Sedores on Mongolia
Update:2009 January 13
7+ months in Mongolia
1 Corinthians 12: 4-6 "There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but they all come from the same Spirit. There are different ways to serve the same Lord, and we can each do different things. Yet the same God works in all of us and helps us in everything we do."
Amazing Connections:
God has a way of putting special people in our lives. Some call it coincidence. Here are a few of our "coincidences."
Bob Adams: In 1998 Campus Crusade was encouraging local churches to visit foreign communities that had never heard about Jesus. A group of us at River Ridge to GO and build relationships with an unreached community. Liz felt the Lord was telling River Ridge to go to Mongolia. As they were driving to a meeting in Seattle she shared this feeling with Bob Adams, a retired carpenter. Bob said, "I've been to Mongolia. When do you want to go?" What are the odds of striking a conversation with a church friend, and having them respond like that? Bob went with us to Mongolia in 2000 and that trip began a series of "coincidences" that has brought us here to live.
Floyd Sebald: Our first afternoon in Mongolia. I saw a World Vision sign on a door. I asked if World Vision was doing any forestry work in Mongolia. They said yes and the Mongolian forester coordinating this work was coming in to this office from the countryside in 2 days. (Coincidence) This young forester introduced me to the man who told him about Jesus. This was Floyd Sebald. Floyd was a forester from Arizona. (Coincidence) Several days later I met Floyd and told him about my background in forestry. He encouraged me to work in natural resource management in Mongolia. Later he introduced me to the Mongolian Director of the Environment (like the Director of the US Forest Service), the lead Forest Scientist with the Mongolian Academy of Science, the Director of the Association of Forest Fire Fighters and the Director of Joint Christian Services (JCS) of Mongolia.
Dave Husby: In 2002 we met Dave Husby, Covenant Regional Missions Coordinator for Asian Missions. We told him that were making short mission trips to Mongolia. Dave joined us in Mongolia as we led Sunday School teacher training. Later, Dave told us about the Covenant Project Missionary program, something new for the Covenant. (Coincidence) Project missionaries work for more than 2 years (short term) but not forever like career missionaries. He encouraged us to apply to be Covenant Project Missionaries. We applied and were accepted.
Mr Luo and Dave and Jolan Dolan: In 2005 we applied to be Covenant Project Missionaries. The Covenant Mission Board required us to come to Chicago for a 20 minute face-to-face interview. Before our interview Dave and Judy Dolan, Covenant missionaries to world-wide Chinese missions, told the Board about the amazing growth of Covenant work in China. We were next on the agenda. Our proposal to work in Mongolia sounded very small compared to what was happening in China. However, when we finished our 20-minute interview, Judy Dolan said, "Do you know that you are the answer to 50 years of prayer?" Judy explained that Mr Luo, a Mongolian, who was a member of a Chinese Covenant church in California, has been praying for the Covenant to send missionaries to Mongolia for 50 years." Last week, Judy emailed us saying, "Mr Luo has cancer. He has pretty much been in bed since September. Dave (Dolan) did connect with Mr Luo though and they had a good conversation. Dave told him that you have now been in Mongolia for over six months doing language school. Dave knew this meant a lot to Mr Luo. We are sure that he continues to care/prayer often for his country and people."
Soon (see "Visiting the US" below) we hope to share with you about the
Mongolians who have helped us.
Bolooro,
our first interpreter from 2000 who now works with Samaritan's Purse
bringing children to the US for heart surgery.
Ariunna and Orgil, our language tutors who teach us
much more than words.
Azaa and Narango,
mother and daughter who go to our Mongolian church.
Prayer requests for the weeks ahead:
- Visiting the US!: In December,
Central Church in Richland, Washington
asked if we could join other local, regional and international missionaries
at their church for a mission's conference from
25Feb to 1Mar. They
even offered to pay for our plane tickets! We had not budgeted or
planned to return to the US for several years so this is a big surprise and
blessing. We plan to stay in the Olympia area for a couple weeks after
the Central Church mission conference. Our home church, Grace
Community Covenant in Olympia, has scheduled 15Mar for us to share. If
you can come to Grace on Mar15, let us know and we will let you know the
details. We would to see you.
Consequently, we are preparing for presentations. We also plan to visit doctors, dentists and family. I'm sure there will be too little time to do everything we would like to do. Please pray that we use our time in the US wisely to spread the Good News. - Language School and Ministry: Language
school is ministry. Last week,
Tuya,
our previous teacher, called us and asked us to go to a Mongolian movie
with her to celebrate her birthday. Please
pray that we can continue to demonstrate God's love to our pre-believing
language teachers.
In preparation for our return visit to the US, Liz interviewed other missionaries working in women's ministry and Celebrate Recovery (CR). She had great interviews with the director of the ministry to prostitutes and the director of the CR to work in Mongolia. Consequently, both of them have asked Liz to begin working with them NOW. Please pray that we can continue to focus on Mongolian language learning as we begin to help others in ministry. - Relationships:
Zamatic, our apartment building landlady.
Ganzaya, the Sheet Shop clerk who came to church last week. - Family: This month, Jim's mother, Ruth has suffered from a new case of arthritis in her back. The side effects of pain medication are difficult for her to move. Please pray for Ruth that she will grow stronger. She celebrated her 89th birthday on 30Dec.
Look at our blog for new photos and updates.
http://www.LJMonGO.blogspot.com.
You can print off any of the photos and stories on our blog and
post them on your church bulletin board!
Thank you for your prayers and support,
Jim & Liz Sedore, Covenant Missionaries in Mongolia