We’ll be off to Mongolia in a few hours. Total travel time will be around 26 hours. I should have web access to update this blog. Please check in often. I may even be able to post some pic’s, but we’ll see.

Please keep us and our families in your prayers.

Blessings!

Pastor Chris

We arrived safely in Ulan Bator, on time and with all our gear. Praise God.

We have been given a wonderful flat; two bedroom. Everything is an upgrade from Siberia.

We installed all the studio gear today with only one glitch, which Mike is working on as I write this. He’s on another computer downloading the manual for a Roland workstation.

Had pizza at Pizza Planet. Not bad.

We just left the symphony to find this internet cafe.

Pastor Bat and his church send their thanks and greetings to all who helped make this trip possible.

Chat with you all soon.

Blessings,

Pastor Chris

03/13/2005 7:16PM UB Local

So much has happened it’s hard to write it all.

Every one is doing well; no health issues. We are eating well and have internet access about every two days.

We were invited to a small new church in a very poor area near the airport. I’ll have to let the video discribe it. Wonderful time with wonderful brothers and sisters.

The studio is completely set up and recording begins at 9:00AM tomorrow, Monday. Pastor Bat and his staff are like kids in a candy store. They are so excited they can’t sleep and all they want to do is play with the gear.

We had a fabulous church service this morning. All of us shared, Mike sang a special song and spoke. Then we all ministered to the people for hours. The need here is so great and the people came like a flood. Many healings, deliverance, baptism with the Holy Spirit, inner-type healing, encouragement and many salvations. I got a lot of film. Should be a blast to edit.

After the service we went to the best Chinese restaraunt in UB. Great food, no MSG!

I am writing this from an internet cafe in a dangerous part of town at night. Our escorts are street savvy so we don’t feel uncomfortable.

It’s hard to describe how our hearts have been filled with the love of God for the Mongolian people. Pastor Bat’s vision is so large and the anointing so strong and God is doing incredible things. But, they are also in great need of finances. The average salary in UB is $80-$300, which is quite high compared to the rest of the country. The flat we are staying in is the equivilant of six months wages. We are so blessed!

We need to find some musical instrument gear for the studio in the morning. We have a leadership meeting on Wednesday, another meeting on Thursday, and so it goes. We are also trying to find phone cards so we can call home more often.

I will try to write more tomorrow. Please continue to pray for us and our families.

Blessings!

Pastor Chris

03/17/05 10:00 AM Local

Dear Loved Ones,

Greetings again in Jesus. We’ve finally found an internet cafe with broadband so we feel like we’ve died and gone to heaven!

For Mike P. it’s been 15 hour days in the studio. For Mike F., Doug and I it’s been hunting for parts, instruments, food, phone cards, etc. and ministry at night. The ministry times have been wonderful; I wish they were all here to fill in their stories.

I know the ladies want all the details. Sorry, but there isn’t enough time to write them all down. The guys are all journaling each day (except me-I’m the world’s worst journaler) so you’ll have rich reading when we get home.

Everyone is well, well fed and rested. The pace here is quite nice compared to what I’m used to. We actually get time to shower, eat, rest, prepare and minister, along with going to the museums, symphony, people’s homes, walking the city. We’re learning the culture, struggling with the language, and hugging anyone who will let us. We’ve discovered that parents do not hug their children except on “holiday” type days so they are starving for hugs. It breaks your heart.

The abuse here is rampant and the wounds go deep. We’re seeing demonstrative deliverance, healings, and an abundance of “wounds of the soul” type healing.

Please pray that we have enough time to accomplish all we need to do. We are getting to many invitations to fulfill them all. We need diplomatic grace.

More later. Gotta run to the Bible College for ministry.

For all the guys,

Blessings,

Pastor Chris

03/18/05 09:54 AM Local

Dear Loved Ones,

Yesterday we were invited to a mission Bible College run by Americans. It was like old home week. What a joy to talk about home.

They invited us to share with two classes (about 100 kids) and then pray for them. (The video will bless you.) Mike F., Doug and I shared for about five minutes each and then spent the next hour and a half praying for them. As I said before, the need is so great! We’ve learned that when people go up for prayer they don’t expect you to spend any real time with them; they expect a quick prayer and that’s it. We spend as much time as it takes and they are seeing the results and really appreciate it. Hopefully they’ll do they same for each other after we leave.

After ministry the Americans took us to an authentic Mongolian restaurant. Fabulous food, except yours truly has been fasting a lot since ministry began. I was allowed, though, to order a flavorful vegetable beef broth. Fantastic. The others ate things I can’t pronounce but you’ll recognize them when you see the pic’s. Total price for seven was 31000 T, or about $26.00. (To put that into prespective, the ministry workers make 50000
T per month.)

Mike and the studio guys are working very hard. We found them a 4000 watt 220v to 110v converter/power regulator that will be a big help. It cost 99000 T, which is about $82.00 US.

Today will be spent shopping for things to bring home, trying to find music stands (they have none), going to the studio to observe a local record a horse head fiddle (do a Google), and then I’ll try to hook up with Ron and help him with some family teaching tonight.

Tomorrow is a trip back to the little airport fellowship with our wonderful “guide” Pastor Amaa and then going to the youth worship meeting (basically a Jesus rock out worship blow out!). Sunday is church and then a trip to the countryside.

Monday is “get everything wrapped up” day and then the guys leave after midnight, I think. I will be staying three more days. I’ll be spending my time catching up on video footage and photos. We’ll see what the locals have in mind.

Again, we are all well, fairly well rested and blessed beyond words. Please continue to pray for us and the Mongolian church.

Blessings,

Pastor Chris