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

MBA - Darhan Basketball Camp

Though we were not able to be there this July, Darhan hosted 7 coaches from the North Ridge Basketball Academy for about 60 campers of various ages.

Coach Seth challenges campers with skills and character

Thanks to Pastors Baggie and Baggie for their help to Coach Mark with translation

This was an important step toward the vision of a Mongolian Basketball Academy that will sustainably produce better basketball players and teams, better Mongolian citizens by training in character and faith, and fruit that lasts in followers of Jesus Christ.

Big thanks to our friend and colleague Ryan for his leadership in hosting and organizing the event.  "The foundation of team is faith and trust"