Once there grew a Love-ly tree. The Love-ly tree was so very proud of its green, healthy leaves and sturdy brown trunk. The Love-ly tree grew among Many trees that weren't as Love-ly and healthy. It was so proud to be a Love-ly tree among Many Love-ly trees.
Day after day, the sun shone and the gentle rains soaked the ground to help the Love-ly tree to keep its Love-ly-ness. The Love-ly tree took the Sun-and-Rain for granted assuming the goodness of Sun-and-Rain would always be there. It was a very young Love-ly tree, by the way.
As the Love-ly tree grew lovelier and healthier through the sunny, rainy season, it began to think that the sun shone and the rain fell because the Love-ly tree was so Love-ly. And the Love-ly tree grew very proud, boasting to the other trees of its Love-ly-ness. And the Love-ly tree was Love-ly, until...
No rain came and the sun was hotter than it had ever been. The Love-ly tree's leaves curled and browned in the Sun-with-no-Rain. Instead of shiny, green leaves that fluttered in the soft breeze, the Love-ly tree's leaves rattled and dropped off the branches at an alarming rate.
The Love-ly tree did everything it knew to do to produce Love-ly leaves. Love-ly tree's efforts didn't work. The Love-ly tree cursed the sun and rainless days. The cursing didn't bring back the Love-ly tree's Love-ly-ness.
The Love-ly tree heard the whispers and laughs of the other trees even though they were all in the same condition; dry and curled and brown. The Love-ly tree blamed the other unLove-ly trees and was shamed to look like THEM.
One day, the Love-ly tree (who had become very unLove-ly by this time) heard a noise below of crunching and swishing. A Man walked through the grove of unLove-ly trees. His face was lifted and smiling because of what he saw. Where the Love-ly tree only saw brown, curling leaves, The Man was in rapture by the various brilliant colors of rust, orange, red, yellow. The Man saw what the Love-ly tree didn't see.
The Man knew the Sadness in the mind of the Love-ly tree and spoke to him. "Don't despair Love-ly tree. This death and loss of your leaves is only a SEASON. This SEASON of changing, death and loss will not touch your Roots."
The Love-ly tree didn't know about Roots being the source of his life and health. All he cared about were the leaves on the outside.
The Man continued speaking. "During the SEASON of death, your Roots will continue to grow and remain strong. Soon will come a SEASON of renewal and life. You will see new green leaves and bear FRUIT as you go through more seasons of change."
The Love-ly tree had heard of FRUIT but didn't understand why Love-ly trees would bear these.
"FRUIT is not for you, dear Love-ly tree," the Man spoke tenderly. "FRUIT is for Many sad, hungry, pale people to come."
The Love-ly tree listened carefully to the Man's gentle, loving words and believed them and hoped for the SEASON of renewal and life.
As the SEASON of death came and the Love-ly tree looked at the bare branches, doubt and disbelief came into his mind. Then the Love-ly tree remembered the words of The Man and believed.
Day by cold day, the Love-ly tree refused to believe what he saw and believed the promise of The Man.
Finally, the SEASON of death changed to the SEASON of life and renewal. The Love-ly tree and his friends grew new leaves, green and shiny.
One day, the Love-ly tree looked and saw strange shapes hanging from his Love-ly branches and on the branches of his friends. It was FRUIT!
Then they heard the shuffling of Many people with sad, hungry, pale faces looking at the ground.
"Up here!" shouted the Love-ly tree. "Look up here at our FRUIT! Our FRUIT is for you; sad, hungry, pale people!"
The sad, hungry, pale people looked up, smiled and rejoiced for the FRUIT of the Love-ly trees.
For the Love-ly tree had believed the words The Man had promised even when the Love-ly tree was unLove-ly.
Hebrews 11:6 "Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him." (Holman Christian Standard)
John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
Monday, October 8, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
THREE MONTHS LATER...
My next blog about our Mongolian friends was to follow shortly after my last blog in January but life and time happens. I want to write about a few other things that we experienced in English camp before I write about our awesome friends!
We taught from 2pm to 9pm Tuesday through Saturday, January 10-14. The students were placed through testing in two levels; beginners and intermediate. Class lasted 1 hour 15 minutes with breaks in between. 22 students signed up ranging from age 14 to 30s, high school and university students, mothers, accountants and one Mongolian history teacher.
In Mongolian school, they are taught basic grammar with an emphasis on vocabulary memorization. They have an amazing capability to memorize hundreds of words but had trouble putting those words together to converse in English. For many, this was the first time they had been taught by native English speakers.
