Baptisms

There were three baptized today. Togsoo joins his wife as a baptized Christian. She was baptized last spring. Both of them are currently working with Ganpurev and me through a Bible study course for new believers that we have used before.

Togsoo is a big fellow, even taller than I am. Because we were baptizing in the main current of the river, it was quite a challenge to get him under the water and back up again.

Bysaa and his wife Ganchimeg were also baptized. They also were saved recently and have been studying the Bible weekly with Ganpurev and me.

We had an unusual thing happen to us. We have baptized in this portion of the river that passes through the city several times before. Today for the first time we had a soldier approach us. Ganpurev talked with him and for a minute I thought that he might tell us that we were not allowed to be at this portion of the river and must move on. But he did not. When Ganpurev explained to him that we were Christians and wanted to baptize people in the river he gave his approval.

There is also a definite praise that I should mention. In the week leading up to the baptism we had some rather cold days. Many of us had been praying for good weather on Sunday, and God granted our request. The weather was perfect: warm, not too windy, and bright sun. The water was still frigid though.

For the first time that I can remember, we combined both the Mongolian-speaking service and the English-speaking service. Bill preached to one group while I preached to the other group. Without planning, both Bill and I picked similar passages from which to preach.

It is always exciting to baptize new believers. These three new believers represent two more families united in Christ for which I am thankful!

September prayer letter

It is exciting whenever a Mongolian becomes a Christian. Recently, however there have been three professions of faith that are perhaps for me, a little more exciting. The reason is these three new Christians double the number of families we have at the church in which both the husband and wife are saved.

In one of the cases, just recently the husband made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ. His wife was saved and baptized last year. We have been praying for her husband’s salvation since that time. It is thrilling to see him become a Christian, grow in his love for God’s word, and be eager to serve in the church.
The other two are a husband and wife couple. They have been attending off and on since last fall. More off than on. The husband works strange hours that keep him from coming to church as often as he would like. I have been praying that God would give him a job that allows him to provide for his family, be at every church service, and to study God’s word daily.

There are three reasons why I particularly rejoice in the salvation of these three and the addition of two saved families. Punctuality is not something that Mongolians value. It is not uncommon for half the folks to come after we have begun. On a recent Sunday morning, I looked out on the folks that were on time. Seven of the eight Mongolians that were on time were members of those four families.

Not only that, but three of the four families are actively involved in our home Bible study program. I have known for some time that when both the husband and wife are saved there is a higher level of involvement in the church’s activities and a greater willingness and ability to serve.

Finally, these saved couples have an opportunity to work together to raise their children in Christian homes where the husband loves his wife as Christ loves the church and raises his children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Their children will have a unique opportunity to grow up in a Christian home.

Kristie and I were discussing the other day how differently Mongolians approach life’s challenges. Where our parents taught us the most important and joyful choice that we could make was to serve God, most Mongolians want to advance their careers or the education of their children. If we are going to impact Mongolian culture for our Savior’s glory, it will be through entire families that put our Lord and Savior first. These families have a chance to do just that.

These three who have recently made professions of faith are to be baptized soon. Please pray for their continued growth in Jesus Christ. It would be wonderful to see these families be shining testimonies to our Savior’s miraculous grace!

Manlai's wedding

About two months ago, Ganpurev told me that he would need some time off to travel to the countryside in October because his nephew was having a wedding. I thought little of it; his nephew is in his early 20's and has already served his time in the military. It was about time that he got married.

Last week, Ganpurev told me that Manlai was still looking for a bride. I was surprised and told Ganpurev so. "I though Manlai was having a wedding. How can he be having a wedding if he isn't getting married."

Ganpurev explained it to me this way. To countryside Mongolians there are usually two things that happen at a wedding which is called хурим in Mongolian. The first is that two people get married. However, at the same time the groom's family gives him a ger for him to live in with his new wife.

It seems that Manlai doesn't have a girlfriend, but his father has a ger prepared for him. Another relative was getting married nearby at the same time. So Manlai's father thought it would be handy to have both weddings at the same time. After all, the ger is ready and wasting away in storage.

So whether there is a bride or not, there will be a wedding for Manlai in October. Manlai seems convinced that he'll find someone to marry him in the next few weeks. I hope he does.

First snow

It snowed here yesterday just as forecast. I wanted to spend some time outside with a friend and man to whom I've been witnessing but the weather was too nasty yesterday: snow and wind. I've posted pictures of it out my window on a clear day and yesterday. It went from 84° on Friday afternoon to 32° on Saturday afternoon.

Cold weather is coming!

The weather here has been great recently. September is often like that; not too hot, not too cold, not too windy, mostly sunshine. But it looks as if cold weather is headed our way. Here is the weather forecast for the weekend:

Forecasters are predicting high winds over the weekend too.

Weekly update

I have been encouraged recently to have two husband-wife couples who are eager to study God's word. Bysaa & Ganchimeg and Togsoo & Gantuya have been eager to meet to study the Bible. Because Bysaa's job and Togsoo's job do not allow them to study at the same time, I recently split them into two groups. There has been some interest on the part of another young lady in our church to join us. However, she has moved out of town a ways recently. Still, these two families that are studying are an encouragement to me. Pray that they would continue to be diligent in preparation before our lessons as they have some homework to do and diligent after the lessons to apply the things that they are learning to their lives.

