Sedores in Mongolia
Update:2008 November 24
5+ months in Mongolia
Away from Home for Thanksgiving
Psalm 119:33 (The Message)
"God, teach me
lessons for living so I can stay the course.
Give me insight so I can do
what you tell me - my whole life one long, obedient response.
Guide me
down the road of your commandments; I love travelling this freeway!
Give
me a bent for your words of wisdom, and not for piling up loot.
Divert my
eyes from toys and trinkets, invigorate me on the pilgrim way."
In the US at Thanksgiving, we remember the Pilgrims, who came to the "New World" in 1620 seeing a home free from religious persecution. Their first fall harvest was plentiful and they thanked God for their new home.
During our first Thanksgiving after 5+ months away from the US, it's a good time to think about home. In fact, this morning while walking to school, Liz was telling me about her morning devotions. A veteran mentor asked a new youth leader with lots of new ideas, "Where is home in your ministry?"
Home - in Mongolia: We now have lived in this apartment in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia for 4+ months. Our clothes, books, and pictures are here. The furniture, appliances and even the dishes belong to our landlord. In Mongolia, when people ask you if you are going home regardless of whether you live in a brick house, a cement apartment, or a felt tent, you say, "Mana-ger-loo-gay." Transliterated as "I'm going to our felt tent." But this apartment is just a temporary shelter where we sleep, eat, study, and pray (lots). I'm still not used to calling it "home." Instead, I usually say it's our apartment.
Home - "Our house" where our daughter lives: In Olympia, Washington, we have a house and yard where we lived for 30+ years. We know every inch of the yard and house. It is where we raised our daughter and many of our most significant memories occurred there. Most important now, our daughter lives there and our parental hearts are there. When she moves from that place, our old memories will be there but our parental hearts will be with her, wherever she is.
Home - my parents house: Although my father died several years ago, mom kept the house. When we visit, I have a unique feeling that I am home. There is the piano that my mother has played all my life. There are pictures of the family and the birthday cake candle holder that appears for every family birthday. This is not my home, but it holds many of my "home" memories.
Home - where Liz is: After 27+ years of marriage, I know that my earthly home is wherever Liz is. It still amazes me to walk, ride or fly past so many dwellings and know that my earthly home is wherever she is.
Our Eternal Home: After the death of many of my family and friends, I know that this beautiful earth, that I love very much, is a temporary home. We are pilgrims passing through. I remember one person saying, "Would you wallpaper the airport?" We're just passing through, on the way to our forever home.
John 14:2-4 (The Message)
(Jesus says) "Trust me. ... I'm on my way to get your room
ready. I'll come back and get you so you can live where I live."
Can you imagine what that will be like; to be at your eternal home forever? I want to do all I can to be sure my family, friends and future friends are there also.
This Thanksgiving, we are especially thankful for:
- Growing closer to Jesus, through a year filled with blessings and big changes.
- A year that has shown us that Jesus can do the impossible, including bringing us to Mongolia, providing support, introducing us to so many of you, and working in us to learn to speak Mongolian (a little)!
- You, who have prayed for us, supported us, encouraged, celebrated and wept with us.
- This day, this hour and this heart beat which is given to me by the Creator and Lover of my soul who is getting my eternal home ready for me.
Please pray for:
- A closer walk with Jesus: We want to hear Him daily as He tells us to follow Him by speaking to a stranger or encouraging a struggling new believer.
- Continued language learning: Our previous teacher, Tuya, resigned last month and we are now studying with a new teacher, Gana. She is quickly learning new teaching techniques and we are working hard to keep up. Liz has even been taking additional individual classes with another teacher who helps her with some grammar. Liz is amazing.
- Christian/Mongolian Holiday Season: As we are celebrating the birth of Jesus, most Mongolians are preparing to celebrate the New Year, a week-long celebration borrowing many Christian traditions. We hope for many opportunities to share the "reason for the season."
- Relationships: How can we maintain relationships with family and friends in the US while building new relationships with missionaries, new friends, a new church and pre-believers here in Mongolia? Especially, how can we continue to minister to Tuya?
Thank you for your continued prayers and support. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Check out our blog for new photos and updates. http://www.LJMonGO.blogspot.com.
Blessed by Him & you,
Jim & Liz Sedore,
LizardGym@gmail.com
JCS
INTERNATIONAL
ATTN SEDORES
P O BOX 189
ULAANBAATAR 210351
MONGOLIAW