A Family of Haggai Leaders in Mongolia
In the predominantly Buddhist country of Mongolia, Christianity is mostly foreign and unfamiliar. The country’s customs include Buddhist practices like passing on the family idols, but it’s a betrayal to family and country to pass on the Gospel. It’s in this context that determined Haggai leader Nomindari Byambasaikhan is obediently following the Lord’s call, working as a teaching assistant at the German Mongolian Institute for Technology and Resource (GMIT) in her hometown of Nalaikh, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
When it comes to spreading the Gospel, Nomindari has seen that “when people receive their needs, it helps their hearts open.” She seizes any opportunity to help those in need, especially the most vulnerable or overlooked.
Meeting children on the streets of Nalaikh who have been abused, emotionally damaged, or deprived of resources, she reminds them that they are precious in God’s eyes and provides them with gifts, food, and clothing in seasons of need. Nomindari and her mother also supply the town’s artisanal miners and outdoor workers with tools and equipment, as well as hot drinks during the severe cold of winter. Through her actions, Nomindari shows what it means to be a follower of Jesus.
During the pandemic, Nomindari teamed up with her church family and her sister, Puji — who is also a Haggai leader and led Nomindari to faith — to host seminars to provide connections in a time of isolation. They organized a wide range of online clubs and groups, including English study meetings for students, a cell group for young mothers, and a Valentine’s Day evening event for couples. They also hosted “how-to” seminars, encouraging self-sufficiency and frugality. Particularly aimed at women, these included nutritious meal preparation, how to sew clothes, and how to bake a cake. In these times, “ordinary items like food and clothes have become more important,” Nomindari says.
In these simple yet powerful gatherings, the topic is always related to Jesus and the Gospel. Whether it be about food, clothes, or health, tying in these valuable life lessons leaves attendees with a sense of fulfillment and a deeper understanding of Jesus. Through the relationships she builds, God is using Nomindari and her family to transform Mongolia.
Nomindari and Puji organized an online event for women to learn how to bake a carrot cake. As Puji prepared the ingredients, she told the women that Jesus says He is living bread, and whoever comes to Him receives eternal life. She explained how bread provides daily sustenance for our bodies, and God’s Word provides spiritual sustenance. “It is an easy illustration for every one of us: we must eat to live, and Jesus is the only one who can give us spiritual life,” Nomindari said. Nomindari shares the recipe below. If you bake this cake, pray for the women who learned the recipe while hearing of Jesus for the first time.
Ingredients
| FOR CAKE |
|---|
| 2 c all-purpose flour | 2 tsp baking soda |
| 1/2 tsp fine sea salt | 1 ¼ c canola or other vegetable oil |
| 1 c lightly packed brown sugar | 4 large eggs |
| 1 c coarsely chopped pecans | 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon |
| 1 c granulated sugar | 1 tsp vanilla extract |
| 3 c grated peeled carrots | 1/2 c raisins |
| FOR ICING |
|---|
| 8 oz cream cheese, at room temperature | 1/3 c heavy whipping cream |
| 1 ¼ c powdered sugar | 1/2 c coarsely chopped pecans, for topping cake |
Directions
MAKE BATTER
Heat the oven to 350°F. Grease two 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottom with parchment paper then grease the top of the paper. Or, grease and flour the bottom and sides of both pans.
In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon until well blended.
In a separate bowl, whisk the oil, sugars, and vanilla. Whisk in eggs, one at a time, until combined.
Switch to a large rubber spatula. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl then add the dry ingredients in three parts, gently stirring until they disappear and the batter is smooth. Stir in the carrots, nuts, and raisins.
BAKE CAKE/MAKE FROSTING
Divide the batter between the prepared cake pans. Bake until the tops of the cake layers are springy when touched and when a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes.
Cool cakes in pans for 15 minutes then turn out onto cooling racks, peel off parchment paper and cool completely. (If you find that a cake layer is stuck to the bottom of the pan, leave the cake pan upside down and allow gravity to do its thing).
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with a handheld mixer on medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute.
Beat in the powdered sugar, 1/4 c at a time until fluffy. Pour in cream and beat on medium speed for 1 minute. Chill covered until ready to frost cake.
When the cake layers are completely cool, frost the top of one cake layer, place the other cake layer on top. Decoratively swirl the top of the cake with remaining frosting, leaving the sides unfrosted. Scatter nuts on top.
