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.