Friendship Club

Enjoying conversation, singing and a short english sunday school lesson for Mongolian teenagers wishing to improve their english. It is run by Myrna, a Filipino lady who is an english as second language school teacher for ninth graders. The girls were eager to sing and we had lots of giggles.

Walking

Scene from after church today. We turned the corner to three cows running through the streets with a traditionally dressed man and woman following closely behind. I am still a bit spooked by the wandering cows due to their size (and their horns) so always quickly pull Manasa in front of me....just in case! hahaha . There are some dogs that also roam the street but so far they have all been friendly. They typically do belong to a family however they run around the streets and are often just barely missed on the streets by the taxis.

Ger tent for church

Our church is in a traditional 'Ger' tent. Ive included a description from Wikipedia to describe it. Sometimes my clothes smell a bit like charcoal after our service. Im always warm and we take off our coats when come in (but keep on our boots). Traditionally people sit in a circle around the inside. Also it is used as a house with division enough for just a bed, a sitting area and near the stove is the kitchen . For church however we seat the chairs behind the stove facing a podium. We have lights, projector and microphone so electricity is used in the tent also. The 'ger' is the mongolian word for Yurt, however there are a few differences as seen in the description:

"The structure comprises a crown or compression wheel (tüýnük) usually steam bent, supported by roof ribs which are bent down at the end where they meet the lattice wall (again steam bent). The top of the wall is prevented from spreading by means of a tension band which opposes the force of the roof ribs. The structure is usually covered by layers of fabric and sheeps-wool felt for insulation and weatherproofing. The similar Mongolic nomadic structure the ger is often wrongly referred to by westerners as a yurt but differs in that the heavier roof wheel (toono) is supported on posts and the roof ribs are straight rather than bending down at the wall junction. The wall lattice is of a ger is constructed of straight pieces as opposed to the the yurt's curved lattice."

Pot Pies?

Making a dish similar to pot pies- some of them had chicken and corn (no sauce) while the other had a milk/cheese mixture. Both had pie crust on top to make little 'pie'- like appetizers. Was fun cooking with the kids and have become found of Oroongo (spelling is probably not correct) who lives downstairs and comes up every other day or so. Her english is very good and she enjoys practicing. She is also learning German and hopes to visit Germany for a week long exchange program next year. She also plays piano well and competed this weekend. There have been reports of some drunk men in our building, with rumors of them kidnapping a young girl, so Oroongo and the other girls always leave together, or with Manasa to stay safe. Unfortunately children's innocence leaves too quickly in any nation. Over all Mongolia has been a very safe place to go and many women live alone in apartments. The next pictures are of some of the other children showing me their dance (they are in their black and white dance outfits). The dance was not a traditional Mongolian dance but rather what seemed a 'pop' song. We've had lots of laughs singing and dancing together. Friday night we prayed for one of the girls who has a reoccuring ear problem that doctors are unable to explain. We are praying that God uses this time to heal her and in that testify to her family of the TRUE God

pizza pic

Pizza night

Pizza Night! Manasa , Boonoo and I ordered pizza last night. I was surprised by the 'selection' of pizzas including tuna pizza, Kimche (Korean), eggplant etc... We ordered the meat pizza and I was surprised that there was little to no pizza sauce on the pizza, instead a couple of 'ketchup' packets were included. Not quite the same taste but it was fine! Also love that coke products can be found anywhere with Korean, Russian or Mongolian translations.

Skyping

Thankful that mongolia has regular internet system as I was able to 'skype' with my parents the other day and check email regularly. One friend Evonia, even has 'magic jack' phone system from the USA that connects through her internet here. It carries a Boston phone number so her family in America is able to call a local number, yet through the internet, reach Evonia here in Mongolia. If I had regular internet connection in Brisbane I would certainly consider that option as it's easy to contact Americans through their cell phones. They also use cell phones and texting here in Mongolia. Their television carries a few english stations including BBC, the Cartoon Network and one Australian channel . The rest are either from Russia or Mongolia. Yesterday there was a Korean program about learning Mongolian.... Wow! Not too many seem to speak English fluently however the children have the choice of Japanese, English and German in school.

