Last week we started up our Little Hearts feeding program again. We had taken a break for a while because of a lack of funds. Now we have 4 pregnant women and one who has just given birth to a baby boy. For those of you who aren't familiar with the process, what we do is, once a week, provide nutritional groceries for pregnant women who are faced with an unwanted pregnancy and are living in extreme poverty. In Mongolia, many women in this situation opt for abortion because they think it's the only way out. But when we help in this way many of them feel secure and decide to have their baby after all. Some of them are unwed mothers and some of them are married to abusive/alcoholic husbands who pressure them to abort. Some of the women have planned pregnancies but are poor and cannot get proper nutrition.
When the ladies meet me to pick up their groceries we go over any questions they may have and then, have a time of prayer for the developing baby and for any problems the woman might be facing. I also check their blood pressure and, hopefully, soon will be able to monitor their hemoglobin (need the equipment!), glucose and protein levels (medical care here does not include these basics!)
It does not cost very much--$7.00 a week will provide for 1 pregnant mother. I haven't been to the States in a while but I think that's about the cost of a meal at McDonalds'. I'm still trying to raise funds for this on-going project so if anyone would like to help save lives and give babies a better start, please just send your donations via Paypal (email address: het-mel@lifetel.com) One dollar a day is already making a difference for 5 women and their babies!
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Much Ado About Green Cards
Whew! The past few weeks have been so full and busy! With so many things (and people) clamoring for my attention I thought I'd never get a chance to catch my breath let alone sit down and type up a post. But I love blogging so here I am, with droopy eyelids, typing away...
So, what has kept me so busy? Well, about 2 weeks ago, I realized with a start that my green card to be in the country expired in 3 days. So, Hetee and I got busy collecting the paperwork we needed to get it extended. This includes a crime report from the police station, a letter from our district office saying that I do indeed live where I say I do on my green card, and the results of yet another HIV test among other things. All of this should have been done 30 days prior to the last date on the stamp on my green card, but we kind of forgot so we had to do it all really fast before I became illegal. If any of you have ever done paperwork in UB involving more than 3 government offices, you can imagine what it was like. I was pretty stressed out until Hetee said, "Hey, we always wanted to be on Amazing Race!"
We got to the Foreign Affairs office and waited until someone could see us. The young man who took my case didn't even bat an eye at the fact that we were tardy. He even had it stamped right away since we were coming from Darkhan so we wouldn't have to make the trip back to UB to pick it up in 4 business days. God bless him.
So, I'm legal for another 2 years and I'm HIV negative, too. Woohoo!
The following Saturday Abi and I went back to UB to pick up my dear friend, Tuya from the airport. She was returning from serving 2 years aboard the Doulos. It was great to see her and It was also great to spend some girl-time with Abi. We got to UB early and ate lunch at an American-style restaurant. We had a cheeseburger, fries, Dr. Pepper, and a strawberry milkshake. Abi was in stitches about the pink milkshake! The waiter even put 2 pink, heart-shaped straws in it for us. She thought it was the cat's meow! When it was time to leave Abi cried, and to my embarrassment, it was loud enough for the entire restaurant to hear. It was really out of character for her to do that so I could tell that she REALLY liked it there. We weren't in a hurry so I told her we could stay a while longer. After leaving the restaurant we walked to the UB church office building and giddily rode the "alligator" (Abi's word for elevator). Country come to town.
So, what has kept me so busy? Well, about 2 weeks ago, I realized with a start that my green card to be in the country expired in 3 days. So, Hetee and I got busy collecting the paperwork we needed to get it extended. This includes a crime report from the police station, a letter from our district office saying that I do indeed live where I say I do on my green card, and the results of yet another HIV test among other things. All of this should have been done 30 days prior to the last date on the stamp on my green card, but we kind of forgot so we had to do it all really fast before I became illegal. If any of you have ever done paperwork in UB involving more than 3 government offices, you can imagine what it was like. I was pretty stressed out until Hetee said, "Hey, we always wanted to be on Amazing Race!"
We got to the Foreign Affairs office and waited until someone could see us. The young man who took my case didn't even bat an eye at the fact that we were tardy. He even had it stamped right away since we were coming from Darkhan so we wouldn't have to make the trip back to UB to pick it up in 4 business days. God bless him.
So, I'm legal for another 2 years and I'm HIV negative, too. Woohoo!
The following Saturday Abi and I went back to UB to pick up my dear friend, Tuya from the airport. She was returning from serving 2 years aboard the Doulos. It was great to see her and It was also great to spend some girl-time with Abi. We got to UB early and ate lunch at an American-style restaurant. We had a cheeseburger, fries, Dr. Pepper, and a strawberry milkshake. Abi was in stitches about the pink milkshake! The waiter even put 2 pink, heart-shaped straws in it for us. She thought it was the cat's meow! When it was time to leave Abi cried, and to my embarrassment, it was loud enough for the entire restaurant to hear. It was really out of character for her to do that so I could tell that she REALLY liked it there. We weren't in a hurry so I told her we could stay a while longer. After leaving the restaurant we walked to the UB church office building and giddily rode the "alligator" (Abi's word for elevator). Country come to town.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Sugar and Spice
Nate's back to his old self now. Thanks for praying!
