Sedores on Mongolia
Update:2009 October 10
11+ months in Mongolia
2 Kings 5:9-15 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house. Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed."
But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off in a rage.
Naaman's servants went to him and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, 'Wash and be cleansed'!" So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.
Then Naaman and his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, "Now that I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel.
Naaman, General of the Syrian army, had leprosy. His wife's Israeli slave girl told her that there was a man in Israel who could cure Naaman. Naaman, desperate to save his life and position, humbled himself to ask for help from an Israelite.
The Israelite (Elisha) didn't even bother to step out of his house to meet the General, but sent a messenger who told him to bathe in a little river. How humiliating, to come to a subservient nation, search for an old crazy man who doesn't even meet you face to face. Then to take off your clothes and wash in a cold river. And do this 7 times? I can think of many more logical ways to cure leprosy or dramatic ways to show God's power.
But Naaman is challenged to humble himself before he sees the power of God.
This month Liz has been working tirelessly training the Mongolian ladies to make jewelry. Often they don't like her taste in design. Usually they don't want to work hard. Every Monday night Liz bundles up and walks the streets outside the tourist hotels with a few committed Mongolians, giving coffee to cold prostitutes and talking to them about options for life. But usually the ladies choose to continue risking their lives and the health of their "clients" for money.
This month I (Jim) traveled to the countryside (see our blog) and, while in office, editing strategy policies, videos and mission opportunity descriptions. As a native English speaker, I am asked to edit material written by many non-native English speakers. This week I quickly sent an email to all the staff and missionaries advising them of a change in our next prayer meeting. I intended to write "Please note the change in the date and time." Instead I wrote, "Please not the change..." This caused a lot of confusion. Humiliating.
But I'm learning that God often touches us most effectively when we are humbled. In our Mongolian Men's Bible Study, we are studying Ephesians 4. Paul tells us to "live a life worthy of the calling you have received" and then lists several attributes that we should practice. The first attribute he lists is, "Be completely humble."
Prayer thanks and requests:
- Liz has recovered from a 10 day cold. Thanks for your prayers.
- Liz is preparing for an open house/jewelry show at the Women's Shelter. This is a new idea for the Ladies and Liz is trying to train the women how to prepare for this.
- Two of the five JCS leadership team members are out of Mongolia for a month. So Jim, Daniel, and Laura are doing the work of five. Last week I asked several people to pray for a peaceful time, and 3 times this week the electricity went out. That makes things pretty quiet. Keep praying (but please keep the electricity on!)
Thanks to all of you who email us. It is great to hear from you.
Thank you for your prayers and support.
Blessed by Him & you,
Jim & Liz Sedore
jim-liz.sedore@covchurch.org
or LizardGym@gmail.com
JCS International, Attn: Sedores
PO Box 189
ULAANBAATAR 210351
Mongolia