We are so remiss in not having written in such a long time. Life sure didn’t slow down for us after we moved to Mongolia! Perhaps life in the countryside of Mongolia is a little less hectic, but we are living here in the capital, and thankful to be here!
Our Thanksgiving was nice, though not quite like ‘home’. I (Skye) am the ‘keeper of the culture,’ I suppose (well, the American culture, while we’re living elsewhere) and now we’ve just started our 2nd year of being back here in Mongolia. Last year Thanksgiving was a simple candlelit meal at home on the day itself. This year we repeated that tradition, but also invited Javkhaa’s family to come on Sunday for Thanksgiving too. Cooking for more than just our family on the one burner we have in this apartment was an adventure, but it all turned out okay. The plan for Christmas, though: a one-pot meal! (Yes, that worked out much better—I made Chuckwagon Stew, mmm. Perhaps a new Christmas tradition! :)
If you know Javkhaa, you won’t be surprised when I say that he’s busier than me. Between work, church, the Christian Youth Association (Future Leaders) and a couple of other groups he’s involved with, he stays a moving target. We remain very thankful for his job, and he works with some great people. It hasn’t been without its stressful seasons, though. He needs God’s wisdom and help to persevere and pursue excellence in all he does, to enjoy it, and to shine God’s love into his workplace. Pray that he and a few colleagues can make time for another prayer breakfast soon. (I’d love to find another believer at my school too!)
Wednesday, December 05, 2012
Sunday, December 02, 2012
Busy but trying...
Had a great day on Saturday, despite being a little stressed. The ladies from our lifegroup had planned to get together, and I was trying to organize little gift bags for everyone. Of course the stationery store was closed on the very day I needed it...
Despite that little roadblock, we had a nice afternoon at a local Indian restaurant, talking and chatting and getting to know each other a little better. We missed those who couldn't make it though: one mom whose about ready to give birth to her 3rd, a mom of twins who had just moved and couldn't get away, and another woman who was sick with a fever. :/ Please pray that next time we'll be all be able to participate!
This week grades are due (Wednesday). At least I did give all my exams last week, but most student work has yet to be graded. :/ So... a busy couple of days ahead (not to mention all the planning that remains to be done, both short- and long-term!).
Thanksgiving was a lovely day. Just a quiet evening at home for our second time around here in Mongolia, which is actually a tradition I like. :) Since it's a work-day, it's more relaxing to just prepare smth for ourselves on Thursday night, but this year we invited Javkhaa's family over for Sunday 'dinner' to celebrate as well. It was a fun day. :) For Christmas, though, I need to think of a festive 'one-pot' meal, because it's a challenge to keep things warm with only one burner in our current apartment! ;) I'm thinking of a recipe I have for "Chuckwagon Stew": takes a little extra time to prepare, but it sure is yummy!
That's all for now, back to planning!
(and yes, I am a little bit homesick at this time of year...) sniff sniff!
Despite that little roadblock, we had a nice afternoon at a local Indian restaurant, talking and chatting and getting to know each other a little better. We missed those who couldn't make it though: one mom whose about ready to give birth to her 3rd, a mom of twins who had just moved and couldn't get away, and another woman who was sick with a fever. :/ Please pray that next time we'll be all be able to participate!
This week grades are due (Wednesday). At least I did give all my exams last week, but most student work has yet to be graded. :/ So... a busy couple of days ahead (not to mention all the planning that remains to be done, both short- and long-term!).
Thanksgiving was a lovely day. Just a quiet evening at home for our second time around here in Mongolia, which is actually a tradition I like. :) Since it's a work-day, it's more relaxing to just prepare smth for ourselves on Thursday night, but this year we invited Javkhaa's family over for Sunday 'dinner' to celebrate as well. It was a fun day. :) For Christmas, though, I need to think of a festive 'one-pot' meal, because it's a challenge to keep things warm with only one burner in our current apartment! ;) I'm thinking of a recipe I have for "Chuckwagon Stew": takes a little extra time to prepare, but it sure is yummy!
