Category Archive

I’ve seen several high school teams that have tornados but I have not seen any with tornado colors.  For me those colors are pink and silver.  Last year was my first and I pray last experience with the devastation of a twister.  I will never forget the landscape littered with the pink and silver of insulation.  It was stuck on the barbed wire, it took the place of leaves in trees, there didn’t seem to be anyplace that didn’t have it in some amount.  Houses that should have been there were not.  Other houses that looked fine were totaled out because they were knocked a few inches off of their foundation.

I remember it was warmer than it should have been, our front door was open waiting for our small group to arrive.  The rain had started and the TV was on because the sirens started to go off.  I was worried about the Gentry’s place because the storm tracker just showed Petit Jean WMA.  I remember the storm tracker showing Atkins and thinking it was near Campbell’s.  I called them and surprisingly they were ok; what I didn’t know was that they were just emerging from Marion’s storm shelter.  Joanne was still in Russellville.  It had grown dark and the roads were going to be clogged with EMS and debris- we couldn’t get out there that night.

The next several days were a blur.  It was amazing to see people show up and help.  It was an amazing thing to see the church pull together and people out of no where show up and help.  The first day it seemed nothing would ever get done.  By the third day it was hard to recognize the condition things had been in.  The blackhawks flew over (the scary words- “we from FEMA and we’re here to help) to do damage assessments.  Over 100 miles on the ground is an unbelievable trail of damage.  Its a strong reminder that whatever amount of hubris man boasts of we are still at the mercy of the wind and rain; but the wind and rain falls silent at one word of God.  Who are we? 

The cleanup has been finished, Marion got a new house that I had the privilege of dedicating.  Windows are patched and roofs put back together but there are still scars of that night that will not leave.  Those memories are also tempered by the experience of having so many people come out and help – lending a hand, giving whatever was needed and then some. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Super_Tuesday_tornado_outbreak

Thank you to all who are praying.  The latest that we know is that Lisa arrived safely with Esther and are in the hospital.  Due to the nature of the break they need to wait for swelling to go down before the surgery is performed- this should be around Wednesday.  The doctors are estimating that they will keep Lisa for possibly another two weeks beyond the surgery to monitor.  Its much better to be safe than sorry in this situation.   Brent Liberda is now back and everyone is working to cover meals as needed for the family but they are doing very well.  Please keep praying, Lisa is still having allot of pain. 

Wednesday February 7, Lisa Liberda had a bad fall as she went to pick up her children at the local kindergarten.  She slipped on some slippery steps and fell.  She broke both bones on the lower leg close to the ankle.  She was taken to the Darhan hospital to stabilize her leg.  Her husband Brent transported her to UB last night where she was taken to the trauma hospital.  She met the main doctor this morning at 8 o’clock.  They were told that they were not able to have any surgery today and the earliest would be Monday.  We are now in the process for arranging a medical evacuation for her to be taken to the Yonsei hospital in Korea.  There is a flight available tonight and we are able to get confirmed seats.  Pray for the difficult travel ahead (she is in a lot of pain) and all the details and scheduling that will need to take place in Korea.

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-207219

umm… I missed this one- but some good shots of downtown UB

Please pray for Lisa Liberda, she fell this afternoon and fractured her ankle.  She is stabilized and on the way to UB with her husband Brent.  The fracture will most likely require surgery.  Please pray for the provision of a good surgeon and healing for Lisa. 

http://www.camamongolia.org/

Follow the link above to download the video- you can also download a high-res version for showing (which you are encouraged to do!) thanks

by Mark

It doesn’t take much of an excuse to have a celebration.  Actually Cinda and I have reason for a little celebration, we finished our first language book- YAHOO!  We don’t get too excited because we still have another book to go.  We are now in the process of going through the first book and reviewing it all.  This is good but now that we have more language skills we have the opportunity to really know how little we know.  We are making progress – sometimes it seems more noticeable than others.

