Naaman’s Slave Girl.

The story of Naaman’s slave girl teaches us an important lesson about how we should treat those in the world. What can we learn from this unnamed girl?

The story of Naaman is one of faith, compassion and humanity. It is a very special story. Naaman was a unique individual. He wasn’t an Israelite, but was actually a Syrian general—and Syria was an enemy nation of Israel. But he was also a leper. In a fascinating display of The Lord´s power, he was healed of his leprosy through the prophet Elisha.

What makes this such a unique event? How did it come to pass?

Luke 4:27 states: “And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” As an enemy of Israel, how was he chosen to receive this unique healing?

Naaman’s story.

Second Kings 5:1-3 introduces the account: “Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper. And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naaman’s wife. Then she said to her mistress, ‘If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy.’”

The Lord was working behind the scenes through this young Israelite girl. It was her character and actions that led to Naaman’s healing. We don’t even know her name, but we do know she was taken from her home to work in servitude at a young age, and she must have served well to be trusted to serve a general’s wife. Since Naaman listened to her words, it seems that he thought highly of her. She must have had character of great quality.

A godly compassion.

This young girl saw Naaman and had compassion on him. Though he was an enemy to her people, she still looked at him with concern. She saw a man in need and not a tyrannical boss. Naaman was quick to listen to his servants, even when he may not have been in the best mind-set (2 Kings 5:10-14). This young girl was a good servant and sought the best for those who ruled over her. Her compassion led her to speak up and tell Naaman about Elisha.

How do we see the people of this world? How do we treat them? Do we have compassion on them and yearn to help them?

We do not have the power to fix everything—but we can help those around us. Even if it is something little, it may have huge consequences that we may not see. All this young girl said was “there is someone who can help you.” That is such a little thing—but it had a big effect. We all have the power and ability to pray about things. That may sound small, but prayer can have big effects! When we have the opportunity, we should “do good to all” (Galatians 6:10).

A broader perspective: The Lord´s plan for mankind.

This young girl had a broader perspective than just her own life. She saw Naaman not as an enemy, but as someone she served and wanted to help. This is how we should look at others, because The Lord desires all people to eventually be in His family (1 Timothy 2:4).

The last step in The Lord´s plan will be to bring spiritual knowledge to the entire world. We have to have a broader perspective than just our own individual lives. Too often, we get focused on ourselves and we see the evil and ignorance of the world. We can treat people in the world with hostility because that is what we see and how we are treated. We have to remember the potential they hold—to be in The Lord´s family.

As The Lord´s people, let’s strive to follow the example of the young servant girl who helped Naaman.

Http://members.cogwa.org/young-adult-blog/naamans-slave-girl/ 

Insects and bugs approved for use as food products in Finland.

Foodies with a penchant for exotic foods in Finland may have something to smile about. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry announced on Wednesday that the cultivation and sale of insects as food is now permitted.

File photo of canned edible crickets. Image: Mikael Kokkola / Yle.

An interest in using insects as food has increased among consumers and companies alike in recent years.

However, due to EU guidelines - which, according to the ministry of agriculture have room for interpretation - the use of insects as foodstuff has been banned in Finland until now.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said on Wednesday that it has now decided to interpret the EU guidelines the way other member countries already have - so that insects can be cultivated and sold as food.

Edible insects were sold in Finland before Wednesday's announcement, but the bugs were marketed as, for instance, "kitchen decorations."

Now, the ministry says it wants officials to be able to regulate insect cultivation and sale according to standard food safety laws.

The food safety regulator Evira said it welcomed the decision, according to the ministry.

Meal worm appetisers. Image: Yle

"The cultivation and sale of insects as food products demands that we ensure the final products are safe for consumers. Evira will provide instructions for producers and regulators, and we will also immediately start to create rules for the business alongside the industry's entrepreneurs," Leena Räsänen, director of Evira's food safety division, was quoted saying in the ministry's press release.

Finns interested in eating bugs

The practice of using insects as food is relatively new to western countries, but people in Finland seem to be more interested than their European counterparts.

A survey carried out last year by Turku University and the Natural Resources Institute found that 50 percent of respondents said they would buy insect-based food if they were available.

One third of respondents said they had already tried eating them in some form.

Sources, Yle

https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/insects_and_bugs_approved_for_use_as_food_products_in_finland/9842714?utm_content=buffer90de3&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer 

“I never imagined that I would find love so far away from my home”.

(Laura, 32).

