Mongoliawood’s Weblog

Last week after Field Forum I had the opportunity to go with several of the team members to visit and pray in the new Ministry Center in Ulan Bataar.

The capital of Mongolia is the key to Mongolia.  The demographics of this city show that between 1/3- 1/2 of the population resides here.  Of that population 1/2 are under the age of 25.  We are praying about training leaders that are not yet believers-we invite you to pray along with us for the Church here.  The ministry center is located next to one of several universities in UB.  It will be a place for students to gather drawn by English lessons, coffee and a local place to hang out.  The goal is that through this to birth a student church.    This ministry is being headed up by Bernie and Renee Anderson (www.remembermongolia.org).  I was with Bernie and Renee in 2003 on our short term trip to Mongolia, they came back in 2006, its great, and rather surreal to be back together. 

Please pray for Bernie and Renee and that this Ministry Center would birth many new believers and a new church.  Please give to the Great Commission fund and if you are interested in supporting the UB Ministry Center you may give to Bernie and Renee’s Work Special (see their website above)

It may not be apparent from the picture above  but the row of shops has been built in front and onto a row of existing buildings- rather interesting.  The building is a former dental shop and they are putting much work into it.

Bernie with a worker in the ministry center

The team from Franklin, TN looks over the Ministry Center

A Local University

Ok- this is for all you cheese heads out there, not just those from Wisconsin.  Mongolia is a dairy paradise (Mongolia- its the new Wisconsin).  I don’t have any problem walking through the meat market- its just like cutting up deer or elk, but walking through the cheese section of the market is still a bit tough.  If you have never been to a cheese factory its hard to describe.

Some is good, other stuff takes getting used to.  The yogurt is great (tarik).  Part of what makes the dairy stuff great here is everything is whole milk- lowfat just doesn’t exist except for some of the milk in boxes.  Even the dried milk we purchased is whole milk- around 28% fat, yum.  They also make a local cheese (pictured on the right).  Its slightly salty and can have a strong sharp taste or mild depending on the batch.  Its good melted and runs about $3-4 per half kilo (about a pound).  We can also get Cheddar and Mozzarella from UB.  They are made in Germany and rather price, about $12-13 per kilo by comparison.

If the Inuit have the proverbial 100 words for snow then the Mongolians must have equal or more for the various cheese and dairy products.  We sampled some that is like a sweetened cream cheese to aaruul, which is a dried curd.  When its fresh its got a very mild taste but watch out when it hardens- there has already been one team member who broke a tooth on it, a national hazard.  They say eating it keeps teeth white an hard.  Some things just come with time. 

In a historic moment Mongolia clinched a gold medal in Judo- instead of writing on it I am going to shamelessly link to our friends and co-workers, the Lain’s blog.  http://thelains.blogspot.com/2008/08/first-gold-medal-for-mongolia-in.html

If you have not met Larry, Krista, Avery and Eli I would like to introduce them.  We will be going through language school together.  They were one of the couples (among a total of 4 headed to Mongolia) that we met at Wheaton and we both live in Darhan (although different areas).  They have been living in a ger (the felt Mongolian tent).  Avery and Eli are about the same ages as Annika and Toby which is great!

I can’t believe I don’t have pictures of them!  But I promise we will soon.  The Lains love to rock climb- what a hardship having to bum rope rides off of them!  We love you guys.

setting up the IKEA desk

Did we mention that we have been to 3 shops that claim to be IKEA?  They are all in UB, and all do carry some amount of IKEA stuff.  We purchased a desk, a lamp and cutting boards.  We will probably go back when we get other opportunities and just see what else they have.  Their prices are high for some things while really good for other things.  When you drive around UB you see signs everywhere for IKEA, North Face, and a lot of other recognizable brand names.

Of the many things I packed and re-packed over the past several months, some of those I am most thankful to have brought are the kids’ IKEA dishes.  Yes, I can buy more here, but it was great to just pull them out of the duffel and put them in the cabinet and know that if all else failed, the kids had something on which to eat their meals!  With all the shopping fatigue and the drains on cash supplies for other necessities, I couldn’t help feeling thankful to have a few simple things from home in our kitchen here.  There has not been much that I’ve unpacked and wondered why I bothered to bring it.  I can really only think of one thing, and it simply came by mistake (I thought it was a waterproof mattress cover for Toby, but it’s a crib pad!).  We did bring a lot of clothes for the kids and a lot of their stuffed animals, but right now I don’t regret either one.  I’m glad not to have to do laundry every day for them and the stuffed animals are played with and cuddled everyday.

