The streets are lined with snow covered trees, there are icy streets for as far as the I can see, and for the first time in a few months I almost feel at home as I look out the window into the winter wonderland that is before me…
On Tuesday, after a little trouble (leaving exams early, arguing with airlines about allowable weight, and having to check out of my dorm rooms) I arrived to Nanjing after 4+ hour flight. After a bit of confusion as to the whereabouts of the seemingly non-existent airport hotel where I had made reservations I finally
stumbled upon the right “airport hotel”. After dropping off my copious amounts of luggage I left the hotel to do a little exploring and a lot of resting. That night I set a triple alarm to ensure I did not sleep late and arrive late to the airport the following morning because I did not want to miss my flight to Finland.
And I didn’t. I arrived with plenty of time; got through customs with no issues and boarded a giant plane heading for Frankfurt, Germany. For the 11 hour flight…I had no one sitting beside me; and when I landed with an hour and a bit to spend in the Frankfurt airport before continuing on to Helsinki, I had a smile permanently plastered to my face. Why? Outside it was snowy, inside it was warm and I was passing bakeries, coffee shops and people eating with forks and knives; it was weird, but oh. so. comforting.
After a short layover I hopped (and by ‘hopped’ I mean slowly wobbled, trying not to fall asleep) onto the plane; where I again was blessed to have a seat with no neighbour and slept for the entire two hour flight, only being awaken periodically by the sound of German laughter in front of me. Hours later; with no sense of what day or time it was in the country I was now in, the country I was in only hours before, or the country where my family is, I made it to my final destination…for at least the night..and picked up my luggage at the Helsinki International Airport.
Kimmo and his wife Laura (two YWAM’ers in Helsinki) were waiting for me at the airport and took me to their home where they gave me a bed to sleep in, homemade food to eat, and a sleeping bag for the rest of the journey (since I failed to see the importance of a sleeping bag while packing days earlier…). The rest of the YWAM team had arrived in Helsinki the day before and had already left to a town 5 hours north of Helsinki, where I would join them the next morning. After drinking copious amounts of tap water, eating cheese, bread, and drinking tea with refrigerated milk I skyped home to Canada where I asked Erika to tell my parents that I was in Helsinki; since the last time I spoke with my family I told them there was no hope in me getting a Russian visa and I was calling off my YWAM outreach opportunity. Then I realized that was ridiculous and the roadblocks in my path weren’t God trying to stop me…then I fell asleep and morning came much much to soon.
After a quick drive in a frosty van, Laura helped me buy a train ticket; without waiting in line, and I boarded a 5 hour train bound for Siilinjarvi, where I would meet the rest of the YWAM team. And meet them I did. 
There’s (from left to right) Michael from Humboldt Saskatchewan, Mike from Winkler Manitoba, Yasmine from Switzerland, Rylan from Chilliwack BC, me, Glen (Head coach) from Vancouver BC, and Brian from Michigan is in front; we also have three ‘guest’ coaches who will join us for the first half of our outreach hailing from Mackenzie BC; Andy, Geoff and BJ.
After half a day and one night in Siilinjarvi; a little sauna and some good company, we packed our bags and headed back to the train station for a 7 hour train up to Rovaniemi (home of Santa Claus) where we coached our first two sessions with 15 and 16 year old boys; in our second session Brian lost an edge and slid into the net, I thought he would be down and out for the count because it did not look good; but surprisingly he bounced up from the collision and reassured me he w
as fine. Really? Really. 10 minutes later at the end of the practice; he rolled up his pant leg to assess the damage and it was worse, much worse than he had originally thought. I walked into the dressing room and saw Brian laying on the bench with his bone exposed. Bone. There was a giant, giant gash in his leg and the bone was right out there for all to see. After a quick prayer Geoff took the lead; wrapped Brian up good and he and the elder members of the outreach took Brian to the nearest hospital at which time the rest of the team worried that he may be out for the count.
But after returning to the church, grabbing a quick bite to eat, Brian returned back to tell us that there was no bone damage; only 10 stitches and antibiotics (and no sauna until the stitches are out…) poor guy.
Saturday we were to have the chance to play against a local men’s team, but turns out that lights go out on the outdoor rink at 8 pm…so some of the local’s couldn’t make it. Seeing as though we brought our stuff half way across the world; we decided to play a little shinny in –25 degrees, with no lights and in snow. Rylan froze his toes…but we won.
On Sunday morning we attended a Finnish church service were Glen and the Mackenzie BC YWAM team introduced their missions; after a quick sandwich, the team, minus me and BJ, loaded up their gear and hopped a bus; then a train to Russia…BJ and myself boarded an 11 hour night train (sitting..and not as cheap as those Chinese trains…but oh. so. much cleaner…) back to Helsinki in hopes of getting our Russian visas. My Letter of Invitation had not yet arrived to Kimmo and Laura’s home and so BJ went to see what he could work. The Russian officials told him it would cost 300 Euros to get his visa processed in 3 days; he said no thanks (the two other Mackenzie men will be returning to Finland on Saturday, so it wasn’t worth it for him..) I will try my luck tomorrow; and am hoping they give me a better time frame and price than they gave BJ.
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So. If you’re reading this and want to put some things in prayer I’ve got a few requests. Brian. For the healing of his leg with no complication, no pain, and a speedy speedy recovery. For the health and safety for the rest of our team as they play teach and travel; for me, particularly tomorrow morning at 9 am when I try and get my Russian visa as fast as possible for as cheap as possible; because if they tell me 300 Euros..I’ll cry. And then for my health (especially my right foot which has had problems in the past, and is not feeling so great at the moment…)and safety as I travel alone into Russia with 60 pounds of luggage (goalie equipment is heavy….)
Keep checking for updates; I’ll try and keep you on the up and up on where we are, what we are doing and maybe even include a few pictures every now and again. If you want to know more about anything, send me a note/question/support send me an email! And checkout YWAM hockey’s blog!
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