Winter Weather Crises on Mongolia Culture

This is a good story on the effect of a winter storm from 20 years ago on one family: https://www.npr.org/2020/01/28/800592753/a-decade-of-dzud-lessons-from-mongolias-deadly-winters

Mongolian 'blizzards' get a lot of foreign press.  This story is more circumspect in describing one microcosm of the Mongolian en masse migration to the capital, and the general citification of this land of pastoral herdsman nomads.  The article touches on how extreme weather can cause culture changing cycles, which are also affected by animals numbers, over-grazing and rancher's preparation.

Precautions for New Flu Virus in China Reduces Activity

It's not a pressing clear and present danger in Mongolia.  There have been no cases of China's latest  flu crisis here.  As in other countries, the much more likely risk is your local domestic flu virus.

But in order to prevent a crisis here, Mongolian officials closed the land border with their southern neighbor last week, as well as all universities, schools, pre-schools, trainings and public gatherings.  The kids' teachers still have to show up to work.  We were there yesterday to pick up their homework.  and books.  Many of their lessons will continue via internet for Clara.  Josiah is reading a lot more with his mom, getting a little taste of what home school was like for his sisters.

The government order means our trainings with basketball and Alpha must stop, as well as church meetings until March 1st.  Last Sunday we worshipped together without kids' church and without greeting time.  Some people wore masks.  More Mongolians are doing that at work now too.

We are wondering how this government step will affect the Mongolian Lunar New Year celebrations in late February.  That's the one where friends and family visit up to 10 homes over 5-10 days for feasting and greetings.  God knows.  He  is able to heal and protect.  As we pray for people in China, we also pray He will keep Mongolia safe and make this break a blessing for his purposes.

Mongolia Basketball Academy Starting Small

We were so grateful to God to get the same space where November's training occurred rented twice a week.  They were not sure they wanted to rent to us since they had their own basketball coach employed to offer lessons.  But by the grace of God we signed a contract and started last week!

We have had a little trouble getting many of the 30 coaches to come out to train as Academy coaches. Many of them have coaching jobs at schools.  Some were coaching at the National University!  One day only one coach showed up with his 9 year old kid.  Today was a bit better.  Two coaches and 5 kids.  It is a humble beginning, but I believe we're gaining momentum:

These 10 year olds are off and running, and learning fast!

Alpha Course Starting Strong

The Alpha Course that we wanted to start with our English speaking church is off to a good beginning.  Thanks mostly to our Mongolian speaking church's involvement, we had over 45 people show up the first week.  So we run the videos in Mongolian with English subtitles running at the English table.  The food, film and fellowship that follow have all been enjoyable.  Not bad entertainment on cold Thursday nights in January.  We're planning to meet 10 consecutive weeks.

Week two had less people, but still we sat around 5 tables.   Here's a look at last week during the discussion time.  Renee enjoys a brief minute sitting down...

after working in the kitchen to help make, serve and clean up from the meal.  Looking forward to this week's turnout. 

A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

It was great to have the older girls home for 3 weeks from Germany.  We made some great memories and did some traveling.  Here they showing off their last Christmas presents to arrive and be opened.  The girls all got personalized necklaces and Josiah got two new books of jokes.  

We all missed them when they had to return on January 5th.  

But we're hearing good things and seems like they're happy to be back to their friends and activities.  

Bringing Girls Home for Holidays

In front of their dorm they share with 17 girls and 4 staff.

On a walk on trails outside the village.

In a little pasta restaurant in the village.

Boarding the plane from Germany with Toby, their classmate from Darhan.

In Moscow on the way to Mongolia, they're not in a one-room school house anymore.

But thank God they're home for Christmas!

Visiting Girls in Germany

It's a quaint little corner of the Black Forest

where the girls attend school.

Here we are in their dorm room.

And downtown during one of the village's 

Christmas festival nights.  

