In this picture: a parking lot in the foreground with an old-time Buddhist monastery (now a museum we might visit someday) on the other side of the wall (note the pointed roofs). The shiny bluish building in the background is one of Ulaanbaatar's most famous buildings. It was built by the Chinese and is still in process. We live about five blocks from this building in the heart of UB in an apartment.
A month after arriving in UB, I have come to a realization that this is my new home.
I like Mongolia, but I really miss America and the people I love there! I miss cream cheese and low fat sour cream. I miss low fat anything…it doesn’t exist!
We are crazily busy with teaching, prepping, checking homework, and helping the students. In our personal lives, we go to the grocery store every few days because our frig can only hold so much and our bodies can only lug so much home. Bulk shopping here is buying 2 liters of milk at a time or 6 rolls of T.P. at a time!
Life is different...and I still keep reminding myself, "I live in Mongolia." But, I also must remind myself, "My citizenship is in heaven...not Mongolia...and not Rochester, MN....and not Nebraska or anywhere else we can see and touch!"
I am craving some more English speakers! I often ask at the store, "Do you speak English?" They smile and say, "A little bit." I respond with, "That's how much Mongolian I know! A little bit!" And that's my big foreign conversation of the day. I can say hello, good bye, thank you, and ask for the price of things. I can tell how many I want of something, but complete sentences aren't in my capabilities yet.
But I will get there...I have to get there. Because I live in Mongolia now.
4 comments:
Yes, you do live in Mongolia now. I must continually remind myself of that, too. When we go to Rochester next week for a visit, it will be hard to not find you there!
I'm glad our eternal citizenship will be together!
Everlasting Love,
Mom
The eternal perspective is so true. No matter where we are during this tiny speck on the timeline, it doesn't begin to compare with where we will be as we live out the rest of the line.
Thanks for writing, Pam. There is always a feeling that we are caught between two worlds: the one we are looking forward to and the one we are not a part of but still serve and live in. Be encouraged, there are people even in the remote Nebraska thinking about and praying for you today. God bless you all!
Tony
Hi Pam!
You're often in my prayers! I can imagine how the oddity of life in your new earthly home must strike you on occasion. It's so cool to read your words of how God is helping you accept His plan and find His good in it. Thanks for encouraging me, too!
God Immanuel!
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