Planning!

I realize it has been quite some time since I updated my blog. I ended up not being able to go to North Carolina to do hurricane relief because I would've needed to rent a car and I'm not 25 so I cannot do that. I know God has a reason for not allowing me to go so I'm trusting Him.

However, my plans for Mongolia are falling into place. Mongolians, Mongolian nomadic herders in particular, have been on my heart since 2004 when I learned of them at a CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital Open House. CVM had a booth at the open house and talked about their work in Mongolia. Ever since, I have felt a strong desire to bring the word of God to these people. However, I needed to go through veterinary technology school first so that I could help the Mongolians in a tangible way. CVM uses veterinary medicine to open the door to sharing the gospel of Christ in many countries around the world. By helping people improve their livelihoods, they are more open to listening to our message of hope. If you want to learn more about what CVM believes, who they are, and what they do go to their website. Christian Veterinary Mission.

I had been wondering if God really wanted me to go to Mongolia or if this was just a thought of mine. I had emailed the head office in Seattle and they seemed excited to send me so I emailed my in-country contact as well and......heard nothing. For weeks. Finally, I prayed one morning that if the Lord wanted me to go that He would give me a sign. Just some little thing, an open door anywhere in this process. That afternoon, I checked my email again and found a message from my contact! He talked about various opportunities that are available for me to serve in and said that he was looking forward to me coming over. We discussed dates and have decided on June 10th-July9th of 2012. This timing will allow me a better chance to get out in the Mongolian countryside and work with the herders. Also, by being in the country for fewer than 30 days I will not have to get a Mongolian visa. I already have a valid passport so I will not have to get that either.

While I will not need a visa or a new passport, there are still many expenses. Here is a breakdown of some of them:

• Plane ticket (about $2,600)
• In country expenses (about $2,000)
• Physical exam and vaccinations that need to be completed prior to departure (about $500)
• Legal documents to be completed (normally a $200 value but an attorney has generously offered to donate this to me. What a blessing!! My many thanks to him)

I will also need to purchase things like a new camera (mine is broken :(, small gifts for the Mongolian children, gifts for my hosts, work clothes to leave in the country due to foreign animal diseases, baby wipes, etc.

I have received eleven documents to review, understand, and sign off on before I leave. That was a little overwhelming. One of these talks about cultural differences, do's and don't's and I have found that many of these things are similar to what I have observed among the First Nation Cree of Saskatchewan. My mom said that perhaps all of my trips up North were to help prepare me for my upcoming experience in Mongolia. I can't help but think that she may have a point.

I have many prayer requests as I prepare to go to Mongolia:

1. That I would make God my top priority every single day and spend much more time working on my relationship with Him
2. That my heart would be prepared and humble
3. For unity between my contact and I as well as between my Mongolian team and I once I arrive
4. That preparations would go according to the Lord's plan
5. That I will fulfill God's plans, not mine
6. For cultural sensitivity
7. For trust and increased faith
8. For a HUGE team of prayer warriors standing behind me
9. That I would learn to speak slower
10. For financial support

If you would like to give financially, here is how: 
                                              Mail a check to:

Christian Veterinary Mission

Short-Term Missions Coordinator

19303 Fremont Ave North

 Seattle, WA 98133

Please make all checks payable to Christian Veterinary Mission and include my account number on the memo line. (Account number is UCVSTM1386.)

Or you may donate online by following these instructions:

How to Donate to a Short-Term Account Online:

• Go to www.cvmusa.org and then to Donate / Ways to Give.  Under the Short Term Missions heading, Click on "Click here to make a donation for an individual."  On the Donate to Short Term – Individuals page there is a box called Designation with a drop-down menu.  Select my name, Emily Baughman  from that list (near the bottom) and then finish filling out the form.  The funds will go directly into my short-term mission account UCVSTM1386.  Please let me know if you have questions.

  If there is money left over once my expenses have been paid for, it will be used to help fund CVM projects in Mongolia.

The most important thing you can do for me is to pray!!! There is a song by Chris Tomlin which says:

And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.  

How true! If God goes before me, with me, and behind me, nothing will be able to get in the way of sharing the message of His love, forgiveness, and righteousness.If people will simply join with me in prayer, I do believe that God will raise up the finances and work out all the 1,001 details. 

Thank-you for taking the time to read this. I hope you will consider joining with me in some form as I reach out to the Mongolians with the hope of Christ.

