Goodbye 2013... Hello 2014!

Well 2013 has been and gone. On the whole it has been a very blessed year for us both and we are so thankful to God for blessing us abundantly and upholding us this past year.

Below is a short video with a glimpse of our 2013 in 30 seconds. Highlights include the birth of another Nephew Sebastian, our first wedding anniversary, a trip to Finland including meeting our new Godchild - coincidentally also called Sebastian, fun in the summer swimming in the sea and going on bodyboards, donating stem cells, and of course our trip to Los Angeles.

Here's another little video of our 2013 that Miska made, it's only 15 seconds long so it's very fast, it's compiled of all of his Instagram photos (about 100 photos) taken during 2013:

Now as we turn into 2014 it is time to anticipate and plan the changes that will be occurring this year - it is going to be a big one!!!

We have just booked our flights to Finland and will be leaving the UK on 23rd April 2014, there we will be spending around three months living in Tampere and looking after the church there. Miska will be preaching regularly on the Sundays and also running the midweek meetings. This is because Pastor Tom and his wife Linda will be going on furlow back to America for almost a year. It is going to be an invaluable experience for Miska and I, and great preparation for our future ministry in Finland at Tampere International Baptist Church.

Then around the end of July 2014 is our bigger move to Los Angles, so that Miska can begin his studies at The Master's Seminary in August 2014.

For me (Alison) there is a real mixture of emotions, I am excited and looking forward to the new adventure and I have the assurance that this is where God wants us to be, I am also looking forward to the time to develop my understanding and relationship with God. I am also however a bit nervous, sad, and a little fearful and apprehensive about these big changes. I think this is natural, I am going to miss my family and friends like crazy and I am so thankful for the modern day era, with Skype and emails and even cheap air fare to keep very much in touch with everyone :-)

It is also a very strange feeling knowing I will be leaving the UK for good and never living here on a permanent basis again.

Then there is also the practicalities of packing up and moving things to different countries and selling things and organising everything. This I guess will test our planning skills and also I hope help me not to worry so much.

So there we have a brief update as to where we are. Another hope of mine is that I will keep this blog updated regularly so you can track our progress.

Happy new year to you all :-) Hyvää uutta vuotta kaikki :-)

Alison (and Miska)