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Sedores on Mongolia  

 Update:2008 December 13 
 6+ months in Mongolia

Matthew 2:1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?  We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

Celebrating "Christmas" in Mongolia:

"How do Mongolians celebrate Christmas?"  Christmas is not a national holiday in Mongolia.  However, New Year's is.

80 years ago, Mongolia had no winter holiday except "White Month" (Tsaagan Tsaa) which corresponds with the Chinese Lunar New Year in February.  During the Communist years (1920-1990) the Russians introduced New Year's Eve traditions to the Mongolians.  Now, during December:

• Mongolian families buy and decorate New Year's (Shin Geel) trees.  We bought a small artificial tree last week.  The shop sold all sizes and colors of artificial trees.  The store sold all kinds of lights, bulbs, and even some angels that they call "Tengis elj" (Sky messengers).
• A huge metal cone shaped "tree" is constructed in front of the Mongolian Parliament Building and the President "lights" the tree.
• Grandfather Winter (Owleen Owaa) dressed in a blue robe (del) with white fur fringe lives in the mountains with the wild animals.  Before and after New Year's he walks down from the mountains with the animals (wolves, foxes, rabbits, reindeer,  - they really have reindeer in Mongolia!) and gives gifts to children.
• Cities have New Year's children's concerts.  Songs are about the white snow, starry nights, the gentle beasts and the magical fairies that help Grandfather Winter prepare gifts.  Grandfather Winter arrives at the end of the performance and gives vouchers for presents at local stores.
• In memory of the animals that accompany Grandfather Winter, the children buy or make animal costumes and wear them to the concerts and while decorating the New Year's tree.  This year I have seen mask/hats in the shapes of chickens, pigs, mice and cows.
• Young women dressed in blue satin dels or white gowns are called Grandfather Winter's daughters and they help pass out presents to the younger children.
• Businesses and adults have fancy (gangan) dinner parties.  In the city, women buy beautiful gowns and men wear their best suits to these dinner parties.  They are so common that the restaurants schedule the dinner parties beginning in early December thru the first week of January.
• The Nutcracker Ballet will be performed at the Mongolian National Opera Theater.

Does this sound familiar?  To me, it looks a lot like Christmas, except there is no Christ.  Like the Wise men, I want to ask, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?  We have come to worship him."

But Christmas without Jesus is not just an issue in Mongolia.  I remember some "Christmas" customs in the US:

• Christmas trees with no Christian decorations or manger scene,
• Santa Claus with no understanding of his saintly origin,
• "Winter Concerts" where Jesus' name is not permitted in the songs,
• Dinner parties with no mention of Jesus,
• Young women wearing white gowns with candled wreaths on their heads,
• The Nutcracker Ballet with no mention of Jesus.

Today (13 Dec) we went to one of the two Christian book stores in Ulaanbaatar to buy a manger scene.  They didn't sell them!  I haven't seen any in the stores.  It makes me ask, "How much is Jesus part of my traditional Christmas celebration in the US?"

• On 19 Dec, Liz is leading the missionary school kids as they use sign language while singing Michael Card's "Immanuel, Our God is with Us."  It is beautiful and brings tears to my eyes even during rehearsal.  Jesus' birth demonstrates that God is with us.
• On 23 Dec, Liz and I are leading the JCS missionary's Christmas Carol service.  Missionary families from England, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Korea, Japan, Philippines, Malaysia, Canada and the USA will read Matthew 2 and Luke 2 while we sing Christmas Carols in various languages.
• On Christmas Eve, Liz & I will join our Mongolian Church at 7pm for a worship service.
• On 26 Dec at 2am our time, we will Skype with out daughter as she opens her gifts from us.  It will be 10am on Christmas day in Olympia.

We are looking forward to a long, Christ-filled Christmas.  I hope you are also.

Prayer Requests for the weeks ahead:

1. Language Learning: After 6 months of studying Mongolian language, I have positive and negative feelings.  On one hand, it's amazing that I can talk with a taxi driver about his family, New Year's tree and the weather.  On the other hand, it is discouraging when the taxi driver continues the conversation and I don't have a clue of what he is talking about.  We're making progress but I'm still hoping for a magic computer chip that I can insert in my brain.  Then I will wake up tomorrow speaking, understanding, reading, and writing in perfect Mongolian!  Bill Gates, here's a project for you?
2. Relationships: Although countryside Mongolians are famous for their hospitality, Mongolians in Ulaanbaatar are much more reserved.  We chat with our apartment neighbors when we meet on the steps.  But our Mongolian tutors say it would be inappropriate to invite the neighbors into our apartment or give them some cookies!  We're looking for opportunities to get to know our neighbors.
   • We are building more relationships with young believers at our church.
   • Gana, our current language teacher, is a pre-believer.  We are reading a short Mongolian book about the Prodigal Son in class
   • Tuya, our previous teacher, is coming over for dinner on 16 Dec.
   • Other missionaries are beginning to ask us to join them in their missionaries and our relationships are growing there also.
3. Family:  This week, Jim's mother, Ruth, was admitted to the hospital with pnemonia.  Through the wonders of Skype, we have been able to talk with her everyday.  She says she is feeling better and hopes to go home soon.  We will miss our family during Christmas. 
   • For ten years we hosted a New Year's Eve party for our daughter's friends.  This year, Raina has decided to continue the tradition without us.  In fact, a few of her friends has insisted!

Immanuel, our God is with us" lyrics by Michael Card:
A sign shall be given.  A virgin will conceive a human baby bearing undiminished deity.
The glory of the nations, a light for all to see that Hope for all who will embrace His warm reality.
Immanuel, our God is with us.  And if God is with us, who can stand against us?
Our God is with us, Immanuel
For all those who live in the shadow of death, a glorious light has dawned.
For all those who stumble in the darkness, behold your light has come.
So what will be your answer?  Will you hear the call of Him who did not spare His son, but gave him for us all?
On earth there is no power, there is no depth or height, that could ever separate us from the love of God in Christ.
Immanuel, our God is with us.  And if God is with us, who could stand against us?
Our God is with us, Immanuel.

"Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?"  He is with us, Immanuel.

 Look at our blog for new photos and updates.  http://www.LJMonGO.blogspot.com. 

Thank you for your prayers and support,
Jim & Liz Sedore,
LizardGym@gmail.com
JCS INTERNATIONAL
ATTN SEDORES
P O BOX 189
ULAANBAATAR 210351
MONGOLIA

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