Independance Day

Estonia celebrated its Independence yesterday in the cold and snow. Estonia celebrates this day because it marks its declaration of Independence from Russian in 1918. A war followed and they enjoyed the freedom until WWII, then it was Russian, German, Russian and finally absorbed into the Soviet Union.

Yesterday we took out the flag and hung it up outside and we celebrated. The big national parade was held in Narva, on the border with Russia, so we didn't make it out to that. We were able to enjoy some family time and watch Nora start to crawl. She is now moving several steps and then we usually cheer and she stops, I guess we have to practice with that one.

The president of Estonia addressed the nation and it was a speech that was dominated by the economy. Estonia is being hard hit by the economic downturn. The biggest problem is the lack of building. No one is building, no one is remodeling. The shops are very empty and offering big sales to get people in. The hamburger stand next to my house is usually over run with builders every morning getting their coffee, but the past few weeks its been totally empty as I walk to the bus stop. I have been amazed at how the lunch rush is now more of a trickle. Restaurants are now offering 50% off you total bill if you eat between 3-6PM. I am not sure how long this will continue but I hope at least through English Camp cause that helps with the budget a lot!!
The thing is Estonia is a small country and it doesn't have a lot of industry and opportunity itself. The recovery here will take a lot longer but I hope it picks up soon because people are starting to get scared. Of course, everyone here knows how to survive tough times, tougher times than most of us have ever seen or experienced. Most are looking to the US and hope to see things improve there and then flow over to Estonia.

Now, I have one additional question for my readers. Socialism is the new hot word in the US media and I understand some of it. One thing I struggle with is how often places are trashed and talked down about as being terrible socialistic places, such as Sweden and Norway. Having visited these places and spent time with their citizens, I don't see them as so bad and they enjoy a very good standard of living and are known as having the highest levels of happiness among Europeans. They also have very little crime and the same freedoms Americans enjoy. I am just wondering what people know about this and why places like this are negatively portrayed. This is not intended to be a discussion of socialism or politics. Okay, thanks!

A little taste of America

Last week I headed to Tallinn to check out some rooms for a conference next fall I am helping with. I headed there with Timo, my trusted assistance for the conference and after checking things out we were walking to a place for lunch and stopped at Stockmanns. This is the JC Penny of Findland and has store in Tallinn. I had heard the legends of the food store in Stockmanns having lots of American products you can't get anywhere else in Estonia, but I had never checked it for myself. Well, having a few minutes to spare, Timo and I checked things out and found the Holy Grail! I found all kinds of Betty Crocker cake mixes for $7, and cereals like Luck Charms and Honeycomb for $12-$15. These were fun to see, but honestly, just stupid expensive. We kept searching and then found the cookies and hit the motherload! Chips Ahoy, Nutter Butter and Oreos. There were having a sale on all of these. Around $4-6 a package, so I picked up a few took them home and have been enjoying a little each day. Reena and the boys like them, but think they are just cookies, but my tastebuds and memories say they are so much more. Its great to be able to get a little taste of America and not have to sell our first born and it made me smile.

Estonia is #1

Estonia has been named the #1 least religious country in the WORLD!! I always knew Estonia was a tough mission field, but this should cement it in everyones mind.

Not really sure how to take this and to be honest it doesn't change anything, rather it proves what we have known for the last 6 years. I hope this helps you to better pray and support us, we are in a battle that is like nothing else in the world.

Here is the article. The text is here below.

Five EU members figure among the world's top 10 least religious countries, with Estonia leading the list, a new poll has shown.

Just 14 percent of Estonians answered positively to the question: "Is religion an important part of your daily life?" according to a poll released by Gallup earlier this week.

Estonia is followed by Nordic countries Sweden and Denmark, where 17 and 18 percent of those asked answered positively to the same question.

The Czech Republic comes fifth at 21 percent, just after Norway (20%), while France is ninth with a quarter of French people declaring religion important in their daily life.

The UK, Finland, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Latvia and Bulgaria were also among the countries where most people did not consider religion to be such an important part of their lives.

By contrast, Italy, Portugal, Poland, Romania and Greece emerged as the EU's most religious members.

However, no EU country has made it into the top 10 of the world's most religious states, led by Egypt – where all of those asked responded positively to the question, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka (each on 99%).

Several other African countries, including Congo, Malawi and Senegal, as well as Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates are also on the list.

According to Gallup analysts Steve Crabtree and Brett Pehlam, the results of the poll could be partially explained by the fact that "a population's religiosity level is strongly related to its average standard of living."

Among the countries "commonly seen as part of the developed world," some 38 percent consider religion important in their daily lives, while on the other hand, "eight of the 11 countries in which almost all residents (at least 98%)" replied positively to that question, "are poorer nations in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia."

The US, where two thirds of those asked replied positively, is the most religious "rich-world" country, with Mississippi being its most devout state (85%) and Vermont the least so (42%).

"It's fascinating to note that in terms of religiosity, Americans span a range that invites comparisons to some predominantly Muslim countries in the Middle East and tribal societies in Southern Africa, as well as to some relatively secular nations in Europe and developed East Asia," the analysts noted.

The survey was carried in 143 countries, with an average of eight people out of 10 saying religion was an important part of their lives.

A prayer request!

I would like to ask all of my readers to pray for Reena and I . Now, don't worry, we are doing fine, but we are very tired. Both of us feel that finally after the kids are sleep that we don't want to do anything more than just sit there. I know this is normal when you have such small kids, but I think we are also suffering from the craziness of our schedules. Right one of us is always coming and other is going. Balancing the 3 kids, family life, a busy church, discipleship a a bunch of other stuff have become very difficult and something that is finally catching up to us.

Personally I can't remember a time when I have felt more tired in my life. Its funny, its not tired that can be fixed with just sleep. I sleep around 7 hours a night, usually pretty soundly, but by the time its about noon, I need a nap. I feel like my work is really struggling as well. I feel like I have no more good ideas. I try to be creative and yet I end up with the same old boring ideas. I have really struggled to make videos lately and stay focused enough to see one through to the end and worse, a rally good video to the end. Someone said to me that I look tired and that I am missing the sparkle in my eye that I usually have. I don't know about all of that, but I do want to feel better. I am not sure what to do, I am sure the list is long, but I would ask you take time to pray for us.

Also, say a prayer for Chris, one of my closest friends who has been here with me in Estonia since we arrived together. He is having some health issues that have gotten worse and needs to take some more time to rest. Pray for him. Pray for his health and pray for his wife Liina as well, because she is doing an internship out of town for the next weeks and they only see each other a short time on the weekends.

Loving Risttee

Do you love your church? When you see the people gather or talk to them do you get happy? Do you feel joy from watching God work in their lives? Do you get excited about whats going on, and not with programs, but with the way people are becoming like Jesus?

This is now I feel this morning. Yesterday we gathered together for "5 People, 5 Stories" No sermon, just 5 people sharing something that God has done or doing in their life. We had a few long time believers speak and a few new believers. The stories were from how they met Jesus, to how he is helping them through some tough times in their lives currently. I was so encouraged after it. Simple stories can illustrate so much more than another sermon. Not that sermons are bad, but when people stand up and share about how God is working, it takes a sermon and seems to make it a beautiful work of art.

After our service, our crowd usually sticks around for 15 minutes because we have to tear down and get out, but yesterday people didn't want to leave. They just sat there and talked and laughed and drank some coffee together. To see this happen brings an amazing feeling. There was a buzz around Risttee yesterday and you know God is doing something and you just want to be part of it.

What was your Sunday like?