Here's our little cutie snuggling a kitty...
School is out and our mischievious band of MK kids are back on the streets! Zeke is enjoying staying at home (I didn't even see him this morning because he was sleeping in). He wakes up (eventually), eats breakfast in his underwear, plays on his GameBoy, watches a movie, grabs a snack, plays on the computer... he doesn't realize that we are going to kick him out of the house whenever there is no rain or sandstorm! It will be a little more difficult to make him play with his little brother and sister...
It's that time of year! Krista has been busy planting and watering. Thankfully we have lots of helpers! Here they are trying out our foot-pump (quite popular with the neighbors since our hand-pump is having problems!). It's a bit messy, but we are trying to canal the water through our garden. Notice the small trees behind them beginning to bud and the small patch of grass to the right... pathetic for an Oregonian, but we finally have some green!
We went on a fieldtrip the other week and it was quite the Mongolian adventure! After figuring out the "pecking order" with the local bully (see pic) our kids were able to chase the goat kids to their hearts' content. And of course there was plenty of fresh milk, which was good because we didn't take lunches and we were stuck there for quite some time with a flat tire (and no spare). Thankfully friends brought some glue and a bike pump so we could fix the tube...
Mongolians say that Spring makes you tired (probably from surviving the long harsh winter). Well, it is true, and we have been exhausted this past week. Our projects and churches are a juggling act, our house and well need some work, and there is a big beautiful garden to plant! God help us to help Him!
Summertime in Mongolia! I know I promised no more ice pictures... but if that's so then you may never see a picture of us again! The weather has been fabulous, despite the thickness of ice. Saiah just HAD to dig into our boxes to find his shorts... and Eden doesn't want to wear any clothes at all! We had a nice little stroll, and sometimes we take our kite. Too bad we didn't have our beach blankets! We could even make snow castles... but I don't suppose anyone would want to be buried on our beach...
Happy Birthday to Eden and Saiah! 3 and 5, we can't believe it... and Zeke turns 8 in a week or so! We kept our parties small and simple (of course I had a leadership training all that weekend!). Eden got a chocolate cake (American) and Saiah got this frosting bonanza right here in Darhan. Thankfully the weather has been great so they have played outside LOTS! Their favorite toy is the shovel and so far we have a nice big pit right in the middle of garden. We're just happy to have them outside!
Ok, last picture of ice for the year, honest! (Actually I don't have a choice because our long Mongolian winter is apparently over!). We are now officially moving on to Birthday season. Two of Zeke's friends had birthdays recently (the Liberda boys), and they went ice-skating at the nearby homemade rink. It was Zeke's first time and he had a wonderful attitude... he also got lots of advice, like from this young expert. Next week we will celebrate both Isaiah and Eden's birthdays, followed next month by Zeke and Krista! With all of these parties, along with the slushy puddles, tis our season to be jolly...
Yes, I know you are getting tired of pictures of snow and ice...
Here is the local watering hole - the Haraa river about 100 meters from our house. Thankfully we mostly only see the cows using it now, although before taking the picture I told another man to please get water from our well. The ice is at least a foot thick, perhaps not smooth enough for skates but great for a little sled ride with our friends! If you can stand the bitter wind, that is...
We have an announcement to make... our middle son will heretorfore be referred to as "Johnny" - a head-banging lead guitarist for his new band, Rockadooz. He's been practicing quite a bit, and he has some moves that will really make you gasp (in amazement, or perhaps just in fits of laughter). Anyway, thought you should know.
Things are much better now that everyone is healthy ... mostly. Krista is on her last couple weeks of medication, praise God! Eden is a busybody - up and down the ladder, carrying the cat all over the house, and changing her clothes like a mad woman. She also colors in most of her free time (when she is not helping Orna to wash dishes and clothes). Anyway, I think they are pretty! Zeke, though, is in his "I hate girls" phase, so don't ask him.
Well, 2008 is off to a "rough" start. I know we look happy, but it is COLD! And it is going to get colder this weekend (-40). Several of us were sick this last week, including both parents. Who is supposed to cook and keep the fire going when that happens?! But things are looking up. Actually we are always looking up, which is where our hope and our strength come from! I believe it is going to be a wonderful year after all...
Eden has never celebrated Christmas before ... but I think she likes it! She loves keeping all of her goodies in a stocking, especially her gum. She can chew it for hours! She likes getting presents, especially her little plastic tea set (it is hard to find nice gifts here, i.e. anything more than $5). Unfortunately she is not quite old enough to understand WHY we are celebrating Christmas. Hopefully all of Mongolia's children will come to celebrate the birth of Jesus!
Lots of silliness occurred during our Christmas break. Most of us had been sick one way or another, so we didn't do anything productive the entire time... but I realized that just living can be pretty hard work sometimes! How did the pioneers do it? How do Mongolians?!
We put up our decorations, which took about 15 minutes total, and we spend about that much time every day picking them up again as Eden takes ornaments off the tree, figures off the advent calendar, or pictures off the Waiting Tree. I think she likes Christmas! She is either cute as pie, walking around singing "Yesus, Yesus" (Jesus in Mongolian), or a mischeivious elf. Isaiah usually is too, but he has hardly gotten up from his bed all week with a fever! A blessed Christmas to all...
and for the kids that meant playing and making Christmas cookies. Although I did enjoy a cookie or two myself...
The ground is beginning to freeze here in Mongolia, but Saiknaa and his crew are still driving wells. We have slowly perfected the process and completed 14 of these wells. Next year we are praying for God to enable us to do at least 50. It's pretty simple - weld a point on a piece of pipe, beat it into the ground, weld on another pipe, repeat - but it sure is HARD work! This well (about 35' deep) was for Tsetsekmaa and cost about $150, half of which the families are asked to raise themselves.
We got in a little game of soccer this weekend, which is good because we got a lot of snow last night. Not that you can't play soccer in the snow! It is Zeke's new favorite sport (can you tell his school is very international?!). Also notice the little green tree in our yard... I planted 3 of them (plus my 6 poplars). Anything to add some green!
We are back to work ... well, at least these guys are. Zeke is doing great in the 2nd grade at our little MK school. He's especially working on spelling and reading, which he is finally interested in doing. Saiah is back going to Mongolian pre-school, which some days he is excited about and other days he cries hysterically. But he loves coming home and doing English homework with his big brother! And so does Eden, though nobody is quite sure what she is writing or drawing. Isn't it funny how kids love to try things and learn ... whatever happened to us?!
I love the nervous energy of kids starting school! Our boys are so excited to go and make friends, learn how to read, swim or play dodgeball (do they still do that?)... it's a little bit scary, and it's a lot of work, but think of the experiences and growth that will occur! I have to say that I kind of feel the same way about going back to Mongolia (Sept 23rd). It's a little overwhelming to follow Jesus, and there will be plenty of sacrifice, but think of the chances to grow and help people... possibly even save them for eternity. That's exciting! We hope you are excited to go and grow this year too.
