Living On Purpose

October 3, 2013

Camel Countryside

I've been intending to upload this post for quite some time, however I haven't been able to get around to doing so until now. Last spring some fellow PCV site mates and other expat friends of mine along with the HSUM-GAA college professors had an expedition to the "mirage of the Gobi." Now when I was originally approached by Jargal (one of the teachers at HSUM) about this trip I was all for it, camels, off road travel and the desert that's an adventure in the making for sure I thought, and boy o boy was it amazing. We left the college around 9am and hopped in our russian van loaded with food, water and a gang of eager travelers. It wasn't that long into our journey when we stopped for a morning "snack." The meal consisted of chicken drumsticks, rice, bread and an array of assorted pickled vegetables and sweets. We laid out a blanket for our impromptu picnic and with the beautiful mountains as our backdrop we feasted. Then it was back in the van and we continued our journey for about another hour until we arrived at our destination...Khaliun village. Shortly upon arriving we were ushered into the home of the student that was traveling with us. Not only was this young man our tour guide, we would later find out his family owned the camel farm (if thats what you call it) which is why the teachers asked him to join us. So yea, we entered his home, (belly's still full from the breakfast we had 45 minutes earlier) and were seated in the living room. We were offered aka in Mongolia given traditional milk tea, now don't get me wrong Mongolia is second to none when it comes to hospitality, Mongolians genuinely give even when in some instances they don't have the means to do so. It is seen as being extremely rude to turn down food or drink especially after a journey. After the milk tea, soup, dried meat and pastries, we were back in the van for a short 2 minute ride to where they kept the camels. Much to our surprise it was that time of year when the camels fur is shaved and the new calfs are marked/branded. We had the opportunity to both ride and milk camels. As we were hanging out with the camels, it was then that I realized what Jargal was referring to before about the "mirage of the Gobi." As I looked west there appeared to be some type of body of water either a pond or a small lake (I couldn't tell), but this my friends was the mirage. We would say goodbye to our camel friends have a quick tour of the bag (a small village less than 2,000 people) and were on our way back to Altai. As always I've included some pictures below of our adventures. Enjoy :)

The villages secondary school children.

Meat Drying

Some of the herders wrangling a camel, in preparation for shaving.

October 1, 2013

The New Health Department

Two PCV's and three years later the new GAA health department is completed! Were finally settled in and I'm enjoying the opportunity of sharing an office with three of my counterparts. It's a spacious and cozy workplace, and best of all the heating system actually works. I probably shouldn't speak so soon, it is still fall and we won't really know until winter. About a week after moving in we had a ribbon cutting ceremony, I've posted a few pictures below from that event. Enjoy :)

The ceremony began bright in early at the town square. A fitness exercise was led by our towns athletic director.

Associate head director Toya.

Vegetarian breakfast.

Gifts for the new health department (thats my director Deorge on the right)

More gifts...

Health Department Staff 2013

Compassion Bloggers: Blog Month Post #2

"The presence of dignity doesn't mean poverty is absent"

Dignity is defined as "the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect." In 1 John 4:7 it is written "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God." We are called to love one another wholeheartedly, and from love all else will follow. Love is the mother of respect, without love we are not compelled to respect anyone. This same attitude applies to one's self, if you don't love yourself you won't respect yourself. God loves us unconditionally and because of this we should constantly strive to reciprocate the same love for one another. So if love is the foundation for respect and both are present, as stated in the above quote it doesn't necessarily mean that poverty is absent, however love and dignity are the first two steps towards fighting poverty. God is love which means that he is not absent even in the presence of poverty. All men are entitled to dignity even in the midst of poverty. As an expression of your love and dignity for children living in poverty, will you sponsor a child today?

Sponsor a Child in Jesus Name with Compassion

September 20, 2013

Compassion Bloggers: The Story behind the picture

A walk in my shoes

"For we walk by faith, not by sight"- 2 Corinthians 5:7. Take a walk in my shoes for a brief moment and you will see life from my eyes, the eyes of a child living in poverty. Eyes that are big and brown, blue, green, hazel and black. Eyes that have seen struggle, grief, hunger, loneliness, despair and pain. Eyes that long to see a classroom, a wholesome meal, happiness, and love. Am I not a child? Shouldn't my days be filled with wonder, curiosity, joy and above all else the basic necessities of life? My walk is difficult and tiresome, but I know there is a greater hope out there. A hope that cares, protects, listens, comforts and gives life meaning. Our walk is a walk of faith, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." My faith is being absolutely convinced and assured that what we hope for and believe in according to the promises of God in the Scripture is indeed going to come to pass. Faith is more than just empty hoping or thinking positively. It is an assurance and confidence that pierces to the depth of our souls that what God has said is true because God is for real and His promises are sure. Will you help me along my walk? Demonstrate compassion and sponsor me.

