“It really does feel like the Race started over again.”
I feel so blessed to have been a part of the very first World Race squad to venture into Mongolia! Mongolia was a month that completely captured my heart. It was not the easiest month by any means – it definitely had its share of bumps in the road, but nonetheless, I hope to go back one day and spend more time there.
There is something so special about this country, the people and the culture. I remember my first day there and what hit my first impressions were: “Everyone here is so trendy! Haha. The people look Native American-Asian, it feels like I’m in Mexico, they sound like they are speaking an Asian-Russian language, and the kids are the cutest things EVER (well maybe I’m partial, being half Asian and all).” The city is developed and has everything you would think of at home, yet the countryside is just next door and somewhat intermixed, with yurt homes, squatty potties again, and no running water (wells were used). This blend of these communities into one unique and absolutely beautiful area created a country that I love.
We spent the first half of the month working with the Foster Home, living in a yurt in the countryside. However, due to miscommunication and cultural differences, our team was asked to go back to the city. God continued to navigate and provide for us in a way that we got connected with Pastor Bogie and his family. For the first time on the Race I truly felt like I was a part of a family. I can’t express how much I love and cherish every minute of this experience.
Mongolia Highlights:
Life working with the Foster Home
- HOME SWEET YURT – For the first half of the month, we had the opportunity to live in the traditional house for a Mongolian called a ger, or yurt. It’s a round, insulated, portable housing units for nomads in Mongolia and can be seen sprinkled all across the countryside and throughout the cities. I am so grateful to have had this cultural experience. (Please visit my previous blog “MTV Cribs: Yurt Edition” to see how we lived in our Home Sweet Yurt!)
- FOSTER HOME – We had the opportunity to work with a foster home, run by a Christian Mongolian family. The children were the most beautiful children I had ever seen – seriously, I think we all agreed that Mongolian babies are the cutest babies in the world! They were so full of life and love and I loved every minute with them.
One of our first afternoons, some of us piled into the back of a tiny truck and went off to a neighbor’s fields to help pull weeds. (I literally ran after the truck and hurtled my body in. I landed on top of Mandi – haha. Those moments are the best.) We got to pull weeds beside the children. It began to downpour and we all ran towards the vehicles. One of the little boys grabbed my hand and pulled me into the front seat, pushed me in, jumped on my lap, and slammed the door to shut us in. There were tons of giant moths flying around in the van with us. My little boy would capture them and throw them out the window. He grabbed my arms and wrapped them around his waist, as it was their place. We played together the ride home on the bumpy dirt roads. He sang songs to me about Jesus. My heart melted. I look over to a precious baby girl passed out on the lap of the Mongolian man driving us back. These are the memories that I want to hold captive forever.
- NAADAM is a traditional Mongolian festival that we had the opportunity to attend with the Foster children during the first week. Everyone in the countryside and city gathered to watch competitions in wrestling, archery, and horse racing. KHUUSUUR is the traditional Mongolian food to eat during this festival…and we got to help make them with the staff. It’s a type of deep-fried meat pastry.
- I got a taste of true Mongolian BBQ, which consists of eating almost every part of a slaughtered GOAT! (Okay, goat meat wasn’t my favorite at all, but it was definitely interesting seeing the family interaction with the slaughtering process! I had to continuously shoo the babies away from playing with the goat head haha.)
- Running across the ROLLING HILLS was one of my favorite memories. Eric and I decided to go on a run, where we got to see and experience the town and the surrounding land in such a new and beautiful way. Atop the hill directly behind our yurt were several idols, where locals come to worship. We stood at the idols and prayed fervently over the town. It was amazing to see the city on one side and the unending countryside on the other side.
- Coming from China, we realized that we officially needed to switch teams and start rooting for the Huns. Sorry Mulan. So in the movie they used EAGLES to send messages and to hunt…well, I got to hold one!
- We lived in CHINGGIS KHAN’S ancient city, Karakorum, which houses the oldest surviving Buddhist monastery in Mongolia.
- We had to walk 45 minutes into town, asking people along the way if they knew where INTERNET was. Most people did not speak English. We ended up randomly finding an Internet blip on the stoop of a random shop. That’s how we get Internet on the World Race.
