Setting Up Shop

We are slowly getting established in the Hovd community. Here is a picture of the storefront we have recently rented, located very near our host families and in a fairly central area of the Kazakh district. We hope to make this into a community "training room" where locals can get to know our organization and discuss local issues. We plan to have a small "prayer chapel" in one corner.

Next to the storeroom is where the former owners used to live. We will hang a banner and start rennovating it this week to house our Fitness Outreach. We hung posters around the area and announced in the district meeting, now it is up to God to bring the men!


Our families also recently moved out of the gers and into houses. Here is the main room of the Lains' 3- room house, which is located directly behind the store. There is certainly a lot of work to do around here! Although it is still temporary, we have already begun exploring some possibilities for purchasing a central CAMA facility in the Spring. Pray with us!

Darhan Trainings

In June we launched a 12-week series on family finances. One of our goals is to help people (especially in ger communities) design and implement income generating activities... but first they need to learn how to manage the money and resources God has already given them! There are many small business supports in town, but nothing like this.

Three of our classes are dedicated to helping people start neighborhood savings groups. They will need encouragement, accountability, and help from others in order to start things like emergency funds and budgets. Plus this will give their group a good foundation for working with other NGOs and government agencies. These are some of the students from District #1 in Darhan.

Another one of our major goals is to help people to manage their public "wealth." This will hopefully include street improvements as well as social activities, but it will take awhile to establish good leadership and trust between members! These are some of the students from District #2. Altogether we have about 30 students for our first course.

Basketball Courtyard

We found that the Youth Association in the town of Hovd has both organization and initiative, so let's get to work! They were already prepared with two ideas - 1) an internet center for their town (which we asked them to start by finding a room and preparing 1/3 of the cost themselves), and 2) a basketball court surrounded by benches and new trees...

These young men will prepare the ground themselves, fence off a 30x50 meter courtyard, plant trees and build stone benches. Then, when CAMA assists by delivering the cement and a pair of backboards, these guys will go to work on the 15x28 slab. Here we are out taking measurements near the local school. Then it was straight to the huddle to draw up the plans. Perhaps we will even be able to partner with the Elders' Association to build a gazebo or two!

Beginnings

I once heard a co-worker comment that sometimes we need to be "brought DOWN to speed" in order to pursue the growth and development of whole people. So here I am in a brand new place - the Kazakh town of Hovd - SLOWLY building relationships and listening to the dreams and challenges people are facing here.

This is the ger (yurt) of Jalhishbai, who is working to organize local herders in order to deal with the major issues of rural roads, pasture rotation, and diminishing access to water. To the left is Aijoldis, who assists in the Womens' Association and dreams of establishing a sewing shop and developing a handicrafts cooperative. To the right is Amanbol, a young man who participates in the Youth Association which we will soon be partnering with on a basketball court...

Hard-working people with ideas to gather others and improve life in this cold rocky land, simply in need of Hope and a little encouragement. May they be grounded in God's will and set free in the authority of Christ!

Moving West

Our work begins in western Mongolia this week, as a team of us goes to Hovd to assess living conditions after a harsh winter and potential floods from thawing. Please pray with us for the Mongolians and Kazakhs we will meet there...