Meeting and Eating

Meetings are unavoidable.   Many people do not like them, see them as a waste of time, and actually sometimes they are.  But there's a dirty little secret that some of us actually like meetings.  Others avoid them at all costs.  But those are the ones who need to be reminded we are stronger when we are together, and of the scriptural command to Christians "Do not give up meeting, as some are in the habit of doing" Hebrews 10:25.  

Mongolians have a saying "two are better than one", which is convenient because this truth is also scripture(Ecclesiastes 4:9), as John Steinbeck points out in Grapes of Wrath. 

We need to meet.  Even if we argue a bit, we can emerge stronger after the storm rather than hiding behind a false sense of unity.  Communication through our screens and blogs like this has its place, but does not replace meeting face to face.  

Meetings are unavoidable and sometime tiresome.  But they are made more enjoyable by eating together.  We should not be above using bait to draw people together.  The truth is that everybody takes time to eat, why not do it together.  Below is a meeting of elected leaders of a group of churches. 

But the biggest benefit of meeting together is not eating together.   It's the strength of knowing "If one of them falls down, the other can help him up"

Also on the subject of eating, below is a picture of Cama Services CR's feeding the homeless ministry.  Our workers and volunteers have faithfully served the poor of Darhan this way through the whole winter.  God bless them all as they finish later this month.

While they wait for their food, our teachers and leaders give life lessons about health, relationships, and hope and love to those who need it so much.

Holy Spirit Fill Up

Teaching recently on Acts 2, I mentioned the Holy Spirit is sometimes referred to as "new wine".  That may be hard to prove Biblically, but when the first church folks were accused of being drunk, they were really controlled and by Holy Spirit, not alcohol.  

The Bible doesn't forbid alcohol.  Ephesians 5:18 implores God's people "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit". There is proof of similar effects since substitution is suggested by the Apostle Paul.  

I can't deny the effects of the Holy Spirit may be similar to alcohol, except for the hangover, and unhealthy effects on the body, the temple of the Holy Spirit.

I used to hear that as a kid.  But it just came back to me explaining Acts 2 to my kids.  Surprised to find they are also the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:19:

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own" 

This is a good reminder that taking care of our bodies is important because of Who lives in it, kind of like taking care of the church building.  How it looks, smells, works and is maintained, says a lot about who it belongs to.  

What are you putting into your body?  Are you poisoning it?  Are you feeding, grooming, exercising it? The best thing to fill it with is the One it was meant for.  

The Apostle Peter: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."  (Acts 2:38)  Our church family forefathers were "Filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:4)

Are we?

Open Door? Not Me!

Many Mongolians are not as open to us as they used to be.  So when a man approached me in a military uniform on the playground last week saying 'hello', I was surprised.

After some chit-chat, some in English, and mostly in Mongolian, he asked what I did.  I gave him my card, which explains what I said: "I offer people a way out of addiction."

He immediately gave me the card back and said, "I sometimes drink", indicating a general tendency and a possibly that he had been drinking recently.  I offered for him to keep the card for later.  It explains when, where and why we meet at Celebrate Recovery.

But he gave it back, indicating he didn't need help.  It was amazing because we all struggle with admitting we need help, or that anything is wrong with us.

Human nature is the same on both sides of the world, and this chance conversation.

Shared Recess

Our International Worker's Kids' School shares a play time with a local After School Study Center once each week.  It seems like it is enjoyed by teachers and kids alike.

Not too many Cooks at Cama Services' Soup Kitchen

Our Cama CR workers prepare the soup noodles for the homeless meal on Thursdays.  

 (Below) A local volunteer from a half-way house shares the message of hope this week.

 April is the final month this year we are serving hot food.  

 

It's a good thing, Darhan woke up to snow this morning!

Easter Pictures

Happy Easter

He is Risen!  Matthew 28 records the story of Easter, the Resurrection of Jesus and ends with His Great Commission: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations"!  Are we doing it?  Are you?  Jesus got out of the grave to get our attention and purchase life eternal for us.  What are we doing for Him, our Risen Savior? 

