From 600 Wheelchairs to 70 Pieces of Kitchen Equipment: Our Week in Mongolia

The week started with a big surprise—a wheelchair delivery. When we were asked to help unload, we thought it might be a small batch. Little did we know it would be 600 wheelchairs! J.D. helped with the heavy lifting, hauling and stacking of boxes, while I climbed on top, trying (unsuccessfully) to keep an accurate count. These chairs will soon be donated to hospitals across the country—a wonderful project to be part of.

On Thursday, we joined in another handover ceremony, this time for kitchen equipment. More than 70 pieces of equipment were donated to 12 kindergartens (what we’d call day care centers) throughout Khan Uul District. It was such a joy to see the excitement and gratitude on the directors’ faces!

Now, about those driver’s licenses… Our last update was that after several delays beyond our control, we finally took the test—only to fail. You have to wait a week before retaking it, and then, of course, you need someone available to take you. Friday was finally the day, so we studied hard and showed up first thing in the morning—only to find out the testing schedule for foreigners had just changed, and they no longer test on Fridays. Just our luck! At this point, we’re wondering if maybe we weren’t meant to drive in Mongolia. With a busy week ahead, it may be another week before we can try again. The license saga continues!

Speaking of driving, we asked why traffic has felt lighter lately. It turns out the government is experimenting with a new system: cars with license plates ending in even numbers drive one day, odd numbers the next. It’s definitely eased congestion, but locals predict it will just encourage more car ownership—two cars per family so they can still drive daily.

And then there was No Car Day on Saturday. Twice a year—in spring and fall—the city closes the roads to vehicles. When we first arrived, we caught the spring day and loved seeing kids zipping around on bikes, scooters, and roller skates. Sadly, this time around the day came with nonstop rain. The streets were empty, but so were the sidewalks—no chance for the kids to enjoy their special day.

One of the things we treasure most here is the people we meet. This week we spent time with a new friend from the Philippines. She had been feeling lonely and prayed for guidance about where to worship. By chance, she walked past our church building, came the next day, and that’s how we met. It’s been a joy to learn together and share the gospel with her.

We love the work we’re doing here in Mongolia. Every week brings new experiences, new people, and new challenges. Still, we miss our family and friends back home and love hearing from you.