A Race Well Run

Nov 10, 2005

Adam

When our family reached Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in June of this year, none of us had any idea that at age 25, my twin brother Isaac was in the final months of his life.

What began as an apparent infection in his leg early in October culminated a month later with an emergency evacuation to Seoul, Korea. An extremely aggressive form of Leukemia, we later learned, precipitated the brain hemorrhage that brought a close to Isaac’s life while in flight to Korea.

On November 4th, Isaac’s earthly race had finished, leaving us to contemplate the purpose with which he ran. It is not the length of the race, but how it is run that brings honor to a runner.

Born in 1980, Isaac was the second oldest of 10 children in the Waller family. A quiet and gentle brother, Isaac’s maturity and wisdom lived out an unforgettable example to those around him.

He lived for others. Countless times we saw him lay down his expectations and rights so that he could meet the needs of other people.

Isaac was also a man of conviction. He could not be pressured to break the speed limit or dishonestly adjust his timecard. Like a runner with his eyes fixed on the goal, Isaac’s life was characterized by leaving the good to take hold of the best.

In Washington DC, his character and skills brought rapid promotion and advancement in the field of computer aided drafting, but two years later he left it all to be with his family in a move to a farm in Grantsburg, Wisconsin.

Again laying aside lucrative career potentials, Isaac served at the Character Training Institute in Oklahoma City, helping others to develop the character that brings greater joy and purpose in life.

For Isaac, faith was not just something tacked on to his schedule. His faith was the very core of his being. Rising very early for daily Bible reading and prayer, Isaac took hold of a purpose in life with an eternal perspective.

In his brief life Isaac did many good deeds, but his confidence was not in himself. He knew that faith in Jesus Christ was the only way to have a relationship with God.

Leaving the comforts of America and security of a job, Isaac left with his family for volunteer service to the people of Outer Mongolia.

Working with a branch of the Character Training Institute, Isaac again selflessly poured out his time and energy in trainings and graphic design work. We will always hold dear the four months that we spent together serving in Mongolia as a family of twelve, little realizing how quickly Isaac was approaching the finish line of his life.

Isaac finished his course with joy. Even in his final days of pain and suffering, Isaac’s face bore a smile and a radiance that we can only attribute to the grace of God.

Meeting as a family a few days after Isaac’s death, we unanimously chose to bury his body in Mongolia, the land where he had so selflessly poured out the last months of his life in service to others.

Isaac’s funeral in Mongolia was attended by hundreds who had been touched by the sacrifice and love of this young man. Upon his tombstone are engraved the words: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Isaac has crossed the finish line, but we are still in the race. Like a fallen hero, his example lives on in our hearts, inspiring us to run with honor the race that is set before each one of us.

Through a life focused on eternal reward, Isaac has shown us the meaning of Jim Elliot’s words;

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

Print This Post

A Tribute from a Twin

Nov 8, 2005

Adam

Isaac Waller

Isaac and I were born in 1980 in St. Paul, Minnesota as the first of 10 children. From playing cars to climbing trees, we did everything together. At five years of age, we both made the most important decision of our lives, to put our faith in Jesus Christ.

Wanting to protect us from wrong influences, our parents chose to educate us at home. In this family centered environment our creativity abounded. A homemade raft, a 23 foot kite, a bicycle stagecoach, and a powered 12 foot model airplane are just a few of the projects we did as we grew up together.

Even though I was 15 minutes older, I often looked up to Isaac and admired his maturity and wisdom. Isaac was a gentle and loving brother. His quiet patience lived out an example that we will never forget.

Isaac loved his family, but his greatest love was for the Lord. He walked away from promotion and a high paying job to serve those that could never repay. The greatest reward for him was to one day hear his Lord say: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

In June of 2005, Isaac left his home and job in America for volunteer service with his family to the people of Mongolia. We never expected that these would be his last months to selflessly pour out his life for others.

Even in his last hours in pain and suffering, Isaac had a joyful radiance that bore testimony to a life at peace with God. No good works could ever repay the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Isaac was resting in confidence that God is faithful Who has promised in His Word to give eternal life to all who call upon Him. Today, our family rests in that same confidence that we will see our brother again in heaven.

Although our dear brother has gone to his eternal reward in heaven, his testimony lives on in our hearts. May we also follow the example of our Lord Jesus Christ who gave that others might live.

Adam Waller, Twin Brother

Print This Post

Together again

Nov 7, 2005

Adam

Adam's Updates

Monday, November 7th, 2005
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Dear Family and Friends,

Our days have simply been filled from morning till night with so many details. While we are at times physically and emotionally exhausted, God is giving us great strength and peace through this time. So many friends have gathered around us to help in any way that they can.

We have received e-mails from friends all over the world, many whom we have never met, that are praying for us, and this continues to bring us great encouragement. We know that God has a very special purpose for Isaac’s life and for our family in this time.

Today we drove out to the airport to welcome my parents back from Korea. It was a tearful reunion, but we have such a joy and hope in the midst of this loss. We will greatly miss my twin brother Isaac, but we are already seeing God do some very special things in our lives, and in the lives of those around us.

Jesus said that all men would know we are His disciples by the love that we have for one another (John 13:35), and I am seeing this lived out in a reality that I have never before experienced. The kindness of Christian friends in Korea has brought such encouragement to my parents.

The doctor that helped receive Isaac from the plane was with my parents in the hospital until five the next morning. Every day he was with them and helped them make international calls from his cell phone. Other friends provided meals and spent time encouraging and praying with my parents through these hours.

Even through all these unexpected events, we see an even greater love, the great wisdom and loving care that God has shown to our family through this time. The fact that we were able to be serving together as a family for the last few months of Isaac’s life is something we will never regret. There are many other special things that we are now seeing, and I look forward to sharing them in greater detail over the days and weeks to come.

There are many arrangements and details yet to be worked out for the viewing tomorrow evening, and the funeral on Wednesday. Pray that the Lord will give us great wisdom in making so many important decisions. Our desire is that God would be glorified, and that our family would be a testimony of His grace and power in the midst of suffering.

We will miss Isaac very much, and continue to shed many tears, but we have a joy and a confidence that we will see him again! God has chosen in His perfect timing to take Isaac home, and already we have seen a number of people that have come to Christ through his testimony.

Today we were given permission by the Mongolian Government to purchase a burial site in a private cemetery. Isaac will be buried next to the grave of a leading pastor in Ulaanbaatar that went to be with the Lord a few weeks ago. His widow was greatly honored to hear that Isaac would be buried by her husband.

