Mongoliawood’s Weblog

by Mark

Yesterday I posted about Advent.  A helpful part of the Advent season is an Advent candle.  There are a few different explanations of the candles circulating.  I am not very clear as to the time of there exact origin, however they are helpful in focusing our attention during the Christmas season and drawing out its true meaning.  The Mongolian church is learning about the church calendar.  The following is the other part of an advent pamphlet that was written previously.

The Advent Candles

Our greatest desire is to glorify God. Many of the symbols that surround the Christmas season are rich in meaning and draw our affections to glorify God. However symbolism without understanding at best is empty and at worst is idolatry. We desire to avoid such emptiness and instead be drawn to the awe and wonder of this season.

The candles symbolize the light of the world, Jesus Christ. They are to draw our attention to Him. The colors of each candle are meaningful. Purple is the sign of royalty to remind us of Christ’s deity and might. Liturgically, purple is also the color of penance and longing in anticipation of Christ’s coming. Rose is a sign of joy and hope at the coming of Christ. White represents purity and brilliance proclaiming the light of the world.

The wreath symbolizes the eternity of God who is from everlasting to everlasting. The holly represents the crown of thorns to remind us that the one who came as an infant was to hang on the cross for the sins of the world. At the center of all stands the white Christ candle, a symbol of light for the hope of the world.

1^st Sunday Purple Hope

2^nd Sunday Purple Love

3^rd Sunday Rose Joy

4^th Sunday Purple Peace

Christmas White Salvation

By Mark

Today is December 1st (well it is in Mongolia).  Many people think that the Christmas season begins in December, except for Wal-Mart who thinks it begins in October.  The Advent season is an opportunity for the Church to observe and reflect on the coming of Christ.  Advent is marked by the four Sundays prior to Christmas and began this past Sunday.  I did not grow up in a tradition that observed Advent but have found it a meaningful season to draw my heart and affections past cheesy decorations and back to the expectancy of Christ.  Below is an article that I wrote during my time in Russellville about what Advent is.  Several Advent devotionals are available on the web as well. 

The Meaning of Advent

The Advent season is a time to pause and reflect upon God who became man in Jesus Christ. The four Sundays prior to Christmas day, which make up the advent season are filled with Joy, hope, and excitement as well as contemplation and confession in seeking to understand the meaning of the birth of Christ. The word advent comes from the Latin word that means to come to. It is a time to stop and think about what it means to celebrate Christmas; Christ the Messiah, come in the flesh.

We cannot celebrate the birth of Christ without also confronting our absolute dependence upon Him for salvation. The presence of sin in our lives inhibits our fellowship with God. It is only through Christ that we can be reconciled to God, therefore the celebration of His birth calls for a time of contemplation and rejoicing. As we anticipate the celebration of the birth of Christ and long for His return, may we make this a season of confession, prayer, meditation, and hope. As we seek God we must engage His truth and prepare ourselves for the celebration of Christ. We need to remind ourselves that our joy and celebration is not found in what the world offers. Our joy is through the means of grace found in our Lord Jesus Christ. Our hope, which is joy and light, is found nowhere else in the world around us. In this season may we prepare ourselves and hold nothing back. Let us shout for joy for the one who has come: Emmanuel, God with us.

by Mark

As you are eating your turkey today we will, hopefully, be eating chicken at the Grain of Wheat Student Center in UB.  You may not be aware that today marks Mongolian Independence Day.  Brent Liberda and myself had the opportunity to help out with a coal distribution on behalf of Compassion and Mercy Associates to people in the Tusgon area of Darhan.  Brent did an excellent job sharing (in Mongolian of course) that the coal was being given out to share God’s love, to help with swine flu and to help celebrate the Mongolian Holiday. 

4 bags per family

Brent and Dawaa helping out (coal is heavy! – note the swine flu masks)

Dawaa, Brent and Precinct Captains (the captain is in red)

by Mark

We found out early this morning via email that our teacher Karen will be able to come to Mongolia!  Its a great praise and answer that Karen will be able to join us some time in December. 

Sunset (surprisingly the Northern Lights do not appear in Mongolia)

The following is an update from Haniki about how Pieter and she are doing in Bangkok.  Many of you have asked how Pieter and Richard are doing.  Richard is stating to sit up (apparently he suffered a fractured pelvis as well as hip) and will slowly be back on his feet. 