I’m looking forward to hanging the few pictures we brought with us as soon as I figure out how to do that on the concrete walls . . . The small winter scene by Larsson in a red frame will look perfect and will be another touch from home.

Thanks for the comments and for letting us know that you’re reading what we write!  We won’t have as much time to write as soon as classes start, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to read what YOU write!  Please keep in touch with us as much as you can.

with love from the Wood’s

Mark has been doing all the blogging until now, so here goes my attempt.  I have been fighting with the computer to upload some photos for all of those who are clamoring to see pictures and decided since I’m sitting here anyway I might as well write a few things, too.  We’re spending our days shopping and unpacking.  It really is a luxury to have the time to learn how to do all the day-to-day chores before we get into language learning, and it’s a big blessing to have team members who take us everywhere and translate for us – not to mention those who move furniture and appliances!  And some who also have a good eye for color and understand how much we should pay for things here (thanks, team!).

I’m trying to keep up with the laundry since we don’t have much room to hang things for drying.  We purchased a much-used drying rack which certainly helps with the space issue; however, it’s going to take some getting used to having very crispy jeans, t-shirts, socks, and everything in between.  It’s one thing to have crisp sheets and another thing altogether to have crunchy towels and washcloths!

While Mark was home recovering from the stomach thing that we’ve all passed around, I purchased a really big couch today.  There aren’t many choices for furniture here in Darhan, so when we found a couch in a neutral shade and fabric (not lime green, plastic orange, or shiny gold leopard print) for a good price, we knew it was meant to be ours.  Just for the record, Mark did see it yesterday before I actually purchased it.  However, in our small apartment the size is a bit overwhelming.  I may need to re-arrange my furniture a few times to figure out how it’s going to work.  At least it has 4 sections so that gives me a few more options.  Mom, I know you would love to help with this challenge so feel free to draw some diagrams as you get time!  (No comments about the rug — it’s borrowed temporarily).  I’m just happy to have a comfortable place for us and our guests to sit, and also very glad to be done with that part of the shopping.

We want to say a big “Thank You” to all of you who have blessed us with your prayers and your financial help.  You’re an important part of everything that God is doing in our lives here and we need you all.  We look forward to hearing from you soon.  We start language classes one week from today, so we would appreciate your prayers for that transition.  Annika also starts 2nd grade that same day!  We still need to arrange for childcare for Toby, but we feel really good about the possibilities available here in Darhan.  Pray for us to make the best decision for Toby regarding his caregiver.  We love you guys!

Here’s a picture of Annika by the drying laundry (in the living room pre-couch).  Annika posed for me yesterday while Toby was napping, so she’s in most of the recent pictures.

a periwinkle kitchen is cheery!

After arriving in Darhan we have been staying in the guest house (another apartment in the same complex).  Each night we have had dinner with another member of the Darhan team- we feel very supported, welcomed and incredibly well fed.  Our days have been filled with market runs, shopping and getting things together for our apartment.

On Thursday morning we began moving our bags from the guest house into our apartment.  We were waiting for cabinets to be hung and a few other things.  The walls are concrete so any drilling needs to be with a hammer drill and is quite large (no drywall- removing an wall paper here is a major task that involves re-plastering the walls).  The worker’s drill did not have a plug, just two wires that the other worker held into the socket- welcome to Mongolia.

We now have internet access.  We purchased a wireless card that basically fits into our USB port and acts like a cell phone for our computer.  Its pretty fast and the best part is we don’t need to connect to any lines and can take it anywhere.  At $300 US it isn’t cheap to start out with but its only $20 a month- they don’t have plans over here on cell phones or internet or cable.  So the good news is we will be able to post pictures.  There will be some that are out of order.  The next week we will be at field forum so it will be about a week until we post again.  Skype is up and working although the audio still has kinks so best to chat first to see if we are around.  We can’t skype around the clock – its a 13 hour time difference.

water filter, washer, stove

We have spent the past year more or less trying to shed ourselves of what we own.  Its not so much selling your things as adopting an attitude of not wanting to acquire things- “minimalism.”  So we find ourselves in the strange position of purchasing many things this week to set up our household.  As I Cor. 10:31 shows even buying appliance can be done to the glory of God.  On the one hand it seems strange to purchase after wanting to get rid of so much, on the other hand if we are to truly be effective we need to be able to  be here for the long haul and that means equipping ourselves to live here- it’s not a short term trip. Our washer is samsung, our fridge is a Sharp (it comes with a lock), our stove, a glass top is a Beko from Turkey.

