CRAZY DAYS.

God is kinda cool.
I am living this life and trying to figure out what God wants me to do and where to go.
And He KNOWS. He knows where He wants me. It's kinda mindblowing every time I think about it. I am loving this kinda life.

It has not been always just easy days here. Some days go by and I am not happy, not where I would like to be, not excited about anything and doubting if this is what I am supposed to do. Some days I am happy, enjoying my life, and pretty satisfied what is happening. My school starts next week and I have decided to start the school and see until Christmas (fall lecture) how it goes.

Some things have changed in my life during this past month and in one way I am happier and more excited than I can remember, I am so excited to see what God is up to! Even though there is still SO MUCH confusion inside of me and things I already mentioned before, I could say that the word of this month is EXCITEMENT. For sure! My heart is beating and it tingles everywhere when I think about my future and all the things God will guide me through.
Seriously.. it TINGLES! :) it's scary and it looks like I have no control over the plans I made years ago about my life, but I can tell you.. it feels good! Just the fact that I don't know is something I have never really gone through before.. or not at this level at least. And it just makes me so excited cause I know God is doing something in me. Something new.

I know this might just sound like a one big mess.. and I can tell you, it surely feels like it almost every day. But then God comes and pours out His goodness and peace as always. His faithfulness. Wow.. what can you say? I am enjoying praying more and more. Just chatting with God. What a Daddy we have guys! Oh well..

..I have forgotten to tell you about The Higway and all the other things! :) it was such a great weekend and I enjoyed having Annika, Lene and Katya here! Milka and Hilla were also here so we had a little DTS reunion. It was really busy so I did not have as much time as I wanted to spend with the girls and that was sad :/ I believe God really touched people during these days and it was such a priviledge to be part of that. I enjoyed playing in the worship band which my sister was leading. Okay I think it's time for some photos.. so here they come!

CONFUSION IN THE AIR.

WOW..
what a trip I had.
Now I am back home and even more confused than before.
There are just tons of options I could do.. there is so much I want to do. I feel I could run to 5 different directions right now. And the thought I should start studying soon is so far away from me and my heart. I think I just really need to sit down with God and have a talk.

There is one new thing I was challenged last weekend and more than anything right now I would like to go for it and be part of it. It's just something I've always dreamt of and my heart is just bumping when I think about it and how much I would love it. But God has his timing and He will let me know when to go and where. Oh it's just so difficult to wait!!

I had such a good trip. This was a God-trip. God-planned trip 100%. Just they way things went even before leaving, that I got so many days off from work, was a miracle. and then Friday night when I was almost going back home and having hard time, God was up to something and told me to stay. And I am so happy I did.

Okay anyways.. if I pop up into your mind one of these days, shoot a little prayer that I would know what to do and decide. It's kinda funny, I've never been in this kinda situation.. every year it has been quite clear for me where God wanted me to go and be. and now it's like.. WHAT? I have no clue! I honestly don't have a clue where I should be and what to do. I know I will start my studies in September but that's all I know.. that I'll START.

Gosh it's difficult to stay away from YWAM I tell you! :)
and here comes some photos from the trip.
Bless.

BORGEN BABY!

OH yeah.. I am going to Norway tomorrow! After work I will start drivin alone to Kautokeino. It takes about 5,5h from here. There is a conference where Annika and those guys are part of so I will be joining them tomorrow - I CAN NOT WAIT! Annika I just want you to know that you truly are my best friend and that I have missed you so much. and I am happy to get to sleep next to you again :D heh! cow-workers! On Sunday me and Annika will drive from Kauto to Borgen and then I will drive back home some time on Monday. I am super duper excited to go!!!

I am almost done packing, I know it's gonna be a long day at work cause I just wait all the time that I can go. Please pray that my car would work fine, I am a bit anxious about driving alone long way. I will post lots of summer photos after this trip.. but now.. YIPPIYAYEE BORGEN HERE I COME!

WHAT'S GOING ON..

..inside of me.
I don't know anymore. God please, speak to me. What to do, where to go. To stay or to go. Where do you want me to be. I am so hungry for you.. I KNOW there is so much more I need to discover and learn about you and I want that more than anything! I want to experience you God, every single day, I want to fall more in love with you.