CVM Short Course

As some of you may know, I went to Kansas City, MO, this past week to attend Christian Vet Mission's annual conference known as Short Course. I arrived Tuesday afternoon and went through some disaster training on Tuesday and Wednesday. For the rest of my time I chose to track Short Term Missions so I attended sessions relating to STM Thursday-Friday. Our days officially started at 7:30a.m. with praise and worship and a short devotion. The rest of the day was filled with sessions for our particular tracks and joint times of praise and worship and a fabulous keynote speaker. The day ended at 9:00p.m. with another praise and worship session. While I did learn a lot by tracking STM, I think that what impacted me the most was the keynote speaker, the praise and worship sessions, and the time I personally spent seeking the Lord in the woods. I got up an hour early every morning and took a path into the woods to read the Bible, pray, and just be still in the presence of God. It was a beautiful setting and although the air was sticky from all the humidity, it didn't really bother me. One morning, I think it was Friday, I was going for my morning walk/quiet time and all of a sudden a coyote popped over the hill. My heart stopped and I must have surprised him too because he turned and ran away. That day we got done with the STM session a little early so once again, I slipped off to the woods. I was sitting on a bench just thinking and praying when I heard a little click sound. I looked up and a turkey gobbler was crossing the trail probably 20ft from where I was sitting. To me, these are very special experiences with God's creation.
My favorite lesson that the keynote speaker gave was on honor and how we are to honor others if for no other reason than they are made in the image of God. I really need to get the notes from that one.
God also gave me some peace and reassurance regarding something that has been bothering me for a long time and I may share that later. What I will share was what Dr. Fred Van Gorkom said Friday night at our last group session. He was a fulltime missionary in Kenya for 6-7 years and gave us the wrap up. He said, and I quote, "It's not how long you live; it's how you live." Wow. He also said that he hopes someday Christ counts him worthy to die for his faith. Talk about a man of faith.
It was definitely a worth-while trip and I'm really hoping that I can go again next year.

Getting Started

Hey guys it's Em! I cannot tell you how excited I am about this new step in my life. I graduated college last year as veterinary technician and took a job in Saskatchewan. Anyway, I worked at a mixed practice in a rural area for about a year. Then I went on a two-week missions trip to a reserve in northern Saskatchewan. (This was my 9th trip up and they always make my summer.) Anyway, on the way back home I clearly felt God's call to become more involved in short-term missions. To do this, I ended up leaving my job and moving back to Colorado, where I grew up. I sent applications to two missions organizations Christian Vet Mission and Samaritan's Purse. I really felt that this was what God wanted me to do but waiting for acceptance to a mission board is agonizing.
Today I received a letter in the mail from CVM saying they were pleased to inform that I had been accepted into the pool of short term missionaries. I am beyond excited! Getting that acceptance letter in less than a month is something I take as a good sign. I am very thankful that I had a great doctor who also happens to have faith in Christ to write my professional reference and two older missionaries to write my Christian reference. I had already registered for the CVM short-course to be held in Missouri next month, hoping I would get accepted into the pool.
At approximately 1:00p.m. today I received a phone call from Samaritan's Purse saying that they had received my application (I just sent it the end of last week!) and they are in need of volunteers for current disaster relief. Would I be willing to go to North Dakota to help with flood relief in August? Now?!? Already?! I said yes and told them I would be available the week of the 15th. A volunteer coordinator is supposed to get in touch with me over the next couple days to confirm the details.
So in two weeks I plan to go to Minot, North Dakota, as part of an SP Disaster Relief Team to help victims of the recent flooding. The following week I am scheduled to fly to Kansas City, Missouri, for 5 days of training during CVM. Part of this training will be by a group called Noah's Wish and they will teach us how to assist animals during national disasters while representing Christ.
I can't believe how fast it is all coming together; there is no other explanation than it is the hand of God reaching out and working on my behalf. May I be used to bring glory to Him as I take this new path.
Please pray with/for me on the following things:

• That I would bring glory to God and show His love to a hurting world
• That I would live my life when I am NOT on mission in a way that is pleasing to Him and will not damage my testimony
• For unity with my team in ND
• That things would continue to fall into place with both missions organizations
• For safe travel to and from ND and MO and safety while working in MO
• That I would seek Christ with my whole heart and truly focus on deepening my relationship with Him

At this point I am not asking for financial support but in the future that will probably be necessary. At this point all I ask for is your emotional and spiritual support. Knowing that I have people behind me, especially those who are praying for me, means so much. We know that our God is bigger than any challenge we will face and so much can be accomplished when His children join together in prayer.