"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!
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| Parker with Elders Standley and Stranski in Mongolia |
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| 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!!
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Chingeltei District - higher on the side of the mountain |
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| Cal runs early in the morning before the traffic gets bad - pollution starting |
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| Most carry home a bag of coal or wood every few days - |
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| 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!
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| 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.
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| The homes in an enclosed area for privacy - they built their own cinder brick fence last year |
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| 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.
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| 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
