she did such an amazing job...eyes were tearing, face was smiling, and i was so proud of her. standing up in front of that many people...dancing and singing her heart out (in mongolian) is a big step for her.
way to go, abby!
12/26/08
her big debut!
abby had a new year's performance at pre-school (it's the main holiday around here this time of year).
she did such an amazing job...eyes were tearing, face was smiling, and i was so proud of her. standing up in front of that many people...dancing and singing her heart out (in mongolian) is a big step for her.
way to go, abby!
she did such an amazing job...eyes were tearing, face was smiling, and i was so proud of her. standing up in front of that many people...dancing and singing her heart out (in mongolian) is a big step for her.
way to go, abby!
12/23/08
merry christmas!
well...we are officially post-christmas morning here...and i am loving the sounds of kids playing endlessly with their new toys!
i hope you all have a wonderful, wonderful time with friends and family...
and that the awesomeness of "God with us" fills your hearts through the holidays and always...
i hope you all have a wonderful, wonderful time with friends and family...
and that the awesomeness of "God with us" fills your hearts through the holidays and always...
Merry Christmas!
12/16/08
warm fuzzies!
i'm sitting...curled up on the couch...
sipping warm chai from a ridiculously oversized cup...
next to a tiny (seriously, humorously tiny) glowing christmas tree...
listening to enchanting melodies about Christ and His beautiful birth...
and LOVING it!
sure...it's a little harder to feel the same feelings of christmastime in such a different setting...but there are moments...like this one...when i can step away and let myself be overwhelmed with the wonder...
and seeing it all again, through my kids' eyes...hearing cj say "baee cheesus" (that's my best attempt at transliterating his "baby Jesus") as he looks at the manger scene in our window...is like a refresher course in the awesomeness of the holiday...only doubly as entoxicating!
i love old traditions, new traditions...kids-too-little-to-appreciate-and-therefore-throw-tantrums-through-the traditions! and i think i'm more excited to see my kids on christmas morning than i ever was AS a kid...seriously...can't they open just ooooone now!??????!!
it's different...quieter...than i'm used to...but i am still as in love with this holiday...maybe moreso at this moment than i ever have been.
thank you, Jesus, for being our reason to celebrate!
sipping warm chai from a ridiculously oversized cup...
next to a tiny (seriously, humorously tiny) glowing christmas tree...
listening to enchanting melodies about Christ and His beautiful birth...
and LOVING it!
sure...it's a little harder to feel the same feelings of christmastime in such a different setting...but there are moments...like this one...when i can step away and let myself be overwhelmed with the wonder...
and seeing it all again, through my kids' eyes...hearing cj say "baee cheesus" (that's my best attempt at transliterating his "baby Jesus") as he looks at the manger scene in our window...is like a refresher course in the awesomeness of the holiday...only doubly as entoxicating!
i love old traditions, new traditions...kids-too-little-to-appreciate-and-therefore-throw-tantrums-through-the traditions! and i think i'm more excited to see my kids on christmas morning than i ever was AS a kid...seriously...can't they open just ooooone now!??????!!
it's different...quieter...than i'm used to...but i am still as in love with this holiday...maybe moreso at this moment than i ever have been.
thank you, Jesus, for being our reason to celebrate!
12/15/08
beijing shots...
i never shared pictures from our trip to beijing. we really had a great time...here are a few highlights from the (literally) 100s of photos taken:
30 hour train ride...honestly a blast...
seahorse...on a stick...
why so smiley?...two words...pizza...hut...
that's ONE way to use them...
winning friends and influencing people...
it's a "love connection"...
love connection #2...
12/6/08
familiar for the first time...
we've been in mongolia for almost a year and a half now, and i think i can safely say we've spent most of that time feeling awkward, foreign and out of place.
so we decided, for a break, to head to china where we could feel totally inept in yet another language and culture!
that said, it was a great time of getting away and spending time with friends. we had tons of fun and saw some amazing things.
but i have to say that the greatest part of the trip for me was the feeling of relief and familiarity that came with hearing mongolian spoken for the first time in two weeks. getting home and feeling "home"!
it took feeling TOTALLY out or our element for a bit to realize just how at home we really are here.
thank you, Lord, for that opportunity!
so we decided, for a break, to head to china where we could feel totally inept in yet another language and culture!
that said, it was a great time of getting away and spending time with friends. we had tons of fun and saw some amazing things.
but i have to say that the greatest part of the trip for me was the feeling of relief and familiarity that came with hearing mongolian spoken for the first time in two weeks. getting home and feeling "home"!
it took feeling TOTALLY out or our element for a bit to realize just how at home we really are here.
thank you, Lord, for that opportunity!
12/4/08
a lesson in (mis)interpretation...
our perspective:
our family boarded a train and settled in to our private coupe for the trip home from china.
midnight found our kids snoozing away and us sitting in our friend's coupe next door, passing the time until all the border-crossing rigamorole was finished.
we heard some people getting on board and assumed it was the border guards returning our passports. i got up to find a man standing in the middle of our room, no uniform, looking at my sleeping children. he speaks no english, we speak no chinese and he just keeps pointing at our suitcases on the top bunk and motioning to take them down. what does he want with us and our room?
chris comes in and discovers some unknown baggage has been tucked away in some corners of our car. who is this guy? why is he standing over our children? why is he hiding bags in our room? what's in those bags and how do we convince the border patrol they aren't ours?!
we usher him to the hallway, putting his bags out behind him. there's no questioning him with the language barrier. suspicions are aroused in ours and everyone else's minds. we summon help in both english and mongolian and someone hunts down the conductor.
his perspective:
he boards a train at midnight to ulaanbaatar, mongolia. he checks his ticket and finds his room, walks in and finds no one there except two sleeping children. he looks at the four full bunks and wonders where he'll sleep as he tucks his few bags into any corner he can find in the cluttered coupe, and waits. where are these people and why haven't they made preparations for their roommate?
a foreigner walks in and looks at him, he motions to take down the suitcases piled on his bunk but she just looks at him doesn't do anything. a man walks in and takes all his luggage and puts it in the hall...while everyone around him stares and talks about him in languages he can't understand. can't he just settle in and get some sleep?!
turns out there was a mistake, or miscommunication, and the "private coupe" we bought was double booked.
it's amazing, though, how wrongly a situation can be interpreted, isn't it? this poor guy was just a kind, middle-aged chinese man headed on a journey. and we were thinking he was smuggling something across the border via our train coupe!
everything turned out ok, he loved hanging out with our kids...took tons of pictures and even gave cj a vacuum sealed chicken foot to snack on...
it's still in the package!
our family boarded a train and settled in to our private coupe for the trip home from china.
midnight found our kids snoozing away and us sitting in our friend's coupe next door, passing the time until all the border-crossing rigamorole was finished.
we heard some people getting on board and assumed it was the border guards returning our passports. i got up to find a man standing in the middle of our room, no uniform, looking at my sleeping children. he speaks no english, we speak no chinese and he just keeps pointing at our suitcases on the top bunk and motioning to take them down. what does he want with us and our room?
chris comes in and discovers some unknown baggage has been tucked away in some corners of our car. who is this guy? why is he standing over our children? why is he hiding bags in our room? what's in those bags and how do we convince the border patrol they aren't ours?!
we usher him to the hallway, putting his bags out behind him. there's no questioning him with the language barrier. suspicions are aroused in ours and everyone else's minds. we summon help in both english and mongolian and someone hunts down the conductor.
his perspective:
he boards a train at midnight to ulaanbaatar, mongolia. he checks his ticket and finds his room, walks in and finds no one there except two sleeping children. he looks at the four full bunks and wonders where he'll sleep as he tucks his few bags into any corner he can find in the cluttered coupe, and waits. where are these people and why haven't they made preparations for their roommate?
a foreigner walks in and looks at him, he motions to take down the suitcases piled on his bunk but she just looks at him doesn't do anything. a man walks in and takes all his luggage and puts it in the hall...while everyone around him stares and talks about him in languages he can't understand. can't he just settle in and get some sleep?!
turns out there was a mistake, or miscommunication, and the "private coupe" we bought was double booked.
it's amazing, though, how wrongly a situation can be interpreted, isn't it? this poor guy was just a kind, middle-aged chinese man headed on a journey. and we were thinking he was smuggling something across the border via our train coupe!
everything turned out ok, he loved hanging out with our kids...took tons of pictures and even gave cj a vacuum sealed chicken foot to snack on...
it's still in the package!