“Finland is quiet and sometimes it gets too much. That’s why I occasionally need to go abroad and get the noise of a big city, then come back. I like to have both sides. Mexico City is one of the biggest cities in the world, lots of traffic and the noise of people. They are complete opposites. I lived there all my life, until I was 30. I miss the sun, nice weather, food and people. People in the sense that I can kiss and hug them, have contact.

“They are teaching me Finnish, but I speak English to them. My favourite word is “noniin””

I become Finnish when I’m here. I keep my distance and I never touch anyone. I become another person. I also try not to speak too much and not to laugh loudly. It’s hard. I feel like some Finns find the laughing annoying, but I don’t want to annoy people so I just try and moderate my laughter. I feel like I need to ask “is it okay to laugh now?”

I think it’s a human need to have contact with people. I miss that. I have persuaded some Finnish friends to learn salsa. With music, when you are dancing and listening you are moving with your body and you get relaxed. When you dance as a couple you need to learn to touch somebody.

I met Otto, my boyfriend, in Tampere. I never imagined that I would find love so far away from my home country. We were 18 people in my Erasmus Mundus Master’s programme, representing 15 different countries; Finland not included. That was an amazing intercultural experience. But we all experienced culture shock and we didn’t know how to integrate into Finnish culture. Still, many Finns approached me and I made some friends.

“It gets harder to be in touch with people back home as the times goes on”

Finnish men are more sincere and more respectful. I think that that’s what made the difference. They are shy but eager. Quite different to Latin guys. Otto approached as a regular guy. I didn’t imagine he wanted to have something else with me. It was very neutral and he never tried to touch me. Latin guys they don’t care. They just go and approach and they try to have much more contact. I really appreciated it, it made me fall in love. This respect for distance was unique.

I have had the opportunity to meet his family and they are really nice. Otto’s parents are curious and want to learn about Mexico. We have spent Christmas together. It makes it really special because I know that Finns don’t open their door to just anybody, to strangers. They make me feel very welcome and I feel like I have a second home in Finland. We go to visit my boyfriend’s family quite often. There is a nice lake near by and going to the sauna is magical. They are teaching me Finnish, but I speak English to them. My favourite word is “noniin”.

My parents haven’t visited me here. I hope to bring my mum here next summer. She never asked why I stayed, I think she doesn’t want to get that deep into my reasons. I think it might hurt sometimes that I’m so far away. In Mexico, in Latin cultures, the families are quite close and they will be together until the end. She was okay when I said I’m staying in Finland, but I could feel she was upset. So I don’t want to talk about that with her. I told her I’m fine and feel safe, I’m with Otto, it’s amazing and I have a job. She never asked but I felt that I had to justify it somehow.

“I love the peaceful moments in the nature and walking in the forest. Here people focus on their own lives. I can do whatever I want and no one is looking”

It gets harder to be in touch with people back home as the times goes on. My group of friends is getting smaller. But we chat, that’s our main way of communicating. Sometimes Skype. I go there every year and I notice that I can see fewer people. They are doing other things and it’s not the same. We share life experiences and I tell them about my life here, struggles, what I’m doing and so on. My friends have not visited. They are busy working and in Mexico it’s hard to get good holidays. You get maybe 2-3 weeks per year. So they can’t travel too much. I could go back and work there, but maybe not for a long time. I couldn’t stand the traffic for a long time.

I like being in nature and standing by a lake. That was one of the reasons to stay here. I just like sitting there to observe, meditate and breathe clean air. I love the peaceful moments in the nature and walking in the forest. Here people focus on their own lives. I can do whatever I want and no one is looking.

For me it’s important to meditate, especially during the dark times of year. I have to do maybe forty minutes to one hour a day. Maybe not every day, but four times a week. That helps me a lot. At some point I felt like I was going crazy and I thought it’s the lack of sun. Meditation is breathing and listening to some audio. Dancing, also, because I know some moving meditation. I do it early in the morning. I just forget everything. I put in my earphones and the audio and then I just start to relax and breathe. When you are stressed you feel the pressure on your heart and chest. I felt like I could not breath. I learned the techniques in Mexico before moving and it has helped me to manage the culture shock. I’m out of my comfort zone here, but after meditation my breathing is better and I can work easily.

My introduction to my current job at TalentAdore was on the first day of Startup Sauna, a famous accelerator programme for growth companies. I felt privileged. I didn’t know what to expect. Everybody – my friends and boyfriend – were like, “wooow, you are going to meet the best entrepreneurs in Finland.” I met some of my new colleagues for the first time there and I just dived straight in without a hesitation.”

https://finlandmyhome.com/2017/09/16/laura/