Friday Photos: Long Winter Exposure

While walking home this week, I was experimenting with a tripod and some long exposure shots in the UB streets. The problem this time of year is both the cold and the smoke. The cold makes it uncorfortable to stay outside for too long (and starts freezing camera equipment!) and the smoke somewhat distorts many of the night-time exposures (causes unwanted lens flares, etc.) 

In any case ... here are a few that I don't mind sharing with you this week!  Happy Friday! 

Home

January 2013 is starting off to be one of the strangest months in the history of the Anderson family.

The Family on the way to SchoolRenee’, Jonathan and Cori are all New Yorkers for a month, taking an intensive course on teaching English as a Foreign Language (for those in the know, it’s the CELTA certification which is a universally helpful and recognized certification). I am in Mongolia, back to work at the Grain of Wheat Community Center and teaching. While the familial separation is strange, I think the stranger thing is we all really feel that we’re not at home.

Home. Where is that exactly? I can honestly say that I don’t know anymore. I used think it was in Tennessee. However, when I go back there I’m living out of a suitcase, staying temporarily in someone’s house or in some hotel room. In fact, whenever we’re in the US … we’re always living out of a suitcase, even when staying with family. It’s temporary. Always temporary.

Is home in Mongolia? Well, sort of. But not really. We have lovely friends and good relationships with many Mongolian people. Yet, I’m always a foreigner. I will always be a foreigner. Even if I speak the language and understand a bit of the culture … I’m still a white guy living in Asia. The reality is, there’s no real expectation for any more than that.

So where is home? I don’t exactly know anymore … but I do know it’s not on this fleeting place we call earth. Larry Norman had it right. We are Only Visiting .

Golomt in name onlyThere is a Mongolian word that expresses this. We don’t really have an equivolent in English. The word is “Golomt” (not to be confused with any character in “The Lord of the Rings”). The word speaks of the “place you come home to”. It’s not necessarily your “homeland” or “the place you were born” or even “the place where you grew up”. It’s the place you call home. It's an ultimate sort of word to me. Ironically enough, the apartment complex we live in is called “Golomt” … but I think that's mainly because of the bank located here which is called by the same name.

As believers and followers of Jesus, there’s this Abrahamic lifestyle of living by faith that must be embraced. I’m not comfortable with it. Yet, there’s something adventerous and joyful about it, as well. Something daring. Something crazy. Like Bilbo Baggins leaving the Shire without his pocket handkerchief. It sometimes feels not doable.

But it is doable.

It’s doable because there is hope for a Golomt that we have yet to see and have never visited. But when we arrive there I think we will see so clearly … this is the “Home” I’ve always wanted. This is the “Home” I’ve been looking for all my life. This the "Home" to which all of the small pictures of "home" ultimately point.

I look forward to that, especially while traveling through this season.

For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. (Hebrews 11:10 ESV)

Where is your Golomt? Where is Home for you? Please feel free to talk about "Home" in the comments.

For fun ... here is a little video that I did while Renee' and the kids were away. I shot my day with my iPhone. My Mongolian friends said it was a sad story about a lonely man and a dog. Maybe it's just a little insight into my day ... I'll let you decide.

The Grain of Wheat Wish List

An Early Merry Christmas From Mongolia!

I’m not a huge fan of “Christmas Lists”. It seems a little “Santa Clause-y” to me, and I kind of like picking out gifts for people that are unique and meaningful. That said, I can see the advatage of a list. If Renee’ needs a new set of dishes and I buy her a pair of pliers, I probably haven’t done her any favors. So, against my better judgement, I am going to give you a Christmas list. However, this list isn’t for me or Renee’ … this list is for the Grain of Wheat Community Center in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia!

Fall 2012 has been a fantastic season of ministry at the Grain of Wheat Community Center.. There are numerous excellent reports that could be given. We’ve seen several young men and women begin to follow Jesus’ path of discipleship. For this grace, we’re so very grateful. We’ve also seen the numbers of students and patrons of UBean Coffee House significantly increase. English classes are being taught every week, in spite of being down a teacher. It’s all very encouraging.

There’s a new music room that’s full of student musicians every day, learning to play instruments and learning what it means to follow Jesus. Our library and computer lab is seeing increased traffic, and student membership is growing.. Live music events have also been off-the-charts. Most weeks, “Open Mic Night” is standing room only.

