In a culture where heavy drinking and alcohol abuse among men is common, Jargalbayar Altantsetseg is unique. Not only does Jargalbayar not abuse alcohol, but he is also a devoted father to his eight children.
Jargalbayar lives with his children—ages 2 to 21 years old—in a ger in Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia. A ger is a round portable structure typically between fifteen and twenty feet in diameter—not a lot of space for nine people.
Unable to work due to his health issues, Jargalbayar has been unable to afford to pay the electricity bills. For him, it was more important to buy food for his children than pay other fees. Unfortunately, this also meant that he was unable to afford to buy them warm jackets for winter. During the winter—which, in Mongolia, can get as cold as -40⁰ F and lasts about four months—Jargalbayar’s children would often get sick one after the other throughout the entire winter.
Since Jargalbayar’s wife left, the only one providing any income has been his eldest son, who works part-time jobs whenever he can find them. The rest of the children are enrolled in public school. Jargalbayar’s older children help with taking care of their younger siblings and carrying water from the public well.
Members of Gerelt Tsamkhag (The Lighthouse), a local church in Ulaanbaatar, began visiting Jargalbayar’s family with Food Paks less than a year ago. Oyungerel and her husband have been participating in mercy ministry since Mongolia’s Mercy Network was launched in October of 2021.
“My husband and his older sister as well as my mother-in-law, as a whole family, we serve our church,” Oyungerel shared. “Mercy ministry a bridge to build relationships with families that live in the neighborhood we want to serve.”
Oyungerel, a mother of four children herself, knows how much it requires—financially and emotionally—to raise children. She has witnessed firsthand the joy and relief the Food Pak ministry has brought, both from the families being served and those from the church who have stepped up to serve. Visiting the Altantsetseg family has been a particular blessing to her.
“It’s very rare to see a single father of six children, who doesn’t drink,” Oyungerel shared. “Jargalbayar’s name means happiness and joy. I believe God pouring His genuine happiness and joy on this family.”
As for Jargalbayar, he is always happy to have members from the church visiting. Not only does it mean he will have food to feed his children, but he is happy to have someone to talk to who cares about him and his family.
The members of the church have become so much more than visitors to his home; they have become like family. And the feeling is mutual.
“Having people who take care of my family is what I’m beyond grateful for,” Jargalbayar shared. “Even my relatives don’t do that.”
The children constantly ask their father when guests will be coming. They enjoy playing with people from the church and sharing when they’ve done well at school. Jargalbayar and his children have started attending church services since Oyungerel and her husband began visiting them.
Jargalbayar has been able to buy warm winter jackets for his kids. Next up on his list is to fix his ger, as it currently only has one layer and isn’t warm enough during the winter. The delivery of Food Paks also means he has been able to afford to pay the electricity bills.
When the church first started visiting Jargalbayar and his family, he used to claim that it was good luck that the church found his family. Now, he knows to give all credit and glory to God.
“Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sin and arose from the death because He won the death. Knowing this message,” shared Jargalbayar, “helped me to let go of so many burdens that I was carrying in my heart.”
So often, when CHF ministry partners share stories of single parents being cared for by the local church, they share of single mothers. This month, in honor of Father’s Day, it is our joy to share this story of a loving father committed to providing for his children, whatever the cost.
“If my kids are happy, I’m happy,” Jargalbayar shared.”
*Recipients’ names are changed to protect their privacy.
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