Family and friends,
We’re back at the hospital this morning.  For the follow-up visits
with three doctors.
On Monday we moved from the Bumrungrad Residence to the Alliance Guest
Home.  It is good for Pieter to be able to sit and walk outside in the
garden.  We’re so blessed to have Steve and Carol (and Carol’s mom)
looking after us.  They are organizing everything  for us, which makes
it really easy with our stay in Bangkok.  We had an early Thanksgiving
lunch yesterday, no expert on turkey, but yesterday’s was the best.
Pieter continues making progress.  He had his last physiotherapy at
the hospital on Monday, but we have to continue with home physio for
another 6 weeks.  He still has much pain in both his shoulders and his
arms, especially when sitting or sleeping in the same position.  The
doctor told him to do less exercises with his left arm, because the
healing process has slowed down  due to the exercises.  No headaches,
which really helps, but when chewing, he can definitely feel some
loose bones in his head!!
On Tuesday, I went to the Mongolian Embassy for entry visas.  They
asked me to wait twenty minutes so I don’t have to come back again for
the passports.  I was so happy, and impressed.  Well, have to say, I
was the only one there, no one else wants to go to freezing Mongolia
this time of the year.
We visited Richard in hospital yesterday afternoon.  It was good for
them(Pieter and Richard) to see each other, they got separated after
the accident at the first hospital.  Richard might be able to come out
next week, but because of a broken hip and pelvis, he will have to
stay in bed for another few weeks.
It all depends on what the doctors will say this morning.  We are
thinking of leaving next week, on Wednesday or so.  Flying will be
tough, but maybe I can use Pieter’s “condition” to get bumped up this
time.  Would be great if we can get business class.
For now, this is all the news we have.  Thank you for your prayers.
We appreciate it very much.
Haniki

by Mark

The days are getting shorter (sunrise Nov. 11 8:00 AM) but as we enter this last month before days get longer we are finding some tasty things to brighten up our days (and nights)

Check this out- home delivery pizza!  It took about 40 minutes but the guy brought it straight to our door- that’s a first! Nothing comes to the door except bills (hey, Mark, it’s your editor here: you forgot about the vegetable man who delivers fresh vegetables to the door in the summer).   He even had a pizza delivery bag to keep it warm.  The Lains joined us and we ordered a cheese, salami and cheese and super (which includes corn and hotdogs).  I agree with Annika who said that it’s the best pizza we have had in Mongolia – great crust, kind of like Dominoes.  It’s called Pizza Romano.  We had fun trying to translate the box (everything is a language lesson).  The box says “the most tasty” under the fast free delivery.  The pizza costs about $9 US apiece, not cheap but it’s a great treat.  We like to tease each other by saying- wow, you want to order out for pizza tonight? Now we can.  I was also pleased they understood me enough on the phone to get it to the right place. 

We also had another great treat of apples and caramel.  We boiled sweetened condensed milk in the can for 4 hours (make sure that the can is under the water.  Let it cool and out comes this beautiful caramel colored sauce.  (Thanks Aunt Haniki for the recipe)

Update on Pieter: Pieter is doing well, I got to skype with them last Wednesday.  Pieter is continuing to under-go therapy after surgery but is looking good and making great strides each day.  He is walking and pushing himself.  Haniki showed us around the hospital room.  WOW- all I can say is it’s nicer than a lot of US hospital rooms that I have been in.  It has a kitchenette including an oven in it.  Haniki is faithful to send out regular updates- please continue to remember them with us. 

*  The hospital where Pieter was transferred did their own MRI using
newer equipment.  This MRI showed that he also has fractures in his neck
which did not show up initially.  They are waiting to find out if there
will need to be surgery or not.  They will decide when they are certain
about the pressure of the blood on the head.  There is no paralysis.
*  There is still a small amount of bleeding. to the brain.  They are
not concerned about the skull. 

*  There are several fractures in each shoulder and his left wrist is
also broken.  Dennis stated that if his shoulder and hand had not taken
part of the blow, the head injury could have been much worse, so we can
be thankful for that.
*  Haniki says that she is doing well.  She has great support from the
C&MA and also a friend Stephanie from the Philippines is with her and
going everywhere with her.
*  Pieter will have to remain in the hospital at least 2 weeks.  After
they determine what to do about surgery, they will know more about how
much longer after that.
*  Richard is waiting to hear from the orthopedic doctor to know what
kind of treatment he is looking at.  It will depend on where the
fracture is.
*  Both Pieter and Richard are giving orders and telling people what
needs to be done work-wise from their hospital beds, so this is a very
good sign.
*  Others who were there have been able to meet with grief counselors to
help to process the trauma of this experience.

Please pray for Pieter Theron, our Field Director.  He is in Thailand for a conference and was posing for a picture with an elephant outside of Bangkok.  The elephant spooked (I do not know exactly what happened) and Pieter suffered a fractured skull and Richard Herring, our regional director, suffered a fractured hip.  Pieter did not lose consciousness and is in the hospital.  Tomorrow they will consult with a neurologist in Bangkok.  Haniki is with Pieter.  We will update more as soon as we know but please be praying for his recovery and how to proceed.