That's all for now, back to planning!
(and yes, I am a little bit homesick at this time of year...) sniff sniff!
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Thank Him for the grace... ever present in time of need
A new blog I came across this morning in my search for some encouraging verses to share with the mom's in our lifegroup... :)
My laundry sometimes piles high. So do my dishes. There are way too many crumbs on my floor. And I didn’t actually grade anyone’s math homework today. But this morning, before the day really began, I lit a candle and prayed for God’s grace to fill my home. I made leaf-print art with the kids on the front porch, worked out with a friend, and drove my son and a neighbor to youth group … an hour away. At bedtime we read a story and snuggled, even though it was late. And right now I should be sweeping the living room, but instead I’m writing.
And that’s kind of the rhythm of my life. A little beauty, a little mess. A little work, a little fun. A little strife, a lot of grace.
Thank God for the grace.
http://www.encouragingbeautifulmotherhood.com/about/
I enjoyed reading this, because it's also so true in my own life! I want to do better at the former group of things (putting away laundry, washing and drying dishes, sweeping up crumbs) because they're important to make space (both physical AND mental, perhaps emotional and spiritual too) for the latter type of activities--coloring with the kids, talking about what they're thankful for, and snuggling. And being patient when they overreact to things... keeping things as calm as possible instead of participating in the escalation of a small bump in the road that can easily (in our house!) turn into a hurricane...! (Example: some nights when I'm reading those bedtime stories to the kids, my eyes start to close and the pauses between sentences start to last too long... or Yvelle notices I'm "NOT READING IT RIGHT, Mommy!!!" A couple of times she's run to a corner of the room and started crying in frustration and anger (and suddenly, without warning!)
And I think as I write, do I do that to God? I don't trust Him, or His good heart, or his trustworthy purposes and plans fo rme...
Lord, help me to be patient with my little guys, as you are SOOOOOOO patient with me...
Amen.
My laundry sometimes piles high. So do my dishes. There are way too many crumbs on my floor. And I didn’t actually grade anyone’s math homework today. But this morning, before the day really began, I lit a candle and prayed for God’s grace to fill my home. I made leaf-print art with the kids on the front porch, worked out with a friend, and drove my son and a neighbor to youth group … an hour away. At bedtime we read a story and snuggled, even though it was late. And right now I should be sweeping the living room, but instead I’m writing.
And that’s kind of the rhythm of my life. A little beauty, a little mess. A little work, a little fun. A little strife, a lot of grace.
Thank God for the grace.
http://www.encouragingbeautifulmotherhood.com/about/
I enjoyed reading this, because it's also so true in my own life! I want to do better at the former group of things (putting away laundry, washing and drying dishes, sweeping up crumbs) because they're important to make space (both physical AND mental, perhaps emotional and spiritual too) for the latter type of activities--coloring with the kids, talking about what they're thankful for, and snuggling. And being patient when they overreact to things... keeping things as calm as possible instead of participating in the escalation of a small bump in the road that can easily (in our house!) turn into a hurricane...! (Example: some nights when I'm reading those bedtime stories to the kids, my eyes start to close and the pauses between sentences start to last too long... or Yvelle notices I'm "NOT READING IT RIGHT, Mommy!!!" A couple of times she's run to a corner of the room and started crying in frustration and anger (and suddenly, without warning!)
And I think as I write, do I do that to God? I don't trust Him, or His good heart, or his trustworthy purposes and plans fo rme...
Lord, help me to be patient with my little guys, as you are SOOOOOOO patient with me...
Amen.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
The whole article on the Mother Duck... a reminder for me
What a Mother Must Sacrifice
by Ann Voskamp, from www.aholyexperience.com
Houses may be bought, built, or borrowed.
But homes can only be made, and that with bits of ourselves.
Or so the ducks told me.
