Just Thinking

Thanks again to everyone who has been praying for Munkhush and Tsatsral. Right now, It's hard to think about their future. Especially Munkhush's. I pray his mommy can do right by him and take advantage of the help we are offering her. Early on in ministry, I learned that when helping someone, it's generally a good idea not to "expect" any change on the person's part. If they change, great, if not, maybe it just wasn't meant to be. But in Tsatsral's case, I do hope to see her change, for Munkhush's sake.

Hetee and I talked to her about Jesus and about how the road she's been going down has lead her away from Him. We told her that she has to change her friends and lifestyle in order to give herself and baby the best future possible.

Right now she agrees with everything we say. But we've seen people go back on their word and stab us in the back so many times now, that to second guess has become second nature.

Please continue to pray that Tsatsral accept Jesus into her heart and MEAN IT. That she will be the mother Munkhush needs, no matter how difficult it gets, she won't give up on him.

Sometimes the thought of his life and future makes me cry. I wish it were his future tears I was crying. I know he will suffer and lack things. My husband assures me that God loves Munkhush more than we do and that He, as his heavenly Father, will care for him.

Why is the burden so heavy today? Jesus, help me to cast my cares on you.

Package Exchange

So, I've been having this idea bouncing around in my brain for some time and I've finally decided it's time to let you good people in on it.

I was going over my spices the other day and making my "wish list" all the time wondering who would I ask to send me the stuff. My friend Amanda just moved here so she's out. And Sara, who keeps me pretty well supplied, could probably use some help. Hehe.

So, I'm proposing a package exchange where you send me the items on my wish list and I send you a pair of beautiful Mongolian cashmere women's gloves. They are a soft lime green (pistachio?) and are one size fits all (keep in mind that Mongolian women's hands are generally a tad smaller than western hands. Sizes run small). The gloves are brand new and were originally bought and featured on our website to sell a while back.

The gloves are retailed at about 15.00 USD so whatever you send me must amount to 15.00 USD. not including shipping. It can be anything(s) on my list below and/or it can be a lot of one thing bought on sale for yourself or whatever. The more you can send for that amount the better! Just keep in mind that you'll be paying the postage as I will be for the gloves. Also the items must be like new, as in never opened. I was going to post them on Ebay but thought this was a better use for them. =) You could post and sell them yourself, though, if you want.

Let's have fun! And if this is successful we can do it again and again!

Now, for my wish list (no special order here; just pick and choose):

1. Cinnamon
2. Nutmeg
   
3. Thyme
4. Rosemary
5. Any kind of potato "wedges" seasoning packets or potatoes au gratin packets.
6. Ranch dressing packets
   
7. Coconut, shredded
   
8. Chocolate chips, peanut butter chips
   
9. Cornmeal
10. Molasses
11. Spirulina
12. Liquid chlorophyll
13. Clear mascara
14. Tea tree oil
15. Anything else you think I might enjoy that's American! Can even be from your own private stash!

Any questions, please email (het-mel@mongol.net) me or leave a comment. I will post a picture of the gloves when I get a minute later on today.

Once again, have fun and, thanks for helping out a missionary wife in a pinch!

What's making me smile these days...

1. Mango puree on waffles
   
2. Putting everyone to bed and enjoying a bowl of corn flakes in peace.
3. New shoes for Kenny
4. Seeing God provide. Again.
5. Happy endings*
6. Happy babies
7. My Mongolian helper making tortillas and being better at it than me
8. Seeing my husband's unfailing compassion and generosity toward others and seeing him being blessed for it.
9. Seeing the look on people's face when I tell them I never went to "school"
   
10. Looking at Munkhush snuggled with his mommy, sleeping on my living room floor right now!

* Tsatsral came today and we had a long talk. She has decided to keep Munkhush! We have set her up to stay in an apartment we rent for orphan girls. A young lady in my g12 runs this ministry and she lives in the apartment with her mom and, currently, one orphaned teenage girl. It couldn't have worked out better! We will help by watching Munkhush while his mommy works, for the time being. It turns out she was trained as a hairdresser but couldn't afford her equipment so never actually worked at a salon. She still needs to take one course (approx 40.00 USD) and buy her equipment (approx 100.00 USD) then she'll be ready to start. Please keep these things lifted up before the Lord; the expenses, the new plans, etc.