11/24/08
beijing!!
so we're taking a long awaited and much needed family vacation in beijing!
today we bought some food stuff at "wu-mart"...and happened to find donuts...something abby has been looking for the last few days...mainly because we thought dunkin' donuts was one of the many american delights found here. to her disappointment, we haven't been able to find any.
we were walking to the guesthouse and i said, "abby, isn't that awesome!? you've been wanting donuts and God sent us some!"
she matter-of-factly said, "yea! God said 'let there be donuts!' and there were!"
i love how literally little minds apply scripture!
today we bought some food stuff at "wu-mart"...and happened to find donuts...something abby has been looking for the last few days...mainly because we thought dunkin' donuts was one of the many american delights found here. to her disappointment, we haven't been able to find any.
we were walking to the guesthouse and i said, "abby, isn't that awesome!? you've been wanting donuts and God sent us some!"
she matter-of-factly said, "yea! God said 'let there be donuts!' and there were!"
i love how literally little minds apply scripture!
11/12/08
answer to prayer
we found out yesterday that our work visas have been approved! and not only that, but the lawyer is working on getting us resident visas that would allow us to live in the country for FIVE YEARS!!
what an amazing answer to prayer...an answer above and beyond what we were even praying FOR! but then...isn't that what the bible says...He does exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think!!
the resident visas aren't final...and there may be some limitations as far as what kind of work we do, but everything looks good so far. overall we will have so much more freedom to minister when all is said and done.
God is good...thanks for praying with us!
what an amazing answer to prayer...an answer above and beyond what we were even praying FOR! but then...isn't that what the bible says...He does exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think!!
the resident visas aren't final...and there may be some limitations as far as what kind of work we do, but everything looks good so far. overall we will have so much more freedom to minister when all is said and done.
God is good...thanks for praying with us!
11/10/08
11/7/08
getting a little perspective...
perspective.
the other day, on the bus, i stood near a precious, elderly mongolian grandma. she sat in her seat...holding her prayer beads...she never stopped rolling them in her hands...repeating the mantra that she hoped would accomplish something for her or her loved ones. i stood behind her just watching...and i noticed that rubbing those beads between her thumb and forefinger had actually worn a GROOVE into her finger...i'm saying there was an actual, physical deformity in her hand due to the infinite number of times...the immense amount of her life she has spent endlessly spinning those beads and repeating the same sentence over and over and over and...
that's perspective! those are the moments when the fog of little annoyances and inconveniences lifts and clarity comes. this is why we're here...to lead her to the One who can set her free from the need to keep spinning the beads...to help her realize that if she stops...it will be ok...she can trust the Creator of the Universe to take care of it for her...and she can sit in peace...sleep in peace...LIVE in peace...
perspective.
the other day, on the bus, i stood near a precious, elderly mongolian grandma. she sat in her seat...holding her prayer beads...she never stopped rolling them in her hands...repeating the mantra that she hoped would accomplish something for her or her loved ones. i stood behind her just watching...and i noticed that rubbing those beads between her thumb and forefinger had actually worn a GROOVE into her finger...i'm saying there was an actual, physical deformity in her hand due to the infinite number of times...the immense amount of her life she has spent endlessly spinning those beads and repeating the same sentence over and over and over and...
that's perspective! those are the moments when the fog of little annoyances and inconveniences lifts and clarity comes. this is why we're here...to lead her to the One who can set her free from the need to keep spinning the beads...to help her realize that if she stops...it will be ok...she can trust the Creator of the Universe to take care of it for her...and she can sit in peace...sleep in peace...LIVE in peace...
perspective.
10/27/08
10/25/08
what a day...
i've heard people say they would want to attend their own funeral,
to show up and hear all the nice things said about them, the ways they've impacted lives without even knowing it,
because most of us spend our lives not realizing the difference we're making.
last week immigration came to our language school to check up on all the students and whether they were fulfilling their visa requirements. this week we were all handed a letter stating that anyone here on a student visa is strictly forbidden to work, even if they are fulfilling all the requirements of being a student.
we were hoping that meant work we're paid for...we were wrong.
so...friday night we had our last night at the new roots youth center...and it was sort of like a funeral...the death of ministry that was just starting to take on life...
or so it felt to me. but instead, i got to "attend my own funeral" so to speak...
almost every person that has come through the youth center in the last eight months showed up...and when we announced that we had to close...the saddened faces and shocked silence said it all. God has made an impact through new roots.
we chatted with people...
one of the girls, who before had absolutely NO interest in Jesus or christianity, told us she has started going to church...
one mom started coming with her daughters just last week. years ago, she met another american "bible teacher" in the countryside, and is thinking about taking her advice and starting to go to church...can she come to ours?...and can i come to her house and help her bake a cake sometime?...
we exchanged numbers...shared hugs...and planned to hang out with people...
it was such a heartbreaking day in so many ways...but mixed with amazement, even excitement, at what the Lord is doing.
all day today saturday our apartment had people from new roots in it...His work at the youth center hasn't stopped...it's just changed locations. nothing takes Him by surprise...He knew what would happen this week when He led us to open new roots...for that matter...when He FORMED THE WORLD!!
so now we stand holding the can of worms that is "changing our visa". we open that this week...but for now, i will be reminded:
God is working, and our presence is not in vain...
i have to redeem the time...we have no real promise of another year...another week...another DAY to minister where we are...
Lord, help me make the most of every minute we have in mongolia...
to show up and hear all the nice things said about them, the ways they've impacted lives without even knowing it,
because most of us spend our lives not realizing the difference we're making.
last week immigration came to our language school to check up on all the students and whether they were fulfilling their visa requirements. this week we were all handed a letter stating that anyone here on a student visa is strictly forbidden to work, even if they are fulfilling all the requirements of being a student.
we were hoping that meant work we're paid for...we were wrong.
so...friday night we had our last night at the new roots youth center...and it was sort of like a funeral...the death of ministry that was just starting to take on life...
or so it felt to me. but instead, i got to "attend my own funeral" so to speak...
almost every person that has come through the youth center in the last eight months showed up...and when we announced that we had to close...the saddened faces and shocked silence said it all. God has made an impact through new roots.
we chatted with people...
one of the girls, who before had absolutely NO interest in Jesus or christianity, told us she has started going to church...
one mom started coming with her daughters just last week. years ago, she met another american "bible teacher" in the countryside, and is thinking about taking her advice and starting to go to church...can she come to ours?...and can i come to her house and help her bake a cake sometime?...
we exchanged numbers...shared hugs...and planned to hang out with people...
it was such a heartbreaking day in so many ways...but mixed with amazement, even excitement, at what the Lord is doing.
all day today saturday our apartment had people from new roots in it...His work at the youth center hasn't stopped...it's just changed locations. nothing takes Him by surprise...He knew what would happen this week when He led us to open new roots...for that matter...when He FORMED THE WORLD!!
so now we stand holding the can of worms that is "changing our visa". we open that this week...but for now, i will be reminded:
God is working, and our presence is not in vain...
i have to redeem the time...we have no real promise of another year...another week...another DAY to minister where we are...