Pam and Kevin taught in one room on the second floor of the community center. Geri and I taught together in the room next door. The beginning level would go to Pam/Kevin's class and the intermediate to Geri/Nancy's; then we would switch classes. Class sizes were 4-6 students. The beginners were a challenge because all instructions were given in English. Most couldn't understand so we had to improvise with sign language and dictionaries.
Kevin and Pam teaching the fun all girl class (>>>giggle, giggle<<<)
Christina set up the curriculum for us each morning. She and Marilyn are setting up the iPod to use songs during our lessons. Music plays an important part in learning conversational English. 'How?', you ask. Music teaches intonation and flow of the English language. We used songs such as 'We Are Family' by the Sister Sledge and Michael Buble's version of 'The Way You Look Tonight'. The words of the songs highlighted the theme of that day's English class; family and appearance.
Marilyn, Christina and Geri
We shared meals and lives with each of the four families we visited who live and work in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in various capacities. Dennis and Marilyn are half way around the world from their children and growing number of young grandchildren. My grandma's heart connected with Marilyn as she talked about missing the fun of seeing little ones grow and change. Dennis leads the 'youngsters' with respect and unity as God gives him grace and insight.
Kevin, Dennis and Marilyn
Renee' and Bernie are soon to be empty-nesters but in reverse. Instead of the kids going off to college in the States and having a home in the States to return to at breaks and vacation, their parents are living and working half a world away. Over some morning coffee Renee' and I talked about this transition. My advise to both my friends, "Be easy on yourself and take one day at a time." And dog-gone, if Bernie isn't funny. His analogy while we were crossing Mongolian streets was the 80s video game Frogger. Not a comforting image as we dodged fast moving cars. His heart to enthusiastically worship God with a rhythmic guitar makes me want to dance like a kid!
Renee', Mercy the dog, Kevin and Pam
Bernie and Geri with praise team
Rich and Melody have the heart to see families grow healthy and strong in God's love. They are so awesome in reaching out to neighbors in their apartment. Moving from the Philippines to Mongolia, tropical to cold dessert climate is huge. They perseverance each day to live and work in a cold, unhealthy climate. Rich and Melody inspire me.
Melody, ? and Richel
And Erik and Christina! They are preparing to come home for a year. Their faithfulness to the people they serve and the business they run, UBean Coffee House and Roasterie, must make for a bittersweet next few months. I love being with this young couple and their family. The kids are truly cross-cultural. Geri and I had a Mongolian boy come to Children's church who didn't speak English and was very upset. I depended on Becca to help him feel comfortable because in her brother Jack's words, "You speak better Mongolian than me, Becca."
Erik brews hands-down the best cuppa!
Christina and Marilyn
Becca in the back and Jack-front right
This has been a long blog. I hope you've enjoyed reading it. I want to return in the future to work once again with my friends and the Mongolians. 'Til next time! Have a blessed Resurrection Day!
Nancy
My next blog about our Mongolian friends was to follow shortly after my last blog in January but life and time happens. I want to write about a few other things that we experienced in English camp before I write about our awesome friends!
We taught from 2pm to 9pm Tuesday through Saturday, January 10-14. The students were placed through testing in two levels; beginners and intermediate. Class lasted 1 hour 15 minutes with breaks in between. 22 students signed up ranging from age 14 to 30s, high school and university students, mothers, accountants and one Mongolian history teacher.
In Mongolian school, they are taught basic grammar with an emphasis on vocabulary memorization. They have an amazing capability to memorize hundreds of words but had trouble putting those words together to converse in English. For many, this was the first time they had been taught by native English speakers.
Pam and Kevin taught in one room on the second floor of the community center. Geri and I taught together in the room next door. The beginning level would go to Pam/Kevin's class and the intermediate to Geri/Nancy's; then we would switch classes. Class sizes were 4-6 students. The beginners were a challenge because all instructions were given in English. Most couldn't understand so we had to improvise with sign language and dictionaries.
Kevin and Pam teaching the fun all girl class (>>>giggle, giggle<<<)
Christina set up the curriculum for us each morning. She and Marilyn are setting up the iPod to use songs during our lessons. Music plays an important part in learning conversational English. 'How?', you ask. Music teaches intonation and flow of the English language. We used songs such as 'We Are Family' by the Sister Sledge and Michael Buble's version of 'The Way You Look Tonight'. The words of the songs highlighted the theme of that day's English class; family and appearance.
