Sukhbaatar Square

And -20C.  

In July 1921 in the centre of Ulaan Baatar, the "hero of the revolution", Damdiny Sukhbaatar, declared Mongolia's final independence from the Chinese.  In the middle of the Square is a statue of him on his horse.  As you face north, the large grey and blue building is State Parliament House, which, like every ger, was built to face south.  A statue of Chinggis Khaan is in the middle at the front.  

We braved the cold to get these pictures for you.

Christmas 2007

We started off with a birthday party on the 20th for one of Larry and Susan’s Mongolian “adopted” children. A family of three children whose parents died a few years ago. The daughter (also the oldest) in the family is looking after the two boys. The eldest boy had his 15th birthday, and with Larry and Susan visiting their children in Canada, we spent some time with Mandal-Sogt and Monkh-Erdene. We needed some help with the conversation, and Bodyo, our translator at ABTC came to help us for the evening.

On the 21st we had our annual Language School Christmas Party. This is the time when you have to introduce yourself - in Mongolian- and tell people about yourself with your teacher watching you. Well, what else can you do but just laugh at yourself making silly mistakes.

On the 22nd we had our CAMA Christmas party, for the workers and delegates from the different churches. Dennis and Marilyn’s told the group about how they celebrate the four weeks of advent. Gifts were exchanged, and we had lunch together. Pieter and I worked through twelve kilos of beef the previous night to make the biggest pot of stew which you would probably only see in an army kitchen.

Christmas day was a quiet day here. Well, Mongolia goes on like every other day during the year. We talked to family and friends in South-Africa (and one of my sisters in Kansas). What would we have done without Skype!!!

We had our Christmas dinner with our neighbours and friends. Batbold, Gerlee and their family. This was their first time they had a Christmas dinner. All six of them came in with a Christmas decoration which they hanged on our Christmas tree. We became friends a few months ago through their daughter whom I’ve always greeted outside the building. She came to our door one day and asked if she could come and introduce her mother to me. From there on, we became good friends and we especially appreciate their help with some problems we encountered so far. Gerlee speaks no English, but that does not keep us from having long conversations. Pieter and Batbold has conversations about fishing, mining (Batbold is in the gold mining business) and books.

Today, the 27th, we finally have some real snow. It actually starts to cover the brown hills behind our apartment. And I get the time to write. Finally!

Long Silence

You might have wondered what happened to us. We have been silent for so long because we have been traveling, and after returning to Mongolia we had to adjust to new schedules, routines and ministries.

Pieter was in South Korea for two weeks teaching at the Onnuri World Mission Center. He goes there once every six months to participate in the training of missionary candidates and missionaries on home assignment. As always this was again a wonderful time of fellowship and learning.

Haniki was in South Africa for about five weeks visiting our daughters and attending to some personal business. She also visited some of our other family.

Since returning to Mongolia, Pieter continues with part-time language study. Haniki will continue with part-time language study in January 2008. Since November we have started with our ministry at the training center. So far our time is spent mostly in getting some administrative things in order and set up. Pieter has started with the necessary research for the training program. He has also started with some small study groups for leadership development and ministry training. He meets weekly with our local church's worship team for training. He meets every second week with our church's cell group leaders for training in leading house churches, conducting Bible studies, and how to evangelize. Once a month Pieter and Dr. Nghia Pham are meeting with all the local Alliance Church leaders for leadership training.

Haniki has been helping Pieter at ABTC, especially with the financial management and organizing the support staff and maintenance. She is also helping Anhoa Pham with the CAMA Projects which is going through a transitioning period. We are handing over the current projects to local Mongolian leadership and management and plan to begin with new projects in 2008.

We are very happy that Sonja, our youngest daughter, has finished her first year of university very well. We are especially happy that she is able to visit with us now during the Christmas holidays, which is the summer holidays for South Africa. Unfortunately our eldest, Anri, could not come to visit. She is finishing up her course work to graduate from her program. She will continue next year with graduate studies. Please pray especially for her as she is finishing up her course requirements, and as she will be alone during this Christmas.

Now that things are being sorted out and our lives are getting into a new routine, we hope to keep you updated more regularly.