I had no idea how God had prepared me to serve in Mongolia when I committed to serve as a conversational English teacher at a medical college in the Gobi Desert for five weeks. The journey began when I heard an SIM speaker who told us to "step out in faith toward God and not hold back." That challenge spoke to me, and I joined the short-term team.

God prepared our way

	Amanda, second from left, with her Mongolian friends

Before we left, our team prayed for opportunities to share the Gospel with influential people among the faculty and medical students. God more than answered our prayers. At the mayor's invitation, our team taught not only the medical students, but also city and provincial government officials, bank employees, the police department, and local community members!

God also made an opening for a long-term connection with the college. The head of the nursing department had just returned from a conference where she heard speaker from the University of Toronto, my alma mater! They desired a liaison between the medical college and the University of Toronto. When they invited me to help, I realized that God had planned more for me in Mongolia than these five weeks.

Sharing my story

Standing in front of a small church, just a few days after arriving, I discovered that God could use my background to minister to Mongolian people. I shared my story of living with an alcoholic family member, knowing that many attending the service would understand because the rates of alcoholism in the Mongolian society are very high.

Wounded hearts, broken families, damaged relationships and violence – I saw the effects of alcoholism, and it tore at my heart. I recognized the walls people had built around themselves just as I had done. It had taken years for me to allow God to remove those walls and to allow Him to love me. It had taken even longer to reach a point of forgiveness and reconciliation. Amazingly, I was sharing these things in Mongolia

One day while walking in the streets, I was thinking about the hardened, protective walls of the heart when I heard this clearly: "Just love them until the walls crumble." Love the Mongolian people with the gentle, tender, loving arms of God until their hearts are able to receive healing.

I am so amazed at how God has prepared me so I can interact deeply with the Mongolian people! I am called to love just the way God loved me during my healing journey. God wants to set broken hearts free, and he has invited me to help! I am preparing to return to Mongolia in 2008.

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There are many opportunities to serve God in Mongolia. Find out how God could use you