Spring is springing

It's amazing when you go outside and you miss the cold blast of air.  That's our first clue that spring is near.  It usually happens in March and did yesterday.  

Here's some views of the fun Josiah and his friends had outside at the playground.

But just because we had a nice day, doesn't mean winter is over.  March 17th dawned with a couple inches of new snow.  But it was still pretty warm so began melting with the sun.

Woman's Day Winter Roses

March 8th is International Woman's Day and a legal holiday in Mongolia this year.

Renee gave out roses to all the ladies who work at CAMA Darhan.  Squeals of delight echoed around the walls of our center today March 7th.  I guess she surprised them.

Renee's Mongolian name "Sarnai" rhymes with her English name, and means rose.  Anyway happy day to all of you women out there, it's like a second Valentine's Day.

And yes, Renee, you will also be receiving flowers.  I hope the "Sarnai" don't freeze in chilly weather.  Though the sun is shining, this morning it was -4 F.

Maggie Turns 14

Combo Team Trip

Camel Ride

You never know when the chance to ride might materialize.  

Riding in the New Lunar Year

After all the mutton dumplings of Lunar New Year celebrations, we planned a trip to visit the northwestern provinces of Mongolia.  We have churches that belong to our association in both Arhanghai and Hovsgol Province.

We left on Monday morning about 7 am, and arrived at Tsetsereleg about 7 pm that night. We stayed two nights there in the home of then leaders that joins the church hall.  The family vacated their home so that us 5 could sleep in their beds!

Our team consisted of 4 Mongolian teachers.  They taught on Celebrate Recovery, Financial Freedom, Family Counseling and Godly Character.  Not all the lessons occurred int he small church hall.  Much of the teaching happened in the local school.  The lesson on character was well received by close to 100 high-school students.  Financial Freedom courses were being asked for by their teachers who appreciated CAMA's expertise in organizing savings groups.  Pray that CAMA's services will be a blessing to churches and communities around Mongolia.

Wednesday morning we left at 7 am across more snowy roads to Hovsgol Province's Moron City, the capital.  We got in there closer to 4 pm.  We had to follow GPS because the dirt road in places is covered with snow and hard to find.  Without someone who knows the road, you run the risk of getting lost.

The road was also rocky in places.  Probably trying to make too good of time, we may have traveled too fast over some, and had a bad blowout flat tire.  The thing just exploded!

Thank God we had a spare that worked, and being mid-day, was not too unbearably cold to change.  We all got fair bit dusty but were grateful to be underway again.

In Hovsgol, we were received by a "Vacuum" CR rehabilitation center.  They had around 10 guys living there to follow the steps to sobriety and new life in Christ.  The center is so-called because it is tightly controlled.  They're not supposed to be let out of the center, like no contact with the culture around them.  I met guys with 3 and 4 years sobriety.

We again slept in a church building.  Down sleeping bags are required even inside with a fire.  I was a bit chilly in the night, even though the temps outside were above zero F.

The next day our team taught at a different church the Financial Freedom philosophy.  We left just after noon.  We stopped and saw our old neighbors in Bulgan.  Otgonbayar and his wife fed us more mutton dumplings.  That is all we ate in Tsetsereleg as well.  But I was able to balance out all the grease with Aaruul, or dried yogurt, and lots of tea.

I had coffee with some Pioneer missionary friends at their home in Hovsgol before we left.  They are amazing examples of persistence raising 5 kids over 20 years in Mongolia.

We got back to Darhan around 7 pm.  When you think that before the blacktop, that trip would have been at least 16 hours, it makes you grateful for development and progress.

Getting some new air and blowing out of town after a big bunch of feasting and celebrating the New Year is a good idea.  Out Mongolia team of teacher enjoyed it too.  I think the churches we visited and our Cama "Combo" team were all mutually encouraged.

To God be the glory.  It's good get a way sometime and 'ride in the new year'.

