Only a few days left in Mongolia before we head off to China for our final debrief and journey home to the states [YIPPEE]. The excitement for coming home is uncontainable, as each day passes it builds up more and more. I feel like I am bursting at the seams, “patience…make the most of these last few weeks is what I keep telling myself.” It is so hard, especially when I talk to the people I love back home.
But heres what happened this month…hold on to your seatbelt.
This month has literally been crazy. Man, do I have some stories to tell ya. Mongolia, is WILD. Relentless pursuit, the team I have been with since Georgia [Month 6] spent our final two weeks together in the city pursuing the people that God brought into our lives. Salvations, demons cast out, the gospel being spread, LOVE within our team blossomed more than any other month…God can do so much in such a short time.
Our first day, I found a gym beside our guesthouse. Preston, Brittani and I signed up. I met this guy as I started my run on the treadmill, He is a Mongolian believer who actually lived in the US for like 7 years. It was in the US when he was looking for a job, but met Jesus instead. Moving back to Mongolia to take care of his parents, he hadn’t gone to church in forever and it was a no accident that we met him. The guys were able to build a relationship with him, and he came to church with us. In Mongolia, only 1% are christian…what are the odds we meet a Mongolian believer at a gym? God is pursuing his heart, without question and used our team to encourage him in his faith and life. What is even more amazing, is his daughters heard that He went to church with us and asked him “Can we go to church with you daddy?”….How precious!
Brittani shared the gospel with this young girl, she accepted Jesus and then started going to church with us. Before we left, she brought her family to church and has been going to church on her own since then.
Andrew met this dude, who was messed up on drugs and alcohol… He gave his heart to Jesus, and Andrew began to disciple him. The guy saw demons leaving his body as they prayed to Jesus. God is working in him, he is so hungry for more that he reached out to Andrew every day to meet up.
Kiana spent her time at the homeless park, praying over people. She loved it, though I wasn’t there with her I know the people were impacted by her being there as she carries Gods love for people so well.
Preston, met this young boy who was socially not accepted and showed him love like this guy had never seen. The young boy, hugged him so tight and didn’t want to let go. Though he didn’t speak English, Preston shared Jesus with him anyways. This kid defintely felt Gods love that day through him without question.
I met this young girl at a cafe where she works, and immediately invited her out for coffee. The first thing she asked when we met up, was why did you decide to travel? TESTIMONY and BOOM, the Gospel was shared. Whats crazy is, God has been pursuing her for years and I was able to see, point that out to her and encourage her to keep praying to God. She was so hungry to understand, and we ended up having bible study right there. Though she didn’t even realize it, she knew God and his ways in her heart.
What may be a “closed” country, is SO open to hearing about Jesus. I’ll say it again, GOD is clearly moving in ASIA. This is only a few of the stories we have, there are so many more that could be shared from our squad.
…Heres where our Mongolia life, gets even more wild…
Westside Warriors – Our trekking team- consists of Bradley, Eli, Samantha, Kiana, Brittani and myself.
What was suppose to be a 14 day trek out in the desert and countryside of west and northern Mongolia to share the gospel and hand out Mongolian bibles to the nomads…ended up being a 9 day trek with a emergency trip to the Hospital.
Let me just share with you how POWERFUL Gods presence is, WORSHIP… is an experience that creates a lifestyle of FREEDOM. This is so true, and we got to see an example of this on our trek.
We had a Mongolian English speaking tour guide, who was incredible and took really great care of us! Our second day, we hiked out to this frozen water fall and it was there as a team we shared Jesus with Mogi Bear [Thats his nickname, i gave him.] I felt like we should pray together after, so we circled up and prayed over him, then I sung a worship song at the end and we went on our way. A few nights later, this guy saw Mogi bears bible we gave him and told him how he is a christian. So we were introduced to this Mongolian believer [out in the middle of no where in the Gobi desert], and we decided to do worship in our yurt [a nomadic house] that night for him and Mogi bear. Only Mogi bear came, Brittani shared with him why we worship and encouraged him to pray if he felt comfortable. He started thanking God out loud, and following our example as we worshipped.
Days go by, and we are now at our campsite in the woods..first day of our horse trekking. Mogi bear comes up to us, and says…“Can we do worship to God, when we worshipped I felt something in my heart and that God was hearing me, I felt good.” Completely thrilled, Mogi bear gave his heart to Jesus and we all did worship that night. Celebrating God, and praying protection over Mogi bears new faith in God. Then He began translating the Gospel to our horse guides who were asking questions about Jesus. We were literally discipling him how to share his faith as he translated. Like WHAATTT?!?
So then, unexpected turn of events that next morning…one of the horses was lost, and was found dead having fallen off a cliff in the middle of the night. Then the horses were spooked and unsettled, as we saddled up and began to get on the horses. Samanthas horse, bucked her off and she fell on her butt. Then bravely getting back up on the horse, it takes off like a mad man going towards a cliff. Samantha pulling back on the reins as hard as she could, dunks underneath the tree the horse ran towards and she gets thrown off the horse falling on her arm. I have never seen an arm look like that before, I couldn’t stomach it. Thankfully, Eli and Brittani were able to pop it somewhat back into place and wrap it up, as we discussed how we have to rush her to the ER. Not even thinking twice, we were clear to stand together as a family and all go with Samantha.
Our rush to the ER was more like a 9 hour drive on the bumpiest roads for most of the way. She fractured & dislocated her arm, but took it like a champ. We took her out for the biggest bowl of ice cream, and our team has done an amazing job of loving on her. Though our trekking experience ended earlier than planned; we were able to pass bibles out to nomads, see our brother come to know Jesus and experience worship! It wasn’t all for nothing.
Now back in the city, so many people coming in and out of our guesthouse that we have already been able to love on and share Jesus with. GOD is good!!
Month 11, here we are…
Lets finish the race…
