Prayer Alert

Yesterday Liz's sister, DeeAnna met w/ her Dr to review tests.
It is the Dr's opinion that she has a tumor on her ovaries and other indicators that she has ovarian cancer.
DeeAnna meets with an oncologist on Friday, 29Feb. DeeAnna had breast cancer 2 years ago.

DeeAnna has a 21-year old daughter, Alisha. DeeAnna is also the primary care giver for Liz's mother who is raising 2 teenage grand daughters.

This could affect our plans to move to Mongolia at the end of April.
Please pray for DeeAnna, the doctors and Liz's family as we trust in the Lord.

Liz's sister, Dee Anna

Yesterday Liz's sister, DeeAnna met w/ her dr. to review tests.
It is the dr's opinion that she has a tumor on her ovaries and other indicators that she has ovarian cancer.
DeeAnna meets with an oncologist on Friday, 29Feb. She had breast cancer 2 years ago.

DeeAnna has a 21-year old daughter, Alisha. DeeAnna is also the primary care giver for Liz's mother who is raising 2 teenage grand daughters.

This could affect our plans to move to Mongolia at the end of April.
Please pray for DeeAnna, the Doctors and Liz's family as we trust in the Lord.

2008.02.19-Good news blood test

Another good news visit to the oncologist. (Sounds like an oxymoron?) Liz's white blood cell count has not increased since the last test, in fact it is less than it was at diagnosis 18 months ago. It would be bad if the number of WBC doubled in 6 months. So, the fact that they have stayed about the same is really good news :)

The Dr. recommends retesting every 6-months and reviewed the warning signs. He recommended one last test the week before we leave so we can postpone the 6-month test 2 months longer.

Thanks for your prayers.

2008.08.18 - Mongolian Green wall photo

One of the challenges with the Green Wall project is keeping the open-range camels from eating the seedlings!

2008.02.18 - Talking about God & Mongolia - LOTS!

Yesterday Liz said to me, "You're really enjoying this. You get to talk about God and Mongolia everyday and people want to hear more!"

This has been a great week.
13Feb - Liz spoke at a Women's Dinner at Grace Covenant and I got to help set up, tear down and answer questions.
14Feb - The Senior members at Grace Covenant let us speak at their luncheon about our faith and what God is doing in Mongolia. They even wrote us little Valentine notes to encourage us.
15Feb - We had lunch with a Mongolian woman who lives in Olympia! We hope to have her tutor us in the language before we leave.
16Feb - Friends from River Ridge joined us for a potluck and to praise God for how He has blessed us in this 10+ year journey to Mongolia.
17Feb - We spoke at Harbor Covenant in Gig Harbor, WA and met new friends with their own stories about Mongolia. (see the next entry)

Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement. Next week, Arlington (WA) Covenant!

2008.02.17 - Guess who is blessed?

We were asked to speak at Harbor Covenant in Gig Harbor, WA and we hoped to bless them with the exciting news about what God is doing in Mongolia. After speaking at the first service, 3 families shared the following stories:

A. Their nephew visited Mongolia in 1979, during the Communist years. They understood that there was only one Christian in Mongolia and he was under house arrest. While touring the Zaisan Memorial overlooking Ulaanbaatar, their nephew shouted, "I claim Mongolia for Christ." In 2003, this couple from Gig Harbor, visited Mongolia. Their nephew encouraged them to go to Zaisan also and pray for Mongolia. They visited the memorial and as they finished praying, they opened their eyes and 6 Mongolian girls stood in front of them wearing tee shirts that said "Mongolians for Jesus Christ." God answers prayers.

B. One member greeted us and shared that he is 1/4 Mongolian!

C. Another man shared, "I've got a bit of history with Mongolia and have some friends there now. I and another missionary made a survey trip there in '91, shortly after it opened up to travel. We spent a week traveling across the Gobi desert in a Russian jeep, staying in gers, eating goat cheese and drinking mare's milk, etc.. Quite a fascinating adventure!"

All of this reminds me that we follow where others have gone before, and Jesus has always been working there as he is working here. We join Him in His work!