I even got to ride a camel along the way, far smoother than tiny Mongolian horses.

To Rest is Best

I had a great rest last night.  As one of our previous field leaders used to say, "sometimes the most 'spiritual' thing you can do is sleep." I can't say slept like a baby, but I slept well.

Work is great, much better than boredom. It is the great equalizer and often a cure for what ails you.  I can even sometimes give thanks for problems, because they are a challenge to solve and a chance to do some good, add value, gain exercise and and get stronger.  Work is not a curse, but can be an invitation to cooperate with God in creation.

Even in the case of God's work, it is also good to rest.

In a world that has gone almost berserk with work, and business, where is your rest?

On one side, if our 'work' was physical like it was a century or even decades ago, people would be a lot more sane and get more rest. But as much of our work is mental and 'electronic' these days, there are seemingly more stresses on the minds of the multitudes.

I see it everywhere in business and ministry, in America and Mongolia, the constant 'work' of texting, emailing, and talking makes a 16-hour 'work day'.   When was the last time you answered an email or text past 10pm, or before 6am?  I bet it was this year or this week.

Reading today in Hebrews 4, I saw again the importance of people, especially people who serve God, getting proper rest.  Work that is honored by God and honors God rests.

Good News:  We get to rest, if we're faithful.
Bad News: Failure to rest is working to fail.

Hebrews 4Good News Translation (GNT)

4 Now, God has offered us the promise that we may receive that rest he spoke about. Let us take care, then, that none of you will be found to have failed to receive that promised rest. 2 For we have heard the Good News, just as they did. They heard the message, but it did them no good, because when they heard it, they did not accept it with faith. 3 We who believe, then, do receive that rest which God promised. It is just as he said,

“I was angry and made a solemn promise:
    ‘They will never enter the land where I would have given them rest!’”
He said this even though his work had been finished from the time he created the world.

4 For somewhere in the Scriptures this is said about the seventh day: “God rested on the seventh day from all his work.” 5 This same matter is spoken of again: “They will never enter that land where I would have given them rest.” 6 Those who first heard the Good News did not receive that rest, because they did not believe. There are, then, others who are allowed to receive it. 7 This is shown by the fact that God sets another day, which is called “Today.” Many years later he spoke of it through David in the scripture already quoted:

“If you hear God's voice today,
    do not be stubborn.”

One Step Forward...

If you were to read our blog or newsletters, you might wrongly understand that the kingdom is always advancing, never receding or retreating.  That would be incorrect.

We who stand for God's truth must not only present His truth when things go well.  We can also be honest with God and His people when things fall apart.

Cama reaches out to visit area prisons with Celebrate Recovery and other services.  When some were released late last year, we saw one of them join CR, our church and become a fixture around the center.  So much so we had to explain that we are an office that can't be interrupted at increasing intervals with smalltalk and requests for help.  Especially when the person was put into jail for attacking a person who stopped giving him money.

So this week Cama workers met to interview and hire a new employee.  When our newly freed friend and constant presence at the center did not get the job, he appeared drunk and angry.  We urged him gently to leave and not start any conversations in his current state.

But he insisted and resisted on an emotional tirade, ending in the Mongolian men having to physically remove him from the the premises.  He even called by phone afterward to try to continue his argument.  We had told him earlier when he was sober that he was not going to be hired because of a temper issue that had surfaced with church leaders.

So this appears to by a One Step Forward, Two Steps Back moment in the life of one Mongolian in need of redemption, and in the mission of the church and mission.

Let us hope that this parting of ways will be a learning experience for all involved.  And may God, in his wisdom and power, turn this toward good and growth for his kingdom.

"Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21

The Farmer and the Rancher Should Be Friends

Shepherd and Sower - Farmer and Rancher

I’d rather be a shepherd than a sower, a rancher rather than a farmer.  Farmers like Cain seem to work so hard that it makes them mean.  Ranchers may be looked down on jealously and even called lazy, but God accepted Abel’s sacrifice and rejected his brother’s.  Why?

