Lost Sheep ...
Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia is home to about 1,300,000 people - half the population of Mongolia. Since the fall of communism and the development of a young democracy / market economy, many people have fallen out of the safety net that guaranteed work, a minimum standing of living, food and accommodation.
A number of adults and children, the poorest of the poor have ended up on the streets and living below the streets in the city-wide heating and water supply system. They exist by working the garbage heaps for food and for plastic, glass and cardboard which they sell to scrape together a meal every one to two days. We think you can imagine the situation for folk in the winter, exiting the heating system and braving -35 Deg C temperatures to scavenge for a living. It is not much better when living in a ger without fuel to burn. We don't take pictures of these folk in these desperate times ... but we will when we see their lives transformed.
With rising inflation even people with “ger” (felted tent)homes are now sifting the garbage heaps, creating competition amongst the least of society. Many turn to 'vodka' which is much cheaper than food. Problems of health, abuse to one another and violent crime are becoming endemic in this community.
Lost Sheep Ministries is a response to the needs of our least able in society. To find the lost and to give them back their dignity. It is operated by Bill and Irene Manley, through Mary and Martha Mongolia Limited in partnership with donors, churches and the local government social services. We focus on one small area of the capital city, in which about 1200 families live in apartments, wooden houses and felt gers (felted tents). We want to reach people in most need and in so doing we want to demonstrate that Lost Sheep Ministries in partnership with a company (Mary & Martha Mongolia) and social services, donors / supporters can make a positive difference in the lives of at least a few people.
Currently we are operating Humanitarian Relief and Micro Enterprise Initiatives
Would you like to join our team? Contact us.