Lord, help me make the most of every minute we have in mongolia...
10/22/08
10/8/08
kids say the darndest things...
tonight i was reading with abby before bedtime from her bible...it was the story of Jesus' death and resurrection...
me: "Isn't that awesome that Jesus died and came back to life so that we can live with Him in heaven?"
(slight pause)
abby: "will there be food and drinks there?"
me: "maybe...heaven has everything we need...so if we need food and drinks...they'll be there"
(slightly longer pause)
abby: "is God gonna' cook us stuff?!"
oh my word...i would give anything to see the mental picture in her head at that moment!
me: "Isn't that awesome that Jesus died and came back to life so that we can live with Him in heaven?"
(slight pause)
abby: "will there be food and drinks there?"
me: "maybe...heaven has everything we need...so if we need food and drinks...they'll be there"
(slightly longer pause)
abby: "is God gonna' cook us stuff?!"
oh my word...i would give anything to see the mental picture in her head at that moment!
10/4/08
9/25/08
the plot thickens...
God is amazing...
so why am i always so surprised when He DOES something amazing...
when we set up a weekly bible study with sosoro, we had in mind the book we wanted to go through with her...we had heard it was a good foundational study book...and others had used it. we searched and searched but couldn't find it. we asked and searched again...no one seemed to know what we were talking about. so we went with some online resources we had found.
yesterday after our bible study...sosoro tells us that the director of our school (who is not a believer) had asked her (a junior teacher) to prepare some bible language lessons for teachers to go through with their students. then she pulls out the book she was given to base the lessons off of...
i'm not kidding...it was the VERY book we had been looking for!
of all the teachers at the school...sosoro...of all the books...that book...could God's hand BE any more obvious!??!
i got CHILLS...i STILL get chills...
this is a more thrilling plot than in ANY prime time TV series!!!!!
can't wait to tune in next time...
so why am i always so surprised when He DOES something amazing...
when we set up a weekly bible study with sosoro, we had in mind the book we wanted to go through with her...we had heard it was a good foundational study book...and others had used it. we searched and searched but couldn't find it. we asked and searched again...no one seemed to know what we were talking about. so we went with some online resources we had found.
yesterday after our bible study...sosoro tells us that the director of our school (who is not a believer) had asked her (a junior teacher) to prepare some bible language lessons for teachers to go through with their students. then she pulls out the book she was given to base the lessons off of...
i'm not kidding...it was the VERY book we had been looking for!
of all the teachers at the school...sosoro...of all the books...that book...could God's hand BE any more obvious!??!
i got CHILLS...i STILL get chills...
this is a more thrilling plot than in ANY prime time TV series!!!!!
can't wait to tune in next time...
9/24/08
bringing up boys...
so cj has been VERY interested in the potty these days...
he's barely 2 so i'm not pushing it at all...but i find myself thinking, "so THIS is potty training with boys!!?!!..."
let me just SHOW you what i mean! ;]
he's barely 2 so i'm not pushing it at all...but i find myself thinking, "so THIS is potty training with boys!!?!!..."
let me just SHOW you what i mean! ;]
9/21/08
little man turns 2!
we planned to just have a small get-together with the ketels for cj's birthday, but some of our friends from the youth center found out we were celebrating and asked if they could join... i'm SO glad they did!
somehow the chaos of kids playing and wrapping paper all over the floor just MAKES a birthday! we had tons of fun and are SO glad for our little man!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CJ!!
somehow the chaos of kids playing and wrapping paper all over the floor just MAKES a birthday! we had tons of fun and are SO glad for our little man!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CJ!!
9/12/08
so much bigger than us...
some of you may remember us talking about one of our teachers, sosoroo, in a prayer letter. she's more than a teacher...she's a friend. we go shopping together, she takes guitar lessons at the youth center, and she's one of the few i can truly say i've CONNECTED with.
when we got back to school this year, she started asking chris when he would start teaching about the bible, because she wanted to learn! long story short, we are meeting with her once a week and going through some lessons on the basics of christianity...IN MONGOLIAN!!! yesterday was our first meeting and it was amazing. we focused on the existence of God, and could see her eyes light up as she truly understood some of the points. and as she read through some of the scriptures she looked at us and said, "That sounds just like me!"
it's so obvious that God is at work and it is SO much bigger than us. it's easy to find myself crippled by a fear of misscommunicating, this is SUCH a challenging language, and end up keeping my mouth shut about spiritual things until i get "better" at the language. but i know this is what the Lord has put us here to do, that He is perfectly aware of our abilities (and lack thereof) at this very moment...and i am overwhelmed and unbelievably excited that He has allowed us to be part of what He's doing in sosoroo's life! thankfully we were were able to get ahold of some solid resources already translated into mongolian...so all we have to do is fascilitate and answer questions!!
we are praying, now more than ever, for her salvation!
when we got back to school this year, she started asking chris when he would start teaching about the bible, because she wanted to learn! long story short, we are meeting with her once a week and going through some lessons on the basics of christianity...IN MONGOLIAN!!! yesterday was our first meeting and it was amazing. we focused on the existence of God, and could see her eyes light up as she truly understood some of the points. and as she read through some of the scriptures she looked at us and said, "That sounds just like me!"
it's so obvious that God is at work and it is SO much bigger than us. it's easy to find myself crippled by a fear of misscommunicating, this is SUCH a challenging language, and end up keeping my mouth shut about spiritual things until i get "better" at the language. but i know this is what the Lord has put us here to do, that He is perfectly aware of our abilities (and lack thereof) at this very moment...and i am overwhelmed and unbelievably excited that He has allowed us to be part of what He's doing in sosoroo's life! thankfully we were were able to get ahold of some solid resources already translated into mongolian...so all we have to do is fascilitate and answer questions!!
we are praying, now more than ever, for her salvation!
9/10/08
one down...a LOT more to go!
well...we've all successfully completed our first week of school and are well in to conquering our second! :] honestly it's nice to be "back to the grind".
it's so cool to see the improvement in abby's language after such a short time...she's picked up a lot...and even when she's not actually speaking words there are mongolian "sounds" coming out of her lips!
we have lessons this semester with some teachers who haven't taught us in awhile...and it's been encouraging to hear them say that they can see a difference (for the better) in our communication. it's the shot in the arm we need to KEEP AT IT!!
chris is busy with the process of looking for TWO buildings...one for the youth center (long story...have to move) and one for another project we will be starting soon. it's not been a simple feat, but we know the Lord knows exactly where He wants both of these places...so we're actively waiting on Him.
nothing exciting really...just life...with us...in mongolia...and staying incredibly busy (in a good way) with it all.
it's so cool to see the improvement in abby's language after such a short time...she's picked up a lot...and even when she's not actually speaking words there are mongolian "sounds" coming out of her lips!
we have lessons this semester with some teachers who haven't taught us in awhile...and it's been encouraging to hear them say that they can see a difference (for the better) in our communication. it's the shot in the arm we need to KEEP AT IT!!
chris is busy with the process of looking for TWO buildings...one for the youth center (long story...have to move) and one for another project we will be starting soon. it's not been a simple feat, but we know the Lord knows exactly where He wants both of these places...so we're actively waiting on Him.
nothing exciting really...just life...with us...in mongolia...and staying incredibly busy (in a good way) with it all.
