Home at Last!

Finally home! And incredibly exhausted. Yesterday, I was up for almost sixty hours altogether... The flight home went fine, I met another travel buddy when I arrived in Seoul. Returning to the US from Russia, she even spoke seven languages!

In conclusion, my trip was amazing and beyond all of my expectations. I loved staying with the Therons and meeting all the missionary families in Mongolia. I absolutely fell in love with the kids I met, the missionary kids and the mongolian children through VBS. It was amazing how many kids I was able to connect with, despite the language barrier. The team that organized VBS and led worship was great too. Everyone was so welcoming and excited for the work that we were doing. Aunt Lisa did a phenomenal job of organizing the VBS and making it all run smoothly. I loved her family and I hope I can visit and see her kids again! It was so rewarding to paint, play soccer, and watch movies with the Liberda, Fields, and Batbold [Michee's brothers] children. Perhaps instead of "Nursing", my calling is Children's Ministry or Teaching after all! I guess we'll find out!

I want to say Thank You to Aunt Haniki and Uncle Pieter who allowed me stay with them. They did a great job of keeping me busy and happy with the kids! I am officially hooked on "Bones" now, as we did watch at least two episodes every night I was there... ;]

I cannot wait for you guys to come to Redding in a year. We are going to have so much fun getting excited about batteries [Karen]. You are the best and I love you!

Out of all the other days I was gone, my first day in Korea was the most challenging. I was very glad I brought my Bible with me on the plane. The verse that I really found calming and reassuring that night, was Psalm 56:3-4.

"When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?".

That day in Korea, was the first time that I have ever been forced to completely rely on God for everything; peace of mind, security. When I found out about my delay, all I wanted to do was call my parents or someone who could figure out my problem for me. I was in a foreign country, no one spoke english, the plan that I left with had been replaced with a new one, and it was my first time traveling alone. Now that I've experienced the whole "travel" and "flying solo" experience, it feels a little ridiculous that I was so anxious about that delay. However, when it happened, it was all new to me in that moment. I hate admitting that I was scared because of the "supposed bravery" that's supposed to come with independence, but without that experience, I never would have grown... When I was sitting in my hotel room in the Hyatt, I wrote in my notebook: "Just reading this verse calms my stomach. I know God wants me in Mongolia these next few weeks so I know I have to trust him that he'll get me there... Eventually..."

Proverbs 3:5-6 took on a whole new meaning to me. Such a well known verse, but until then I never fully understood what it meant to fully rely and trust in God. If I had tried to figure out all my travel stuff "based on my own judgement", while being incredibly exhausted and anxious to the point of uselessness, I would have burdened myself far more than necessary... "Trust" was really the key word that I learned in my time in Mongolia. Traveling, it was the first time that I had no parent or friend to help direct me and make my decisions. My friends and family are great, but I learned that in the midst of a fast-paced life, God is the only consistent, constant thing in my life.

"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever"

Isaiah 40:8

Nature: Butterflies, Thorny Brush, Sunshine, and More Darkhan Countryside

I woke up this morning with a lovely sore throat and slight fever... Despite this, we drove out to the countryside again, this time with Michee's parents, and her uncle. The road that we took to the picnic area was all dirt. I loved the drive there because it was like a roller coaster and the scenery was so beautiful. For lunch, we had the best lamb and vegetable kebobs EVER. It was delicious. Everywhere you looked, there were butterflies and flowers. The weather even got a little chilly with a wind and nice shade. We ate berries and I had SO much chocolate today...

Twins much? I should have started counting, how many times people asked us if we were twins! With the sunglasses, it really looks like we're related.

These pictures are from the last day of VBS. The kids had a little "concert" performance on the last day with dancing and some singing. I got part of one dance on video, but it was a little shaky... I was amazed that despite the language barrier, how many kids I was still able to connect with. Aunt Lisa put Michee and I in charge of outside "game time". My favorite part of the VBS was dancing with the kids and playing soccer with the little boys. :] There was also a group of the older, thirteen year old girls. On the last day they were speaking a little english, so with my broken Mongolian and their broken English, we tried talking about the boys there and stuff about school. :] My last day in Darkhan is tomorrow. We are going to church and then leaving afterwards for UB. I fly out, early Monday morning...