As we look to the coming new year, there is so much we’d like to do and see accomplished. As we look to the end of 2012 and the opportunities of 2013, I am wondering if I might be so bold as to ask you to partner with us in several projects we’d like to accomplish this coming year? Here’s how it stands now:

1. Please participate in the the C&MA’s Year-End Offering for the Great Commision Fund. This is our main source of support and what keeps our family along with 800+ other units working among the least-reached peoples of the world. Your participation in this will go a long way to help us all year long.

2. For the Music Room This is the newest feature at the Grain of Wheat Center and is getting all kinds of use! The thing that we want our supporters to understand is that this room’s intention is not simply to make pretty sounds. This room’s primary intention is discipleship - and particularly discipleship of young men. We’ve been able to spend much quality time down there, playing guitars and talking about life and, ultimately, about Jesus. Believing young men spend time there with our staff applying Biblical truth to their emerging world-view. Our Center’s music ministry was even recently featured on the C&MA Website. We are seeing this as a great opportunity for ministry, but … have a few more things we’d like to do to finish it out - and you can help! Here’s our Music Room wish list:
   • Two more microphones and stands ($400)
   • A Cajun Drum (we plan to make this ourselves, but need to get the materials) ($300)
   • A good computer for demo recording ($1600)
   • More sound-proofing of the walls ($500)
   • Throw Rugs for the floor ($200)
     We can finish up the Music Room with your help!
3. For the Library/Computer Lab Our library and computer lab are seeing increasing use this year, and becoming a popular place for students to do their studies, school work and research. As our student membership increases, it is our goal that the library/computer lab become one of the most popular features in our center. With your help, we can make this an ideal place for student services and ministry. Here’s the library “wish list”:
   • Replacement of a computer that was stolen ($1200)
   • More bookshelves ($200)
   • More Books in Mongolian ($300)
   • Part-time library staff ($1500 - one year’s salary, split between three people)
     We want to make the library/computer lab a restful and peaceful place for students. Your assistance in this will help a lot!
4. For General Grain of Wheat Center Projects With the increased use of our Center, there are several items which have surfaced which we need to address. Cleanliness and security, especially during the winter time, are of paramount importance. We have had a couple of thefts take place in the Center, recently. So for the safety of our staff and our patrons, we wish to beef up security. Your assistance with these projects will be a huge benefit to the overall well-being of the Grain of Wheat Center.
   • Security Cameras for all three floors and the music room in the basement ($3000)
   • Extra portable chairs for events ($500)
   • Salary for a part-time cleaning staff ($1000 for a year of part time work)
     Your help with these projects will make the Grain of Wheat Center an even more secure and welcoing place for all who use its services.
5. The Patio Project This is an idea that has been in works for some time now. It’s our goal to pull the trigger on this in the Spring of 2013. Here’s the vision: Imagine a cool summer evening in the 13th District of Ulaanbaatar (Okay … most of you have never been here … but work with me, people, work with me). Traffic is flowing past our center to and from the nearby open market. However, the Grain of Wheat Center/UBean Cafe and Roasterie things are relaxed. There are people sitting out on the deck, enjoying the summer evening. Live music starts up while famillies and young people sip their favorite beverage from the best coffee shop in the country. During the day, old men stop by for a chess match on our tables with built-in chess/checker boards. It’s another summer evening at the Grain of Wheat! This could be our reality Summer 2012, with your help!
   • The Patio Project ($5000)

So there you have it! The Grain of Wheat Center Christmas list. If you are interested in directly supporting our center, a place that is becoming a lighthouse in Ulaanbaatar, you may do so by sending donations to either of the following approved accounts through your local Alliance Church, or directly through the links below:

Anderson Work Special
Grain of Wheat Center in Ulaanbaatar

If you wish to designate funds to any of the specific projects list above, please contact us and let us know what’s coming and your specific designations.

Thank you for your support! Thank you for your partnership with us!

Have a blessed and joyful Holiday Season!

Photography and Friday Photo

Last week during our camera club we got some very interesting Fall shots around the Grain of Wheat Center in UB. You can check out the photo album from last week on Facebook. The shot below is one I was particularly pleased with. This old grandpa allowed me to take his picture, which is pretty unusal here. He was in the city from the countryside. A lot of lines. A lot of character. Stories to tell - and a cool hat. 

This week (today, as a matter of fact). Our camera club will be participating in the 5th Annual Scott Kelby Worldwide Photo Walk.  Our UB branch will meet at the Center today at 3:30 to hike through the UB City Center and take lots of interesting pictures of our city. So far we have about 25 people signed up to do this. Hope to get all 50 slots filled up. Check back here for photos from the walk!