It is better if I rest

Today is the day when lot of people in ministry say "no" to their calling. This is because of victories. Even Olympic game winners say that after the win there is a gap. Feeling that everything is behind.

We just finished our two first English Camps. We reached about 70 youth. And it definitely was awesome to see that those young people who have been raised in atheistic and post-communistic society saw and met real alive God!

In a small school Pala, where not long time ago bus full of youngsters crashed into a deadly truck-accident... this was a same place where 7 young people committed their lives to Jesus Christ.

It is energizing to be fruitful. But it also draws all energy out. I wanted to rest with my family in Tallinn, proclaim gospel in SongFest, say goodbyes to US teams and also shake the hand of Great Old Markus who got 30.

But no. I am too tired. Too tired even to love my wife.

I need to rest. This is a thing i do not know how to do.

Ready for camps

Who has seen a movie Jesus Camp? It definitely is the one what shows a way of doing christian camp for children in a bad way. But who has been in English Camp in Estonia?

It definitely is a time of life-change for hundreds of youth in Estonia, and across Europe. Campus Crusade has surveyed that most of the lifechange happens in camps. About 75% of people get touched.

Well. I will be going to Jõgeva. Other part of the team will go to Elva/Pärnu youthministries. We will be reaching about 70 youth with first week. But 4 more camps are on the way waiting!

Thank you for praying! We had a midsummer-evangelism, we were bearing fruit not only in Tartu, but also in Jõgeva and Saku. It is great to see more and more youth believing that we are the ones who are on mission.

Pray that I would not burn out. It is sin.

Jesus Christ ruled in Saku Suurhall

Yesterday started our nations biggest evangelical crusade we have had since start of the freedom. Franklin Graham came to Tallinn after year-long preparation.

Saku Suurhall, our biggest arena was full. About 7000 people heard the message of the Gospel. Including our dear nanny, Keili! I had a privilege to walk with her infront of Jesus!

It wasnt an event. It is a movement, that has already started!

And it definitely was a lifechanging moment for our community here in Tartu, and Estonia!

Thanks for all prayers!

Brian and Byron

Past 2 days we have had 2 brothers from other side of the world visiting us. It defintely has been God led trip that they have had. Guys are from Ohio, Grace Baptist Church.

Brian is a bald 4 child father. As all the other youthpastors, he is also looking 10 years younger. One of his favourite sayings is: "It is what it is." He also took the risk and went to real sauna.

Brian would be a type of guy I would like to have in my team.

Byron is also special. He loves Russia and says that he is "nikto". Man of nothing. Man, he is a gifted teacher and words of encouragement fly easily out of his mouth. He used every opportunity to talk to our lives even though Estonia wasnt on his radar before.

I casted vision for them. I truly believe that God is doing something big in our pagan and small country. And I believe B & B are already part of it.

There are no borders in the kingdom of God.

When Greta works

When Greta works then I want to stay late up. As if cat would be out of the house and mice (me and Wilma) would want to party, as the old saying goes.

This is great temptation. Because usually I start watching TV or reading some books. Having snacks and just wondering around. Yes, its cool...

...but next day would be disaster. I would be living corpse. And I have too many responsibilities to be a corpse.

Actually, I wanted to tell also that I feel little bad. I have lost Gretas work-keys and she has had some problems already with that. It just makes me feel that I am retarded and I need to punish myself harder next time.

What a Gospel (joy-message) is that?

Paralyzed rest

Same moment as pope Benedict XVI was in Jerusalem, in the heart of holocaust, deep dark cave called Yad Vashem, I was on the fift floor of my aparment, boiling spaghettis.

And once popes speech was over and my spaghettis in the stomach, life continued.

But do you know that feeling when your life is just not rolling on? When you cannot press more harder on the pedals and you would rather lay down... and if it would be possible, lay some more.

And you wish that you could end a book. You you wish that there wouldnt be any old tasks coming to your mind that you still havent finished. You just want to be, because you have been too much lately.

During these situations there is a danger that you turn yourself off. You start thinking thoughts that are just circling around, instead of conversations you do noises of animals. And you question the motives of other people... This is like autosave in your mind, because you havent been wise lately to save yourself. This is a phase called paralyzed rest.

And even if i am not a pope, I can feel that I am man getting older. And boiling spaghettis is just not enough.

Opening knots

Every person has trouble-making questions. For sure they are subjective in their difficulty if I would compare them. One, that is hard nut for me, might not be for you. In example: I ask, how to talk with people without hesitating?

...you might ask why is it so hard to find a spouse, or horse, or something like that.

I am glad that I have a place where I can penetrate all my thoughts and questions. Open knots as old fairy tales tell. It is my joy to belong to Josiah Venture family that is living in Eastern Europe, I have many brothers and sisters who have lived longer with God than me.

And still love and have time for a person whos' shirt says "Märt".

I have got more clear how to plan my dreams in my calendar. Thanks Steve!
I have been convinced why street evangelism still works. Thanks Gelu!
And I have seen why giving your life away matters. Thanks Becca!