Thursday. A Real Creative Title, I know. :]]

All the leaders and teachers for this week.

Peace signs are a must in ALL pictures. :]

Isaiah and Levi. Two peas in a pod.

"Quick, Ninja Pose!"

Teamwork!

One more day of VBS. On Saturday, Aunt Haniki, Uncle Pieter and I are going with Michee and her parents to the countryside for another picnic day. Tomorrow, the kids have a little concert and are performing the dances that they've learned this week. I didnt plan to stay on the computer this long and upload all these pictures, but here I am! I had dinner with the Liberda family tonight and played basketball and UNO with the kids: Isaiah, Malachi, Levi, and little Miriam. I'm off to bed, I hope these pictures make up for the lack of words tonight!

Wednesday Pictures!

Isaiah Liberda and Zeke Fields.

The power went out last night so I didnt get a chance to put these up yesterday... It's morning, almost time to leave for the church again. Two more days of VBS! :]]

Chocolate Chip and Banana Pancakes

Second day of VBS! Michee and I just had a delicious dinner of chocolate chip and banana pancakes! Karen invited us over for dinner and it was amazing... I even had some dark hot chocolate. [I hate hot chocolate:]]. We were much more successful with the games and organization for the kids today. Yesterday, everything was super "on the spot" and spontaneous... "Duck, Duck, Goose" was a hit, as well as "Steal the Bacon" among all the kids. Towards the end of the day, the weather even cleared up and the kids got to play outside! Soccer and Basketball!!! Even though it's raining, it's a nice break from the hot weather that you all are probably experiencing in CA. :]]. We pumped up the giant balls again and used that for the "Steal the Bacon". The boys really got into and enjoyed that game.

Usually I like being the one in charge, and leading everyone else in projects, and things like VBS's. It's different being the one this time who does mostly the "watching and following", rather than the "leading". I help where I can and I think that's good for me to experience the other side of that leadership role... I am enjoying the "learning aspect" of this trip because I am doing little teaching. I've enjoyed listening and observing all the different teachers lead the kids and watch them shine in their different ways. There's a lot I'm learning here and I feel incredibly blessed to work with all these amazing leaders at the CAMA church.

"Jesus Loves The Children"

Есүс Xyyxayyaea xahptah

First Day of VBS

So today was the first day! Michee and I were in charge of all the games and activities for the kids. It was a little rough because, obviously I cant speak the language, and Michee and I still had to work together to entertain the kids. Poor Michee had to do all the talking and creative stuff! We did some relay games and tag... Tag didnt work out so well because the floor was super slippery in the sanctuary. It was pouring down rain, so all the kids were stuck in the church all day. I had planned for soccer and basketball outside, but since it was raining, we had no plan at all for the games and activities! I think we did a pretty good job improvising though.

Michee and I got to the church at about ten this morning, and then the VBS started at one in the afternoon. It was a good turnout, there were alot of kids! I learned how to say "welcome" in Mongolian today! I greeted the kids as they came in, with another girl named "Deggy". I met some more people my age who were helping with the VBS. I learned a lot of names today... Also, there was a guy there who spoke a little more english than the rest of the other helpers. I cant remember how to say his name in Mongolian, but he told me it was Philip in English... "Pujay" maybe? We talked about music and I asked him to translate for me when Michee couldnt. My favorite part of today was doing the song motions on the stage with the other worship leaders. That was a lot of fun learning the different dances and teaching them to the kids. There was one english one by Hillsong, "Jesus you're my super hero". I like it!

Lastly, these are the letters that spell out "welcome" in Mongolian. Michee and I made them last night to hang on the wall behind the stage! I really wish I could speak some of the language... I think I'm catching on to the tones and body language, so I can usually guess what they're saying:].