God knows that roasted meat smells better than roasted fruit or grain!  But seriously, why was Abel’s offering accepted and Cain’s rejected?  

Was it about the attitude of the heart?  Abel humbly cared for his animals.  Sure he probably spent time in the heat of the day catching a siesta under his hat in the shade of a tree on a bluff in the breeze looking down occasionally on the green valley below.

Picture Cain seething, tilling the soil in the scorching sun.  All the hotter because of his rage that Abel did not have to work as hard, and in a hurry to plant before the rain fell at the wrong time. Cain feeds on fury and fear.

In Mongolian winter Abel would wake up to snow, and his work continues.  He feeds the animals out of the fodder he has stored up.  He travels out to search for water, to break the ice, finds the flock home before dark.

Cain, however can rest easy, his crop already harvested and safely stored.  He can travel to distant warmer lands.  He can sleep in or rise and watch the shepherds go out into the cold winter mornings and nights, to watch and guard against wolves.  Soon he starts to get restless, feels lazy, himself, starts to get fat and sinks into self-loathing.  He complains about the weather, and can’t wait to get back into the fields, forgetting their heat. 

Abel will meekly overlook the stares and glares of his older brother.  He will humbly herd his animals to green pasture and still waters and see them give birth and gain each spring.  Like a tortoise racing a hare, Abel in the end proves faithful and able with what was entrusted to him.  So he offers a portion of his flock, his best, to the Lord who gives the increase.  And the Father and Lord of his soul, the Creator of all, is smiling and pleased.

God’s favor rested on Abel, but His wrath remains on Cain, whose jealous anger made him a murderer, coward, slave to fear, and a wanderer.

I’d rather be a tortoise than a hare. Turtles live longer.  I’d rather be a shepherd than a sower, a rancher than farmer.  Meat and milk tastes better than bread alone.  Humble honest work over the long haul yields a better gain than hot and hasty hurry, sweating in the sun and cursing the dry.

Better still, Abel and I wish the farmer and the rancher could be friends. 

This is only possible when each of them can in the words of Galatians:  “Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else.”  (6:4)

How do you test your actions?  Seek God, consider his thoughts, and let him into yours.  He knows them and your attitude and motivation anyway.  If your motivation is to seek and please him, he will know it and bless and accept you.  If both offerings are accepted by God, the three of you can sit down and enjoy a meal of meat, vegetables, bread, and butter!

A better meal than bread and water, or meat and milk alone, pleasing God is much more satisfying than the contentious curse of constant competition.

Happy New Year Again: New 'White' Moon and Month

So here we are already one month into 2016!  And would you believe the New Year celebrations are heating up again?  This time its for the Lunar New Year, which begins next Monday on the even of February 8th.  The morning of the 9th, Mongolians will be watching the sun rise with their most important kindred, and getting their yearly "embrace" with the family patriarch, or matriarch, whichever is the oldest member of the family, or most influential.  I say embrace with quotations because its only sort of a hug, with the older person sitting, the younger standing.  They each sort of sniffs the cheeks of the other, which they refer to as a kiss, but it's really like an Eskimo kiss.  Then the younger gives the older an offering of cash money.

When all the ceremony is done, they sit down to mutton dumplings with all the trimmings and libations then repeat at one house after another until the feast stretches through all their friends and family for about a week or more of mutton grease, horse milk and vodka.

We foreigners obviously have less of a palate for all of this, especially since we're in the throws of our annual budgeting process.  Planning does seem to be a good activity, as does feasting for the freezing sub-zero temperatures we're getting out there.  It's about -15 Fahrenheit every morning.  But it warms up to about 10 degrees above by 4pm most days.