We will probably move into our apartment on Thursday as we unpack our trunks and suitcases.  It’s a bit like a treasure hunt as things packed long ago emerge.  We’re hoping to get the internet connection up but its not there yet.  It is amazing how much is available.

On Saturday we traveled from UB to Darhan, about a 3 hour drive.  The roads are rough but this one is paved.  We braked a few times for cattle and sheep.  The hills are green and beautiful.  As Annika said, “It looks like a grassy sea.”  We are told that its rare to be this green but what a beautiful view.  Often Cinda and I find ourselves saying- looks alot like Wyoming.  We are surprised at how many things are available.  Some are more expensive, much is about the same as the states.

We are currently staying at the guest house while we shop for appliances.  After being in selling mode for so long it is strange to be in purchasing mode.  We will probably move in by the end of the week.  It will take a while to turn the flat into a home but we are looking forward to unpacking.  We do not have internet yet so we are using other people’s computers and can’t post pics.

Toby and Annika are doing well with jet lag and we are about over it- sort of.  Toby slept through the night the last two nights which is great.  Tomorrow we go shopping for a fridge and stove.  We will also be having some furniture made.  Our outfit fund will be going fast, thank you to all who continue to give.

After so many days in UB it is very pleasant to be in Darhan.  Its more quiet here and less traffic.  We went to church this morning (more later). (I sunburned my head at the market- red necks in Mongolia).

Its great to meet many of the team members and get to know them.  We look forward to growing in relationships with them.  Field forum starts Saturday.  Wow- alot has gone by but we are seeing how great the need and task to be done here in Mongolia really is.  Please continue to pray and we really enjoy reading the comments.  Love to All  MCAT

Well after about 20+ hours in the air we are in UB! I’m writing from the Savages apartment.  We took off from O’hare at 9:30 (originally scheduled for 8:00, but that was the only delay).  Toby and Annika are doing great- Toby’s sacked out but they really did well on the plane.  All the luggage arrived well, one trunk was cracked but its minimal, no problems at customs and we sailed through.  It has been great to re-connect with Bernie and Renee.  We ate at Millies for lunch- cheeseburgers and good fries, and yes they have iodized salt.  We went to the American store to pick up some stuff- there really is alot available.  The Savages took us out to dinner at a great Chinese restaurant.  More later.  Its Thursday now we will be heading to Darhan Saturday afternoon.

on the plane

I’m a wimp when it comes to pain, I want to get that out there right away.  When the dentist recommended that I have my wisdom teeth removed I was not to excited.  If you have had your wisdom teeth pulled you have a story about, good or bad.  In these stories there is usually the best friend of a cousin who’s girlfriends aunt’ next door neighbor had a really bad experience (Their teeth pulling was the basis for Castaway, a rock and an ice skate- its simple)and not that I would but they want to share it with me anyways. It

The downside of the joy of having teeth pulled is that you have to pay for this privilege.  Ah, the solution was that we would have dental insurance starting July 1 so all bases are covered, right?  Well teeth extraction does not fall under the insurance category for another 6 months and as much as I was looking forward to getting my wisdom teeth out getting them pulled in Mongolia was looking a bit less appealing.

In steps God.  My parents have a neighbor who is a dentist and confirmed that my wisdom teeth should come out.  She gave me a referral to an oral surgeon.  During this time I had been praying for a Christian oral surgeon who would be able to do the surgey.  No one had recommendations so I went to see this oral surgeon.

I wrote down my parents address- now our permenant address in the US.  As he saw the address he asked if it was on a corner or on the street- it turns out he lived just down the block, completely unknown to my parents and myself!  I shared that I needed my teeth out soon because we were going to Mongolia and he was eager to hear why we were going.  Meanwhile the receptionist was wrestling with our insurance papers.  As I left the consult I was informed that there would be no charge.  The doctor is a believer and wanted to honor God in pulling my teeth- Praise God!.

I must say that the procedure was alot smoother and free of pain than I could have imagined possible- it actually was a very good experience and I am healing fine and pain free.

Thank you Doc for all that you did and honoring God.  Dentistry is a big need in Mongolia, I’m praying that God will call this doc to come over to Mongolia for a short term trip- there is a very nice dentist chair in Darhan.  If it takes my four wisdom teeth to make that happen I can live with that.