Siberian Larch forest with Reindeer - near Lake Hovsgol

2008.02.11: Jim not selected for JCS Ex-Director

We received a very encouraging message from JCS saying,
"The search committee ...came to a final decision on the nominee for the JCS Executive Director position. You were one of two final candidates...and the decision was very difficult because of the excellent qualifications of both. In the end we decided to offer the position to the other candidate... The nominee has long experience in Mongolia, and in administration of a JCS-related NGO.

"As a committee we want to express our sincere thanks to you for ... the fine interview we had with you in Littleton. With your qualifications, I will recommend ... that you and Liz be given priority consideration for leadership positions in JCS after you have had time for language study and adjustment. "

Thank you for your prayers and encouragement during the interview process. We can now focus on raising support, moving to Mongolia, building relationships and learning the language.
Blessed by Him & you, Jim & Liz

2008.01.19-When paths cross around the world

In August 2000, we were on our first visit to Mongolia. About the 7th day of our 10-day visit I (Jim) became very sick. I could barely get out of bed except to run to the toilet. While Liz, Bolooro, Bob, Craig and Bob went out praying and meeting people in Ulaanbaatar, I stayed behind in our motel room eating Pepto Bismal.

About 1100, someone banged on the door. When I answered it, a large, well-dress Mongolian man spoke to me (in Mongolian) and gestured that I was to follow him. I descended to the lobby where 10 Police officers were confronting the hotel owner. We had befriended the receptionists and they knew some English. They explained that the hotel was been shut down by the health department and I must immediately get our luggage out of the hotel because the doors would be locked. No one could re-enter the hotel. In my sick condition, I was not able to carry all the luggage so the receptionists helped me and deposited everything on the driveway.

After the exertion, I needed another trip to the toilet but I could not get in the hotel. So I went next door to the English Embassy and they let me use their toilet and call a missionary. He drove over, picked up our luggage, and left a friend to explain to the rest of the team what had happened and where I was.

He took me to the apartment of Bob & Claire Knapp, the parents of some US missionaries. The Knapps were in Mongolia for 4 months visiting their kids and 8 grandchildren! For the next 3 days, the Knapps took care of me and housed us until we returned to the US. They were very gracious.

Well, the Knapps live in Littleton, CO. I was in Littleton on 18-20Jan so I called them and wondered if they would remember me, 7 years later. When I entered their house, Claire said,"Your color looks so much better than the last time we saw you!" It was a wonderful visit and it reminded me of heaven where we will be reunited with all those who have blessed us.

2008.01.18-Murphy's law & Job interviews!

Murphy's law says, "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong at the most inconvenient moment." So we make contingencies. We leave 1.5 hours early for the airport when we know we can get there in 1 hour. However, a terrible accident occurs just ahead of us and we can't get off the freeway for an hour. Therefore, we are only 30 minutes early for the flight for Jim's JCS job interview in Denver. The ticket agent says, "You're too late for this flight. Here's a boarding pass for the next flight (1.5 hours later) but that flight is overbooked!" After going thru a very SLOW security check, I walk to the boarding gate for the later flight. Coincidentally (or "Godcidentally?") it is the same gate as my original flight and people are boarding now for my original flight! I approach the boarding pass taker (BPT) and say,"I had a ticket for this flight but I was delayed by an accident. Can I get on this flight?" The BPT says,"No. If you have not checked in 45 minutes before the flight, we give your seat to a stand-by passenger." I say a quick prayer and wait like a dog hoping for crumbs to fall off the table. Three other "late" passengers check in with the BPT and are all told that they are too late and will have to wait for the next flight. They leave. I stay. Before they close the gangway doors, the BPT calls over the public address for one passenger who has checked in but has not boarded yet. He waits 2 minutes. Then he calls for the first stand-by passenger. She has left disgusted at the "poor customer service." Then he calls my name. I leap forward, give him my ticket and he tells me I can board! It's the last seat. Another example of our God doing the impossible. God trumps Murphy.