Truly a mongolian

It is still around -20 degrees in Mongolia and when you have to face the cold you quickly adapt to the warmest options, thus the big winter coats (layers!) , mittens and hats. They have taxis that run continuously and are about one dollar a passenger to get half way across town. These 'taxis' are simply individual runs with their own cars so if one would want to make some extra gas money they could just pick up passengers on the side of the road. There are some 'vans' that act more like a regular bus system but I have yet to see anything more convenient that the 'taxis'. The driving still amazes me as it is not uncommon to pass two or three cars within inches. The Mongolians live a difficult life when you look at how they have to face the elements everyday. The kids seem to make the most of it as they have created a skating rink within a block of our apartment and spend time there during breaks at school. On the lower level of most apartment complexes are individually owned 'stores' that carry common bathroom and kitchen needs, very helpful in cold weather.

Relationship building

Lots of fellwship opportunties. \here a few of the girls in Yvonnias building came over for some tea and to practice english. \lots of laughs

Water damage

While picking me up in the capital, Manasa received a call that his apartment was flooding and causing damage to the apartment below him, which is a Mongolia pastor, his American wife and four kids. They broke into the apartment to find one of the hot water pipes had rusted through. God often causes 'distractions' to missionaries when they are making progress on the field!

Roomate in Mongolia

I am staying with a Brazilian missionary , Yvonnia, in her apartment. The apartments here are very much 'Russian' influenced with blocks of apartments. They also burn their trash in an inside oven, and often have electricity and plumbing issues. She is only the second other non-Mongolian on the  YWAM base and I admire her love for children and her persistance in learning the language....

Arriving in Mongolia

Mongolia is hitting -20 degrees almost everyday so the first and most important present i received after stepping off the plane was a pair of boots, scarf and gloves.

Safely in Mongolia

Arrived safely in Mongolia, and my bag is in one piece and on time also ! Cannot complain about any of the airlines. I was hit with major stomach flu the nightbefore I was to fly out and had my parents pray over me. I was still throwing up at 5am but got in the car at 10am and headed to the airport. Im sure Satan was attacking as I head back into the missions field....so thankful that the prayer warriors around the world were praying for me as my stomach stayed settled throughout the flights. I can now catch up on some jetlag. Listened to a Joye Meyer podcast on the plane and she said when you make a COMMITMENT for Christ, a decision or change than you can EXPECT to face the storm- but never alone- always in Gods hands. Another thing to be thankful for - being met with a pair of boots, mittens and a scarf as it is -17 degrees celcius here in Ulan Bator. Beautiful snowy mountains (im told they are more stunning in the summer) and some crazy 'cut you off' drivers! Our taxi driver even got out of the car to argue with a truck driver! So far every Mongolian Ive met has been very gracious and nice~ looking forward to more learning opportunities and appreciate your prayers for continued health and safety!

Half way to Mongolia

Flu the night before flying back to the missions field-- devil's schemes are becoming predictable! Im 2 flights into a 4 flight trip to Mongolia.... " I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"

Fun Facts about Mongolia

Temperatures have long cold winter and short warm summers. Ulaanbaatar is the coldest capital in the world, averaging minus 30°C in January. The warmest month, July, averages plus 25°C.

The main religion in the country is Tibetan Buddhism, which is enjoying a strong revival since the end of Soviet domination in 1990. Other religions are freely practiced. Churches of numerous Christian denominations can be found in both the capital and the countryside. The minority Kazakh
population in the far west is largely Muslim.

Over 90% of the Mongolian population speaks the Kalkh dialect of the Mongolian language.


Info from http://www.landex.mn/docs/Info_Mongolia.pdf