Various projects in Mongolia has kept me from updating my blog as often as I would like. So for those of you still reading this … thanks. I hope that today’s update will inform you about what is going on in Mongolia and give you some specific ways to pray.
Much of my recent busy activity has been to help Mickey Cofer, director of FirstBibles Mongolia, to set up a printing press and other printing equipment that recently arrived in Mongolia. My job has primarily been interpretation and finding supplies, but I also helped set up the imagesetter.
I know that people are praying! While traveling last year one pastor reminded me that many missionaries experienced a powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit on their ministries after returning to a foreign country after a furlough. They often attributed it to the prayers of people who were challenged to pray more by hearing about their ministry. I believe I am beginning to see some of the Holy Spirit’s work here in Mongolia. Not that I haven’t seen it before … it’s just more obvious now than in the past.
First, my wife and I talked recently about how many small obstacles to accomplishing things we have faced since we arrived in late summer. We both expected that coming back to Mongolia would be relatively easy: after all, we knew the language and culture, had our own place, and had some friends here. It has been unusually hard to accomplish the little things such as register my car, find items that we need and expected to be in Mongolia, make minor repairs, or even meet with friends. We know that Satan works to discourage us. We also know that God is interested in conforming us to the image of His Son and that He uses little pressures and disappointments to focus us on what is truly important! We believe that God is in the many frustrations and disappointments of our first few months. He has taught us patience, perseverance, and trust. He is preparing us to be more effective servants.
Second, Bilgee brought a friend from his workplace to my house some weeks ago. Enkhamgalan’s name means “peace,” but he has very little of it. At the end of our second meeting two weeks ago, Enkhamgalan asked, “Can I come to your meeting on Sundays?” It’s the first time anyone has ever asked if they can come to our meetings and a clear sign to me that the Holy Spirit is at work. He came this last Sunday and said that he will come again this Sunday.
Third, I mentioned in an update some time ago to pray for Ganbold because his mother Soli had asked me to visit him. Because he works seven days a week, usually fourteen hours a day, it has been difficult to find a time to visit him. I finally arranged to go to his house this past Friday night. He was glad to see me. When the conversation turned to the Bible, he was glad to talk. He talked about how the Lord was watching over him two years ago when a bus ran him over and his lung collapsed. He also mentioned that he was never alone because the Lord was always with him. He even talked about asking the Lord to forgive his sins. He asked me to come to his ger and teach his whole family the Bible. Again, I have never before been asked on a first visit to come back and teach the Bible. I attribute this to the work of the Holy Spirit and the prayers of God’s people.
Fourth, Bob seems to be more interested in the Bible than I have ever seen him. He comes on Sundays, sings the songs with us, listens attentively to the preaching, and asks questions. I am greatly encouraged by his interest and trust that he will soon trust Jesus Christ as his personal Savior.
So be encouraged that your prayers do count and pray for the Holy Spirit to continue to work in the hearts of Mongolians. I need wisdom, direction, and ability in the Mongolian language as I seek to minister to Mongolians as Jesus ministered to people.
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Monday, October 02, 2006
Sunday
Fifteen minutes after the hour on Sunday, exactly zero Mongolians had arrived. The week before we were pleased with fourteen Mongolians in attendance. Several times in the previous week, I had suggested to Kristie that maybe there would be a big drop in attendance. I wondered if my suggestions were prophetic. But then, within about five minutes, eleven Mongolians arrived.
Much of the rest of Sunday was spent with a Mongolian family whose father was out in the countryside. They needed their ger set up and called Ganpurev for assistance. When Ganpurev told me their plight, I offered to go with him to help. Ganpurev is known locally as the ger setup expert. Anytime someone needs a ger setup, he’s usually the one they call.
Much of the rest of Sunday was spent with a Mongolian family whose father was out in the countryside. They needed their ger set up and called Ganpurev for assistance. When Ganpurev told me their plight, I offered to go with him to help. Ganpurev is known locally as the ger setup expert. Anytime someone needs a ger setup, he’s usually the one they call.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Sunday update
I don’t plan to give an update every Sunday, but I know that some of you are curious about how things are going here in Mongolia. This Sunday, we had nine Mongolians adults and five children. Because we have the help of the Patenaude family on Sundays, we typically have had more Americans at the meetings on Sunday mornings than we’ve had Mongolians. But this morning we had a total of fourteen Mongolians and only eleven Americans; so for the first time since we’ve returned we’ve had more Mongolians than Americans.
Also, I had planned a more evangelistic message for today. By God’s grace, three of the adults were first time visitors. So they heard a good presentation about repentance. Please pray for us as we plan to do more visiting this week. We are swiftly outgrowing our living room where we have been meeting. That’s a good thing!
Also, I had planned a more evangelistic message for today. By God’s grace, three of the adults were first time visitors. So they heard a good presentation about repentance. Please pray for us as we plan to do more visiting this week. We are swiftly outgrowing our living room where we have been meeting. That’s a good thing!
