Family picture

Wow! It has been too long since I updated the site. We have been busy at Westgate Baptist Church since our arrival. The children are getting adjusted to attending school rather than home school. I have preached twice, covered as a substitute teacher once at the Christian school (I love to teach!). And Kristie has been holding everything together while moving into a new home. According to my count, we have rented or owned seven different apartments since we were married fourteen years ago.

I have included the most recent family picture taken since we arrived in Oregon. All my dates are filling up fast. There are not as many dates when you only plan to be in the United States eight months instead of a year.

I will be trying to update this blog more regularly now that I am back on my feet. So check back often for updates.

Picture of the week

Once a month, we hold a fellowship after the English service. This week's picture is Elsie making a new friend at the fellowship.

Teaching & preaching

Because I really enjoy teaching I occasionally take an offer to teach an English class at a Mongolian public school. I always try to help teachers that I know. Yesterday I had an opportunity to help a English language teacher who regularly attends on Sunday night.

Teaching religion at a Mongolian public school is illegal which is just as well since the most likely religion to be taught at a Mongolian public school is a false one. However, during my hour long class with these students, I was able to tell them in a five minute monologue about my Father. After all, I was not teaching religion, just providing a testimony. Below our the students who heard it.

Picture of the week

Last Saturday, we held a baptismal service at the river. Except for the wind, it was the perfect day for it: warm and sunny. Everyone brought a picnic lunch. After we had eaten, I preached about baptismal, and immediately following Gantuya and Uganaa were baptized. My excitement for the baptism of these two women was tempered by the knowledge that there were three men whom I believed might have been baptized who let other things stand in their way.

Pray for these who were baptized and for the men who were not.

Another picture of me teaching

This week's picture is from the third Bible institute class. I'm teaching in Mongolian. I still wish that I spoke Mongolian better.

Local religion

This week's picture was taken by one of the young men during a speaking practice trip to the most famous Buddhist monastery in Mongolia. This is one of the small building there. It contains several idols within. Outside are some prayer wheels. People believe that by spinning these prayer wheels they obtain favor from the gods. Please pray that we will be a bright light in this land of darkness.

Picture of the week

We recently celebrated the Mongolian Lunar New Year. This is an interesting time of the year to be in Mongolia to observe Mongolian traditions. In this week's picture two Mongolian men dressed in tradition dels are exchanging small bottles called hoorog. Exchanging bottles, also involves exchanging pleasantries. The men ask each other questions such as, "Are you celebrating [the lunar new year] well?" and "Are you spending the spring well."

No matter what the temperature outside, Mongolians consider their lunar new year to be the beginning of spring. Since the lunar new year can occur as early as late January, the Mongolia "spring" can be a quite cold time of year. The high yesterday, for example, barely climbed above freezing.

Picture of the week

It has been too long since I sent out a "picture of the week." I wish I would have kept up with it. I am going to make an effort this spring to send out a picture nearly every week.

This week's picture focusing on the lunar new year holiday that Mongolians call Tsagaan Sar (or White Month). It is about 3-5 days - in the city, at least; countryside events last longer - of eating, seeing family and friends, and generally having a good time. Check out my blog and search "lunar new year" for more details.

In the picture Kristie is delivering the traditional greeting (which even has its own name) to Sol, Ganaa's mother. Younger people are to put their arms underneath the arms of their elder and ask, "Are you peaceful?" Sometimes the younger person gives the older person some money. The celebration started on Wednesday this year, and we have a few visits on Saturday that should wrap it up for us.

Picture of the week

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

Children's Christmas Party

Something we do every year (the party for 2006 can be found here) is host a Christmas party in December for the children of the church and neighbors' children. It is a good opportunity to preach Jesus to the children. Unlike many American children most Mongolians children and adults alike tend to confuse Christmas and New Year. Although they are different words in Mongolian, often when we talk about Christmas Mongolians associate what we are describing with New Years Eve celebrations. Our party each year allows us to talk about why Christians celebrate Christmas: because Christmas is the time that we thank our God that He sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.This year we had more children than ever. Although we only invited a dozen children, 16 came to the party. Along with our four children that meant we had twenty children in our apartment. With temperatures outside below zero, sending the children outside to play was not an option.

