As we left the bustling city for 2-days of confiscation to a seat, my mind was racing – 15 minute felt like an hour. But soon enough, thanks to a guided mediation recording, Cory and I passed out. Arriving the next day at the Russian border, a border guard asked, “Who in your group speaks Russian?” Suddenly five people all pointed my direction and yelled my name… there was no escape. Little did I realize I had just been unwittingly volunteered as a the Russian translator from the next 3-hours. Who knew God would use one-year of Russian studies, 7-years prior at West Point, for that moment? Not I.
As our ragtag band of Americans filed in and out of the office, the border patrol officer asked some of the most ridiculous questions imaginable. Top honors go to Josh, who majored in journalism, for being asked, “Do you have Barrack Obama’s number?” And “Do you have a selfie with the President?” Close seconds go to Natalie, our squad leader and a Finance Major, who was asked, “Do you know Vladimir Putin?” As the comical questioning ceased, we hopped on a bus that was literally driving away.
Making our way through Russia, negotiating another 5-hour border crossing into Mongolia, and arriving at our destination, we began the half-mile trek to our yurt village. We quickly moved into our beds and assembled our squad leader to-do list:
* ATM
* Dinner
* Groceries
* Sim Cards
Our host at the camp only speaks Mongol, so we set out on a shotgun prayer (fire it up and walk in expectation). Then, the squad leaders, Chelsea, and I encountered 3 English-speakers in a row. Amazing! First, a young woman who directed us to an ATM. Second, a store owner and travel agency manager who not only not only told us where to find an ATM, but also called his “driver” to come pick us up.
His words as he hung up the phone were, “Walk down this road and hop in a brown, Russian van.” A statement wringing of everything your parents said NOT to do.
So, OF COURSE, we hopped in the van and rode to the ATM with the nice Mongolian gent named Dougie. The van was awesome! Mudding tires, seats facing forward and backwards, stereo system, custom handles on the shifter and emergency brake, and other unnamed bling. I asked Dougie about his friend Kata, the shop owner, and he replied, “How do you know Kata?” “Well,” I said, “We just met him.” He laughed, turned up the stereo, took us to the ATM, and also recommended a decent restaurant, which happened to be 100 meters from a grocery store. God is good!
And if that wasn’t enough, we woke up today, found a currency exchange, ate at great little restaurant, purchased cell phone SIM cards, and made dinner plans with local English-speaker. Maybe our man of peace? Who knows?!
Now I’m asking, “What’s next Lord?!”
We’re not quite sure! But please pray for April Expedition’s new teams and raised-up squad leaders as we pioneer new territory and contacts in western Mongolia. God’s going to do some amazing things.