I will obey you.
Just speak to me.
The way I am living is killing me right now.
I am desperate for a change.

I am yours. I am.. oh Lord.

.Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out.

HAPPY TIMES.

Summer.. is good times. I am happy. Here is some shots from my niece's birthday party and 2 photos from the choir I was part of at the pentecostal summer conference I told you about.



Johanna and aunt Hanna.


Sini turned 8 yesterday!
Hanna and Minea.

LIFE?

Is weird.
Right now I just stopped to think about it. How different everything is here now but everything is still the same. I have kept myself so extremely busy these 2 months back home.. too busy. I have been worried about my health and I am going to a private doctor next week just to make sure, I have been very dizzy these last days. And that made me to stop and think that I need to slow down a bit. But on the other hand I enjoy doing things, being part of different projects and meeting people. Still.. I need time to be alone with God. Just me and Him.

I have enjoyed working these last weeks.. I realized it's a perfect time to pray while I am working and there are no customers around! Sometimes I notice people looking at me if my lips are still moving :D but it's fun! it's fun to pray for the people you meet every day, for the co-workers (or COW as Annika would say ;) and for the boss. My co-workers are really nice people and I have gotten some good friends among them. Even though the shop is not like the most desirable place to work, it is good for me now. And it scares me that these days go by so fast and I know it's going to be September sooner than I can imagine and then studies start.. wooo,scaryyyyy.

Praying and planning my trip to Africa. Oh gosh.. I think about it every single day. I just wish I had someone to travel there together with me. But if not, I'm sure God will protect me and be my body guard! Well.. I don't think I had more to say.. I just felt like writing these thoughts down.. I am actually happy. I am so happy :) I have great friends and family around me. Life is pretty good. It IS good. God is faithful. The Highway is progressing, things are moving on. A friend of mine from Faroe Islands is visiting Rovaniemi and I get to meet him one of these days! Sun is finally shining after all that rain. Tomorrow is Sunday and I can sleep as long as I want. I have great things to look forward to. THANK YOU GOD!

MID SUMMER!

What a trip!! I am happy to back but I am happy I went! We had a good time. Lots of rain, wet shoes and clothes, dirty jeans and umbrellas but oh man, it was all worth it. The best thing was this youth choir. I enjoyed it. So much. They recorded the whole meeting and we had such a good leader and the band. In this conference were about 10 000 people. I met Milka, Ansku and bunch of others and it was so encouraging to hear what they are up to. Sorry Ansku once more that we were not able to talk more.. but The Highway is coming up and you can come up here for that and visit me :)Well now I will start working again and I think we might take a little trip to IKEA next weekend.. but now I gotta go. Internet does not work at my place.. there is some kind of virus in my lap top and it slows everything down and I SO wish my sister's husband was not on holiday!! Otherwise I need to take it to the shop to get it fixed. Have a great week you guys!

UPDATE,UPDATE,A LITTLE UPDATE..

Hi guys, it has been a while again.. life has been.. busy. I would call it superbusy.
Today is my day off from work. Last night I went to movies to see "Made of Honor" with 2 of my sisters. This morning I slept long, watched 1 episode of "One Tree Hill", ate some good,dark Finnish bread and now I am going to city to eat with my sis and then meeting my friend. What a perfect morning!

Life has been good. God is so good. I am part of "The Higway" conference team ( www.thehighwaynordic.net) and we meet every week to plan and to pray. It's so good to have some YWAMers, ex-YWAMers and future YWAMers in this group, I think we are a good mix :D I am really looking forward to this conference and I know there's a lot to do and so many things unplanned and unsure but God is so faithful and I have been so encouraged every time we meet with this team. I am excited what God is up to!! Apart from work and this Highway-planning, my days just kinda go by. I meet friends, family, go to church. But it feels good.

