pinetrees, smokestacks, and holy water.

Finland is a country of approximately five million people. According to wikipedia, there are over two million saunas in Finland. This equates to about one sauna per household. The amount of sauna-ing that transpired during our stay in Finland left our skin feeling rejuvinated, to say the least.

During our time in Tampere, Finland, Koala and I were able to share our project with 6 different church groups, plus one night which combined a couple of young-adult small groups. Sometimes the times we shared were brief and summarized, but there were also many times where we were able to share on a much more in depth basis. Especially encouraging/mind-exercising were some of the conversations we had on the night with the small groups. Koala and I shared some of our experiences as we normally do, but the night turned into more of a multi-faceted conversation in which we discussed the potential of Christian involvement with matters relating to human trafficking, which naturally flowed into a time of prayer for the sea of needs that are present for these topics.

(koala, sharing at the Come Home group)

(for one exhibition, we had the help of a professional lighting engineer. his knowledge of kelvin variations and angles of illumination proved to be most useful. he also let us use some photos. keetos antti. photo: antti hiltunen)

(photo: antti hiltunen)

(photo: antti hiltunen)

(photo: antti hiltunen)

(photo: antti hiltunen)

Saturday the 7th, the first night we arrived in Finland, we were sharing with Vapis United, a youth group at the Free Church in Tampere. As I have done a few times before, I was sharing about one of our class’ experiences, telling the story of when we handed out flowers to some of the Prostitutes of Amsterdam’s red light district. As I spoke, I began to be re-impressed with the realization of how powerful such a small gesture of love was on that single rainy evening last spring. As I look at my daily life these days, I see how I often become forgetful of the power of the love of Christ that resides in my heart. I can so easily go about my days, forgetting how love of Christ that lives in my heart has the power to transform the world around me, including individual people and their relationships, in addition to larger, more complicated entities, i.e. communities and red light districts.


As we travel to different communities, churches, schools, and other groups, Koala and I continue to share our experiences that have been most relevant to these issues of human trafficking. There is always a bit of variation in how the stories are shared, but still, often it is hard to feel that we are sharing anything of significance, as we ourselves have heard and told our experiences far more than we can begin to recount. One evening at one of the youth meetings, with the Come Home group, also at the Free Church, one of the pastors we met (who was also our translator) proved to be a deep encouragement to us. His work consists largely of traveling to the public schools throughout the entire nation of Finland, teaching about Christianity as well as sharing about his own personal relationship with Jesus. We were encouraged by the ways that he continued to keep his walk with the Lord fresh even in the midst of consistent message giving. One of the verses he spoke struck me profoundly:

...The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.

Numbers 6: 24-26

And I’ve heard this over and over in church benedictions, and I always remember having liked it, but I guess I had forgotten about it. In it I saw though how even with heavy luggage, repetition, and weary feet, we can continue in what God has directed us to, even just because is face is dwelling on us, granting us the peace of his directed gaze.

(holuoksa sinappi? (btw, this spelling is probably wrong.))

(each thursday the church gives out free pea soup to citizens of tampere)

(i don't know if they had napkins)

(they told me how to say pigeon in finnish, but i've since forgotten)

(tampere, in its early days, was driven by industrialisation)

(pyyhajarvi means holy lake. we would later swim here.)

(there are no cars in finland.
the most common form of transportation is sled-dog mushing.)

(sauna: 125 degrees centigrade.
pyyhajarvi: .5 degrees centigrade.)

(seppo + hanna (harrakka) taipale)

(päivi + the k-bear)

It would be hard to mention our experience of Finland without mentioning our beloved hosts, Seppo and Paivi Taipale. They showed us much about what it means to follow Christ in the normal, day-to-day living. They were kind to introduce us to the Finnish way of life, which includes, but is not limited to:

sauna
winter fresh-water swimming
ice Skating
snowy sommersaults
floorball
makkara (Finnish Sausage)

(watch out, the yankee has a destructive slap-shot)

This is the paragraph where I was going to ask you to pray with us for a place to stay for our upcoming time in Copenhagen. A couple days ago, we hadn’t an idea where we would call home during upon our arrival in Denmark’s capital city. My eyeballs were tantalized this morning when I saw in an email that our contacts had found an apartment for us to stay in at a local church. So, tomorrow when we take the train into Copenhagen, we can rest easy knowing we have a place to lay our heads at night. Praise the Lord.

Secondly, we would value your prayers for open doors to share the project with groups in and near Copenhagen. We have a couple events planned for certain, namely a documentary night with a social awareness group on the 19th, and an exhibition in a café on Sunday the 22nd. Copenhagen is a big city, and we feel able and willing to share nearly anywhere, we just need God to direct us to the right places and people. Pray for encounters that are ordained and directed by the hands of the Lord.

