Warmer weather is here

We have been having a spring "heat wave" in Mongolia. The average high temperature at this time of year is right around freezing, but temperatures have been above fifty the last few days. The kids can play outside for hours at a time without freezing, and we have been throwing open the windows to let in the light and fresh air.

Often the spring brings incredible dust storms (sand storms in the Gobi). The dust and sand blows all the way to Korea. Recently, though the winds have been calm and the breezes gentle.

Sacrifice?

If a commission by an earthly king is considered an honor, how can a commission by a heavenly King be considered a sacrifice? - David Livingstone

Do you want your car washed?

Some things about Mongolia just trouble me ... well, not just me: they trouble all of us expatriates who live here. Certain happenings are frustrating especially when it seems that foreigners are being treated differently.

It often happens here that boys wash one's car unsolicited and then expect payment for a job poorly done. It would be difficult to endure at that, but it is especially difficult when I overhear the youngsters telling each other things such as, "Over there, a foreigner just got out of his car - go wash it!"

An American friend of mine came to Mongolia burdened particularly by all the poverty here. He determined by God's grace to give money to every person who asked him for some; not much, usually he only gave money worth 50 cents or a dollar, but he consistently gave to everyone who asked him. He even would make the effort to get the small bills in Mongolian currency that amount to about a half dollar or dollar from the bank in order to have something to pass out.

He gained such a reputation about town that groups of children would seemingly instantly materialize whenever we went downtown. We would step out of his car, begin walking towards a store or restaurant, and before we reached the door we would be surrounded by dirty-faced boys and girls holding out their grubby little hands for money. He would graciously and without prejudice hand them all a Mongolian bill worth fifty cents or a dollar.

However, if one of these greasy-palmed children dared to try to wash his car he would become upset with him. He could not speak Mongolian but still would often complain to the boy, "Why are you washing my car?" He would lament to me and others that he could not stand people touching his car with a filthy rag.

I remarked to him one day that his attitude seemed odd to me. To anyone who asked he was willing to give money without question; but if someone tried to earn his money by washing his car he would become upset. "If you want to give money away why not let them work for it?" I pointed out. But to some men, a car is an important possession and not just anyone should touch it.

Well, if you feel that way about your car, do not come to Mongolia and drive. Mongolian boys will spot you parking your car and run over to ask, "Do you want your car washed?" Sometimes they do not even come over but just wash it anyway. But now police are getting in on the racket.

Today, I parked my car to run into a building and conduct some car insurance business. I did not need any money and was not planning to buy anything so I came without any small change. I had some larger bills (the smallest amounted to about $10 US). So as I got out of my car and crossed the street I waved off several boys who asked me, "Mister, do you want your car washed." The boys often claim that they have no change and want to take the entire $10.

As I was on the stairs in the building, I looked out the window and sure enough my car's windshield wipers were sticking up - a common signal used by the boys to announce, "This car is to be washed." I frowned as I made my way out of the building. I had no small change and did not want to give up a whole $10 for a job not well done.

I got in my car and started it. Before I could pull out, two boys came and planted themselves on my window. It would be difficult - they knew this - it would be difficult for me to look behind me and pull out into traffic without running the risk of "accidentally" hitting one of the boys. Hitting someone with a car even if they are not seriously injured can be an alarming experience especially for foreigners.

I rolled down my window to have a discussion with the boys in an attempt to move them away from my car. The conversation went something like this.

Boys: "Hey, where's our money for washing your car."

Me [using my most authoritative voice]: "Did I ask you to wash my car? Why did you wash my car? I don't have any money to pay you (that is, I had no bills to offer them). If you would have asked me I would have told you not to wash my car."

Boys [looking a bit put out as if I had deceived them]: "But we washed your car."

Me: "But how am I going to pay you? I don't have any money [to pay you]."

Boys: "Do you have any money?"

Me: "All I have are big bills. Do you have change?"

Boys: "You could get change."

Me: "You get the change and I'll pay you."

