Helsinki, Finland

Getting Ready for Boarding

Yeah!! Helsinki has free fast WiFi. :) The airport was somewhat eerily quiet this morning, but the pace has been picking up within the last hour. Our plan arrived around nine this morning (close to 2:00 AM EST). From personal interactive screens on the back of each seat where one can watch movies, listen to music, play games, check flight progress, etc. to the food and unique headphones, I've found the whole experience rather exciting. However, trying to sleep on an airplane is like trying to sleep on a train, - not the easiest thing to do - I did manage to get a couple hours of sleep.  Although there were many Americans that went though check-in with me, I found myself among nearly all Finns ... or at least I assume they were Finns. They all spoke the same language and were primarily blond with very similar facial features. I sat next to an older lady who said a few things to me, but as I couldn't speak Swedish it was a bit difficult to communicate. The flight attended were most helpful, but a bit difficult to understand. I did however figure out when they were asking if I wanted wine with my dinner. I opted for the apple juice. :)

Interactive Screens - Very Cool!

Dinner Time :)

Look at that headphone jack!

Good Morning from Above Helsinki

I can see Finland!

First Glimpse of Finland ... Not much to see - it's airport what do you expect?
Will have a layover to look at the capitol upon returning.

So glad I made that last minute decision to buy a plug converter rather than waiting until I arrived in Italy or Israel :)

JFK Airport

Lake Erie

I definitely love free internet! I was a bit disappointed to discover that the JFK airport does not offer free WiFi nor electrical outlets to travelers. Oh well, guess this post will have to wait until I can find some "free" internet. Anyhow, flight from Columbus to JFK was good. Its been clear and sunny, so the views were great as I gazed along the way. I'm pretty sure I saw one of the great lakes ... probably Lake Erie, as well as my first glimpse of New York City. Although I tried, I couldn't spot the Statue of Liberty. Also caught my first glimpse of the Atlantic that I'll be traveling over again in a few hours. Even without internet, I've managed to get some additional homework done as well as a few more of those last minute tasks before leaving the country.

The Atlantic Ocean

New York City

Thanks Ruth for Lunch :)

The Journey Begins

Wow! It's hard to believe that this journey has already begun! The Lord has blessed us with an absolutely beautiful day in which to travel. I have just arrived at the airport in Columbus, Ohio where my first flight will depart for the JFK airport at one this afternoon. The hardest part of the day has been to leave my wonderful wife here in the states. This will be the longest period of time we have been apart since we started dating. I certainly appreciate your prayers for the both of us. We trust God will use this separation to draw us close together and closer to Himself.

Ruth dropping me off at the Columbus Airport

Security is Just Around the Corner!

Saw this and thought of you Wanda Speas! (Wolfgang Puck - Gourmet Express)

Since the I've had a year now to plan this trip, I've been able to add in a few extra stops to maximize this trip over the Atlantic. So here's what my iteneray is looking like for the summer:

Itinerary: 
June 5th - Depart for JFK (New York) @ 1:00 PM
     Overnight flight to Helsinki, Finland @ 5:40 PM
June 6th - After an eight hour layover, depart for Rome @ 4:20 PM
June 7th - Day in Naples & Pompeii
June 8th - Depart of Kiev, Ukraine at 12:55 PM
June 9th - Day in Keiv with missionary friend, Shushan Richardson WGM
June 10th - Depart for Tel Aviv, Israel @ 9:45 AM
     Find a Sherut (Taxi like bus) to Jerusalem University College
June 11th - Classes Begin: Historical & Geographical Settings
July 1-2 - Jordan Excersian / Petra
July 3rd - Classes Begin: Jesus and His Times
July 14th - Depart for Kiev, Ukraine @ 4:30 AM
     Depart for Rome, Italy @ 10:00 AM
     Meet my wonderful wife in Rome around 7:00 PM
July 15-22 - In Rome with Ruth
July 23rd - Depart of Helsinki, Finland @ 11:20 AM
     Overnight in Helsinki, Finland
July 24th - Depart for JFK @ 2:10 PM
July 24th - Depart for Columbus, Ohio @ 8:55 PM
    ~ Home Sweet Home ~

Dear Family and Friends,

Graduating from KMBC

Last year about this time I had just graduated from Kentucky Mountain Bible College was getting ready to head back to Kentucky after spending Memorial Day in Iowa. However, on our way home, Ruth and I were in an accident near Shelbyville, Indiana. I had broken three ribs, rendering me unable to travel to the Holy Land. Although quite disappointed, I trusted the Lord had better plans for me this year! And He certainly does.

