Well I have some amazing news to report, it’s official, I can now be a Mongolian resident. Hip Hip Hooray! I arrived to Seoul and headed straight for the Mongolian Embassy. They found my paperwork quickly, I spoke with the Consular, paid the fee, and the next morning when they opened my visa was ready. This is a true blessing from the Lord! I had allowed some extra time in my trip in case of some difficulties, but there was none. Now I just have to get registered at immigration in Ulaanbaatar to get my residency card and I am set. Praise the Lord!
While I was in Korea, I figured I should make the most of the experience and I went on a tour of the DMZ. This was a very eye opening experience to see the border of the most closed nation in the world. The DMZ is the 4 km wide zone that runs the length of the Korean peninsula separating the north from the south. A US Army soldier told the history of this area since the Korean War including many stories of what has happened on the border. It is estimated that only 20,000 people have escaped the north in the last 60 years-that’s not very many. My heart was so burdened for the people. Many of the details of what I heard on this tour are extremely sad, so I encourage you to be praying that the Gospel can give people hope in the north. It may seem impossible to reach people in such a closed area, but God is bigger than borders, dictators, etc. We were able to step foot inside the north inside a building where they hold negotiations. We also saw the Bridge of No Return, the Third Tunnel, and a train station the south built in hopes that it will someday be an international train station. One night as I had dinner in Seoul, where it is so modernized and developed, I had left overs from my meal. And I sat and thought about that food as people are starving to death just over the border and I have more than enough. Please, please, please pray for the people of the north.
I hit a few markets as I always love seeing open air markets. I found some good deals on things I need for my apartment in UB. And I even tried lots of traditional Korean Food. It is very good and healthy, for the most part. But I stuck to veggie dishes as I did not want to eat anything raw. I was totally impressed with Seoul. It is so easy to get around, public transportation is great, many good restaurants, and there seems to be an information desk in every major area with people who speak English to help. I highly recommend a vacation here. And if you like shopping, it is endless for very good prices. I stayed in a traditional hanok, which is a square home that has a courtyard in the middle. I loved it and it was so much cheaper than a hotel.
While I was away, there was so much going on back at the office. So I was trying to balance working from another country. Thank goodness for internet! Our container arrived last week and we have found the paperwork to get it out rather difficult. But I think we are almost done and should be able to get it out in the next few days. We also have many new children to enter into the program, so we are trying to complete their medical files. I am also making my first budget for next year. This is stretching me in a new way, but I am cranking out the numbers as best I can. I did always love math, so now I get to use it a little more.
I will try to post some pictures soon from my trip. Please be praying for our container, that we can quickly complete the medical records of our new children, and for the country on the northern end of the Korean Peninsula.
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