They told me without a sound, just simply as they preened and nestled, a painting, oil on canvas. The children press in close too, for a better look at Alexander Max Koester’s painting Ducks, and I read aloud the caption below the brushes of color.
“Mother ducks pick feathers from their chests to line their nests.”
![[He.duckslarge.jpg]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rTLKcrDmonU6uHZ29I7xlWpdnvUJ8dQjxa7fHs9HA3v5et-llNo9mUFUJyLRXnazM_XLar-cv4LJvaeM4jqNuhMCCHu3cuE_PYx62WIxa-_tB-OqSPU358clFuyk3sEGfX529Q/s1600/He.duckslarge.jpg)
(Koester’s painting: Moulting Ducks)
I pause and the children gaze thoughtfully at a clutch of plump white, blizzard of feathers fallen down. But it’s those words that mesmerize me: “pick feathers from their chests, to line their nests.”
Eyes fixed on a duck breast puffed, mother plunging beak in deep, I question wondering self: “How else did you think nests were lined?”
With leftovers. With feathers discarded, the molted, the not-so-necessary feathers. I thought mother ducks picked feathers up from what was laying about, scraps, lining nests with what simply could be mustered after the fact.
But no. (Is that only the way of human mothers?) No, a mother duck plucks each feather out from the heart of her bosom, warm and soft.
She lines the nest with bits of herself. The best of her, from the deep spots.
She cups her young in her sacrifice.
Children pull at the corner of the page, anxious to see the next painting, and, reluctantly, I move on. But for weeks, part of me lives among Koester’s ducks. (Koester, captivated, painted dozens of duck paintings throughout the course of his life. I’ve come to understand.)
Days later, I am scrubbing out the arches of muffin tins after breakfast, the clock ticking insufferably loud in my ears, time running down. Children need books and learning, and I’m tuned for the expected chime of the doorbell, a service personnel’s scheduled visit. And the words rise near to the surface, “I don’t have time for this! No muffins tomorrow morning!”
Pluck.
The words sharply sink. And I, learning, line this nest with a feather. Not a leftover. But one decidedly plucked. The service man meets me with muffin tins still in the sink, and a circle of happy young. Whose tummies next morning fill with another batch of muffins. I will make time.
As the sun’s perfect globe of glow sets nears the horizon, these boys, glint in eyes, recalibrate vacuum cleaner to fire socks. Weary, I have food to find, laundry awaiting escort, math sheets to mark.
They fire sock cannons.
And I Pluck.
Bellies jiggle, peals of giggles, as old mother chases after future men, wrestling them down, tying them up in tickles. We warm here in laughter. It feels good, wild and alive. So again they fire, and again I pluck with feathers of my time, bits of me, and we pile high, one atop the other, nesting down into sacrifice, soft and small.
Some feathers for this nest, the parts of me and time I have sacrificed, have hurt, pain of the plucking lingering long. But why speak of the details? And was it really sacrifice, or just this too-tender skin? It’s done, it was necessary, it was for something better. Some nights, when all sleep, I feel along the hidden bald patches.
There are times, too many, when they call, “Read me a story?” “Wanna play a game with me?” “Can you come help me?”
And this mother refuses to pluck. Something, some task, someone (me?), rates as more pressing, more important. I deem our nest acceptable just as it is. I don’t want to sacrifice more of me.
Then comes the pecking, the scratching, the squawking. With feather lining wearing thin, the nest chafes hard. We hurt and cry. Nests need feathers deep.
Someone must pluck.
When will I learn that down sacrificed settles and soothes?
For scraps won’t suffice. Snippets of time, leftover me, a trinket, a diversion, tossed.
Mother ducks don’t line nests with feathers, dirty and trampled, the molted and unnecessary. Why would I? Nests need feathers fresh, warm with mother’s life.
Night descends and calls children to dreams. I lead them to their bed-gate, arms and legs under quilts worn from the ride. I read stories, stroke hair, say prayers. Prayers to Him who plucked hard from His own heart.