May God bless each of you, and continue to pray for our family in this important time. Below I have pasted the text from the funeral invitation that we have begun giving out.

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Waller and family would

like to invite you to attend the funeral for:

Isaac Wallace Waller
1980 – 2005

who died on November 4th, at age 25

in volunteer service to the country of Mongolia

with the Character Training Institute of Mongolia.

The viewing and funeral will be held at

First Church, [Light of Love Christian Cultural

Center] located opposite the Ulaanbaatar

University, behind the Naran Tuulzakh.

The viewing will take place from 5:00 PM to

8:00 PM on Tuesday evening, November 8th.

The funeral and services will begin at

First Church at 10:00 AM on Wednesday

morning, November 9th.

Pictures

A number of young men from the church came to help us dig Isaac’s grave. It took over 8 hours to dig by hand through the rocky ground.

After bringing Isaac’s embalmed body from the airport, we had a special time of prayer and singing before leaving the casket at a private facility for the evening.

Please continue to pray for us in these days, and especially for the funeral services on Wednesday.

In Christ,

– Adam

Adam Waller ~ MyAllForChrist@CadLinx.com

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” – Galatians 6:9

_uacct = “UA-2519367-1”;
urchinTracker();

Print This Post

Isaac went home

Nov 4, 2005

Adam

Adam's Updates

Friday, November 4th, 2005
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Dear Family and Friends,

On Thursday, November 3, in flight with both Mom and Dad on their way to Seoul, Korea, Isaac apparently had a brain hemorrhage and peacefully slipped into unconsciousness. On November 4th, 1:30 PM, Isaac was pronounced dead at the Yonsei hospital in Seoul, Korea.

As my family and I look back over the past days and weeks, we feel that we did everything we could for Isaac in this time. His case has been evaluated by a number of skilled Korean and American doctors working in Mongolia, with additional consultation from doctors in America.

Detailed medical records, x-rays, photographs, blood tests and physical examinations failed to pinpoint the cause of the lingering infection that began in Isaac’s left leg a month ago. At the end it seemed that some type of aggressive blood disease like leukemia rapidly swept through his body.

Although he was on a plane to Korea within minutes of confirming his high blood counts, his condition deteriorated so fast that he only survived the first hour of the flight. My parents were both able to be with him during the flight, and accompanied him in the ambulance to the hospital where life support was continued.

The CAT scan taken immediately upon arrival showed the brain hemorrhage and no brain activity. Korean law prohibits removing life support from a patient, even after all brain activity has ceased, so the respirator was continued until all bodily functions had ceased on the following day.

All of the children were back in Ulaanbaatar, waiting for the news of Isaac’s arrival in Seoul. We were awakened by a phone call from my parents at 1:30 AM, and they gave us the news that Isaac is in heaven.

Derrick, Rachelle, David, Sarah and I had a tearful time of sharing and praying together, and then we went back to our rooms to try to rest until morning.

At 6:00 AM, we woke the younger children, and gathering everyone together, we shared the news with them. Again there were many tears as the full realization slowly began to set in. We are so grateful for the comfort of knowing that Isaac is with Jesus, but we will still miss him.

The love of our Christian friends here has been overwhelming. Many have come to spend time with us and share words of comfort. People are bringing meals, taking the younger ones outside to play, and helping in any way that they can.

Mom and Dad were able to be with Isaac through this whole time, and are making preparations to return to Mongolia with Isaac’s body. At this point Mom and Dad feel it would be best to hold a funeral here on Wednesday, and to hold a State-side memorial service at a future date.

Korean friends and missionaries here have put Mom and Dad in touch with some Christian families in Seoul, and these new friends are providing meals, housing and a cell phone for Mom and Dad to use during their stay. They are currently planning to fly back to Mongolia tomorrow afternoon, and then we will all be together again.

God has given us much comfort in this time through His Word and Christian friends here, and while we deeply feel the loss of Isaac, we know that God has a plan and purpose through all of this. Sometime later I would like to share about some of the things we see God doing through this experience.

Please continue to pray for us in this time. There are so many details to work out, decisions to make, and the need to spend time with each other. Many of us are physically and emotionally weary, but God is giving the strength to go on.

May God bless each one of you, and I will try to keep you posted as things move forward.

In Christ,

– Adam

Adam Waller ~ MyAllForChrist@CadLinx.com

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” – Galatians 6:9

A family picture at Sarah’s birthday on October 15th. Isaac is in the back row, second from right.

_uacct = “UA-2519367-1”;
urchinTracker();

Print This Post

Isaac very sick, evacuated to Korea

Nov 3, 2005

Adam

Adam's Updates

Thursday, November 3rd, 2005
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Dear Family and Friends,

A few hours ago Isaac, Mom and Dad left on Korean Airlines for an emergency medical evacuation to Seoul, Korea. Isaac has been on bedrest for over a month, with what began as an infection in his foot. While this seems to be slowly improving, last night his condition became much worse, with intense pain in the kidneys, fever, headache and constant bleeding.

By 5:00 AM we were getting very concerned. Isaac’s condition was getting worse. Dr. Choi, a most gracious Korean doctor friend awoke to our emergency call and arrived a few minutes later to evaluate Isaac’s condition. As soon as we could, we took Isaac in to have some blood tests done.

In the early afternoon we received a call from Dr. Choi who was evaluating Isaac’s results as they were verified. The news was very serious. A white blood cell count for a healthy person is normally 5,000 – 10,000. Isaac’s came back with a count of 375,000. Additionally, his platelet count had dropped from 453 to 100.

Dr. Choi advised us to get a flight as soon as possible for Isaac to go to a better hospital in Korea or Beijing for a bone marrow biopsy and further testing. After consulting with three other American doctors, we began looking for the next possible flight that we could send Isaac on.

Learning at about 4:10 PM that there was a Korean Air flight leaving at 5:20 PM, we worked to make these arrangements as fast as possible. I quickly packed a bag, and Derrick and I carried Isaac down to a waiting taxi. After a brief but tearful goodbye, they took off to reach the airport before the plane left.

In another taxi, Tim and a couple others were at the Korean Air office, buying the tickets, and racing off to meet Isaac at the airport a few minutes before the plane was scheduled to take off. The Lord most graciously allowed all the details to come together, and the airline held the plane for a few minutes longer so Isaac, Mom and Dad could be rushed on board.

