Belt-tightening comparisons

With all the recent financial news it seems to me that Americans will need to start tightening their belts. Mongolians too are preparing to tighten their belts. I'd like to give you some comparisons between what Americans may face in uncertain financial times and what Mongolians may face. Please read on.

An American family may consider only having one car instead of two in difficult financial times. A Mongolian family may contemplate what it would be to walk an hour to reach home in -10° temperatures because they can't afford the 65 cent bus fare.

An American may consider warning his children to be careful to turn off the lights whenever they leave a room. A Mongolian may consider cutting back to having only one light in his ger.

An American may decide to quit buying a coffee from the local coffee shop. A Mongolian may consider skipping a meal each day.

An American may wonder how he is going to pay his heating bills and lower the thermostat. A Mongolian may consider burning trash that he can collect alongside the road instead of buying coal.

An American may decide to cut up his credit cards; a Mongolian may beg money on the streets.

An American may face the challenge of looking for a new job. A Mongolian may face the challenge of not receiving his salary at the job he currently holds because his company lacks the money to pay him. Of course, he cannot quit that job because there is no other work to be found.

Weekly update

It is a privilege and not a sacrifice to serve the King of all kings, the God of all gods. Who else in the world can say that their job is to work for the One Who created life, Who sustains it, Who judges us. There is no president, no CEO, Supreme Court justice who has as much power at his disposal as we have as we serve the Creator of all and do His will.

From my place in Outer Mongolia, I am concerned that too many Christians are looking at the most recent presidential inauguration, the most recent Dow Jones Industrial Average, or the recent reports of lay-offs and are more worried about what they will eat or what they will wear than they are about what God wants to do through them. But our Savior tells us that we are not to worry about our meals or our clothes; God knows that we need these things and will care for us.

Let me give you one example of God at work in miraculous ways. Years ago, a young student left Cuba to study in Russia. There he met and married a Mongolian woman and went to live in Mongolia. He already spoke Spanish and Russian but now he learned Mongolian and English too. Now he is here in Mongolia. I meet him early several mornings a week for coffee and conversation. Nearly every day I have a chance to talk to him about our God. He has come regularly to our English service on Sunday night the last few weeks. He is not yet a Christian but it amazes me that God can move a person half way across the world and there are His servants witnessing His power.

God is just as much in control of the world today as He was last week, last year, or even last century. Our God never changes, after all Perfection never needs to change - it's perfect!

So rather than wonder what we are going to do in the midst of an economic crisis and a new President and a new year, let's wonder what we are going to do for God when it seems like circumstances are against it.

Cold weather

It's cold!!! I've heard it said that Ulan Bator is the coldest capital city in the world. There may be colder cities, but they are not their nation's capital. Last winter, temperatures stayed above average most of the winter. This winter has been more normal.

What's normal, you ask? Yesterday's high temperature was -15° F. The low was even colder! Fortunately, temperatures are forecast to warm slightly over the next few days. We are still more than a month away from seeing temperatures above freezing.

Did you lose something, mister?

Recently, while driving we noticed a container had fallen off a truck and was in the middle of the street. Here's a picture

One article from the January prayer letter

Acts 8:4 "They that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word." 

Sometimes we think of soulwinning as something that occurs on a specific day of the week. My goal in Mongolia has been to leave behind Christians who take any opportunity to preach Christ the Savior to people whenever they can and wherever they are. 

We also know that God allows difficulties such as sickness to grow our faith and show His strength in our weakness. Many people in Mongolia who profess to be Christians seem to be content "to be Christians" until trials come. More than a few times, a Mongolian will tell me about a friend who "used to be a Christian" or who "lost his faith." One goal of my teaching is to encourage Christians to see trials as an opportunity to let God's power to shine through their lives. "Be not dismayed" is a common command in Joshua that means "do not be discouraged." Discouragement is allowing our flesh to use our circumstances to prevent us from doing God's will.

So I was encouraged recently to hear of several members response to trials. Despite serious illness during the past month several church members have had multiple opportunities to be a witness while in the hospital of all places.