Lastly, I also wanted to inform you that due to visa limitations and other circumstances, on the 27th of March, I will be leaving the soil of Europe to return to the blustery but beautiful state that is Washington. The entirety of plans are uncertain, but I do know that for now, God has placed it in my heart to share the project in Ellensburg, throughout Washington, and wherever else it would work out in the good ‘ol U.S. of A. I will do my utmost to keep you posted on the dates, locations and other details of such events.

(bye bye helsinki)

We Are People But He is God

I write to you all from a drizzly and cloud covered Kona. The weather here is reminding me of home. Those of you in beautiful Washington State may already be at odds with the blustery weather conditions, but strangely enough, I often find myself missing those blustery weather conditions.

The last couple weeks, our class has spent largely focused on preparing for our upcoming distribution tours for our book, Sex & Money: A Global Search For Human Worth. Rather than the normal lectures we would usually have during the week, we have received some much needed time to devote to getting next quarter’s outreaches going in the right direction. So far, my team (Koala and I) has finalized a majority of our promotional information that we will be sending to venues (churches, cafes, galleries, and the like.) In addition to this, we have been working on other logistical aspects of our tours, such as budgets, itineraries, and other details of getting from place to place. Fairly dry subject matter to discuss in written form, but I figure it is good to keep everyone in the loop.

In addition to the all-American celebration of Thanks that is to be celebrated this next Thursday (I am thankful for purple Hawaiian sweet potatoes) the next couple weeks will be mostly the same. In the days to come, Koala and I, in addition to our class, would greatly value your prayers. Specifically:

-We are currently working with our contacts in the various countries to arrange speaking arrangements, exhibitions and such. We have been blessed with contacts in each of the places we’ll be visiting, but we could use your prayers to get the right events finalized at the right places and times.

-A lot of times, I feel a bit overwhelmed with the amount of coordination that is necessary for two people to take this project through six countries in three months. I know it is possible, but it is evident that my know-how and abilities only go so far. I guess you could say I could use an extension of faith and wisdom.

-With this project, I feel like I am now a place of preparing “to step out of the boat.” I have been to the third world countries, I have seen various instances of need, but to now portray these needs to the western world in a way that will motivate people to act will be something new, and certainly challenging.

I appreciate the partnership and interest you have taken in this project. I believe this upcoming time of new-ness will be fruitful, both as something that increases action in opposition to injustice in our world, as well as something that will enlighten my heart more to the character and competence of our God. I am already becoming more aware of my humanity in contrast to His divinity.

FYI: This last week marks the celebration of the purchasing of my ticket to Reykjavik, Iceland. I think this is cause for celebration. {!} I shall embark for the far north on January 2.

The Looming Distribution

*Click on the pages to grow them into something more viewable.

final steps and the invisibly changing seasons

I guess a lot has happened since the last update, therefore I will gladly inform you.

As many of you know, our group returned to Kona, Hawaii to begin making a publication with the photos and stories from our last year of travel. I am still here in Kona, and a lot of ground has been made in the process of putting together our book. Over the last month especially, the pace of work on the project has increased quite a bit. When I originally heard in June that we would be sending a book out to print in mid-September, it seemed nearly impossible. However, though things have been fairly hectic, it is amazing to see the ground that has been made in such a short amount of time, and we are now looking to send the final design and layout to the printer by the end of the week.

Since the original steps of brainstorming and discussing the vision of the book, (something which took a significant amount of time in itself,) we then had instructors come to bring their insight and experience in regards to the logistics of assembling the material into a form that could be sent off to print. For the design portion, we had Kathrin Fietz, a graphic designer from Germany/London, come to walk us through the process of designing and laying out our book. After this, we had Andrew Kooman, a writer from Canada, join us to take us through the process of recording our personal experiences from the last year into written material that can be effective for communication.

Once we had collected all the “raw data” of writing and stories, we were able to begin consulting with a graphic designer in Germany (our school leaders have worked with him for publications they produced in the past.) The last week has consisted largely of conferring back and forth with him, to get the look we feel the book should have. As the deadline for the printer is soon approaching, the few days we will be working back and forth with the designer to make the final changes and alterations. We don’t yet know the exact date for when we will have a printed book in our hands, but it is still hard to imagine what it will be like to see actual printed material in our hands.

In this process, I have come to see what a responsibility we have with the words we say. Growing up, I was often told, “Think before you speak.” This was always a very valuable insight to carry with me; but in the process of writing in a book that will be read and heard by thousands of people, the importance of this saying has only been multiplied. When I think about speaking to just one person, it is usually fairly easy to assess how to speak, and understand how they will interpret the words I say. However, with writing to an audience that is not familiar with myself, my heart, or even the heart of this project, I see the importance of portraying truth in a way that can be understood on a broad, universal sort of scale. Whether they are reading from a “Christian” or “Secular” point of view, God’s message and heart for the world remains the same. So, my challenge? - learning to say something of value without at the same time putting my foot in my mouth by saying something that a certain demographic could take out of context. To say the least, it’s a learning process.