So many things have changed and also when it comes to relationships, many things are different now. Different people, different situations. Sometimes I find it difficult but then I can always remember Who is right here next to me. I am NOT alone!! Actually next week me and my friend are driving to Middle-Finland for this big Pentecostal conference we have every summer. I am so excited to go and I even signed myself in to this big youth choir (100 people) which gathers at the conference for 2 days and then finally is on stage the last night of the conference and they even record it.. so I am also excited about that! My parents and almost all of my sisters and brothers are also coming to this conference. It's a good place to meet friends from all over Finland, almost everyone is there.. so maybe I'll see you there?

Anyways, I am going to my parent's church this weekend to tell about Africa. They are the ones who have been supporting me during these past 3 years. I am happy to show them pictures, tell stories and share my heart for Garibou boys with these people. It hasn't been easy after I made the decision to come back to Finland and not to go to Mali for this 1 year team. But I am planning to take a short trip in January to Mali. I pray God would really show His faithfulness in this thing as well.

Allllright, I guess it's time to end now. I am going to work tomorrow again, my parents are coming to town tomorrow. It's fun to have my own place where to invite people to come over. I am hoping Annika can come and visit me on her way back to Borgen. I miss Annika. I miss Bex, Lenneke, Melodie, all the Borgen folks, old and new.. but I am so happy I got to meet and get to know SO MANY INCREDIBLE people on my way! And there is more to come ;)
See you guys, keep me updated what's happening in your lives.. I will post some photos after our little road/conference trip next week. I am SO looking forward to it!!!!!!

PHOTOS PHOTOS!

I know Bex wanted to see how my place looks like now.. so here it comes!

IT IS.. ROVANIEMI!!

The first thing I must say is that I MISS BORGEN.
It was so difficult to leave.. those guys had organized a nice good bye party for me and I was really touched and encouraged by everyone of them. And I cried all the time. Of course. I enjoyed spending those last days with Bex and I think we had quite some fun in Storhytta and I miss you so much Bex! And everyone else.. Bea,Hanne,Jenny.. everyone.

But now it is time to get used to living in a city again! It actually feels kind of funny to be around some people again and to be able to go shopping when ever you need something and everything is just around the corner! My place is starting to look like a home to me now and I am enjoying living in this apartment and the location is perfect.. it only takes couple minutes to walk to down town and everything is really close. Plus the pretty view from my window.. by the way, Bex I was telling you how warm and sunny it was in Rovaniemi before I left Borgen.. just so you know, it has been snowing almost every day and windy and STINKING cold! :)

I will start working next week. Now I have been settling in, meeting friends and spending time with my sister. There are so many things to take care of! I have been surprisingly busy this week. And I still haven't gone to the doctor as I should have, after Mali trip. But next week. I will! I am also really excited about the coming "Highway" conference in August and it feels like there are so many things coming up I will be involved and I am happy for that. I was a bit scared to come back and to be alone and not having too many people around and yes, it has been a bit different and lonely, but I am doing OK. And I am happy. It's not like the best weeks of my life but I am doing OK and it is enough for me. God keeps on showing me how He is always the same, He does not change. He is always faithful. And I can trust that. Yes!!

Now I gotta go.. I am still up, we are watching "Finland - USA" Ice Hockey World Championships! And it's almost 4am. But that's ok. See you guys around. I will post some photos later.

LEAVING BORGEN

I can not believe this day is actually coming so close.. and I am packing and ready to leave. We will have a good bye-party on Monday. And oh man all the tears I can already see :) It has been a good spring.

We went for another recruiting trip to Karasjok a week ago. It was really encouraging to attend this youth conference and we got to share about Borgen,DTS,Mission Adventures and other summer mission trips. It was my last recruiting trip this spring and we had so much fun. Poor Andrei has been traveling with us 3 girls the whole spring, there has been a lot of laughter in the car. We have been going through all the Africa memories and experiences over and over and.. over again. It seems like there is no limit how much you can talk about Africa!

Talking about Africa.. I have had a difficult decision making time this spring. I have probably told you already that there will be a 1 year team from YWAM Norway (Borgen organizing) going back to Douentza,Mali, where we worked for 1 month with these amazing garibou boys. This work is quite pioneering and helping Lorna, the local missionary. And my heart is totally in there. But I am going home now and the original plan is to start studying next fall. I still pray that God would show me the right way to be part of this ministry : to actually go there myself or to send others and support them that way. Oh man I love that place and those boys!!

