Missionary who Laboured for Mongolia

Now Mongolia is reachable by flight and capital UlaanBaatar is a modern city.
100 years back it was not.

When I read about a christian missionary family who laboured in Mongolia more than 150 years ago, I thank God for them. Such  great sacrifice!!!

It is James Gilmour and his wife Emily

James Gilmour (1843-1891) was a Scottish missionary to Mongolia who made lonely, heroic efforts to preach the gospel to a people steeped in Lamaist forms of Buddhism; spending summers with nomadic Mongols on the plains of Mongolia and winters with Mongols in Peking. After his wife died in 1885, he labored in eastern Mongolia until his death at age 47, after 21 years of missionary service.

Emily Prankard Gilmour: Traveled from London, England, to Mongolia to marry James Gilmour on December 8, 1874. Learned to speak the Mongol language and willingly shared her husband's experiences and dangers. Twice she spent the summer travelling about the plains of Mongolia with him, sleeping in a tent, and enduring hardships. Physically unable to endure such a hard life, she worked among the Chinese girls in Peking, where her husband joined her in the winter to work among the Mongols who came there. They had three boys: James (Jimmie), William (Willie), and Alexander (Alec or Alick) who died as a toddler. Mrs. Gilmour died on September 19, 1885, not long after the birth of their third son.
 

Destitutes & Abandoneds

I feel sad for the large number destitute and abondoned young women in this country.
Most of them are from the inner country side, illeterate and very poor. They are abondoned by their so called husbands after satisying their lust and when children are born. Men then move to other preys. This is part of the culture and there is no law to forbid it. Always poor women are at the receiving end.

Yesterday night one sister from the church called me for advise.
She had the same fate earlier in life and now trying to makeup her life herself after believing in Christ.
She told me, some other young woman who looks pregnant and with a small baby in hand is knocking at the door. This sister had acquaintance to this woman's mother.
She is asking for help to be accommondated in the small house for the night.
She has no place to go. She has been driven out by her sister with whom she was staying.
she has no husband, her husband had left her earlier. Now she is pregant through some one else.
She had searched for the house of the sister and some how reached there. It is night and cold outside.

Sister asked me - Brother, what should I do?
I told her- Instead of you, if Jesus was inside the house, what He would have done?
She said - But brother, I have food for myself and my daughter just for oneday, after that I have nothing. I have no money too.
I said - God will Provide.
(My responsiblity does not end here. James 2:15-16 ("15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? ")

The above incident is not just isolated. There are hundreds of destitute women looking for care, protection, abondoned by husbands and family. This situation often lead them to prostitution for food and money.

Who will take care of them? It is my wild thought and concern.
God has to work for this country, ofcourse through peopel like me.

It is a Macedonian Call.

 

Who Am I, Why am I Here, Where am I Going?

I am happy that I am taking classes for Mongolian Youths on sundays, for the last many weeks.
I take it in a discussion mode and youths participate.
Most of them do not speak english, but Mongolian.
Thank God, I have a good translator, a sister - she translates my English into Mongolian and vice versa.
The questions I pondered on my young people last few weeks are:-

WHO AM I ?

WHY I AM HERE ON EARTH? (Any specific purpose?)

WHERE AM I GOING? (After my life on earth)

It was a very interesting discussion  and I am happy that they enjoyed.
Finally I have driven the purpose that:

WE ARE VERY IMPORTANT FOR GOD

GOD HAS SPECIFIC PURPOSE AND PLAN FOR OUR LIFE.

GOD' S PLAN IS THE BEST PLAN FOR US.

GOD'S MOST IMPORTANT PAN FOR US IS OUR SALVATION THROUGH JESUS.

REGARDING ALL OTHER PLANS IN OUR LIFE - EDUACTION, CAREER, CHOOSING LIFE PARTNER, FAMILY etc etc, WE NEED TO SEE WHETHER IT IS AS PER GOD's PLAN FOR US.

AFTER THIS LIFE ON EARTH, THERE ARE TWO PLACES TO GO.

WHERE WE GO DEPENDS ON OUR CHOICE WHEN WE ARE HERE.

SO WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO?

Thank you, Please read my other blog

Mongolian Churches Fellowship - July 29, 2012

Believers from four local churches of Mongolia - Richheart, Chengletem Choir & Uginoor, came toegtether for a fellowship at Mongolian country side.
It was a wonedrful time of worship, fellowship, and enjoyment.
A baptism was conducted in the river where 5 persons testified Jesus in water.
This is the first time Mongolian local churches join together for such a fellowship.
You can see pictures in my facebook link.
https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=oa.419834218058205&type=1

VBS at the Mongolian Church

 VBS Students and teachers at the Mongolian church

Mining in Mongolia

Mongolia is the world’s largest land-locked country and is mostly high altitude, has long, bitter cold winters and is dry in many areas. It has a population of close to three million people (population density of about 3 people per square mile). The people are still mostly nomadic, since they travel with the herds that are the primary sources of their incomes.

One Herdsman told: “My tribe raised reindeer, so tourists always wanted to get photos. To us, reindeer were for milk, meat, hides, antlers, hoofs and teeth, so we couldn’t figure out why tourists wanted photos. Sometimes they would give us more money for one photo than we would make in months of hard work.” (The average Mongolian lives on about $1.25 a day. )

Life for many is very challenging as it has been for thousands of years, but the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine has the potential to bring billions of dollars to the economy over time.  One employee said, “It has already changed my life and the lives of many others, for the better. We are very grateful for it.”

