Three More Wise Girls (but the devil is a 'chee')

Yesterday our student church here had their Christmas program.  We were very proud of them for all the hard work they put into it, from the decorations to the dances to the food.  There was one quite amusing drama where they did the nativity as if Jesus had been born in modern day Mongolia.  Because the taxi driver couldn’t find the hospital, Jesus was born in the back seat of his cab (at least that’s what we think happened since the bundle sort of magically appeared and our Mongolian wasn't good enough to follow).  The shepherds were replaced by three business men and the three wise girls communicated by cell phone.  All in all, it was a fairly realistic depiction because hospitals are hard to find, you spend a lot of time waiting in taxis because of traffic and everyone here has a cell phone.

The program which was supposed to begin at 3:00 was about 30-45 minutes late.  We finally left at 7:15 before they got to the food.  The most interesting thing we learned was a result of the late start.  We had to wait because the Hindu group that had rented the building in the previous time slot went overtime.  When we learned that the room had been used for some unknown ritual, the leaders spent time in prayer asking God to “clean upâ€? after that event. 

To help you understand, you will need a bit of a Mongolian lesson (welcome to our life).  There are two words used for the pronoun “you.â€?  The first one is “ta.â€?  This is used for persons older than you or in positions of respect (bosses, leaders, teachers, etc.)  If the person is younger than you or in a position under you, you use the term “chee.â€?   Undraa always corrects us, because we often slip and call her “ta.â€?  At 23, she doesn’t want to be called that by a couple of old folks like us.  She calls us “taâ€? because we are both older and her employer.

When you are praying, God is always referred to as “Ta.â€?  You probably would have assumed that.  However, when Dawgee prayed to stand against the devil, she used the word “chee.â€?  What a great picture of our position in Christ.  Even though Satan has been around since before Adam and Eve, because we are in Christ he is a “chee.â€? 

As we go through our Christmas festivities, we can remember that this is a fulfillment of Genesis 3:15.  The baby is Eve’s promised child that will bruise Satan’s head.  So when the devil is roaring about, trying to make you think he is a lion, remember that he is just a “chee.â€?

Expecting the Unexpected (Or A Silent Night at the Dancing Nativity)

Today we attended our school’s Christmas/New Year’s party. After last year, I knew a bit more what to expect. There would be lots of food from every nation. The Mongolian teachers would put a huge bowl of potato salad in the middle of the American student’s table. That is an important part of their celebrations, so it goes on every table, regardless. Each nationality/group is expected to participate with some song, dance or reading.

Then while we eat, they will play the Abba song “Happy New Year� over and over and over again until we are finished. The Koreans will only eat Korean food and the Mongolians will only eat Mongolian food and the Americans and Europeans will share their food. The start time is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. which means that is when everyone will arrive. Then it will take about an hour to set up, so we will actually start at 12. At three o’clock, when we can’t listen to that song one more time, we’ll find a way to slip out while everything is still going strong.

At 11, everyone began arriving, so things were starting as expected. Surprisingly there was no potato salad – on any table. Perhaps after they had 7 huge bowls left over last year, they realized not everyone shares their affinity for it. Again, surprisingly everyone was set up and ready to roll by about 11:30.

After last year, we didn’t really think anything could surpass the African priest and the Columbian nun doing the bump and grind, but we underestimated the Mongolian student’s creativity in pulling off a nativity scene. To the left of the stage was Mary, stunning in hot pink, holding baby Jesus with no Joseph in sight. In center stage was a man and woman. He was wearing a crown, so we assumed he was Herod.

Three very attractive Mongolian students entered, carrying staffs (I think) and gifts. Another Mongolian girl holding a large silver star went and stood behind Herod. The three wise girls, in their 7 inch high stiletto boots followed the star and stood before Herod. Then after a brief two-step to the tune of “Jingle Bells� they again followed the star that had by that time moved behind Mary and the baby. With much difficulty, they knelt in front of the baby (stilettos aren’t conducive for kneeling).

At this point, Mary arose with the baby Jesus and proceeded to dance, lifting the bundle up to the sky. So far, still not too far off base. It was hard not to chuckle, when she put the baby Jesus down and began to dance, in turn with each of the wise girls. Okay, maybe that could have happened, right? Where it went beyond any feasibility was when Mary went to Herod’s throne and convinced him to dance with her also. So, you have Mary and Herod dancing while his wife, the star and the three wise girls watched.

Unfortunately, as is too often the case, the baby Jesus was totally forgotten, alone in His manger, while all around him were lost in their festivities. It was one of those situations that was at the same time funny, but heart-tugging.

After that, most of the talent offerings didn’t venture far from the unexpected. We heard Silent Night and Joy to the World in English, Mongolian, Korean, Thai, Finnish, Chinese and an unidentified African language. While not unexpected, it still thrills, to hear a small taste of what we will experience some day for eternity.

To our pleasant surprise, someone must have forgotten that Abba CD. And everyone flocked to our table and ate all our food. Everything was winding down and we checked our watches and it was only 1:30. So, once again we remind ourselves, that we should always expect the unexpected.

Frosty Cold Days, Warm Festive Nights

During the winter we arrive at school every morning just after sunrise (around 9:00 AM).  It's always cold and smoky.  Ulaanbaatar has a terrible pollution problem in the winter time.  The city is surrounded by thousands of small gers (a round felt tent that is home many Mongolian people) and small homes that are heated with cheap coal.  The sub zero Fahrenheit temps at night require those coal heaters to burn all night long.  This results in a smoky haze all over the city every morning.  Fortunately it is not so bad where we live (near the City Center).  However, we go to school in an outlying district that is quite close to a ger district.  This is our view when getting off the bus every morning.

Nevertheless, it is getting close to Christmas. School will be out in one more week.  We are already celebrating - and keeping things warm inside our home. Last night as we played host to several of our team members at one of the annual Anderson Christmas open houses.  We laughed and ate and overall thoroughly had a good time.  As usual, Renee' set a beautiful table with all the trimmings.

Sadie enjoyed keeping the floor clean before and after.  She was mildly sedated and kept upstairs during the festivities, however. 

13th Birthday

Cori has now entered into the formidable teenage years.  She had a great time celebrating with her international entourage of friends.  India, Norway, Korea, Kazakhstan, Mongolia ... they all gathered in our living room for a little DDR, cake and ice cream. 

Happy Birthday, Cori.

Feeding and Eating the Birds: A prayer walk in Ulaanbaatar

On a recent cold Saturday morning, we went with some of the students from our church on a prayer walk through the city.  There were four groups who went in four different directions to pray over Ulaanbaatar and to ask the that God would shine his light in the hearts of people.

This was a first for many of these students.  Many had not been on a prayer walk before.  However, when it was over, there was excitement on their faces and they were very happy - it was something they really enjoyed and would like to do again.  It was a great joy for me to watch the two young people who went with me pray over the large monastery that is a mere stones throw from where our church meets. This is probably the most important monastery in Mongolia.  Last summer the Dalai Lama himself stayed here. 

People feed all of these birds as an act of worship.  They believe they are feeding them for Buddha himself.  My fledgling ability in Mongolian may have been a factor here, but I thought I understand one of folks who prayer walked with me to say that these birds are for Buddha to eat - which if that's true, strikes me a as a little strange.  I thought Buddha didn't kill anything and was indeed a vegetarian?  I may have misunderstood; or perhaps when he's in Mongolia, Buddha eats meat like all of the other Mongolians. 

So we pray for light, love, freedom and grace.  May the Gospel do it's work in hearts.  I am okay with Buddha going hungry.