CHRISTMAS - 2013 in MONGOLIA

Life is hectic and exciting - we love the season!

Although the country is predominately Buddhist,  there are many "Christmas" trees around the city.  They recognize New Years as a big celebration.

We had occasion to walk to the Square and get some close up views of Winter!

The Ice Sculptures have a Disney theme this year.

with the Benson kids

Last week we participated in two different Baptisms, one a 65 year old lady and one an 11year old boy.  
The lady was baptized by her husband who himself had been baptized 2 months ago. He has been collecting his Geneology for many years and had found the names of about 700 of his relatives! He is a Farmer/Rancher from the countryside.

Filling the font Mongolian style

On Sunday we were able to visit with five families from our branch - what a special experience it was to share the Christmas message and spirit with them.  The young Mongolian Missionaries have such a warm and kind attitude, without them it would be really hard to visit.  Their message was that although we brought a gift wrapped in a bag, the Christmas season reminds us that Jesus Christ gave us an "unwrapped" gift - His atonement - so we all have the blessing of Eternal Life.

This young girl has severe rickets and just had the first of
four surgeries to help correct the problem.

It certainly makes us realize just how blessed we have been throughout our lives to have been born and raised where we were.

It is with much gratitude that we approach Christmas; for our family, friends, gospel, mission opportunities, freedom, peace, material blessings and most of all for the Savior whose birth we celebrate at this time of year.  May you all enjoy the special time and each moment as it comes!

LIFE IS GOOD and ALL IS WELL

Additional Assignment

At the first of November, Cal received an additional assignment.  The Doctor over the Asia Area (Elder Bertin) has been called to be a new Mission President so is going home to prepare.  They asked if Cal could cover the area until April when 2 new doctors should arrive, one for Mongolia and one for Asia Area.  We were in the MTC with Elder and Sister Bertin so got to know them fairly well.  We did all the Medical training together with several other Doctors and Nurses.

"Asia Area" covers 10 Missions, HongKong, Singapore/Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Mongolia, 2 in India, and 2 in Taiwan.  There are about 1200 missionaries.

 Almost half the world's population live in the "Asia Area".

China - 1.366 billion people.  There are no proselyting missionaries but some Humanitarian
India - 1.23 billion people with two Missions
     Pakistan - 184 million people (Missionaries here are part of the India New Delhi Mission)
     Nepal - 26 million people  (Missionaries also part of the India New Delhi Mission)
Indonesia - 237 million people with one Mission
Cambodia - 15 million people and one Mission (Brian and Diane Dudley served here)
     Vietnam - 88 million people (Missionaries part of Cambodia Mission)
Thailand - 66 million people with one Mission
      Burma (Mayanmar) - 53 million people and part of Thailand Mission
       Laos - 6.5 million people - also part of Thailand Mission
Malaysia/Singapore - 30 million and 5.5 million with one Mission
Taiwan - 23 million people and two Missions
HongKong - 7 million people - one Mission and Headquarters for the "Asia Area"
Mongolia - 3 million people and one Mission

We have learned much about this part of the world since this new responsibility was added to ours.  Medical care in all the other missions is given by the Mission President's wife with support by phone, e-mail or Skype from the Area Medical Advisor (now Cal).  Modern technology is amazing!! One Mission does have a nurse which is of great help there.  Mongolia and Nauvoo are the only Missions who have their own Doctor!

Another part of the assignment is to screen all the medical aspects of Missionary applications from the whole area.  It is interesting to see so many coming in from such places as Pakistan, Vietnam, Cambodia and India - many from faithful young ladies who have already got a University Education.

Parker (David and Karri's oldest son)is now the latest official missionary from our family - in the Provo MTC until the end of December, learning all about Missionary work and the Albanian Language.  I can't seem to get the pictures from his letter but this is what he looked like while going out with the Missionaries in Mongolia!  Congratulations Parker, you will be great!  One of the young men called from Mongolia to Provo, just went to the MTC and actually already found Parker to tell him Hello from us!  What a small world it is!

Parker with Elders Standley and Stranski in Mongolia

Elder "Zian" just before leaving for Provo

Winter is settling in here in Mongolia.  One of the evidences is the "car blankets".  Plugging in cars is not an option for most people and garages are rare.  The big heavy insulated blankets cover the whole car and must work because we see many of them.  When it is -40C there are still lots of cars on the roads!  We were told that some build a fire under their cars to warm them up in the morning but have not actually witnessed that!!

Another sign of winter is the air pollution and it is definitely back.  Some mornings and evenings we can hardly see down the block and the smell of smoke is thick.  One morning Cal went for a run and came back smelling like he had been to a big Scout Bonfire!!

He comes back a little frosted up and smelly!

 One night this week the Air Quality Rating was 2063 (particulate matter in the air) and anything over 40 is not healthy!!  UB is now rated the most polluted City in the world according to one of our students. (up from 2nd).  We encourage the Young Missionaries to wear N95 masks when they are in the Ger Districts in the evenings.  We were able to get a big supply here last winter.

Ulziika and two of the missionaries on their way to a Doctor's visit

About half the people in Ulaanbaatar live in Gers or one room houses in the Ger district and all are heated by coal or wood or whatever they find to burn.  Ulaanbaatar is in a valley surrounded by hills and mountains so the smoke has a hard time going anywhere.