Yes! So many exciting things happening and so many questions without any answers and so many unknown things ahead and doubts. But God sees the big picture and He knows what is coming up next and how He is going to lead me through them. Right now it feels like I can only see the first step of the long stairs but God sees all the way until the last step. And I am sure He knows if it's best for me to go back to Africa now, or in 2 years or in 10 years. Or somewhere else.

Well I gotta go and enjoy these last days here!It's +15C outside and it feels like spring is finally coming! I will let you know what is happening when I get back to Finland.. I can't believe it, it's SO SOON!

SPRING AT BORGEN

Well well, time surely goes by fast and I definitely need to enjoy every single minute here at Borgen.. I am leaving soon :/

Right now we (Bex,Annika and I ) are actually on HOLIDAY!It was needed and it feels really good. We have this coming week off and we enjoy it indeed. Oh yea.. I haven't told you anything about our trip to Sweden! It was such a good trip!! We drove down to Rovaniemi and stayed at my apartment!! It was quite funny to be there in an empty apartment knowing that this is the place where I am going to live for the next.. years? In the evening we explored the city with Annika and Bex and went to McDonalds.I mean.. of course. What else can you do there?? Oh well anyways.. I am looking forward to move and to see what is coming up next. It's exciting and scary. And I feel really sad to leave Borgen.
(PICTURE/Me,Annika and Bex in Rovaniemi)


ANYWAYS.. we continued our trip to Sweden the next morning! Andrei FORCED (well it wasn't that hard to force us :) to stop in Ikea on our way :D They have stinking cheap pizza I must say. After Ikea break we drove all the way to Rosvik, where this youth happening was going to be held. There were about 30 youth I think.. on Saturday evening there were more people and we got some time from the evening meeting to share about DTS and other ministries we have at Borgen. We had our beautiful, stunning and attractive stand with us and people wanted to know about DTS and other things and it was really encouraging! I felt this church was really encouraging and I enjoyed being there, meeting the youth and getting to know new people. On Sunday we drove back to Rovaniemi, on Monday continued back to Borgen. We had fun. God is good.

One day our base leader Leif decided to take us to his cabin in Kilpisjarvi(Finland). We were so excited to go and get to go ski dooing!! It was Annika,me,Bex,Andrei,Mari,Kristina and Leif. This day was unforgettable and I think I will just post some pictures and let them speak for themselves. :)



















































The end of April we will have another promotion trip to Karasjok.
Now we just rest, chill and watch "One Tree Hill".
Yes.. we are addicted.
We watched seasons 1 and 2 in couple of days.
Oh well. Too bad would Lene say. ;)


(a little explanation for these pictures..
1. ready to rock Kilpis!
2.everything is still going good, everyone is hanging in there and enjoying the ride!
3. and then.. we took a short cut and got stuck. of course. water on the top of the ice. a LOT.
4. the girls are ordered to crawl back to the track. that was a neverending crawl i must say.

.. and too bad we don't have any evidence pictures how 2 girls( not mentioning any names but Bex and Hanna) crawled back to the ski doo and helped the boys to lift it up and we got to turn back and squeeze some icy cold water out from our boots.. it was FUN :)

MALI 2008

Mali here we come!Air France had
some GOOD food.


Ligretto in Paris...


... and in Bamako.


From Bamako we took a buss to
Douentza. 14h ride.


Douentza. Abosulutely stunning.


Annika and some bananas.


Me,John the Baptist, Mr DJ,
Amadu and Allu.


Our fantastic mosquito nets!


Amadu, me and Allei.


Beautiful Amadu.


Sunrise on the Niger river.


I want to be Your hands.


READY TO ROCK TIMBUKTU!


Sahara.


The streets of Timbuktu.


Girls night at Rita's house :)


Team picture at the "Feet 2008"
YWAM prayer conference in Timbuktu.





Jakob,me and Katya.


Annika needed some teeth treatment.. :)