Other people were celebrating as well.  It was the Chinese new year as well as Australia Day- the day when Britain claimed Australia in 1778 (don’t quote the date).  Ali Dench, in the blue sweater, our resident Aussie and next door neighbor filled us in.  Some in Mongolia also celebrated Tsagaan Tsaar since there was some disagreement as to what the proper date was.  The majority still believe Tsagaan Tsaar is a month off- Feb. 25-26.  The photo was taken with a cell phone, so it’s a bit fuzzy.  Pictured (clockwise from the bottom) are Toby, Cinda, Kirsten Hewitt- Annika’s school teacher, Hanniki Theron, our friend and mentor from South Africa (welcome back!) Ali Dench and Pieter Theron, Director of CLTC, Christian Leadership Training Center.  Its a joy and privilege to know all of them. 

We are eating at Raja’s Curry House, formerly Asia Kitchen- the name is the only thing that changed.  Best fried rice, fried chicken and curry in Darhan.  The owners are from KL in Malaysia so its kind of like eating at the stalls in Penang, but I miss the Char-kwe-teo and Koppiping! 

by Cinda

Thursday, December 17th, we all attended the MK School Christmas program.  Ms. Kirsten, Aunt Ali, and all the kids worked very hard to put on a great program for the parents and siblings.  There were games, music, a play, and of course, Christmas cookies.  One of the highlights for all the kids was an Australian version of “Jingle Bells” that Aunt Ali taught them.  For those who’ve asked about Mark in leopard print, that was part of a game called “what am I wearing”, something the kids play frequently at school and decided to get the parents to join in for this party.  Everyone passes around a bag of dress-up clothes; when the music stops, the person holding the bag pulls out a clothing item and has to wear it, then the music starts again and the bag goes around again.   

The play was about the perfect Christmas gift.  Jubilee ordered a gift over the phone that was advertised as the perfect gift but with no other description.  It was immediately delivered to her door in a box.  As she assembled it, it turned out to be a living nativity scene that explained the gift of Jesus Christ the Savior.  The other kids were the nativity “pieces”.  Annika was happy to be Mary, and happy she didn’t have any lines to say.  It was a very fun and memorable portrayal of the Christmas story, well-acted by all.

Introducing “what am I wearing” (wearing her new Mongolian dell)

more parents dressed in funny clothes

playing Mary Had a Little Lamb

Singing Australian Jingle Bells, with props

Toby and Edie watch the play

by Mark

Things seem to go so quickly here.  I thought that Christmas was yesterday and now realize that it was actually a month ago.  We find ourselves in the position of having several events that we want to share with you but they have gone by so quickly that the moment has passed- Toby’s Christmas program is one of them. 

We’re still trying to figure out the context of Christmas in Mongolian popular culture.  It seems that most of what we associate with Christmas is celebrated at New Year’s.  Tinsel is everywhere.  And when I say everywhere, I mean everywhere.  Its sewn onto clothes, it hangs in the market, it hangs from the ceiling, its put on cars.  Come to think of it, I don’t think there was a place I didn’t see tinsel- except on the horses, although the camels did have some. 

Toby’s tsetserlik put on a Christmas program.  They were to dress up as different animals or Santa Claus- why?  I don’t know.  The program was at 10:00 AM and thankfully we were off of language school. 

The Assembly Room-Can you spot the hidden use of tinsel in this picture?

I have no clue, don’t ask

Toby getting candy from father time- pictured behind.  Candy plays a huge part in any celebration- most importantly CHOCOLATE!  We put in some money for a gift and are still eating some of the chocolate that came in it.  (Don’t tell Toby that)

Toby mugging for the shot-He looks pretty good in a tie.  Behind Toby  is his teacher, she has a wonderful heart and seems to like Toby.  Levi is there with a wolf hat.

Class Shot- Toby on the left, than Levi (4th from left) Eli is front row (4th from right)

Panda reveals his 1st secret identity (he’s really batman underneath the shirt and tie)

by Cinda

Mark was pretending (or not?) the other day to be offended that there are more pictures of the new kitten on our blog than there are of him.  Well, at that time there weren’t actually any pictures of “Smokey” on the blog, so now it only seems right to post some.  Maybe I’ll put up some photos of Mark, too, just so he knows we still love him! 

reclining or ready to attack?   watching a movie with Annika

     Smokey enjoys her new owner

 isn’t he cute, especially when he washes dishes!

Mark on the ice with the kids                    1st time ice skating

Nice shirt!  MK school game.        Toby getting ready for school program (we’ll try to write more about the Christmas programs later, and post more pictures with it!)