Things were happening so fast that it was hard to know what was going on. Eventually all the details filtered down to know that Isaac, Mom and Dad were on their way to Korea, and potentially on to Minneapolis MN. Isaac was in very good spirits as he left, and we are rejoicing in the many details that God worked out for him to make the flight.

The nine of us children met in the living room together to spend some time in prayer. There were many tears, and many unknowns, but we are confident that God is working through this time. We know that our Loving Heavenly Father only gives good gifts to His children. God is working all things together for good.

At another family meeting together this evening, we are beginning to see God’s hand so clearly in this most unexpected series of events. Already the airport security, taxi drivers and others have commented on the love that they have seen.

We feel in ourselves such a peace and calm in the midst of the storm. It is the miracle of God’s grace. God is giving us strength and grace for today, and I know that He will give grace for the tomorrows. Just this morning I read the verse in Psalm 112 that says “Unto the upright, there ariseth light in the darkness…” We have such a blessed hope and confidence! May God use us to brightly shine His light during this time.

Please continue to pray for us in these days. I will work to keep you informed daily as we hear updates on Isaac. You can reach us by e-mail at this address. I don’t know that I will be able to respond immediately, but know that we really appreciate your prayers and I will pass on your encouragement to the family here.

God bless you, and I will work to write again soon!

Praise Points:

– The incredible timing in the flight arrangements for Isaac. The three of them were able to fly to Seoul last moment (literally) for $1200, instead of tens of thousands for a life-flight.

– The great peace and calm that we each feel. We really feel God’s grace in answer to your prayers!

Prayer Requests:

– That God would be glorified through this opportunity to show forth the power of His grace to all those that we contact in the days to come.

– That Isaac would be preserved to reach the hospital and that God would give the doctors great wisdom as they seek to help him in this time.

– Strength and wisdom for Mom and Dad as they spend these next hours and days with Isaac. Pray for wisdom in the timing of a flight to Minnesota, and for abundant grace in this time of need.

– For the nine Waller children that remain in Mongolia. Again, God has so uniquely prepared us for this time, but we need God’s grace for the days ahead.

Pictures:

A picture of Isaac just before we carried him down to the taxi.

A flurry of last minute details, phone calls and tearful goodbyes as Isaac and my parents leave for the airport.

Thank you so much for your prayers for Isaac and my family in this time! We really appreciate each one of you!

In Christ,

– Adam

Adam Waller ~ MyAllForChrist@CadLinx.com

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” – Galatians 6:9

_uacct = “UA-2519367-1”;
urchinTracker();

Print This Post

Phone Systems in Mongolia

Oct 8, 2005

Adam

Adam's Updates

Saturday, October 8th, 2005
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Dear Family and Friends,

Weeks seem to fly by so quickly here in Mongolia! One week ago today we celebrated Rachelle’s birthday. Sarah and Rebekah wanted to make a favorite dish of homemade lasagna for the birthday lunch. I think lasagna noodles are starting to become available in Mongolia, but the girls decided to save some money and make them from scratch.

Carefully rolled out and then dried on a bed sheet, you could hardly tell the difference in the final product. Some of the younger ones served the lunch in a fine dining style comparable to an expensive catered banquet.

Not everything has been fun and celebration, however. Isaac’s lower leg has been painful and swollen, keeping him in bed for most of the past week. It seems that some type of infection had set in. We are grateful to know some skilled missionary doctors here, and one was able to examine his leg and prescribe an antibiotic.

Yesterday Isaac began taking another antibiotic of a stronger type, and it seems that he is beginning to show some signs of improvement. Please continue to pray that the Lord would give him a rapid recovery.

You may remember that our phone system had died a little over a month ago. We were able to send it to the States, where we are getting it repaired, either for us to use again, or for another branch of our organization.

Riding in a taxi through the city on Thursday, I was telling Ideree that I am seeking the Lord’s direction for our phone system needs. Even before it failed, we were talking about maybe upgrading at some point. We are currently renting 11 apartments, but the TalkSwitch only has 8 extension. It is a great little system, but starting to get a little small.

The Lord could have easily allowed the unit to continue working for a few more months or years, but He allowed us to come to a decision point this summer. From one perspective, we could have the unit repaired for $250, and have it shipped back to us, but we would be in exactly the same situation, minus $250. I am wondering if maybe the Lord has a plan or direction in this that is bigger than just spending money on a repair.

In researching some options for a possible replacement for the TalkSwitch, I was encouraged to investigate what is available locally. It would be wise to get something that is supported locally, with parts available for any repairs.

I was quite impressed with the Panasonic repair shop that Ideree and I visited. We gave them a cordless phone to repair, and they actually did component level testing and replaced a IC chip for a total cost of $15! I don’t know if you could get a repair estimate for that price at some places in the States. 🙂

Following the recommendation of the repairman, we visited the office of the main Panasonic distributor in Mongolia. We were ushered into the office of a well dressed man that spoke good English. He explained that Panasonic has installed over 15,000 systems in Mongolia over the past 5 years, and is the primary supplier for small and mid-sized businesses.

Taking some time to learn of our needs, he went on to describe a system that he felt would work well for us, and gave me a product brochure. I asked if he might have any older systems that might be available at a lower price, so he also gave me a product brochure for the previous model.

Returning to our apartment, I spent an hour or so researching these units on the Internet. I also remembered an e-mail that a friend had sent me last week. He does phone system installations, and had used Panasonic unit that might work for us. Stopping to look up the part number on the Internet, I found to my great surprise that it was exactly the model described in the second brochure from the Panasonic distributor!

All of the details have not yet come together, but it seems that we might be able to get a good quality, locally supported phone system with double the capacity of our TalkSwitch for less than the cost of the repair! I sent some e-mails to verify the details on this, but it will be exciting to see what the Lord does.

Another answer to prayer came just as unexpectedly as Ideree and I were looking at phone systems. As I was walking into one of the stores, I saw another tall foreigner, and it turned out to be Ewen, the man that I have been assisting with the Mongolian Bible software! I knew that he was back in the country, but had not seen him since my return. We had a brief talk, and it gave me all the more encouragement to move forward with the project.

Please continue to pray for us! Your prayer support is so vital to this or any other ministry. Without God’s hand of blessing on our work, we would simply be running around in circles.