With the finalization of the material, our group would certainly value your prayers. Throughout the course, of writing, selecting photos, and editing the final content, we have been seeking to honor God with the pictures we show and the words we speak. Please pray that we will have eyes to see the changes that need to be made, and the aspects that need to stay as they are. Because we have become so deeply involved in this project, it is often hard to see what needs to be changed, so we would value your prayers for God to give us eyes that can look at our work objectively, understanding what in fact we are communicating.

This Wednesday will also be the end of the summer quarter here at the University of the Nations. We have a one-week break before we will begin fall quarter. In the current quarter we have been focused on getting the book out to print. For fall quarter, it looks like we will be preparing for the tours that we will begin this upcoming January, when we will distribute and explain the heart behind the book. When I find out more specifics about what these things look like, I will keep you posted. More details soon to come…

in kona, a project takes flight

I realize it has been a few weeks since my last update, and not a lot has changed here since then, but I did want to keep you all in the loop as far as what is happening with our program here in Kona. It does feel as though we are finally beginning to settle down here. It is weird to think of being in a place now for more than a month.

For those of you who don't know, our class is now going through the process of making a publication from our photos and experiences over the last nine months of travel. It is a daunting task, assembling the minds of about 20 people and trying to achieve a common vision and result, but we've been seeing God working unity into our minds as we take small steps. Basically, the aim of us making a publication is to then go out distributing the publication in different areas around the world, using it as a tool to bring awareness to people regarding different issues of injustice in the world, and motivating people to get involved with those areas of need with their time, resources and energy. Our hope is that we will be able to portray areas of need in our world in a relevant way, showing people the reality of injustice in our world, but at the same time, showing the hope for change that exists with those needs. In this, we would very much value your prayers.

I appreciate all of your involvement in the process thus far. It has been an amazing experience to see so many places and meet so many people and learn about so many different issues. These next months will be quite a bit different, but I'm looking forward to learn how to portray these places, people and issues in an effective way, from the perspective of God's heart. I am blessed by your partnership with me in this.

hope in blood

Most of us have heard something about AIDS in Africa. There are numbers. There are percentages. There are opinions. But more than numbers and statistics, line charts and pie graphs, there are real people who are affected by a disease that is just as equally real.

The following are stories from a few of the families we were able to spend some time with while in Addis Ababa during the month of March. Their stories are hard, but for most of the people, they have found an enduring strength in Jesus that has brought them through the hardest of times.

orphans:antiretroviralmedication:CD4count:viralload:practicionerinitiate...
dHIVcounselingandtesting:healtheducation:stigma



Depressing? Not necessarily. It seemed to me that the hope of Christ was somehow expressing itself in the lives of each of these individuals and their families. They may continue to be infected by HIV, but for a majority of these people, the love of Christ has brought the hope of something beyond a disease.

The families we visited are part of a local church program that supports some of the poorest of the poor in Addis Ababa Ethiopia. This program cares for many families, mostly non-Christians, who would otherwise have great difficulty in acquiring their basic living necessities. These families are being given monthly support to provide for school fees, hygiene products, blankets, and some food. The church also makes a point of visiting the families in their homes and praying with them. Of these families, we spent time with some of the ones that had in some way been affected by HIV. All of these people live in very trying circumstances, but it is a comfort to know that the church is reaching out to them is practical ways.

By all means, AIDS is still an issue in our world, and it will continue to be an issue in the years to come. But beyond statistics and numbers that would seem at first glance to be disheartening, there are also stories of people who have found life in what we as humans would call impossible circumstances. This challenged my faith in that I see that I am in relationship with a God who is not challenged by the seemingly concrete things like percentages and infection rates. This God, who loves us, gives us reason to hope even when the “facts” tell us otherwise.

trusting in God to make hope

Amariche Demoshe, 36, is the single mother of seven children – six girls, and one boy. And she is infected with HIV.

Her Children:

Arsema: 18
Alem: 17
Rahel: 13
Sarah: 9
Esubalew (HIV+): 7
Yordanos: 4.5
Deborah: 6 months

Amariche was born in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, but her family immediately moved with her to the countryside in the southern part of the country. She stayed there until she was 18 years old, when she came back to Addis Ababa to attend school. She completed her schooling through grade six, and then made the decision to join the Ethiopian National Army, where she fought in Asmara Eritrea for about seven years.

Since returning from fighting in the war, Amariche was able to start a family, though her husband has since died. Amariche herself isn’t quite sure where she acquired HIV, though she believes she may have contracted it while caring for others who were infected.

