I'm sitting at the gate in Seoul waiting for my flight to UB (Ulaanbaatar), Mongolia, and thought this would be a great time to start blogging.

(Before I say anything, please keep Sandy's Mom in your prayers. She has some health issues that are of special concern so please lift her up before the Lord. Sandy will fill you all in when she knows more.)

I rarely say anything about my travel "woes" (for those who travel those two words just naturally go together) but my trip through LAX last night (Sunday) was almost like being in the Twilight Zone. I had to keep telling myself, "You're an American, you're in America, you speak English (not sure that was a plus) and you'll figure this out."

LAX international terminal was like a steamy black market in Bangkok. First, it was a flowing mass of wall-to-wall humanity from every part of the globe (mostly Asia) and it seemed like all of them had just unloaded a U-Haul and were trying to check it all through security. The light was dim, the air was heavy and dark and clung to your skin, the smells were of another continent and I had no idea where to go. Really. I can usually figure any airport out but I was really beginning to wonder. I looked for anyone who could speak English and had to patiently, systematically find my way through the maze so I could get to my next flight.

(It was so bizarre I almost took time to film it but figured they throw me in some even darker, steamier room and I'd miss my flight.)

Even Seoul has been wierd. I've been through here five trips now and this one has been different. Bad communication, bad advice, bad directions, trams that only go one way and leave you stranded (I had to get an airport worker to escort me back to the passenger terminal); very strange. This is my favorite airport in the entire world and it still is. Even when they confuse you they do it in such a nice way.

In a few minutes I'll catch my flight to UB and then the real fun begins.

This trip it's about leaders and having an interactive conversation with them about the Holy Spirit. I'll be teaching from Genesis to Revelation about virtually everything the Bible says about the Holy Spirit so please be praying that the translation will be stellar and the clear meaning will come through. Because of translation I'll only have about 40% of the normal time to teach so I really need prayer to be as good a communicator as I can be in the time I have.

The point about being with the leaders is really exciting for me. I love, absolutely love speaking with leaders. You already know I consider everyone a leader in some fashion, but these are the leaders who are recognized as leaders in their church community. I look forward to getting into the real nitty gritty of walking with God helping them see where the real miracles happen. I especially look forward to helping them break the chains that hold them back from the powerful ministry that God desires to do through them.

Please check my blog each day; I will try hard to keep you up to speed on what's happening here. Tonight I'll be having dinner with a wonderuful American couple who have dedicated their lives (literally) to bringing the Gospel to Mongolia. More on that later.

I covet your prayers.

Mike from Eagle TV picked me up at the airport and took me to my guest house. It's in the same apartment building as his apartment, directly across the street from Eagle TV. It is wonderful.

After I dropped my gear off I went to their apartment for dinner. Waiting for me were two different homemade pizzas, salad and cake for dessert. Man, am I roughing it.

Mike, Diana and I spoke until about 10:00 PM and then I went back to my apartment to finally get some sleep. I slept like a log until my alarm woke me up an hour early. (I had miscalculated the time so I can't blame my Blackberry.) I showered (the apartment actually had hot water), ironed my shirt and then went over to Mike's for breakfast. Cereal, fresh muffins, a banana and great conversation.

I then went to Eagle TV (where I'm writing this) and spoke to Angie, Tom Terry's secretary. She is so kind to me and makes sure I have everything I need. Thanks, Tom, for employing great people!

I'll be meeting Pastor Ganbold for lunch in a few minutes and it will be good to just sit and talk again. He'll be telling me my schedule while I'm in UB.

Tomorrow I'll be meeting with Bat and Ruth, a time I have been looking forward to for months. I really care about those two and their family and please continue to pray for them.

Hopefully I'll have some video I can put on YouTube tomorrow. I want to show you the nice apartment I have and parts of the city.

Please pray for Sandy's Mom. As I said, Sandy will tell you more when the details are available.

Blessings in Jesus to all!

After getting all my computer work done at Eagle first thing in the morning I spent the day with Pastor Ganbold. First things first, of course, so we got a taxi and went to the Irish Pub for lunch. I had the Grandkahn breakfast, very similar to the amazing Scottish breakfasts I've enjoyed in Scotland, and Ps Ganbold had some type of Singapore stir fry. Both were excellent.

After chatting for a while we got another taxi and went to the Goyo cashmere factory. I've been talking with Ps Hetee in Darkhan about cashmere sales online and brought up the subject with Ps Ganbold. We arrived at the factory and paid the taxi driver extra to wait. (He didn't.) We took some time to speak with the sales and export manager, both who were very kind and patient with all my questions.

I wish I could explain how soft natural cashmere is to the touch. I'm looking at having them make a special baby blanket. Can you imagine anything more wonderful for your baby than a natural cashmere baby blanket?

We got another taxi (do you see a pattern here?) and went to the grocery store near my apartment. Ps Ganbold helped me buy some Russian milk, Russian butter, bread, blackcurrent tea (yummy), cookies, eggs, and my favorite apricot and granny apple juice. I showed Ps Ganbold all the literature I had brought from Foursquare Missions Press and we're going to work on getting some pub's done in Mongolian.

About 8:00 PM I almost fell asleep standing up. My energy disappeared like the new rechargable batteries. They go and go but when they're out they're out. I fought to stay awake for the next two hours and finally hit the sack around 10:00 PM.

This morning I woke up, made some incredible oatmeal with cranberry raisins, Russian bread with Russian butter, and, of course, tea and juice. Mind blowing how good this all tastes.

