Lee group helps youth in Mongolia
Thousands of abandoned and abused children in Mongolia live in the sewers to keep warm, says the leader of an area group dedicated to helping them.
"They're abandoned by their families because of poverty, and they're basically throwing away kids because nobody cares about them," said Dr. Lance Falagan, the 49-year-old founder of the nonprofit Life Spring Foundation, based in Cleveland, Tenn. "What we want to do is go over there and show them that we care."
In June, Dr. Falagan is leading 13 former Lee University students and other Bradley County residents to Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia. The group, leaving June 22 and staying in Outer Mongolia for 10 days, is visiting the country to give the children blankets and hope.
More than 4,000 children, some as young as 4, are estimated to live in Mongolian sewers, according to the Street Children Mongolia website. Many have gone there for shelter after running from abusive homes or being abandoned by impoverished parents, the website states.
Temperatures in the country drop to 50 below zero during the winter and can dip to 30 degrees even on summer nights, Dr. Falagan said.
"We're taking several young people who are aspiring missionaries and teaching them the process of missions as we do our project," he said. "We teach how to pack to travel for ministry, how to prepare sermons and how to handle culture shock."
The group includes Lee University graduate Jennifer Woverton, who will assist with children's ministry and counseling, and Cleveland resident Rick Wheeler, who will teach children's ministry in churches.
Lee University graduate Terran Gilbert was so enthusiastic about the trip, he raised his own money to attend. Mr. Gilbert is raising more money to help distribute free music that he has made to the Mongolian youth. Many of them listen to Mr. Gilbert's hip-hop and soul styles of music, Life Spring officials said.
"They have nothing," Mr. Gilbert said. "There are people there who are praying for help, and they're looking for an answer. We want to be an answer to their prayer."
The Mission Mongolia team also will provide blankets and teddy bears that may be used as pillows for the children's comfort.
"They're abandoned by their families because of poverty, and they're basically throwing away kids because nobody cares about them," said Dr. Lance Falagan, the 49-year-old founder of the nonprofit Life Spring Foundation, based in Cleveland, Tenn. "What we want to do is go over there and show them that we care."
In June, Dr. Falagan is leading 13 former Lee University students and other Bradley County residents to Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia. The group, leaving June 22 and staying in Outer Mongolia for 10 days, is visiting the country to give the children blankets and hope.
More than 4,000 children, some as young as 4, are estimated to live in Mongolian sewers, according to the Street Children Mongolia website. Many have gone there for shelter after running from abusive homes or being abandoned by impoverished parents, the website states.
Temperatures in the country drop to 50 below zero during the winter and can dip to 30 degrees even on summer nights, Dr. Falagan said.
"We're taking several young people who are aspiring missionaries and teaching them the process of missions as we do our project," he said. "We teach how to pack to travel for ministry, how to prepare sermons and how to handle culture shock."
The group includes Lee University graduate Jennifer Woverton, who will assist with children's ministry and counseling, and Cleveland resident Rick Wheeler, who will teach children's ministry in churches.
Lee University graduate Terran Gilbert was so enthusiastic about the trip, he raised his own money to attend. Mr. Gilbert is raising more money to help distribute free music that he has made to the Mongolian youth. Many of them listen to Mr. Gilbert's hip-hop and soul styles of music, Life Spring officials said.
"They have nothing," Mr. Gilbert said. "There are people there who are praying for help, and they're looking for an answer. We want to be an answer to their prayer."
The Mission Mongolia team also will provide blankets and teddy bears that may be used as pillows for the children's comfort.
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