birch Hill) near Siilinjarvi at the YWAM base... getting ready for a week of following Jesus and sitting at His feet. I have the sense that I will be learning much.

Students will come, God will be at work in and through us and something small but significant will be birthed here as we call Finland to worship the Creator!