9/1/08
without a hitch!!
picture this...
abby standing in her classroom smiling and waving good-bye, surrounded by other kids, a few of whom are crying...
us standing outside the classroom crying, surrounded by other parents, ALL of whom are simply waving good-bye...
foreigners!!! :]
we took the drive to pre-school as an opportunity for a last minute cram session..."ok, abby, if you have to go potty...what do you say?"..."how do i say i want plain tea without salt again, mommy?". we got there and were right on target with the flower and present for her teacher...we totally missed the mark on dressing her up like it was easter sunday! :]
she bounced right into her class and didn't think another thought about it all day. i thought about nothing ELSE all day. i went to pick her up this afternoon wondering what news would await me...
the report?...language...lunchtime with new and foreign foods...naptime...she handled them ALL like a pro! words can't express how proud i am of that little girl...she's amazing!
i am so glad God gave us the courage to take this step...i think it's going to be one of the best things ever for abby...
abby standing in her classroom smiling and waving good-bye, surrounded by other kids, a few of whom are crying...
us standing outside the classroom crying, surrounded by other parents, ALL of whom are simply waving good-bye...
foreigners!!! :]
we took the drive to pre-school as an opportunity for a last minute cram session..."ok, abby, if you have to go potty...what do you say?"..."how do i say i want plain tea without salt again, mommy?". we got there and were right on target with the flower and present for her teacher...we totally missed the mark on dressing her up like it was easter sunday! :]
she bounced right into her class and didn't think another thought about it all day. i thought about nothing ELSE all day. i went to pick her up this afternoon wondering what news would await me...
the report?...language...lunchtime with new and foreign foods...naptime...she handled them ALL like a pro! words can't express how proud i am of that little girl...she's amazing!
i am so glad God gave us the courage to take this step...i think it's going to be one of the best things ever for abby...
8/31/08
here goes nothin'...
everything is ready...
school clothes laid out?...check
name written on p.e. clothes?...check...
backpack packed?...check...
camera ready?...double check...
abby is fast asleep...i'm pretty sure i won't be all NIGHT!!
tomorrow morning...do or die...we (and i DO mean WE) start pre-school. why is it that i have more first-day jitters than the pre-schooler!??
school clothes laid out?...check
name written on p.e. clothes?...check...
backpack packed?...check...
camera ready?...double check...
abby is fast asleep...i'm pretty sure i won't be all NIGHT!!
tomorrow morning...do or die...we (and i DO mean WE) start pre-school. why is it that i have more first-day jitters than the pre-schooler!??
8/29/08
here comes the sun...
it's been a cold rainy week...but check out the double rainbow it brought outside our window a few days ago...
beautiful!
beautiful!
8/25/08
one GIANT little step...
since we moved here i've been hoping and praying to find an all mongolian pre-school i felt comfortable putting abby into...the Lord answered and led us there about a month ago.
today was the open house...stop by...meet the teacher...look around...leave...
i could tell on the way she was getting nervous...she wanted to bring a familiar toy with her and was silent on the ride (it's then you KNOW something is not right).
we got there and met her teacher...
silence...
she showed abby all around the awesome facilities...
silence...
a couple of other teachers even spoke english to her...
still...silence.
as we left i could see the the wheels churning in her head...change...again...just when she thought she had it down! for the most part she's excited...but these big steps are hard for any kid...
throw in the added hurdles of language and culture...and well...
once again i'm praying and hoping...
today was the open house...stop by...meet the teacher...look around...leave...
i could tell on the way she was getting nervous...she wanted to bring a familiar toy with her and was silent on the ride (it's then you KNOW something is not right).
we got there and met her teacher...
silence...
she showed abby all around the awesome facilities...
silence...
a couple of other teachers even spoke english to her...
still...silence.
as we left i could see the the wheels churning in her head...change...again...just when she thought she had it down! for the most part she's excited...but these big steps are hard for any kid...
throw in the added hurdles of language and culture...and well...
once again i'm praying and hoping...
8/5/08
random
just some fun pictures of late:
two peas in a pod!
hard core kid!
the beauty of camping...
precious little girl....
two peas in a pod!
hard core kid!
the beauty of camping...
precious little girl....
8/1/08
MORE adventures in camping...
we decided to take some time this summer to check out some towns, see what God is doing there and whether He would want us to join Him. so this week we headed to harhorin, the ancient capital of mongolia.
we were late heading out of town and decided to camp on the side of the road the first night (i love mongolia!) and get to the town the next morning. the next night we decided to "splurge" and stay at the nicest ger camp in town called "dreamland"! we were the only ones there...and though it was a little unnerving being followed EVERYWHERE by bored workers...it was a beautiful place.
we were late heading out of town and decided to camp on the side of the road the first night (i love mongolia!) and get to the town the next morning. the next night we decided to "splurge" and stay at the nicest ger camp in town called "dreamland"! we were the only ones there...and though it was a little unnerving being followed EVERYWHERE by bored workers...it was a beautiful place.
we were all exhausted from the long trip over bumpy roads and settled in early for a nice long night's rest. before long, we started to hear the click-clacking of little black june bugs falling in through the hole in the top of the ger. we shrugged it off, hoping there were just a few. but the sounds only grew louder and closer together as bug after bug plopped onto the floor (and every once in awhile on to our heads...THAT was a rude awakening!) what were we to do? we hunkered down and hoped for the best. at one point i swear i was hearing at LEAST ten of these things fall in in as many seconds...and the quick mental math told me we would be DROWNING in them by morning.
we tried to sleep...while sweeping them off our beds and from our faces...this was NOT going to work. cj started fussing and we turned on the lights for the first time...oh...my...WORD!!! it was disgusting...there were bugs crawling everywhere...absolutely COVERING our beds...crawling into cj's crib...it was SICK!!!..like being in the middle of an egyptian plague!
chris went to find someone from the office...to no avail...and by then it was nearly one in the morning. he worked and worked and finally figured out a way to cover the hole, and with no other options, we simply had to suck it up and spend the next hour and a half flicking hundreds of bugs off walls, ceilings and beds and whacking them with a rolled up brochure. thankfully abby did NOT wake up through all this or the drama would NEVER have ended!
to top it all off...in the middle of everything...chris happened upon some wild hedgehogs scouring the camp!
we settled in to salvage as much as we could of our "long night's rest"...but it took me awhile to unnerve enough to get any shut eye...
dreamland my FOOT!!!
we did have a good trip though. we got to visit again with the family of adzaa (the pregnant lady we had taken to the hospital to deliver her baby on our previous trip), and found out that mom and little baby boy (no names given here until they are a month old) are doing great. we left them with gifts and a book written by one of the local pastors on his decision to accept Christ, and walked away with bottles of sour horse milk and an invitation to return next summer.
we learned a lot about the town and the surrounding areas and will simply keep praying and seeing where and how God leads. and i guarantee we will not soon forget our "bug invasion", or that horrid "click-clacking" sound as they did!
7/23/08
tourists for the first time
we've gotten to see our home through tourist eyes this last week and a half...it's been kind of nice...
here are some shots...
