Daily Archive

by Mark

It was a pretty exciting week here in Mongolia. 

June 1st is Children’s Day.  Children’s day is usually the last day of school.  It’s traditional to give gift baskets to kids with juice, some candy and  a small toy in it.  Annika and Toby got special gifts.  Cinda and I were off of language school so we went off to the park. 

A Squirt Bottle (for cooling down) and a Bow and Arrow- What fun!

We went over to the Children’s Park to go on some of the rides and check out what was going on.  There were to be many large festivities but they were canceled due to swine flu concerns (from what we could understand).  There were still many people out at the park.

Looking North in the Children’s Park- our apartment building is to the right of the photo where you can see one corner of a light blue building.  They really went all out painting and updating many things for a special day.  The sun was blazing down, so we had to don hats and sunblock.  These poor white people just fry in the hot Mongolian sun.

We rode on some rides!

There were some people flying some model airplanes and shooting off a model rocket too! 

Control line model airplanes- they even did loops, really cool!

Setting up the rocket

Mark spoke yesterday at church on Acts 2:1-13, the giving of the Holy Spirit to the Church.  From Easter through this month we have been covering the ministry of Jesus after the resurrection. 

In the afternoon we also took Smokey to the vet to get “tutored”

I am evil no more!  (so we hope) OR My, what big ears you have, Smokey!  The better to hear you with, my dear.  heh, heh, heh.

The whole vet encounter was quite an experience.  I won’t go into all the details here (although send me an email and I can tell you about it) but it was quick and for 5000 T or about $3.50 it was a very cheap fix (pun intended). 

by Mark

Its May 27th here- did I mention it snowed again this week? 

(this is the most scenic petrol station in Mongolia)

As I think about what was going on a year ago at this time I’m still savoring the memory of Barbara’s peanut butter pie.  (I would gladly sign a non-disclosure agreement and an understanding that it would not be made, except in Asia, for a copy of the recipe).  It was a year ago this week that Russellville blessed us as we ended our time together.  I think back on that week and remember eating more than I should have at the pot luck (but hey I wasn’t going to be eating that food for a long time – not that we are suffering for food by any means now!) We cleaned the house and still had too much stuff left over, closed on the house and headed to Wheaton via Kentucky.  We dodged tornadoes in Indiana and marveled at what God was doing. 

Its still amazing to look back and see God’s faithfulness in all that happened as well as in everything that we encounter today.  Without His love expressed in the many who lovingly support, pray and work with us we cannot do it.  It is a year that has gone quickly and we look forward to the next because he is faithful.