A Discovery Journey

Our First Bus Ride in Mongolia

On Saturday, June 29 we accompanied 2 couples the Stewarts and the Farmers to see if we could find some horses that were brought into the area for milking for a traditional drink for their festival at Naadam with takes place July 11-13.

It was a good introduction to riding the bus.  A bus ticket is 400 tugs/person each way (30 cents). The bus going out was not too crowded and the people are really respectful to women and older persons (I qualify as both) and they insist on giving you their seats.  It was a slow and bouncy ride because of the congestion and road conditions.  Coming back however, there had to be at least 150 people on that bus. 

We found the horses and watched them getting milked.  They bring the colt up to its mama, let it start nursing then pull it away and then start to milk.  They keep the colt by the mama and she thinks that she is still nursing the colt.  Pretty interesting.

Scripture: Numbers 13:27  And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey ...

Grocery Shopping

Shopping in UB is a lot harder than shopping back in the US.  You can't just go to your neighborhood Walmart and get just about everything that you need or want.  It is hard here to figure out where to go for what you want.  There are a thousand little "super markets" or grocery stores and what they have basically are candy and maybe bread.  The "Sax" has a hundred little proprietors set in there own little space and you have to really shop around in order to find what you are looking for.  It is all very confusing and very expensive!  Apples are 4500 tugs== $3.30/k  Can fruit is 3600 tugs==$2.70 small can. The thing that really hurt was the Baking Powder, small can was 5500 tugs ==$4.20.

I think what vegetables and fruits you can find, look pretty good, but again are expensive.  You than take your purchases home and soak them in bleach water for a few minutes which is a lot better than getting sick.

For those of you who are wondering,  Yes I am thinking of becoming a vegetarian!

Scripture: D&C 89:11  Every herb in the season thereof; and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.

Our little world in UB

Some more pictures of our little world in Ulaanbatar

 Our apartment building looks like it is probably 50 - 60  years old.

The Front door of our apartment

 This is what you see when you first enter the building. 

 The space inside just under the stairs, is blocked off and a couple

lives there.   They take out the garbage and keep the stairs clean

in return they get to stay in that little space.

 There is not a lot of lawns in Mongolia.  They have parking strips, but do not mow the lawn. They plant flowers though, it should be nice when they blossom

The sidewalks are sort of scary. Alvin has already fallen once.  You have to keep your eyes down so you don't trip.  This sidewalk is in front of our building and it is one of the better walks.

This is the main church building in UB and this is where our office is located.  It is just a few minutes walk from where we live.  The building is well built and beautiful.  Notice the church is the only one that mows the green space in front of it.

There are little playgrounds all over the small area where we live, and they are all similar to this one. At night you can here the children out playing and I commented to Alvin that kids sound the same wherever you are.  It is fun to hear their squeals of joy and laughter.

Every evening you see the street sweepers come out.  They sweep the streets with hand brooms. I think they have one of the most dangerous jobs I have ever seen.  The drivers are crazy here.  They don't care if you are in a cross walk or not. They do not stop for pedestrians even if the pedestrian has the green light.

Sunset out of our front window

Alma 7:23  And now I would that ye should be humble and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.

This is our Apartment in Ulaanbaatar

 We are on the 4th floor.  The second floor from the top,  It is the balcony without a white enclosure.

It was raining when we arrived, you can see the puddles. In fact we had to jump the fence going into the apartment because the sidewalk leading into the apartment was covered with 6 inches of water. The sidewalks are the type that you look down at while walking so you can remain upright. There are a lot of people here in the capital city with lots and lots of traffic.  The driving habits are quite interesting here.  If you snooze you lose or you just might end up in an accident.  Cars have steering wheels either on the right side or the left side.  

The Chinggis Khaan Hotel is right across the street.

This is our Kitchen

The Bathroom.  Alvin was hot and tired after we had arrived, lugged our luggage up four flights of stairs and traveling for 24 hours so decided he needed a shower.

THERE WAS NO HOT WATER! Alvin said that was the coldest shower he had ever had.

The city heats everyone's water and they turn off the system for 2 weeks every summer to flush the system  out.  Luckily we have arrived at the end of the 2 week period and it will be turned on soon.

