Climbing the Singing Dune

Believe it or not... the Gobi desert is actually not all sand dunes and camels. It actually has plains and mountains, glaciers and crazy wildlife (like bears...)

But there is one famous dune there called Singing Dune. The wind blows hard across it making a sound while sandblasting all the tourists that are crazy enough to try to climb up a 45° incline on sand (which falls with each step...so to avoid making no progress with so much effort you have to use your hands and feet).

After about two hours of bear-crawling up the dune, I was able to sit atop where it subsequently rained and kept the Singing Dune from its song. So after my exfoliating experience on the top, I sang my favorite Mongolian lullaby with my guide as we slid down on our backsides...haha. In theory, it was still the Singing Dune, right ?

Other highlights of that day, camel riding, archery, and sneaking into the rec center at camp for table tennis with my awesome guide. We are so naughty...haha.

Embracing Your Season (Erin Lee)

Because one of our ladies was sick, I was able to stay in town an extra night with her just in case I needed to take her to the clinic.  This afforded me the opportunity to listen to a New Philadelphia Church sermon by our awesome woman of God, Erin Lee.  And this was the most timely sermon I have every received, especially in my current season of physical discomfort in the bush of Cambodia.

We started by reading Ecclesiastes 3 where is talks about a season for everything.  And it was addressed that you need to know your season and live according to that season.  Picture yourself in summer but you were prepared for winter, so you just wear that big feather-filled jacket anyway.  You set yourself up to be miserable if you don't live according to the season you are in.

Then we were given some don'ts:

• DON'T FOCUS ON THE LOSS BUT FOCUS ON WHAT GOD IS CALLING YOU TO ENJOY. It's natural to be sad about our loss and daydream about a time when we had or a time we will have again, but that is not healthy.  We rob ourselves of joy at that point.
• Application for me:  Stop thinking about how little I have in the bush...chocolate and coffee will be in the world when I get back.  I don't have AirCon, or a Bed, or Comfort...but I have sunrises, coal-stoves, puppies, and intentional time with my team.
• DON'T LONG FOR THE NEXT SEASON BUT BE PRESENT WHERE YOU ARE NOW.  you can get yourself in a very bad cycle...the enemy will always make you look forward and rob you of the now.  That makes you ineffective, trains you to be discontent, and makes you want to change your season.  But you can't can't control your season and that can only frustrate you. (and if you saw the inappropriate movie "Click" then you know that you don't want to fast forward life)
• Application for me:  I have a history of either looking forward or looking back.  I seem to struggle with contentment in the moment, which I recently discovered is a cyclical mentality, that I have to choose to break (taking every thought captive).  I can't afford to focus forward to Korea or Belize or America or I will lose out now.
• DON'T WASTE YOUR SEASON.  Your season could very well be an answer to past prayers...so don't you forget that.  Each season has its purpose and sometimes we will NEVER understand (don't ask "why" instead trust).  We can't let ourselves long for the future without paralyzing our current work.  It's a fight, but if you faithfully sow into this season, you will reap in the next.
• Application for me:  I am not sure what this looks like for me yet, since I truly don't know what season this is for me.  I do know that I am not open to learning how to use this season as long as I ask, "why?" and I know that if I can learn to be content and trust Him, then there will be quite the harvest.

And as I head back into the bush of Cambodia, and find myself covered in flies and sweat, with no relief from heat and no comfortable place to rest...I must keep this in mind.  I must be open to my season and live accordingly, then I will find contentment.

Two Days with a Sikh

As we stepped off the bus coming back to Kuala Lipis from our little vacation in the highlands, we parted ways to run our various errands.  I headed straight home while others went to the market to buy produce.  When they returned home, they told me about an Indian man they met. Apparently, he makes friends with foreign teachers who come here and his son lives across the street from us.

Next thing I know, the man is outside our gate telling us that he is a Sikh and that it’s his new year so we should celebrate with him.  (Sikhs are the religious group from northern India; you know the ones with the turbans.)  So of course we join him, and he treats us to a FEAST of naan and tandoori chicken, curry chicken, chapatti, and more.  During dinner we discover that he pretty much owns this town.  Literally everyone knows him, and he is an independent contractor in Public Works.  He showed us his corporate rental property and we met all of the owners of his stores and restaurants.  After he received a call saying his cows were out, we took a little bit of time to wrangle his cattle in the car with loud Indian music (a first cattle roundup for me). Then he took us to his home that he built on one of the tallest hills in the city.  He showed us the view from up there, the gold jewelry from his wedding, and many photos.  Later that night he drove us home and told us that he would be in touch.

After our “corporate dental hygiene session” aka going to the dentist with friends, our good Sikh friend pulled up in his car and asked if we would join him.  Then the busiest day in ages ensued.  Iced Milo at his restaurant, accompanying him on work errands, a walk around the pond in the forest reserve (jungle), and another visit to his home where the view was even better in the day.

Next thing I know, it is time to move the cattle again.  His son took two of our girls in his truck, and I jumped on the back of his motorbike and we set off into the winding paths of his 46 acres.  Like modern day cowboys we rustled the cattle through the palm plantation to another grazing spot by motorbike.  (anytime I saw the turban dip down ,I knew it was time to duck from the oncoming branches elsewise I would be whacked in the head and have the little spiders fall on me again…boo!)

Then onto lunch at his restaurant, a look from the highest point in K.Lipis, touring around the rubber tree plantation, a visit to the Clifford school to read about Hugh Clifford who made this area what it is during the British reign, a visit to Clifford’s old house, and back home (at least I think this all we did after lunch…but I did fall asleep in the car.)

I don’t know what else this man has planned, but once again, we left with the knowledge that he would be in touch.  And I am fairly sure that it will be a good thing to stay in touch with the man who basically owns this town.  Who knows what will happen with another two days with a Sikh?

Malaysia

I was happy to fly again.  I had my fair share of buses lately and I was overjoyed for hot towels, food items, and plane movies.  And after an uneventful 8 hours to Dubai for our layover, I ended up buying a postcard for my brother, taking a picture of the tallest building in the world, and eating at McDonalds, all from the airport.  (Gross right!  I don't typically crave McDonalds...but I hadn't had it in 7 months, so there you have it.)

We took another 8 hours to get ourselves to Malaysia on another plane.  Landing in Kuala Lumpur at 11:00pm got us on a bus for the hostel for the night.  At 12:00am, one of our boys screamed, "There's a snake on the bus!" and pointed down as we all hopped on top our seats.  Once the screaming stopped, he yelled, "April Fool's"!

That was a good one... And as I finally placed my feet on the ground, I thought about April.  Wow!  We are in the Spring in America..and I left in the fall.  But those things mean nothing as I travel, other than marking the time I am gone.  And knowing that my family's lives have gone on another winter without me.

We stayed in a hostel with no windows and the comfiest beds and hot showers any poor African Missionary could ask for.  And I had the best night of sleep that I have had in months. (Plus there was Air-Conditioner which made  big difference too!)

Then a bus ride to Kuala Lipis where we are now staying at the Center we will teach in.  We sleep in the classrooms and will move our things out every time we teach.  But don't worry, we don't seem to have much teaching time.  So I am looking forward to seeing a little more of the country as we have a little more free-time this month.

I am happy to be back in Asia.  I missed this place.  But I am also struggling with some things and could use prayers.  I need God's strength because I often am just so tired and lonely that I want to give up.  But I can't quit...I won't quit.  But I can't do it on my own.  Please pray for a fresh wind, joy, and a better relationship with my team.