The first instance took place about a month ago. I received a call from Gantsetseg who was very concerned about her daughter Ulaakaa. Her daughter was very lethargic, had not been eating or drinking, and had a fever. She took her daughter to the doctor who then admitted her daughter to the hospital. The hospitals in Mongolia all have public rooms, and parents are required to stay with their children 24 hours a day until their children are discharged. So Gantsetseg and her daughter were in a room with five other Mongolian mothers and their sick children. The next morning, Ganpurev and I went to the hospital to visit Gantsetseg and Ulaakaa. To my surprise Ulaakaa was literally squirming to get out of her mother's arms and once set down began to run through the ward. I asked Gantsetseg if her description of her daughter's condition the previous evening had been accurate. She said it had been true and that when Ulaakaa was admitted to the hospital the previous evening she just laid on her bed unmoving. But by the next morning, she was completely different. The other mothers remarked on how quickly Ulaakaa had recovered. Gantsetseg told all the mothers that she and her church had been praying for Ulaakaa and that God had healed her daughter.

This past week, Ganpurev and Byambaa both went in for surgery though under a completely different set of circumstances. Byambaa has been having thyroid trouble for over a year. The doctors kept encouraging her to have her thyroid (or at least most of it) removed. However, Byambaa tried a variety of treatments including putting wolf's tongue on her throat. Finally, she scheduled her surgery and went into the hospital. She also shared a room with other hospital patients. The others were nervous, frightened, and worried. They noticed Byambaa's calm and pleasant demeanor and asked her about it. She spoke to them of that peace which passes all understanding which is given to us when we put aside our anxious thoughts and give our requests to God. Later, after surgery she had fewer complications. She gave all the glory to God for her successful surgery and quick recovery. One lady remarked to her, "You sure serve a powerful God." (Remember that this is a polytheistic country.)

Ganpurev, unlike Byambaa, had not scheduled a surgery for this past week. Instead, he began complaining of severe stomach pain on Monday and went to see the doctor for the first time that I can remember. The doctor said that he had appendicitis and that he needed immediate, emergency surgery. They do not perform laparoscopic surgery for appendectomies in Mongolia, nor do they give patients general anesthesia. Instead they give a local anesthetic that eases pain in the abdomen. This means that the patient is conscious and alert for the entire operation although doctors will use a drape so that the patient cannot observe the procedure. In Ganpurev's case, there was a male doctor and a female nurse performing his appendectomy. 

The doctor told Ganpurev, "Talk to me during the operation." When Ganpurev asked what he was to talk about the doctor said, "Talk about whatever you want, yell, cry, just keep talking." So Ganpurev started to tell the doctor and the nurse about our Savior Jesus Christ. At the end of the operation, the nurse said, "You have caused us to believe in Jesus," to which the doctor replied, "I don't believe. I'm an athiest!"

Each of these true stories are examples of Mongolian Christians taking the opportunities that they had to be a witness for Jesus Christ. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you the unusual opportunities that you have to be a witness. It could be at an unusual time that you do not expect.

A good group out for prayer

Recently, we've been having one or two Mongolians come to our prayer meeting on Wednesday evenings. Ganpurev has been out recovering from his appendectomy, and he is the most faithful one to come.

However, tonight we had seven Mongolians come to prayer including what was perhaps a homeless man looking for a warm place to stay. When he did not pray someone asked him if he believed in Jesus. After he responded that he no longer believed in Jesus, several of us began to witness to him. 

I know from reading church history that revival is more likely when people take prayer seriously. So perhaps tonight will be the first of many nights when people will meet to pray! May God bless us all with greater fervency in prayer.

Quote of the day

"By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone." Proverbs 25:15

There is often a perception that the work of preaching the Gospel and saving souls is a quick and easy work. In some cases it is. All of us rejoice to hear of hundreds or even thousands coming to Christ during one evangelistic trip. We are thrilled to hear about a week of meetings that results in hundreds of people baptized and a new church planted. It is amazing to read stories about entire tribes turning to our Savior!

However, many times evangelism and the discipleship that follows it is a life-long process. 

"It takes time to persuade men to do even what is for their own good." - Thomas Jefferson

I met him on the way to church

It seems that sometimes God allows the strangest occurrences to happen to us. Today I was on my way to my car when a man met me and asked, "Are you going to church?" Of course, I was and said so.

"Where is your church?" the man asked. He was dirty, and had a smudge of blood on left jaw. I tried to describe to him where the church was, but it quickly became clear that we were not communicating.