On the walk into town, we stopped at an ATM. I noticed a man who was parked in a van, waiting for his wife to withdraw money. For some reason, I had this strong urge to talk to him… so I did. It was crazy because actually spoke English, and he spoke it better than anyone I had met so far! His name was Bud and he was so helpful and eager to talk to me, wanting to answer any questions I had. At the end of this short meeting, Logan came over and got his contact information. Little did we know – we were about to see Bud again. The day we were asked to leave, we had troubles finding a bus to take us back to the city on such short notice. We almost lost hope at finding a way out, when randomly a van pulls into the bus area. I recognized him – it was Bud and though he wasn’t planning on going to Ulaanbaatar that day, he agreed to take us! (7 hour trip on crazy roads.) This truly was a divine appointment. Even through our leaving Karakorum, God showered his blessings over us. Bud even took us to his brother’s yurt along the way to share some horse milk together…and best of all, Eric was able to talk to plant a little Jesus seed. Through this, I learned about the power of obedience and the blessings that follow.
Life working with Pastor Bogie
- PASTOR BOGIE is by far the hardest working man I’ve ever met. His love for the Lord is what drives his every move, which is so unbelievable to be around. Bogie was building five churches with just him and his family and still is the first one to offer a helping hand to other pastors in need. There is something to be said about just being able to work for and with someone who so clearly and passionately works, lives, breathes the love of the Lord.
- FERMENTED HORSE MILK is one of Mongolia’s staple drinks that we got to try. Unfortunately for us, we aren’t used to drinking this from childhood and it is by far the worst thing I might have ever put into my body voluntarily haha. (Bogie thought it was so funny that we had a hard time drinking it, so he would keep pouring us more!)
- Pastor Bogie took us one weekend to one of his COUNTRYSIDE CHURCHES. It blew me away: Sunday morning, this man woke up at 5am to build an outhouse at one church, followed by going to a different church to first teach a Korean lesson at 9am, lead worship, and preach. Mandi and I got to TEACH ENGLISH before church to two little girls, who were the most eager and precious girls I have ever taught. (Later that day I saw Bogie’s niece – who is about ten years old – practicing on her own with her English notes over and over. It almost brought me to tears.)
I ran with Danielle and the kids outside the gates. Simply running through the long grass, hand-in-hand with my favorite little cuties in the countryside was one of the best moments ever. Tomoo handed me a large weed and directed me to help him herd the cows! We ran after and through the herd, smacking them on the butt, directing the cows back to the gates, laughing all the way.
- CRAZY CAR RIDES. First of all, Mongolian highways are absolutely nuts – by far the worst roads I’ve ever seen (including Africa). Driving home from the country church, we were basically scared for our lives, dodging oncoming traffic, blasting Fergalicious, with cows, horses, dogs, and other animals running across the freeway. Thank you Lord for keeping us alive. By far the biggest daily legitimate danger with a funny twist haha.
- Pastor Bogie went to Bible school in Korea and studied ACUPUNCTURE Therapy as well. I had it done one day when my back was in pain. (It was an interesting experience – not my favorite, but it was one of those experiences that taught me a ton. We had the most delicious KOREAN FOOD during our stay, and I got to experience acupuncture for the first time!
- NOM SOM is the Mongolian term for “bow and arrow.” Enkee was so sweet. She dressed us up in traditional Mongolian outfits and brought out her bow and arrow for us to use.
- We spent the two full workdays pounding REBAR, shaping rebar, and hauling giant pieces of rebar. Lovin’ the rebar.
- HAULING DIRT. This simple concept dominated our lives while working with Bogie, but I feel like I learned so much from this time of physical labor. Every time I’ve done physical labor on the Race, there is a definite need to understand true rest from the Lord.
- During this month of physical labor, I had exactly 4 SHOWERS. I missed my hygiene.
- I LOVE MY NED! Ned is the Mongolian word for friend. Bogie’s daughter, Hulongo, became my best little Ned! On one of the last days of work, the heat was almost unbearable and we had a limited amount of water. Half of our team was out of commission. That day, as I was shoveling in the ditch alone, Hulongo appeared and began to help me in every way she could. In that moment, I couldn’t tell you how much this helped me get through the workday and bring so much joy at the same time! From that day on, we were attached at the hip! I love my Ned!
- They found a struggling baby PUPPY and it was so precious. All I wanted to do was take care of it (and honestly keep it away from the children. She was holding on for dear life and the kids were constantly shaking her up, as though she was a doll.) This was the first time that I had a serious emotional reaction, to the point of getting stressed out about it. In the end, the puppy died. That was a rough one for me.
- Our last off day with Bogie consisted of going HORSEBACK RIDING in the countryside. He took us to a wildlife reserve park where we saw tons of YAKS roaming the area, along with some of the most beautiful scenery.
- Okay, to be honest, we did not ride CAMELS…but we did find three on the side of the road and we got pictures with them!
- I would like you all to meet MY MONGOLIAN FAMILY.
