Mongolia Part 2

A couple weeks ago I had opportunity to visit with my nephew Craig and hear more about his trip to Mongolia (see previous post on June 2nd). While in Mongolia he conducted research as part of his graduate studies in civil engineering at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

I'll let the photos do most of the talking for this post.

His research team spent most of their time near Erdenet, the location of a large copper mine, part of which you see here. To give perspective, the little dots you see in the photo are large trucks and other mining vehicles.

The waste water containing various toxins (heavy metals such as lead, arsenic and others) from the mining process is piped to an open pond. The toxins seep into the soil, ground water and is also carried through the air. I won't get into the history/politics of how things got this bad, but suffice it to say that efforts are being made to remedy the situation.
Here you see Craig and and team mate doing a land survey using global positioning devices and traditional surveying tools. Craig is wearing a piece of Mongolian clothing called a Del. Several of the team members had one custom made for themselves. It was a chilly day and he happened to be wearing two hats. One of the local women told him that meant he would have two wives. Here are some of the team members taking samples from the area that the waste water dumps into.

In this photo Craig is doing a land survey and preparing to take some samples in an area where the local people bring their livestock to drink from the stream.

On the left is a family milking its goats and on the right is goat cheese drying in the sun.

Left - a Mongolian shepherd.....Right - traditional Mongolian homes called Gers.

Left- Hospitality inside a ger.....Right - girl coaxes baby goat to drink.

A Buddhist shrine

I'll do another post on this after Craig finishes up his research this fall on the samples they brought back from their trip. We may complain about governmental bureaucracy, but on the other hand consider where we might be without the EPA....

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Together for the long haul

For all of my growing up years and all the years since, my life has been greatly enriched by a Mom and Dad who have stuck together through thick and thin. I know that has taken commitment, patience, forgiveness and love (even when they didn’t feel like it), day after day, year after year….sixty-two of them. That’s endurance!

Here's a pictoral journey through the years.

In the beginning......

The wedding portrait:

Together in service to their country:

About 1975...I think I took this as part of a photography class.

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Taken about 1993, with a 4x5 camera (the photographer stands under a dark cloth draped over the camera so as to see the image inverted on the glass on the back of the camera. The negative is actually 4"x5"). I was taking a class on large format photography.

Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary portrait (1996) taken by me in the portrait studio where I worked in Parma.

Another photo taken by me on

July 5, 2008 on the back porch of "home".

Happy Anniversary!

"This is My Country..."

I closed out my birthday yesterday with a patriotic concert by the Cleveland Pops Orchestra and fireworks at Crocker Park. I especially enjoyed the sing-along in which I could hear hundreds of voices around me singing old favorites like, My Country ‘tis of Thee, America the Beautiful and The Battle Hymn of the Republic. Tiny flags had been distributed and these were all raised up and waving in time with the music.

I saw in the program that the Battle Hymn of the Republic lyrics had been written in 1861, during the Civil War so I looked up its history. The author was abolitionist and social activist Julia Ward Howe who had been visiting a Union Army camp on the Potomac River near Washington D.C. and heard the soldiers singing John Brown’s Body. She awoke the next morning full of inspiration with the words to the Battle Hymn of the Republic, set to the music of John Brown’s Body. It was first published in the Atlantic Monthly in 1862 and became popular during the Civil War. I distinctly remember this song being sung at the funeral of former President Ronald Reagan, by one of the armed services choral groups.

There are six verses, here are three:

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on…..

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet;
Our God is marching on….

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me;
As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free;
[originally …let us die to make men free]
While God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! While God is marching on.

You can hear the music here:


http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/b/h/bhymnotr.htm


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Born on the fifth of July

I came into the world by way of cesarean section and the doctor didn't want to work on the Fourth of July so the fifth it was. My birth certificate says it was 10:10 a.m., and my birth weight was 6 pounds, 4 ounces.

