Home, sweet Finland

It has been quite silent here lately. But it doesn’t mean my life would have been silent.

Right now I’m at New York’s airport waiting for my flight to Brasil only to be continued by the last flight to Argentina. So my trip to Finland is officially over now. 

I arrived to Finland on the 26th of August after a long trip. My parents were waiting in the airport. How had I been missing them!

After one day of rest at home I went to do something really Finnish with my friends. We packed our backpacks and went hiking. In two days we walked 20 km. And of course we slept outside in tents and cooked our food on bonfire. Really Finnish.

My brother was moving to a new house with their family so I also had an opportunity to help him with fixing the new house. 

You can see more photos from my sister-in-law's blog. 

There were also two friends from YWAM Argentina visiting Finland and together we had a little trip visiting some youth camps and churches. Emilia, who had done her DTS at our base this year was also seeing her family so together we formed a great team. I had the honor to translate our visitors when they shared or preached in Spanish.

Ale on the left loves Finland.
Aaron on the right is Chilean and visiting Finland for the first time.

Love this car! Emilia was our trustworthy driver
as we miraculously fit into this Mini Cooper

In general, it was so crazy how many awesome encounters I had with so many people! I got to see all the closest family members, supporters, crowds of friends, got to know my new nieces and nephew and even met with my friends from the job I used to have. 

Getting to know one of the new family members

Spanish worship in Finnish church

These guys (Kruuvi) are my best friends!
So I was more than willing to help them with their gig.

Playing with my niece.

I was spoiled in many ways :D

My plan was also to share about the new base we are about to open in Rosario. So this week my friend arranged a mission night where I was able to explain well what we are doing as AME art team and what’s the deal with Rosario. I was surprised how many people came to listen to me and how generous they were with our project! Thank you all!

So basically I’m just super happy and thankful for all the details of this trip! It had already been more than two years and half since the last visit and I don’t know when the next opportunity will be! So that’s why I’m so grateful for this opportunity to travel in this season.

Thank you everyone for your time, support, prayers, conversations and friendship. It’s something crucial to have emotional, spiritual and financial support from my homeland. 

Thanks Daddy for the best Christmas!

Greetings from São Paolo's airport! I'm almost there - just waiting for my third flight which will finally take me to Argentina.

So now as my visit in Finland is over it's a good time to post some photos and share a bit. 

The whole trip was such a great gift and a huge blessing! I really realized that it's by God's grace that I could see my family and friends, serve and enjoy. I could really experience Daddy's love through many different people, especially through my parents and family.

It was hard to leave my country once again - especially because I don't know when will I come back next time. I already miss friends and family. But more than anything I'm so thankful for the time I got to spend with them.

YWAM Ruurikkala - I got to know this amazing DTS!

A worship meeting where I shared a short testimony

The Christmas celebration of
the youth ministry of my home church

From a pentacostal church

Amazing Sarah, my friend from the DTS, came to see me!

Visiting my sister's family

Tampere

Thanks mom for taking us to eat!

Chinese dinner..! 

my daddy

The Christmas Eve. My brother came over with his wife 

The Christmas day
- singing for the homeless/alcoholists/poor

Lovely people indeed.
Got to pray for one of them and just share Daddy's love.

More family together!
The children make a real Christmas!

From my home church's new year camp.
I gave a teaching about missions.

Well, I also spent heaps of time with my friends, but I don't really have photos of that. However they are super important for me and I really liked just to relax.

Hope each one of you had an amazing Christmas and New Year. May God really bless u overwhelingly during this year!

the intense internship

Hi folks!

It has been a while since I've written here. And as usual it's only because I have been busy and lazy. One more reason is also that so much things going on that it's impossible to record every event so I don't even try to. 

Our art internship has been more intense during these last times. I have been participating the different classes: singing, dancing, acting, history of art, theatre make up, folklore... In the same time I have had other responsibilities in the art ministry and at the base in general. 

The time has run really fast and this week is the last one for the internship! Luckily all of the guys are staying at the base so we don't need to say any goodbyes. 

We performed an opening dance for a kids' camp

A theatre make up class: fire, earth, water and air

A folklore party we had for the second time

Haha, I was helping in a commercial and gained some money.
(It's not me in the photo. My part was to congratulate him!)

Our girls passing time with the teacher of the history of art

A theatre make up class...

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I have been experiencing some strong homesickness lately. As I wrote earlier this year, I decided not to use my July's return ticket to Finland but stay a bit longer. Even though I had made this decision many months ago, last week was really hard because my return would have been on last Thursday. 

However God is my comfort and my best home is always in His presence. So no matter where I am, I find my home in the intimacy with Papá. And He will surely take me to Finland when it's the right time.

God has taken really good care of me. Every week I have seen His faithfulness. There has been opportunities to work and I'm super thankful for all of you who have remembered me with financial support. My part has been just to receive and share to others as I'm getting to know better our generous Father.

And for those who like folklore: our presentation