Written by Gwendolyn Reed
A Family of Haggai Leaders in Mongolia
In the predominantly Buddhist country of Mongolia, Christianity is mostly foreign and unfamiliar. The country’s customs include Buddhist practices like passing on the family idols, but it’s a betrayal to family and country to pass on the Gospel. It’s in this context that determined Haggai leader Nomindari Byambasaikhan is obediently following the Lord’s call, working as a teaching assistant at the German Mongolian Institute for Technology and Resource (GMIT) in her hometown of Nalaikh, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
When it comes to spreading the Gospel, Nomindari has seen that “when people receive their needs, it helps their hearts open.” She seizes any opportunity to help those in need, especially the most vulnerable or overlooked.
Meeting children on the streets of Nalaikh who have been abused, emotionally damaged, or deprived of resources, she reminds them that they are precious in God’s eyes and provides them with gifts, food, and clothing in seasons of need. Nomindari and her mother also supply the town’s artisanal miners and outdoor workers with tools and equipment, as well as hot drinks during the severe cold of winter. Through her actions, Nomindari shows what it means to be a follower of Jesus.
During the pandemic, Nomindari teamed up with her church family and her sister, Puji — who is also a Haggai leader and led Nomindari to faith — to host seminars to provide connections in a time of isolation. They organized a wide range of online clubs and groups, including English study meetings for students, a cell group for young mothers, and a Valentine’s Day evening event for couples. They also hosted “how-to” seminars, encouraging self-sufficiency and frugality. Particularly aimed at women, these included nutritious meal preparation, how to sew clothes, and how to bake a cake. In these times, “ordinary items like food and clothes have become more important,” Nomindari says.
In these simple yet powerful gatherings, the topic is always related to Jesus and the Gospel. Whether it be about food, clothes, or health, tying in these valuable life lessons leaves attendees with a sense of fulfillment and a deeper understanding of Jesus. Through the relationships she builds, God is using Nomindari and her family to transform Mongolia.
Nomindari and Puji organized an online event for women to learn how to bake a carrot cake. As Puji prepared the ingredients, she told the women that Jesus says He is living bread, and whoever comes to Him receives eternal life. She explained how bread provides daily sustenance for our bodies, and God’s Word provides spiritual sustenance. “It is an easy illustration for every one of us: we must eat to live, and Jesus is the only one who can give us spiritual life,” Nomindari said. Nomindari shares the recipe below. If you bake this cake, pray for the women who learned the recipe while hearing of Jesus for the first time.
Ingredients
| FOR CAKE |
|---|
| 2 c all-purpose flour | 2 tsp baking soda |
| 1/2 tsp fine sea salt | 1 ¼ c canola or other vegetable oil |
| 1 c lightly packed brown sugar | 4 large eggs |
| 1 c coarsely chopped pecans | 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon |
| 1 c granulated sugar | 1 tsp vanilla extract |
| 3 c grated peeled carrots | 1/2 c raisins |
| FOR ICING |
|---|
| 8 oz cream cheese, at room temperature | 1/3 c heavy whipping cream |
| 1 ¼ c powdered sugar | 1/2 c coarsely chopped pecans, for topping cake |
Directions
MAKE BATTER
Heat the oven to 350°F. Grease two 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottom with parchment paper then grease the top of the paper. Or, grease and flour the bottom and sides of both pans.
In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon until well blended.
In a separate bowl, whisk the oil, sugars, and vanilla. Whisk in eggs, one at a time, until combined.
Switch to a large rubber spatula. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl then add the dry ingredients in three parts, gently stirring until they disappear and the batter is smooth. Stir in the carrots, nuts, and raisins.
BAKE CAKE/MAKE FROSTING
Divide the batter between the prepared cake pans. Bake until the tops of the cake layers are springy when touched and when a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes.
Cool cakes in pans for 15 minutes then turn out onto cooling racks, peel off parchment paper and cool completely. (If you find that a cake layer is stuck to the bottom of the pan, leave the cake pan upside down and allow gravity to do its thing).
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with a handheld mixer on medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute.
Beat in the powdered sugar, 1/4 c at a time until fluffy. Pour in cream and beat on medium speed for 1 minute. Chill covered until ready to frost cake.
When the cake layers are completely cool, frost the top of one cake layer, place the other cake layer on top. Decoratively swirl the top of the cake with remaining frosting, leaving the sides unfrosted. Scatter nuts on top.
