Sunday update

Temperatures are finally breaking the freezing point here. We had a few days of nice weather with temperatures in the forties the last few days of February that caused us to long for spring here. Instead the last two weeks have seen winter-like temperatures with nights in the -30's and days just above zero. Perhaps now spring is on its way.

Our attendance was down this last Sunday with only five Mongolian adults. One family was away due to a death among their close acquaintances.

Ganbold has been "unable" to meet with me recently. I found out that some of my teaching from the Bible may have offended him. I am not worried about it but have been praying for his salvation. The obstacle is that he does not like the idea that he must get rid of his false gods. He wants God to bless him and ease his hurts and fix the consequences of his sin without actual repentance. I Thessalonians 1:9 summarizes it well: "...how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God." In Ganbold's case he does not want to serve God; he wants God to serve him. Many Americans are like that too. Please continue to pray for Ganbold because I plan to stay in contact with him.

I have a blessing to share. On Sunday, after the preaching, Ganpurev said to the people assembled, "Let's meet once a week to pray for the salvation of our relatives, friends, and neighbors." I was very happy to hear him suggest it. They discussed it a little and decided to meet on Wednesday nights. I told them that I would definitely come! I am excited to think about what God will do through your prayers and their prayers combined!

Quote

This is not a quote about missions exactly, but I find it challenging:

"When we realize the only difference between us and the town drunk is the grace of God, we are ready to be used of God."

Prayer update

There is lots of sickness in our family right now: fevers, earaches, sore throats, general malaise. Fortunately, only half the family is sick right now. The other half has avoided it so far. Many of you have already experienced it or are experiencing it and know what I am talking about. Please pray for grace to deal with it all in a foreign country.

We have continued to have a good number of people turn out for our meetings on Sundays. I was disappointed, however, that Ganbold could not meet with me this previous weekend. Continue to pray for his salvation.

Hudson Taylor once said, "Unless there is an element of risk in our exploits, there is no need for faith." Let us keep that in mind as we ponder the steps that God has planned for us today and where they might lead tomorrow.

International Women's Day Party

Thursday, March 8, was International Women's Day here. Everyone tells me that the holiday is to honor women (there is no Mother's Day in Mongolia). However, most unsaved Mongolian acquaintances that I know use the evening to drink. The men go out with the men and get drunk, and the women go out with the women though not necessarily to drink.

In an effort to change the way that Mongolians we know interact on Women's Day, we held a party last night at our house. We told the couples that they had to come to the party together. At the party we provided food and entertainment. We had a contest to see which husband knew the most about his wife. The men went to one room, and I asked them nine questions. I also recorded their answer. Then we went back out to the living room where the women were and compared their answers. It was pretty hilarious at times. Two of the men in particular like to be witty.

We also played Pit for an hour or so. If you have never played Pit, it is a great party game. Our neighbors probably wondered what all the shouting was about.

To understand the best part of the evening you must know something about the people whom we serve. Dashgaa was saved several years ago, but his extended family is quite antagonistic to Christianity which they see as a foreign religion. His wife Tonga has never gone before with Dashgaa to anything involving Christians. But last night she came! I hope that she had a good time. She is rather quiet and reserved - Kristie says that Tonga reminds her of herself. Maybe some of you women can take it upon yourself to pray for Tonga's salvation.

Greater Kashmir - Daily English Newspaper from Kashmir ( Saturday, March 10, 2007)

Greater Kashmir - Daily English Newspaper from Kashmir ( Saturday, March 10, 2007)

For those of you who don't know much about Mongolia, here is an article that gives a brief overview. It's a little bit dated (Bagabandi hasn't been the president for several years) but informative and concise.

Spring weather in Mongolia

Last week about this time (the last few days of February) the weather turned warm. The high were actually in the mid 40's. Temperatures were about twenty degrees above normal; we hoped that it meant that spring was coming early this year.

We did not need to wonder. The low last night was 31 degrees below zero! That is about thirty degrees below the average lows for this time of year. The unusual weather means that indeed spring is here!

You see, spring in Mongolia means changeable weather. Temperature swings of 40, 50, 60 degrees in a couple of days are not uncommon. Mongolians have a saying that loosely translated says, "Spring is temperamental ... like a woman."