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Buying a car - the Mongolian experience
What follows is a daily journal of the last few weeks as I tried to purchase a car. The goal of publishing this post is not to complain or murmur. I want to give Americans who have never lived an a foreign country an idea of what some of the obstacles are like.
Also there are three reasons that we have a vehicle. The first reason is to be able to take the family out (especially in the winter) without standing out in the cold waiting for a taxi. We've noticed that it's getting harder to get taxis. Of course, the price of gas here has more than doubled since we left and may have something to do with it. We've also found that having a car makes the regular shopping trips so much easier. You can go to one store, put the items you've purchased in the back and then head for the next store. It is such a time saver when shopping. Most importantly, a car gives me the flexibility to visit Mongolians all over the city.
So without further ado, here is a journal of my car buying experience.
Preparation: Wednesday
The goal is to buy a vehicle. I’ve already asked Mongolian friends about it and narrowed it down to two cars. I take Kristie out to show her the type of cars that I am anticipating that I will buy. Kristie likes those choices, but we must wait for the money to arrive from the US. We have picked out a Toyota Mark II. It is a vehicle that is ubiquitous in Mongolia, known for its reliability, and easy to find parts for. The car we buy will probably be ten years old and have about 100,000 miles on it. It may even have a few nicks and dings, but there is no point in buying a newer car in Mongolia where the roads will tear up the suspension and dings and nicks are the norm for a car.
I call Bob that evening and tell him that my money for a car should be here in the next day or two and ask if he has time to take me to look at cars. He says maybe and that he’ll call me when he has free time.
Preparation: Thursday
The money for a vehicle is in my bank account. I call Bob, and he suggests that he can take me out tomorrow.
Day One: Friday
Bob and I go out to look at cars. We look all over and cannot find the car that we want which is strange because they are all over Ulan Bator. One of the last places that we visit has one, but they want almost $1,000 more than I am willing to pay. We finally find someone with the kind of vehicle for which I am searching at a reasonable price. But the windshield needs to be replaced and won’t be ready until Monday.
We go by to look at the vehicle. Not only does the window need to be replaced but also it is apparent that the door to the gas tank does not open. But the price that the seller offers is about what I want to pay. Fortunately, the windshield replacement work is being done right next to the place that does government vehicle inspections. Since a vehicle inspection is required to register the car, we go ahead and run the vehicle through the inspection. With the inspection done, we are ready to register it and get a license plate for it on Monday when the office that does that kind of thing opens.
Day Two: Saturday
The seller of the car wants to do the paperwork and receive his money today. I don’t want to give the seller any money until I see the car on Monday. Besides all the banks are closed and I haven’t withdrawn the money for the car yet. The transaction will have to wait until Monday.
Day Three: Sunday
Nothing happens
Day Four: Monday
Today should wrap up my car buying experience. On the schedule: meet with the seller to look the windshield, complete the sales paperwork, take the paperwork to the district traffic police station to receive a vehicle registration card in my name, take the vehicle registration to the municipal traffic police station to receive a license plate, and put the license plate on the car. If all goes well, I could have the car home by dinner. Then Tuesday I can take it to a mechanic to have the oil changed and some other small things repaired.
We arrive at the windshield repair place and find that they have not even taken the old windshield off yet. The seller is upset and asks why the work isn’t done when they’ve had two days. But all his scolding won’t complete the work any sooner.
We leave there and travel across town to complete the paperwork at a notary public. After the paperwork is completed I pay the seller his money. Bob talks him down $100 because the windshield needs to be replaced. Then Bob and I take the paperwork to the district traffic police station where we find out that we need to have an application form filled out, pay $1.60 for registration, present proof of residence, and pay a fine because the car was not registered within three days of entering the country. We agree to pay all that but the policeman working at the window refuses to take it. We must pay the $1.60 at a bank and then return with a receipt to prove we paid it. Perhaps someone doesn’t trust the police to receive the money directly … of course, if you can’t trust the police, whom can you trust? Probably though, the police do not want to be bothered with carrying change for those who offer to pay with large bills.
We leave, go to the bank, and pay the $1.60. Then we go by my office to pick up the proof of residence. We return to the police station and wait in line for an hour. When we finally reach the window, the police officer complains that we haven’t paid the fine (about $21.50). When we say that we’ll pay it, he refuses to take it. He informs us that we must go to another office in the same building to pay it. We give up our place in line and find the other office, but no one is there. We wait for about five minutes before someone shows up. He tells us that the person who will take the money for the fine is out and he’s not sure when he’ll return. We wait another 45 minutes. Finally, the registration window is closing, and we realize we won’t finish the registration today. We head for home.