Praise Points:

– Praise the Lord for how the church is continuing to grow in Mongolia. Last Sunday the Holy Way church that we attend divided (or multiplied) into two different churches. The old building just could not fit the 200+ people that were attending each week. We were wondering if anyone had stayed with the old building and original church when about 150 people gathered at the new location. We heard later that the old building was also full! Five people came to Christ at each church last Sunday.

Prayer Requests:

– Pray for a full recovery for Isaac’s leg. We are grateful to begin seeing some improvement today.

– Please pray for the wife and three young children of Enkhbayar, a Mongolian pastor of another church that went home to be with the Lord a few hours ago. In the midst of the grief of Enkhbayar’s passing, many of the unsaved relatives want to have a Buddhist funeral, against the wishes of his wife and a document he wrote before his death.

Pictures:

Rachelle opens a gift while Lydia and Matthew look on. It is wonderful to spend birthdays with family, even in Outer Mongolia. 🙂

Jim and Esther Entner just came to Mongolia last year after over 20 years of mission work in the Philippines. We are so blessed to know this dear couple, and Jim’s medical experience and advice has been of great assistance in the situation with Isaac’s leg.

Having the family here brings a new dynamic to local outreach. Quite a number of the Mongolian boys in the area are getting to know David and the younger ones. Soccer seems to be their favorite outdoor activity.

“It’s gonna get worse before it gets better…” Remodeling the classroom apartment has been Derrick’s project for the week. (Or two.)

Derrick and company. Chinggis (left) and Dorjbat (right) have been assisting with the remodeling project. These two young men are growing in the Lord and actively involved with our church.

Thank you so much for your prayers for the family and team in Mongolia!

In Christ,

– Adam

Adam Waller ~ MyAllForChrist@CadLinx.com

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” – Galatians 6:9

_uacct = “UA-2519367-1”;
urchinTracker();

Print This Post

A Test of Focus

Sep 30, 2005

Adam

Adam's Updates

Friday, September 30th, 2005
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Dear Family and Friends,

Several days ago I was talking with a missionary that works in the countryside, a nine hour drive by 4WD vehicle. He had come into the city to gather supplies for the next few months of work in a remote town West of Ulaanbaatar.

Relating some of his recent experiences with the local people, he shared about a Mongolian man that I will call George. Living in the Mongolian countryside, this man was just trying to get enough income to meet basic needs.

A few months ago, George came to Christ. It was shortly after this decision that his race horse suddenly started winning championships. He went on to sell this prized horse for the equivalent of two years worth of income!

Talking with the missionary about it, George said “The Lord has really blessed me as a Christian!” It would be hard to disagree, but my missionary friend was a little concerned. God does sometimes choose to bless His children with material possessions, but this is not always the case.

It would be very easy for George to stand on the hillside, looking over his new flocks of sheep, cattle and horses, and think back on his decision to trust Christ with the feeling that it was probably the best decision he ever made.

When God chooses to bless a Christian in this way, there is the danger that he will become distracted by the gift, and forget the Giver. The thing that began as such a blessing can become the very distraction that leads him away from a close relationship with the Lord.

In the book of Deuteronomy, God warned the Israelites that there would be a day coming when they would be experiencing the blessing and enjoyment of the Promised Land, but unless they were careful to maintain a right focus, they would be turned away to other gods, and would surely perish. (See Deuteronomy 8)

In some ways I almost feel like George as I look at the opportunities that God has opened up before us. Some missionaries in Mongolia, like my aforementioned friend, are under restrictions from the local government, and are not allowed to share their faith outside their own home.

In contrast, we are sharing the gospel message with people almost weekly, and hearing many reports of people coming to Christ. Every few days it seems that we have the opportunity to counsel and encourage local Christians, or visit with missionaries.

Finishing our first month of regular character classes at the Mongolian International University, we are seeing deepening relationships with many of the students. One young man wanted to talk with David after class on Wednesday. After a question on the lesson, he began asking about Christianity.

Gathering several friends in the cafeteria a little later, he asked David to share more about the Gospel message. He is reading the Bible, and wants to talk further when they get the chance. Pray for Ogii. He is not far from the Kingdom of God.

We are currently teaching all 250 of the freshmen and sophomore students at MIU, but others have been asking if they can join the class. Some of the older students asked if we are going to teach the juniors and seniors in the upcoming semester.

Just last week a second World Vision Area Development Project Leader came to ask us if we could do regular character trainings for her staff. Teaching bi-weekly character training lessons to 50 law students at one of the most noted law schools in the nation has further expanded our regular teaching schedule.

Several churches and Christian groups have also asked if we can begin teaching on the Commands of Christ and character with a Christian emphasis. While originally intended for the encouragement of local missionaries, our bi-monthly Family Nights of Christian teaching and fellowship have expanded to over 40 adults and 25 children.

With so many things to be busy doing, it is easy to forget being who God wants us to be. The account of Job is a good example of how quickly material things can change, and one does not have to think very hard to realize how quickly opportunities and ministry can change.

Returning from an exciting tour of ministry, Jesus’ disciples exclaimed “Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.” While He rejoiced with them in their reports, He gently turned the focus back to the more important issue. “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:17-20)

If our joy is fixed on our relationship with the Lord, then we have a joy that no man can take from us. When we have open doors and ministry opportunities before us, let us go forward, but let us never forget that vital relationship that keeps us strong for the race before us.

Praise Points:

– Puja and Erdenee’s wedding was a powerful testimony of a dedicated Christian couple that waited on God’s timing and the blessing of their parents for their courtship and marriage. Puja’s parents came to the Lord last year, and they have had some good discussions with Erdenee’s family in the past few weeks.

– One of the great joys that I have had in working in Mongolia is to be able to help people in the area of computer skills. A few days ago I finished replacing a failed hard drive in a laptop computer for a missionary family. We were very thankful to recover all of their documents from the partially readable drive.

Prayer Requests:

– In the process of applying for work permits and visas, we seem to have generated some misunderstandings with one of the Labor Office staff. Ziyaa was planning to visit our office for the past couple weeks but has not been able to come yet. We are actually glad for the opportunity to show her who we are, and what we are involved in. Pray that we would have a good meeting with her, and that she would have a clear understanding of our purposes and activities in Mongolia.

– For the past several weeks, I have been wanting to move forward on the Mongolian Bible software project. Up to this point I have not had much time to work on it. Pray that the Lord would give grace and favor as I meet with the Mongolian Union Bible Society to discuss copyright and distribution. I am really hoping that we can have permission to freely distribute this Bible software in Mongolia.

