HOT welcome!

As you know, I just got home from a 3 week trip.  Well, as I left our nearest town, I saw smoke from out our way, as I got closer I realized it was on the big hill behind our house.  Well, I drove on up to talk to the Fire Department that was on the top of the hill.  It seemed that the fire was not too big, but soon the wind picked up and the whole ridge was burning.  The wind was being very helpful to the fire, and not the firefighters.  The fire blazed down off the hill and there were lots of fire equipment.  It was interesting to watch.  Kase enjoyed watching the helicopter and his bucket doing their job.  It definitly kept us awake for the evening. We were very blessed by having several neighbors come to check on us as well.  It never seemed that the fire would get to the house, but may get close.  But the wind died down eventually and the total acres burned is around 2000.  I eventually went to bed, but talked to a fireman before I did.  He pulled up in the driveway with lights on and asked if it would be fine if they were there for the night.  As I could still see a red line of flame going up the hill it sounded like a good idea.  I told him I would leave the door open and if he needed to wake me up - so come on in and as I was on the wrong time zone, he might have to shake me, but I would wake up. 

a LONG day!

Kase and I left Mongolia at Midnight  on Tuesday - so Wednesday, Mongolia time.  We flew to Incheon and so we arrived there at 4AM.  We were pretty tired and so crashed out there for 6 hours or so.  And got up for lunch.  Our plane to San Fransisco left at 3:40 PM so made that flight with plenty of time to spare.  It was an 11 hour flight, but we arrived back in SFO at 10:40 AM still on Wednesday.  We sailed through customs, but had to go through the Agriculture line in Border control.  So my boots got cleaned, but we did not have anything really that was quarantined.  So we are now at lunch time again on the same day.  We went to our gate, then went to the kids area in a different section of the airport.  Fun!  Coffee and hot chocolate were next on the agenda, also very helpful.  We were getting pretty tired and so had to stay standing up.   We went and watched the runway for a while then got some yummy Sourdough bread and soup.  Finally our plane was ready to go.  We - neither of us - remember the plane taking off in Frisco, but it did land in Boise so it must have taken off.  We were pretty tired and slept the whole way.  I thought I would have to carry Kase off the plane, but he woke up long enough to walk and get our luggage, then to the hotel, into our PJ's and into bed at 7:30 PM all on the same day!

Adventure Continued

The adventure continues.

Our team had a day of rest and went to church and some relaxed for the afternoon and some went and worked on a few projects and some sightseeing.  Dad Deckers luggage was still not arrived.  But we got a note from Mom saying that it was on the way.  The man in San Francisco who she had talked to was going to get it on its way!  Yeah!!!  So it finally arrived on Monday.  Dustin and Dad drove out to the airport to collect it on Monday.  While they were collecting luggage, the rest of the group went to the black market.  We were in at  10:30 out by 12:30 and all arrived and left accounted for and with no one getting mugged or really taken advantage of.  We were so grateful to have Dad’s luggage as we were able to take it and all the other craft and other supplies we still had left over and take them all to our next destination.  We were doing the same VBS – Vacation Bible School – for a different bunch of Missionary Kids - MKs.  A retreat for the mission group that we worked with while we were in Mongolia.  What an adventure. 

We rode the bus up on Tuesday morning – after the bus driver finally found where we were staying.  We had of course all actually been ready to go on time this morning and ready and the bus driver did not get good directions and was an hour late!  But anyway – we were found!  We had a wonderful, fast, bumpy drive for 2 hours up to the retreat center.  We were informed ehre that we would have hot water for a while every 2 hours during the day.  Shower spaces were shared by all, so take your shower and keep moving so others can shower as well.  Very doable.  We were shown to our rooms.  Everyone was good with that.  We found our space for the kids program to be a very large concrete ger.  Laid out in the traditional style of the Mongolian Ger, but on a grand scale, it was huge.  We set to work transforming it into a beach party wanting to happen!  Very Fun!  We had nets, beach animals, tons of beach balls, beach towels, sea shells, a hula skirt, and lots of other beach themed decorations!  The kids were thrilled and the parents loved it to.  We did many fun games, told Bible stories, and talked of how we are continuing on the answer to the prayers of Hudson Taylor in his prayers for China and Mongolia.  We also did loads of crafts.  This was extremely fun as Mongolia is kind of at the end of a limited supply chain.  BUT, since the suitcase with lots of craft supplies had arrived in time, we felt free to say, yes, make two or four or however many you want of this craft, because we had plenty to spare!  It was a joy at the end of the retreat as well to be able to pass on this wealth of supplies to the long term missionaries and their families who could use them on through the year. 

Only a few people got very sick and that was good.  There were several people on medicine for travelers stomach bug, but that was really all.  No one got hit by a car – another miracle! 

The day after we arrived back we enjoyed a day of touristing.  We went to the Natural History Museum and saw all the interesting taxidermy, and the huge collection of Dinosaur bones.  Kase had lots of fun showing people around this museum as he loves that place!  Uncle Marvin came with us as well, an extra special treat for him!  We went for a wonderful lunch and then out to the Mary & Martha shop for some interesting shopping for souvenirs.  http://www.mmmongolia.com/

Sunday afternoon we enjoyed a wonderful lunch with Diana and then divided up to go different places.  Some of the guys went to the rescue house project to finish up their project there and some of us went back to the ger camp to pack up.  The whole team flies out on Monday.  Spent Monday packing, and visiting a few last places.  Everyone off safely and home! 

First Week in Mongolia

Good Morning from Mongolia!

We had a wonderful and blessed week teaching VBS this week to the Mission Kids Many Moms and Dads told us how blessed their kids were and that they had such a fun and enjoyable time. Their kids don't get VBS programs and they had such a fun time. The parents - mostly missionaries - were incredibly blessed to have had us com and do this for their kids.

We also had the opportunity to help out a couple of other missionaries with some home projects, such as painting an entryway for a guest apartment for short term teams and visitors. We also were able to help in building an entry for a half-way type house for rescued girls who are victims of domestic violence. It will help them as their house will have a bit more insulation in the house for the cold winters. They were very blessed to have us help with this project. Alissa is planning to give most of her stuffed animals to this shelter as well. They will be very blessed to have these beautiful stuffed animals. She is excited to give them there! What a blessing!

We were able to help with some English Language classes this week as well. It was quite fun and very much of an experience for everyone involved. The variety of the grasp of English was wide and we were challenged to keep up with the class and challenge them to continue to get better language. We encouraged lots of conversation with some guessing games and ice breakers.

John completely enjoyed his time at the Marriage conference he went to. He taught on the Love and Respect book. He was challenged in teaching through a translator, but did a great job. Everyone was very blessed and encouraged by this teaching. He was in a beautiful setting at a Mongolian Ger camp and he took lots of pictures to share with us when we get home. He was very glad to get back to showers and meat that was NOT mutton. :)

We also got the great news last night that luggage - Dad's 2 bags - that have been sitting in San Fransisco, are finally on their way. This will give us all the things for the JCS retreat that we are going to go to this coming week. We are anticipating going to church today and worshiping with the locals.

This week we go to the JCS retreat this week. We are putting on the JCS kids program and we are pretty excited about it. We have lots of missionary kids there and it will be a wonderful experience for all of us. Please be in prayer for us as we go.

Thank you for all your prayers. We have all felt safe and protected even though we have had some adventures! No one has gotten very sick, though a few of us have had small bugs. No big injuries and no trips to the doctor!

Thanks again!
The Missions Crew!