Then off to Eagle TV to get all my computer work done. I then met Ps Ganbold for some more time together. We walked over to his office, stopping along the way at a shop where he had his cell phone battery charged (15 minutes). The other part I can't tell you or they might arrest us. :) We spoke at his office and then I had to take a brisk twenty minute walk back to my apartment to meet a good friend, but he couldn't make it.

So, here I am, back at Eagle TV, writing my blog, updating my other web site, catching up on the news (congrat's to the Phillies), and loading a short video of my apartment. Enjoy!

Ps Ganbold, his wife Hishgee and I met at the church office to decide where we were going to dinner. After the same type of "Where do you want to go?" we do in the States we started walking, and walking, and walking. If we weren't hungry before we left we were certainly going to be by the time we found the restaraunt.

It was getting dark as we arrived at the Silk Road Bar & Grill. Ps Ganbold had never eaten there but he convinced me that it came highly recommended and the food would be good. It was better than good... it was great. I ordered the Ranchero steak with the best salsa I've ever eaten (yes, Virginia, even better than Edwardo Grande). Ps Ganbold and Hishgee both had steak and I could tell it was one of the better meals they've eaten.

After eating we had another great conversation and I learned many new things about both of them. Ps Ganbold and I have shared conversations about how to help his family and families in the church by starting new businesses and other ideas. Hishgee mentioned that she also had a business idea and that she's been speaking with some friends in Korea about learning how to make it work in Mongolia. In passing she mentioned her brother in Europe and she was hoping to get a modest amount of start-up capital from him. As she said it I felt like that might be a long shot so I quickly prayed and got the go ahead from the Lord to give her the money myself. She was in semi-shock and the money just sat there on the table for the longest time. Finally I said, "Hishgee, it's your money". She then put it in her wallet and just cried.

I couldn't help thinking about the people that have stepped to the plate in my life and helped me move forward. I told them about these people and how they had the means to help and they did. Last night I had the means and hopefully soon, they will have the means to help others in the same way. I already knew they had giving hearts; I saw bags and bags of winter clothing in the church office that were going to be given to those who needed it.

We finally quit talking (actually I finally quit talking) and we started the long, but enjoyable, walk back to the church office. Sounds funny, but once we were at the office we decided a taxi was the best (in other words, safest) way for me to get to my apartment. They rode with me and made sure I got there OK. What a great couple, and what a great future they have together.

Tonight I'll be teaching the leaders and I can't wait to see them and see how they're doing and how the Holy Spirit will bless them.

Please continue to pray the church in Mongolia. They face many difficulties and need all the help and prayer we can give them. You will never meet a more determined people anywhere.

P.S. If it seems like all I talk about is eating just remember, if we don't eat we die. Therefore, eating is good. Mongolians agree with me. And, in many parts of the world, breaking bread is the highest form of fellowship. It's not just "eating", it's life itself.

I'm in a routine now. Start the day with a shower, take my vitamins, make breakfast (which consists of two packets of instant oatmeal mixed with Russian half and half and cranberry raisins, Russian bread, and maybe a Clif Bar, some beef jerky or some trail mix). I swallow all this down with either Blackcurrent tea, Russian apricot or granny apple juice, water or all three.

Around 9:00 AM I'm off to Eagle TV to check email and update blogs and client web sites. Around 10:30 AM I'm done and then it's off to some type of appointment. Today was a little different. My appointment fell through but it worked out good because I was a bit tired and under the weather. I got a solid two hour nap and then got ready to teach this evening.

At 6:20 PM I began my twenty minute walk to the church office. It was pretty dark and I was beginning to wonder whether the drunks would be in their full glory. I prayed in the spirit the whole way and made it to the office without incident. One weird thing: very large fireworks were going off to huge booms and nobody could tell me what they were for. One person said Halloween but I kinda think they were kidding. Another weird thing: when you walk down the street praying in tongues they either think you're just talking to yourself in a foreign language or you're crazy. Either way they tend to leave you alone.

The leaders were beginning to arrive when I got to the office. As I watched them arrive the Lord reminded me how young the church is here both in age and the the age of its leaders. As I normally do I asked the Lord for the specific teaching about ten minutes before we started. I quickly jotted down some notes and then it was time to get started.

My good friend Dogi was translating for me and doing a great job but soon tired (she's pregnant and the room was warm) and another young lady took her place. My new translator, Moni, was wonderful; exceptionally good understanding of the content and able to faithfully translate it to the leaders. I spoke on the Holy Spirit as the very Presence of God and His desire to live through us and best reflect the love of our heavenly Father. I brought their latest difficulties into the conversation and dealt with some very difficult feelings they all shared and they handled it well. For their age they are amazingly mature.

Afterwards a few wanted prayer and then Ps Ganbold and I took a taxi to my apartment. (By now the drunks were definitely in their full glory.) Ps Ganbold went on his way and I downloaded the pictures and short video you see here and then it was off to bed.

Once again I'm moved by the love and appreciation of the Mongolian church. They are so eager to learn and then put into practice what they learn. They desire all the changes the Holy Spirit wills to bring into their lives and do everything with the least complaint. If they're reading this they're probably laughing right now because we always see ourselves far differently than others do. I see these folks by the faith God has given me to see them.

Here's some quick pic's and a short video:

Time for bed. Peace to all.

* * * * * * *

Up early this morning to get to Eagle TV to send this blog. One little change to my routine mentioned above: No hot water this morning so I showered quicker than normal. Way quicker. Like a cat in a bathtub quicker.

I'll leave here at 9:30 AM for the twenty minute walk to the church office. Later today Hetee will pick me up and we're off to Darkhan. I'll be teaching in the morning and after that I'll find out what the schedule is for the week.

Thank you always for your prayers. Please pray for my wife and family.

Peace.