Home assignment has led to rather infrequent posts here ... and we do apologize for that. However, it seems to me that a lot of pictures from America are not nearly as interesting to our US residing readers.
That said, I actually have several things to post here over the next week or so which I hope will be thought provoking and helpful. I was going to include this "personal post" in one of those ... but thought better of it. This is worth its own spot. Maybe.
We are wintering well here in Franklin, TN. We've enjoyed the cooler temps and the snow. I (Bernie) had a good Fall tour up in Wisconsin. I visited many churches, made lots of new friends and learned a lot, as well. Sold lots
Yak Polo shirts and had an overall good experience. I hope that we've gained some Cheese-Head followers at RememberMongolia.org! Christmas with family was great ... and snow since the new year has been fun. Jonathan is doing well at
school in South Carolina. Cori is busy with her Junior year of High School ... and is trying out for a play next week. Renee' and I are preparing for our next tour (coming up in less than three weeks) in the
Central Pacific District. I'm not going to lie to you. We're looking forward to it, since the "tour" involves Renee' and I visiting eight churches in Oahu. Yeah, that'd be Hawaii. Sorry ... someone has to do it.
In the meantime, we're praying daily for the work in Mongolia - and we sincerely ask that you join us in that. The field is faced with many serious challenges right now, not the least of which being another brutal Mongolian winter. Pray for
our team members. They have a lot on them and need the strength which only God provides.
That actually brings me to another issue. One of the Home Assignment goals that I have us to raise up prayer partners for the work of God's Kingdom in Mongolia. If there's one thing I've learned since coming back to the US last June, it's that we ("we" being all of us who are working on the field) will not make it without prayer. I'm not just saying. I believe it. I really do. So much so, that I am working on a complete re-design and re-focus of RememberMongolia.org. You'll be hearing a lot more about this, but my end-game is to see God raise up prayer groups all over the world consisting of three or more people who will commit to pray together for the work in Mongolia for at least one hour a month. I'll be writing more about this soon. So stay tuned! RememberMongolia.org will soon be THE place for information and resources you can use to pray for God's Kingdom to come in the land of the Khan.
The countdown has also begun for our return to Mongolia. We're only five months out now. Your continued prayer and support for our family is appreciated. We're not looking forward to returning without Jonathan. However, we are looking forward returning to a new Ministry Assignment and a new apartment. Our work will be focussing on Leadership Training and development, which is really what we felt called to do in Mongolia in the beginning. This will be challenging, but joyful.
Your gifts to the
Great Commission Fund, our
Work Special or our
Outfit Fund are all greatly appreciated!
Above all ... please pray. It's the first work.
More to come soon.