Prayer for Team Mongolia

 Team Mongolia

October 14, 2010

Hi Friends,
Today felt like a week -- we saw and experienced so many wonders in this beautiful country. After making time after breakfast to start our day with devotions and prayer, we journeyed out of the city, past the poor ger neighborhoods, and into a new phenom here in UB -- single family housing development Mongolia style! Many people are choosing to move out of the city because of a growing air pollution problem. It was a lovely area with forested hillsides and new houses of assorted styles and sizes. We were just pointing out our window to say "Look at that beautiful home," when we turned into its drive and arrived at World Vision's Light House for children ages 2 to 6. The 4-story brick mansion was built by a Korean church and is run by World Vision. The "Rodem House" serves children who have been found in the city and have no family that can take care of them at this time. They were adorable. They greeted us with singing and dancing. We've never seen a more charming performance.

From there we traveled back to the city and toured the government detention center where men and women and children charged with breaking the law are held waiting for a court date. World Vision is working with the children there to assure their rights and situation as children are considered. As Debi mentioned yesterday, wherever WV is serving the children are showered with love and nurturing care. After touring the facility and meeting some of the boys, we had lunch there in the staff dining room with the director of the detention center and a time to ask him questions.

From there, we had the special opportunity to have lunch (again!) with the World Vision Mongolia country director, Vince Edwards and another new staff person Diana. Vince arrived here 8 weeks ago from his last placement in Bangladesh. We were impressed with his heart for kids and his new home. We are sure he is going to do a great job.

From there we visited a an informal education program. This was a program started by World Vision to help dropouts catch up in school. Now the government is carrying this work forward. World Vision is only involved in helping with providing some supplies and training. We applaud this as great progress as the government is growing and able to take on more and more of the development work themselves.

A few days ago we asked about a new WV project here addressing human trafficking. The WV staff responded to our interest by arranging a meeting for us with the Mongolian Police Agency who shared their program with us and told us stories of how they are using a new network to rescue girls and boys before they are trapped. We were very encouraged with their efforts.

And if that weren't enough of a day, we enjoyed a performance of traditional Mongolian dance, throat singing, music, and contortions -- all with beautiful costumes. And the WV staff, knowing we wanted to do a little shopping took us to the State Dept. Store. Back at the hotel at 7:30, exhausted, we have just finished dinner.

Whew! Quite a day.. If there was a theme for the day -- it would be transformation and trust. World Vision's work is transforming the landscape here, especially the lives of the children. At the same time World Vision is gaining the trust of the community and the government, which is opening doors to do more and more transformational work.

Every place we go, we tell those we meet that we are representing many women and friends back home who pray for and support their work. They ask us to extend their gratitude to you.

Good night from Mongolia,
Sandy

Prayer

Ask the Lord to strengthen the ladies after a wonderfully exhausting day! Praise Him that they are able to see first hand the incredible work of World Vision.  Remember to pray for the staff in Mongolia that God would bless them with wisdom, encouragement and joy.  Ask Him to continue to go before the ladies and keep them in His care.