Pieter is from South Africa and a veteran of many safaris into the bush but he had to go to Thailand to have this encounter with an elephant.  Yana. 

By Mark

There are times when I think my Mongolian is coming along pretty good.  I understand what someone is saying, they understand me- we joke, I explain quantum physics with my new found vocabulary (ok I’m pushing it).  I feel good, I think I’ve got it all together.  (I imagine myself in my alternate persona of  “Grammar Man”! and yes I do picture a flowing cape) Then comes language school.  The same sentence that I used so easily at the store isn’t making it past my teacher- it’s full of mistakes.  My pronunciation is wrong.  It begins to dawn on me that my grammar and pronunciation never were right when I was speaking before.  The problem was that I had no means of knowing how off I was.  There was nothing by which to measure it.

This is why I need the law.

In my life as Christian I have those times when things are going good.  I’m reading, I’m praying, I’ve got it together- I feel good about how I stand spiritually; a little too good.  Even unconsciously I begin subtle comparisons with others and think I’m doing alright. God must really like me- He made a good decision to save me.  I’m just a bit off- but that’s all it takes for heresy, a bit of self-righteousness.  I’m half-way right, God does really like me- in fact he loves me, but not for the reason I think.  He loves me because of His son, Jesus the Christ who died in my place and bore the brunt of God’s punishment that I deserved for my rebellion.  The only person that I can compare myself with is Christ.

But God has given us a means to measure ourselves by-this is what the law is.  The law is God’s standards- the expectations for how people are to meet with Him.  To put it another way they are God’s terms.  (In light of this it’s little wonder that Leviticus was the most quoted book by Jesus.)  The law shows me that I am lacking and that no matter how good I may feel, or think I am that is not enough to be accepted by God.  It’s not that I’m wrong by just a little bit- but by miles and miles.  The more I read of the law I realize there is no hope of keeping it.  The law is like a gigantic arrow and it points to the cross.  The law shows me my failure but points me to the truth that it is only because of Jesus who is in my place that I am accepted. The law reminds me of how far I will always be because of who I am but how accepted I can be because of who Jesus is for me. In light of the law I can only fail.  In light of Jesus who stands in my place- my Christ I am accepted.  The law increases my failure and separation from God.  Jesus secures my acceptance.

Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,
so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Rom 5:20-1 ESV)

Language class is the law-I need it, it brings me back to reality.  It reminds me of where I really stand.  And it also reminds me of who stands in my place and called me to do His work.

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,
equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.

Amen.

By Mark

I like airports.  The ability to watch  planes take off and land, seeing people from literally every nation on earth make airports are amazing places.  For instance Toby was playing with a little British boy who asked Toby if he spoke English.  Toby’s reply “No, I speak American.”  This summer our family spent some time waiting and watching in several different airports.  (When I add up the layovers its more like days spent in airports).  Of course we spent a lot of time in Seoul which is one of the top-rated in the world.  (I might feel differently speaking about LAX an armpit or the Gary, Indiana of airports of the world in my opinion.)  

It’s rather odd to watch the ebb and flow of the airport.  In a matter of moments it goes from deserted to waves of people rushing back and forth and then to deserted again.The strange thing  is that for all the people that move through an airport- for all its activity- no one lives there; airports are a wholly transient place.  Someone living in an airport is an oddity (consider Spielberg’s dud Terminal).  Think about sitting at a gate when you overhear someone talking about where they are going to put the living room and the furniture and you see them pointing to the waiting area that you are sitting in.  It would be absurd, why?  Because airports are places that we move through, they are not permanent places to live.  For as wonderful as an airport is I don’t want to stay there, I want to get to where I am traveling to. 

Here is where the gospel comes in.  The gospel tells us that the present world is real and true but its not fully what God has for us, there is something greater he has prepared for us.  

13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.  For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
(Heb 11:13-16 ESV)

I find it interesting that every day people step onto planes going to places they have never seen or experienced before but trust in others to get them there and yet resist the reality of heaven because they cannot see it. 

As I think about lessons of the this past year I see more clearly that our time on earth is like time in an airport- brief, transient, waiting for that better destination, a heavenly one.  When I bring the gospel to bear that promise is hope and also is a challenge to how I live now.  My possessions are like the seat in the waiting area- I can’t take it with me, nor would I want to because there is something great to come.  I fear to many people who call themselves followers of Jesus live their lives as if they are trying to build a house in an airport, forgetting that their hope and what they truly seek lays ahead. 

By Mark

Yesterday was a beautiful day so we decided to head out and enjoy some of the Indian Summer.  We went for a walk around the camel park- here are some shots with the Nikon(D-5000 with 200 mm lens). 

Toby at 5                                                                Annika posing

Still some green leaves around

Coal getting stockpiled for the winter ahead

Autumn is upon us