A sacrifice, staggering and true, for love of His very own. We learn love from His laid down.
Tired heads nestle into pillows, pillows of down.
On feathers plucked, we rest.
Related: May the Children Eat First
How to Parent: Just Guide Gently (this link doesn't seem to work... but can't find where to link it too. i'll relink when i'm able) :/
The original Koester painting, “Moulting Ducks,” is part of the collection at the Frye Art Museum in Seattle www.fryemuseum.org
serious encouragement... and challenge
I so need to add a few links to the list at right of blogs I read. Today went from mary demuth's blogs from one blogger to another, finding encouragement from some awesome women who are willing to write transparently about their lives and their struggles. What sticks with me most? Ann's reflections on how a mother duck lines her next with her own feathers. NOT ones that have just fallen out on their own, though, oh no. Not the oldest or most frayed or most convenient. No.
Here's an excerpt from www.aholyexperience.com:
"Mother ducks pick feathers from their chests to line their nests.”
I pause and the children gaze thoughtfully at a clutch of plump white, blizzard of feathers fallen down. But it’s those words that mesmerize me: “pick feathers from their chests, to line their nests.”
Eyes fixed on a duck breast puffed, mother plunging beak in deep, I question wondering self: “How else did you think nests were lined?” With leftovers. With feathers discarded, the molted, the not-so-necessary feathers. I thought mother ducks picked feathers up from what was laying about, scraps, lining nests with what simply could be mustered after the fact. But no. (Is that only the way of human mothers?) No, a mother duck plucks each feather out from the heart of her bosom, warm and soft.
She lines the nest with bits of herself.
The best of her, from the deep spots.
She cups her young in her sacrifice.
What a challenge. How often am I lining my nest with leftovers? Leftover time, leftover energy, leftover me... I don't want to be giving the most precious souls in my life LEFTOVERS. No, I want to at least WANT to give my best, my first, my softest, my warmest downy feathers.
Not the angry words that bubble up when the kids won't stop running through the apartment while I'm trying to wash the dishes.
Not the sigh of reluctance when Josiah asks to play a game when I've started reading something on my Kindle.
Not the harsh words that come so easily when Yvelle is losing it because of something small (in my eyes) hasn't gone the way she has wished... (like leaving a new coloring book at school--she was close to hysterical yesterday, so angry and upset!).
Lord help me to have wisdom and patience, grace and also strength, to love and teach and discipline in healthy and effective ways...
Here's another section that spoke to me:
What to Do When You Want to Give Up and Stay in Bed (again, from aholyexperiement.com)
Shadows of depression can ride up like a highway man in the night and and steal away all the silver linings.
I wake on a Sunday to his cantering away.
I lay in the bed a long time.
The legs, the spirit, too heavy to move. The sun’s high already, the sheets warm. I make a point of not looking at my watch or the bedside clock’s hands ticking, vainly trying to nudge me out.
Maybe I can bury myself deep under covers, a bunker, escape today and no one will notice?
I don’t bother moving today because I already know I’ll lose.
I know I can’t get the laundry caught up this week and I know I can’t make deadlines. I know the bedrooms I tidied through last night will be dumped out by nightfall, the sink I left empty last night will be piled high by noon, the floors I washed yesterday will be tracked dirty by supper.
I will definitely lose today, tomorrow, all week. I roll over, smother my face in the pillow...
I know there are some days when everything feels so overwhelming, and the thought of making one more meal, just so I can wash all those plates and cups and pans and forks and spoons yet another time, or let the kids play just so the neat and tidy room can turn into chaos after 3 minutes... doesn't it just feel easier to eat cereal and crackers and cookies and tomatoes cut in half, or just put another movie on? (not to say that there's anything wrong with breakfast for dinner, or watching Tangled sometimes...!) ;)
Lord, help! ...and thanks for the reminder that I am not alone.
Here's an excerpt from www.aholyexperience.com:
"Mother ducks pick feathers from their chests to line their nests.”