We had a small craft for the children who came early. That was followed by the cookie decorating time which is always an event that the children look forward to. The sugar cookie dough is made ahead of time and then distributed to the children who roll it out and use cookie cutters to create various cookie shapes.
While the children are listening to the Christmas story and participating in the gift exchange the cookies are baked. Then the cookies go home with the children at the end of the party. With sixteen different children all trying to find their cookies at the same time it was quite a crowd in the kitchen.
Somehow when I took the picture at the end of all the children who came I cut out two of children on the end. Not counting our own family, nine families are represented in this picture. We have had the chance to witness to most of the parents at least once. Please pray for the salvation of our neighbors and that the seed planted at this year's party will grow to fruition on the lives of these young Mongolians.

Picture of the week

These are four Mongolian men with Roland Gay. Roland spent some years in Mongolia learning the language, translating the Gospel of John, and assisting us at Faith Baptist Church. Health problems forced his family to move back to the States. However, he has such a love and burden for the Mongolian people that he has determined to visit Mongolia twice a year as the Lord allows. During his recent visit he preached some special meetings for us about the Word of God.

The four Mongolians in the group need your prayers. They are from left to right: Bob, Bilgee, Dashka, and Ganpurev. Bob recently made a profession of faith in Christ and now needs to grow. He really struggles with pride and a critical spirit. Please pray for humility and a teachable spirit.

Bilgee is not yet married but has a girl in mind and discussed marrying her. Pray that God would give him wisdom about this decision.

Dashka's wife and four children are not Christians yet. Pray that the Holy Spirit would convict them of sin, righteousness, and judgment. Also pray for Dashka to be a God-honoring husband and father.

Ganpurev's mother-in-law has cancer. Because of the medical system here it is difficult for us to know exactly how well or how poorly she is doing. However, her poor health has been weighing heavily on Ganpurev and his wife. They need your prayers for peace and comfort and strength.

These men represent the core of Faith Baptist Church. Please uphold them in your prayers this week.

Picture of Bob

We are still rejoicing at the recent salvation of Bob. His wife told us today that Bob told all his friends that he had become a Christian. She said that there was a long pause and then they said, "I guess that means you'll be changing." Please continue to pray that God would protect Bob from evil influences.

Sunday our attendance was down a little. But we still had 34 when we counted the Mongolians and Americans. I would have been very happy to have 34 people at a church service this time last year.

One of my Mongolian friend's sisters passed away this morning. Her name was Oyungerel, and she finally succumbed to cancer. I spent some time this afternoon and evening with him. Please pray for comfort and peace for Bold and his sister Suvda who are Christians. And pray for the salvation of Bold's mother who is not yet a Christian.

Picture of the week

This week's picture is two sets of brother and sister. The younger brother and sister are Ermune and Oyungaa. Those two are the children of the lady on the right whose name is Byambaa. She has been coming to the church for some years now.

The young man on the left is her younger brother, Hashbayar. While he was staying at her home for a while last year, I took the opportunity to witness to him. But he did not really want to talk. After some months, he returned to his mother's home in the countryside.

Hashbayar came back to stay at his sister's again this fall to attend school. He has been coming faithfully to church on Sunday. Last Thursday, Ganpurev and I took the opportunity to preach Christ to him again. He seemed interested. Though he is not yet saved, I am praying that he will be saved soon.

Picture of the week

We have two young men with us for the next 9 months. We are excited to have them with us. As you can see they are quite adventurous. We visited Turtle Rock, and they climbed to this high point.

Though their main focus is language learning, they also are utilizing opportunities to minister in English.

Picture of the week

Picture of the week

I took this picture on a recent trip. It illustrates the barrenness that people think of when they think of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia. Even more pronounced is the spiritual desert that this place is, especially outside of the capital city. Towns of 20,000 or 30,000 without a single church of any kind. Please pray for people to go especially for mature Mongolian Christians to work to evangelize their own people.

Picture of the week

This is Yuri, a Mongolian with a Russian name. While in the countryside several weeks ago, Ganpurev and I had the opportunity to witness to this elderly man. He is holding in his hand the book of John from the Bible that has been bound along with a Gospel tract. Please pray for Yuri's salvation and the salvation of Mongolians.