Finally some stories from Finland :)

Hi everyone!!

This update took some time, but better now than never :)
So here´s some experiences from our first national 24-7 gathering, Turku -Finland, March 2007

Aki:

The 24-7 gathering in Finland was an excellent place to form new connections with 24-7 minded people. I've been doing the 24-7 training course Transit in England for the last six or seven months and learned to like the ideas behind 24-7. It was great to meet people that carry a similar vision about praying communities that we are exploring in here.

After the weekend I'm really looking forward to get back to Finland and to start to learn what God has in store for Finland and the 24-7 movement in there.

Asta:

24-7 connecting people. ;)
our weekend was amazing! really relaxing and peaceful. People were really friendly and treated eachothers warmly like familymembers. We had LOT of bread, for our body and spirit. ;) it's so cool just to spend time with sisters and brothers,with our Saviour and friend, Lord Jesus and do nothing but seek His precense.

I got really encouraged again when I saw other youth from all around Finland worshiping the only living God and heard about their dreams for Finland and the rest of the world. Hopefully our frienships will last as they are build on Him.
John 17:11.

Sinikka:

I came to Turku meeting expecting very little since I only had a short while to spend there. But God makes the most of the time that we have and it was pretty amazing few hours that. I managed to meet just the right persons and had such a blessed time talking about God's plans and all the amazing stuff that He has done in our lives.

The one important lesson I learned is that 24-7 really is all about friendships and connections.Can't wait for God's plans to unveil here in Oulu and in Norhtern Finland. Let's all dream big, our Heavenly Father sure does:)

Tixu:

The tears are watering the floor under me. It might sound cliché, but God´s presence is just so thick. I can sense His power, love, mercy and fear of the Lord stronger than ever before. The room is filled with worship, prayer and repentance. Soon I start to see how the Finnish bride (Suomen Neito - The Maiden of Finland) begins to dance. She brakes down the chains she have on her feet and she just starts to dance. "Vapauta Suomen Neito tanssimaan", I cry out to God. "Free us, free us. Have your mercy on us!".

I´m a Finn. But for many years I wanted to move somewhere else and I just didn´t have any special love for my own people. Some years ago God started to give me His love, as it seemed that I´m staying here longer than I first thought and I realized to ask some more love! For some time now, I´ve been able to say that I love my nation, I love my people.

But did I ever believe how much deeper the love towards Finns could be?!

Not really before our weekend. The weekend in itself was full of connecting with people, friends, good time, praying.. But for me personally, it was the last hours of our weekend. God just met me stronger than ever before. And I got this desperate longing to see Finns to live in freedom. In His freedom.

So my prayer is to see the Suomen Neito dancing in full Freedom!!