From Kingsburg to Mongolia
Kingsburg residents Johnie and Jane Thomsen are know for their involvement in Young Life, a youth ministry organization, that they founded in Kingsburg in 1979. As part of their involvement in Young Life, the couple take annual trips to Mongolia in Asia to serve as advisers for the developing Young Life organization in Mongolia and to help provide the Mongolian youth with a spiritual outlet toward Christianity. "Campus Crusade for Christ had been over in Mongolia for 10 years and they had done a lot of work with teachers there, but they didn't know what to do with kids," Johnie Thomsen said. "In 2000, the Mongolians called us at Young Life and asked for help with summer youth camps, so we sent some staff from the states and did the first ever youth camp over there."
Although the first Young Life camp in Mongolia was held in 2000, the couple took their first trip in 2002 when they were called in to provide on-site assistance for the Mongolian summer camp.
"Mongolia started kind of backward as far as the methodology and philosophy of Young Life goes because over here in America, we want to know kids and build relationships with them and then take them to camp," he said. "The first year the Mongolians just called us and said they had over 100 kids coming to camp and please come help. So it has been a little difficult to get them to rethink the process of how do you build relationships with kids and eventually share Christ with them."
In their first several years of visiting Mongolia, they attended the summer camps for about a week and helped train the Mongolian Young Life staff on how to effectively run the camps.
"When we go in the summer we help with the camps, but when we go in the winter it is to train the staff and help them prepare for summer camp," he said. "Now our primary job is to evaluate the staff and give encouragement and provide direction for them."
The couple returned from their most recent to Mongolia in early April. Over the years, the couple has gotten to know both the Mongolian staff and the children whom they first met almost 10 years ago. The Thomsens remain in contact with the Mongolian staff throughout the year as Jane regularly Skypes and iChats with the Mongolian National Young Life director.
"This is something that we love to do because we are available, willing and we have developed some good connections with the Mongolian folks there," Johnie said. "Our friendships with the people there are important to us and we like to do our part to help the youth over there develop a relationship with Jesus Christ."
Although the Thomsens most recent trip was spent mostly in meetings providing behind-the-scenes help, the two have taken part in many summer camps over the years. She helps the children with crafts and he often oversees the camp's direction.
"Mongolia is very much a Third World country with a lot of poor and nomadic people," Jane said. "At first I thought the children wouldn't like the crafts since they are so simple, but I quickly found out that they just love to make anything that we provide them with. To see their faces after we spend time with them is very rewarding."
Their next trip to Mongolia is planned for summer 2012.
"Every religion has just kind of streamed into the country, so there is all sorts of stuff going on over there," he said. "There is a huge vacuum over there spiritually, so there is a real opening for the gospel of Christ. Hopefully we can do our part and help to fill that void."
Although the first Young Life camp in Mongolia was held in 2000, the couple took their first trip in 2002 when they were called in to provide on-site assistance for the Mongolian summer camp.
"Mongolia started kind of backward as far as the methodology and philosophy of Young Life goes because over here in America, we want to know kids and build relationships with them and then take them to camp," he said. "The first year the Mongolians just called us and said they had over 100 kids coming to camp and please come help. So it has been a little difficult to get them to rethink the process of how do you build relationships with kids and eventually share Christ with them."
In their first several years of visiting Mongolia, they attended the summer camps for about a week and helped train the Mongolian Young Life staff on how to effectively run the camps.
"When we go in the summer we help with the camps, but when we go in the winter it is to train the staff and help them prepare for summer camp," he said. "Now our primary job is to evaluate the staff and give encouragement and provide direction for them."
The couple returned from their most recent to Mongolia in early April. Over the years, the couple has gotten to know both the Mongolian staff and the children whom they first met almost 10 years ago. The Thomsens remain in contact with the Mongolian staff throughout the year as Jane regularly Skypes and iChats with the Mongolian National Young Life director.
"This is something that we love to do because we are available, willing and we have developed some good connections with the Mongolian folks there," Johnie said. "Our friendships with the people there are important to us and we like to do our part to help the youth over there develop a relationship with Jesus Christ."
Although the Thomsens most recent trip was spent mostly in meetings providing behind-the-scenes help, the two have taken part in many summer camps over the years. She helps the children with crafts and he often oversees the camp's direction.
"Mongolia is very much a Third World country with a lot of poor and nomadic people," Jane said. "At first I thought the children wouldn't like the crafts since they are so simple, but I quickly found out that they just love to make anything that we provide them with. To see their faces after we spend time with them is very rewarding."
Their next trip to Mongolia is planned for summer 2012.
"Every religion has just kind of streamed into the country, so there is all sorts of stuff going on over there," he said. "There is a huge vacuum over there spiritually, so there is a real opening for the gospel of Christ. Hopefully we can do our part and help to fill that void."
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