Meet my lovely Mongolian friend Adrianna.
My squad-mate Niki and I met her on our first day of ministry. We needed someplace cheaper to eat, and we had spotted lower prices in the restaurant window a few days before. As soon as we walked in, we noticed our waitress was very friendly and spoke good English. During lunch, we learned her name was Adrianna and then made friendly conversation about Mongolian language. We stayed long after our meal was finished and tried to learn some simple sentences. By the end of our stay there, she convinced us to come back for more Mongolian lessons. We left the restaurant looking forward to seeing more of her in the future, having no idea we had just met someone who would become such a sweet friend here in Mongolia.
We continued eating at the same restaurant almost everyday during the week to visit with Adrianna. Soon our conversations grew from simple language lessons to learning more in depth discussion. We talked about our travels, Mongolian culture and American culture. We shared from memories with our families and good times with our friends.
And then we got to the subject of prayer. When we first started meeting with her, lunch, she would usually ask us if we have our “simple sentences” prepared. I had a few I thought I would be useful, including, “May I pray for you?” When we got to this point in the conversation, she paused and said this was very interesting. I wasn’t sure if she was comfortable talking about this with us, but I went for it anyway. She said in all her life she has never heard anyone ask this question. She said some Mongolian people may welcome prayer and some don’t accept it.
This topic from our lunch meetings fell on a Monday or Tuesday. By Wednesday, we had turned a corner from language lessons to deeper conversation. She opened up about her family and what she was hoping would change in her life. That Wednesday, the restaurant was especially busy, and she had to keep getting up from the table. Our conversion had grown to the point where the three of us seemed fairly comfortable with each other. So I took another bold move.
There were some things she shared from earlier that I knew I wanted to pray about, but I wasn’t sure how to bring it up. So while she was helping other customers, I took out a pen and paper and started writing a letter to God about her, a written prayer she could go back to and understand more clearly with an English dictionary in hand. Niki had to leave early for other responsibilities. She didn’t know I was doing this. So it was just me sitting there writing, feeling like I was going out on a limb. I handed it to her right before I left, and she smiled and said thank you. The next day (Thursday), she discussed that letter with the both of us. Niki and I were encouraging her that we believed God was moving in her life, and that we were standing in faith for her.
Almost as soon as we sat down for lunch on Friday, she had a big smile on her face and exclaimed, “Ok, today I have good news!” After our meal, she sat down and said that she believed my prayer I wrote for her. She shared that she was going to get a new job, which was one of the things I had prayed for in that letter. She talked more about how she is opening up to Him more, and that she is learning that He cares for her. Niki and I left lunch that day so excited, especially since we all planned to go to church together!
That Sunday, we all walked to church together with her beautiful 10 year old daughter. They were all dressed up, even though it was raining quite a bit. She smiled and expressed how she thought rain and snow was so romantic. I thought it was so sweet, because I knew God saw her stepping out of her comfort zone to come to church with us. As the service was concluding, we noticed it was heavily snowing outside, and as she saw this, she was glowing. She said it was so amazing that it had rained AND snowed in one day. I remarked that it was a day of double-blessing, and she said, “you choose good words.” As evening was concluding, we sat talking and laughing more together. Niki gave Adriana her Bible, and she was so thankful. She said, “Today is a special day, and I am very happy.”
Since that first Sunday, we have gone to church with her one more time and shared more good conversation. We have gotten to know her daughter better and enjoyed spending time with them at their apartment. Adrianna has been so generous with her time and her kind spirit. I can see God moving in her life, and I know He will continue to do great things in and through her in the days to come.