I pause and the children gaze thoughtfully at a clutch of plump white, blizzard of feathers fallen down. But it’s those words that mesmerize me: “pick feathers from their chests, to line their nests.”
Eyes fixed on a duck breast puffed, mother plunging beak in deep, I question wondering self: “How else did you think nests were lined?” With leftovers. With feathers discarded, the molted, the not-so-necessary feathers. I thought mother ducks picked feathers up from what was laying about, scraps, lining nests with what simply could be mustered after the fact. But no. (Is that only the way of human mothers?) No, a mother duck plucks each feather out from the heart of her bosom, warm and soft.
She lines the nest with bits of herself.
The best of her, from the deep spots.
She cups her young in her sacrifice.
What a challenge. How often am I lining my nest with leftovers? Leftover time, leftover energy, leftover me... I don't want to be giving the most precious souls in my life LEFTOVERS. No, I want to at least WANT to give my best, my first, my softest, my warmest downy feathers.
Not the angry words that bubble up when the kids won't stop running through the apartment while I'm trying to wash the dishes.
Not the sigh of reluctance when Josiah asks to play a game when I've started reading something on my Kindle.
Not the harsh words that come so easily when Yvelle is losing it because of something small (in my eyes) hasn't gone the way she has wished... (like leaving a new coloring book at school--she was close to hysterical yesterday, so angry and upset!).
Lord help me to have wisdom and patience, grace and also strength, to love and teach and discipline in healthy and effective ways...
Here's another section that spoke to me:
What to Do When You Want to Give Up and Stay in Bed (again, from aholyexperiement.com)
Shadows of depression can ride up like a highway man in the night and and steal away all the silver linings.
I wake on a Sunday to his cantering away.
I lay in the bed a long time.
The legs, the spirit, too heavy to move. The sun’s high already, the sheets warm. I make a point of not looking at my watch or the bedside clock’s hands ticking, vainly trying to nudge me out.
Maybe I can bury myself deep under covers, a bunker, escape today and no one will notice?
I don’t bother moving today because I already know I’ll lose.
I know I can’t get the laundry caught up this week and I know I can’t make deadlines. I know the bedrooms I tidied through last night will be dumped out by nightfall, the sink I left empty last night will be piled high by noon, the floors I washed yesterday will be tracked dirty by supper.
I will definitely lose today, tomorrow, all week. I roll over, smother my face in the pillow...
I know there are some days when everything feels so overwhelming, and the thought of making one more meal, just so I can wash all those plates and cups and pans and forks and spoons yet another time, or let the kids play just so the neat and tidy room can turn into chaos after 3 minutes... doesn't it just feel easier to eat cereal and crackers and cookies and tomatoes cut in half, or just put another movie on? (not to say that there's anything wrong with breakfast for dinner, or watching Tangled sometimes...!) ;)
Lord, help! ...and thanks for the reminder that I am not alone.
Those links (see post above)
(here are links to what i read this morning): :)
http://www.marydemuth.com/2012/10/knit-together-awesome-guest-post-by-gillian-marchenko/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MaryDeMuth+%28Mary+DeMuth%29
http://www.experienceproject.com/stories/Have-A-Special-Needs-Child/483916
http://mandymianecki.com/
http://aholyexperiment.com/
http://www.marydemuth.com/2012/10/knit-together-awesome-guest-post-by-gillian-marchenko/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MaryDeMuth+%28Mary+DeMuth%29
http://www.experienceproject.com/stories/Have-A-Special-Needs-Child/483916
http://mandymianecki.com/
http://aholyexperiment.com/
Tuesday, October 09, 2012
autumn is here, winter is coming...