Pictures:

For David’s birthday, we enjoyed a family hike up a nearby mountain. Here Isaac and Matthew enjoy some peaches and trail mix on a nice soft rock.

The view from the top was quite spectacular. Here David, Dad and Rachelle look out over the city of Ulaanbaatar. The Lord answered prayer in giving us a beautiful day for the birthday hike.

The Waller family poses for a picture with the new couple. Puja is wearing a traditional Mongolian dell (the white garment), while some of the men wore a cowboy type hat.

I took this picture a few minutes ago from the balcony of my apartment. There are many of new buildings being built in Ulaanbaatar, and construction crews are working around the clock to finish before winter.

Mom and the younger ones have begun school for the year. Today I was invited to be the special guest instructor for the computer history chapter of their workbook.

A summer day in Outer Mongolia. Actually there were a few days of summer left when we received our first snow on September 16th. (Don’t worry, the weather turned warm again, and we have enjoyed some beautiful autumn days.)

Thank you so much for praying for each of us!

In Christ,

– Adam

P.S.

Thank you for your prayers for our team last month! We faced a great deluge of unexpected difficulties and challenges, but the Lord poured out His grace and we are going strong.

Adam Waller ~ MyAllForChrist@CadLinx.com

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” – Galatians 6:9

_uacct = “UA-2519367-1”;
urchinTracker();

Print This Post

An appeal for prayer

Aug 25, 2005

Adam

Adam's Updates

Thursday, August 25th, 2005
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Dear Family and Friends,

John 15 teaches us that we have a loving Father that sometimes takes us through seasons of pruning and purging, that we might bear even more fruit for Him. Like a grape vine that is carefully pruned and dressed by the husbandman, God sometimes takes us through difficulties and trials, so that we might experience a greater measure of His love and faithfulness.

Our witness to the world is usually not that of a life that is always smooth and easy, where problems seldom occur. The world laughs at such examples, thinking “I could be a good person too, if my life was that easy.”

God’s love for us is far deeper than just our present circumstances. Like gold that is refined in a fire, or like a valuable pearl that is created by an irritating grain of sand, God wants us to show His character in us through the suffering He allows in our lives.

I have not written in several weeks, but this was not for lack of desire to keep you informed. Unexpected difficulties and needs seem to have been coming from all directions, revealing priorities and testing character.

* Internet Connection

After working very well for the first month, our wireless Internet connection began experiencing difficulties as we tried to send and receive e-mails. After many days and hours of troubleshooting, we learned that this had been caused by some changes that our service provider had made.

After a few weeks they were able to resolve the problem, and the connection worked great, -for about three days. We then began to experience further connection problems which still have not been resolved. I don’t mind troubleshooting these kinds of things, and enjoy the learning involved, but it can be difficult when you have other pressing responsibilities needing your time.

* Computer Issues

A number of unexpected computer issues have also come up recently. One of our main workstations suddenly would not start up one morning. It took the better part of a day to identify the problem as a malfunctioning modem, and to rebuild the computer system.

Last week I was made aware of some strange things happening with a couple of the computers, and when I finally got around to checking things out a few days later, I discovered a computer virus on our network. It took Jedidiah and I about four hours, working late into the evening to eradicate the virus.

Yesterday I sat down to begin planning for the children’s seminar this weekend, when I learned that our printer was not working. After about an hour I had identified and corrected the problem, but was not very prepared for the meeting to discuss the children’s seminar program.

* Phone System

This morning my brother came up to the office to tell me that the phone system was not working. Apparently during a couple phone calls this morning, the system suddenly went dead, and we could not get a dial tone from any of the phones. After resetting the system, I began to be a little concerned when the faithful little TalkSwitch would not start up.

I disassembled it for further troubleshooting, but it seems that after five years this phone system has breathed it’s last, or at best, would need some parts from America. This will likely leave us for the next few days or weeks without the ability to call between our apartments.

These and a number of other issues have brought an accumulation of challenges unlike what I have seen before. I remember times of great challenge or pressure, but usually not from so many directions all at the same time. As we discussed today in our noon prayer meeting, I wonder how many of these things are pointing towards the Anger Resolution Seminar we are holding this weekend.

In the past I have often seen how some of our greatest difficulties were just before the greatest advancements in our work and ministry for the people of Mongolia. It is for this reason that I am writing, to encourage you to pray with us in this important time. This Friday and Saturday we are holding an Anger Resolution Seminar and Children’s Institute.

This is the first time that we are holding this seminar in Mongolia, and I am excited to see how the Lord will use it in the lives of those that come to hear God’s ways of resolving root issues that cause anger. (See: http://www.iblp.org/iblp/seminars/anger/) We do not have many people registered at this point, but several calls in the past couple days seem to indicate a growing interest.

I don’t want to leave you discouraged. Although most of this update describes some of our recent challenges, I want you to know that God is also working in the midst of all these things.

A couple weeks ago I felt prompted to do a backup of the primary data on our computer network. I had no idea that just a few days later a computer virus would invade the network and destroy some of our files. So far I have not identified any damage that could not be replaced from our backups.

Having the Spiritual gift of serving, I greatly enjoy the opportunity to assist others, and especially missionaries, using the computer skills that the Lord has entrusted to me. Last week we received a call from a friend at the New Tribes Missions headquarters.

An 8 hour jeep ride beyond the last paved road and train station, Jeremy and Roxi are serving in the countryside hometown of our Pastor Enkhee and his wife Sodnom. Their laptop computer suddenly crashed one day, and they have been unable to get it started up again.

I could only imagine the frustration of being so many miles away from help beyond what they could do on their own. Reaching them by phone, I walk them through some troubleshooting steps which seemed to indicate a failed hard drive. They are sending the computer into the city with another family today, so I hope to look at it further in the next few days.

Some of you may remember that I have been involved in a project to make the Mongolian Bible available on the computer. Although my time has been very limited, I have been praying about this project, and the Lord seems to be opening up the way to move forward.

We are potentially a few weeks away from the first widespread distribution of Mongolian Bible Software. I am looking forward to the day when I can prepare CDs to give away.

Requests for trainings continue to come in. Tim just came back from a meeting with the Mongolian International University leaders. They invited us to come and teach their 250 freshmen and sophomores twice a week. A representative from another school just came a few days ago with a request to do monthly trainings for their teachers. Several more requests are likely to come in the next few weeks as the school year begins.

Please continue to pray for us! There is so much happening, and we greatly need the Lord’s wisdom as we move forward. May the Lord bless each one of you for your part in this work!

