Learning Is Fun

Teresa & Esme last week came home from their educational countryside trip. Esme learned how to ride Mongolian camels (2 humps), to dye different colours into camel wool, make felt from camel wool, create a felt hamburger, sandwiches on a tray & a strawberry purse. She had lots of opportunity to practice the Mongolian she is learning in her weekly language classes as she played with the younger Mongolian girls in Altai. 

Teresa also had a great time learning the same things as Esme, but also got to create some new things for the Mongolian felt project to create. Some of the things Teresa created was a beautiful red felt stocking, an advent calendar, etc...

Teresa spent time with the Mongolian staff enabling her to practise Mongolian which sometimes can be a challenge. Altai Mongolian is very different from Ulaanbaatar Mongolian. It's always great when you get the chance to meet & spend time with Mongolians. She really enjoyed spending time with our foreign friends in the countryside. Many times our friends find it lonely being a 30 hour drive from the city or a 2 hour plane ride. They were so excited when Teresa brought them a block of cheese, fresh coffee & some other small gifts.

Last week I went to the hospice expecting my friends to have passed away, but was so excited to see that they were still alive with a new roommate. I went over to the lady that last time couldn't sit still because her pain was so great. I said, "hi" to here, but the funny thing was that she did not recognize me & introduced herself. This is the amazing thing. She looked as if she was pain free, alert, talking, walking as a normal person. The other older lady that was motionless on her bed & could only whisper last time was speaking more clearly. But, while I was talking to the new roommate started dancing all around the room. I was completely amazed & so excited!

Their new roommate was from the countryside, in her late thirties, had a 18 month old son with her husband in the countryside & was a Mongolian/English grammar teacher. We talked for a while & shared about our lives for some time. Then she asked me to pray for her. All of us (the 3 patients, a couple of nurses & myself) had a great time learning more about each other, laughing together singing songs together, eating & drinking Mongolian food/drink. I found out that the lady who was dancing was a circus juggler/performer for 30 years in the Mongolian circus. She told me that she has travelled all over Mongolia & Russia. 

I have learned this though. All of the patients always ask me to pray for them & ask me to hold their hand or gently lay my hand on their shoulder as I pray. It seems so simple, yet can feel so hard to do. Many times we take it for granted & forget about it, but people in need know it, want it, don't forget about it & ask for it.