Such a nice weekend we had. Saturday was beautiful and we all walked together to take Yvelle to her (3rd? 4th?) ballet lesson. I was glad to be outside and in the sunshine. Javkhaa dropped us all off and headed for the first of 2 meetings that took up most of the rest of his day. (I saw him briefly, in between, but the kids were sleeping.) Josiah and I hung around, outside and inside, until Y's lesson was over. Then we all headed back home for lunch and NAPS. (I should have slept...) ;)
Grades were due this past weekend. Well, Friday, officially. I finished posting mine on Monday. Whew! Always a good feeling to be done. I get so stressed about it, actually; especially the first time during the year. Glad my school posts grades once a month--makes it a little easier to keep up (I hope). :)
Time to pick up the kids from kindergarten (read: preschool). This isn't much of an update, I know, but wanted to take the chance I had to try and get back into the swing of things.
Hope we get internet at home SOON!!!! :)
(hm... and why aren't my paragraph breaks showing up??)
Thursday, April 05, 2012
April Fool's--the mumps! (no joke though!)
hey there,
been a while. between 2 busy kiddos, teaching, and life in general, besides internet challenges, i haven't been writing much lately. just taking this brief window of time to post a little note that we are doing fine (pretty good, overall) and SOOO happy it's a little warmner now. whew! we made it through our first winter back! spring is here and it feels "warm"... though i remember a friend who came to visit in May way back when, and thought my idea of warm was pretty crazy. ;) anything above freezing feels warm after so many degrees below zero!
so yes, i have the mumps. hoping no one else in the family gets it. kids had their vacc (i'm one of those 'let's take it slow' moms), and javkhaa may have also. i'm hoping so, b/c no one seems to think he had mumps as a kid. we'll know for sure in another week or so i guess. anyways, i'm holding up okay, but this is dragging on longer than i'd hoped. so much for a spring break.
thanks for your prayers, and Happy Easter!
been a while. between 2 busy kiddos, teaching, and life in general, besides internet challenges, i haven't been writing much lately. just taking this brief window of time to post a little note that we are doing fine (pretty good, overall) and SOOO happy it's a little warmner now. whew! we made it through our first winter back! spring is here and it feels "warm"... though i remember a friend who came to visit in May way back when, and thought my idea of warm was pretty crazy. ;) anything above freezing feels warm after so many degrees below zero!
so yes, i have the mumps. hoping no one else in the family gets it. kids had their vacc (i'm one of those 'let's take it slow' moms), and javkhaa may have also. i'm hoping so, b/c no one seems to think he had mumps as a kid. we'll know for sure in another week or so i guess. anyways, i'm holding up okay, but this is dragging on longer than i'd hoped. so much for a spring break.
thanks for your prayers, and Happy Easter!
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Reflections near the beginning of the year...
Hey y'all...
I wrote the following a couple of weeks ago for our newsletter... but seems like it's too long to include in the email. So, in case someone clicks over and is interested in this, I'll post it here. :)
(January 2012)
Today we had an old friend over for lunch after church. She is my age, and called to one of the most closed countries in the world. When I last lived in Ulaanbaatar (which would be about 2002-03), I was part of her life-group at our church. She reminded me of that today. Since then, she has faithfully and consistently been serving the Lord and keeping the vision He has given her for this group of people He loves in a very tough place to reach—let’s call it the Hidden Land.
How did He prepare her? She served our church here in Ulaanbaatar and also served in a very rural, countryside fellowship in Mongolia. She studied and graduated from the Bible School here. She has ministered to street children and hopes to work with orphans in the Hidden Land. She followed the Lord to another country, where she had to learn 2 new languages (English, to communicate with team members, and the language of that country, to minister there and to take care of daily life) while planning and preparing to move to the Hidden Land, and also studying that language as well. She has been living there, by faith, for some years now, and finally it seems the Lord is opening the door for her to move to the Hidden Land… may it be so, Amen!
And just what does this have to do with us?
Oh, it just encouraged me so much to see my beautiful, full-of-faith Mongolian sister leaving all that she calls home for the chance to share the good news with those who so need to hear that there is hope, there is Someone who loves them with a powerful, gentle, Father’s heart love… She also blessed us by saying that visiting us was also a blessing for her.
