by a Pioneer in Mongolia

This week we had the privilege to represent many of you here and distribute firewood to the very poor of our town from the funds that came together. We were able to significantly help 19 families with most of the heating they will need for this winter. These families have nothing but the felt tent they live in. Their lives are very difficult, and it was a blessing to us to be able to in a very tangible way show the compassion of Jesus to them. The money was wired in and we received the names of needy people from the mayor’s office. We were ready to go and visit each family to try to assess the real need when it started to snow.

After visiting the families, we rejected some because they obviously had other means. I was concerned because after it snows the price of wood always goes up—as it is harder to get to the trees in the mountains with the snow. An amazing thing happened: instead of the price of wood going up, it actually went down. We initially thought we would only be able to purchase a little over 12 loads, and we ended up being able to purchase 17.5 loads. We found ourselves needing to go back to the district leaders for more names, and this time they went with us and helped find some truly needy folks.

As much as people around us need the heat of a fire to live in the harsh winter months, so much more they need to have the Spirit of the Living God warm their hearts to understand the truth of Jesus. The darkness of shamanism and the fear within the Tibetan Buddhist system keeps people blind and confused. We have had good conversations lately with different people, yet there seems to be so much there that hinders them from really understanding. Please pray with us for the Spirit’s conviction of sin, righteousness and judgment to be known and understood in the hearts of those around us.