Praise Points:

– For the many requests and opportunities that are before us! We need wisdom in knowing how to best focus our energies and efforts.

– For the safe arrival of my brother Derrick on the 16th of August. Now our entire family is together again, serving with the Character Training Institute in Mongolia.

– For the many opportunities to further develop computer skills as I troubleshoot computer and Internet issues. Although the timing is sometimes interesting, it is a very effective way to learn.

Prayer Requests:

– For the Anger Resolution Seminar and Children’s Institute this weekend. Pray for extra grace and enthusiasm as I lead the children’s program.

– Pray for wisdom as I work on Jeremy and Roxi’s computer. We would like to recover the data from the old hard drive, but this can be difficult to do.

Pictures:

A large stadium next to our building provides a nice area for the younger ones to get some exercise. Here Matthew connects solidly with the ball in our kickball game a couple weeks ago.

Some friends from church invited the team to the countryside for some berry picking and hiking. Here Isaac fords the stream with Rebecca on his shoulders.

The water was cold, but this did not stop three young Wallers from making the most of it.

While the ladies went swimming, several of the guys climbed a nearby mountain. In the valley behind me we picked berries that are similar to the chokecherries I have seen in America.

The round tent-like structure is called a ger. (Pronounced “Gare“) This is the traditional Mongolian home, and is commonly seen, even in the city.

In spite of overcast skies and light rain that morning, the Lord answered prayer and gave us a beautiful sunny day in the countryside. In the photo above you can see the returning clouds and rain on the horizon as we left.

Thank you so much for your prayers!

In Christ,

– Adam

Adam Waller ~ MyAllForChrist@CadLinx.com

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” – Galatians 6:9

_uacct = “UA-2519367-1”;
urchinTracker();

Print This Post

Family Reunion

Jul 5, 2005

Adam

Adam's Updates

Tuesday, July 5th, 2005
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Dear Family and Friends,

This really is supposed to be a more frequent update, but recent projects have left us nearly swamped with unexpected trainings in addition to preparations for my family to come to Mongolia. A couple weeks ago was one of the most intense few days of my entire time in Mongolia.

On Thursday we did an all day training for about 50 staff from the World Vision organization. A large Christian International aid organization, World Vision leads many humanitarian projects all over Mongolia. Leaving at 8:00 AM, we taught all day and returned to the Training Center with just a few minutes to eat supper before starting our Thursday evening character English classes that evening.

Finishing our classes a little after 8:00 PM, we went to bed and got up the next morning to leave for the second full day of training with the World Vision staff. We had a very good training, and at the conclusion I left the others to wrap things up while I took a taxi back to our apartment to get ready for a radio call-in broadcast with the WindFM radio station.

With just a few minutes to gather materials and look over some notes, we were out the door again on the way to the radio station. The Lord answered prayer in allowing us to quickly find a taxi, and we arrived about five minutes before we went on the air for the hour long live broadcast, talking about the character quality of attentiveness.

I was almost to tired to eat when I got back the apartment that evening, but after a much appreciated night of rest, we were up again getting ready for our Saturday character-English classes that started at 9:30 AM. After some good discussion with some of the attendees, we had the afternoon to catch up on things before taking several days off for a staff mid-year break.

In spite of the intensity of these days, it was really neat to see God’s grace poured out upon us. The World Vision trainings went very well, and we were encouraged to see response of the attendees. After the training on gratefulness, they presented a beautiful thank you card to the staff of the restaurant where we held our meals and small group discussions.

Participating in a live radio broadcast that Friday was a new experience for me. As with many of my experiences here, I was simply trusting that God would give me the grace to do what He had set before me. As the music began playing, the microphones were switched on, and the eyes turned to me to introduce myself, I felt the calm of God’s grace combined with the excitement of the moment. “My name is Adam Waller, and I am from Wisconsin in America.”

Flowing naturally, the dialog continued as I shared on the importance of showing attentiveness at home. Parents, I explained, can show attentiveness to their children and often pick up on subtle hints that reveal deeper needs. Maybe the fact that your son is a little quieter today is an indication that something happened at school today. Something that should be talked about.

We did not have any callers the first week, but it was so neat to see the Lord’s hand in this as well. The first week we had no calls, the second we had a couple calls where the Lord really gave wisdom in answering questions, and the third week there were a couple very difficult questions. It was like the Lord was slowly transitioning me into a new area for ministry and growth.

The trainings and new opportunities unfolding with World Vision in the past few weeks could take up a large section of this update, but a couple weeks ago something took place that was of much greater interest for me.

An ever-building excitement continued at the Training Center as my family’s arrival date drew closer. For years my family and I have looked forward to the day when we could be serving overseas as a family, and now this day was less than two weeks away.

It was then that I heard some unexpected news. Something had happened with the airline tickets and the Mongolian International Airlines company (MIAT). The details in Dad’s e-mail were a little unclear, but it seemed that MIAT was closing their US office.

Talking to my Dad the next morning, I learned that not only were they unable to issue our tickets going from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar, but they had been the ones to make the United Airlines reservations as well, and these reservations had also been lost with the closing of the MIAT office.

With less than two weeks before departure, this was no little cause for concern. Our one-year open-ended round trip tickets to Ulaanbaatar had been difficult to find, and now we faced the potential of trying to re-book the tickets. Dad was working with the travel agents, but the best alternatives they could find would cost an additional $4,000 or so for the ten tickets.

We had been expecting to face some opposition as we got closer to the departure date, but I must say I was not expecting it to come quite like this! My family and many others joined in prayer that the Lord would show His power in working out this unexpected complication, as my Dad began to make appeals to the various travel agents.

The next day, the subject of my Dad’s email read “Praise the Lord! He heard our cry!” In spite of closing their US office, MIAT had agreed to make the tickets at their Mongolia office, and send them to Chicago where my family would fly on the 23rd. The money had been wired, and everything seemed to be in place, as long as the tickets could reach Chicago in five days…

Taking my Dad’s suggestion to check with the local office here in Mongolia, we learned of some additional concerns. The entire network for flight and bank information between America and Mongolia was down, and none of the travel agents in Mongolia knew anything about my family’s tickets.

One agent explained that while five days is what they usually tell people, it really depends on how the money is transferred. It often has to go through several banks and frequently takes two weeks or even a month to process. This was of real concern, since we had exactly five working days before my family had to have the tickets in Chicago before they left the next day!

