Greetings to Our Wonderful Friends and Supporters,

GOOD NEWS!!  We just received word last night (August 14, 2003) that our Mongolian Vet Net group has received status as a registered NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) business in Mongolia. It has been officially approved by different branches of the Mongolian government.

This is a very important step in establishing the legal existence of Vet Net as its own entity. Part of the long range goal for bringing the gospel to Mongolia through veterinary medicine is to establish Christian Mongolian leadership. The approval of this NGO is one of the many steps that have now been completed. This will also allow the small animal clinic to have a NGO status which allows the clinic to be a for-fee, non-profit part of the NGO that will not pay tax. This is one more step in the privatization of veterinary medicine in this once communist stronghold. God is really moving to open new ways to spread the Gospel.

It seems that patience continues to be our key word. Just as Vet Net has been patiently waiting for the NGO status we, too, have been patiently waiting for the sale of our Tulsa home.  We rejoice with our co-laborer’s in Christ in Mongolia for the victory won yesterday. For those of you who know about the black horse case, God has that one under control (of course).  Even though it is not over yet, as Gerald Mitchum, the veterinary missionary in Vet Net says, the “tail is no longer wagging the dog and we are confident in our expert testimony; we are leaving the rest to God.”

Yesterday we also received an email from one of the women Mongolian veterinarians in Vet Net. Her name is Chimgee, a precious sister in the Lord who is growing in her faith daily and growing in her English skills.  In her email she said “Ok, come very soon, please.”

We definitely agree with “Ok come very soon, please.” We are ready to go. We continue to patiently prepare. We are standing in faith knowing the house will sell in the right time. We are praying Mark 11:24 “What things so ever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them and you shall have them.” We desire to continue to answer God’s call to go to Mongolia so we know by faith our house is sold and we have met our budget, in the name of Jesus. “Without faith it is impossible to please God…” Hebrews 11:6. We are standing in faith.

School is about to start and we have decided to home school George and Sally. This will allow us to have a flexible schedule so we can move at anytime and also go speak to churches/groups at anytime.  George’s soccer teams have allowed him to practice with the teams and continue to develop his skills – what a blessing. Thank you Jim, Bryan and Marc!

Please pray for all of us as we move into a home school environment. It will be an adjustment for all of us. We have a peace in doing this and there is excitement about what the Lord is doing. They will be “attending school” on DVD with A Beka Christian Academy in Pensacola, Florida. This will travel with us to Mongolia where George and Sally will be part of a Home School Co-op with students their age attending the same school.

John is home for ten days!  He is in-between Marine flight schools and is moving from Pensacola, Florida to Corpus Christi, Texas. It is such a joy to have him home. We will go visit relatives while he is here. John now has his official flight suit and helmet. He has done really well and continues to focus on the Lord and his witness in the Marine Corps. Please continue to pray for John.

We always enjoy hearing from you. Your notes and cards are always an inspiration and an encouragement to us. When we receive our monthly packet from CVM we can’t wait to read all the notes. We can only imagine what it will be like once we are on the other side of the world and we get mail from home! Keep those cards and letters coming.

Oh, by the way, our container, which we shipped to Mongolia in May, arrived safely and is now in Vet Net storage awaiting our arrival. It contains all of our winter clothes so please pray with us that we will be settled in before winter!

Please share with us your prayer requests. We enjoy praying for you as well. Prayer is powerful. Also, please remember that we can come share our mission in Mongolia with your church, civic organization or any group who would like to hear about Mongolia. Our presentation is complete with a power point presentation including pictures and relics from Mongolia. To learn about a country that not many people know please call us to schedule a presentation at 918-481-5233.

In His Service,

The Ballenger’s