The American Ambassador to Mongolia had just brought her cat to our veterinary clinic for an examination by our "foreign" veterinarian. She had some health concerns about Maosie. As I was examining Maosie, the door in the exam room opened to our big meeting/training room and I saw our American Ambassador's eyes get big. She saw what appeared to her as humans reclining in chairs having their teeth examined. Knowing that she had come to an animal hospital, I was sure she was quite puzzled and might think that we were doing something wrong, so I quickly shared with her what she was witnessing.

I explained that three weeks ago a dental team from America had arrived to join our teachers in the countryside. They had administered the love of Christ through dentistry to over 300 Mongolians who were in desperate need of dental care. Our teachers and drivers were their interpreters as well as evangelists as they spread the Good News of Jesus Christ in several Aimags (states) in Mongolia.

On their return to Ulaanbaatar (UB) they set up their dental clinic in our veterinary clinic to treat our Mongolian V.E.T. Net team and their family members. The dental team brought all their own equipment and transformed their area into dental exam and treatment rooms - complete with Southern Gospel music. I went on to tell the Ambassador that on Thursday morning the dental team will leave for a different part of the countryside once again. They will be gone for two weeks ministering much needed dental care and sharing the love of Christ. Foreign dentists are VERY popular here and people will travel for hours to be treated by a dentist. After looking in the mouths of several of our own team members, I can see why. How nice it must be to get rid of rotten teeth! I cannot imagine some of the pain that many of them have been living with. Also, due to a sweet tooth, many of them have cavities to fill. What a blessing this dental team has been.

As I explained this to the American Ambassador, I could see she was proud that American dentists would take their time and resources to come help the people of Mongolia. She was truly touched and Maosie, her cat, was helped too.

We continue to hear praise reports from our teachers and drivers as they return from the countryside summer school areas. Nergui, one of our drivers, told of how he was helping with the dental clinic the week before. He was explaining dental care to a man who had traveled over 126 miles by horseback to have dental work done. As he heard about the Good News of Jesus Christ, he and his friend accepted Christ as their Savior.

Another report from two of our school teachers was when they went to a Bag (town) to start their summer school, there were no Christians among the town's 18 family residents or in the surrounding country side. Over the summer several people wanted to know more about these teachers and why they were full of joy. They shared the reason for their joy and several received Jesus into their heart. When the teachers left at the end of summer there were 40 families in two weekly home Bible study groups. Other family members are now interested and asking about their new found joy. Praise God!

This morning in devotions one of our teachers, Naraa, who has been with the dental team, shared about dental hygiene and prophylaxis. She used the dental diagrams, picture and big plastic teeth and toothbrush. She really felt passionate about our V.E.T. Net team learning to care for their teeth. This was not the typical early morning devotion until she started giving the analogy of our mouth with God's redemptive plan. She told how our gums are like God, our teeth represent man, dental plaque represent sin and the dentist represents Jesus Christ (of course, our dental team dentists really liked that analogy). Naraa went to use the illustration that God (the gums) gives life and strength to man (the teeth). However, because man has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) sin (the plaque) has taken root in man and made man very unclean (dirty teeth). However, Jesus Christ (the dentist) has come to clean away the sins (the plaque) and bring new life to man (II Corinthians 5:17). However, if Jesus (the dentist) is rejected by man (the tooth) and not allowed to remove sin, then the sin (plaque) will cause the man to fall (teeth fall out) and be cast into hell (rotten teeth thrown into the trash). As Naraa shared this I once again was reminded how simple God's plan of redemption is and how He provides many ways to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. God loves us so much that he does not want anyone of us to perish (John 3:16). Jesus saves man from utter destruction and gives life more abundantly (John 10:10).

Now that I have preached myself happy, I will give you a quick family update. We were able to begin this school year with a field trip to the Great Wall of China, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City in Beijing, China. How nice it was to receive first hand knowledge in person rather than from a textbook. Beijing is so close to Mongolia that we were able to take in the sights before George and Sally started back to the home school co-op. John is dodging hurricanes in Pensacola, Florida and has soloed several times in Marine helicopters. Richard and I continue to minister with V.E.T. Net and try to seek God's will and plan in each step.

Thank you for your continual prayers and support of our family. We appreciate each one of you so very much. Thank you to those of you who send us words of encouragement through CVM, email or the postal service. You really brighten our day.

Sharing the Good News,

Mary for Richard, John, George and Sally

P.S. Remember to visit our website www.bigfootmkt.com and view our many pictures. You may also email us through our website and sign up to receive our monthly prayer letter via email.