Hi from Finland - Hi Alkaen Suomi

Images from Afar Country

Midnight in Tampere - Kyttala

11PM

11PM

 10PM - Sunshine!

35th Pirkka Cycling - June 10 - Tampere (0ver 2500 cyclists)

Rainbows

An End of a Spring Evening

Noord Brabant

Nederland

When the rainbow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”

Genesis 9:16

Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire.

Revelation 10:1 

Brazil

Images of a Busy Week in Brazil

humming bird

Botanic Gardens - Rio de Janeiro

Costa Brava Restaurant

We discern the freshness and purity of morning, but they do not make us fresh and pure. We cannot mingle with the splendours we see. But all the leaves of the New Testament are rustling with the rumour that it will not always be so. Some day, God willing, we shall get in.

Mantiqueira Sierra

Rio-Paris Flight

Sunset and First Evening Star

A Brazilian Breakfast and a Short Story of Redemption

“If you had asked medieval writers 'Why do you not make up a brand-new story of your own?' I think they might have replied (in effect) 'Surely we are not yet reduced to that?' Spin something out of one's own head when the world teems with so many noble deeds, wholesome examples, pitiful tragedies, strange adventures, and merry jests which have never yet been been written before? - - - ”
- - -
It was six o’cclok of a Sunday morning and the sun was rising behind the Pedra da Gavea no Rio de Janeiro.

We were at the Barra da Tijuca savouring a delicious Brazilian breakfast at a very nice hotel, which we could not afford if had to pay for it ourselves.

As the waiter approached with coffee and milk and gently served us, Paulo noticed his accent and said “you must be a Nordestino (from the Northeast of Brasil).”  When the waiter mentioned the region, Paulo replied “I am actually from the same area and I travelled in a caçuá (woven baskets which hangs over a horse’s back) through that region (the poorest of Brazil) when I was one month old.”

Adriana then said: “you have a beautiful name (Moses), a great leader of the people of Israel. “ He replied: “Yes, and I have a similar story.  When I was born I was swapped by mistake with another baby whose mother had a name similar to my mom.  Eight days later I was rescued and came home.  My grandfather a protestant Christian said to the family:  “there is only one name appropriate for him: Moses, because he was rescued from the hands of Pharaoh.”

“Now I am 32 years old and an elder in a protestant church here in Rio de Janeiro and am always preaching the good news of Jesus.”

 We said that we were also protestant Christians  - - - to which he was very happy to hear - left to help other customers and wished us a good breakfast.

The food seemed to taste even better, as we enjoyed it with tears of joy.  Can we start the Lord’s day in a more special way?

“God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” 1 Corinthians 1:27


“There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - these are mortal - - But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.”

Cheers,

Paulo and Adriana