This morning we woke up to see snow on the hills surrounding Darkhan, and those that came to breakfast dressed for summer weather quickly ran back to their rooms to exchange shorts for sweatpants! By noon it had warmed up, almost like a gorgeous, crisp, October day. The beautiful, blue Mongolian sky and sunshine had replaced the grey, rainy skies from last night. Even though we have had much needed rain on several evenings, our days have been perfect weather for construction and VBS outside games. For those of you who have been praying for us to have great weather, thanks for your prayers. Keep them coming!
There are hardly words to adequately describe the synergy and excitement of the team as they experience all that God is doing here! Each person is fulfilling a divine purpose and knows or is discovering the reason that they came to serve. They have all been totally in good health, unified, and doing everything with such excellence. God even blessed us yesterday with hot water for the first time since the team left home. There was a definitely a shout in the camp last night!
It's Friday afternoon here, and we are finishing up four days of intensive ministry. The medical team saw about 140 patients yesterday, and when Pastor Mark came to meet the team at the hotel at 6:15 AM, there were already patients lined up, even though the clinic didn't open until 10 AM. I heard that Dr. Brent even performed brain surgery, but I think that story has expanded slightly from what really happened (although the surgery did have something to do with the head)! Today the medical team multiplied, as Dr. Brent took several people with him to a countryside village where he had shared at a cell meeting last night. Over 30 patients were treated in a church member's house. Davga's yard is also home to the two cows, Marion and Susie, that our Kid's lifeGROUP Network bought for the Mongolian church last Christmas. It is reported that both cows are happy and thankful for their new home and performing their expected duties well!
The roof is almost on the extension of the church, and Tim and the construction team have been working 12+ hour days. They plan to continue working through the day tomorrow, with the hopes of finishing late tomorrow night or Sunday afternoon. The extension is looking GREAT! Tim is amazing, having to improvise with whatever supplies are available. He has also had an awesome team of Paul, Pat, Rex, Ed, Vince, and Ben working with him.
Speaking of Paul, he celebrated his 26th birthday yesterday, complete with a surprise lunch of a hamburger, french fries and a strawberry shake (from the only semi-not Mongolian restaurant in town - the Nomad). Later, several of the Mongolians dressed up in their dells (the national dress) to present him with his very own Mongolian hat and several gifts. Following dinner, the youth played baseball and ate frosted, strawberry birthday cake, which Caitlin lovingly baked using ingredients she had brought from home. The rest of the team went to the cell meeting in the village, while Pastor Jon and Charlene, Pastor Mark and Ginny, Pastor Muggi and his wife, Nara, and Dick and I had dinner together and were able to talk about "church stuff" and laugh a lot together. Yes, Pastor, Dick did tell some stories . . . !
The VBS team had over 100 kids at last count, and I don't know how Debbie continues to do such an incredible job as kids appear from all over the neighborhood, and God stretches the supplies that the children's team brought in. Today to close the session, they all sang "Our God is an Awesome God" with hand motions. It was also really touching to hear them repeat the lessons that they had learned all week. I am not sure of the exact amount, but I believe there were over 30 kids that gave their hearts to the Lord. Debbie graciously volunteered to organize children's activities all weekend for the Encounter/Re-Encounter, so please pray for her!
Tonight we begin our Encounter/Re-Encounter and are expecting about 30 people in the Encounter, and over 100 in the Re-Encounter. We have decided to release all of their cooks and staff to attend, so please pray for Cathy and her kitchen team as they feed over 150 people for two meals tomorrow. She has had a great time every day, helping what seemed to me like endless chopping of things, grinding meat, and kneading dough. This morning she and Hannah went off to the local "birch" (market) to buy things for tomorrow's meals. She is definitely in her calling!
Pastor Jon is falling in love with the Mongolian worship team and has been such an influence in their lives already. Yesterday they wanted to learn "Great Big God," as they are all still wearing their Chicagoland Outpouring T-shirts that we gave them last year. Selah has been helping their drummer become adjusted to the new, electric drum set that we were able to bring them. They are learning many new things, including how to flow from one song to the other, how to harmonize, and how to go deeper into God's presence with Harp and Bowl. It is a major blessing to have him and John with us here!
So, that's the good report! We can feel your prayers sustaining us and moving the Kingdom of God forward in Darkhan. We love you and thank you for being part of this successful mission.
