Finland Q&A

Well God certainly has answered our prayers. We asked for interested persons to join our team in Finland to plant churches. 5 family units have answered...but at the moment we can only pick one! It is heart wrenching...we have talked and skyped with some and still need to do so with others. In the process and as in the past I have been asked several questions. So in order for me to save time I will post the questions and answers so that I can just refer them to this...Heather, please feel free to add!

Q:What are Finns GENERALLY like?

A: Most would say reserved. Many times they would tell you like it is. Not really expressive, Yet, as I become almost like one I would say they are in their own way expressive. Perhaps that is probably why they can find a smiley, loud, almost superficial in greeting American.

They like to stare. Mikko did this in California and I couldn't figure out why. It totally embarressed me when he would do this...now I know why. Sometimes, now, I find myself doing it too. In fact before New year's Eve two years ago I saw two young kids popping firecrackers near a man getting cash out of the automatic teller. I was looking at everyone else and they were just staring! I went home upset about it and told Mikko what I had seen and he said, "Well, did you do anything about it?" Doh...

Q: Is pornagraphy a huge problem? Is it more open there than it is in the U.S.?

A: Just by observance, and you can't miss it, the adverts can be quite suggestive. I am often praying for Mikko and his heart and mind to focus cause he is in the city quite often. He apprectiates it because he faces half naked women adverts at bus stops, train stations, etc. Not to mention the Kioski and the porn displayed there. Just a clue, they are not covered with brown paper or dark plastic like they are in the states.

About twice a year Helsinki holds a huge Sexabition. It is usually advertised in the paper or on a bus.  I even remember a Breast Cancer advert with a woman dressed as a pirate on a sinking ship. She had a one cupped bra to go with her patched eye (pretty creative...but still, my man sees it!).

Q:What are Finns' eating patterns? Do they have different eating times?

A:I had to figure this out myself. As a mommy, I took B outside when we just moved to Finland. I was hoping to make contact with other neighbors. I would go out about 11 p.m. only to find that the neighbors were going back in to feed their kids. A typical family may wake and eat breakfast in the morning (morning poridge or cereal) send their kid to school. School aged kids may eat lunch as early as 10 or 11. They return home and have what is called "afternoon snack" then eat dinner around 4p.m. and have "evening snack " around 7p.m.. 

This is not for every family, it is what I hear from my neighbors. Mikko and I still feed our children like they are in California. We do have poridge in the morning, but generally have protein shakes/smoothies (yes, even in winter). I notice when we joined our neighbor and her children to the park we ate inside the community center. Everyone was taking turns using the micro while we sat with our cold sandwiches. I asked the health nurse about this and she said they reccommended  2-3 hot meals a day! Think about it...they eat several times a day anyway!