Finland Expedition Trip

On Sept 8th a team of 6 led by Hannah (executive) and Jacob (trainee leader) departed on  WFTR’s first expedition trip to Finland to “spy the land” (Numbers 13). After two training weekends and multiple online preparations, we entered Finland with a collective understanding…

1. We needed 125 survey responses from the Finnish Joshua Generation (specifically those aged between 18-35yrs)

1. We would travel up the Western coastline making our way back down through central Finland

1. And we carried a number of scriptures/words (some key one’s being: Isaiah 58:12, Ezekiel 37, “Awakening” and to do proclamation and worship).

The 7 day trip was short but full time – a combination of seeing/observing, meeting and trying as much as we could. in total we travelled 1,719km, visited 11 locations(staying overnight in 6 different locations , almost one every night) and spoke to many Finnish people. Our itinerary included visiting the four main cities of Finland, but we made an effort to visit towns (inc. Hameenlinna, Rauma & Pyhäjoki a rural town which means Holy River) as one Finn in Rauma rightly put it: ‘This is Finland too’.

Each morning we walked/drove to meet the locals to (hopefully) have them complete our survey or have some conversation with them about their life as a Joshua Generation Finn (also the purpose for our survey). Through our interactions we learnt that Finns enjoy nature, tend to stick more to themselves and if interacting with generations they value it more-so within their immediate family (one person mentioning that in churches this is seen by people leaving shortly after service). They were people of their word (many who weren’t able to complete the survey then and there but said they would later – did actually fill in the survey) and were open to share about parts of their lives. Simply from observations we found Finland to be a quiet nation that followed rules to maintain the overall order (e.g. they didn’t Jay walk) with had little homelessness. Randomly, we encountered two places which held concerts to bring together community (weekly in a town and monthly at a church).

The afternoons consisted of visiting a “tourist” attraction and/or travelling to another location. Travel scenery included incredible large lakes (in Lakeland district) and seeing evergreen trees, of which the nation has many. One afternoon during a nature walk in Oulu, the team ran into an older couple who when asked ‘What is Finnish’, the man said “sauna, sisu ,and salmiakki”. It was here in Oulu that some of us tried a traditional Sauna for that region of Finland which floats on a river and is accessible via a raft and pulley system. Very convenient for taking a quick plunge into the cold river water! Other cultural experiences included seeing the Kvarken Archipelago, trying Finnish salmon soup & reindeer meatballs, visiting Turku castle, walking through Uspenski Cathedral, and more!

Our leaders’ decision to hire a car for our entire trip helped in changing plans spontaneously, as God would lead. One of these times happened when leaving the coastline of Oulu for the central city of Jyvaskyla. A team member mentioned they felt we should go back to a place called Nallikari beach (where the wind meets the land) and read Ezekiel 37. We proclaimed scriptures together, we sowed in prayer (and for some with something physical) and before driving out, our Kiwi leader did a haka from the lighthouse tower as a prayer for the Finnish people to choose life.

On our Sunday in Finland we decided to join a small church congregation of 100 people which was a treasured time sharing in worship, in gifts, and in prayers. Here, we naturally heard from a few people about the school system, whose roots they said are in Christianity, but now finds itself pulled by woke culture (e.g. a traditional hymn sung in assemblies becoming a controversial topic).

The trip certainly didn’t start simply when we got on the flight! It had been quite a process (since January for this trip specifically, but for years in Femi’s heart for the nation of Finland) before a team came together and left. But we’re grateful it did – a team with many firsts, like for all of us – our first time to the nation of Finland. And we brought back “fruits” of the land to remember.