Hope in the Clouds

The photos I googled of Bayankhongor weeks before our plane took off pale in comparison to the cloudy skies and the mountains we wake up to every morning. The physical character of this country warms my heart, but also haunts me to prayer - something so beautiful on the outside, full of darkness and need of everlasting life within.

The other day we climbed 427 steps past a Buddhist temple to overlook the city from the hills. This country is filled with Buddhists who do not know God, so we prayed for the miracle of truth in the people, and for the few Christians who must put their differences aside and unite for the Kingdom. There is hope in the clouds, but it seems so far away...The majesty in the sky is like artwork, but these clouds rarely bring rain. The dryness makes it harder to breathe and the lack of water makes washing dishes and laundry difficult tasks.

We got to visit the yurt of an older woman who likes to attend church at YWAM and sing some worship songs for her and learn her story. She hadn't attended service in a while because her vision and her son's are fading with age. When I prayed over her house, I felt chills and the presence of the Holy Spirit in power amongst us believers. We asked God to empower the Christians in Mongolia, for the new families we met, and for rain. Just shortly after we left, God performed a miracle of rain in sprinkles, like a promise of hope. Days later, it poured.

To tell the story of Mongolia is impossible - it must be lived out to be known. The little joys of late night soccer beside the river and yaks, card games and laughter, the ability for believers to communicate despite the language barrier - all showing us clearly that God is here with us. It fills me with joy to be serving the Lord in such a forgotten land, but brings me to tears to think we will one day leave. Until that day comes, we cherish every moment here as a blessing from the Lord.

Amongst all this, we ask for prayer for our team because spiritual warfare is very present here, as well as physical illness and exhaustion in all team members. We ask that you pray for the YWAM members to be encouraged by us in our English teaching and work, and for the Lord to do powerful acts through them here in Buddhist Mongolia.

-Michaela Mccune for Team Mongolia