A quick stock up on water and snacks meant we were prepared not only for the hot, dry climate of the Gobi Desert but also for the questionable food offerings we would encounter en route. We were told the goulash would be a safe choice. It wasn’t.

The journey took us from Ulaanbaatar down through Tuv Province, then Middle Gobi, and finally into the extreme desert region of South Gobi. Outside, the extraordinary landscape was uninterrupted for hours, except for the occasional horse. As we travelled further, the green grass faded into yellow sand and the horses were gradually replaced by camels. Some were alive and well, but others had succumbed to the elements.

However, we were not here for the landscape or the wildlife. Instead, we had made the journey to share the good news of Jesus with young children and their families. Having received winter kits last year, several dozen children were invited to a summer holiday Bible club held in a local church. The fellowship here is small, but they have a vision to reach this small, remote city. We were blessed to join them and play a small part.

In the morning, the children arrived looking intrigued by our presence and unsure as to what was in store. However, a few games and songs put smiles on their faces before members of the team shared from the Bible, acted out stories and led crafts which the children could take home to their parents.

We returned the next day for more songs, stories, crafts and fun, and we were able to present each child with a small gift bag of toys and treats. Each bag cost little more than £1, but it meant everything to the children.

One afternoon, we were able to visit the homes of these children, meeting their parents and siblings. In one family, the elderly husband had been rendered unable to work by an aggressive cancer. We were encouraged by his faith in Christ through this difficult ordeal, and it was a blessing to pray with him. In other homes, the families knew nothing of Christ. There, we were able to share that we had come to bless the children because we know a God who loves them.

We left Dalanzadgad with heavy hearts and a desire to stay longer, but it had been a privilege to meet these children and their families. Each had been selected to receive a winter kit because of their difficult financial situation, and we all left with a renewed gratitude for the many blessings we take for granted back home.

Back in Ulaanbaatar, we had opportunities to visit an orphanage and a feeding centre run by AsiaLink partners, as well as organising a youth sports day and an open mic night. At each event, the team shared Bible messages and personal testimonies to proclaim the power and goodness of God in every circumstance we face.

As we reflected on our trip, we felt grateful to God for the time we had spent in Mongolia. We gave thanks for that incredible country, for the believers we met, for the outreach opportunities we had been given, and for the ways God is using his church. We truly recognised that we are not the heroes in God’s story, but that we are privileged to play a small part in all He is doing.

 

HOW TO PRAY

· Give thanks for those who joined this team and for opportunities to share the gospel.

· Pray for all those who heard about Jesus and received prayer to see God at work in their lives and trust in Christ.

· Pray that the ongoing, day–to–day work of our partners would have been spurred on by the team’s visit.

· Ask that the Lord would cause these projects to flourish, working powerfully to save many and build His church.