Petra in Jordan

To visit the Land of the patriarchs, prophets, and my Savior has been a dream of mine for many years. Having just graduated from college, I never expected to have such an opportunity so early. I will be in Israel for six weeks this summer, taking two classes from Jerusalem University College: Historical & Geographical Settings and Jesus and His Times. Together these classes will add six credit hour toward the completion of my Master of Arts in Religion. Throughout the duration of these two classes, I will be studying directly across from Mount Zion, and will be traveling to such places as Caesarea, Nazareth, Capernaum, the Dead Sea, Petra, and Qumran - just to name a few.

The Colosseum in Rome

Although initially disappointed these plans did not come to fruition last year, I trusted God had something better in store this year. After doing much research, I was able to book my flight in three section for significantly cheaper than I had originally paid for the round trip ticket. Although my wife will be unable to join me for the Holy Land tour, we will be able to meet up in Rome on my way back home where we will have eight days together to experience the “Eternal City.” 

December 14th, 2012

God is so very good, and everything works out perfectly in His own timing. I have found this to be so very true. These past nine months have been quite eventful. As you are aware, Ruth and I were married on December 14th of this past year. I am so very blessed to have such an amazing woman in my life. God was so good orchestrate our lives together as only He could. He is truly faithful to guide those who are willing to wait on Him. Neither Ruth nor myself had ever dated any else. Both of us felt since highschool that the Lord wanted us to wait until we were at nearly twenty before we considered dating. This ensured we had time to devote to our learn our Shepherd’s voice. Since being married, the Lord has taught us both many lessons. Never before has Paul’s analogy in Ephesians five taken on such a wealth of meaning. We are called to humility and self-sacrifice on a daily bases - making us more and more like our Lord and Savior. 

December 14th, 2013

In relation to our ministry at Kentucky Mountain Bible College, last fall I was given the opportunity to do a little bit of teaching, and I absolutely loved it! This coming August I will be teaching a portion of a Freshman orientation class along with a class on the Prison Epistles of St. Paul. In addition to a bit of teaching and maintaining the college website, I also serve as Program Director at the college radio station, Mountain Gospel Radio. This last week I have tied up in a new software upgrade. Though a bit more work than was anticipating, in the long run the new system will save us much time and enhance our on air quality. Later in the coming year we will be upgrading our online stream to make it more convenient to listen online at mountaingospel.org. Since getting married, Ruth has been able to go to school full-time. She is just a couple classes shy of finishing her Master in Counseling. This coming fall she hopes to begin a few doctorate classes. God has already given Ruth many opportunities to begin counseling several young women at the Bible college - both through Bible studies and private counseling sessions. 

Over these past several months, I have been amazed at how God has provided for our every need. I expected many challenges and sacrifices to made while working for a volunteer mission school, but God has been so good to provide along the way. Although Ruth and I do not receive a regular salary, He has provided us with a place to live, and with a little TLC we’ve turned it into a place that we love to call home. With now only six days remaining before my departure, I would ask you to keep me in your prayers. There is still much to done, and as the Lord asks of us, “Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.” You may keep updated with here or you are welcome to shoot me an email, and I will be glad send updates to you directly. Again, thank you so very much for prayer and support!

Israel 2012: ... Israel 2013

On Tuesday, May 29th, I was in an accident that could have paralyzed me or worse, but by God’s grace I came out with only a few broken ribs. In the light of this recent accident, the reality of the impracticality of international travel has become apparent. But praise the Lord this is not a cancellation, just a postponement. God worked so many miracles throughout the day of the accident that I know that if He had wanted to, He could have protected my ribs too. I may not understand why He used this method to slow me down, but I trust Him. I would be lying to say I’m not disappointed, but I have full confidence in my Lord. Whether He is protecting me from something that would have happened on the journey, or if He has some better plans for me this summer, and whether I see what He has protected me from or not, I know He is good and will work all things out for His glory. Sunday Morning I was listening to Selah’s Greatest Hymns album, and I was blessed by the hymn “It is Well with my Soul.” As Ho­ra­tio Spaf­ford penned, “Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul.” When Spafford penned those words, He had just lost all four of His daughters in ship accident. I truly have nothing about which to complain. Both of our lives were spared, and my pain is minor to what it could have been. I know His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Waiting to take this trip until next year will give me a whole year to further prepare. I can continue to study the Scripture, Israel, her geography, and sights in order to get the most out of this trip and classes. Perhaps I can learn some additional Hebrew and maybe even get an additional day in Rome on my way back. :) On the financial side, since this was an injury most of the penalties for cancelling or rescheduling have been waived. As I have cancelled my hotel reservations in advance, there will be no penalty fee there. I'm still waiting to hear on my airline ticket, but it looks like I'll be able to re-book it with little or no penalty fee as I do have a doctor's recommendation not to travel. The only additional expense of which I know at the moment will be an increase of $270 to the overall academic program next year.