Chingeltei District - higher on the side of the mountain

Cal runs early in the morning before the traffic gets bad - pollution starting

Most carry home a bag of coal or wood every few days -

some have the "luxury" of getting a whole little truck load at time

Last week our Land Lady brought us new "Kitchen Furniture" i.e. Cupboards!!  They are nice but have even less space than before (Parker, Matt, AnneE and Carolyn can vouch for the amount of room).  While she was here, she asked if we had seen the Canadian Show about Mongolia and found us the Website - a you-tube of "Don't Drive Here - Ulaanbaatar).  It is so true to life and they did not even show the worst places.  Traffic here in the City is just indescribable.  It is getting a bit better as they have improved some intersections!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3GeO7YpCjE

This is typical - crossing the street
 even at crosswalks is challenging!!

We have the chance to feed lots of missionaries - I have perfected Karri's BBQ Chicken recipe and am finally getting the hang of cooking Mongolian Rice!

Last week they had the opportunity to go to the Mental Hospital to share the idea of a Green House sponsored by DIC (Church Humanitarian Group).  They have a"half way house" situation where 8 Gers are set up and 4 people live in each.  They are self sufficient to a point - live, sleep and eat and work in their own "home".  They had a garden last year but a greenhouse would extend their chance to produce more food.  It is a great concept and seems to work quite well.

The homes in an enclosed area for privacy -
 they built their own cinder brick fence last year

Inside one of the Gers - Each one received their portion of meat -
whole sheep to be cut up and used.

We have had the chance as Senior Couples to have a Cultural Experience every month or so.  We have taken the opportunity to attend some ballets and operas, Aiida, Barber of Seville, Madame Butterfly and Swan Lake, performed by very professional Mongolian groups.  It is amazing to see the talent and staging, easily comparable to anything in North America.

Finale of Chinggis Khaan - the Opera

Time is flying and Christmas is coming.  It seems like just yesterday we had our first Christmas in Mongolia and now the second one is coming!!  We appreciate all the support and encouragement we get from home.

Life is Good and All is Well

Not Your Average BIRTHDAY

Turning 68 in a far away country is an Adventure in itself but this year had to be a bit more!!

Ulziika had a surprise party in the office for me.  She had invited all the Senior Couples and some of the other staff.  When we came back from teaching our English Class, the office seemed dark and suddenly lights, music, decorations and a great cake!  I was completely surprised because it was Oct. 3 (we were leaving the next day)!

We celebrated my real birthday by going off to Khovd and then Bayan Olgii for the "EAGLE FESTIVAL". We needed to visit the missionaries in Khovd, do a little training, and have a fireside for the youth who went to the Mongolian Trek.  There was a very professional DVD made so we were able to show it to them.

 The plane was an hour and a half late leaving from Ulaanbaatar which got us to Khovd late and by the time we got on the "road", it was 5:30pm and dark by just after 6:30pm.  The driver was not familiar with the road so we needed to inquire of locals at several junctures.  Using the word road is a very loose term as most of it was more like a trail. At one point we came to a stop at the end of a valley where a little old man came out of his home, got in with us and took us back to a place where two trails crossed, pointed us in the right direction, then got out, and walked back to his own place in the black of night.  Even then we couldn't find the trail but our guardian angel in the form of a lonely Jeep came along and showed us where to cross the river!!  It was "enlightening" to see where we had been the night before, as we drove back, this time seeing the other end in the daylight.

There were professional photographers from all over the world at the Eagle Festival.  It is apparently a choice destination for "adventure photography".  We met people from Germany, Italy, Thailand and Korea for starters.  I also found a Canadian Toonie on the ground by the displays so there must have been some other Canadians there too!!

                                           The oldest Eagle Hunter was 80 years old.

The hunters dress in their traditional clothing and have their eagles hooded so they can not see until it is time to hunt!!

Bayan-lgii is very close to Kazakstan and most of the people there speak Kazak.  They also do beautiful embroidery as is evidenced by their clothes and costumes

The children are dressed and ready for the competitions too.

Love his real fox head hat!!

Maybe the next generation of eagles and hunters!

The parade begins

Even camels in the parade with twins riding in their boxes!

Some of the men perch up on the mountain side to release the eagles for the timed competition.  They see which eagle returns to his hunter in the shortest time.

Meat in hand, waiting for his eagle to come

Looking for the right hunter!

Coming in for the landing

Reward for a great flight!

It was a Photographers Paradise!!

We had the chance to attend Church in Khovd and participate with the members and Missionaries.  We visited with the Branch President at his home.

He has quite a collection of geese, ducks, chickens and even turkeys.

For their P-Day we took the Missionaries for a little hike up to a lookout over the city.

In front of the Church

Now I am older but I'm not sure about wiser!  Yes, I am wiser, we were able to watch all the sessions of General Conference!  We appreciated the talks and found it very interesting how the messages apply to everyone, everywhere.  Many challenges are the same, no matter if you are in Outer Mongolia or Southern Alberta!!  We appreciate all the support and encouragement from home!

Life is Good and All is Well