In week now
I'll be soon flying over BIG Russia,
and heading towards Vladivostok city, second time.
First journey to Vladivostok
(If you are too bored to read about my first trip to Vladi, skip this part and continue in part "Second journey to Vladivostok)
2009 I had never heard about Vladivostok. If someone would come up to me and said that city, I would be guessing it is in some kind of Russian speaker country, or maybe I could have thought it is entire country... Well I can only guess, cause I never heard such a place
Although end of year 2009 I had this idea to go bible school. Not the first time I've thought that way. Few Ywamers (check Ywam webpage) came to the city I then lived, and shared about that organization breefly. They were students doing DTS(Discipleship training school) in here Finland
(I think it was Ruurikkala Ywam base)
That wasn't first time I heard about Dts, (didn't quite get the picture about Ywam though) but I decided already earlier that it is not my place. Reason I thought so was that DTS was very popular, and many of our church youngsters had been in that school. I didnt want to go there cause it was "Trend" or popular thing to do. Not saying it is wrong reason to go to that school, or other biblical schools, I believe that God can speak us and turn our hearts in such places even our hearts would have desired to go there for other reasons than seeking God (for example going abroad and having fun, cause travelling is super cool thing to do, or some other reasons)
Anyway, I didn't want to go some bible school thing because others had done it, and it was cool.
Not going to describe every detail of my thoughts of Dts/bible schools now.
Anyway, I started google Dts places after that student group went away. "Oh, its international"
I knew there is outreach, so travelling is part of the school, but what i didn't knew was it has bases all around the world. I wanted to make sure, that if I go DTS , (Because i really not wanted first ) it has to be for "reason" that God would lead me, and carry me through that. As a joke first, I seeked the furthes place that could be (not the furthest place in tire world, but in Russia, I have had passion for that country for long) And ta- daa! There it was, Vladivostok.
I printed application papers and threw them away, I could never imagine to go there, impossible.
Impossible for me, but not for God. I really went to DTS, and came back.
I had priviledge to be part of Vladivostok first DTS.
Second journey to Vladivostok is just starting
When I left Vladivostok first time, I Knew (well if it's Gods will and he will give me chance) I will go there at least second time. But not really knew when and how and why.
It is now almost 5 years when my DTS started.
This time I will go to the Ywam base again. Now for doing course "BCC- Bible core course"
This is written in Ywam Vladivostok web page about that school :
Bible Core Course (BCC) in Russia!
Have you read the Bible from cover to cover? Do you want to go deeper in the Word? In the Bible Core Course (BCC) you will read through the entire Bible, while learning how to study it for yourself. Come and encounter God through His Word!
The BCC introduces students to the inductive approach to studying the Bible. An inductive study examines the scriptures using many different resources in order to understand the Bible in a new light. This means leaving behind any preconceived ideas or principles about the scriptures, allowing the true content of God’s word to be revealed. This approach not only helps you with your study of the Bible, but also provides a great foundation for life-long ministry.During these courses, students will learn how to memorize and meditate on the Bible so they can effectively incorporate God’s word into areas of evangelism, worship and intercession.
Students will also lead Bible study groups and practice their teaching and preaching skills.
The school will be bilingual - English and Russian
I cannot really explain that school or course more, cause I really don't know more about that.
I will keep posting about my school, and maybe it can give some kind of picture of it.
Why ?
I had no plans on going Vladivostok this year, nor going any other bible school nor doing anything on this semester.
God wanted to do this, and I said Yes, though I hesitated - a lot!
I have had very hard year, I have been posting about it in my Finnish blog more... Some of you know, some of you might not know, but my Dad died almost one year ago. He had cancer in lungs. It was found in September 2013, and Dad lost the fight against it.
I know Dad will go to Heaven, so there will be one day, when I will see him again.
I also know that the place where he is is much better than the place where he was before.
He had lots of illnesses and rough times in life.
Not going to write more about him, but you may think that after he died, it has been tough, even I know I will see him again.
This year I have had doctors permission to just lay down. Well after Dad died we had extremely lot (at least for me) things to do, and spring wasn't really laying down time for me. At least I didn't have to study or go work.
beginning of the summer, in June I really got chance to rest, cause then the paper work after funerals and bills and other stuff from person dying was quite finished. That was also the time when I heard about Vladivostok BCC. One of the staff members (who is by the way from Finland !) told me I could apply for that school.
