Kittitas Middle School Basketball Coaching

A photo with the A-team after our last game of the fall season.

With B and C teams included, we had 27 players in all.  I believe a good time was had by all.

Christmas Lights at Leavenworth

We drove about an hour on a Thursday night after school to beat the crowds

with Grandma.  None of us had ever seen the Christmas decor before.

Maggie and Renee Made a Gingerbread House

This kids and their cousins helped decorate

Clara 5th Grade Basketball

 Her team ranged from 5th to 8th grade.  As one of the younger players, this was her first time playing on a team.

She had great coaches and good season.  They were nearly undefeated, winning their age group!

Visiting Grandpa

Josiah and I drove over to Seattle to see grandpa on Friday.  

His new place at Crista Ministries is quite nice!  

His apartment is roomy and clean.

It has a chapel, Bible studies, a pastor, and Sunday services.

It has a couple pets for the kids to look at.

He even got a little school credit for making a card for someone in a nursing home, and 'smiling at everyone you pass'.  

Snowy Christmas Tree Trip

We joined our friends on a trip to the mountains of Manastash Road to retrieve our Christmas tree.

It was like a sleigh ride with a purpose, and with 4 wheel drive instead of four hoof horse power.

After we got it back home and most of the snow knocked and thawed off, we started decorating.

Folks provided ornaments.  Then later a box of lights arrived from the same friends who helped us get the tree.  Thank you Hudsons, Merry Christmas!

We Are a Family!

Happy Thanksgiving! This video seems appropriate to share with our worldwide family now.

In it, you can see our Mongolian sister Toya pronounce "and distant lands"

from the Steppes of Mongolia outside our town of Darhan.  It is true, we are a family spread all over, "to the ends of the Earth".  Here's being thankful for being in a big healthy family with still more to do.

Mongolian Alliance Church Celebrates 20 Years!

Nikdovnihon (One Hill People) was the first to be started by Alliance Missionaries 20 years ago.  The church sends their thanks for their Alliance family as they celebrate this milestone.

Thanks to our colleague Ryan for sending along this picture.  God has used this church throughout two decades to proclaim the gospel, help the poor, plant other churches, call and train pastors.  

By last count 'Nikdov' is the first of about 17 small Alliance churches in Mongolia.  Praise the Lord!

North Ridge Basketball Academy and Church

After speaking at North Ridge Alliance Church on Sunday, Jeremy spent the week observing the Academy operations and understanding the philosophy behind it.  

This nice facility on the church property has hosted NRBA for all of its 10 years of sustainable ministry sharing the gospel of Jesus with area basketball students and their families.

There's also a strength training aspect to the Academy called Explode.  https://www.nrbasketballacademy.com

The most important part of the ministry is sharing scriptural truth and prayer for the student's strength to be established on timeless truth, whose name is Jesus.

Coach Steven shares with a student from scripture after teaching his basketball lesson.

High School Choir

Maggie and Lydia with their friends perform at "Evening on Broadway"

Ellensburg High School Homecoming

Clara Turns Eleven

Two parties and two cakes is not too much for our now 'tween' fifth grade princess.

Grandma looks on the opening of presents at our home in Ellensburg.

Her sponsoring church from Perrysburg, OH sent this nice embroidered suitcase.

Renee made Clara's favorite cake.

And Aunt Katy made her this cake the night before in Kirkland.

Island Church of Whidbey

 After speaking to about 20 men over breakfast in Langley, WA Saturday, Scott took Josiah and I to see the oldest Cedar tree around.  They claim it's about 500 years old.  It's also hollow, and alive.

The church put us up on this beautiful beach property for two nights.

Someone at church also mentioned there was a store in Langley that sold Mongolian goods.  These are the slippers I wear which are made and Mongolia and exported by 'Mary and Martha' to...

"Music for the Eyes".  Here's the web address in case you're in the market for some good slippers ;-} http://www.musicfortheeyes.com

Soccer Season

Josiah announced he wanted to play soccer this summer.

Here's pictures from his first game this fall.

Living Hope at Sun Cove

Our new friends at Living Hope Alliance Church in Wenatchee invited us up to Sun Cove to finish out their missions conference this past weekend.  