7/18/08
adventures in camping!
we just got back from a camping trip in the countryside...
pull off the road...pop up a tent...and sleep to the bleating of the nearby herds...the real mongolian adventure we were hoping for...
but it wasn't until early the next morning that the REAL adventure began.
a man from a neighboring ger called us out of our tent, explained that his wife was in labor, and asked if we could take them to the nearest hospital.
we hopped in the car, and headed to their camp...where we realized that we were the only ones in a real hurry. we were ushered into the ger, served airag (sour horse milk...at SIX AM!!), and waited while the wife bathed (which in a ger means standing in a bucket of water...in front of EVERYONE...chris basically got a nice looooong look at their ger's floor!)
we headed outside where we loaded up one of the sheep for payment at the hospital and were on the road. the "hospital" was an hour away...on dirt roads...with a woman having contractions in the back seat. when we got to the village...we had to hunt someone down to open the door...then head to the doctor's house to pick her up. she examined the wife and realized the baby was breech...and they were going to have to take her by "ambulance" (a russian jeep the doctor's husband owns) to the aimag center.
we were unable to go with the family from there...but assured them we would be praying for them and asking God to bless them. we returned to camp and were welcomed by the rest of the family to an afternoon of (more) airag and salty milk tea. we took pictures and were invited back to visit on our upcoming in-country survey trip! it's so amazing...because without all the extenuating circumstances...we would have camped right next to this family and never even gotten to meet them...or had we camped somewhere else...who knows!? God is good, and we look forward to the opportunities He has for us to impact them in the future!
7/11/08
saihan naadarai!
this year is our first naadam...the yearly celebration of the three manly sports...wrestling, archery, and horse racing.
though we didn't get to partake in the festivities as much as we'd hoped...we were invited to our jijuur's (doorman/guard/building cleaner/there's really no good translation into english's) ger...which was a lot of fun...man did they LOVE our kids! they decided it would be a kick to dress us up in their dell and take pictures! they ever so sweetly said "they look great...look...they fit PERFECTLY!"...obviously...they LIED!! ;]
saihan naadarai! (have a great naadam!)
though we didn't get to partake in the festivities as much as we'd hoped...we were invited to our jijuur's (doorman/guard/building cleaner/there's really no good translation into english's) ger...which was a lot of fun...man did they LOVE our kids! they decided it would be a kick to dress us up in their dell and take pictures! they ever so sweetly said "they look great...look...they fit PERFECTLY!"...obviously...they LIED!! ;]
saihan naadarai! (have a great naadam!)
7/3/08
happy 4th!
well...it's the fourth of july...
and the only independence we're celebrating is that we're free from language school for the summer! :]\
abby and i tried to get in the spirit by making some red white and blue star cookies...that turned out pink white and teal...but hey...it's something! and tomorrow we get together with all the american ex-pats at an embassy hosted bbq. we'll take what we can get!
happy 4th of july everyone...light some fireworks for us!
and the only independence we're celebrating is that we're free from language school for the summer! :]\
abby and i tried to get in the spirit by making some red white and blue star cookies...that turned out pink white and teal...but hey...it's something! and tomorrow we get together with all the american ex-pats at an embassy hosted bbq. we'll take what we can get!
happy 4th of july everyone...light some fireworks for us!
7/2/08
close to home
last night around 8:30 our doorbell rang...it was a neighbor asking us to turn on the tv.
what we saw unfolding was something we NEVER expected in mongolia! less than a mile from our house, a mob of protesters were setting fire to the communist party building, throwing rocks, breaking out windows, overturning cars. it was all images i have seen a hundred times on the nightly news...but this time it was in our city...so close we could see the smoke out our front window.
it was all outrage over the elections this past weekend, and it was absolutely unbelievable to see!
everything has settled down today. there is a citywide curfew for the next four days and the military has the central road blocked with tanks and guns. we were able to get around today and take some photos...it was definitely eerie around the building, but the rest of the city was business as usual.
you can find out more about the story here: ulaanbaatar protests.
what we saw unfolding was something we NEVER expected in mongolia! less than a mile from our house, a mob of protesters were setting fire to the communist party building, throwing rocks, breaking out windows, overturning cars. it was all images i have seen a hundred times on the nightly news...but this time it was in our city...so close we could see the smoke out our front window.
it was all outrage over the elections this past weekend, and it was absolutely unbelievable to see!
everything has settled down today. there is a citywide curfew for the next four days and the military has the central road blocked with tanks and guns. we were able to get around today and take some photos...it was definitely eerie around the building, but the rest of the city was business as usual.
you can find out more about the story here: ulaanbaatar protests.
6/30/08
sometimes it just hits ya!
i always say i can't believe how big the kids are getting. sometimes i think it...and other times i feel it...deep in my heart...this sudden burst of pride and unbelief at how grown up and amazing my kids are!
i had one of those moments the other day while i watched abby ride away on her new bike.
i spend my life training and raising my kids to be independent and strong in who God made them to be, but somehow when i see them succeeding at it, there's an incredible mix of emotions...loss coupled with gain...sadness mixed with pride...
and now that i know that feeling first hand...i couldn't live without it!
i had one of those moments the other day while i watched abby ride away on her new bike.
i spend my life training and raising my kids to be independent and strong in who God made them to be, but somehow when i see them succeeding at it, there's an incredible mix of emotions...loss coupled with gain...sadness mixed with pride...
and now that i know that feeling first hand...i couldn't live without it!
6/29/08
on holiday!
since most students and families make their way to the countryside in july, we're taking a month-long break from the youth center.
here are some pictures from our last night "party".
bayarmaa, oyokaa, and mongoo.
some visitors putting the foozball table to use.
doing a little car racing!
here are some pictures from our last night "party".
bayarmaa, oyokaa, and mongoo.
some visitors putting the foozball table to use.
doing a little car racing!
6/28/08
apartment dwellers
today we had a bbq at some friends' house...
they live in a house with a yard (a yard!??...what is THAT?!)...
cj is almost two years old...and when i stood him in the grass (granted it was a sight for ALL of us) to run and play...he seriously froze with fear...i had to carry him everywhere...
abby got bit by a mosquito...tears flowed...it took a cold compress to relieve the "pain"...
what in the WORLD!??!! i didn't think it was possible to raise pansies in MONGOLIA...but apparently we are defying the odds!! :]
they've become apartment dwellers in a land where...most of the year...no being smaller than a goat can withstand the cold and sustain life! they are surrounded by cement walls and never see bugs...we have GOT to move out to the countryside...and FAST! :]
they live in a house with a yard (a yard!??...what is THAT?!)...
cj is almost two years old...and when i stood him in the grass (granted it was a sight for ALL of us) to run and play...he seriously froze with fear...i had to carry him everywhere...
abby got bit by a mosquito...tears flowed...it took a cold compress to relieve the "pain"...
what in the WORLD!??!! i didn't think it was possible to raise pansies in MONGOLIA...but apparently we are defying the odds!! :]
they've become apartment dwellers in a land where...most of the year...no being smaller than a goat can withstand the cold and sustain life! they are surrounded by cement walls and never see bugs...we have GOT to move out to the countryside...and FAST! :]
6/22/08
happy birthday four-year-old
hard to believe...but abby turned four this week.
she popped out of bed friday morning and said, "i'm a FOUR-year-old now...just look at how TALL i am!" what a magical moment...went to bed a three-year-old...woke up to a whole new world of four-dome!!!
we celebrated with a couple other missionary families...seven kids running like MAD around our little apartment...it was GREAT!! i'm so thankful that we've gotten to know these guys!
i didn't get many pictures...but we'll remember the fun for awhile! :]
6/10/08
i have the greatest kids...
i'm so proud of this girl...she has had to deal with a lot for her three years...and when i see her speaking in mongolian...i BEAM with pride...here she is singing Jesus loves me...
then there's CJ...ever since the weather has warmed up a little...he's taken it upon himself to start a "car greeter" ministry...i've never seen so many smiling faces in mongolian traffic...
here he is again...(sorry...couldn't get it into one video)...notice the "thumbs up" at the end...
then there's CJ...ever since the weather has warmed up a little...he's taken it upon himself to start a "car greeter" ministry...i've never seen so many smiling faces in mongolian traffic...
here he is again...(sorry...couldn't get it into one video)...notice the "thumbs up" at the end...
