Sedores on Mongolia
Update:2010 January 12
14+ months in Mongolia
Matthew 10: 29-31 "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
The sparrows are still here. It is -40F below and it has been below freezing for more than three months, but the sparrows are still here. What do they eat? How can they stay warm? They have no "Patagonia base layers" or "Polartek parkas." But they land on our window sill and look at through icicles that are on the inside of the window.
A new missionary told me, "I think the birds that are still here got lost and can't get away." We were telling one family member about how cold and polluted it was here and she said, "Why do you stay there !?" We're not lost. In fact, we've been found.
Orgil is a 22 year old, fine young Mongolian man. His name means "Peak" as in mountain peak. He is my tutor and comes to the Mongolian Men's Bible Study that I lead on Thursday nights. Last year, he graduated with a degree in Construction Engineering, but he has not found a job yet. This week he began interning at a construction company in Ulaanbaatar, working for free, hoping to be hired and paid in the future.
Orgil was not born into a Christian famliy. In fact, when he was born, there was virtually no Christians in Mongolia. But one day in 1993, his uncle brought a Scottish Missionary to his grandparents' home to pray for Orgil's little cousin. His cousin was born with a displaced hip, and although doctors had put her in casts and prescribed exercises, the 2-year old could not stand. The grandparents, parents, and Orgil's mother watched as the missionary placed his hand on the little girl's hip and began to pray. As he prayed, the skin began to turn red and the little girl began to cry. Suddenly, the family saw the femur turn and connect with the hip. The next day the little girl stood for the first time and the next month she walked. Today she is 17 years old and walking around as an exchange student in Pennsylvania, USA. Orgil's family wanted to know more about this God who could heal children when doctors could not. They all became Christians. Orgil's grandparents enrolled in Bible College when they were 70 years old and have since started several churches in the countryside, even though Grandfather is legally blind. Several of Orgil's aunts and uncles are full time Christian workers.
Orgil and I have done many things together including repairing lights, cooking spaghetti and celebrating 2 New Year's Eves together. We've talked about "living a life worthy of what God chose you for" (Ephesians 4:1) and Adam and Noah. Last week, we talked about his goals for 2010. This year he would like to get a job, get married and move to Germany to get a Masters in Engineering. Pretty big goals for 5 years, least of all 1 year!
Please join me in praying for Orgil. I believe God has great plans for him. Look for his picture on our blog http://www/ljmongo.blogspot.com/.
Prayer thanks and requests:
- Christmas and New Years were quiet times for us. We celebrated via SKYPE with our mothers and daughter. Raina probably had a tougher Christmas than we had. On Christmas Eve, the furnac went out and it was 6 days before a mechanic could repair it. She took care of it. We're proud of her. Jim played "Silent Night" on the guitar for the JCS Christmas Service while Liz signed and friends from 15 countries sang in their native languages. Thank you for your prayers.
- This month, Liz had several minor illnesses that have kept her inside for a couple of days. Several times she visited Nomin in the hospital and took her lunch. The leaders at the women's shelter want Liz to spend more time at the shelter. Please continue to pray for our health.
- Thanks to email, phone calls and wonderful friends at her church, Jim's mother described her 90th birthday as "overwhelming." Friends took her out for lunch and the retirement center had their monthly birthday dinner on her day. She had birthday cake AND ice cream twice! Really living it up. Thanks to all of you who made her birthday so special.
- The JCS office staff has had too many medical emergencies this month; a brother with kidney failure, a mother-in-law in a car wreck with a broken pelvis, a young pregnant mother with heart problems that is being advised to abourt her unborn child, a husband with cancer of the large intestine. Please pray for mercy and healing for our co-workers and their families who cannot fly to Korea, Thailand or the US for the latest in medical care.
"Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
Thank you for all your support gifts, prayers, cards, and emails. It is always great to hear from you.
We are blessed by Him & You,
Jim & Liz Sedore, Lizardgym@gmail.com or jim-liz.sedore@covchurch.org
Click on our blog for pictures and recent updates. Blog address http://ljmongo.blogspot.com.
A note on our mailing address: The numbers after Ulaanbataar are NOT a US zip code. They must come after Ulaanbataar not Mongolia. If you do this wrong, it confuses the US post office and delays your mail. Thanks.
JCS International Attn Sedores
PO Box 189
Ulaanbataar 210351
Mongolia