Dining Room                                                                              

We are grateful to be here.  A little overwhelmed but grateful.

D&C 98:18  Let not your hearts be troubled, for in my Father's house are many mansions and I have prepared a place for you, and where my Father and I am, there ye shall be also.

We are finally in Mongolia

We left Thursday June 20, 2013 from Brigham City at 5:30 p.m. to go to the Salt Lake City Airport.

 Our first flight to LAX left an hour late, but we still had time to figure out our connection to fly to Beijing.
The flight from LAX to Beijing was over 11 hours long.  We then had a 4 hour layover in Beijing ( which we really needed.)  There was a really long wait going into the airport showing your passports and then you had to go through security again which was another really long wait.
We then flew on to Ulaanbaatar arriving 24 hours after we started, but actually adding a day since we crossed the International Date Line. We missed Friday, June 21st completely.

We were greeted in Ulaanbaatar by President and Sister Clark.  Yes we took a lot of luggage.

We are glad to be here and grateful to our Heavenly Father for our safe travel.

Scripture: Alma 35:3  ...I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day.

Humanitarian Training

This week of our MTC training is focusing on our Humanitarian training.

The purpose of Church humanitarian work is to:1) relieve suffering, 2) foster self-reliance for people of all nationalities and religions, and 3) provide opportunities for service.

On Monday, June 3, 2013 we went to Welfare Square for a short tour and training.
The couples that are taking the Humanitarian Training are: Elder and Sister Lasson who are going to the Asia Area office in Hong Kong and will be our direct supervisors. Brother and Sister Lyon who are going to Geneva Switzerland and will be liaisons to the United Nations representing the Church and our Humanitarian Interests. Brother and Sister Redling going to Armenia , us, and Brother and Sister Westwood going to Montenegro.

Even though we toured a Bishops Storehouse we learned more importantly that each branch, ward and stake has access to the Lord's storehouse.  The Lord's storehouse are the resources within each ward or branch. Those resources include the ward members, their time, abilities, and resources that they can share with others.  It is amazing what we can do when we work together and help each other.

Some of the principles that I learned and thought were significant are:

• We find purpose in following Christ's example of kindness, generosity and service to the poor and needy.  Love must be our motive.
• All people can grow, act to solve problems and gain knowledge and skills.
• Work is essential.
• Giving things is rarely a solution-only increasing knowledge, skill and capacity is sustainable
• The poor are able to help the poor.
• Our most powerful contributions are non-monetary.
• Outsider's solutions to local problems are rarely effective.
• There is dignity, ownership and respect when beneficiaries participate in solving and working out their own problems
• Allowing receivers to find solutions and work together  is the most important outcome.

By the way, we still DO NOT HAVE OUR VISAS! 

We are kind of disappointed but all we can do is pray and ask for the Lord's intervention on our behalf.  I guess I am suppose to learn patience.  

Scripture for the week: Matthew: 25:35-40
35 For I was an hungered and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave the drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I way unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

  

We just finished our week of Preach My Gospel training.  It was a marvelous experience.  I was at first a little apprehensive about sharing the great message of the gospel with others.  But I can testify as you get to know the people that your are teaching you can feel the love our Heavenly Father has for them and I also felt such love for them.  I truly wanted them to be able to come unto Christ, to understand gospel truths, to feel the spirit testify to them and for them to truly be happy. - Roxanne

While we were teaching one of our lessons, I was using a scripture that had the word "willing" in it.  I was touched by the fact that if we are willing to honestly try to be obedient, our Heavenly Father will bless us to the extent that He can. - Alvin 

Our district for the week of Preach My Gospel

Our instructor, "Sister Sunshine" from Missouri.  I really don't know her real name. She just glowed as she taught us how to share the gospel of Jesus Christ

The Wallaces' from Southern Alberta and they are going to be office missionaries in Uganda.

Alvin and Myself

The Hoopes' from Idaho Falls, Idaho.  They are going to Bolivia as member support.

Our other instructor, Brother Lystrop from Las Vegas, Nevada

I was so impressed with the spirit of love and service ALL of the Senior Missionaries exhibited.

Scripture for the week:

3 Nephi 18:21

Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed.