Brent and Lisa Liberda

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Prayer Letter/Ministry Update

(status indicator at the right may indicate that we are on "home assignment" - you will gather from this update that this is not accurate)

February 18, 2010

WINTER DISASTER CONDITIONS IN MONGOLIA!

It is reported to be the coldest winter in 25 years here in Mongolia. The largest celebration of the year here in Mongolia, their annual new moon, new year celebration called Tsagaan Sar (white moon) has been going on this week. This holiday also marks the start of "spring." If one considers temps rising above 0 F to be springlike, the holiday has accurately marked its beginning. After months of consistently below 0 low and high temperatures, the warming that has accompanied Tsagaan Sar has been a breath of fresh spring air. However, the harshness of this winter with its cold temperatures and in many places deep snows has also brought on conditions that in Mongolia are referred to as zud (zoad). The sound of the word seems fitting for natural-disaster proportion winter conditions. Much of the country has experienced genuine zud or zud-like conditions, and the cost has been high and is mounting. This cost is especially high for rural dwelling, semi-nomadic herding families who rely on livestock for their livelihoods. In addition to the struggle to stay warm and alive themselves, they have the added problem of their livelihood being susceptible to the harsh conditions...namely their animals. Millions of livestock have perished and continue to die in the harsh winter conditions. A Mongolian friend and former Mongolian language teacher of ours is one of the local coordinators for the relief campaign. Below is a document that he is presenting to foreign organizations and individuals residing in Mongolia to invite their participation in the relief efforts. Reading this document provides a pretty vivid picture of the conditions and the situation many are finding themselves in.

As noted in this document, in addition to material and physical needs associated with this relief effort, there is also a major need for financial contributions. Of course most of us cannot deliver bales of hay or livestock feed, clothing or fuel, or any other kinds of material aid. But it is possible to contribute to the financial need. If anyone wishes to contribute to this relief effort, visit this Journal entry on our website for details on how to designate and send contributions.

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RURAL MONGOLIA FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CAMPAIGN
(information and invitation notice presented to foreign organizations and individuals)

Drought conditions this year throughout 80-90% of Mongolia’s territory have hindered and prevented the growth of vegetation, including vegetable crops and livestock forage. Heavy snowfall has occurred this winter accompanied by extreme cold temperatures, producing the disaster level conditions known in Mongolia as zud. Severe weather events including blizzards and extreme cold have occurred frequently. As a result more than 2 million livestock have perished and are dying from the harsh weather conditions. Sums in the western Aimags of Hovd, Uvs, Bayan-Ulgii, and Zavhan have experienced especially difficult conditions. Many rural livestock owners have lost large numbers of animals to zud conditions. According to the daily news reports, the magnitude of losses continues to increase.

Many government agencies, the Mongolian health agency, other national organizations, large corporations, and individuals willing to assist have donated material items such as livestock feed, clothing, medicines and health products, foods such as flower and rice etc., and other needed items to rural populations to help them in this time of crisis. However, despite efforts to provide these material resources, rural dwellers continue to experience extreme financial hardships. As well as material aid items, there remains the need for additional monetary aid.

The shortage of financial resources has led many rural dwellers to resort to acquiring bank loans. These loans have been acquired to provide for three main needs requiring financial expenditures:

To provide for and prepare such necessities as well water, livestock feed, building material, and repair and replacement of needed equipment and dwellings.
To provide for the cost of food, clothing, lodging, transportation, and tuition for children studying away from home at boarding schools and universities.
To provide for the costs of items needed for rural and nomadic living conditions such as automobiles, motorcycles, generators and other electronic devices and equipment. In order to provide for these things many have acquired loans between 1,000,000 and 10,000,000 tugrug ($700-$7,000).

Example of current conditions:
In Hovd aimag, Zereg Sum, there are around 800 families. Of these 800 families, 620 (78%) depend on livestock for their livelihood. Of these 620 families, 510 (82%) have acquired bank loans. Some have experienced the loss of all of their livestock. Others have experienced a tremendous loss of monetary value in their livestock due to the decline in health and market value of surviving animals. Since November, 126 debt-holding households have been unable to pay back their loans and accumulated interest, resulting in 46 million tugrug in outstanding loan debt that remains unpaid. Families with unpaid debts are now under great stress due to their difficult financial situation. This example from one Aimag is representative of conditions in other Aimags as well.

Due to these prevailing conditions and the difficult situation faced by many rural Mongolians, we the organizers of this assistance campaign are taking the initiative to call upon, invite, and urge Mongolian residents of Ulaanbaatar, Darhan, and Erdenet, as well as foreign citizens and foreign organizations residing in Mongolia, to consider voluntarily providing assistance through financial contributions. These financial contributions will be directed to the rural families in need to help them through this time of great hardship.

Anyone desiring to donate to this financial assistance campaign may contact the coordinator below to make their contribution. When contacting, whether by phone or by writing, please be sure to provide your name, address, cell phone number and work number.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to help! No charitable donation you can give towards this is regarded as insignificant or too small. May God bless all people, and especially those in tremendous need at this time!

Contact Person for making donations:
Darhan Area Rural Financial Assistance Campaign Coordinator
H. Altansuh
Phone: 99377357, 98089828
City of Darhan
February, 2010

Be sure to check out our website Journal page for pictures: www.LiberdaFamily.com

Prayer Requests/Answers to Prayer

Pray for wisdom and direction as we move on from language study and enter into new ministry roles. Pray also that through our relationships and involvement with Mongolians our language skills would continue to improve significantly in the months to come.

Continue to pray for our Field Director Pieter Theron as he recovers from the injuries he sustained due to an elephant attack in Thailand the first week of November. He has made remarkable improvement and is now back in Mongolia; however, continue to pray for full recovery and strength to serve and carry out his many responsibilities on the Mongolian field.

Pray for our MK School in Darhan. Karen Hessel, the new MK school teacher, just started teaching this past week. Pray that she would adjust well to her move to Mongolia, learn the curriculum and all she needs to know quickly. Pray that with all the challenges she faces in a multi-grade classroom of MKs that her work would be a joy for her. Continue to pray for the Kindergarten class as well, which meets separately and is being taught by one of our teammates, Krista Fields.

Mongolia

Approved Specials

If you wish to contribute to one of our specials (vehicle funds, building projects, etc.) you may select it from the Approved Specials List.

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