It's pretty cool having a birthday on the day adjoining this great national holiday. If the Fourth falls on a weekday it means having a day off work. Then there are holiday get-togethers, fireworks and so on. Here is a snapshot when I was still pretty little...

This is a formal portrait several months later. Looking closely at the print, one can see that it is a black and white photograph that was hand tinted

A "mutual pledge"

In 1776, John Adams said of the newly established Independence Day… It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore."

Although it’s late on the eve of July 4th it is pointless to go to bed, as several of my neighbors are getting a head start on the "illuminations" part of John Adams' declaration. Here is a photo from a 4th of July fireworks display over Terminal Tower in Cleveland’s public square several years ago, preceded by a patriotic concert by the Cleveland Orchestra. In this instance I was there with a couple of friends and my nephew Brian who was living in the area for the summer, earning some college money working for Kokosing. It's a little tricky photographing fireworks but I was happy with this one.

In addition to all the hoopla, it is good to reflect on the historical significance of this day. Here is the last paragraph of the Declaration of Independence:

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Declaration_of_Independence

Unexpected moments

I was intent on setting a good pace on my walk at the Snow Road Metropark this afternoon. There’s a nice paved walkway there that runs along a river bank, shrouded by trees, and generally populated by a lot of walkers/runners. I was peering over the bank of the river as I walked along and suddenly saw a ball of feathers in the grassy bank, just about 5 yards from me. In a fraction of a second I realized it was a huddle of 4 ducklings, their mother close by. We sort of looked at one another a minute or so, they stirred from their huddle and followed mother into the river, all in a row.

Such moments bring sparks of delight to the routine of our lives and stir us from pre-occupation with our daily concerns, lifting our spirits. When such moments derive from nature, they speak to me of the order in the natural world established by our Creator.

Last Sunday when driving back to Cleveland from visiting with my parents, the sun peeked out from behind the storm clouds just as it was about to set, creating a double rainbow on the horizon before me.

And last Friday evening, I was taking Ruthanne home after dinner, turned down the Big Creek Parkway from Brookpark (as a very pleasant alternative to Ridge Road) and up near Snow Road we saw a doe with a young spotted fawn grazing calming about 20 yards off the roadway.

A quite unexpected and joyous moment took place at the office recently and its one I don’t think I could ever forget…. looking up from my task at hand to see Joanie and Will standing in the doorway. They had traveled literally half way around the world from the Philippines where they serve as missionaries. I hadn’t seen them in probably two years. They are in the States on furlough for the summer. Since both of them had worked at The City Mission previously, it was such a joy to watch their reunion with staff and volunteers with whom they had worked hand in hand.


Then God said, “I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. Genesis 9:12-13 NLT

Commencing a new life

In honor and celebration of the 44 men and women who graduated from The City Mission's residency programs this past Saturday I am posting this story about a previous graduate (with his permission) who is now on staff with the Mission. To officially graduate, individuals must achieve stability in several key life areas (such as employment/education, housing, relationships and church involvement) for at least six months. I wrote this story for a newsletter I'm preparing to send to foundations and other major donors.

At this year's graduation we recorded testimonies of several graduates which we will be posting on our web site after they are edited to a reasonable length. Once they become available I will post a link on this blog.

Free at Last
Dale Matthias felt trapped in a vicious cycle of shame, hopelessness and excessive drinking. Suicide seemed like the only way out of his misery.

Dale had lost his job, home, marriage and family to alcohol. By December 2000 he was sleeping under a tarp behind a business, clutching a bottle of vodka.

At The City Mission Dale’s life was transformed to one of joy and hope. After completing the resident program, Dale worked in maintenance for a private school until it closed. He came back to the Mission as an employee in the facilities department and now serves as a case manager for the Crossroads Program.

Dale says the key to his transformed life is in seeking God and surrendering to Him. It’s a key that unlocks the tight hold of despair and addictions, and frees men and women to live with purpose and hope.