I have been officially “gone” from home for 20 days now, in Mongolia for 13 days. So many things run through my mind as I experience many “firsts.” This is my first World Race country, first team, first host home, first time away from home for so long, first time teaching English, first time sleeping on the floor with six other ladies, the list goes on and on. Although I am experiencing many new and first-time things Jesus has remained constant for me.
Our team is located in East Mongolia in a little city of maybe 20,000 people. Many of them are gone for their summer break into the country side. It is such a peaceful quiet place, and probably safer than any city I have ever been in, including inside of the U.S. Our Host happens to be one of three Christian churches in this city, and they sustain themselves by owning and operating the cutest little coffee shop & café. The church is small in size, but not in number. The services are full and lively, as well as their 10 cell groups (small groups). Our team sleeps in one big open room, the children’s Sunday School room using our sleeping pads and sleeping bags.
Living in constant community is something that I thought I had experienced in college, but this is a whole other level of sleeping, eating, and living together. Privacy is limited to using the bathroom and taking a shower, which yes (HOLLA) we have a hot shower this month. I am learning to seize every moment I can to breathe, and celebrate every moment of togetherness. One thing that I have NOT encountered is feeling alone, which is not a joke, but a very thankful statement. I have been in groups and felt utterly alone most of my life and the Lord has truly blessed me with a great group of women to journey with.
Our Hosts are very kind and understanding people who are strong in their faith and passionate about reaching their city. Every Saturday they go to homes and share the Gospel, even though evangelism is illegal here, they are bold in their pursuit of people utilizing great discernment. Our first Sunday here, the church had fifteen first time visitors who had all heard the Gospel for the first time the night before. WHAT A CHURCH, WHAT A MOVEMENT. I do not think I have ever seen a group of leaders so devoted to discipling their people. From dawn to dusk the pastor and his wife, and various others in leadership meet with people of their church and community on the patio of the café every single day, discipling, loving, and doing life together. They constantly work with intentional passion to advance Father’s kingdom.
Slkgjas;dgij;sdlknt;lkjrskjglskfjglk
That is how I feel. I have so many good things occurring at once and I am on full blown overload. I don’t know how to process each divine moment. I have not been able to sit down and write a blog yet because I am so overwhelmed with the goodness that is Mongolia, and the beautiful people here. I want to include everyone who is following my journey and helped me get here so to better make sense of what I am up to I will share a rough schedule of how my time is spent:
Monday – Friday –
8a-9:45 Each morning I have my devotion, breakfast, and usual some sort of team worship
10a-12p I teach a group of 10-15, eleven and younger kids English
12-2p Lunch break
2-3p The kids come back for games in the park or playground or dance (They love the cha cha slide its hilarious)
3-5p I give a guitar lesson with Buca, the manager of the coffee shop and worship leader at the church here. Sometimes we go longer into the evening, and sometimes we include Byira and I help him play the Cajon (Box drum).
6p – Dinner
7-9p – Team time or Chill time
Wednesday –
3p-5p Cell Group – I love this time
Saturday –
Adventure Day, last week this looked like going to the country side to hang out in a Gher (otherwise known as a yurt, the nomadic portable round home) eat some curds, ride horses, and play soccer/volleyball.
Sunday –
Church 10a-12p, I play guitar for worship and help in the kids Sunday school class, the rest of the day our team observes Sabbath
The small groups here are thriving, and Wednesday I loved being a part of one. I walked half an hour with my guitar strapped to my back to a cozy little one room home. I played a song that we did in church Sunday in Mongolian, and we shared a meal which I swallowed without chewing HAHA, and prayed for each other. It was truly beautiful and breath taking. I was THRIVING, I love being in the midst of fellow believers and coming alongside one another in prayer, even in different languages.
I love my English class. The kids are rowdy, full of life, and all about having fun. They think it is hilarious when I mimic them speaking in Mongolian, or when I truly attempt to speak their language. They love dancing, games, and writing over speaking English. I cannot go outside without some of them appearing and sitting around me, or repeatedly saying, “hey, ok, bye.” Those are their favorite words! I am also in baby heaven because there is a surplus of babies to be cuddled around here. Moments are full of love & people.
Through all of the hustle and bustle, the Lord has found a special way to reach my heart. From the day, we arrived at our host there has been one little 10-year-old boy who pulls out every ounce of love inside me. I immediately gave him the nickname “T” because I could quickly tell he was as aggravated as I was that I could not pronounce his name correctly. When I said how about “T” he lit up!! He deepened his voice and emphatically repeated his new-found name hitting the strong man muscle pose, all with the biggest smile of approval. It’s funny because T can speak English very well, yet he refuses to speak anything 95% of the time. However, I KNOW he loves me just as much as I love him. T finds his way to me anytime I am not busy, and he even joins in on my English class most days.
T is special to me, and I already dread when I have to say good-bye to him even though we still have some time left. T is just like my nephew, Levi, who is dear to my heart. I know the Lord gave me T to fill the heartache I had leaving Levi behind for a year. He was one of my most difficult “see you laters” and T was my best “hello.” Now, I have two crazy class clown boys to love to death. It is fun how the Lord works.
Leaders Don’t Quit,
Jordan
This is my new baby gurl Titinga <3
Me and T, Just chillin, yes he put his stanky foot on me
My precious English class!!! <3 <3
The Cell Group I attended! Beautiful people.
