TRANSCRIPT

NATHAN JONES

For the first time, this month, we head to Mongolia to meet Tuvsho Tsogtsugar who co-founded and now leads an organization called Heart of Mentoring or HoME for short, which serves young adults transitioning out of the orphanage system.

My name is Nathan Jones and once again, thank you for joining me on this episode of the Inspiring Stewards podcast.

Tuvsho, thanks again for your time today, and I look forward to getting to know you a bit more. Tell us about your story, where you're from, your background, that sort of thing.

TUVSHO TSOGTSUGAR

First of all, thank you for having me. My name is Tuvsho, and I'm from Mongolia. I was born and raised up in Mongolia, especially, I live in a capital city called Ulaanbaatar.

NATHAN

Tell us about how you came to know the Lord and the impact that had on your life.

TUVSHO

Christianity is actually pretty new to Mongolia compared to most other countries. Because we were under Soviet Union, like socialism until 1990s. I was born in 1987, so I actually born during the socialist time and grew up during the democratic time.

Since after 1990, Mongolia became open for Christianity. And of course, many different denominations actually had come to Mongolia.

For me, I grew up not knowing much about Christianity. But in my teenage years, I started to hear people sharing gospels and talking about it, and maybe more on TV and radios. And I was always curious, like, “What's that?” Because nobody in my family was Christian. So, most are like Buddhist or Shamanist or maybe atheist because of socialism.

So, if you're interested how I came to Christ, I would say it's because of missionaries. Many missionaries came to Mongolia and I had a chance to meet great ones. Not only one or two people, actually many people over the years, and I had a chance to work close with them, learn from them and witness them.

And when it comes like in 2008 or 2009, when I was in my early 20s, when I did my own choices in my life and then, fail and hit my rock bottom, I knew where to go, because I had seen enough and I just turned back to Jesus and I seek His help and forgiveness.

NATHAN

So, what those missionaries or maybe they're from a variety of places but what countries were they from?

TUVSHO

The first one was from America. Her name is Susan Griffith. And she was such a bright, different, new person in my life. Because as a person who is growing up in third world country or developing country, right? All we want is want to go overseas and have better life.

For me, I was pretty much like not enjoying my own life. And I always thought it's poor, It's not right, It's not good. But that American lady was doing the opposite. She left America and came to Mongolia. She was helping people in Mongolia. And I asked, “Why?” So, that great act of service just really impacted my heart.

And following after her, there were several other missionaries, mostly from America, also Hong Kong and Singapore. They really impacted me a lot.

NATHAN

Well, jump ahead to today. Tell us about what work and ministry the Lord has you involved in.

TUVSHO

Actually,  I'm a missionary too. My mission board is in America, and it's called Cup of Cold Water Ministries. I had a chance to study in America. I did my master's in America.

So, by the time when I returned back to Mongolia in early 2019, they also suggested me to be a missionary.They gave me a great, great support system. And I got encouraged to really start what I wanted to do for a long time, which was to reach out to the young adults at risk, especially those who are aging out from the orphanage or shelter systems.

So, in the past with missionaries, I had a long story of working alongside with these missionaries, especially with the orphanage kids. As I grow and I study and learn and observe life, I started to question, “Where do they go after the shelter?”

Because they have to leave shelter at the age of 18 before they turn 19. It's just too young for them and they obviously didn't have a supportive family or anything. They obviously have no home, which means homeless. And then, at the age of 18, they have to leave unprepared for life. It was just too harsh.

So, I had that passion and then, God sent another person with the same passion from Hong Kong, my co-founder, Queenie. So, we got together and shared our passion and we started this NGO called “Heart of Mentoring.” In short, we call it “HoME” and we started to reach out to those young adults who are coming out from the orphanage system and who have no supporting adult in their life and no home to go.

So, we are doing it in the last five years and learning a lot.

NATHAN

That's fantastic. How many individuals do you work with at the time or have you been able to recruit over that time?

TUVSHO

This age, it's difficult. Everybody has a different speed, growth, personality. Everything is so different and their passion is different. So, far we have about like 15 to 16 young adults. Still a number of them are living in our residential home.

But actually the need is a lot, but we don't have much workers and we don't have facilities yet. But we believe that God will provide.

NATHAN

So, you do have residential housing for them and so they stay there as part of the program?

TUVSHO

Yes.

NATHAN

Wow!