Pastor Susie (for the team)
Mongolia #7
Written by Pastor Susie Friday, 19 June 2009 15:16
Hello from Mongolia!This morning we woke up to see snow on the hills surrounding Darkhan, and those that came to breakfast dressed for summer weather quickly ran back to their rooms to exchange shorts for sweatpants! By noon it had warmed up, almost like a gorgeous, crisp, October day. The beautiful, blue Mongolian sky and sunshine had replaced the grey, rainy skies from last night. Even though we have had much needed rain on several evenings, our days have been perfect weather for construction and VBS outside games. For those of you who have been praying for us to have great weather, thanks for your prayers. Keep them coming!
There are hardly words to adequately describe the synergy and excitement of the team as they experience all that God is doing here! Each person is fulfilling a divine purpose and knows or is discovering the reason that they came to serve. They have all been totally in good health, unified, and doing everything with such excellence. God even blessed us yesterday with hot water for the first time since the team left home. There was a definitely a shout in the camp last night!
It's Friday afternoon here, and we are finishing up four days of intensive ministry. The medical team saw about 140 patients yesterday, and when Pastor Mark came to meet the team at the hotel at 6:15 AM, there were already patients lined up, even though the clinic didn't open until 10 AM. I heard that Dr. Brent even performed brain surgery, but I think that story has expanded slightly from what really happened (although the surgery did have something to do with the head)! Today the medical team multiplied, as Dr. Brent took several people with him to a countryside village where he had shared at a cell meeting last night. Over 30 patients were treated in a church member's house. Davga's yard is also home to the two cows, Marion and Susie, that our Kid's lifeGROUP Network bought for the Mongolian church last Christmas. It is reported that both cows are happy and thankful for their new home and performing their expected duties well!
The roof is almost on the extension of the church, and Tim and the construction team have been working 12+ hour days. They plan to continue working through the day tomorrow, with the hopes of finishing late tomorrow night or Sunday afternoon. The extension is looking GREAT! Tim is amazing, having to improvise with whatever supplies are available. He has also had an awesome team of Paul, Pat, Rex, Ed, Vince, and Ben working with him.
Speaking of Paul, he celebrated his 26th birthday yesterday, complete with a surprise lunch of a hamburger, french fries and a strawberry shake (from the only semi-not Mongolian restaurant in town - the Nomad). Later, several of the Mongolians dressed up in their dells (the national dress) to present him with his very own Mongolian hat and several gifts. Following dinner, the youth played baseball and ate frosted, strawberry birthday cake, which Caitlin lovingly baked using ingredients she had brought from home. The rest of the team went to the cell meeting in the village, while Pastor Jon and Charlene, Pastor Mark and Ginny, Pastor Muggi and his wife, Nara, and Dick and I had dinner together and were able to talk about "church stuff" and laugh a lot together. Yes, Pastor, Dick did tell some stories . . . !
The VBS team had over 100 kids at last count, and I don't know how Debbie continues to do such an incredible job as kids appear from all over the neighborhood, and God stretches the supplies that the children's team brought in. Today to close the session, they all sang "Our God is an Awesome God" with hand motions. It was also really touching to hear them repeat the lessons that they had learned all week. I am not sure of the exact amount, but I believe there were over 30 kids that gave their hearts to the Lord. Debbie graciously volunteered to organize children's activities all weekend for the Encounter/Re-Encounter, so please pray for her!
Tonight we begin our Encounter/Re-Encounter and are expecting about 30 people in the Encounter, and over 100 in the Re-Encounter. We have decided to release all of their cooks and staff to attend, so please pray for Cathy and her kitchen team as they feed over 150 people for two meals tomorrow. She has had a great time every day, helping what seemed to me like endless chopping of things, grinding meat, and kneading dough. This morning she and Hannah went off to the local "birch" (market) to buy things for tomorrow's meals. She is definitely in her calling!
Pastor Jon is falling in love with the Mongolian worship team and has been such an influence in their lives already. Yesterday they wanted to learn "Great Big God," as they are all still wearing their Chicagoland Outpouring T-shirts that we gave them last year. Selah has been helping their drummer become adjusted to the new, electric drum set that we were able to bring them. They are learning many new things, including how to flow from one song to the other, how to harmonize, and how to go deeper into God's presence with Harp and Bowl. It is a major blessing to have him and John with us here!
So, that's the good report! We can feel your prayers sustaining us and moving the Kingdom of God forward in Darkhan. We love you and thank you for being part of this successful mission.
Pastor Susie (for the team)