6/4/08
life lessons from lawrence welk
so i'd been feeling a little sorry for myself lately...(here's a shocker...i DO that from time to time)
wishing for a greener spring...less concrete...more friends...the courage to talk in order to MAKE new friends...more than two warm days in a row...a "fear-free" pre-school for my little girl to make friends and learn mongolian...the list, unfortunately, could probably go on and on.
i guess i didn't realize it...but all this staying inside the apartment had sort of turned me inward...then yesterday, something amazing happened....i went out! :]
i took the kids and some bubbles, went outside, and within minutes had the whole NEIGHBORHOOD of kids surrounding me while i recreated the lawrence welk show in our courtyard (it's all thanks to my grandma i know anything ABOUT that world of musical wonder). i talked with parents...watched abby look for ants and tell "secrets" with some newfound friends...tried to keep cj from stealing a ball from one of HIS newfound friends...
it was just the affirmation i needed...my family is not "deprived" because of being here...we are blessed with so many opportunities BY being here...
-abby can sing every word of "Jesus loves me" in mongolian...and not many three-year-olds start sentences with "remember when we were in the gobi desert..."
-cj can bring a smile to a whole playground of somber faces with his psychotically happy laughter...
-i can blow bubbles...and watch precious, wonder-filled eyes as they try to catch them...
i LOVE being a part of the living, breathing world of mongolia...even if some days it may seem like the hardest thing on earth...
wishing for a greener spring...less concrete...more friends...the courage to talk in order to MAKE new friends...more than two warm days in a row...a "fear-free" pre-school for my little girl to make friends and learn mongolian...the list, unfortunately, could probably go on and on.
i guess i didn't realize it...but all this staying inside the apartment had sort of turned me inward...then yesterday, something amazing happened....i went out! :]
i took the kids and some bubbles, went outside, and within minutes had the whole NEIGHBORHOOD of kids surrounding me while i recreated the lawrence welk show in our courtyard (it's all thanks to my grandma i know anything ABOUT that world of musical wonder). i talked with parents...watched abby look for ants and tell "secrets" with some newfound friends...tried to keep cj from stealing a ball from one of HIS newfound friends...
it was just the affirmation i needed...my family is not "deprived" because of being here...we are blessed with so many opportunities BY being here...
-abby can sing every word of "Jesus loves me" in mongolian...and not many three-year-olds start sentences with "remember when we were in the gobi desert..."
-cj can bring a smile to a whole playground of somber faces with his psychotically happy laughter...
-i can blow bubbles...and watch precious, wonder-filled eyes as they try to catch them...
i LOVE being a part of the living, breathing world of mongolia...even if some days it may seem like the hardest thing on earth...
a little fresh air never hurt anyone...
sunday was "international" mom and children's day...
the lock-down really hasn't been lifted...but i think caution was thrown to the wind for celebration...there were kids EVERYWHERE!!
and once we all had a little taste of freedom...i think there was an unspoken, unanimous decision that small risks to our physical health are necessary for the benefit of our MENTAL health! we're still being very careful...keeping hands out of mouths as much as possible...and there's a serious wash-down upon "re-entry"...but we just can NOT stay locked in all summer long!
please continue to pray for our kids health and safety, but we are so thankful to be getting a little fresh air.
there have been a few really warm, beautiful days the last few weeks...so here are some shots of one of our warm-weather-ventures to the countryside for a picnic...
the lock-down really hasn't been lifted...but i think caution was thrown to the wind for celebration...there were kids EVERYWHERE!!
and once we all had a little taste of freedom...i think there was an unspoken, unanimous decision that small risks to our physical health are necessary for the benefit of our MENTAL health! we're still being very careful...keeping hands out of mouths as much as possible...and there's a serious wash-down upon "re-entry"...but we just can NOT stay locked in all summer long!
please continue to pray for our kids health and safety, but we are so thankful to be getting a little fresh air.
there have been a few really warm, beautiful days the last few weeks...so here are some shots of one of our warm-weather-ventures to the countryside for a picnic...
5/19/08
bizarre
i feel like we're in one of those "outbreak" movies...
little kids running around with surgical masks on...
me constantly peering out the window wondering if it's safe to walk outside!
commercials on tv talking about the disease and how to prevent it...showing scenes of little ones in hospital beds...
definitely bizarre to say the least!
last i heard...1,000 cases of hand foot and mouth now exist in the country. only two of the countries aimag centers have not reported a case in their area. i think only one child has died...but i know that everything is starting to close down. small stores...internet cafes...they're even talking about shutting down the movie theatre...you KNOW it's serious now. :]
it's definitely fast moving...but they say pretty preventable. we're just praying this all passes soon so we can get back to a little normalcy.
thanks to everyone for all the prayers!
little kids running around with surgical masks on...
me constantly peering out the window wondering if it's safe to walk outside!
commercials on tv talking about the disease and how to prevent it...showing scenes of little ones in hospital beds...
definitely bizarre to say the least!
last i heard...1,000 cases of hand foot and mouth now exist in the country. only two of the countries aimag centers have not reported a case in their area. i think only one child has died...but i know that everything is starting to close down. small stores...internet cafes...they're even talking about shutting down the movie theatre...you KNOW it's serious now. :]
it's definitely fast moving...but they say pretty preventable. we're just praying this all passes soon so we can get back to a little normalcy.
thanks to everyone for all the prayers!
5/14/08
lock-down
we're under house arrest!
let me explain...
saturday we found out from a missionary friend that the health officials were quarantining his orphanage due to the outbreak of hand foot and mouth disease in china...there had been about 40 cases reported here in UB.
we looked into it and figured it was pretty preliminary and decided to keep an eye on our kids. sunday we found out that no kid under the age of 10 was to go outside their house...schools and daycares were shut down...playgrounds were off limits...
by monday there were 280 cases reported...and we started to worry a little...
it's thursday...we're still quarantined...and aren't sure how much longer it will last. we haven't heard the latest numbers as to how many kids are now infected.
i broke down last night and for sanity's sake took the kids outside to let them run around the sidewalk in front of our building. they went crazy...running back...and forth...and back...and forth...and they were laughing like crazy kids who hadn't seen the light of day for years!! so far we really don't know HOW serious it is...but we're sticking with the safe side and keeping our kids inside as much as possible...
JUST when it was getting warm enough to play outside!!!!!
i will say, though...i've NEVER been more thankful for Dora and the Backyardigans...(well...maybe in the van on deputation!) seriously...where WOULD we be right now if it weren't for their help!! ;]
let me explain...
saturday we found out from a missionary friend that the health officials were quarantining his orphanage due to the outbreak of hand foot and mouth disease in china...there had been about 40 cases reported here in UB.
we looked into it and figured it was pretty preliminary and decided to keep an eye on our kids. sunday we found out that no kid under the age of 10 was to go outside their house...schools and daycares were shut down...playgrounds were off limits...
by monday there were 280 cases reported...and we started to worry a little...
it's thursday...we're still quarantined...and aren't sure how much longer it will last. we haven't heard the latest numbers as to how many kids are now infected.
i broke down last night and for sanity's sake took the kids outside to let them run around the sidewalk in front of our building. they went crazy...running back...and forth...and back...and forth...and they were laughing like crazy kids who hadn't seen the light of day for years!! so far we really don't know HOW serious it is...but we're sticking with the safe side and keeping our kids inside as much as possible...
