“new” support address: Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1071, Laurel, MS 39441

temporary field address: Keskutie 18, 03850 Pusula, Finland (phone: 358-040-3688035)

The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. (Psalm 126:3)

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. (Hebrews 2:19)

15 February 2010

Dear praying brethren,

Today is my family’s ninetieth day in Finland. We still have not received an official response on our residency applications. I did call the immigration authorities last Wednesday (whose phone line takes calls only on Wednesdays from 10:00-11:00 am!) and was assured that (a) we can remain in the country “indefinitely” because we did turn in our paperwork on time and that (b) our applications have to complete at least two more steps: approval by the labor department and subsequent approval by the immigration service. As in the past two reports, we thank you for your continued prayers that we will be allowed to reside in Finland.

This week Patience, Daniel, and I have a school “break” (actually a period in which our last language test is graded and our instructor determines if students have progressed well enough to continue with their language study or if they needed to repeat the first 100 hours of classroom instruction so that they have a sure foundation for Finnish. I am grateful that when God saved me, He graciously placed me on the surest foundation in the universe).

Yesterday we received our test scores, and all of us have been automatically enrolled in Intensive Basic Finnish 2 for when classes resume on Monday, February 22. Because of Mary and Michael’s ages, Victoria and I cannot both be in class at the same time, so we have decided that Patience and I will continue with the next level of instruction and that Daniel will wait until April when he can escort Victoria to and from school.

(On a positive note, last week the Lord confirmed for me that as slowly as it is going, our language instruction IS starting to benefit us—and not just because of signs that I now understand! On February 9 I read with full understanding TWO verses from the Finnish Biblia: Genesis 8:15-16. Yes, I know that those two verses are not “deep” or complex, but it was still exciting to have God speak to me for the first time in FINNISH. Amen!)

During the “break” the boys and I traveled to Vantaa to visit our early contact Pekka Luodeslampi. Even though I could communicate slightly better than the last time I was there, it was quickly evident that knowledge of only one Finnish verb tense, three Finnish cases, and 200+ vocabulary words didn’t allow for the depth of conversation and discussion that Pekka’s parents wanted very much to engage in. I am VERY thankful for the Finns whom God allowed to interpret for me and to say things that I still am not able to say.

Pekka invited two of his English-speaking friends (and two English-speaking believers) to join us later that afternoon, and with the help of an interpreter for Pekka’s parents, I brought a message from Proverbs 3:5-6, using the scriptures to define, contrast, and illustrate trusting in God with all the heart and leaning unto one’s own understanding.

Last week Pekka produced another preaching video for YouTube and it possibly has already born visible fruit: on Monday a young man told Pekka that the video had “opened” his eyes to the truth that God’s salvation is NOT of works (lest any man should boast) and that it IS for everyone. He further told Pekka that as a result of what he heard, he had trusted Christ to save him. Please be in prayer for him. God willing, Rami soon will speak to him to find out more.

Please pray also for an American who was in our language class for the first week that we met. He called me on Monday, telling me that because we are the only Americans whom he’s met since he came to Finland, he would like to have coffee with us so that he can talk with “home folk” and so that I can answer a Bible question that he asked. I have made an appointment to meet him next Monday (February 22) after I finish school for the day. Please pray that God would give me wisdom and grace in ministering to him and that God would give him grace and open the ears of his understanding.

We continue to hold mission services on Sundays. They are always a blessing, although occasionally there is a touch of sadness as we learn more about how strongly falsehoods plague and hinder people here. Please pray that the God’s true words will enter into people’s hearts and minds and give them LIGHT.

Because God provided us a new piano, the kids get to begin piano lessons this week. Thank you, Lord! We are also grateful for the love and generosity of our home church, which recently sent us four large boxes of supplies, materials, food items, books, music, and toys and games. Amen!

We are also thankful that in financially troubled times God has enabled some of our supporters to actually increase their giving—and that recent drops in the euro’s value have slightly increased the European value of our support. Surely His goodness is more than my mere words can express!

Thank you for your prayers on our behalf. They minister greatly to us and are always appreciated!


“Looking for that blessed hope,”

Bro. Daryl Coats (Titus 2:11-14)

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,” (Titus 2:11)

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