Day before yesterday Abi and I spent the day at my mom's sewing. Mom and I made Abi a cute little dress. It's sleveless, like a jumper, and the top is blue denim and the skirt part of it is white with little pink and red hearts on it. I wish I had a picture...oh well, maybe later. Anyway, Abi loves her new dress and looks absolutely adorable in it.
I love having a little girl to dress up. I remember when she was born that was one of the first things that went through my mind when Hetee said, "It's a girl!" I thought, I'm going to dress her in cute clothes every chance I get!
Having a little girl following in my footsteps has made me more feminine. Whenever I'm feeling down she reminds me, in her sweet little voice, "Mommy, we're girls, huh?" I never thought my sweet little girl would quote Aerosmith but several times a day she has been known to say, "Pink is my favorite color." But when she says the word "color" it sounds like "culluh".
I only wish that, like her, I could pull off wearing a dress or skirt with boots. She can wear a cute dress with leotards or leggings and her clunky winter boots but if I try that I just look like Granny Clampet.
Seeing the world once again through the eyes of a little princess has made me appreciate more than ever the fact that I am a woman. It's comforting to know that I don't have to compete with the boys. But it is true that Abi and I are way cuter than most of them.
It's just really nice to finally have someone to share things like conditioner and lipgloss with.
Day before yesterday Abi and I spent the day at my mom's sewing. Mom and I made Abi a cute little dress. It's sleveless, like a jumper, and the top is blue denim and the skirt part of it is white with little pink and red hearts on it. I wish I had a picture...oh well, maybe later. Anyway, Abi loves her new dress and looks absolutely adorable in it.
I love having a little girl to dress up. I remember when she was born that was one of the first things that went through my mind when Hetee said, "It's a girl!" I thought, I'm going to dress her in cute clothes every chance I get!
Having a little girl following in my footsteps has made me more feminine. Whenever I'm feeling down she reminds me, in her sweet little voice, "Mommy, we're girls, huh?" I never thought my sweet little girl would quote Aerosmith but several times a day she has been known to say, "Pink is my favorite color." But when she says the word "color" it sounds like "culluh".
I only wish that, like her, I could pull off wearing a dress or skirt with boots. She can wear a cute dress with leotards or leggings and her clunky winter boots but if I try that I just look like Granny Clampet.
Seeing the world once again through the eyes of a little princess has made me appreciate more than ever the fact that I am a woman. It's comforting to know that I don't have to compete with the boys. But it is true that Abi and I are way cuter than most of them.
It's just really nice to finally have someone to share things like conditioner and lipgloss with.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Nate
Nate loves to be kissed and have something to show everyone!This morning Hetee and I were discussing what we thought Nate might have and Hetee mentioned chicken pox. Nate, not one to pass up an opportunity to get extra love and attention, not to mention juice, is telling everyone he has chicken "fox".
Please pray for a speedy recovery and for Abi and Kenny's health as well. Thank you!
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Hello everyone
Yesterday Hetee did his first funeral. A sweet old man, the oldest man in our church in fact, passed away from heart failure about 4 days ago at the age of 76. He was survived by his wife of over 50 years and their 8 children. This was the first time someone has ever been waked at our church and it was the first funeral Hetee has ever done. He did really great and I was very proud of him.
On a lighter note...
Last night we went ice skating again. We had a really good time and I only fell once--yay! It was pretty hard but I managed to only bruise one knee this time. My wrist feels funny, though. I think I twisted it a bit when holding on to the railing to catch my balance.
We had a fun crew skating-- Some new pastor friends we met recently, Sodoo and Aldaraa and some old friends, Odhuu and Saruul, whom we hadn't fellowshipped with in sooooo long due to
extremely busy schedules. Sodoo and Aldaraa happened to meet Odhuu and Saruul and developed a friendship with them and found out they knew us and, well, we decided to all get together. And since it was Aldaraa's birthday we had a good excuse. Anyway, Saruul and I were very close back in the beginning, especially around the time Hetee and I got married but somehow just drifted apart over the years--something that I really felt bad about. =( So last night, as we were skating, I pulled her over and apologized and promised to be a better friend. She apologized too and we hugged and both felt so much better.
Saruul, me, and Aldaraa
After skating we all went to our apartment and talked and played and listened to Sodoo do impressions of the Mongolian voice-overs of the Jesus film. It was hysterical!
Here's to starting off the new year with a life well lived, a Christian funeral, new friends and rekindling friendships with old ones.
On a lighter note...
Last night we went ice skating again. We had a really good time and I only fell once--yay! It was pretty hard but I managed to only bruise one knee this time. My wrist feels funny, though. I think I twisted it a bit when holding on to the railing to catch my balance.
We had a fun crew skating-- Some new pastor friends we met recently, Sodoo and Aldaraa and some old friends, Odhuu and Saruul, whom we hadn't fellowshipped with in sooooo long due to
extremely busy schedules. Sodoo and Aldaraa happened to meet Odhuu and Saruul and developed a friendship with them and found out they knew us and, well, we decided to all get together. And since it was Aldaraa's birthday we had a good excuse. Anyway, Saruul and I were very close back in the beginning, especially around the time Hetee and I got married but somehow just drifted apart over the years--something that I really felt bad about. =( So last night, as we were skating, I pulled her over and apologized and promised to be a better friend. She apologized too and we hugged and both felt so much better.
Saruul, me, and Aldaraa
Here's to starting off the new year with a life well lived, a Christian funeral, new friends and rekindling friendships with old ones.
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