"Can I just go with you?" was his next request. I quickly agreed to take him but told him that first I needed to pick up some people. Each Sunday either Ganpurev or I pick up two families that have children not yet old enough to walk. So Bagii, as his name turned out to be, hopped into my vehicle and went with me to pick up others. There was a strong smell of unwashed body in the car as we drove to pick up the others. I introduced him to each family as we picked them up. The other families were pleasant to him and did not remark on his filthy appearance or smell.

I think more than anything Bagii was looking for a warm place to stay for a few hours. But he heard the Gospel during those fews hours that he spent with me picking people up and attending church. Almost every Sunday for the past few months, God has brought new people to our church. We are working to bring out people, but these new people to which I am referring are people that have no previous connection to us our any of the church members.

With Bagii we had almost fifty people at church on Sunday for the Mongolian services with another thirty-six for our services in English. It was encouraging to see so many come out.

But as is usual for ministry, extra opportunities for service has meant new problems. I did not feel as if I spoke Mongolian particularly well on Sunday; however, I took encouragement from one of my usually harshest critics who said that the sermon was a good one. Without going into details, several of us missionaries in Mongolia are facing difficulties. Satan is always quick to fight us. Your prayers as always are much appreciated.

Picture of the week

We had our picture taken as a family and got the results back today.

Weekly prayer update

Welcome to 2009! We have had a quick start to the year. That is, usually this time of year is a little slower. Many people are in school, it is so cold outside that people like to stay inside, and people are busy preparing for the lunar new year celebrations.

However, this year is different. Bill Patterson who has been leading the English language church service is away from Mongolia organizing or attending multiple conferences in Mexico and Argentina. That means that I have been taking the primary responsibility for that ministry.

Then last week, Ganpurev had an emergency appendectomy. He has been such a blessing visiting people, training people, and helping with various aspects of the ministry here. I did not realize how much I would miss him until now when he is convalescing.  He still tries to help for which I am grateful. But he will have limited usefulness for the next several weeks.

Besides visiting Ganpurev, Kristie and I have also visited Byambaa several times in the hospital in the last week. She had most of her thyroid taken out. I do not understand all the reasons but know that the Mongolian doctors insisted that she had to have her thyroid removed. Her husband Mandaa still needs to be saved. I have been praying that God would use his wife's illness to lead him to our Savior. However, when I mentioned believing in Jesus to him again, he was rather amused, not at all the the response I would have liked.

Thank you for your prayers. Pray for me to have wisdom to prioritize my time.

Quote of the week

"Faith on a full stomach may simply be contentment; faith when you’re hungry is true faith."

Update

I visited Ganpurev today at the hospital. He is still in some pain but should get out soon. Kristie, Kevin, and I went to visit Byambaa too; however, only Kristie was able to visit her in her room. I had never been to 1st Hospital before and found out that it was like a giant labyrinth. We had to go up and down stairs, along corridors, and through halls to find her. In the end we did but then had almost as much trouble getting out.

Byambaa's surgery is scheduled for Friday. Please pray for peace for her and salvation for her husband.

A couple of people in the hospital

It has been quite a day. One member of our church Byambaa has a thyroid problem that the doctors are telling her can only be solved by having her thyroid completely removed. At the church service on Sunday she asked us to pray for her because she was planning to see the doctor today (Monday).

She sent me an SMS this morning telling me that the doctor had admitted her to the hospital. She is facing five days of treatment (exactly what kind of treatment I cannot say) followed by surgery to remove her thyroid. I know of the difficulties of associated with having one's thyroid removed. However, the Mongolians doctors are telling her that she has no other choice.

So Ganpurev helped her get her children to her father's place so he can watch his grandchildren for a few days.

When Ganpurev returned he told me that he was not feeling well: something in his abdomen was bothering him. We went to a prayer meeting together. Afterwards, he started to talk about seeing a doctor about his abdominal pain. Because he very rarely sees a doctor, I know that something serious must be bothering him. Ganpurev said that he thought it was his appendix. So I took him to the doctor.

The doctor looked at him, gave a couple of tests, and determined he had serious appendicitis. As of the writing of this blog entry, he has already had his appendectomy and seems to be recovering nicely. I'll probably visit him this coming week. Please remember both Ganpurev and Byambaa in your prayers as one recovers from surgery and the other prepares for it.