Spring DTS -Mongolia

Our team has had a very exciting and busy week here in ulanbataar.  We have been blessed to be able to work with a communtiy center in the "Ger" district.  We have ran a vacation bible school this week and it has been an incredible experience.  Every morning, we teach songs, play games, and teach about 30 kids bible stories.  The basis for the camp is john 3:16, and everyday the children have memorized a portion of the verse.  They are very eager to learn about Jesus and three, that we know of, accepted Christ for the first time today!  The team has worked together in an awesome way to encourage and love on these children. 
We also have had the privilage of having fellowship time with another DTS out of Holland.  It is a Crossroads DTS with families.  We spent the evening in fellowship and worship and it was a refreshing and encouraging time for both teams.  We have moved out of our previous guest house into an apartment.  Our new accomadations are such a blessing to the team to say the least.

-Lori

Things have been great here, we have had amazing opportunities to meet and build relationships with some young people both in the church & without. We have had some basketball competitions where we have had the opportunity to share the gospel and see 3 salvations as well as youth with a genuine interest to know more about Christ. The youth here love sports and it has got us all excited to play soccer, basketball & ping pong.

Last night we had a unique opportunity to have a "Cultural hour" at the english cafe that we have worked some with. We got to share about America and have a q&a time with some young Mongolians who were interested to know more. We are all delighted to be able to spend more time in Erdenet as we have all grown really fond of the city & people.

A highlight for us all since we have been here was on Monday we have an amazing opportunity to go to the countryside and experience a traditional Mongolia BBQ. We set out and on the way stopped to take pictures of all the Yaks, goats, sheep, cows & horses that line the mountainsides. We were blessed beyond belief when we saw some camel & got to take a ride!!!

We left this random family we met to continue on to meet the people we were to spend the rest of the day with. As soon as the last person finished riding the camel it started rain. By the time we arrived at our "friends" GER (Mongolia Traditional home) it had started to HAIL!! Then next came a flashflood completely filling up their Ger. It was so sad. Thankfully the galiant men on our team helped to bail out water & build a moat around the Ger. As quickly as the rain started it stopped & we contined on with our day of horseback riding & lassoeing, choosing & killing our sheep (for dinner), milking cows & goats and finishing up with learning traditional Mongolian dances. More to come... Lori

Many people have heard about the recent unrest in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia relating to the elections there. I wanted to let people know that the team is not in any danger. I communicated with Lori, the team leader, this morning and everyone is fine. The team is currently in Erdenet, a city approximately 200 miles from Ulaanbaatar. It takes about 10 hours to travel between the cities by bus or train.

The team has already altered some of their plans just as a precaution. The leaders here in Orlando will continue to monitor the situation along with the leaders of the team in Mongolia. If more changes are needed we will make them. Although there seems to be no danger to the team and they are far away from Ulaanbaatar, we ask that you would join us as we pray for safety and continued fruitful ministry.

Sincerely,

Dean Sangrey

Training Director

6/25 Hi!
We arrived safe & sound this morning in Erdenet.  Oh wow, I cannot believe we just traveled for 4 days all together and made it in one piece.  We were definitely blessed this whole time. After Immigration we were met by a tour guide who brought us to the train station where we stayed overnight in one of their movie theatres and left early the next morning for our 30 hour train ride.  We were surprised by all the westerners going to Mongolia and even met other people with the same purpose as us.  All that to say the ride was uneventful, we met many friends I brushed up on my French w/a French man & an Italian man. 

We spent yesterday afternoon in a guest house freshening up before getting on another train (the shady Mongolian one) for another 12 hours.  It was so great to see everyone here.  Beckie has done a great job & we are excited about the next week.  -Lori

6/31 -San ban oo (hello)
Also another great story for you...Sunday night I prayed with Jess that I would be able to ride a camel the next day (we were going to the Mongolian countryside) and then I found out Monday that they didn´t have camels. I told Jess that God didn´t hear our prayer! She reminded me that God was still on the throne :) humbled I repented!!! A few hours later we stopped to take pics of all sorts of random animals...yaks, sheep, goats, cows, horses and then I look up onto the hill and WHAT DO I SEE BUT THIRTEEN CAMELS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (one for each person on my team!!) and then I got to ride it!! A wild camel... arriving the day before after a month & 6 day trek from the Gobi desert!!
How incredible is that!!  ALSO WE HAD 3 SALVATIONS after our basketball camp on Saturday night.  They went to church then next day and the Youth Pastor told me they had a complete heart change!!  PRAISE GOD!!!  -Lori

From Beckie -June 22nd
With the international team that few directly into Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
 
We got into Ulaanbaatar and stayed in a hostel. The next day we spent walking around the city in the rain ... The same evening we took a twelve hour train ride to Erdanete.
 
When we got to Erdanete we were picked up and taken to a guest house in the centre of the city. It´s a really nice apartment with beds, warm water. We also have a laundry machine that works but constantly leaks. I told the team it was an easier way to do laundry and clean the floor at the same time.
 
There is really great scenery here and hills not far away. We have decided that we want to walk up the nearest hill and pray for the city. Hopefully we can all do it together when the rest of the team gets here.
 
The day we arrived at Erdanete we went to a traditional BBQ and had some meat and vegetables before being talked into playing a game much like Dutch Blitz. They are also extremely competitive and I can´t wait to see Lori up against them all.

Driving to and from the BBQ we had to go off road, so we were skidding and gliding in mud, going over bumps and avoiding ditches. It was really quiet in the van, I think the team were praying. The only person that spoke was Jiae who exclaimed.."Oh it´s like a roller coaster!"

Today we went to the local church service in the morning where we were introduced, then in the evening went back to their intercession prayer meeting for their city.

Tomorrow we are going to work with the YWAM base mercy ministries and are excited to start really plugging into what God has for us to do here.

Beckie 

At Noon Eastern time we received a text message that the DTS has safely arrived after a long flight to Asia. Soon they will start their 30+ hour train ride to , Ulaanbaatar the capital city of Mongolia. From there they will meet up with the four internationals who have flown directly to Mongolia due to visa issues. Stay tuned for more updates.   

What has happened in your Discipleship training school so far...?

"So far DTS has really given me confidence in my ability to communicate with God. It has showed me prayer in more ways and with more depth and clarity than before. My communion with God has been incredible and I looking forward to the messages He has for me and the world." Craig Swandby- Discipleship Training School Student

"Being [in DTS] has really given me a vision for my future and helped me realize what I really have a passion for." Nathaniel Lane - Discipleship Training School Student