(Amariche puts her antiretroviral medication back into her purse.)

Two years ago, Amariche put her faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of her sins and the hope of new life beyond the one she is living. Even beyond this hope, Amariche has experienced physical rejuvenation through Christ’s work in her life. At one point Amariche weighed only 70 pounds, and her CD4 count was only 135 (the CD4 count is basically a measurement of the cells in the blood that fight diseases and infection; anything below 200 is considered to be AIDS.) More recently, her weight has improved to a healthier amount, and her CD4 count has increased to 610. Amariche has been taking Anti-Retroviral Treatments (ART’s) that are made available to her free of cost by the Ethiopian Government, but when asked what increased her CD4 count, she said that overall, it is prayer. Amariche said through translation:

Every sickness is not a curse from God. If you believe, and pray to God, God will hear you and respond to your prayer. You have to trust in God to make hope.

Amariche and her children are currently living in a home that is smaller than most of our own bedrooms. They had no access to a home of their own, so the hospital where Amariche is being treated allowed her and her family to construct a shelter on their property. The shelter is very rugged, as it is made up of plastic tarps, rope, tin, pieces of wood, and a thin piece of cloth for a front door. They keep the family out of a majority of the elements, but the conditions certainly don’t seem adequate for one who is trying to build up a healthy immune system, especially with the often quite biting cold nights in Addis Ababa.

(Yordanos (4.5) and Rahel (13) stand in the door of their home.)

(Sarah (9) prepares a lunch for the family and their visitors.)

(Amariche and her children earn much of their living through making table and bed clothes. Even the children help to sew them.)

Amariche continues to live, conscious of her need to be sustained by her Savior, all the while seeing evidence of His working hope into her ever so difficult circumstances. He has not abandoned her. He has not left her. He rather, continues to hold Amariche and the family she supports in the center of His embrace, and in the palm of His sovereign hand.

Some Prayer Requests from Amariche:

1. Being homeless. If the hospital needs the space she has built her family’s temporary residence on, her family will be forced to live on the street. Pray for the provision of a house, and the other practical needs such as nutritional foods and school supplies.
2. Even though challenged by HIV, she says, “I should like to be in front of my God every time.” Pray that she may experience the life and continual rejuvenation that is found in the presence of God.

dark room/ shiny cross

Tigist is 27 years old and HIV Positive. Her name means patience.

Etasesn is 45 years old and HIV Positive. She is the mother of Tigist.

Tigist is the oldest of four children. In 2003, she tested her blood and found that she was HIV positive. She thinks she acquired HIV at a younger age through sexual intercourse with a boyfriend. She was then bedridden for two years, as there was no access to free Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) at that time. At one point, her CD4 count was down to just 1, but through prayer, and access to the free ART’s, her CD4 count is now above 500 and she is able to live an active life, working as much as she can to help generate even a small bit of income for her family (I later asked a nurse at a clinic in the area about such a drastic transition, and the nurse spoke of how such a happening could only be a miracle). Tigist now often teaches others about the realities of HIV, and has even shared about the socio-economic effects the disease on her life over national television.

(Tigist's younger sister, Magdes enjoys the company of their family's cat)

(nutritious foods like spinach are very helpful for those on ART)

It is possible that Etasesn acquired HIV through caring for Tigist when Tigist was bedridden. Etasesn is mute, but she will quite often make hand motions and smile widely to communicate her happiness and thankfulness to God, or her appreciation for having you visit her in her home. Her CD4 count is above 400, but is not taking any ART as she is bedridden, and an active lifestyle is necessary for the ART’s to function properly. Etasesn is cared for faithfully by Tigist and the rest of the children, and also by her husband, Hailu, whose name means, “Power of God.” Hailu continues to faithfully care for and support his wife, but he has yet to come to a personal faith in Jesus.

Tigist accepted Jesus through one of the former directors of a church program in the area, who would come to pray with her two days a week. Before accepting Christ, Tigist recalls a very disturbed life with no peace of mind. Since accepting Jesus as her personal Savior, she speaks of how she became healthy and received peace of mind. Sitting in her naturally lit living space, Tigist sang aloud with her friends, Pastor Esayas, and Sheba, from the local church:

Jesus is the joy of my heart. I’m living in this world my Your name.

(Tigist and Sheba, the counselor for the church's community outreach program)

Prayer requests from Tigist and Etasesn:

1. Improved Health.
2. Ethiopian Economy. When going through ART, it is necessary to have a well balanced diet including a lot of protein-rich foods. The price of these foods though has gone up in cost. In the past few years, it is not uncommon for certain costs to have risen over 100% of their normal cost.
3. Family members to come to Christ. Hailu, Etasesn’s husband has not yet accepted Christ, but they believe he is close.