After almost 30 hours of traveling, we're back in Virginia Beach :)

Wow, being in Mongolia... it felt like I'd been there just a few months ago, not like almost 2 years had passed. We had a wonderful time with Javkhaa's family and visiting with good friends.

Haven't downloaded our pictures yet, but here's one of the new Chinggis Khan statue in Sukhbaatar Square. I had thought they were removing the old one of Sukhbaatar on his horse, but happily, Sukhbaatar is still at his post in the center of the square, while the Khan surveys his land in state from the southern outlook of the Parliament House.

More to come! :)

PS--The last I know about former Prime Minister Elbegdorj is that he was doing much better and was sent to Korea for further treatment. Thanks for your prayers!

the midnight hour...

we're 30 hours away from our departure... plus 20 minutes or so. javkhaa is hard at work putting the final touches on his paper and presentation, to be given tomorrow (Wed) night at 8pm. we leave eeeeeaaaaarly on Thursday morning.

just wanted to put a little word in and ask for prayers for our trip to Mongolia. good travel, smooth connections, our luggage staying with us the whole way there and back, and especially, great reunions with family and friends.

thanks!

A Great Visit with Great Friends

We do have one picture of Josh, but... it wasn't very flattering, so it remains unseen. ;)

Elbegdorj situation severe but stable

from http://www.mongolia-web.com/content/view/1168/2/

Saturday, 14 July 2007

Yesterday several TV channels broadcasted the first public announcement regarding the car accident of democratic party leader Ts. Elbegdorj. His doctor stated that Elbegdorj has suffered injury to the brain, but is stable now.The accident appeared to have taken place under slightly different circumstances than initially reported. The latest take is that the car didn't necessarily hit one of the motor[cycle]s but in trying to avoid a motor[cycle] without light, the car got off from the road and turned over four times. The motor riders that actually caused the accident have not be found, but the police have been talking with several witnesses to the scene who might shed more light on the chain of events that led to the tragic crash.

UBS television had a poll among pedestrians on Sukhbaatar square whether they thought the crash was a real accident or not, hinting that it might have somehow be arranged by opponents. No officials from either side however have mentioned this as a possibilities and based on statements of the democratic party it is assumed that this was a genuine accident.

A quote I liked...

We hunger to be known and understood. We hunger to be loved. We hunger to be at peace inside our own skins. We hunger not just to be fed these things but, often without realizing it, we hunger to feed others these things because they too are starving for them. We hunger not just to be loved but to love, not just to be forgiven but to forgive, not just to be known and understood for all the good times and bad times that for better for worse have made us who we are, but to know and understand each other to the same point of seeing that, in the last analysis, we all have the same good times, the same bad times, and that for that very reason there is no such thing in all the world as anyone who is really a stranger.

- Frederick Buechner
from Secrets in the Dark: A Life in Sermons

Former Prime Minister of Mongolia Needs Prayer

I saw on Eagle TV director Tom Terry's blog today that Ts. Elbegdorj, former Prime Minister of Mongolia, was in a serious car accident Tuesday night. Please pray for him, and for Mongolia. Naadam (one of the 2 biggest holidays) just began yesterday...

From Tom's blog:

We received word today that Ts. Elbegdorj, twice former Prime Minister of Mongolia was in a serious car accident last night resulting in the death of Elbegdorj's driver. Elbegdorj is in very serious condition with serious injuries to his brain. He is conscious, but unable to move. The doctor reports that "stroke" is involved, but the translation on this is unclear.

Please pray for Elbegdorj.

Elbegdorj was involved in the original establishment of Eagle TV in the early 1990s and has remained a longtime friend of our organization and founders.

UPDATE: 8:40PM Elbegdorj has been put into an induced coma. His condition is very serious and he cannot be moved or more damage could result.

I just spoke with our board of directors. They are having a special time of prayer for Elbegdorj at this moment. Please pray for Elbegdorj, his family, and all in Mongolia who love him. Thank you.

Excerpts from a story on Harvard's Kennedy School website:

Tsakhia [Elbegdorj], who was educated in the former Soviet Union during the era of Kremlin control of Mongolia , is considered one of the primary architects of the nation’s democratic evolution...

Democratic reform is something Tsakhia learned about while studying at the Kennedy School in 2002. Following his graduation from KSG, Tsakhia returned home and gave a series of lectures to sold-out crowds focusing on leadership, technology and the future. The talks were so popular that ticket prices quadrupled and the lectures were later recorded onto tapes.“Not every Mongolian can go to KSG,” Tsakhia said. “I'd like to share what I learned with those that cannot.”

Happy Fourth!

We had a great time with friends from Regent... who we were able to host at the lovely home where Javkhaa and I were house-sitting... :)

hee hee... we had a good weekend, and got to make some new friends. ;)

Coming to Mongolia...

We'll be there in a month... I can't really believe it! :)

I got this pic from suuder.com; even though I can't read much on the site, it was interesting to view Mongolia through other eyes...

Make new friends, but keep the old...

Maran and Emil (from Jordan)...




























and Teck and Betty (from Indonesia).


We've met lots of wonderful people since we came here--we're so thankful for all of them.

(And thankful for old friends, too! Like Ken and Donna, who gave me the wonderful Tbtn dress I'm wearing in the pics: you are golden.)

And here's a big CONGRATULATIONS to Sarah!!! :) We're just thrilled to hear your good news.