Sunday update

Sunday was quite a day! When I woke up in the morning I felt sick to my stomach. The whole family has been fighting stomach problems, so I was not surprised. Then I began to feel nauseated and became concerned about whether I would be preaching or not. But although the feeling slowed me down, I kept getting ready to go and left on time.

On the way over to the rooms where we meet on Sunday morning, I slipped on the ice and fell flat on my back, smacking my head against the ice in the process. I was still sore on Monday. On Sunday, the soreness in my back made me forget the soreness in my abdomen though.

We had eight Mongolian adults and seven Mongolian children Sunday morning. I thank the Lord for the good turnout. We continue to have more men than women coming, and I praise the Lord for His goodness in blessing us with men. Roland spoke about soulwinning from John 4. My sermon was about the purpose of the law. Last week, Bilgee asked how the ordinances of the Old Testament apply to Christians. That prompted my sermon about the Old Testament law.

In the evening, I went over to Ganbold's house to teach a Bible lesson. I was hoping to avoid buuz for at least the month of March (especially since I was sick to my stomach), but there it was - the quintessential Mongolian comfort food. Anyway, after eating some the lesson started with Ganbold, his wife, and two of his adult sons. Two more adult sons were planning to come but had to go to work suddenly Ganbold explained to me.

The lesson went well; the Mongolians seemed to understand what I was teaching. I took my time and presented who God is, man's inherent sinfulness, the wages of sin, and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that makes it possible for us to receive forgiveness and eternal life. I think both Ganbold and his son Gantulag are close to salvation. Please pray diligently this week for the conviction of the Holy Spirit and for their salvation. I am to return next Sunday to teach another lesson on the Bible. I am searching for the right Biblical parallel or parable to help them understand this concept of salvation. Also pray that the other two sons can sit in next week's lesson.

Week in review

It has been a busy week. Last Sunday night, I spent some time with some other missionary families before heading across town for a Lunar New Year visit. Ganpurev and I had an opportunity to witness to some of his family and friends.

Monday night was our last Lunar New Year visit. We went to our neighbor's apartment. Again, we talked of Jesus and His salvation. By that time, I had eaten buuz at least once per day and often more for nine days. If I don't see another buuz until April, it will be too soon.

Tuesday night I taught an English class to the Foreign Investment and Foreign Trade Agency of the Mongolian government. It's one way that I work to maintain my visa and residency permission to stay in Mongolia. Then Wednesday night was my Bible lesson with Ganpurev and Ulzee.

Thursday evening, I took a few minutes to stop by Mandaa's place of work to talk to him and invite him to our home next Thursday. When I inquired as to his wife's health and his son's health, he said that everything was fine. Keep that in mind as those facts will come up again soon.

Friday night we entertained another missionary couple in our home. While we were eating with them, I received a phone call from Ulzee. She told me that she had talked to Bayambaa and that Bayambaa and Mandaa's son was very sick and had been for six days! I had no idea. When I had talked myself to Mandaa just the day before, he said that his son was fine.

So on Saturday, Kristie and I went over to visit Bayambaa and her son. Mandaa was at work. I think that he is starting to recover now. For much of those six days, he has had a fever, wouldn't eat, and was lethargic. But today, he was moving around some, eating a little, and drinking anything people would give to him. So I think he is starting to do better. Also on Saturday, Ganbold called me to ask me to come over Sunday evening and teach a Bible lesson to his whole family. I am so excited about this opportunity. Please pray that I would have favor with that family, that the lesson would go well, and that his family would understand what I am teaching them. I will try to post an update about the lesson after Sunday night.

Missions quote

You may trust the Lord too little, but you [will] never trust Him too much. – J. Hudson Taylor

Mongolian moment

There are some things that happen only in Mongolia. While I was at a Mongolian friend's house recently, the wife mentioned that she didn't have anymore milk. The husband and wife then began to take the cushions off the couch. I couldn't see exactly what they were doing and was too embarrassed to walk over to get a closer look, but the wife came up with two one-liter jugs of milk, and the husband put the cushions back on the couch. I've heard of looking for loose change in the couch cushions but milk?!