When you sponsor a child, you give them hope and sometimes new shoes for just $38 a month.

September is Compassion International's Blog Month, which aims to find sponsors for 3,160 children. So far at least 1,583 have sponsors. This is the first post I've written as part of this Compassion Bloggers campaign. This is a cause that is near and dear to my heart, I'm blessed to have the opportunity to share my passion to alleviate children from poverty with you all.

Quote of the Week September 15-20

September 12, 2013

Parte del verano dos 2013

Za. What an eventful and productive summer 2013. I had the opportunity to work with an
amazing bunch of individuals in Darkhan. Time really does fly when your busy, you almost wish there were more hours in a day. I was a little nervous and apprehensive about being a trainer this summer to be honest, those emotions were short lived after meeting my training group. The M24 health trainees were an outstanding group of people to work with. I couldn't have asked for a more respectful and engaged people. Our days were long and tiresome but I would do it all again in a heart beat. So after all of the reports, evaluations and meetings it was time to swear in the 24th class of Peace Corps Mongolia Volunteers. Trainees performed a series of traditional Mongolian songs and dances and were sworn in by both our PC Mongolia country director and the US ambassador to Mongolia.

M24 Health Trainees along with HCT Bolormaa and I

PST 2013 Health Sector Training Staff

Health Technical Trainers

Hanging out in the tent during our PST staff picnic

PST 2013 Trainers

Indian for dinner at Asian Kitchen (The best chicken curry in Mongolia!)

Bolormaa and I

Friends and fellow Health PCVs La'Mia and Rosemary

PST HCT (Host country national) trainers and I

Newly sworn in M24 Health PCV's

Olivia, LoRee and I

DPT Christy (Director of programming and Training), HCT Mendee and I

HCT Zoloo and I

Laura and I

Swearing in

After the swearing in ceremony, I packed up my things and headed south for UB (Ulan Bator). At the conclusion of one year of service all PCV's are required to attend MST (Mid Service Training) as well as receive both dental and medical exams. Our MST was held at a ger camp 50 kilometers east of the capital near the infamous "Tsonjin Boldog" Chinggis Khan Statue. MST was a time to reflect back on the success' and challenges of my first year. During sessions we were able to share our projects, discuss future plans and possible collaborations with other PCV's. After MST I headed back to UB for a few days before departing for Altai. I was FINALLY able to get a little bit of R&R/downtime so I decided to catch a movie, and well lets just say, I had the unfortunate displeasure of watching X-men Origins: Wolverine 2. Now don't get me wrong I love X-men, Hugh Jackman and the first Wolverine was amazing, however I knew something was wrong when the movie began at a weird cross between and Castaway and Inception. Anywho enough about Wolverine, I was able to go to a couple of art galleries and museums which were phenomenal. And to top it all off I ate at a fantabulous Sushi restaurant named "Nyomi." (Cue Nelly Furtado's Why do all good things come to an end?) It was that time again to say goodbye to a few great M21 PCV's and good friends Leon and Kate. They threw a going back to America party, were they had a hilarious "Roast." Then it was back to good ole Govi-Altai! We have two new M24 PCV's Jerome and Max. Jerome works at the General Hospital in the aimag center and Max lives and works in a soum village 1.5 hours outside of the aimag center at a secondary school. As always my birthday not only marks yet another year of life but the end of my favorite season...summer. FYI: August 29th is also Michael Jacksons birthday (RIP). I was blessed to spend time with some of my good Mongolian friends and site mates. Going into my second year of service I still remain optimistic and confidant in the work that lies ahead. Capacity building and sustainability are not only parallel components of community development they are what I strive to accomplish in every single aspect of my work here in Mongolia. God has put me here for a reason to not only fulfill his purpose, but to live my life on purpose.