JUST when it was getting warm enough to play outside!!!!!
i will say, though...i've NEVER been more thankful for Dora and the Backyardigans...(well...maybe in the van on deputation!) seriously...where WOULD we be right now if it weren't for their help!! ;]
5/3/08
a little splash...no...drop...of color
today we had a family dinner at big burger...our jackpot restaurant find of recent months...
but the greatest part of the evening wasn't dinner...or when they told us they were out of cheeseburgers...but we could order a DOUBLE cheeseburger (you might have to live here to appreciate that one)...
it was on the way in...when we saw two little twigs of bushes outside...starting to bloom! seriously...our whole family stood next to it forever...taking in the barely-there smell trying to push through the smoke and dust. abby even had to pay another visit on the way out...just to look...
just a little color...not a lot...but enough to make us appreciative of color i guess...after all...when did i ever think so much about flowers outside a fast food joint in the states, right?
i guess i could make a million spiritual applications...but i'll leave it alone...a simple appreciation for color in the land of smog and cement!
but the greatest part of the evening wasn't dinner...or when they told us they were out of cheeseburgers...but we could order a DOUBLE cheeseburger (you might have to live here to appreciate that one)...
it was on the way in...when we saw two little twigs of bushes outside...starting to bloom! seriously...our whole family stood next to it forever...taking in the barely-there smell trying to push through the smoke and dust. abby even had to pay another visit on the way out...just to look...
just a little color...not a lot...but enough to make us appreciative of color i guess...after all...when did i ever think so much about flowers outside a fast food joint in the states, right?
i guess i could make a million spiritual applications...but i'll leave it alone...a simple appreciation for color in the land of smog and cement!
4/3/08
gobi desert firsts
we got back tuesday from a trip to the gobi with our school.
here is a list of firsts i was able to experience along the way:
-first time i have ever frozen my TUSH off in a desert...
-first time i have ever spent 15 minutes convincing abby to go poddy on the ground...beside a bus...with NOTHING hiding her little hiny from everyone inside...
-first time i have ever done the same...
-first time i have ever stayed in a guesthouse with no locks on the doors...and had total strangers opening the door all evening to take a peek at the foreigners and their kids...
-first time i have seen camels...walking on snow covered sand...(if ONLY i had had my camera with me!)
-first time i have ever been on a bus that had to change a tire at LEAST six times...
-first time i have seen those tires being pumped up...by hand...with a bike pump...
-first time i have ever spent FOURTEEN HOURS traveling approximately 250 miles...TWICE...in TWO DAYS!!!
needless to say it was an eventful trip.
here is a list of firsts i was able to experience along the way:
-first time i have ever frozen my TUSH off in a desert...
-first time i have ever spent 15 minutes convincing abby to go poddy on the ground...beside a bus...with NOTHING hiding her little hiny from everyone inside...
-first time i have ever done the same...
-first time i have ever stayed in a guesthouse with no locks on the doors...and had total strangers opening the door all evening to take a peek at the foreigners and their kids...
-first time i have seen camels...walking on snow covered sand...(if ONLY i had had my camera with me!)
-first time i have ever been on a bus that had to change a tire at LEAST six times...
-first time i have seen those tires being pumped up...by hand...with a bike pump...
-first time i have ever spent FOURTEEN HOURS traveling approximately 250 miles...TWICE...in TWO DAYS!!!
needless to say it was an eventful trip.
3/21/08
a little overwhelming
yesterday we went to visit nara, an awesome lady we have gotten to know through the youth center, at the hospital. you'd never know by looking at her...she's always dressed immaculately, or by talking with her...always energetic and positive...but she is battling breast cancer...
we didn't get to talk long before she had to enter the room for her treatment, and as we weaved in and out of corridors to leave the hospital, i was overwhelmed. i couldn't believe how many people were there. we passed by one room and i tried not to react as a young lady cried out trying to get into her wheelchair. it was more than i could wrap my mind around.
i'm here to make a difference...an eternal difference...a difference i'm told by everyone takes time...sometimes a LOT of time...
but i couldn't fight the feeling of failure as i walked passed so many dying people...knowing that most of them have NO idea how to have hope beyond this life...i felt my sense of human time pressure building...and my ability to trust the divine timetable waining. i wished i could rush in to each room...tell them of the hope of Jesus (can i even adequately DO that in mongolian!?)...and watch them all embrace it...i wished it were all that easy!
i walked outside and saw everyone walking around the streets...and i realized that...every one of them...each one of US...is just as near death as the patients in that hospital really...we're all just less aware of it on a daily basis. that didn't help the overwhelming feelings...
so i just prayed...(wondering if that was just the easy way out)...for the people in the hospital...to hear of Christ before passing on...for anyone they know that might know Jesus...to share with them...for nara...because i AM that person she knows who knows Jesus...
so i still haven't sorted it all out really...but i do pray that the eternal thoughts that came while seeing all those cancer patients would remain when i see the cashier at the supermarket...or the drunk man staggering across the street...and that i would accept my part to play in the divine timetable...in every moment...of every day!
we didn't get to talk long before she had to enter the room for her treatment, and as we weaved in and out of corridors to leave the hospital, i was overwhelmed. i couldn't believe how many people were there. we passed by one room and i tried not to react as a young lady cried out trying to get into her wheelchair. it was more than i could wrap my mind around.
i'm here to make a difference...an eternal difference...a difference i'm told by everyone takes time...sometimes a LOT of time...
but i couldn't fight the feeling of failure as i walked passed so many dying people...knowing that most of them have NO idea how to have hope beyond this life...i felt my sense of human time pressure building...and my ability to trust the divine timetable waining. i wished i could rush in to each room...tell them of the hope of Jesus (can i even adequately DO that in mongolian!?)...and watch them all embrace it...i wished it were all that easy!
i walked outside and saw everyone walking around the streets...and i realized that...every one of them...each one of US...is just as near death as the patients in that hospital really...we're all just less aware of it on a daily basis. that didn't help the overwhelming feelings...
so i just prayed...(wondering if that was just the easy way out)...for the people in the hospital...to hear of Christ before passing on...for anyone they know that might know Jesus...to share with them...for nara...because i AM that person she knows who knows Jesus...
so i still haven't sorted it all out really...but i do pray that the eternal thoughts that came while seeing all those cancer patients would remain when i see the cashier at the supermarket...or the drunk man staggering across the street...and that i would accept my part to play in the divine timetable...in every moment...of every day!
new friends
about a month ago we had a missionary family move into our building...the next entrance over from ours. they have two kids and one on the way...and they are just about our kids' ages.
we also met some of their teammates (the husband goes to our language school)...and we all got together to let the kids play at "the blue mouse".
we're all busy so the kids don't get together all the time...but when they do...it's tons of fun! it has been SUCH a blessing for abby...and for us! praise the Lord for english-speaking friends! ;]
3/3/08
spring?
when i first heard that mongolians consider "white month" (the lunar new year) to be the start of spring...i thought it was the funniest thing i've ever heard...especially since i was still wearing two pairs of pants to stay warm...and the forecasts called for 10-20 degree days...
but i must say...i'm with them now.
in the last two weeks the days have grown suddenly longer...we're not losing the sun at 4:30 anymore...and it actually gets high enough during the day to shine on our building's courtyard below...we haven't seen that since october maybe? it's amazing how actually FEELING the warmth of the sun can be like finding new life...