The worst part of all the feasting is that most folks go into debt putting out a spread they can't afford to impress or at least keep up appearances to people they hardly ever see.  It's worse than the Christmas card wars, and at least as bad as the materialism of our winter holiday.  Their gifts may not be as expensive as ours, but they might give out 1000 little t-shirts, day planners, souvenirs, toys to all their visitors they receive over the week.  Most families prepare more than 3000 dumplings.  If you figure each guest eats an average of 3 'bodes' or sheep meat dumplings, then how many visitors are they expecting!!?

So Happy New Year.  Once for January 1 and another for the Lunar New 'Moon', which is synonymous with 'month' in Mongolian.

With the marking of this celebration the Mongolians will start saying it is spring.  It won't matter if the thaw doesn't come for another month or two.  By their lunar calendar and experience they figure the worst is over and start greeting each other: "are you having a nice spring?"  Let us hope they are hopefully and positively correct on both counts!

Cama CR Feeds the Homeless

We were happy this Thanksgiving day, that over 30 people showed up for a hot meal.  Thanks to the Cama employees, volunteers, and supporters who make this possible!

Happy Thanksgiving

American Thanksgiving often falls on November 26, which is also a holiday in Mongolia.

National Proclamation Day is celebrated today to remember Mongolia becoming their own nation in 1924, after beginning to fight for it in 1921.  It previously was a national holiday where people didn't have to work.  But this year they observed Genghis Khan's birthday instead on the 12th of November.  I guess this would be like our President's Day.

I've always seen the two holidays as very similar.  Our Thanksgiving is unique in the world.  Canada is the only other nation we know of that has a special day for giving thanks.  But this Mongolian holiday has overtones of our American thanksgiving.

We remember not only the 'blessings of heaven', that the sun shone and the rain fell in the right balance to produce crops, that decorate our tables.   We remember the pilgrim's plight through their first winter in New England, helped by the Native Americans.  

Mongolians were helped by the Red Man as well.  Though they consider themselves the ancestors of our American 'Indians', and there is cultural evidence to support that, it was the Red Russians that helped them win freedom from oppressive occupying Chinese.

So Mongolians, like Americans, have a lot to be thankful for today.  I hope you enjoy yours and are able to lift a mug of hot tasty beverage or a turkey leg to celebrate.

I am your representative in Mongolia.  A festive drink was just carried into my office, left over from our feeding of the homeless program.  I will lift this lukewarm mug of salty, milk-based rice-filled-with-chips-of-sheep-fat-floating-in-it tea on your behalf. 

I wonder if the pilgrims at Plymouth Rock imbibed anything this festive in 1620.  As hungry as they were, I'm sure something like it seemed tasty no matter how unfamiliar.

Happy Thanksgiving.  Let us be grateful for God and country today especially.

Back Inside

Today we went back inside our local prison to serve and offer hope through Jesus.  This was the first time since the summer break, and changes in the Mongolian penal system.

Last week's post was about an act of grace letting people out of prison.  I'm pleased to report about Boya, the prisoner who came to Cama last week.  He got some help here with various needs, came to CR on Friday night, was in church on Sunday, and has been here both days so far this week!  He's looking for work and is following leads.

Rebuilding your life from nothing is not easy, materially or psychologically.  The look of fear in his face sometimes is enough to break you.  It makes you understand how some prisoners don't make it long before they end up back inside.  Pray for him.

The good news is that we were back in the prison today with CR and Boya was not there.  In fact, he came into my office after we had gotten back and asked me how many prisoners were there, and did I know any of them?  Not many, only about 4 of 5 did I recognize.  I'm hoping that some who have heard the gospel of Christ, and followed some of the CR steps are finding freedom outside like Boya.  May God grant many the grace to follow Him, and discover how deeply they are loved and valued by their Creator.

Today many prisoners took the first step to rebuilding their lives, by giving them to Jesus.  Our pastor friend led about 30 prisoners to pray to receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life from Jesus Christ.  May God begin to grow them inside, so that they become strong enough to prosper and someday rebuild their lives on outside of prison walls.              

Pray they won't have to ever go back inside prison again.  Unless, God willing, they one day wish to join our team of prison ministers and go 'Back Inside' to set others free.