Their pastor and his kids took us out on the boat for a ride on the Columbia River.

And three of our kids actually bounced around on the river behind the boat on this giant tube!

It was great to get to know them and that we share a common mission.  Also great to worship our great God and Creator of all this beauty together on Sunday under the theme 'AWAKEN'.

Cross Country Season Opener

Maggie and Lydia started running cross-country this year.  Their first meet was held right in Ellensburg at our favorite summer swim spot, People's Pond.

Schools from all over the state came to participate in this 5-peson relay style invitational.

Here is Lydia starting our her leg of the race with a smile.  We all enjoyed our first-ever look at Cross Country.  Running is still not that enjoyable they say, but "fun when you're done". ;-D

Good Article on Life in Mongolia's Capital

It claims Ulaanbaatar is the most polluted capital city in the world.  It also describes how that influences one Mongolian family, as a microcosm of the country's conundrum.

http://time.com/longform/ulan-bator-mongolia-most-polluted-capital/

We Are Not Alone

Here's a cool video showing how many people like us were called to serve God through missions...

https://www.cmalliance.org/video/watch/38594/?autoplay=true&utm_source=enews&utm_medium=button3&utm_campaign=enews-082918

Three Ministry Positions Open in Mongolia

Feel free to contact us or the Alliance if interested or feeling called to serve.

They are all viewable here in order of urgency:

https://www.cmalliance.org/jobs/international/north-and-central-asia/mongolia/bookkeeping-in-beautiful-mongolia/

https://www.cmalliance.org/jobs/international/north-and-central-asia/mongolia/development-coordinator/

https://www.cmalliance.org/jobs/international/north-and-central-asia/mongolia/mongolia-church-planting-facilitator/

Our Van and Home for the Year

We are grateful for the new place to live...

and the new van to drive.  Thanks for your prayers.

Pastor's Final Sermon

I caught the last words of a faithful preacher of the gospel to his congregation via their website.  The message is worth sharing: "Choose Christ"  You can view this careful wake up call here:

http://codycma.org/connect/media?id=1338694 

Country Summer Scene...

From the other side of the world...sent from our colleagues of their kids in the cool rainy weather...

While we're here raising awareness and prayer, they serve there...

Tourist's View Of Mongolia

Now and again I just wonder what's going on over there, and search for news.  Recently found this pretty good travelogue of some places I haven't been yet in Mongolia.  You might enjoy it too, if only for the cool pictures.

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/asia/mongolia-nomad-homestay-family-camping-khogno-tarna-national-park-a8475906.html

Longest Horse Race - Interesting Article

https://www.gjsentinel.com/lifestyle/ride-of-a-lifetime/article_bc1cdc04-9864-11e8-9c4e-10604b9f6eda.htmll

Cle Elum Roundup Fun

Johanna and Clara enjoy shaved ice at the Cle Elum Rodeo up in the pines.  Friends from church gave us tickets for the whole family.

Josiah competed in the Mutton Busting (sheep riding) competition.

Here he is with Grandpa Joe, who holds a printed program to this new professional rodeo.  Grandpa is a two-time champion of the Pendleton Roundup in Oregon.

Lee Family Visit

On their circum-continental 10,000+ mile tour around America from New York, our friends and colleagues in ministry in Mongolia visited us for an overnight in Roslyn, WA.

We enjoyed seeing their pictures of New Mexico, The Grand Canyon, and Oregon Coast among other great treasures of "This Land is Your Land, From California the the New York Island"  

God bless them as they prepare to get back to Mongolia in mid-August for a third term serving Jesus with the Alliance.  Who will join us?  

(Jeremy is holding one of Jason's parting gifts, packets of Ginseng Concentrate from Korea)

Camping for Lydia's 15th Birthday

Cle Elum River rolls beside our campsite.

Even Renee spent two days swimming in its chilly waters.

At 2,200+ altitude it's a great place to be during the 90+ degree days of summer.

Aunt Jeanne and Michael stayed in the next campsite and helped with meals.

Lydia opens presents after enjoying her mom's homemade carrot cake.

Celebrating Lydia as she Turns 15

Here we are at Wild Waves water park on the way up the splash

And at Camano Island for cake with cousin Chloe