Dear Family and Friends,
When Abram received God’s promise that all would be blessed through him and that he would be made into a great nation, it required him to take action and leave his country and his people. He began a journey guided by the Lord into a new land with a great purpose. Abraham had faith! Joshua was told to be strong and courageous as he led the Israelites into the Promised Land. These are just two of the many stories of the Old Testament of bravery and courage, but most importantly of trust and faith in the Lord, as people ventured into new territory guided by the Lord for His purpose. I am encouraged by reading these stories of the Old Testament as I begin a journey to a new land, leaving my family and friends in the US, to where I am called by the Lord.
I am writing to share about my upcoming move to Mongolia. After my time in Haiti with Samaritan’s Purse, I felt strongly the Lord was preparing me for another position using my gifts of nursing and administration and my passion for cross cultural environments. In the following months, the Lord revealed where this was to be and with whom. I am joining an amazing team with Samaritan’s Purse working with their program called Children’s Heart Project (CHP). Specifically I will be working as Program Manager encompassing my love of nursing but also administrative skills serving with a team of Mongolians and several expatriates. I leave this Thursday, June 2nd for a two year commitment.
Children’s Heart Project is a unique program which addresses the physical problem of a congenital heart defect, but also a spiritual need of a relationship with the Lord. This program works in five countries around the world and has given a new chance at life to over 600 families. Children, along with their mothers, come to the US and Canada for repair of congenital heart defects because in their home country surgical repair is not available. Two children, their mothers, and an interpreter usually make up a group coming to North America for surgery and stay a little over a month for the surgery and recovery. This is about so much more than just the life-giving heart surgery. It is about living with a host Christian family as an example of the love of Christ and becoming part of a church family. Interpreters travel with all the children and their mothers and these women are vital to sharing the truth of the Gospel and leading many as they begin their walk with the Lord. I began volunteering with CHP four years ago, first going to Mongolia and three times to Uganda. I am SUPER excited to begin working with CHP and Samaritan’s Purse. Great things are happening as the Lord uses CHP families throughout Mongolia.
Mongolia is a place being transformed by the truth of Jesus Christ. I read a statistic that in 1990 when Communist rule fell, there were only four known believers. Since that time, Christian missionaries have come and the Lord is doing mighty things in the hearts of the people. Churches are established and believers are numbered in the tens of thousands. Seeds are being planted; please pray for the workers.
Mongolia’s rugged and vast terrain is home to only three million people. I will be living in an apartment in the capitol city of Ulaanbaatar. It can be very cold in the winter which will be a stark difference from the heat and humidity of Tanzania. I look forward to learning the language of Mongolian, but thankful much of the staff speaks English. But learning the culture and language is extremely important to me. There will be many adjustments in the coming weeks.
So I am writing you today to not only share with you about this journey, but also to ask for your partnership. This ministry needs prayer, along with the people of Mongolia. God is using CHP families to reach to where missionaries cannot go in the nomadic population.
Would you please join me in prayer? Here are some specifics:
· For the people of Mongolia, that they may come to intimately know and love the Lord.
· For CHP families as many begin their walk with the Lord, may they find a solid local Christian church to grow with, especially learning the importance of discipleship.
· For me as I transition to this new working role and living in a new cross cultural environment, may the Lord equip me to do this work and for my walk with the Lord to grow further as I help lead and manage a team.
· May I build a community and family within my church (pray also for me as I find a church), my work, my apartment building, and others there working to advance the Kingdom.
· Safety and protection in travel and that all my luggage arrives!
· And for Samaritan’s Purse as they respond to so many disasters happening throughout the world.
God has paved the way for me to join this team and is preparing my heart for this service. But I ask for you to partner with me through prayer. I encourage you to check out Samaritan’s Purse’s website at http://www.samaritanspurse.org. There you can learn more about CHP and how Samaritan’s Purse is ministering to people around the world. I have also started a blogsite you can follow. The address is below. I will update it as I am able and plan to send out prayer letters every other month. I sincerely thank you for your support.
Blessings,
Emily Arneson
Please note that this letter reflects my thoughts alone.