Both these men need our prayers because they have jobs that keep them very busy. Togsoo works about 10 hours a day, 6 days a week. Bysaa works 24 hours on the job and then has 24 hours off before he must report back to work. Because he cannot sleep on the job, he usually spends a large portion of the 24 hours away from work sleeping. It has been hard for him to come to church on Sunday because he is either at work or asleep. I have been asking God to provide them with jobs that will provide for their families and allow them to be active at church and to spend time studying God's word.

The building continues to move forward. My foreman who is overseeing the construction tells me that this week they will finish the second floor ceiling. After that they will need to stucco the outside of the building and finish the roof before winter. Inside, the first floor still needs to be poured and some electrical work remains to be done. But it is looking like the work will be completed before I leave for the States in November.

Thank you for praying.

Sunday update

Let's be frank: not every Sunday is spectacular. Today had its share of foibles. First, I have been struggling with allergies. Today, my eyes seemed to be having trouble focusing on the page in front of me. Because the print in our Mongolian hymn books is rather small, I was having trouble reading the print. More than once, I sang the wrong words when I was trying to read the songs.

But I was not the only one; Ganpurev was reading a verse, accidentally turned an extra page, and kept reading as if he were on the right page. The verse became rather silly when he did that. He paused, looked back at the previous page where he had been reading and realized what he had done. "Let's start reading again from the beginning," he said and was re-read the verse, correctly that time.

But we also had a new thing happen. Togsoo came early and asked if he could lead the congregation in singing one of the songs. I was stunned. I had never had someone approach me and ask if they could lead the congregational singing, even for one song. I happily said yes, and it turned out rather well. Perhaps Togsoo will lead congregational singing while I am gone on furlough.

Good Bible studies

Ganpurev and I have been leading basic Bible studies with two families: Bysaa and his wife Ganchimeg, and Togsoo and his wife Gantuya. (For those of you trying to keep track of family relationships Ganchimeg and Gantuya are sisters.)

All of them have been diligently doing their assignments. Gantuya made a profession of faith last spring and was baptized. The other three recently made professions of faith and will be baptized this month, if the Lord enables.

It is encouraging to me to see young couples united in our Savior and studying the Bible together. Please pray for their spiritual growth.

From the steppes of Central Asia

I guess I should no longer be surprised at the depth of man's depravity or the abundance of God's provision. But I still am! Though I cannot share with you the details of the most recent example of man's depravity, I can share with you the abundance of God's provision.

As I was pouring over the details from August's financial statement, I discovered that someone from a town in Canada that I have never visited sent us $2,850 (Canadian). I looked at the name and could not recall ever meeting someone with that name even though the name was a memorable one. I had not solicited anyone for funds. God just sent it in. I have determined to use the money in the building project.

The building project continues to be blessed with protection from injury and good speed. I believe that by the end of this week they will be prepared to lay the pre-formed slabs on the second floor. After that it will be a matter of finish work in order to seal the building against the coming winter. To completely finish the building this year is beyond my current financial resources. However, I believe that God in His time will provide the money that will be needed for interior walls, floor coverings, a permanent heating system, plumbing, and electrical.

Pray that God would give each Christian involved in Faith Baptist Church a hatred of sin and a hunger & thirst after righteousness.

Losing my dinner

I had taken Kristie out to dinner. It was one of those "hole-in-the-wall" restaurants that you would never go into unless someone took you there. (It was the Enjoy Cafe for those of you who have visited us in Mongolia).

It is an inexpensive place with good steaks. You can buy a thin steak at that cafe for about three dollars. Add a drink & salad and the price will still be less than $5. It is within walking distance of where we live on a nice fall evening. We took a walk there while a babysitter watched the kids. Kristie ordered a bowl of soup; I asked for a steak. (If you ever come to Mongolia and go to Enjoy Cafe, get the steak not the soup).

I had eaten a salad and about half of the steak and found myself pleasantly full. I thought I would take the rest of the steak home because Caleb really enjoys the steaks at Enjoy Cafe. Kristie and I were conversing and enjoying the evening out. Suddenly a drunk man staggered into the cafe. Public drunkenness is not an unusual spectacle in Mongolia; we did not think much of it.

The waitresses quickly confronted him. But it turned out that he just wanted the two liter coke bottle that he was carrying filled up with water. They waitress was kind enough to put water in his bottle as he swayed at the counter. He was on his way out the door when he came by our table. I try to avoid eye contact with drunks as they sometimes get violent with foreigners. Since we were the only foreigners in the restaurant, I thought it would be best to just ignore him.

So I really was not paying attention as he traveled by our table and napped the half of a steak that was sitting on my plate. The waitresses were aghast. One of them hurried over to our table and offered me another new steak. I declined because I was already full. Kristie and I both laughed over the incident. We were shocked that the drunk man purloined my sirloin.