There's a Sheep in my Bathtub

Just an introduction to There's a Sheep in my Bathtub. Goes before Chapter 1, but whatever!

Check out the first chapter of my new book, There's a Sheep in my Bathtub: Birth of a Mongolian Church Planting Movement. This one begins the story of our miraculous entry into Mongolia.

In which the author receives his calling to mission, finds a bride, moves to Las Vegas, and stumbles into what God has for his family.

This chapter sees the young family taken from suburban life out into the wilds of . . . Arizona?? They finally begin their mission journey by accepting a posting among the Navajo tribe. It is there they meet the couple God will use to open their eyes to Mongolia and its needs.
(photo: Mission Chapel at Hardrock, Navajo Nation)

In which the young family return to their post on the Navajo Reservation only to find God waiting there with a completely new worldview and direction! Louise and Brian encounter the world of the unreached nations through the class called Perspectives and head off on a whole new mission . . . to Mongolia! (Pictured: Magnus and Maria, the Swedish leaders of the church planting team.)

In this chapter our heroes watch all their carefully laid plans to enter Mongolia implode, and then receive word from God that they're to go anyway! That leap of faith turns out to be the beginning of many harrowing and heavenly adventures.

In which our heroes arrive in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's capital city, and find temporary lodgings, lifelong friends, and indigestion.

In which our heroes settle in to their new home in the Wild, Wild East outpost of Ulaanbaatar. Right in the midst of the Mongol hordes.

The church in Erdenet is born. The Hogan family struggles to keep fed in Ulaanbaatar and discover a great way to win hearts and minds. (Spoiler Alert: The story behind the book's title is in this chapter.)

The author recounts a typical day during his first year in Mongolia in diary form .

In which our author and his friend Lance take a trip into the hinterlands and find a village stranger than "Green Acres" and "Petticoat Junction" combined.
Photo is Lance and I in the "Pig Fat Cafe"

The Hogan family takes a "vacation" to lovely Lake Hobsgol in North Central Mongolia where they encounter extreme hospitality and the World's Second Oldest Profession (well, gardening was the oldest) - a walk on the wild side.

A collection of short humorous stories of the pitfall of learning a new language "on the streets".
Contains the critically acclaimed shorts:
Making Friends on the Bunny Slopes --- Killing ’em at the Funeral --- Another One Rides the Bus
(photo is of the crowded interior of an Ulaanbaatar bus)

A herculean effort moves the Hogan family from Ulaanbaatar to Erdenet by train on a frozen February night.

Our heroes' advance in moving into Erdenet is opposed and almost repulsed by the other side. They encounter the corruption of the system, but God triumphs over it. (Picture: the outer steel drunk-proof door to author's apartment in Erdenet)

The Holy Spirit comes to Erdenet in God's perfect time. The team changes God's name and Russian girls arrive with signs and wonders. The church breaks forth into every area of Erdenet society. (Picture is of the Russian Mongolia Friendship Monument above Erdenet that looks like hands crowning King Jesus)

Excerpts from a "Vival" Diary (vival = revival for the first time). On-the-scene observations of a move of God on the people of Erdenet, Mongolia.
(Photo: Russia believers with Louise Hogan for English lessons)

When the team leaders leave for a break in Sweden, our heroes are left behind in charge of the growing Mongolian movement and the new Russian church. Among the highlights are lessons learned about how believers gather and a wonderful and horrible week at "Family Camp".

For the Kingdom of God to advance into Mongolia the stranglehold of the demonic Tibetan Buddhist religion must be overcome. Light and darkness contend for the hearts and minds of Mongols. (Picture Tibetan Buddhist religious art depicting Yama, the god of hell)

It turns out that Mongolians are natural evangelists! The church planting team is able to focus their energies on training and discipling and let Mongols win the Mongols.
However, sometimes God has other plans. Brian's stolen bike results in the Kingdom of Heaven shining into a den of thieves.

The author's wife, Louise, takes a turn behind the microphone as she reads a letter she wrote to a friend about birthing in Mongolia.

The opposition opens a blitzkrieg offensive against the fledgling church in Erdenet and against the foreign church planting team. Everything that could go wrong . . .does.
(photo: Ruslan and Svetlana, the young Russian couple that joined the church planting team this chapter)

The news of the Hogan family's tragic loss must be relayed to the outside world. On Christmas morning, Brian writes a letter to their friends, family and supporters.

The first person account of a devastating loss suffered at the ends of the earth . . . and what God did in the midst of it all. (Photo: last picture taken of Jedidiah Hogan - as we put him to bed for the last time 12/23/04)

The Hogan family buries their baby in the frozen soil of Mongolia. Through crushing grief faith still lights the path.

As the Hogan family picks its way forward through the shattered minefield of their lives, the war that has consumed the church comes to a dramatic end.

Everyone copes in his or her own way --- and the Post Office becomes a very dangerous place.
Oh, and the Russian church leadership is passed on to a Russian. Imagine that!

Unwanted publicity throws the team into peril, even as it grows with the addition of Lance. The Disciples' School proves just the ticket for training up Mongolian leaders.
(Pictured: the building where we schooled the disciples)

The Hogan family finally gets their well-earned trip home to the USA, and finds it to be anything but restful!

(Pictured: goodbyes on the train platform)

The family returns to Erdenet and a growing thriving fledgling church movement. More funny and hair raising encounters with the local culture --- rural and legal, ensue.

(Pictured: the Jesus Festival, Erdenet 1995)

Just how do you "teach them to obey all that I have commanded you" as Jesus commanded us? This chapter explores various means to do just that among the Mongolian people of Erdenet. Oh, and the tallest man in Mongolia solves the housing crisis.

(Pictured: F.A.C.E.S. Group --- Fellowship And Christian English Study)

Another Christmas comes and goes in Mongolia and marks a year of growth for the family, the team, and the Mongolian church.

God wanted to do something new in Erdenet --- the birth of an indigenous Mongolian expression of Jesus' Body.

The team presses toward the finish line as they work themselves out of a job in Erdenet.

The climatic and historic day finally arrives --- the church in Erdenet is handed over to Mongolian leadership. And it's goodbye again . . .

“Surely you don’t disbelieve the prophecies, because you had a
hand in bringing them about yourself? You don’t really suppose, do you, that all your adventures and escapes were managed by mere luck, just for your sole benefit? You are a very fine person, Mr. Baggins, and I am very fond of you; but you are only quite a little fellow in a wide world after all.”
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

The story continues as the Hogan family leaves their home in Mongolia for new adventures in God's Kingdom.

Hope as a constituent of Grief acts as a powerful redemptive analogy in Mongolia. The author finally understands why they went through what they did, where they did.

There are two things keeping the Church from multiplying and growing the way it is designed to do. Here they are. Now we just need to remove them.
[Picture: the author after losing his Appendix in Erdenet. Seemed appropriate]