Day Five: Tuesday
I arrive at the police station a few minutes before ten and call Bob. He has not even left his house yet. It doesn’t matter: the police officer who takes the fines is still not there. There are several others waiting too. I wait a half-hour for Bob. After he arrives, we wait another forty-five minutes or so. No one seems to know where the police officer we need is. Finally, one of Bob’s friends arrives dressed in plain clothes. Bob begins a conversation with him and they enter the police station together. Soon Bob comes back out with his friend. His friend looks at my paperwork as Bob explains things to him and then takes it inside. He comes back out and says that the fee is about $5. After he goes in a second time, Bob comes back and explains that his friend is doing me a favor and needs another $4. I ask who his friend is. It turns out his friend is a police officer who happens to be on vacation. That’s why he isn’t in uniform.
I wait another half-hour before Bob’s friend returns and says to come back at four to pick things up. It looks like another day lost.
I return to the district traffic police station after four o’clock and the vehicle registration is ready for me. I take the registration downtown to the municipal traffic police station. Behind the municipal traffic police station is the place where they issue vehicle license plates. I find my way behind the building and que up at a window. There seems to be some hold-up as the line, which was moving, is now stopped. But it does not take too long before we start to move again. Approximately, half an hour later and $10 poorer, I pick up a license plate for the vehicle.
I call Bob to see if it’s possible to pick up the vehicle tonight. Bob says that its too early to pick up the vehicle, the seal on the newly placed windshield has to cure. He says that we will pick it up tomorrow.
Day Six: Wednesday
It has now been a week since I started the car-buying process: part of the hang-up has been the weekend, part has been the trouble at the police station. Perhaps today I will finally have a car.
Bob calls about 10 A.M. which is early for him. He asks if I am ready to pick up the car. I thought he’d never ask! As we are traveling to pick up the car, Bob asks me where the triangular sticker is. I know nothing about a triangular sticker; all I have is a rectangular sticker from the car inspection. Bob says I need another sticker for my windshield. That means more work somewhere!
When we go by to pick up the car, the windshield is ready. Unfortunately, the other small repairs have not been done because Bob didn’t trust the car’s seller to have them done right. One of the small repairs is the gas tank door. It will be hard to fill the car’s gas tank if we can’t get the door open. Also since Friday, gas has gone up about 30 cents a gallon! Using a screwdriver, we finally get the door to the gas tank open.
I put gas in the car on the way home, but Bob says that his mechanic cannot look at the car today. He’ll check it out tomorrow.
Later, I go by the municipal traffic police station again. A driver there tells me I need to pay a tax at the district tax office to get the rectangular sticker. I go by the district tax office and pay the tax – they’ll actually take my money at the tax office. But the tax lady says that we need a stamp from the district traffic police station. I was just there for two days and no one said anything about another stamp and sticker. It’s too late to try to get the stamp today.
The entrance to my garage has a slope to it, to allow entrance into the basement of the building. When I go to park my car in my garage for the night, I find that the car is so low that it scrapes the bottom to try to enter the garage because of the slope. I know that the mechanic will raise the suspension tomorrow so I don’t worry about it; I simply park it outside, something I won’t be able to do when it gets colder.
Day Seven: Thursday
Will today be the day that my car is finally done? I take it to Bob’s mechanic and they remove the rear struts and springs. It takes several trips to the car market before we finally have the correct springs for the car. Once the springs are changed the car is high enough off the ground to fit into the garage. We also change the oil.
At the end of the day, we decide that the front brakes need to be changed. By the time all this work is done, there is not time to re-visit the dictrict traffic police station and see about the other sticker.
Day Eight: Friday
I go by the police station by myself on the way to a lunch engagement. I look at signs on different doors. There doesn’t seem to be any place that I haven’t seen before, and none of those places are giving out stickers. I decide to wait until Bob has time to go with me.
Instead I head over to buy a set of brake pads and have the front break pads changed.
Day Nine: Saturday
On my way to the airport, I am stopped by a policeman (not an uncommon occurrence in Mongolia). He tells me that I am missing a stamp on the back of my car registration. I ask him where I get one. He tells me that I get one at the district policestation. I tell him that’s where I got the car registration. He tells me I need to go back and get the stamp. I am very frustrated by the whole experience.
Day Ten: Sunday
Nothing happens
Day Eleven: Monday
Bob and I go back to the police station and ask where I get the stamp I need and the triangular sticker. We’re told to go back to the window that we were at a week ago. We go back to that window. The policeman there says that we need to show them a document that proves that we had the vehicle inspected. Bob reminds them that we gave them that document when we registered the vehicle. They say it doesn’t matter that they need another copy. As we drive to the local vehicle inspection station, I ask Bob if it’s common for Mongolian drivers to have to visit the vehicle inspection station twice. He claims that it is not. I begin to suspect that the policeman who originally gave us the car registration overlooked the stamp on the back.
