Well I have good news, it's getting warmer. Today it got up to -2 F. And you can tell the difference. That may seem crazy to those of you who have not experienced such frigid temps, but it does seem better. For nearly three weeks it did not get above -8 F, but I am thankful for my very warm long under ware, a down jacket, and a warm apartment.
Enough about the weather, I want to share how we have been so blessed. First off, four Mongolian children had successful surgery the last couple weeks in the US. They are recovering well and many of the the moms are seeking and asking good spiritual questions. Pray for their hearts to come to know the Truth. One mom is very excited about going to a church when she gets back. Pray for the interpreters as they witness to these families all while having a big responsibility of interpreting. One child is in route to the US and another three leave Wednesday. We are very excited to be having a visiting cardiologist here Monday and Tuesday so we can screen many very sick children. The needs are overwhelming at times, but the Lord is teaching me how to cope with it. I am also learning to leave things in His hands as that is best and control is an area of my life I need to better surrender. Would you please pray for our screening as we have many children to get through?
It is important to laugh a lot when living in another culture. We enjoyed making a funny video a few weeks ago and then Friday decided we needed to call into K Love radio station. They asked on air if the listeners were tired of winter, so we called in to tell them about our winter. It was pretty amusing, and we got to share a bit about the work we do here with Samaritan's Purse. Here are some funny things I am learning while living here: I am capable of taking a part a sink, removing the clog, and putting it back together. I can tolerate incredibly low temperature (thanks to my Scandinavian roots). We can take a part the kitchen just to retrieve a spice bottle under the cabinets. You can go to a restaurant and they have nothing to serve or are just closed. Crossing the road is like playing a live game of frogger, but currently the hazard of ice makes it rather entertaining. Our elevator is like pac man and it sometimes wants to "eat" you and it turns off at night at a random time we have yet to figure out, just glad we have not been in it. Well that's all the funnies I can think of right off hand.
I am so grateful to have Lora back working with me. She is a great friend and encourager. She has been hard at work preparing for heart camps in Mongolia by working on the curriculum and also preparing for camps in Uganda. I have such a great team both in the US and here.
Here is a sweet story Lora wrote. I think God has been teaching me a lot about hope.
This morning while Emily and I were working at the office, a beautiful grandmother came in. Her eyes were filled with pain and heartache. Two days ago her three-month-old granddaughter was diagnosed with a heart defect. The hospital gave her the news that there was nothing they could do here in Mongolia. The only hope was for her to be taken out-of-country. They gave her our name and sent her away. After a few days of searching, she found our office. Now, standing before Emily, tears filled her eyes; she was desperate for hope.
Emily’s smile seemed to wash over her and words of encouragement brought hope into her weathered eyes. After explaining the CHP project, Emily invited her to bring her granddaughter to the screening on February 7th to be seen by an American cardiologist. At this news she wiped away more tears and poured out her thankfulness that someone cared. The hope that filled the office was tangible. God used us in the heart of a precious grandmother and her family to introduce Himself anew, and He used this precious grandmother to remind us that what we pour our hearts out for each week is truly eternal.
Well that is all for now dear friends. Thanks for tuning in. I think things will slow down the next two months, so I hope to write more.
Blessings, Em