At this one of the boys began to call to other boys - "Do you have change? Do you have change?" None of them had change. (Strange because they had been washing cars all day for small bills but suddenly they had no change.)

The other boy sat with his hands on my window sill looking dejected as if he had just lost his favorite pet. "Don't you have any bills?" he asked with big, sad eyes.

"I don't have any small bills," I repeated gently.

There were two policeman just down the street stopping motorists. I contemplated shutting the car off, getting out, locking the doors, and walking down the street to talk to the officers. But being a foreigner and seeing they were busy, I decided against it.

Instead I told the boy, "This is getting old. Just go." He had probably spent all of three minutes running his soiled rag over my vehicle.

He just stood there leaning against my vehicle his hands inside with his look of sadness. Finally, an older boy came over. With a very disgusted look the older boy said to me, "What! Don't you have any money?"

I responded firmly, "I didn't ask these boys to wash my car. If they would have asked me, I would have told them not to wash the car because I have no small bills."

The older boy asked, "How much change do you need?"

"Nine dollars and fifty cents," I replied knowing that fifty cents was the going rate for such a small service. "But these boys don't have change, and I didn't ask them to wash my vehicle. Do you have change?" I asked the older boy.

To which the older boy responded, "No, call the police." I was not certain if he was talking to me or the little boy attached to the door of my car, but I said anyway, "Call the police," little expecting what would happen next.

Within a minute or two, one of the officers made his way down the road, "Do you need change?" he asked holding out ten dollars worth of change the smallest of which was worth a dollar. I thanked him, handed him a bill worth $10, and took the money. Before the bills were hardly in my hand the policeman said in a surly manner, "Give [the boy] the money." At first I was surprised at his commanding tone, but taking the hint I took one of the bills worth $1 and handed it to the boy who then pealed from the side of my car and went off to make another dollar.

I was surprised first of all that a policemen had change and secondly that he seemed to be on the little boys side. I will not say any money changed hands for the policeman's part in finding change, but I will say that the policeman is well aware as I am that the going rate for the wipe down a person's car with a dirty rag service is only fifty cents. And I will say that it is very unusual for a policeman to leave his post in traffic to deal with other matters.

But like I say, if your car is an important possession to you and you do not want just anyone to touch it then maybe Mongolia is not the place for you.

Resurrection Sunday

We had a good service on Resurrection Sunday. There were twenty Mongolians there of which four were first-time visitors. Buren's wife Sonin also came for the Sunday school hour then went to work. She has come before but not very often.

There were two sermons - one by Roland, one by myself - focusing on the resurrection which I thought went well. Please pray that God would use the seed we planted to bring glory and honor to Himself.

End of the week

I've not posted much to my blog this week. I hope that there will be more to post after tomorrow's services.

Wednesday evening, Ganpurev and I had a good visit with Mandaa and had another chance to preach Christ to him. We also invited him to Ganpurev's house on Friday night for a Bible study. I picked Mandaa up from work and his family from home. All of us then went to Ganpurev's where we held a Bible study. Also there was Ankhaa whose wife just gave birth to a baby boy. His wife was unable to come as she was still recovering.

a James Fraser quote on prayer

"Ask God to lay the burden on you, and that heavily ... that it may press you down upon your knees. My prayer for you is that God will work such sorrow with you that you will have no alternative but to pray." - James Fraser

Sunday update

We had a good Sunday yesterday: a dozen Mongolian adults and three of those were first time visitors. I thought the sermons went well.

For those of you who do not know, our co-laborers for the past two years Roland and Joann Gay will be moving back to the United States permanently next month. Their help will be missed. Please pray that God would cause Mongolians to step up and serve each other.

Update on Gustavo

Gustavo's Spanish Bible came today, and Kristie and I took it over to his house tonight. He was very excited to have it. Along with the Bible came two books (one copy in Spanish and one in English) that will help me as I teach him the basics. Please continue to pray for his wife Bayarmaa to be saved.