We arrive at where the vehicle inspection station used to be before I left Mongolia over a year ago. Bob’s friend there says it is no longer a vehicle inspection station for small vehicles, only for public transportation vehicles. The inspection station we want is down the street. We drive down the street and don’t see any place inspecting vehicles. We ask half a dozen bystanders where the vehicle inspection station is. No one seems to know. We drive back to see Bob’s friend at the public transportation vehicle inspection station. He gives us new directions, and we find it. We ask for another copy of the inspection document that we were given a week ago. The lady at the station claims that we have to return to the original station that inspected the vehicle, which is across town. We drive across town and arrive at the vehicle inspection station that we originally visited about ten minutes after the lunch hour started. No one is available to help us. I offer to Bob that maybe he has other work to do; but he’s determined to get this done and says we’ll wait until they re-open in an hour.
About 45 minutes later, we have a copy of the inspection document that we need. We drive across town to the district traffic police station and turn in the document. The vehicle registration is now complete.
Wow! I thought when I began that I would be writing a chapter. I had no idea that it would end up being a whole book.
Also there are three reasons that we have a vehicle. The first reason is to be able to take the family out (especially in the winter) without standing out in the cold waiting for a taxi. We've noticed that it's getting harder to get taxis. Of course, the price of gas here has more than doubled since we left and may have something to do with it. We've also found that having a car makes the regular shopping trips so much easier. You can go to one store, put the items you've purchased in the back and then head for the next store. It is such a time saver when shopping. Most importantly, a car gives me the flexibility to visit Mongolians all over the city.
So without further ado, here is a journal of my car buying experience.
Preparation: Wednesday
The goal is to buy a vehicle. I’ve already asked Mongolian friends about it and narrowed it down to two cars. I take Kristie out to show her the type of cars that I am anticipating that I will buy. Kristie likes those choices, but we must wait for the money to arrive from the US. We have picked out a Toyota Mark II. It is a vehicle that is ubiquitous in Mongolia, known for its reliability, and easy to find parts for. The car we buy will probably be ten years old and have about 100,000 miles on it. It may even have a few nicks and dings, but there is no point in buying a newer car in Mongolia where the roads will tear up the suspension and dings and nicks are the norm for a car.
I call Bob that evening and tell him that my money for a car should be here in the next day or two and ask if he has time to take me to look at cars. He says maybe and that he’ll call me when he has free time.
Preparation: Thursday
The money for a vehicle is in my bank account. I call Bob, and he suggests that he can take me out tomorrow.
Day One: Friday
Bob and I go out to look at cars. We look all over and cannot find the car that we want which is strange because they are all over Ulan Bator. One of the last places that we visit has one, but they want almost $1,000 more than I am willing to pay. We finally find someone with the kind of vehicle for which I am searching at a reasonable price. But the windshield needs to be replaced and won’t be ready until Monday.
We go by to look at the vehicle. Not only does the window need to be replaced but also it is apparent that the door to the gas tank does not open. But the price that the seller offers is about what I want to pay. Fortunately, the windshield replacement work is being done right next to the place that does government vehicle inspections. Since a vehicle inspection is required to register the car, we go ahead and run the vehicle through the inspection. With the inspection done, we are ready to register it and get a license plate for it on Monday when the office that does that kind of thing opens.
Day Two: Saturday
The seller of the car wants to do the paperwork and receive his money today. I don’t want to give the seller any money until I see the car on Monday. Besides all the banks are closed and I haven’t withdrawn the money for the car yet. The transaction will have to wait until Monday.
Day Three: Sunday
Nothing happens
Day Four: Monday
Today should wrap up my car buying experience. On the schedule: meet with the seller to look the windshield, complete the sales paperwork, take the paperwork to the district traffic police station to receive a vehicle registration card in my name, take the vehicle registration to the municipal traffic police station to receive a license plate, and put the license plate on the car. If all goes well, I could have the car home by dinner. Then Tuesday I can take it to a mechanic to have the oil changed and some other small things repaired.
We arrive at the windshield repair place and find that they have not even taken the old windshield off yet. The seller is upset and asks why the work isn’t done when they’ve had two days. But all his scolding won’t complete the work any sooner.
We leave there and travel across town to complete the paperwork at a notary public. After the paperwork is completed I pay the seller his money. Bob talks him down $100 because the windshield needs to be replaced. Then Bob and I take the paperwork to the district traffic police station where we find out that we need to have an application form filled out, pay $1.60 for registration, present proof of residence, and pay a fine because the car was not registered within three days of entering the country. We agree to pay all that but the policeman working at the window refuses to take it. We must pay the $1.60 at a bank and then return with a receipt to prove we paid it. Perhaps someone doesn’t trust the police to receive the money directly … of course, if you can’t trust the police, whom can you trust? Probably though, the police do not want to be bothered with carrying change for those who offer to pay with large bills.
We leave, go to the bank, and pay the $1.60. Then we go by my office to pick up the proof of residence. We return to the police station and wait in line for an hour. When we finally reach the window, the police officer complains that we haven’t paid the fine (about $21.50). When we say that we’ll pay it, he refuses to take it. He informs us that we must go to another office in the same building to pay it. We give up our place in line and find the other office, but no one is there. We wait for about five minutes before someone shows up. He tells us that the person who will take the money for the fine is out and he’s not sure when he’ll return. We wait another 45 minutes. Finally, the registration window is closing, and we realize we won’t finish the registration today. We head for home.
