September 12, 2003

Selenge.

That's the name of a river in Mongolia. It is also the name of a young woman who has trusted Jesus as her Savior.

"You don't need to pray for me because I am going to Heaven," Selenge told a man who came to offer traditional Mongolian prayers for her family.

Selenge is a neighbor to missionaries Jeremy and Roxy Thiessen. She attended Bible lessons and believes that Jesus Christ paid for her sins. When missionary Dan Jacobsen taught a lesson on baptism a few weeks ago, Selenge and five other believers approached him and asked to be baptized.

The Thiessens and the Jacobsens are allowed to work in Mongolia because they are building a prenatal clinic to help the people. The speaker of the house of parliament in Mongolia asked Dan why they were there.

"It is because God wants us to be here to share about Christ with people," Dan said.

"You guys have done enough for this town," the speaker said, "It is time you moved on."

But the missionaries know their work involves more than physical needs.

"Have we done what we came here for? Materially, yes ... what about spiritually? Have we made a difference?" the Thiessens question themselves.

Narantsitsig (Sunflower), Atgaa (Last Decoration), Naravaa (Jewel), Bolorerdene (Crystal Treasure), Altagana (Golden Treasure) and Selenge were baptized on Aug. 19.

"It was neat to watch those individuals take that step of obedience," the Thiessens wrote. "There is evidence of God at work ... and any evidence of His work in lives is miraculous!"

Pray for the Thiessens, the Jacobsens and others to continue faithfully ministering to the Mongolian people. Missionary Ron VanPeursem is in Mongolia speaking at a field conference Sunday through Wednesday.

Pray too for the Mongolian believers. Selenge is leaving her home village to attend a foreign language college in another Mongolian province.