Tales from the Open Mic: Peaceful

Every week at the Grain of Wheat Center in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia the microphone is open. In conjunction with UBean Coffee House, our Grain of Wheat staff seeks to connect with the 250,000+ Mongolian students and young people living in the city. From this event, we've seen a small group of young men take steps toward walking with Jesus. These are their stories.

"Peaceful" started coming to the Grain of Wheat Center about two years ago, as a junior in High School. He began to take guitar lessons and he, along with three other friends, formed a band and began to perform every week at "Open Mic Night".  After several months of coming to "The Grain of Wheat Center" nearly every day, "Peaceful" was introduced to Jesus, while learning the Fmaj7 chord. Some time after that, he began to follow.   

"Peaceful" began coming to the wednesday night student fellowship, and he and his friends began to study the book of Mark together and learn about Jesus for the first time. His personality fits his name. But it turns out that he has not always been this way.   

One Wednesday evening, "Peaceful" gave a testimony about his home life. His parents left Mongolia when he was two years old, and as an eighteen year old, he's not seen them since. He lives with his grandmother and his older sister. "But," he shared with us, "My grandmother is very angry all the time." Then he paused. "My sister is also kind of angry." Another one of "Peaceful"'s awkward pauses. "We have a dog that's also really angry, too." Then he smiled. "I used to be angry, too. But I'm not any more."  Jesus has made "Peaceful" ... well, peaceful.  

Peaceful is another great example of the work the Jesus has been doing through the Grain of Wheat Center, and specifically through Open Mic Night. Please pray for "Peaceful" as he enters his first year of University this year. Pray that his faith will increase and grow, and that he will stand. Pray that "Peaceful" will grow this year in the grace and knowledge of Jesus.   

Tales From the Open Mic: "Pasture"

Every week at the Grain of Wheat Center in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia the microphone is open. In conjunction with UBean Coffee House, our Grain of Wheat staff seeks to connect with the 250,000+ Mongolian students and young people living in the city. From this event, we've seen a small group of young men take steps toward walking with Jesus. These are their stories. 

  

A young man named "Pasture" has been coming to Open Mic Night for over a year now. He sings a smooth tenor and loves to sing American and Korean pop music. After coming to Open Mic Night for several weeks, he and his friends began coming to the Grain of Wheat Center during the week, getting to know our staff and working with the two young men we have hired as music teachers.   

  

"Pasture" soon began attending a youth fellowship and Bible study that is held on Wednesday evenings. He comes from a family with a completely non-Christian background, thus his first night at youth fellowship, he confessed his ignorance of things that have to do with the Bible and the Christian faith. "I don't know much about Christianity," he confessed, "But I love coming to this Center and I love being with all of you."    

  

So "Pasture" continued to come every week and relationships deepened. His mother has told me several times how much she appreciates him coming to the Grain of Wheat, and is thankful for the positive influence she sees our center and center staff are having on his life.     

   

Last week, while at a youth camp, "Pasture" came to one of our staff music teachers and said, "I now believe in Jesus." It's a first, but important step in learning to live by faith. We rejoiced together about that last night at our Grain of Wheat Center all-staff meeting.     

  

We ask that you'd pray for "Pasture" as he begins being discipled and learning more about God and His Word. Also pray for "Pasture's" family, particularly his parents. We don't know what kind of familial repercussions there may be, but we are praying that because of the work of Jesus in "Pasture's" life, complete transformation will take place in his family.

Friday Photo: A Week of Music

This week, after another full "Open Mic" night, we invited an expat friend of "The Grain of Wheat" and UBean, and an Open Mic night favorite, to do a weeknight acoustic set. It was a roaring success. 

I love bringing together the beauty of music and the beauty of the Gospel. 

This week's Open Mic night should be another interesting one. We've invited a very popoluar Mongolian Rock band to join us. A lot of kids are planning to be there tonight! 

Cliff brought it. Great night of covers and original music

"Open Mic" continues to draw in lot's of kids every week

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!