It was also a message to me from the Lord, underlining the promise of His provision and faithfulness He reminded me of over the last few days. Friday night was one of those nights when, despite being tired, sleep would not come. My mind was racing, thinking of so many things: things to do, things to prepare for, things left undone. I tried to put all into God’s hands, but still, it was a long time before I finally drifted to sleep. Saturday morning came early—seems like it’s always after a night like that that one of the kids wakes up super-early, cheerful and raring to go! ;) Anyway, bleary-eyed, I think I put on a video (I admit it) and, bleary-eyed, opened up the old copy of Daily Light I’d just come across a day or two earlier. What verses do you think I found? Any fans of Daily Light out there? January 28 morning (here’s a sample): As thy days, so shall thy strength be (Dt 33.25). Take no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof (Mt 6.34). The God of Israel is He that giveth strength and power unto His people. Blessed be God (Ps 68.35). My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness… that the power of Christ may rest upon me… for when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Cor 12. 9-10). Thank you Lord!
We are doing well, overall. I am just at the end of winter break, so have had a delicious taste of what being a stay-at-home-mom is like. I say “delicious” because I do love being with my kids! But they can wear me out, too. It’s especially hard, I guess, in cold climates since it’s difficult to get out of the house. But we enjoyed our time together; now, when I’m finally figuring how to make the day run a little more smoothly, we have to get used to our old routine of going to school again. ;)
The other night, I watched part of a movie—the Descendants. Not sure if I’d recommend it or not. It seemed rather depressing to me. At the same time, though, it reminded me that most of us go through really, really difficult seasons at some point in our lives. Right now, Javkhaa and I—we’re still in a season of adjusting, I’d say. But my heart was just tuned in to the fact that people we love, friends and family here and all over the world, are going through a really tough time. Some things we know about. Other situations I’m sure we have no idea about, but I just want to say that if you’re in that kind of dark, lonely, or desert place, that God is right there with you. And my prayer is that you will sense His great love for you, His tender Father’s heart reaching out to enfold you and cover you with His wings. Again, from Daily Light: I know their sorrows (Ex 3.7), A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Is 53.3), Jesus, being wearied from his journey, sat… (Jn 4.6), When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then Thou knewest my path (Ps 142.3), In their affliction He was afflicted (Is 63.9). Our Lord is not distant, nor was He immune to trials, grief, or sadness while He lived in our world. He knows exactly what you are going through, and I pray that His great lovingkindness and mercy will supply all that you need, by His Spirit and through His children too.
Looking back at 2011, it’s been quite a year of seeing God’s provision and trying to figure out where He was leading us. We're still listening and watching but it's exciting to begin to see where things might lead...
I wrote the following a couple of weeks ago for our newsletter... but seems like it's too long to include in the email. So, in case someone clicks over and is interested in this, I'll post it here. :)
(January 2012)
Today we had an old friend over for lunch after church. She is my age, and called to one of the most closed countries in the world. When I last lived in Ulaanbaatar (which would be about 2002-03), I was part of her life-group at our church. She reminded me of that today. Since then, she has faithfully and consistently been serving the Lord and keeping the vision He has given her for this group of people He loves in a very tough place to reach—let’s call it the Hidden Land.
How did He prepare her? She served our church here in Ulaanbaatar and also served in a very rural, countryside fellowship in Mongolia. She studied and graduated from the Bible School here. She has ministered to street children and hopes to work with orphans in the Hidden Land. She followed the Lord to another country, where she had to learn 2 new languages (English, to communicate with team members, and the language of that country, to minister there and to take care of daily life) while planning and preparing to move to the Hidden Land, and also studying that language as well. She has been living there, by faith, for some years now, and finally it seems the Lord is opening the door for her to move to the Hidden Land… may it be so, Amen!
And just what does this have to do with us?
Oh, it just encouraged me so much to see my beautiful, full-of-faith Mongolian sister leaving all that she calls home for the chance to share the good news with those who so need to hear that there is hope, there is Someone who loves them with a powerful, gentle, Father’s heart love… She also blessed us by saying that visiting us was also a blessing for her.