TUVSHO

Not all of them. Some actually, it's like they can be in dormitory or rent their own place. But actually majority needs home. It’s a basic need, right? And now we have 8 young adults living in our residential home and there are others are in different places too.

NATHAN

Do you have connections that with churches that help provide mentors or other forms of support?

TUVSHO

Yeah. Though it looks like only two of us started everything and running, but actually it's involvement of the partnership of many, many people. And there are many individuals have been supporting us from the beginning. They even help us to build those houses for them.

Now we have some experience and we want to reach to more sustainable like churches, organizations to partner with and we are on the way. But it's been amazing that we never lacked anything and God has been always providing through individuals, very humble individuals from different corners of the world.

NATHAN

That’s wonderful. Well, this is the Inspiring Stewards podcast. So, share with us how the biblical principle of stewardship has impacted your work and life.

TUVSHO

As I told you earlier, I always thought that I don't have enough because there were many years in my childhood that we didn't have home and we needed to stay in our relatives' homes and move around a lot. My dad was alcoholic, not anymore, but that time, yes, for many years.

And it was just like difficult for me to like dream my future. So, that's why I always wanted to make more money and get rid of this country as soon as possible. And even in my early 20s, I actually went to South Korea to work but God had a different plan.

And so, I came back to my country and God sent those missionaries for me to work alongside with them and learn. And as I worked with them, I realized that I have actually a lot. Especially with the missionaries, we were helping vulnerable families and families in need and we used to visit many places.

And when I visit those places around many families, children and difficult situations, and even an orphanage, I realized that I had a lot, even though I had a tiny little house and shared with my family members and like no wall, no separation. It's just one cubicle.

But I realized that, oh no, like I have a home. I have my parents and I have work. I have opportunities, and I have mentors. And on top of that, I actually found a God who would really forgive me because I need really to surrender and repent and then I found God and repented.

So, I realized, just within a day, within a second, I mean, I’ll become a rich person. So I'd like to quote from the Bible that, “To know the truth and then the truth will set you free.” So, I realized that I was not poor person anymore.

So, that perspective has changed me totally. And of course, it's just not dramatic one day thing, but over the years I realized that, “Oh, actually I'm needed in my own country.”

Of course, I can go and with this language and you know, everything I can live in any country. But I realized that there are greater purpose in my life, which is even not only have my family, but helping many other people's life.

NATHAN

So, you've already kind of touched on some of this, but anything you would add to how you're seeing God at work in the world today, either locally or on a larger scale?

TUVSHO

Many times, I imagine about like, “What if I never found God? I never had a chance to get to know about God.”And then I know that the purpose is very difficult to define. And I would be really like burdened with my own mistakes and miseries. And I'll be just living to die. I don't know.

Like, I'll be just, there is no hope in me. And then I was competing with others and hating others. I don't know, loving some people and hating some people and just trying to gain as much as possible, try to look as pretty as possible. I don't know, like all of this meaningless, endless life was waiting for me.

And I just thank that God saved me and then I found God. I thank God for the people who brought gospel to me. So, because I have experienced that, I hated my life, but now I love my life. So, I just want to bring this joy, meaning, and value to people.

And as I work around, I see lots of God's miracles. But sometimes, sometimes some days, some months can actually go without anything. But still, I know that God is working. Because especially when I give up, when I have no energy, no power, God shows up a lot more.

And when I see those young adults, especially those who left the shelter, they find their values and they're transforming into stronger persons. That’s the most beautiful thing to see. Even with me or without me, I know God will be still working. But I’m glad that He chose me and asked me to specifically stand on this ministry field.

NATHAN

Good. Anything additional you want to share with us today?

TUVSHO

I really wish more people would be encouraged to minister into this young peoples’ life. Because let’s just imagine that there are 15 young adults who have no home and no family members to go to, right?

And in the ideal case, for 15 people, there should be 30 extra adults, at least, should be there to support them. But sometimes I feel like there are just two less number of people here in the field working. So, I'm praying that God will provide more people who have a passion for the young people.

And we don't want this system to feed itself because these young adults, if they don't have any support, the right guidance, and if they don't find God, they will create next generation orphanage kids. And this cycle is feeding itself and we need to cut it, break it in any area, right? So, I really wish people to open their eyes and really commit to serve young people to and see the needs.

NATHAN

Amen. Amen. Tuvsho, thank you so much for your time today.

TUVSHO

Thank you. Thank you for having me. I really enjoyed talking with you.