Written by Gwendolyn Reed
A Family of Haggai Leaders in Mongolia
In the predominantly Buddhist country of Mongolia, Christianity is mostly foreign and unfamiliar. The country’s customs include Buddhist practices like passing on the family idols, but it’s a betrayal to family and country to pass on the Gospel. It’s in this context that determined Haggai leader Nomindari Byambasaikhan is obediently following the Lord’s call, working as a teaching assistant at the German Mongolian Institute for Technology and Resource (GMIT) in her hometown of Nalaikh, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
When it comes to spreading the Gospel, Nomindari has seen that “when people receive their needs, it helps their hearts open.” She seizes any opportunity to help those in need, especially the most vulnerable or overlooked.
Meeting children on the streets of Nalaikh who have been abused, emotionally damaged, or deprived of resources, she reminds them that they are precious in God’s eyes and provides them with gifts, food, and clothing in seasons of need. Nomindari and her mother also supply the town’s artisanal miners and outdoor workers with tools and equipment, as well as hot drinks during the severe cold of winter. Through her actions, Nomindari shows what it means to be a follower of Jesus.
During the pandemic, Nomindari teamed up with her church family and her sister, Puji — who is also a Haggai leader and led Nomindari to faith — to host seminars to provide connections in a time of isolation. They organized a wide range of online clubs and groups, including English study meetings for students, a cell group for young mothers, and a Valentine’s Day evening event for couples. They also hosted “how-to” seminars, encouraging self-sufficiency and frugality. Particularly aimed at women, these included nutritious meal preparation, how to sew clothes, and how to bake a cake. In these times, “ordinary items like food and clothes have become more important,” Nomindari says.
In these simple yet powerful gatherings, the topic is always related to Jesus and the Gospel. Whether it be about food, clothes, or health, tying in these valuable life lessons leaves attendees with a sense of fulfillment and a deeper understanding of Jesus. Through the relationships she builds, God is using Nomindari and her family to transform Mongolia.
Nomindari and Puji organized an online event for women to learn how to bake a carrot cake. As Puji prepared the ingredients, she told the women that Jesus says He is living bread, and whoever comes to Him receives eternal life. She explained how bread provides daily sustenance for our bodies, and God’s Word provides spiritual sustenance. “It is an easy illustration for every one of us: we must eat to live, and Jesus is the only one who can give us spiritual life,” Nomindari said. Nomindari shares the recipe below. If you bake this cake, pray for the women who learned the recipe while hearing of Jesus for the first time.
Ingredients
| FOR CAKE |
|---|
| 2 c all-purpose flour | 2 tsp baking soda |
| 1/2 tsp fine sea salt | 1 ¼ c canola or other vegetable oil |
| 1 c lightly packed brown sugar | 4 large eggs |
| 1 c coarsely chopped pecans | 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon |
| 1 c granulated sugar | 1 tsp vanilla extract |
| 3 c grated peeled carrots | 1/2 c raisins |
| FOR ICING |
|---|
| 8 oz cream cheese, at room temperature | 1/3 c heavy whipping cream |
| 1 ¼ c powdered sugar | 1/2 c coarsely chopped pecans, for topping cake |
Directions
MAKE BATTER
Heat the oven to 350°F. Grease two 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottom with parchment paper then grease the top of the paper. Or, grease and flour the bottom and sides of both pans.
In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon until well blended.
In a separate bowl, whisk the oil, sugars, and vanilla. Whisk in eggs, one at a time, until combined.
Switch to a large rubber spatula. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl then add the dry ingredients in three parts, gently stirring until they disappear and the batter is smooth. Stir in the carrots, nuts, and raisins.
BAKE CAKE/MAKE FROSTING
Divide the batter between the prepared cake pans. Bake until the tops of the cake layers are springy when touched and when a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes.
Cool cakes in pans for 15 minutes then turn out onto cooling racks, peel off parchment paper and cool completely. (If you find that a cake layer is stuck to the bottom of the pan, leave the cake pan upside down and allow gravity to do its thing).
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with a handheld mixer on medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute.
Beat in the powdered sugar, 1/4 c at a time until fluffy. Pour in cream and beat on medium speed for 1 minute. Chill covered until ready to frost cake.
When the cake layers are completely cool, frost the top of one cake layer, place the other cake layer on top. Decoratively swirl the top of the cake with remaining frosting, leaving the sides unfrosted. Scatter nuts on top.
Written by Gwendolyn Reed
Comments
Comments
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Cake sounds delicious 😋
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Thank you so much. Blessings to you and your family.
Cake sounds delicious 😋
Thank you so much. Blessings to you and your family.