Monday, February 23, 2009SUNDAY VISITOR (Transfiguration Sunday 2009)
Someone from Finland visited our church. I asked him about the war between Finland and Russia. He pointed out there were two winter wars 1939-1940 and 1941 -1945(?)
I told him of the book FIGHTER OVER FINLAND. It was about a Finnish fighter pilot. The visitor recognized the American made airplane the Brewster Buffalo. This is the plane the Finns used against the Russians. While the Buffalo was ineffective against the Japanese in the Pacific, it was apparently very effective against the Russians. He told me that his Grandfather fought in both wars. I was able to introduce him to some of our members. One member told him I was an "amateur historian." While I have an interest in history, I feel a bit unworthy of the title "historian." I guess I just have an interest in history. Maybe I could be called a "history otaku." When the visitor heard this he responded that he also has an interest in history, especially military history. My guess at this point someone from the Assyrian church came to mind. The Assyrian church member mentioned reading about a German general who pioneered tank warfare, when I visited his church some time ago. I later dropped by the Assyrian church and told the Assyrian about the Finnish visitor. It would be nice to introduce this Finnish visitor to the Assyrian sub-deacon. Before I forget, I should mention that the Finnish visitor told our pastor that his brother studied at the Concordia Fort Wayne Seminary for his STM (Masters of Sacred Theology). It turns out his brother was at the same time as the pastor's son. So it's possible that the pastor's son may have met this Finnish visitor's brother. It is indeed
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