We are here!

After long hours in several planes, we finally made it here to Hongor. The last plane ride was the most thrilling of them all. We began to feel the plane start circling the single landing stand in the Chinngis Khan International Airport. The captain same on to tell us that high winds are keeping them from landing the plane safely. They would continue to try for 20 more minutes, and if they couldn't land, they would fly to Beijing...2 hours away...My mom's face was a bit priceless. I don't think I've prayed so hard for God to stop winds in my life. Reminded me of Luke 8 when Jesus calmed the wind and sea while the disciples were freaking out. Eventually, we were able to land and the pilot received his grateful applause. After spending the night in the Tokyo Hotel in Ulan Baater, Chimgee provided for us and escorted us through our 4 hour drive to Hongor. We are all safe and healthy, just enjoying getting to have a transition period for sleeping and talking with Jerry and Susan.

We got to see the goat barn set up for us, and the pet goat they have kept tied up near it. Pictures will come soon. Internet connections the past few days have been very sparse and infrequent. Such is the functioning of most things Americans might think they need constantly. I'm sort of glad to have a chance to get away from most the "get up and go now" thinking as I do during the school year.

On Monday, the T Bar M group will be here to start training us and the Mustang Boys on how to run a sports camp. I'm so excited myself after feeling down about not being at T Bar M this summer to be a coach. Thanks to Drew Eubank and the 3 others to come (right now I only know that Amy Watley is coming, and old leadership team member during my first year of coaching).

The kids are being moved out from the city life of Darkhan into the country here in Hongor. Along with that we also received news about the government passing a new policy that requires all children who have living relatives to be under their guardianship. This includes several of Jerry's kids. Since Romans 13 declares that we should obey the government over us, we will be down to 18 kids by the end of the summer, dropping form 64. On a positive side, we know God is working in His perfect plan. Having less kids to care for for housing and schooling, Jerry could feed 3 kids in a feeding kitchen for a month for the same price of caring for 1 child in his orphanage for a month. More kids can be reached this way. Still, I feel emotionally distraught for most of these kids will be returning to bad home lives. I really have to remind myself that God is in control because I love these kids. God used them to seal my heart for Mongolia. They loved me unconditionally and called me sister. It's just heartbreaking to know that most of these kids will be gone one by one throughout the summer while I'm here.

Again I hope to put pictures up soon. I wasn't expecting to get Internet this morning and the folks wanted a post up now. I hope to see what God has planned for us beyond what we have planned for ourselves.

~Caitlin