CAMA Mongolia is happy to have Dennis and Marilyn Maves back on the field. They have spent the past few weeks catching up on all of that has taken place in the past year. Be sure to check out their new web site for all of the latest about their family (including the marriage of their daughter Joy!)
Our CAMA Staff in UB celebrated Christmas together on the evening of December 25th. We enjoyed fellowship across cultures and languages, telling the Christmas Story in Mongolian and English, singing Carols and eating a wide variety of foods (from the American and the Philippine tradition!)
From CAMA Mongolia to all of you, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
My people perish for lack of a khan…
In a land of democracy and hardship, competition is fierce and oppression is rampant. All of our “freedoms” are killing my people – a humble family paying 560% per month for a $5 loan, a young man harassed by the police and afraid of taking it to court, children learning English from rap music, unemployed men who turn to drinking, employed men who drink as soon as they are paid, foreign companies who mine our country’s resources or delay on paying salaries, families who have not saved a single cent for the long winter, a prime minister who resigns suspiciously, neighbors who build higher and thicker fences, a handicapped boy who stays home and plays video games instead of going to school, crumbling roads and a faltering river system, officials who are convinced their people are poor and helpless, families who never turn off their TVs, two neighbors who have had their electricity cut off, other neighbors who can’t pay $1.50 to paint their own fence, people who pay back loans in order to get bigger loans, the gradual loss of cultural skills and pride, young people having children before marriage, plastic bags like tumbleweed across the steppe, increasing thieves who take whatever is not locked up, coal sellers who cheat their customers with rocks, drunk men fighting or laying in the street, couples threatening separation, toddlers with rotting teeth, citizens with no hope, no ideas, and no unity whatsoever…
If only the Father of Heaven would send us another khan – one who would rule with a rod of iron and whose empire would never crumble, one who would bring justice to the afflicted and light to the stumbling, one who would cause the righteous to flourish and the land to abound with good things, one who would restore glory and respect for his people among the nations, one who would have mercy on the weak and rescue them from enemies, one whose name would endure and all would call him blessed by God… full of wisdom and authority and power… forever.
Oh, if such a khan existed my people could hope once more. We wait, in desperation and tears, for Your anointed O God! We cry out for Your chosen to teach us fear and obedience, that we might be free from the plagues of our own freedom! How long must we suffer for lack of order and community?! There is no one to help, there is no one endowed with holiness and authority to lead us. Answer our prayer and send us Your khan, with signs and wonders, that all the nations might see and be glad this Christmas…
Psalm 72 (plus 100s of years of history, both from ancient Israel as well as Mongolia here and now).
Jeremy Fields is working with his family in Darhan, Mongolia. The Fields family will be moving to Hovd in western Mongolia sometime in 2010 to begin community organization work in preparation for the Coming King.
Many of our team members congregated in Ulaanbaatar to celebrate American Thanksgiving. We are grateful to God for team, friends and mercy. The team celebrated at “The Grain of Wheat” with roasted Chicken and all of the fixings. Although we all miss our family and friends back in our home country, we are grateful for the family that has been provided for us here.
Happy Thanksgiving and a Joyous Holiday Season to all!
Last week CAMA Mongolia had the privilege of hosting a vision team from the US. We spent a lot of time talking about Community Centers and how we can see Gospel impact on the capital city of Mongolia. It was a blessing to show this team the work that is taking place in Mongolia and to connect with them about the future. Partnership is the way to accomplish the work we are called to do here. Because of this team’s visit and support (along with many others who have donated and prayed), CAMA Mongolia may soon have a community center in Ulaanbaatar, serving the needs of the city.
Thanks to all of you for your interest and support!
Partnership with our friends in America is a high value for CAMA Mongolia. There are many examples of how folks can partner with us here. Jim and Denise Manchester and the Evanston Alliance Church (EAC) in Evanston, WY are just one more example to add to the list.
Last week Jim and Denise arrived in UB from half a world away. Prior to their coming the EAC had already raised several thousand dollars for the Manchester’s trip, as well as several computers for both the Grain of Wheat Student Center, as well as the youth center that we have in Darhan. After they arrived, Jim and Denise surprised us with yet one more computer, completing what we need for the computer lab in UB. They spent the week installing a network system in the city, as well as in Darhan. They also worked closely with our Darhan staff in the area or organization and administration. So not only did EAC raise the funds necessary for the trip and the outfitting of the computer labs, but they also put their skills and talents to work for the Kingdom in Mongolia.
CAMA Mongolia wants to say a heartfelt thank you to Jim and Denise (and Ellie!) and to the Evanston Alliance Church. Thank you for your partnership with us!
The CAMA Health Project staff in Darhan, Mongolia were glad to have the opportunity to host the Chinese Christian Dental Service (CCDS) team from Oct 3-9, 2009. This team from Taiwan has 3 dentists: Dr. Kwan Tak Kam, Dr. Selina Kung Wai Yee, Dr. Wang Yung Chang, and a nurse, Miss Rosie Lin Mei Yung. The team worked in Darhan for 2 ½ days treating dental patients who are members of the local churches, students from the First School, and prisoners of the police detention center and the Darhan prison. They also spent one day serving the people in Hushaat Sum at the local hospital. This village, also called Enkhal, and is located about 1 hour north of Darhan by dirt road. The team treat a total of 182 patients.
This is the second time CCDS has sent a dental team to Mongolia to work with our CAMA Health Project. Dr. Kwan is a member of the C&MA church in Taipei. We really appreciate the team member’s serving altitude, hard work, and cheerful spirit inspire of difficult working conditions. We hope that the CCDS will continue to send teams to Mongolia annually!
This past July, Ulaanbaatar had some of the heaviest rains received in decades. Rain and hail and wind led to massive flooding in low-lying areas in the city. Gers were swept away and lives were lost in the waters. One family lost three children. Many of those who were in the way of the flood waters were some of the poorest of the poor in the city. Their ability to replace what was lost is minimal, at best … if not impossible.
Along with earthly possessions, like home and furniture, many of the folks in these districts also lost their official identification documents. This paperwork is extremely important and is necessary to obtain work, social services, etc. Replacing lost documentation can take months and, in many cases, even years to re-obtain from the Mongolian Government.
So we partnered with the officials in the three affected and districts and worked with them to return lost documents to flood victims). It was most encouraging to see the relief on the faces of the people. It was encouraging to chat with the district officials and discuss with them how we might be able to work together for God’ Kingdom in Mongolia.
Thanks to our parent organization CAMA Services for help to fund this important relief endeavor.
Thanks to all of you who gave and supported this project.