Day Five: Tuesday
I arrive at the police station a few minutes before ten and call Bob. He has not even left his house yet. It doesn’t matter: the police officer who takes the fines is still not there. There are several others waiting too. I wait a half-hour for Bob. After he arrives, we wait another forty-five minutes or so. No one seems to know where the police officer we need is. Finally, one of Bob’s friends arrives dressed in plain clothes. Bob begins a conversation with him and they enter the police station together. Soon Bob comes back out with his friend. His friend looks at my paperwork as Bob explains things to him and then takes it inside. He comes back out and says that the fee is about $5. After he goes in a second time, Bob comes back and explains that his friend is doing me a favor and needs another $4. I ask who his friend is. It turns out his friend is a police officer who happens to be on vacation. That’s why he isn’t in uniform.
I wait another half-hour before Bob’s friend returns and says to come back at four to pick things up. It looks like another day lost.
I return to the district traffic police station after four o’clock and the vehicle registration is ready for me. I take the registration downtown to the municipal traffic police station. Behind the municipal traffic police station is the place where they issue vehicle license plates. I find my way behind the building and que up at a window. There seems to be some hold-up as the line, which was moving, is now stopped. But it does not take too long before we start to move again. Approximately, half an hour later and $10 poorer, I pick up a license plate for the vehicle.
I call Bob to see if it’s possible to pick up the vehicle tonight. Bob says that its too early to pick up the vehicle, the seal on the newly placed windshield has to cure. He says that we will pick it up tomorrow.
Day Six: Wednesday
It has now been a week since I started the car-buying process: part of the hang-up has been the weekend, part has been the trouble at the police station. Perhaps today I will finally have a car.
Bob calls about 10 A.M. which is early for him. He asks if I am ready to pick up the car. I thought he’d never ask! As we are traveling to pick up the car, Bob asks me where the triangular sticker is. I know nothing about a triangular sticker; all I have is a rectangular sticker from the car inspection. Bob says I need another sticker for my windshield. That means more work somewhere!
When we go by to pick up the car, the windshield is ready. Unfortunately, the other small repairs have not been done because Bob didn’t trust the car’s seller to have them done right. One of the small repairs is the gas tank door. It will be hard to fill the car’s gas tank if we can’t get the door open. Also since Friday, gas has gone up about 30 cents a gallon! Using a screwdriver, we finally get the door to the gas tank open.
I put gas in the car on the way home, but Bob says that his mechanic cannot look at the car today. He’ll check it out tomorrow.
Later, I go by the municipal traffic police station again. A driver there tells me I need to pay a tax at the district tax office to get the rectangular sticker. I go by the district tax office and pay the tax – they’ll actually take my money at the tax office. But the tax lady says that we need a stamp from the district traffic police station. I was just there for two days and no one said anything about another stamp and sticker. It’s too late to try to get the stamp today.
The entrance to my garage has a slope to it, to allow entrance into the basement of the building. When I go to park my car in my garage for the night, I find that the car is so low that it scrapes the bottom to try to enter the garage because of the slope. I know that the mechanic will raise the suspension tomorrow so I don’t worry about it; I simply park it outside, something I won’t be able to do when it gets colder.
Day Seven: Thursday
Will today be the day that my car is finally done? I take it to Bob’s mechanic and they remove the rear struts and springs. It takes several trips to the car market before we finally have the correct springs for the car. Once the springs are changed the car is high enough off the ground to fit into the garage. We also change the oil.
At the end of the day, we decide that the front brakes need to be changed. By the time all this work is done, there is not time to re-visit the dictrict traffic police station and see about the other sticker.
Day Eight: Friday
I go by the police station by myself on the way to a lunch engagement. I look at signs on different doors. There doesn’t seem to be any place that I haven’t seen before, and none of those places are giving out stickers. I decide to wait until Bob has time to go with me.
Instead I head over to buy a set of brake pads and have the front break pads changed.
Day Nine: Saturday
On my way to the airport, I am stopped by a policeman (not an uncommon occurrence in Mongolia). He tells me that I am missing a stamp on the back of my car registration. I ask him where I get one. He tells me that I get one at the district policestation. I tell him that’s where I got the car registration. He tells me I need to go back and get the stamp. I am very frustrated by the whole experience.
Day Ten: Sunday
Nothing happens
Day Eleven: Monday
Bob and I go back to the police station and ask where I get the stamp I need and the triangular sticker. We’re told to go back to the window that we were at a week ago. We go back to that window. The policeman there says that we need to show them a document that proves that we had the vehicle inspected. Bob reminds them that we gave them that document when we registered the vehicle. They say it doesn’t matter that they need another copy. As we drive to the local vehicle inspection station, I ask Bob if it’s common for Mongolian drivers to have to visit the vehicle inspection station twice. He claims that it is not. I begin to suspect that the policeman who originally gave us the car registration overlooked the stamp on the back.
