A new ARC for us

Trying to visit all the personnel in Asia last year, on top of many consuming issues here in Chiang Khong, was a bit much for us.  

We asked Curt Peterson and the WM Leadership Team if we could bring a few other experienced cross-cultural workers together on a Council to help us with the work.  And so was born, early this year, the Asia Regional Council (ARC).  We asked Nancy Jo Hoover (China) to assist us with China & India and Bob Shim (Thailand) to take responsibility for Kyrgyzstan & Mongolia.  Tim Johnson (Japan) agreed to help, along with two Country Coordinators, Randy Bevis (Thailand) and Gary Carlson (Japan).

So, how does this help?  We meet together once a month by teleconference.  We talk about strategic directions and placement of personnel.  When we take trips, it isn't always just Ruthie and me.  One of us can stay home and a member of the Council travels with the other.  Already this has been a tremendous blessing to us and to those workers we are visiting (more on that in a bit).

Mongolian Mixup

Bob Shim, one of the people we have asked to serve on our Asia Regional Council, agreed to help us with Mongolia.  Together we made plans to visit Jim & Liz Sedore, our Covenant workers in Ulaan Bataar.  With Bob's five years in Kyrgyzstan, we thought, "Similar culture, similar issues.  Goats.  People.  Lots of medical work and interesting projects.  This could work!"

Of course just getting there-and getting out--presented its challenges.  From Beijing we were an hour-and-a-half in the air.  Then they said the Mongolia winds wouldn't let us land.  China Air put us up in a hotel.  Bob took Korean Air via Inchon and arrived no problem.

For the first day Bob was singing one tune:  "Wow.  This is so much like Kyrgyzstan it's incredible.  Once you've see one post-Soviet Asian republic, you've seen them all.  Same spiky lamps down the middle of the road.  Same ugly apartment blocks.  I feel right at home!"  That made me feel good.  I hadn't dragged him into the world of Genghis Khan for nothing.

So, we sat through 4 days of meetings.  Bob agreed to take my place on the board of Joint Christian Services.  And yes, we took an extra day each waiting for the winds to die down so we could fly home.  

But here's the bottom line:  So much about this place is unique and interesting!  Jim & Liz are part of a unique organization-an umbrella organization under which dedicated workers from scores of backgrounds and traditions are working together to bring positive change and assistance to the people of Mongolia.  Jim is charged with liaising with government and other international organizations.  Liz pours herself into the lives of women at a shelter for commercial sex workers.  The women there turn out some beautiful jewelry that you can find on their blog.

And this is a unique time for Mongolia!  The church there has grown rapidly over the last 20 years.  But with the world's fastest growing economy and major mining companies vying to exploit newly found mineral wealth, the challenges of this place are tremendous!  If you like that and you sense God urging you to a new frontier, think about joining Jim & Liz and the other JCS people in Mongolia.

Taiwan for two

Nancy Jo Hoover was a far better companion for Ruthie than me, I'm sure.  As our most versatile, experienced veteran, Nancy Jo has worked in more countries, adjusted to more contexts, than almost anyone I know.  And you know what she's really good at?  Being a catalyst-without "taking over".  That's a rare gift.

She went with Ruthie to visit Don & Lillian Dwight and Caryn Camp at Morrison Academy in Taejon.  Some have asked:  "Why are we supporting people to serve as teachers in a school that no longer serves our cross-cultural workers?  Shouldn't we rather place people out on the front lines?"  

Here's what Ruthie found out:  This is the front line!   

Morrison's student body is more than half Taiwanese.   Every year, scores of students find Christ.  Like Carl Groot's work at ICS school in Bangkok, this school has a tremendous impact in the community.  Don & Lillian, Caryn Camp, & Carl Groot--these folks work hard in their schools.  And in their "spare time" they're busy cultivating relationships, nurturing small groups of believers, teaching, and helping.  Ruthie said it was a real blessing to see these friends "in situ".  Now I'm jealous I didn't go.