Marilyn, Christina and Geri
We shared meals and lives with each of the four families we visited who live and work in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in various capacities. Dennis and Marilyn are half way around the world from their children and growing number of young grandchildren. My grandma's heart connected with Marilyn as she talked about missing the fun of seeing little ones grow and change. Dennis leads the 'youngsters' with respect and unity as God gives him grace and insight.
Kevin, Dennis and Marilyn
Renee' and Bernie are soon to be empty-nesters but in reverse. Instead of the kids going off to college in the States and having a home in the States to return to at breaks and vacation, their parents are living and working half a world away. Over some morning coffee Renee' and I talked about this transition. My advise to both my friends, "Be easy on yourself and take one day at a time." And dog-gone, if Bernie isn't funny. His analogy while we were crossing Mongolian streets was the 80s video game Frogger. Not a comforting image as we dodged fast moving cars. His heart to enthusiastically worship God with a rhythmic guitar makes me want to dance like a kid!
Renee', Mercy the dog, Kevin and Pam
Bernie and Geri with praise team
Rich and Melody have the heart to see families grow healthy and strong in God's love. They are so awesome in reaching out to neighbors in their apartment. Moving from the Philippines to Mongolia, tropical to cold dessert climate is huge. They perseverance each day to live and work in a cold, unhealthy climate. Rich and Melody inspire me.
Melody, ? and Richel
And Erik and Christina! They are preparing to come home for a year. Their faithfulness to the people they serve and the business they run, UBean Coffee House and Roasterie, must make for a bittersweet next few months. I love being with this young couple and their family. The kids are truly cross-cultural. Geri and I had a Mongolian boy come to Children's church who didn't speak English and was very upset. I depended on Becca to help him feel comfortable because in her brother Jack's words, "You speak better Mongolian than me, Becca."
Erik brews hands-down the best cuppa!
Christina and Marilyn
Becca in the back and Jack-front right
This has been a long blog. I hope you've enjoyed reading it. I want to return in the future to work once again with my friends and the Mongolians. 'Til next time! Have a blessed Resurrection Day!
Nancy
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Mongolia January 7-17, 2012
MONGOLIA BOUND
(pictured Geri, Pam and Nancy at Chicago O'Hara to Seoul, Korea; Kevin not pictured)
I don't find it ironic that my last blog in 2011 was concerning Mongolia. Returning there to participate in teaching an English Camp for students was a unique privilege; hopefully not my last trip.
(pictured Nancy and Geri at Breakfast in Incheon Airport, Korea with Smuckers!)
The travel was grueling but here's a few tips for international travel. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate and DRINK SOME MORE WATER! (an experienced friend gave us that one!) Sleep when you can and use sleep aides when you can't! If the layover is long, get a hotel for overnight and hydrate and sleep! Mongolia is +14 hours so I was wide awake when they were sleeping. Coming home is the reverse; I fell fast asleep when I sat down during the day and was up and down during the night. Oh, did I mention that drinking lots and lots of water is important? Adding a vitamin supplement, like Propel or Gatorade to the water boosts your immune system too. And take a neck pillow for the long plane ride! If they offer you water or juice on the flight, take it! And carry on protein bars. We flew Korean Air (the best service airlines going east) and they offer kosher meals if you want more western-friendly meals. Layer your clothes because the cabin got stuffy and warm. I found a t-shirt with light-weight stretch pants for comfort great.
ENGLISH CAMP
(pictured Level One class in the afternoon and Level Two class with both Geri and Nancy)
(pictured Geri and Yanjka practicing making a date on the phone in English; the students loved this activity)
MONGOLIAN SIGHTS
(pictured a smoggy view out of our guest apartment over UB at 5pm rush hour traffic)
Gorkhi-Terelj National Park was breath taking early in the morning. These two pictures below don't capture the rugged, wild beauty of countryside Mongolia. Erik is standing in front of a large rock formation known as Turtle Rock.
One morning, Bernie walked us to the Buddhist temple complex about a mile from our apartment up a hill. The temp was -30 with a rising sun, when we heard the gong sound and watched the monks walk fast to morning prayer. When we started back to the apartment after being out for 30 minutes covered head to toe, I couldn't feel my feet! But the sights and sounds were worth the pain of thawing out.
(pictured Kevin and Pam stand by a statue near the main temple)
I'll post more about our friends who live and work in Mongolia in another blog. Until then, enjoy the pictures!
Nancy
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