Wow, it is hard to believe that Christmas is only 6 days away. In some ways it feels that we just arrived in Mongolia, yet in other ways it feels like we have been here for years. But it has only been 9 months.
Please pray for Esme. She is really missing family. The past 2 days she has been watching Disney cartoons & when ever the characters are sad missing their families she has run to the kitchen or her bed crying because our family is not here. Kiel when we 1st arrived went through the same things that Esme is going through now. We have been trying to reasure her that it is ok & that Teresa & I both have been feeling the same also. These last couple of days have bee a challenge for me. This will be the first Christmas I have been away from family in my life. Teresa & the kids are the same. Many of our missionary friends here have gone to other places for Christmas like Thailand or home to England for Christmas. Kiel & Esme also have lost 5 friends since we have been here. They have returned to their parents home countries.
On Wednesday we had our Mongolian language school "New Years" party. Mongolians do not celebrate Christmas, but do celebrate New Years. There was so much food from all over the world, Africa, Europe, Singapore, South America, & of course Mongolia. The Mongolian food Esme & I really enjoyed. Teresa made a plate of home made sweets. I made Хэлопчи (in English "cabbage rolls".) Teresa said they were awesome & she is my best critic & of course Teresa's home made sweets were awesome.
Teresa is going to Bangkok Thailand for a week in January to change here visa. We bought her flights on Thursday & got an awesome deal, but still did not plan on spending the money. The kids & I will be home that week, while Teresa travels. Teresa will arrive in Bangkok on her birthday. She will be staying in the same hotel as our friends that live below us here.
Tomorrow all 4 of us will be going to the Christmas party of my best friend's (here) home fellowship. We are excited & I know the home fellowship people are excited to because they have never seen Teresa & the kids. After this Sunday we may start going to the home fellowship on a regular basis. Teresa & I feel it is time to make the transition after going to a foreigner international church since we have been here.
I will be making daily post for the next short time as we have a break from language classes. I know that is it getting cold at home & have to say that we are happy for you all. It is -37 Celsius here from early evening until mid morning.
To let you all know there are still many Mongolian families that have not recovered from the floods in the summer where hundreds of gers were washed away. Some families were given new gers (homes,) but have nothing else. They need warm clothes, blankets, etc..things like that. Please pray that donations come in. If you feel led to help please contact us.