warm weather

Last week was a good week. We had a couple of days that were really, really stressful, but later on in the week things calmed down.

A YWAM team is here from France for the next 2 months helping out with people all over the country that have work projects for Mongolians. Last Wednesday we had all 8 of them over for supper & to relax (of course we had some extra people that came with them.) Many of them were challenged by the difficulty of life here compared to France. We encouraged them by saying it is difficult compared to home, but when you live here you make due with what is here. There is a team member (a guy) who looks Korean (Parents are) but has lived most of his life in South Africa, Canada & France. His passport is Korean, but has only spent a few years in Korea. He also speaks African es, French, Korean & English. Most of the students on the team speak at least 3-5 languages. Wow, I think it's so amazing & cool to be European or Asian because most that I know can speak 3-6 languages.

Over the weekend we all went to the countryside with our dear friend's Joan & Daniel. They are leaving Mongolia again for Thailand. They have been our neighbours since we arrived & we love them very much. We all got into the van (the community centre lets me borrow) & headed to the river for a nice bbq next to the river. We all relaxed & enjoyed each others company before they leave this week.

 They 1st arrived in Mongolia with their 3 daughters back in 1998, a few years later went to Thailand, then returned to Mongolia & are now returning again to Thailand. Now their daughters are entering university, in the middle of a degree & a university graduate. They told us that raising their daughters in Mongolia was so good & all three of the girls have told us Mongolia has forever changed them in a good way.  They have told us that there are big challenges whatever country you go to. Thailand is a challenge for them because they both do not like the sun (suntanning) nor the heat (summer 45 Celsius + humidity.)

The Mongolian countryside is so beautiful, but is so short (only 3 months until snow & -15 Celsius.)

We are praying for many things. We are praying for the cost of Kiel's schooling & if there could be the possibility of Esme to attend also. These decisions very difficult for Teresa & I as we want the kids to receive the social, academic & developmental growth that comes with being in a school. The school that Kiel attends teaches Canadian curriculum & gives their students Canadian accredited certificates.

Kiel's classes end this week & he is really sad that classes will be ending. He really likes school & all of his friends except for 5 of them are Mongolian. This is what Teresa & I wanted. We know many foreign families that have been living in Mongolia for over 10 years & their children don't know any Mongolian nor have any Mongolian friends. In my opinion this is totally missing the point.

Also the community centre will be selling their van (let us use on a daily basis) at the end of the month meaning we will have to go back to walking/using taxi's. We are ok with this, but it does increase the amount of time it takes to get places & to serve people. Other foreigners have asked us if we want to buy their vehicle as they are leaving Mongolia, but we don't have the means to purchase anything now. We are praying & waiting.