Where do I even begin! First off, I would like to share about something that has been on my heart. Before I left, my dad shared a video with me about Jesus being our intercessor. It was a powerful short video about how Jesus has interceded for us and our sins. So as I was reading through Hebrews, I was struck by Hebrews 7:25 “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” Jesus has interceded for us to bridge the gap from death to life, from sin to salvation, and from bondage to freedom. The Holy Spirits intercedes on our behalf as Romans 8:26 states, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” The Holy Spirit is interceding in our hearts to work on our weaknesses and interceding with prayers. So I am struck by how I can intercede for others. I can pray. I can serve. I can give my time. I can love. I can share. My prayer is that I do intercede for others especially through prayer as I know all my prayers are answered!
Many people have asked about what life is like in Mongolia. First off, I am in the country of Mongolia. Inner Mongolia is a region in China. I live in the capitol city of UlaanBaatar which is where about 40% of the population lives, creating the worst traffic. Another 10% of the population lives in other cities and the rest are the last truly nomadic population in the world. The nomads have large herds of animals and are on the move to where grazing is good. The winters are long and harsh, so much of the livestock barely makes it through the winter. The animals they herd differ depending on what part of the country nomads live in (from the Gobi to nearly in Siberia). They have cows, sheep, horses, yaks, goats, camels, and reindeer and they milk them all! This is hard to imagine, but yes they drink the milk of all those animals. Next week when I am in the countryside, I will probably get to try mare’s milk (horse) and the best part is that the way they prepare it is by putting it in a large canister and allowing it to ferment. Good thing I packed my pepto bismal! Their diet is almost all meat and dairy products. And these people love to eat. They could put my dad to shame! Yet they stay so thin. I think it is all the walking they do it get places. Most nomads and even people living in the city, live in what is called a ger. It is a circular tent like structure that can be packed up and moved easily. It is one large circular room with a stove in the middle. The outhouse is outside. There is no running water in it, but some have electricity or a solar panel. Living in this type of housing is a full time job. It is a hard life, but it is the Mongolia life. Mongolians are so friendly when you get to know them. Not many people speak English, so getting around is still a bit challenging. One sad thing that is happening here is a massive building boom. They are putting up apartments and more expats are here because of the mining industry that is growing. This is driving prices up and things are already expensive. There is no middle class. I am concerned for the majority of Mongolians with prices getting higher. Also, Russia stopped selling Mongolia diesel fuel a few months ago which is a real problem. This could drive prices up even more.
I am living in an apartment on the 8th story of an old Soviet style apartment building. I have an elevator, but I call it pac man, as it’s doors practically eat you if you do not get in quick enough. I have a small kitchen and then two bedrooms and a living room. My TV has 100 channels , but only a couple English channels. I hope to be getting internet in my house, then I can keep people up to date better. It is furnished but I need to spice up the walls. I bought a beautiful wall hanging and have some pictures and a map up. My washer is new, but in the old style with a wash basin on one side and a spinner on the other, so when doing a wash it has to be moved back and forth to the spinner. The heat comes on September 15th and is turned off May 15th. The city is heated through steam heat that is piped throughout the town. This is a very old system, but hopefully will work well. I can get most groceries, but have to go to several shops to find all I need which takes a lot of time as they are all around town. There are a few good restaurants that I have tried out, even some that I can walk too. I hope to find a good taxi driver to take me on my errands every Saturday. If you have a good recipe, let me know as I am doing much more cooking and baking. Our weather has been just plain crazy. It has rained the last two days all day which is very atypical. Streets are flooding as there is no drainage. The world’s climate is changing.
My job is going quite well. A lot is going on with our program this summer as we are having our first summer heart camps for children who have benefitted from Children’s Heart Project. Our first camp had 50 campers and next week we are doing another camp in the countryside. Our third camp will be in an area to the far west in Mongolia in August. I am blessed with the most amazing staff! Each person deeply loves the Lord and is very gifted in different ways. I have a lot to learn in this new working environment outside of hospital nursing. Today I was able to visit an American doctor who has worked here in Mongolia for 10 years. She works out of the main pediatric hospital. It was definitely a third world hospital, but a step up from what I saw in Tanzania. I cried many times after visiting hospitals in Tanzania, but did not cry after seeing the hospital today. They even had a pediatric intensive care unit with two ventilators and oxygen and monitoring at each bedside. I was a bit impressed by this. I look forward to getting to know the doctors who work here. They truly do it for the love of caring for children as the government pays them next to nothing and the hours are endless.
I have many prayers requests you could join with me and pray:
· For the state of the Mongolian church-that it would grow and mature and have a heart for discipleship and service
· Our program with our camps this summer, may we connect with many children and may those children grow in their relationship with the Lord and share what they learn at camp with their friends and family
· Safe travels to camp next week for our camp staff and all the children and families traveling to camp
· My job role is extensive, so prioritizing what needs to be done and balancing my life here
· That I make friends and decide on a church home and make connections there (I have been to two expat churches, and two Mongolian churches)
· Settling into my life here!
Well I got get to bed. I hope to put up some pictures if I get my internet in my home this Friday.
Blessings,
EM
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