You can see a five minute video about it on YouTube. Listen to the respect shown by the engineers for the Mongolian miners and employees. There is a poem written to express pride in being chosen by Central Asian Mining Logistics (CAML) to work in the mining industry as miners or in other jobs required to keep the mining operations going. I think the translation probably creates some odd phrases, so I smiled at it. However, I was a bit misty-eyed too because it is genuinely sweet!

CAML PRIDE
Proud Mongols’ dream fulfilled with joy
Youth that’s chosen to be employed
People of CAML at Oyu Tolgoi site
Strong and enthusiastic we show our might.
Before the shift we early morning rise
To hug the greeting golden sunrise
The work exhausts me but I smile
And clocks tick time filled with tasks worthwhile.
Divine, the fortune that gave this chance
To bear my employer’s logo on my chest
Great achievements are waiting to be built
On sunny days there, out in the field
Of beautiful, home-country’s youth I’m proud
The company’s objectives they’ll greatly fulfill
In each corner of the globe to have a branch embraced
I raise this Moon-mother’s milk and praise!*

Mongolia & Church

Mongolia –A not much known land between China & Russia, is known as the land of Mysteries and the land of the Blue Skies. Mongolia was the biggest empire which world ever saw, called the “Mongolian Empire” in the 13^th century under the notorious emperor Gengish Khan.
Modern Historian Prof. Jack Weatherford in his book "Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World" highlights the military brilliance of Genghis Khan; while the Roman empire took 200 years to reach its fullest extent, Genghish Kahan's conquests covered an empire nearly four times its area between 1206 and 1227. Eventually, by the 1270s, the Mongol Empire would cover an area "considerably larger than all of North America".

Indian Moghul Emperors were descendants of Gengish Khan. It is a land where you can experience wide open spaces & skies, snow covered mountains, forests, deserts, crystal clear rivers and lakes, extreme climates ranging (-)40C to +25C, and the traditional hospitality of the nomads.
Mongolia has significant contributions to the world – They introduced the paper currency, postal system & the concept of diplomatic immunity.
During the 19th and 20th cetruries Mongolia underwent many violent battles and occupations by Chinese and Russians. Recently till the Russian Perestroika in the 1980s, Mongolia was a satellite country under Russia. Now Mongolia is a true independent democracy with a democratically elected government and a secure place to live.
Due to Mongolia's strategic position between China & Russia, India was one of the first few countries who recognised Mongolia when it became free. There is an Indian Embassy here although Indian population is hardly around 100. Indian president Pratibha Patel visited Mongolia last year.

While in the country side although life is nomadic with people living in tents named 'Ger', you can see herders on horses talking on mobile phones. Majority of Mongolians are poor herders and live in harsh conditions fighting extreme weather. The capital UlaanBaatar match the US city Manhattan with Sky scrapers and locals living in true western style.
Monglian government encourages population growth, mothers with more than 3 children are given medals on Mothers&Children's day. Unwed single mothers are very common and official marriage solemnization is rare. In the case of a family breakup, it is usually mother's responsibilty to bring up children. In Mongolian culture women have an upper hand over men.

Regarding religion-Historically Mongolians were animists and considering the open Blue Sky as god, now the religions are Tibetan Buddhism, Muslim, Christian and Shamanism. Christians forms a small minority of 2% in a population of 2.8 million.

There is tremendous religious freedom in Mongolia. You can practice and spread your religion without any hindrances. People are very friendly and responsive. Only thing is churches need to be registered under government and foreign missionaries need work permit like any other profession. Getting permits for Missionaries are very tough and usually they come as part of Non-Governmental Organizations(NGO) working in development activities. There are not many foreign missionaries. Few who are there, are concentrating in cities and near suburbs.

There are few churches of the pattern of New Testament local churches both in the cities and the country side. Although these have been started by American missionaries, currently they are administered and run as typical Mongolian churches by local leadership. The capital has an Interdenominational Congregation which meets on Sunday afternoon with a crowd of over 500. Most of the inner Mongolia on the country side is unreached for Gospel. These places are difficult to travel and most of the year have severe cold weather and difficult living conditions. Practically no foreign missionaries venture to these areas.

It is just over 20 years that true Gospel reached Mongolia in receent times. So the churches are new and believers are of first generation. So many of them have come from the old cultural back ground. They need to go a long way. It is sad to see Brothers and Sisters from broken families who have come to Christ. So they have all the problems of the old cultural life style and to follow Jesus truly.  When you interact closely with the believers, you understand their real life problems due to the old liberal life style. They need a lot of spiritual nurture and education.  It is happy to see that they strive to mature spiritually sacrificing many things.

Mongolian economy being in the nascent opening up stage, educated youths are crazy of learning English. Hence English classes are used as an opportunity by local churches to woo youths in the cities – the text book prescribed is often the New Testament and Gospels! While learning English, they learn about Jesus.

The author is in fellowship with a local church in the capital city. Along with tent making, is involved in the ministries of the church and currently helping in porting the Mongolian Language Bible in mobiles & smart phones. Within the last three months, the church had two baptisms, an indication of God visiting the people of this strange land. (In the picture is seen the Author with 2 youths who got Baptized recently at the Mongolian church).
And they sang a new song: "…….because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation”.