My Sheep

Hello!
  It has been a wonderful summer.  But our warm summer days are now winding down.  After I returned from my home leave, we had our in country retreat and it was powerful.  Our speaker Liz Dickson has an organization called Love Unveiled and she spoke an incredible message to help myself and our staff to realize our beauty in Christ.  It was a powerful time and really got me thinking.  I returned to Mongolia a bit concerned about my future with two close friends soon leaving (who I work with and who mentors me), but through the retreat I came to realize I need to be fully filled and content in Jesus Christ alone.  He will provide all I need.  Then I made a quick trip to Seoul with a friend who needed medical attention.  We had no medical issues on the plane and were able to get her to a cardiologist in Seoul right away.  Her health is better now.  We had our third and final heart camp of the summer.  Almost 50 children attended.  I will have to do another blog to share some life changing stories from camp.  I was blessed to attend a retreat in Cambodia for SP's Asia workers.  We had several fabulous speakers and time for rest and reflection.  I was most moved by a speaker preaching on the Holy Spirit and I am really working on knowing, trusting, and leaning on God's Holy Spirit living inside of me.  I have always enjoyed 2 Peter 1:3 "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness."   
  This week a family gave me a sheep.  Their son had surgery in Toronto this year and out of thanksgiving for how our project helped them, they gave me a sheep.  But it is not anything I did, but how God is working through us.  To Him be the glory!  So the pictures below chronicle the sheep's end.  If you are squeamish, do not look to far down on these pictures.  This family has 1000 animals.  I shared a lot of the meat, the head, the fat, organs, and stomach contents, but what is left (meat only) is in my freezer.  Pretty crazy that mid afternoon he was running around and 6  hours later in my freezer.  Wow!
  September has been a good month.  We have had several visitors and my cousin arrived last week to stay with me until late October.  She is taking a gap year and is here to help with different projects including spending time at a community center in the ger district, an orphanage, and teaching English.  We have one child in Canada now who will have surgery later this month and are preparing several groups. 
  Thanks for tuning in and remember Mongolia and its people in your prayers.   
Blessings,
Emily

At Angkor Wat in Cambodia

These temples were built in the 12th centuries, but only rediscovered in the 19th century, but totally overgrown.

The trees had taken over the buildings.

Feeding an elephant a pineapple

Isn't she cute!

I rode the elephant with my friends Lora and Lori

 

Herding up the sheep in the countryside of Mongolia

Trying to catch one for me.

Here he is.

Skinning it

Taking out the abdominal contents. 

Amsterdam and Kiawah Pictures

I have been enjoying my home leave so much.  After leaving East Africa, I went to Amsterdam as I had always dreamed to see the Ten Boom home.  This devout Christian family helped hide many Jewish people during WWII and her books are so inspiring to read about her commitment and faith in Jesus Christ.  Along with visiting the Ten Boom home, I also went to the Anne Frank House, Rijksmuseum, and the Van Gogh museum.  Then I headed to the US for a quick visit to a small church in Texas that some dear friends lead, and then to St. Louis.  I was blessed to be able to travel to Kiawah Island, South Carolina with my parents, one nephew, and three friends.  Relaxing, bike riding, eating good food, and enjoying the beach was amazing. 

Ten Boom Home in Haarlem, Netherlands

The cheeses in Amsterdam were delicious!

Standing in the hiding place where the ten Boom's held Jewish people in during WWII.

There are so many beautiful house boats around Amsterdam and I stayed in one. 

Outside the Anne Frank house

View from my canal tour

It was quite rainy.  Behind is the Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum recently reopened and was an amazing opportunity to see some of the world's finest artwork. 

Rembrandt's Night Watch

The Van Gogh museum showed many amazing pieces of his artwork.

Yummy quiches

Outside our favorite restaurant in Charleston, SC with my parents, nephew Noah, Kelly and Rusty, and Sarah

We managed to all get in one self photo

And most importantly my new nephew Brady Thomas Arneson born Father's Day.  What a precious gift from Jesus!

Tanzania Pictures

Reunion with the Grade 5 students at Amani School

Amani School is growing with 7 classes now and one more to add each year for the next two years and it will have 2 kindergarten classes and grades 1-7.

The final new classroom building

Mbwana, a 7 year old boy with Down's who I worked so much with.  He is now walking!

The kids who lived next door are growing up. 

With my Tanzanian Grandfather

Village ladies walking to do their laundry

Oranges were being harvested and they were delicious

It was Mary's last week in the village after 9.5 years working in this community.

Wayne and Joyce were my teammates and are now working in Kenya.

I love this picture (taken by Mary)

With Kado who I cared about so much.

With Mama Sara, our pastor's wife and teacher at Amani School

Mary was in a sweater and I was in a tank top.  That is the difference of where we live (Mongolia vs Tanzania).

Mbwana was so scared of me at first, but then warmed up to me. 

Boba, another special needs kiddo I worked with

A true African picture

Faces of those who need surgery

Anudari, VSD, PFO

Tuguldur, VSD, urgently needs surgery

Ireedui, VSD, urgently needs surgery

Enkhmunkh, Tetralogy of Fallot

Irmuun, VSD, urgently needs surgery

Enkhriilen, VSD, urgently needs surgery

Anuujin, Tetralogy of Fallot

Enkhbileg, VSD

Ganchimeg, VSD, Coarc, urgently needs surgery



Bayarjavkhlan, VSD

Please pray for these children and many more who need surgery from Mongolia.  Children's Heart Project works in 4 countries throughout the world, so we pray hospitals in North America open their doors and hearts to these special children to give them an opportunity to live long, healthy, lives after open heart surgery.