We arrive at where the vehicle inspection station used to be before I left Mongolia over a year ago. Bob’s friend there says it is no longer a vehicle inspection station for small vehicles, only for public transportation vehicles. The inspection station we want is down the street. We drive down the street and don’t see any place inspecting vehicles. We ask half a dozen bystanders where the vehicle inspection station is. No one seems to know. We drive back to see Bob’s friend at the public transportation vehicle inspection station. He gives us new directions, and we find it. We ask for another copy of the inspection document that we were given a week ago. The lady at the station claims that we have to return to the original station that inspected the vehicle, which is across town. We drive across town and arrive at the vehicle inspection station that we originally visited about ten minutes after the lunch hour started. No one is available to help us. I offer to Bob that maybe he has other work to do; but he’s determined to get this done and says we’ll wait until they re-open in an hour.
About 45 minutes later, we have a copy of the inspection document that we need. We drive across town to the district traffic police station and turn in the document. The vehicle registration is now complete.
Wow! I thought when I began that I would be writing a chapter. I had no idea that it would end up being a whole book.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Prayer update
Things are started to get accomplished here. I finally completed the purchase and registration of a vehicle yesterday. Head over to the ministry blog if you want to read all the details of registering a vehicle in Mongolia.
This last Sunday, we had five Mongolian adults and four Mongolian children in attendance. We hope to see many more attend in the coming weeks. Matthew Patenaude did a good job of speaking about obedience.
Monday night we received fifteen boxes of food items from a church in California that doesn’t even support us! We are so grateful to the folks at Faith Baptist Church and to our gracious God for giving us baking chocolate, boxes of breakfast cereal, cake mixes, molasses, pudding, egg noodles, and about 100 cans of soup that we can hardly ever find in Mongolia. We’ve already given some away and plan to give some more away to other families here. Isn’t God good! Rejoice with us in His provision.
This coming Sunday, I will be speaking on lost things from Luke 15. Please pray that Bob and Buren would both come and be impressed by the Holy Spirit that God loves them and is seeking them.
This last Sunday, we had five Mongolian adults and four Mongolian children in attendance. We hope to see many more attend in the coming weeks. Matthew Patenaude did a good job of speaking about obedience.
Monday night we received fifteen boxes of food items from a church in California that doesn’t even support us! We are so grateful to the folks at Faith Baptist Church and to our gracious God for giving us baking chocolate, boxes of breakfast cereal, cake mixes, molasses, pudding, egg noodles, and about 100 cans of soup that we can hardly ever find in Mongolia. We’ve already given some away and plan to give some more away to other families here. Isn’t God good! Rejoice with us in His provision.
This coming Sunday, I will be speaking on lost things from Luke 15. Please pray that Bob and Buren would both come and be impressed by the Holy Spirit that God loves them and is seeking them.
Monday, September 18, 2006
September prayer letter
One of the first Mongolian friends I went to see when I returned to Mongolia was Bilgee. Bilgee is probably the second Mongolian man with whom I developed a friendship. He is in his late twenties and unmarried, so he still lives with his mother. He has two older brothers (Ganbold and Ganzorig) and five older sisters (Tsetseg, Selenge, Gantseteg, Ganbolor, and Gantuul). Ganbolor was Kristie and my Mongolian tutor and was the one who introduced us to Bilgee. You know Ganbolor by her shorter Mongolian name, Ganaa.
Usually when I visit Bilgee, I talk to his mother whose name is Soli. (For those of you who are interested in pronouncing her name correctly the “i” is silent, and her name sounds much like “sol” as in “solar.”) Older Mongolians are difficult for me to understand because they seem to talk faster and slur their sentences more. Once while talking to her several years ago, she told me how bad the children were in her neighborhood. She told me how disrespectful the children were and how they threw dangerous objects. I tried to turn the conversation toward biblical truth by pointing out that all of us are sinners. While it is true that some sin more than others, all are sinful. She did not seem interested in that kind of talk. For a while I taught a Bible story each week to the children who lived in the same area as Soli, and often she would come. I would try to ask her questions to see what her level of comprehension was, but often she would not respond. In short, I was not sure how to reach her with truth.
So you can imagine my surprise when I went to visit her and Bilgee, and she began to speak about being a sinner. “I’m a sinner; we are all sinners,” she said several times. Then she added that her oldest son (Ganbold) has two children who are married. They were all living on the same property and had problems. They need to change she said. After repeating this several times, she left the small shack that she lives in to go outside. Her son Bilgee speaks some English. We had been speaking Mongolian out of respect for his mother, but when she left, Bilgee said to me, “Did you understand what my mother said?”
“I understood that Ganbold and his children need to be changed,” I replied.
Looking at me seriously, Bilgee responded, “Yes, she thinks you need to change them.”
