Making Mission Memories in Mongolia

  This week’s blog looks a little different. Instead of writing from Mongolia, we’re writing from Arizona—where we unexpectedly returned to celebrate the life of our beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and husband, Dean. His passing brought a swirl of emotions, tender memories, and sacred moments that we will carry with us forever. When we first got the call, we wrestled with the decision to come home. The cost was high. The travel was long. But something kept tugging at us—and now, having been there, we can say with certainty: we are so glad we came. The time we shared with family—hugging, remembering, crying, laughing—was a gift. A healing breath. A reminder that our families are eternal and will be together forever.  We all agreed Grandpa had impeccable timing. We were home for Keesa’s birthday, for the 4th of July, and for the first family gathering in the Flake’s new home—a place that somehow already felt like the heart of the family. Keesa and Louis graciousl...

We figured it was about time we introduced you to TIM . You might be wondering—who is TIM? Well, TIM stands for This Is Mongolia , and we use it fondly to describe all the things that are uniquely, sometimes hilariously, Mongolian: the traffic, the broken sidewalks, the UB cab experience, the complete absence of measuring spoons, and of course, the joyful chaos of Children’s Day. This week brought not one, but two classic TIM moments. The first: cold showers . Since much of Mongolia’s infrastructure dates back to the Soviet era, all the hot water and electricity for the city—yes, all 1.5 million people—comes from a central source. Once a year, that system shuts down for scheduled maintenance. For two weeks, there’s no hot water in the pipes. On day one, we bravely attempted a shower. Ten seconds in, we were convinced the water was coming straight from Siberia. It was brain-freeze cold. After that shock, we devised a survival system: fill the tub the night before so the water could re...

  Another beautiful week in the “Land of the Eternal Blue Sky” has come and gone! For our preparation day, we took some time to explore the area and soak in the history and beauty around us. We’re so grateful to our friend Enkhjiguur Bayarjav (we call him Jay) for generously taking time to show us around! One stop we made was at the Chinggis Khan statue and as the below photos show, the statue was massive and awe-inspiring. We learned so much about the legacy of Chinggis Khan and the ancient history that continues to shape this incredible country.                          There were also camels at the site so of course I couldn't pass up the opportunity to ride a camel!                                                     Next, we visited a 13th-century village where...