Friday, October 31, 2008

Missent to Malaysia

I received a package today that was mailed on Sept. 23.  The box was mashed and dented and written all over the outside was MISSENT TO Malaysia, and stamps of Kuala Lumpor.  It disturbs me the lack of knowledge about Geography!!  HELLO, yep, Mongolia and Malaysia are technically both on the continent of Asia, and yes, they both start with an M.  It is almost like getting a package that belongs in Montana sent to Maryland.......same continent, both M's.   O.K.  I am done ranting......Thank God the package arrived in the first place and even though it was very beaten up, it was still sealed and everything was inside.  Push Geography in Schools!!!  Just look at a map.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Bible Prices

Tony is giving away some New Testaments on an evangelistic trip he gets to take with some men from Eagle TV.  SO last week he goes to get the Bibles and was shocked to find that the price has tripled in price.  He knows the secretary at the Bible Society, so he asks her why the drastic increase, thinking that maybe the price of printing has gone up that much.  No, the price has increased because the director of the Bible Society here in Mongolia is tired of missionaries coming in and buying Bibles and then giving them away.   Isn't that the point!!!  Come on here.  This man truly baffles me and he desperately needs our prayers.  He has become so obsessed with his translation work that he can't see the Word of God for what it is.  Now I have to give his reasoning, he says that if people have to pay more for the Bible, then they will have more respect for it.  I agree with that completely, but he has priced the Bible out of reason for a Mongolian to be able to purchase it.  Unfortunately this man is very difficult to deal with.  I am just praying that God will change his heart, for He is the only one that can.  Please pray for the Mongolian Bible Society.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Winter's here to stay

Snowed all night!  The high was 27 at noon, yep, no denying it is here for good now.  I was just really resistant to open the box of gloves, scarves, hats....... But had to do it.  

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

In Search of Rocks






We decided to go for a hike this weekend to get some rocks for the turtle's aquarium, and oh yeah, for some fresh air and sunshine too.  We have had some really great fall weather, the winter is holding off later than it usually does, so now we can be out with only a jacket and it is great.  The kids had fun climbing on all the rocks, Isaac was jumping around like a billy goat, but Avery had all the fear he left behind.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Let's Cook Mongolian!

This week I had a Mongolian friend come by to show me how to cook some Mongolian food, so I thought I would share it on here.  Sorry, if my brain had been fully intact I would have gotten some pictures, but oh, well.
  Milk Tea:  This is THE Mongolian drink.
     8 cups water
     2 cups milk
     1/4 cup Mongolian loose tea
     4 tsp salt

Add all together in large pot and bring to boil.  Gently boil about 5 minutes.  With screen strainer remove tea leaves.  Serve hot.

   Soyvung:  This is Tony's favorite Mongolian dish.  Stir fry with Homemade noodles.
     4 cups flour
     2 cups warm water
     1 tsp salt
Mix well to form dough, adding flour or water as necessary.  Cover and let rest.

     1 lb. beef chunks
     1 small head cabbage, chopped
     1 lg onion
     3 cloves garlic
     5-6 carrots
     1 bell pepper

Heat 1/2 cup oil over medium-high heat, add chopped vegetables starting with onion, and garlic, adding meat last.  Cover and cook over medium heat.  Meanwhile, divide dough into 3 equal pieces and roll out on floured surface as thinly as possible.  When all dough is rolled out lightly spread each piece with oil, stack the pieces, fold together as layers and slice with knife into 1/4 in. strips.  When all dough is chopped, add all noodles to skillet and cover again, allowing to cook 10-15 minutes.  Add salt and pepper as needed.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Grounded

O.K. this has absolutely nothing to do with Mongolia, just venting about parenthood.  We have had a real OBEDIENCE problem today and I have had to ground more than one child, (blessings on you who only have one child to ground at a time).  Anyway,  this means, no computer, no T.V., you are only allowed to sit in your room (no ipod) and read..........  CAn someone sign me up for this PLEASE!!!  I would love to be made to lie in bed and read for the day!!!!  Hmmmmm, maybe I can do something bad, and get punished to my room........No dishes, no laundry, no cooking, just a good book and some peace and quiet.......I bet I would have to come up with something really bad to be worthy of that kind of "punishment"........I will think hard on that one..... Ha Ha.
  Have a great weekend.

Monday, October 6, 2008

First Snow Day



Well its official, the first snow of the year came today, October 7.  It was pretty, and didn't stick because the ground was too warm.  No school dismissals here, nope we just opened the curtains of the schoolroom and watched it fall.  I have been putting off putting up the short sleeve things, even though we haven't been wearing them, it was just a matter of holding on to warm weather as long as I can.  I guess I have no more excuses.

Back in the Groove

The girls started school last week, and everything is going well.  SInce we only had a 6 week break, it was really easy to slip back in the groove of our normal school schedule.  Avery has started Kindergarten and loves it, she has started writing her letters, and today asked if she could start reading yet.  Anna is in 4th grade this year, Mackenzie is in 6th, and Lindsey will be doing 8th grade with Alpha Omega Academy this year.  All her work will be logged into their system, so all her quizzes and tests will be checked by them, not me, Yeah!!! One less thing to think about!
   The weather here has been great, I just wish it would last.  we just try to enjoy every minute we can get before we have to drag out our heavy coats, gloves, scarves, boots........
   Tony and I went shopping for vegetables at the market today and saw Pumpkins!  It is the first time I have ever seen them here. SO we will go back and let the kids pick one out to carve, and then probably get another for a pumpkin pie! Yummy
   Happy Fall Ya'll