First thing in my head was IT IS IMPOSSIBLE. I had have toughest year or two since.. well long time, and I didnt have even power to take care of myself properly... and I have still problems in my back, though not so extremely I have had years ago ( I couldn't even walk in short time few years ago). So my situation being that would be stupid thing to go other side of the world and study for 3 months. Stupid and irresponsible!
Okay I said that I will sure pray if I should go there... well didnt prayed, cause of course I knew what is best of me. I know myself and ... anyways, answer will be no.
And I said No. And told shortly the reason.
June was very restless time, but also resting time. In same time I could rest and didnt have to call many times in week to different offices and do paper work. I could have time for myself and just be. But in my mind I didn't have peace.
I had had Vladivostok for some reason in my mind and thoughts during spring, and also in some point I felt in prayer that I should go there this year or soon. (then I didnt know about BCC Vladivostok) Later I found out that already February in my prayer journal was written that I really felt I should go there "May Gods' will happen"
So I wanted to go Vladivostok. I had opportunity cause I didnt have to work. I have time to be in sick leave, and I can go for short trip anytime. And I counted I could save money for flight tickets also
So I decided that I will ask, do they need volunteer for short period to Vladivostok in some month this year.
I never wrote that kind of letter, because for some reason that BCC was in my mind, and I just wanted to push it away, cause I already decided not to come and I cannot and and and...
In Next month July, first week I guess, I was in youth group in my church, and I just said aloud , for my own surprise also, "Well, should I ask from God if I should go to BCC Vladivostok?"
Oh no... bad thought... really bad thought , because what IF God says YES ??
Oh kay... I then prayed, and straight away.. oh sorry I didn't even "pray" I just started to worship, and I felt so strongly I have to apply to that school, for some reason, and how all the Junes restlessness disappear and I felt peace towards that thing.
Well after that also came so powerfull rejection from my mind cause "It is insane, impossible etc."
But I decided to apply and if it truly is God's will everything will go well.
July was filled with battlefield after I applied. Im not going to go into the battles, but spiritually I felt very strong attacks and I wasn't only one within my friends. We both had situation that we are stepping to unknown, and we have no idea how we are making it, and we really are going to just need God for that to happen. For both of us it was also moving another place, and starting something new.
So we prayed a lot toghether, sometimes many times in a week, sometimes less than once in week, but still regurlary. God was really strong in us, and we had struggles, that I think we needed to go through at that time, and God led us together to share those thoughts.
I also have had other friends too, to whom I have had chance to really share my life, and be listening their thoughts of life. God has really given me great friends, that are with me praying and seeking Gods' will.
Then I got news, I have been accepted to BCC Vladivostok .Well most of my friends didn't even think that it is option I wouldn't get the acceptation. I didn't want to think its automation, that I'm really going there, because I knew I'm going only if its Gods will. I said to God, if this is not for me, and it is not good for me, then let the people in Vladivostok reject my application.
That is because I was first so sure I shouldn't even go there, and when applying there I really didn't know if I even want to go there, cause it seems so crazy that I could make it... so still I just wanted to just rely on Gods' will. Like I think I should do always. Gods' will, not mine.
Of course there is times, God lets us to choose, and we have to then decide, not just give the responsibility of choosing to others/ God. But in this situation I really wanted to give that responsibility to God, cause I know without Him especially in this time of my life, with these strenght of mine I couldn't possibly go to the worlds end without Gods' power.
One week left in Finland
Okay, so now we go back to the beginning of this blog post.
One week, and Im already in Russia, heading Vladivostok.
Exciting? Very
Restless? Not even a bit.
Its interesting, that even I'm sometimes very tired, and I have struggles, and Im not sure how I make it to there and back... I have peace. I really have peace that comes from above.
I also feel that I live in present. I'm not skipping my life without living present, and just dreaming the time in Vladivostok. Or living in past, thinking about the times when "everything was better" and forgetting that I live now, and God is there for me now. God has reason for me NOW.
I have life in God at the very moment. Now. I am breathing His Holy presence...
And I want to, even Im not always able , value each moment I have with my God and my Savior, Jesus Christ. I may not always feel that passion or feel the happiness...
but I want to learn to KNOW the truth :
God is with me every single moment, and he never forsakes me.
