LIFE ON THE FRONTIER

    I will try to include a picture of the image I see out my window this afternoon.  A quote from a movie comes to mind; “dozens of the prettiest little homes you ever did see. . . . “

            Last October, 27^th to be exact—just 8 months ago today, we pulled in to our new town where Jeremy had been living and working off and on all summer and the girls and I had visited 2 or 3 times.  A fresh snowfall welcomed us and our truck of belongings accompanied by the helping hands of our field director and his wife and my mother too!

  Our neighborhood consisted of 5 finished log cabins and two in progress, all on the edge of town.  We were told our neighborhood would be twelve families in all.

             Today it looks like I am viewing a city of little Lincoln Log homes—roofs every color of the rainbow—red, blue, green and silver too!  Our “neighborhood” is multiplying overnight—now easily thirty little homes.  You can maybe imagine the excitement that courses through us as we rejoice in where God has us and the work that He is and will be doing here.  Sometimes we find ourselves asking, “Now God?” This God?”, searching for just how and when He will establish His blessing and pour out His Kingdom here.  Yes, it feels very much like school again as we learn to wait, to pray and to recognize the path before us.  We are learning that Mongolians, while they are friendly and very hospitable, especially to strangers, are also very guarded and slow to hand out that trust and friendship that we long for.  We are learning that they place value on their group or circle of belonging and approaching a Mongolian as an individual is scary for them and unyielding for us.  Quick friendships often but not always dovetail in requests for money or a ticket to America.  Mongolians have a strong desire to be linked with the global community and would like to be contributors to wealth and not just receivers—and especially when it comes to showing off their skills with a herd—whether it be racing, milking, or creating useful dairy products.  We are learning some of their felt needs:  Learing English (not always a need shared by both children and parents alike)

To create a better life for the next generation

To contribute to the global community

To better themselves through status and education and acceptance by the group

At this point in my writing I feel as though I am writing a report or an anthropological study.  We want you all to know that we value your prayers, your support, your contact and connection with us (even during these somewhat uncomfortable times for us Americans—the waiting).  As we visit neighbors next door and 40 Km into the countryside, as we have opportunity to pray and see the Lord’s hand of blessing on this land through rain, and income for the people, as we welcome the neighborhood into our place for hours of fun in the sun and wait out a quarantine for HFM disease, as we watch new life surge in our garden, and pray for new life to exceed all we ask or imagine in the form of Mongolian believers—we are thrilled to be where God has us in this moment.  Please join us in our rejoicing!