Thank you all again for praying!

What's been making you smile?

Update

First of all, thanks to everyone who emailed and commented to let us know you were praying!

Munkh Tur, or "Munkhush", as we call him

His name is Munkh Tur and he was born April 4th. That would make him 6 months old. His mother's name is Tsatsral and she is 20 years old. She came to the house today and we had a good talk. She told me she never intended to abandon the baby and I believe her. She had no place to go so she went to Ulaan Baatar to contact the father of the baby and try to make a life for herself with him. She planned on coming back for the baby once they settled but after a few days she realized it would not work out (he beat her). She heard through the grapevine that the baby was in the hospital and she was very worried. I could feel her grief as she sat there holding him and crying.

It turns out that when Tsatsral was pregnant for Munkhush, the same lady from our church that brought him to me yesterday, met her as she was on her way to an abortion clinic to have an abortion. She talked to her and told her that her baby was a gift from God and that she should not have an abortion. Of course, she ended up having him, Praise God!

Today, Tsatsral told me that she feels her best option is to give him up for adoption. I told her she needs to think about it carefully and make sure that is what she wants. I also told her she needs to get close to God and let Him help her. Hetee and I always talked about adopting and have come close a few times but not as close as this. We are willing to take him and adopt him but, at this point we feel that the mom needs as much help as he does. We'd love to see her on her feet and raising him herself.

Tsatsral has left the baby here with us and will leave tomorrow to go and meet with her parents (divorced, alcoholics) who live in another state and try to make a decision. Please pray for her as she goes through this very difficult time. She is not some deadbeat mother who abandoned this baby to fend for himself; she is a very hurt and disillusioned young woman with no where to turn.

Also please pray for us. We need God's wisdom to know how to help both Tsatsral and Munkhush. We also need the finances to move ahead. We know that God brought Munkhush into our lives and we will do all we can to see that he is taken care of. Today we bought diapers, formula (nursing him AND Kenny has taken a toll on my energy so I needed help in that area!) and clothes. I had recently given another Little Hearts baby a bunch of Kenny's hand-me-downs so we had to go shopping. =)

Thank again for praying!

Heart Wrenching

Today I was out in the yard when I realized someone was at our gate. It was a very poor lady who goes to our church. She came to tell me of a baby boy, about 5 months old, who was abandoned recently whom she took in. She herself has 6 kids and they are extremely poor (they come to us for food several times a month) and she was beside herself because the baby had ran out of things to eat (they were feeding him cream of wheat). I gave her some cream of wheat and ground oatmeal. She told me that the baby was in the hospital because he suddenly got a high fever the night before. I urged her to get the baby out of the hospital and get him over to our house as soon as possible.

I had to go to a meeting but I prayed that he'd be there by the time I returned. I called Hetee (he was out of town) and he agreed that the sooner this little guy was with us, the better. About 15 minutes into my meeting, my babysitter called and said that the lady from church had come and brought the baby. Yes! I told the babysitter to bathe him and put clean clothes on him.

I got home and had to fight the tears, my heart ached so much for him. Nate put my feelings into words when he said, "Mommy, his crying makes me want to cry, too." I tried to nurse him but it was obvious he had not nursed before. I had to really teach him how to latch on! He kept biting down and trying to chew or something. He finally caught on and nursed till his little heart's content. Then Hetee held him, prayed for and blessed him.

Nate said, "I hate his mommy and daddy for doing this for him. I hope they never come and get him". I had no words to say.

We don't know his name. We think he's about 5 months old. He has a terrible diaper rash and a few huge mosquito bites but other than that appears healthy. The doctors in the hospital diagnosed him with pneumonia. That's another one for the "stupid doctors" file.

He's all clean now (he was filthy and full of pee) and sleeping peacefully. He's very sweet and has a beautiful little face! Who could leave such a little creature all alone?

Please pray for him, for his future and for his life. He's already won his way into our hearts and we are talking about all the possible things that could happen if no one comes to claim him.