My brother was excited to report that the passports were back from the Mongolian Embassy in New York, but somehow the three year visas had all been stamped with a 90 day duration! This meant that my family could only stay in Mongolia for three months before they had to leave the country and reenter!

The representative from the Embassy told us that our invitation had stated 90 days, but after double checking all our paperwork, we could not find anything that implied a 90 day duration. Checking with the office here, it looked like this could be a major problem. Reissuing visas in-country is not the preferred method, not to mention the expense of 10 more applications.

Prayer was again offered to the One Who holds the heart of the king, and one of our Mongolian staff began investigating the issue further with the Foreign Affairs and Immigrations offices. One lady was indignant that someone had put a 90 day duration on the visa, since Americans do not need a visa for a stay less than 90 days.

Again, the Lord mightily answered prayer! We were finally told that this was just done as a new policy to encourage foreigners to submit the required registration forms after arriving in country, and would not be a problem. We would be able to stay the full year allowed on my Dad’s work permit.

A few days later we heard the tickets had arrived in Chicago, and everything was again in place for my family to fly from Chicago to Beijing and on to Ulaanbaatar with our original itinerary! Praise the Lord! We serve a powerful God!

Isaac sent me a copy of his impressively designed luggage plan, and we worked to arrange the transportation for my family’s arrival. They were planning to bring 40 pieces of luggage, with a total weight estimated at 1400 pounds! Books from Headquarters, Four desktop computers, two sewing machines, school materials and musical instruments in addition to clothes and personal belongings made quite an impressive packing list.

The flight was schedule to come in just after midnight, so after a brief hour of sleep, a small team and I rode out to the airport to welcome my family. A couple large white cowboy hats brought smiles to our faces as my family came around the corner and made their way to the baggage claim.

My younger siblings were all excited to tell me how long they had stayed up without sleeping, but everyone seemed in good spirits after the 30 hours of traveling. Many hands made the work light as we carried most of the luggage up the stairs to my family’s apartment on the fifth floor.

It really is a joy to have my family here in Mongolia now! There is a dimension that a family adds to a Training Center that is just hard to make up with single staff. Our days have been full and eventful with many adjustments and changes as we move into this new season of ministry as a family.

Derrick is wrapping up some farming projects back in Wisconsin, and plans to join us in mid-August. We are so grateful for the opportunity to serve together here, and thank you so much for your encouragement and prayers that makes this work possible!

Praise Points:

– Praise the Lord for the many answers to prayer in connection with my family’s arrival in Mongolia! Getting the airline tickets, getting them to my family in time, and the visas duration stamp issue are just a few of the many things that God has worked out over the past few months to make this time possible.

– For the reminders of how important prayer is to this ministry. We did not pray very much for students on our Thursday Character – English classes, and ended up with about 4. We took the hint and prayed seriously for Saturday and ended up with 35!

– The Lord unexpectedly directed our steps to find a very good source to purchase some used computer monitors! This is a great blessing and will allow us to begin using some of the computers that my family brought from America.

Prayer Requests:

– I am now beginning the process of upgrading our computers and transitioning to a new server computer. Pray that things would continue to go smoothly in this process.

– On Friday I am planning to teach on the hour-long radio program with WindFM on the character quality of obedience. Pray that the Lord will give great wisdom and discernment in sharing and answering call-in questions on this potentially controversial subject.

Pictures:

Sharing on the quality of attentiveness with the WindFM radio station.

On June 14th, I had the opportunity to watch the sun rise over the city of Ulaanbaatar as I recalled this day seven years ago when the Lord called me to be a missionary.

With a smile almost as big as his cowboy hat, Samuel walks through the doors to greet his brother and CTI friends.

Less than 24 hours after arrival, the newcomers joined our team on a visit to the American Embassy for an Independence Day gathering and picnic. Lydia made good use of the tire swing.

On July 4th, the Morley family invited the CTI team for a traditional American cookout. The Morleys have served for a number of years with a children’s home on the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar.

The Waller family in Mongolia. Derrick is wrapping up some farming projects, and we eagerly anticipate his arrival in mid-August.

Thank you for your prayers for my family!

In Christ,

– Adam

Adam Waller ~ MyAllForChrist@CadLinx.com

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” – Galatians 6:9

_uacct = “UA-2519367-1”;
urchinTracker();

Print This Post

Piles of sand

May 28, 2005

Adam

Adam's Updates

Saturday, May 28th, 2005
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Dear Family and Friends,

Last week I was reading Psalm 23 again, and came to the familiar verse: “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” I saw something that I had never noticed before.

David wasn’t saying “Lord, my cup is too small, look at all the water that is getting spilled!” “I just can’t catch everything!” Instead, he was simply grateful that his cup was full and running over.

Here in Mongolia there are so many opportunities all around us. Requests for trainings come almost weekly, and we see so many potential things that we could do, if we had the time and staff. A large number of projects stand just waiting for us to get the chance to work on them.

Instead of feeling overwhelmed, if we look at these opportunities as blessings from the Lord, we can thank Him that “our cup is running over”. We could be sitting here wondering what to do, but God has poured out such a rich array of projects that we need His wisdom in knowing what will be most important to work on.

Last fall Tim used the analogy that we feel like we are shoveling away at a huge sand pile of things to do, and every scoop brings a new wave of sand down the side of the pile. Recalling a recent incident with an actual sand pile near our apartment, Tim made an interesting comment a few days ago; “Children love sand piles.”

I started thinking about this a little more. Why is it that a sand pile represents hours of joy to one person, and hours of toiling drudgery to someone else? The difference is in their perspective. The child sees the sand in front of him and makes good use of a small portion. The workman thinks only of how long it will take to move the entire pile.

Jesus reminds us in John 15, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

We don’t have to take responsibility for “moving the whole pile.” We just need to be faithful with the things that God has put before us to do. We don’t have to move the pile for God, He wants us to rest in Him so that He can show His power in accomplishing His will through our lives.

Last Monday I saw a good example of this principle in action. Leo, a university student from MIU had scheduled to meet with me on Tuesday morning to see if I would be available to share some lectures on character with his class. Talking with me briefly on Sunday afternoon, Tim mentioned that some of the MIU students he saw at church were looking forward to my lecture on Monday. 🙂

Realizing that somehow there must have been a mistake in communication, we both felt that it would be good for me to go to MIU on Monday afternoon, just in case they were expecting me to speak. A very full schedule on Monday morning left virtually no time to prepare for the lecture.

