We made it to Mongolia

On Monday October 22, 2012 we packed up our worldly possessions at the MTC (as you can see, there were quite a few!) and headed off on our adventure.  We flew from Salt Lake City to
 Los Angeles, to Beijing, to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.  We finally arrived on Wednesday morning at 11:00am.  The flights were great and none of them totally full so no one gave us a bad time about all our carry-ons!!  We met the other couple who were going to Mongolia at the SLC Airport - she needed a wheel chair to get through the LA Airport so we just followed along and got taken all the short back ways to our next flight- that was a blessing!  We had not realized there was an AIR China, and a China Air - two different airlines!

Arriving in Mongolia we discovered that we had greatly reduced our luggage - all four of our suitcases were still in Beijing.  We were assured they would arrive the next day so we did not even have to take them through the customs!!  We spent the night with the Mission President and wife with just what we had in our carry-ons.  And sure enough, they did arrive the next day!

This is the front door to our building

The Martins, who we were replacing, were not leaving until Friday so we did not get into our apartment until Friday afternoon.  It is just a block from the Church Building where the Medical Office, Chapel, and all the Mission Offices are located.  It is an old Russian type building with no elevators.  We are on the Third Floor and have a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and living room.  It is comfortable and always warm - there is central heating and no thermostat.  The other Senior Couples have indicated that often you have to open your windows, even in really cold weather because your apartment can get too hot!

The Woods and Gardeners 

For the first week here, we were entertained and fed by a different couple each night.  Some took us out to eat (it sounds like they eat out a lot!), and others fed us in their apartments.  It was a blessing because we  were still rather jet lagged and unorganized.  It also gave us a chance to get to know  the other seniors on a personal basis.  We also got really well acquainted with the Gardeners - the other couple who came when we did.


The Mongolian people seem to be very friendly and kind.  We are settling in well.  It's all good!