Bilgee’s relatives include not only Ganaa but Ganpurev and Ulzee and Enkhee and Bayambaa. Having observed their lives, Bilgee’s extended family has come to think that I am responsible for the changes in their lives. I knew this, but had never had anyone say it to me directly. Of course, I never talk about changing people; I only introduce them to the One Who can change lives.
Bilgee then asked me frankly, “Can you change people?”
“No,” I replied.
When his mother came back in, Bilgee and I switched back to Mongolian. I explained to his mother that I do not change people. She responded by pointing out several relatives whose lives have changed since meeting me. I do not change people, but I know Someone Who does!
The whole conversation brought things sharply into focus for me. First, although I had thought my conversation with Soli about man’s sinfulness had gone unheeded, she obviously took it to heart. Second, she sees the changes in the lives of people. What a testimony to the power of God!
But there are also several prayer requests that result from this story. I need you to pray for my ability with the language. Being away from the country for a year has not totally eradicated my ability to speak the language, but there is room for improvement to get back to the place where I was. Also, I need to be able to capture the nuances of language, both in listening to others and in talking to them.
I need you to pray for Ganbold and his family. Bilgee and I are already making plans to visit them. But I know that I am powerless to affect any change in their lives. Only Jesus Christ can make sinners into saints.
Usually when I visit Bilgee, I talk to his mother whose name is Soli. (For those of you who are interested in pronouncing her name correctly the “i” is silent, and her name sounds much like “sol” as in “solar.”) Older Mongolians are difficult for me to understand because they seem to talk faster and slur their sentences more. Once while talking to her several years ago, she told me how bad the children were in her neighborhood. She told me how disrespectful the children were and how they threw dangerous objects. I tried to turn the conversation toward biblical truth by pointing out that all of us are sinners. While it is true that some sin more than others, all are sinful. She did not seem interested in that kind of talk. For a while I taught a Bible story each week to the children who lived in the same area as Soli, and often she would come. I would try to ask her questions to see what her level of comprehension was, but often she would not respond. In short, I was not sure how to reach her with truth.
So you can imagine my surprise when I went to visit her and Bilgee, and she began to speak about being a sinner. “I’m a sinner; we are all sinners,” she said several times. Then she added that her oldest son (Ganbold) has two children who are married. They were all living on the same property and had problems. They need to change she said. After repeating this several times, she left the small shack that she lives in to go outside. Her son Bilgee speaks some English. We had been speaking Mongolian out of respect for his mother, but when she left, Bilgee said to me, “Did you understand what my mother said?”
“I understood that Ganbold and his children need to be changed,” I replied.
Looking at me seriously, Bilgee responded, “Yes, she thinks you need to change them.”
Bilgee’s relatives include not only Ganaa but Ganpurev and Ulzee and Enkhee and Bayambaa. Having observed their lives, Bilgee’s extended family has come to think that I am responsible for the changes in their lives. I knew this, but had never had anyone say it to me directly. Of course, I never talk about changing people; I only introduce them to the One Who can change lives.
Bilgee then asked me frankly, “Can you change people?”
“No,” I replied.
When his mother came back in, Bilgee and I switched back to Mongolian. I explained to his mother that I do not change people. She responded by pointing out several relatives whose lives have changed since meeting me. I do not change people, but I know Someone Who does!
The whole conversation brought things sharply into focus for me. First, although I had thought my conversation with Soli about man’s sinfulness had gone unheeded, she obviously took it to heart. Second, she sees the changes in the lives of people. What a testimony to the power of God!
But there are also several prayer requests that result from this story. I need you to pray for my ability with the language. Being away from the country for a year has not totally eradicated my ability to speak the language, but there is room for improvement to get back to the place where I was. Also, I need to be able to capture the nuances of language, both in listening to others and in talking to them.
I need you to pray for Ganbold and his family. Bilgee and I are already making plans to visit them. But I know that I am powerless to affect any change in their lives. Only Jesus Christ can make sinners into saints.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Sunday update
It's been a busy week here because I've been trying to complete the purchase of a vehicle.
There were five adults and four children at the Bible lesson on Sunday. That’s triple the number that we had last week. If we keep tripling the number of people who come, by Christmas the whole country should be coming! Seriously though, we are encouraged at the incrase in numbers. There still some more who ought to be coming who are not, and there’s still work to do.
On Saturday night, I went to visit Enkhee. I stayed at his house until eleven, and he still wasn’t home from work. Bcause I had to leave to pick a new missionary at the airport at midnight, I was not able to stay later. I have been praying for Enkhee and his family and really desire to train them to be disciples of Jesus Christ too. But Enkhee needs a job where he gets home earlier in the evenings.
There were five adults and four children at the Bible lesson on Sunday. That’s triple the number that we had last week. If we keep tripling the number of people who come, by Christmas the whole country should be coming! Seriously though, we are encouraged at the incrase in numbers. There still some more who ought to be coming who are not, and there’s still work to do.