Once again, thank you for your prayers and financial support. Praise the Lord that this trip is not cancelled, just postponed. I ask you to continue to join me in prayer - not just for me, but the people of Israel that they will see their Messiah; for the protection of the people still going on this journey through Israel; and as we are commanded to do, pray for the peace of Jerusalem. (Psalm 122:6)

Shalom,
Zane Darland

I could have been walking in the New Jerusalem.

What a mighty God we serve! God certainly had His hand upon Ruth and I as we were traveling back to Kentucky. On Tuesday morning as we were going through Shelbyville, Indiana, we apparently hit a pool of water and began drifting toward a semi in the right lane. In a matter of seconds, we were somehow ahead of the semi and spun over two lanes of traffic and into the right guardrail. I immediately knew something was wrong with my back, and Ruth noticed blood pouring from my head. As my door could not open, Ruthi helped me out her side. A family who saw the whole event transpire, called 911 and stopped to help. Within moments the ambulance arrived and they shuttled us off to the Shelbyville Hospital. After Josh, the radiologist, took lots of x-rays, nothing was wrong with my back - only the ninth, tenth, and eleventh ribs were broken. My RN nurse Mindy was gracious, allowing us to stay in the ER room until my family arrived from Iowa. Dad and Mom first stopped by the junkyard to collect our belongs and take a few pictures. If you look below, you’ll notice the right side of my car was cleaned off pretty good. The door caved in, crushing my seat to nearly a sixth inch span. Providentially, I had not only been laying on my right side, but I had taken off my seatbelt for a little while. Had I been strapped to the seat, my hips would have been crushed, rather it slid me forward only cracking a few ribs. Not pictured, there was huge gaping hole in floor of the backseat.

The ambulance driver and police both told us this was a dangerous area when raining. Only the week before a woman spun out the exact same place and was permanently disabled. Likewise, the ambulance driver said we walked away the best of anyone who had crashed there. God’s arm certainly saved both us. He must have some special ministry ahead for Ruth and I. May the name of the Lord be praised!

After much deliberation, we decided it would be best if I came back to Iowa to recover for a few days before returning to Kentucky. Here my sister can give me assistance 24/7 for these first few days. The doctor said today and tomorrow will be the worst. From there I’ll continue to recover for the next six weeks. Though I could be walking in the New Jerusalem today, God has spared my life a little while longer. I ask you to join me in prayer that I will be able to walk the streets of the old Jerusalem in eleven days. I’ll have to pack extremely light and will need to take it easy my first week or so. This may give me a better appreciation for seeing the Pool of Bethesda where Christ healed the lame man. That could have been me, but by His grace and mercy, I can walk! Truly a Miracle.

Thank you all for praying for both Ruth and I. Our God is One who answers the prayers of His people. His hand is not shortened and grace is more than sufficient. Praise be His name!




Shalom,
Zane Darland

Graduation Day, May 12, 2012

Two weeks and I will be in Jerusalem! God has been so good. Nearly all my expenses for this trip to Israel have been covered. Thank you all so much for your prayers and support. This is truly the opportunity of a life time. Last month I purchased my plane ticket. I'll be departing from the Cincinnati Airport on June 9th, and should be arriving in Tel Aviv on Sunday afternoon. On my return flight, I'll have on overnight layover in Rome! Just enough time to take a quick peak at the old city. :) And how appropriate to end this trip in the city in which the apostle Peter was crucified for our Lord. In addition to reading and studying my map materials for these classes, I've been reading up on safety and travel tips. From foreign power outlets, pick-pocketing, to tram travel; I'm learning what to do and not to do while abroad.

With Parents Tom & Jonna Kay

With Grandparents John & Sandy

With Ruthi & Sister Abbie

Abbie's Graduation, May 28, 2012

This past month has been quite eventful! On April 21st, Ruth and I were engaged, and on May 12th, I graduated with my Bachelors of Arts in Religion with an emphasis in Christian Education. More, I officially came on staff at KMBC on May 21st, and my sister Abbie graduated from Vinton-Shellsburg Highschool earlier today. Quite an eventful time!

Congratulations Abbie-Doo!! :)