I decided to share on the quality of sincerity, since that is what we had just taught in our character-English classes a few days before, and after a hasty lunch, I picked up my folder and headed out the door. Pausing to pray in the stairwell, I asked that the Lord would somehow allow me to share effectively with the MIU students. I recalled many times last year when the Lord showed His great faithfulness in equipping me to do what He brought before me.

Arriving at the school a few minutes later, I tried asking a few of the students where the “Management Research Team” was meeting. We tried calling a cell phone of one of the students, but the Lord had orchestrated that right at that point the girl that Tim had talked to on Sunday walked in and was able to bring me to the class.

As it turned out, Leo was very surprised, but delighted to see me! He introduced me to the class, and asked if I could share with the students. Looking around at the 20 or so students around the table, I took the pen knife out of my shirt pocket. (I had felt prompted to grab this as I was going out the door a few minutes earlier.) A pen cap was on the end, concealing the blade.

From all appearances it was just a pen, everyone agreed, until I revealed the small blade inside. “Sincerity”, I began, “is being the same on the inside as we appear to be on the outside.” For the next hour, the Lord enabled me to have a most focused and clear explanation of the first “I will” of sincerity. Personal illustrations came to mind as I shared freely on the importance of choosing our friends and how we spend our free time.

Why is it that some of my best messages are given after the least preparation? Maybe it is that the excellency of the power would be of God, and not of me. (See 2 Corinthians 4:7) God again was showing me that it was not my “skills” but His grace that enables me to do what He sets before me.

Not everything in the Christian life is “smooth sailing.” CTI-Mongolia is no exception. One of our recent challenges has been with getting some paperwork processed for my family to be able to come to Mongolia. As an Non-Government Organization, we were renewing our three-year NGO certificate. Although we had submitted our paperwork over a month prior, our NGO application had still not been processed.

Causing cascading delays on other paperwork that we were trying to process, we were told that we could not apply for a work permit for my Dad until we had our NGO certificate back. A work permit was needed to begin applying for visas for my family, and the rapidly approaching arrival date of June 25th caused no little pressure for Tim and those involved.

It seems that some of the officials in the labor department were concerned about our organization and wanted to know why we keep trying to bring foreign staff to Mongolia. The fact that Tim had appealed to a higher authority several months ago about some other issues seemed to only further strain the relationship.

In America, we are more familiar with just filling out forms and having them accepted or rejected based on clearly defined criteria. Here, it seems that more responsibility is given to the authorities themselves, so this gives them the ability to assign more “homework” if they have concerns about what you are doing.

This also gives a real opportunity for the Lord to work in the heart of our authorities. “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” – Proverbs 21:1. This was clearly seen last week as Jedidiah and Cindy appealed to the labor department officials.

After fervent prayer that the Lord would somehow grant us favor in their eyes, Jedidiah and Cindy set out to visit the labor department and ask if we could possibly process my Dad’s work permit while the NGO certificate was being reviewed. Humanly speaking, there was very little hope that our letter from the NGO office, (explaining that we were still being reviewed) would have any effect on the situation. We could almost hear the words, “No. Come back when you have the actual NGO certificate in hand.”

To our great surprise, the official was very friendly with us. He looked over our papers, and said that we could go ahead and submit them for the work permit! Instead of having to translate more letters or obtain further paperwork, the way was opened for us to move forward! Jedidiah and Cindy returned and we all praised the Lord for His working in this situation.

Meeting the next day with the Foreign Affairs Office, things again were able to move forward without further delays. This is a tremendous blessing, saving us the additional time involved, and the added expense of having to expedite things at the last minute. Please continue to pray that the Lord would allow the final details to come together in the next few days.

So many things are happening here! Just this morning I taught the Intermediate English class for our Character – English classes. One of my students looked at me and said, “Adam, are you a Christian?” “Yes, I am a Christian,” I replied with a smile, noticing the little crosses in her earrings. “I am a Christian too.” She said, practicing her English. “I believed in Jesus two years ago.”

I could sense that some of the other students were a little uncomfortable, and one quietly said, “I believe in Buddha.” “That is fine,” I replied with a smile, “our classes are open to everyone.” “We want anyone to be able to come.” I went on to explain that we all need character, no matter what religion we are. (Although I personally believe that we cannot consistently live out good character apart from the power of the Holy Spirit. -See Romans 8:4)

It is exciting to see not only the opportunities that God brings, but also the wisdom He gives in responding to unexpected situations and questions in a gracious way. This, of course, is a big learning experience in itself, but I believe that God wants us to be able to respond graciously when others ask a reason of the hope that lies within us.

There is so much more that I could write about! The Attentiveness training in the Sangalkharkain district last Wednesday could fill an update by itself! But I must bring things to a close here. Thank you again for praying with us! God is truly doing a great work!

Praise Points:

– Praise the Lord for how He worked things out for my family’s work permit and visas! It looks like we will have things finished in time for them to get their visas in the next few weeks before they come.

– Thank you for praying for the training in Sangalkharkain last Wednesday! We had a wonderful day teaching on the character quality of attentiveness, and even the seasoned Police officers were getting involved in the discussions and activities. Byato from World Vision translated for most of the day, and showed great enthusiasm and leadership with the group.

– The Intermediate English classes have been going very well. I have never taught English before, so this has been a new experience for me. The greatest need for the students is for conversation practice, so most of the class consists of encouraging and guiding them as they practice speaking. By speaking slowly in simple sentences, I am able to do most of the class without needing additional translation.

– Thank you for your prayers for the database project with Joshua Reimer! Tim allowed us to take several days to focus on this project, and the Lord allowed us to make some major progress. I hope to send Joshua the updated files next week.

Prayer Requests:

– Pray that the final details of Mongolian visas would come together for my family. It has been exciting to see how the Lord is working in this situation.

– I am expecting the software licenses to arrive sometime early next week, so pray for wisdom as I begin the process of upgrading our computers and setting up a server for our network here.

Pictures:

I found this beautiful flower growing on the side of a mountain that we climbed last Saturday. You can compare its size to the blades of grass around it.

A view of the east side of Ulaanbaatar from a mountaintop. The small mountain near the center of the picture is where tourists usually get a view of the city.

Five of our staff and a Mongolian friend that joined us for the hike.

The CTI team last Saturday. Joshua and Kate returned to their home in Australia on Tuesday, and the Lim family returns to Singapore tomorrow afternoon, reducing the number of staff to 8.