On Saturday night, I went to visit Enkhee. I stayed at his house until eleven, and he still wasn’t home from work. Bcause I had to leave to pick a new missionary at the airport at midnight, I was not able to stay later. I have been praying for Enkhee and his family and really desire to train them to be disciples of Jesus Christ too. But Enkhee needs a job where he gets home earlier in the evenings.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Unusual things happen in Mongolia
Look for these unusual things happen in Mongolia blog posts from time to time. I'm not making fun of Mongolia or the Mongolian people, but some things happen here that are so different from what happens in the U.S. that I have to entitle these blog entries "Unusual things happen in Mongolia."
On Sunday, Ganpurev was telling us that his name was really Otgoo. When he was born, his parents named him "Otgoo" which is a common name in Mongolia. Later, a relative went to the sum center (like a county seat) to register the birth. He couldn't remember what the name of the newborn was. The father's name was Purev, so the relative registered the newborn as "Ganpurev."
Ganpurev's family continued to call him Otgoo until he went to school. At that time, the government records said that his name was Ganpurev. His teachers and his classmates all called him Ganpurev. At home they still called his Otgoo. At home they gradually began to call him Ganpurev too; until by the time he reached high school, he was known as Ganpurev. All because his relative couldn't remember his name when he went to register him.
On Sunday, Ganpurev was telling us that his name was really Otgoo. When he was born, his parents named him "Otgoo" which is a common name in Mongolia. Later, a relative went to the sum center (like a county seat) to register the birth. He couldn't remember what the name of the newborn was. The father's name was Purev, so the relative registered the newborn as "Ganpurev."
Ganpurev's family continued to call him Otgoo until he went to school. At that time, the government records said that his name was Ganpurev. His teachers and his classmates all called him Ganpurev. At home they still called his Otgoo. At home they gradually began to call him Ganpurev too; until by the time he reached high school, he was known as Ganpurev. All because his relative couldn't remember his name when he went to register him.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Weekly update
It is our great privilege to serve here in Mongolia, and we are so grateful that you labor together with us in prayer. Because we know that you labor together with us, we invite you this week to pray for us in this way.
Since my last update Kristie has been sick. Last Wednesday not long after I sent an update, she became quite sick. Since then she's been sick off and on; she is still recovering from it. This has slowed us all down as I have stayed home to help Kristie and direct the family. Both Kristie and I have experienced a sense of discouragement and spiritual oppression in the past week. Our request is that you would pray for us. Of course, Kristie needs physical strength and to recover from her recent illness. We both need spiritual stamina to accomplish the task of ministering to others. Finally, we both need to be on guard against discouragement and depression. I take great encouragement from Joshua 1:9, "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."
We covet your prayers for physical recovery, spiritual stamina, and encouragement in the Lord this week as we seek to serve our Savior in Mongolia.
Since my last update Kristie has been sick. Last Wednesday not long after I sent an update, she became quite sick. Since then she's been sick off and on; she is still recovering from it. This has slowed us all down as I have stayed home to help Kristie and direct the family. Both Kristie and I have experienced a sense of discouragement and spiritual oppression in the past week. Our request is that you would pray for us. Of course, Kristie needs physical strength and to recover from her recent illness. We both need spiritual stamina to accomplish the task of ministering to others. Finally, we both need to be on guard against discouragement and depression. I take great encouragement from Joshua 1:9, "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."
We covet your prayers for physical recovery, spiritual stamina, and encouragement in the Lord this week as we seek to serve our Savior in Mongolia.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
This Sunday was the first meeting we had that we officially invited people to come to. We have been meeting with Ganpurev’s family. Besides Ganpurev’s family we had one other person come. But we refuse to be discouraged. We know that it will take some time to "get the ball rolling again."
I am encouraged for two reasons. First, sickness made it difficult for me to get out and visit as much as I wanted to this week. Yet, we still had a visitor. Plus one family wanted to come but sickness kept them away. Second, God keeps bringing me people to whom to minister.
Friday night, it was a friend that Bilgee brought by. His friend Enkhee (a common Mongolian name) wanted to see how Americans lived. He was surprised, for example, when he didn't see a TV in the living room. But Enkhee has a difficulty for which he blames God. We discussed what salvation really is because Enkhee thought becoming a Christian would mean that one's life became materially better. I invited Enkhee to come again. Please pray that he would come over again. I believe he needs true salvation.
I am encouraged for two reasons. First, sickness made it difficult for me to get out and visit as much as I wanted to this week. Yet, we still had a visitor. Plus one family wanted to come but sickness kept them away. Second, God keeps bringing me people to whom to minister.
Friday night, it was a friend that Bilgee brought by. His friend Enkhee (a common Mongolian name) wanted to see how Americans lived. He was surprised, for example, when he didn't see a TV in the living room. But Enkhee has a difficulty for which he blames God. We discussed what salvation really is because Enkhee thought becoming a Christian would mean that one's life became materially better. I invited Enkhee to come again. Please pray that he would come over again. I believe he needs true salvation.
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