Conference and Sightseeing in Spain

We were treated to a break from Mongolian winter weather this past week,

by attending a conference with Alliance leaders in southern Spain.

Days were warm enough to be comfortable on the beach in t-shirts,

or conference clothes.  

Sunday we got away to see the Rock of Gibraltar with a group of nine.

That is the northern tip of Africa visible above the tree and below the seagull.

It was fun to see and walk down with so many great people. 

MBA Makes MNB News

Our partner coaches from the NRBA in Raleigh, NC helped train coaches for the Mongolian Basketball Academy.  We got to use the Men's National Champion College Team to demonstrate to about 30 coaches over 5 days. The coach of that team invited the Mongolian National Broadcasting channel to come and do a story. You can see (very small) footage of that story and interview with a brother who has built a basketball academy in another Asian country with 25 coaches and 400 kids.  Unfortunately the interview is only in Mongolian, but you get the idea.

Using basketball, we were also able to share the gospel.  One coach prayed to rededicate his life to Christ.  We look forward to working with many of them as we train kids in basketball and share with them a greater love even than the game.  "For the love of God and the game of Life"

Church on Sunday

Our colleagues and I showed up for 11 am church a little late at 11:04.  But we were the first ones!

The phrase "Mongolians don't keep time", was running through my mind.

After a good sermon, and worship, we got word the pastor's wife prepared some meat to share.

It wasn't until the lady on my left said "pass the ohmas" that I started to question what kind of meat.  Turns out is was horse meat, and that's the local word for intestine.  It's not too bad, but a little tough.

We showed up for English church a little early to set up for Alpha announcements.  So the kids went out to discover this playground for the first time.

The city is growing up around this older building and set of toys, but it still works.

Then home for a Sunday night light dinner of Nachos!  

(Riddle Question:  What do you call cheese that doesn't belong to you?)

Josiah Joins Mom and Dad on Their Date

Since Clara was busy with a youth group activity on Saturday.

Josiah came with us on our date.  We all 3 enjoyed a visit to the Children's park.

 Good view from the Ferris wheel.

 And out the window of the play place.  It was nice and warm in there.

And a nice dinner after, (Can you guess where?) before picking up Clara.  

Fall Break Photos

Here they are with their dorm sisters on a trip to "Little Venice", over the Rhine, in France.

Enjoying Crepes in this little tourist town.  

And a picture of them with their resident advisor and a homemade pie.

And here they are forming the letters of the name of their dorm, can you read it?

P A L M

Inspirational Short Film

If you have 15 minutes, I recommend watching this when you need a little lift in Spirit.  It was filmed at their home in beautiful NW Montana.  Beauty in Life - In Between the Message and the Man

Lydia Class Fall Trip to France

Fall Party for Girls' Dorm

Lydia and Johanna with their dorm sisters at the themed fall party.

 In front of their dorm still in costume.

Maggie in a lab coat on the left side?

STEAM Class at EdIT Office

Our colleagues opened an Educational IT service to train kids in...

Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math.  

There's Josiah on the right learning how to use a mouse and 'code'.  

Clara is 12 Years Old!

Twelve years ago this week, we carried Clara out of this Hospital in Ulaanbaatar.

Here are the healthy mother and daughter on our visit the her place of birth. 

And here they are with Josiah, celebrating with home-made cake...

 at the same apartment we took her home to when she was just one day old.

Happy 12th Birthday Clara!

After opening presents...

Her sisters called in to say Happy Birthday too.

And birthday cake afterward.

Happy Birthday!

Basketball Coaches Camp

At Mongolia International University

We started training coaches in the classroom.  

Leading with our faith, the foundation of team is trust.

Getting in the gym and practicing our coaching techniques on basketball students.

Meeting to talk about how it went.

Letting the coaches train the next generation.

Giving out souvenir wristbands with inspirational messages.  

Celebrating with the ones that made it happen.

Team success!  A good time was had by all.  The good news was proclaimed and demonstrated.

"For the love of God and the game of Life"