i never thought i would ever talk about how amazingly warm 20 degrees feels...until i felt how seriously cold 20 BELOW can be!
and today was actually warm enough to take the kids outside and play on the playground...
so there are no flowers blooming...unfortunately that won't really ever happen here in UB...the concrete capital of the world...
there are no birds singing...
but everything and everyone around us seems to be thawing out and coming to life...
so with the mongolians...i'll put on two pairs of pants, zip up my furry coat and say "welcome spring"!
but i must say...i'm with them now.
in the last two weeks the days have grown suddenly longer...we're not losing the sun at 4:30 anymore...and it actually gets high enough during the day to shine on our building's courtyard below...we haven't seen that since october maybe? it's amazing how actually FEELING the warmth of the sun can be like finding new life...
i never thought i would ever talk about how amazingly warm 20 degrees feels...until i felt how seriously cold 20 BELOW can be!
and today was actually warm enough to take the kids outside and play on the playground...
so there are no flowers blooming...unfortunately that won't really ever happen here in UB...the concrete capital of the world...
there are no birds singing...
but everything and everyone around us seems to be thawing out and coming to life...
so with the mongolians...i'll put on two pairs of pants, zip up my furry coat and say "welcome spring"!
2/18/08
little missionary
we recently had to hire a new babysitter because ours is moving to take another job.
her name is naraa and she's REALLY great with the kids...every morning when the doorbell rings, abby squeals with excitement...and as soon as naraa has her shoes off...abby is handing us our bags and saying, "time for you to go to school!"
this is...needless to say...a great comfort to a mom who really isn't a fan of leaving her kids behind every day.
now to the good part...
naraa is unsaved...
that's NOT the good part...
the other morning abby was in her room talking with naraa and said, "if you're ever afraid, you can just call on the name of the Lord...and if you ask Him...He will come and live in your heart!"
how awesome is that? if only i had the unabashed boldness of a three-year-old faith.
i'm pretty sure she's the best missionary IN this family...
her name is naraa and she's REALLY great with the kids...every morning when the doorbell rings, abby squeals with excitement...and as soon as naraa has her shoes off...abby is handing us our bags and saying, "time for you to go to school!"
this is...needless to say...a great comfort to a mom who really isn't a fan of leaving her kids behind every day.
now to the good part...
naraa is unsaved...
that's NOT the good part...
the other morning abby was in her room talking with naraa and said, "if you're ever afraid, you can just call on the name of the Lord...and if you ask Him...He will come and live in your heart!"
how awesome is that? if only i had the unabashed boldness of a three-year-old faith.
i'm pretty sure she's the best missionary IN this family...
2/12/08
life will never be the same...
the other day as i took a sip of my coffee...i was met by several goldfish crackers going for a swim in my mug...
i looked up to the toothy grin of my darling little boy...and giggled...
and then started thinking of all the things that have changed since becoming a parent...
here are a few of them:
i will never again enjoy a full cup of coffee in the morning without having to reheat it at least three times...or dig out the goldfish crackers...or wipe it off the floor after it's been grabbed off the counter...
i will never again be able to sleep in until i FEEL like crawling out of bed...(at least not for a long time...and then i'll be too old to enjoy it...)
i will always have to share my dessert...unless i eat it while hiding in the bathroom...(hey...don't put it past yourself!)
i will always have something(or someone) to worry about...
i will always second guess my parenting skills (it was so much EASIER with other people's kids...)
i will NEVER be bored again...
i will occasionally have an intense desire to change my name from "mommy" to...ANYTHING OTHER THAN MOMMY!!!!!!!!
i will always laugh like CRAZY at jokes that make no sense...because they are told by the cutest kids in the whole world...
i will forever cherish the smell of the top of my kids' heads...just out of the bath...
or the way they look when they're asleep...
or the sound of their uncontrollable giggles...and will always do anything to get one from them...
i will always remember how it feels to hear the words, "Mommy, you're such a good mommy!"...or "i love you momma!"
i will never want life to be like it was before...(at least not for long! ;] )
i love you abby and cj!!
i looked up to the toothy grin of my darling little boy...and giggled...
and then started thinking of all the things that have changed since becoming a parent...
here are a few of them:
i will never again enjoy a full cup of coffee in the morning without having to reheat it at least three times...or dig out the goldfish crackers...or wipe it off the floor after it's been grabbed off the counter...
i will never again be able to sleep in until i FEEL like crawling out of bed...(at least not for a long time...and then i'll be too old to enjoy it...)
i will always have to share my dessert...unless i eat it while hiding in the bathroom...(hey...don't put it past yourself!)
i will always have something(or someone) to worry about...
i will always second guess my parenting skills (it was so much EASIER with other people's kids...)
i will NEVER be bored again...
i will occasionally have an intense desire to change my name from "mommy" to...ANYTHING OTHER THAN MOMMY!!!!!!!!
i will always laugh like CRAZY at jokes that make no sense...because they are told by the cutest kids in the whole world...
i will forever cherish the smell of the top of my kids' heads...just out of the bath...
or the way they look when they're asleep...
or the sound of their uncontrollable giggles...and will always do anything to get one from them...
i will always remember how it feels to hear the words, "Mommy, you're such a good mommy!"...or "i love you momma!"
i will never want life to be like it was before...(at least not for long! ;] )
i love you abby and cj!!
1/28/08
fearfully courageous...
a little over a week ago we signed a rental contract for a room at the local, indoor pool. our vision is to turn it into a youth center...one that will reach out to the half of this city's population that is under the age of 30.
i stepped into that room for the first time, and i realized THIS was the start of our ministry...and i was completely overwhelmed...can i really DO this!??
i've felt that same feeling so many times in this adventure. i remember feeling it for the first time watching a missions video, when the Lord said to my heart, "go!". i remember feeling it when i set my suitcases down in africa...when i graduated from bible college...when i interviewed for an internship...when i landed in texas...the first sunday we taught the upper room...our first missions conference...our last missions conference...and every one in between. when we sold our belongings at garage sales...when i taped up the last box...when i stepped off the plane in mongolia...
the list could go on...
i've heard the word "brave" used to describe what we're doing with our lives...but this post is a testimony, not to my bravery, but to courage...the kind that...having no CLUE how to walk the road ahead...fearfully...chooses to take the next step...trusting...hoping...praying the Lord would ensure it lands on solid ground...
so that is how i live...now and always...fearful in my own inadequacy...courageous in my Lord's capability...
fearfully courageous...
"for we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." ephesians 2:10
i stepped into that room for the first time, and i realized THIS was the start of our ministry...and i was completely overwhelmed...can i really DO this!??
i've felt that same feeling so many times in this adventure. i remember feeling it for the first time watching a missions video, when the Lord said to my heart, "go!". i remember feeling it when i set my suitcases down in africa...when i graduated from bible college...when i interviewed for an internship...when i landed in texas...the first sunday we taught the upper room...our first missions conference...our last missions conference...and every one in between. when we sold our belongings at garage sales...when i taped up the last box...when i stepped off the plane in mongolia...
the list could go on...
i've heard the word "brave" used to describe what we're doing with our lives...but this post is a testimony, not to my bravery, but to courage...the kind that...having no CLUE how to walk the road ahead...fearfully...chooses to take the next step...trusting...hoping...praying the Lord would ensure it lands on solid ground...
so that is how i live...now and always...fearful in my own inadequacy...courageous in my Lord's capability...
fearfully courageous...
"for we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." ephesians 2:10
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