First Day in Ulaanbatar,

June 19, 2011

   "Wow... That’s all I am able to muster right now. Our flight was delayed three hours which diminished our layover in Beijing to a 5 minute sprint through one of the world’s largest airport terminals. Two hours after boarding our flight we officially landed in Ulaanbatar. We were picked up by Baska and Oyu who took us to an apartment to drop off our things. It wasn’t long after leaving the terminal that I realized what kind of shape Mongolia was in. After dropping off our things we went to the “Gher Villages” that surround the capital city. I was shocked by the poverty and shape these people in these people in these villages were. I didn’t expect Mongolia to be this “third-World” so-to-speak, and that blew me away. Piles ofrefuse and trash lay right where their owners decided to forget about them. We went with Baska to a children’s program that he started as a ministry for these impoverished kids. We had a great time hanging out with these kids even though the language barrier seemed to try and stop us from having fun. I met a kid named Khul (Kyul) and the moment I saw him the Holy Spirit began to stir in my heart. He seemed to be the oldest kid in the group and making him a male made him stand out all the more (since its mostly women that participate which was evident when trying to find a guide since we had a lot of girls volunteer to go with us, and never a guy.) Khul’s fiery eyes gave more to his look than any other kid, it showed the tough life and lessons he’s sadly had to learn by the age of 16. I battled if I should approach him and at the end I broke in and told him what the Spirit had laid on my heart. I have know idea if he took me seriously or if it was something that wasn’t even teh Spirit at all, I am just trusting the Lord that it is what He wanted me to do and I Hope that Khul will remember that and it will encrouage and strengthen him into the leader and man o fGod he is called to be. 

Praying over a woman who was fighting a lung disease that is caused by the pollution in Mongolia. Her husband had died three months earlier. She was Baska's assistant to the orphan ministry

   It was an exhausting day but one I will never forget. From the crazy Mongolian driving to the bull penis and horse meat we at, I can already sense God beginning to move my life and I know He will be glorified in this trip as long as my eyes are set upon Him."

-Blake

The Orphan Ministry outside Ulaanbatar in the Gher Villages. These kids are not all orphans but they all have uninvolved parents in their lives. This ministry is intended to give kids fresh water, food, and the Word of God.