God's sovereignty in Gustavo's life

As Christians we all say that we believe in the sovereignty of an Almighty God. We would verbally agree that no one can prevent God from working or compel God to do what He does not wish to do. However, when problems arise we often complain or become discouraged as if God were not in control. Sometimes we witness some amazing “coincidence” and fail to see God’s hand in it. Either way, while we may profess to be believers in the sovereignty of God, we often act as if we are unaware that God is in charge. This post focuses on God’s sovereignty: His awe-inspiring work to bring people to Himself, especially as it relates to Gustavo's life.

You will recall that last month I wrote about Gustavo, a Cuban man who had come to our church service. In an amazing “coincidence” the very next Sunday Billy Patterson–a missionary who grew up in Mexico, spent some time pastoring there, and speaks fluent Spanish–“happened” to be at our church service to preach. Because he had only arrived in Mongolia for a short visit two days before, we did not extend him an invitation to preach until Saturday evening. By the time that he stood up to preach that Sunday, Gustavo had not arrived. One could be excused for wondering “Where was Gustavo?” However, Brother Patterson had not even concluded his opening remarks when Gustavo walked through the door without his wife.

Now consider the fact that Gustavo came alone. Gustavo speaks very little Mongolian; he speaks about as much Mongolian as I speak Spanish. His English is much weaker than my Mongolian too. His wife is expecting and was sick and vomiting Sunday morning when he rose from bed. He said later that he just planned to stay home but that something (I would say Someone) caused him to come without his wife. Since his wife was sick and he does not speak much Mongolian or English and he did not know that a Spanish-speaking man would be preaching, why should he come? I am convinced that God in His merciful sovereignty brought him out to our church service!

When Brother Patterson was introduced to Gustavo as a Spanish speaker he began to preach in English which was translated into Mongolian. Then he would follow up by repeating his preaching in Spanish. At the end of the service, Brother Patterson spoke with Gustavo personally for some time. At the end of that time, they knelt down to pray. When they rose from their knees, Brother Patterson said that Gustavo had become a Christian. Gustavo was smiling from ear to ear. Several hours later Gustavo sent me an SMS message, “Very good day today, thanks [sic].”

Later that week, Roland, Billy, and I went together to visit Gustavo and his wife at their home. Gustavo told us how in Cuba although his father and mother were Catholic his aunt was a Baptist who would read the Bible and gather him along with other children together to teach them about Jesus Christ. His aunt has since passed away, but she too had a part in planting the seed in Cuba that lead to Gustavo’s astonishing salvation in Mongolia.

Already in his young Christian life, Gustavo has shown instances of a repentant spirit and a desire to learn more about our Savior. The day that he made a profession of faith in Christ, I asked for my home church to send me a Spanish Bible for Gustavo. Of course, they sent it out before the end of the week. However, because it takes some time for mail to arrive, Gustavo asked me a week or so later, “Where is my Spanish Bible?”

I am convinced that it was not chance that brought Billy Patterson to our church. It was not fate that caused Gustavo to come by himself that Sunday. It was God showing once again His sovereignty in the affairs of men. Praise be to the Almighty God!

Sunday update

The icebox is thawing out. We have had temperatures in the low 50's recently and enjoyed the balmy weather. But the forecast calls for a cold snap that will take us below freezing for awhile again.

We had a good Sunday - not just the attendance but also good preaching. Roland preached a good sermon from the first chapter of Ruth. My sermon focused on Jesus cursing the fig tree in Mark 11. There is an element of Mongolian "Christianity" that would use that passage to teach that we will receive anything that we ask for in faith. I dealt with that misunderstanding of Scripture and the true teaching of the passage.

At the end of the passage, Jesus also instructs His disciples that they should forgive others before they pray. The sermon also talked about the need to forgive others even if they do not ask us for forgiveness. After the sermon, Bayambaa came to me and told me how reading a similar passage about forgiving others was used by the Holy Spirit to show her the need to forgive someone who had offended her. She talked about the great peace that she had after the Holy Spirit had enabled her to forgive this person. It is especially exciting to preach and have people drink in the message.

For those of you who are wondering, we had twelve Mongolian adults out on Sunday - not a bad number for us.