It was also a message to me from the Lord, underlining the promise of His provision and faithfulness He reminded me of over the last few days. Friday night was one of those nights when, despite being tired, sleep would not come. My mind was racing, thinking of so many things: things to do, things to prepare for, things left undone. I tried to put all into God’s hands, but still, it was a long time before I finally drifted to sleep. Saturday morning came early—seems like it’s always after a night like that that one of the kids wakes up super-early, cheerful and raring to go! ;) Anyway, bleary-eyed, I think I put on a video (I admit it) and, bleary-eyed, opened up the old copy of Daily Light I’d just come across a day or two earlier. What verses do you think I found? Any fans of Daily Light out there? January 28 morning (here’s a sample): As thy days, so shall thy strength be (Dt 33.25). Take no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof (Mt 6.34). The God of Israel is He that giveth strength and power unto His people. Blessed be God (Ps 68.35). My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness… that the power of Christ may rest upon me… for when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Cor 12. 9-10). Thank you Lord!
We are doing well, overall. I am just at the end of winter break, so have had a delicious taste of what being a stay-at-home-mom is like. I say “delicious” because I do love being with my kids! But they can wear me out, too. It’s especially hard, I guess, in cold climates since it’s difficult to get out of the house. But we enjoyed our time together; now, when I’m finally figuring how to make the day run a little more smoothly, we have to get used to our old routine of going to school again. ;)
The other night, I watched part of a movie—the Descendants. Not sure if I’d recommend it or not. It seemed rather depressing to me. At the same time, though, it reminded me that most of us go through really, really difficult seasons at some point in our lives. Right now, Javkhaa and I—we’re still in a season of adjusting, I’d say. But my heart was just tuned in to the fact that people we love, friends and family here and all over the world, are going through a really tough time. Some things we know about. Other situations I’m sure we have no idea about, but I just want to say that if you’re in that kind of dark, lonely, or desert place, that God is right there with you. And my prayer is that you will sense His great love for you, His tender Father’s heart reaching out to enfold you and cover you with His wings. Again, from Daily Light: I know their sorrows (Ex 3.7), A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Is 53.3), Jesus, being wearied from his journey, sat… (Jn 4.6), When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then Thou knewest my path (Ps 142.3), In their affliction He was afflicted (Is 63.9). Our Lord is not distant, nor was He immune to trials, grief, or sadness while He lived in our world. He knows exactly what you are going through, and I pray that His great lovingkindness and mercy will supply all that you need, by His Spirit and through His children too.
Looking back at 2011, it’s been quite a year of seeing God’s provision and trying to figure out where He was leading us. We're still listening and watching but it's exciting to begin to see where things might lead...
Friday, July 22, 2011
We're Going! (We're Coming...!) :)
...back to Mongolia!
Lots to do, not much time left...
We'll fly out of Norfolk on the 5th of August. So, in the next couple of weeks (I'm not counting the days!) we need to go thru all of our stuff, and sort into take, give, sell, ship, and discard piles. whew! hoping that this sunday afternoon can be a massive sprint thru everything in a garage, and then we'll tackle the house. ;)
pray for us!
but besides all that, we are excited to be heading back.
you can read our recent newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/eTmJg
we'll miss folks on this side of the world but are looking forwad to seeing friends and family on the other side!
Lots to do, not much time left...
We'll fly out of Norfolk on the 5th of August. So, in the next couple of weeks (I'm not counting the days!) we need to go thru all of our stuff, and sort into take, give, sell, ship, and discard piles. whew! hoping that this sunday afternoon can be a massive sprint thru everything in a garage, and then we'll tackle the house. ;)
pray for us!
but besides all that, we are excited to be heading back.
you can read our recent newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/eTmJg
we'll miss folks on this side of the world but are looking forwad to seeing friends and family on the other side!
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