What I am THANKFUL for.....

I think everyone should have an opportunity to live outside of the United States for awhile.  It opens you eyes and heart to the wonderful blessings that we take for granted everyday.  I am truly blessed with the living conditions we have here in Ulaanbaatar.  We live a block away from our office.  We can worship the way we want.  And we have very good living conditions.  Probably as good or better than 70% of the people.  There is a great majority who live in the gers with out running water and proper sanitation.  They do not have electric ovens but they might have a small fridge.  I am constantly humbled by their living conditions but also by their gratefulness for what they do have. So here a few pictures of some things that I have come to really appreciate.

Of Course I am Grateful for my Husband He is a great support and very patient with me!

 The Beautiful Sky. 

The flowers. They have planted them all over the city and they are beautiful!

Handrails.  The stairs are never even but a handrail helps! 

The Sunsets are magnificient!

Our Translator Muugii.  We literally could not function in Mongolia

without her.  She is in the one in between the two new Missionaries.

Missionaries

We have had 16 missionaries leave and 22 New missionaries come in!

They are all great and bring such a wonderful, energetic, faithful spirit with them.

Fresh fruit and vegetables!

A microwave and a toaster!

We only have one outlet that works in the kitchen. 

And the microwave, fridge and toaster are all plugged into it.  

That is why they are in the window sill stacked on each other.

They stove is plugged into a different outlet. 

 But it took me a while to learn that you can not cook something on the stove 

the same time you are baking.  

You can bake and you can use the stove top, just not at the same time.  

BUT I AM GRATEFUL I DO NOT HAVE TO USE A COAL FIRE

 OR A SMALL WOOD STOVE TO COOK!

 A refrigerator!

I am grateful for the computer and internet. 

 I can see my family every week through Skype!

Most mornings I can have a hot shower and

 I did not have to walk a mile and pull a 5 gallon container

 of water uphill, then heat it so I could shower!

I love my running FILTERED WATER in my Kitchen

 My cute little washer.  I can only wash 2 large bathtowels 

and a few other things at a time, but I do not have to wash in a sink or a bowl, 

like most people.  I do not have to go to a laundry mat.  I am so blessed!

Our cute clothes dryer.  It is amazingly handy!  

I like it so much I am considering buying one when we get back to the states.

 

 I don't think I need to explain this!  I am so grateful I have one in the apartment!

 Scripture of the week:  Doctrine and Covenents 59:7 Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in All things.

Another week in Mongolia

Monday, August 19 2013

We visited a prosthetic factory today.  This NGO, "Erkham Chanar" had requested 100 wheelchairs.  We informed her that we did not have any wheelchairs available for distribution, but asked if we could come and see what her organization does.  It was very interesting.  She is a double amputee herself, both legs right below the knee and also one of her thumbs.  They fit the people and also do therapy with them to help them to be able to use there limbs again.  They are a private enterprise, but the person needing the help gets a check from Social Welfare for a certain amount, then they can go to this NGO and  pay an approved amount beyond what the government will pay.  This group provides a good service and it appeared they were doing great without our help. (Interesting enough, they had one of our wheelchairs in their office already and they had other wheelchairs in boxes in the foyer)

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

We went and visited more gardens today.  Like Alvin said, "You have to hand it to these people, They have to haul water for their personal use over a mile and they still try to grow a small garden.  They are trying to be obedient and be self-sufficient.

I thought I would share some more shopping pictures.  I buy most of my fruits and vegatables either in stands or something by the side of the road.  It is usually cheaper and I just go home and wash them with bleach water.

I still do not buy much meat in Mongolia.  I just haven't been able to do it yet.  I do buy some frozen chicken however.

Scripture of the Week Alma 37:37  Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings and he will direct thee for good: yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, and whithersoever thous goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all they thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.

Week of August 12 to August 16, 2013

This week we were successful in meeting with some officials that we have been trying to get hold of for a long time. We were able to meet with Ganbold who is over National Rehabilitation and Social Welfare wheelchair departments.  We also were able to meet with his boss, who is a minister in the Department of Disabilities. They assured us that they would work to get the wheelchairs distributed that were delivered back in May and that they would properly fit people for them and properly account for the wheelchairs.  They are new in the department and know that the country has not been keeping proper track of the wheelchairs and also keeping track of the people who have received those chairs.  Hopefully we can get this moving in the right track. Everyday, we have people coming in and wanting a wheelchair.  We can not distribute them because we have not been trained and also do not have possession of any wheel chairs.

Tuesday we were able to meet with Dr. Chimgee.  She is a leading ophthalmologist of Mongolia.  DIC has worked with her for many years and she has been instrumental in getting greater eye care for Mongolia.  Last year DIC paid for the training of Dr, Munkzayer in retinal surgery.  This year we were to help pay for the training of a 2nd doctor in this area with a focus on pediatric retinal surgery. But things got complicated.  Another previous partner, Dr. Bassanhuu paid for his training up front without telling anyone and then expected us to pay her back.  That is not how DIC works.  We can not pay anyone for retroactive fees.  So we have been trying to figure out how to make everyone happy, not upset anyone in this political arena.  Dr. Chimgee is a sweetheart, very smart and her opinion is valued widely. What we came up with is complicated and depends on a lot of "what ifs", but it would be exciting if we could get it all to work out.  

 

 We were invited to a FHE in one of the member's homes from our branch.  It is humbling to see how far some members have to go to attend church.  They either have to ride a bus or get a taxi. This is the house of Ganbulth and her sister  Gantull. was also visiting. All Mongolians are very generous, they serve you lots of food and watch you eat it. They usually don't eat until they are satisfied that you are full.  I always feel so guilty, because I know they do not have much.  This sister has been a member for 5 years, her husband and daughter are also members.  They missionaries have been working with her to get her out to church more often and to help her realize that she needs the strength the Lord can provide her to overcome her problems.  She is a great lady and so is her sister.

More Garden Projects

We were able to go see some more garden projects on Thursday, August 15.  The weather was cold and rainy so everything was muddy.  Again I am amazed at how far these members travel to get to church.  It took us forever to see three sisters that live in the same branch and they much live at least 45 minutes away from each other.  

This first sister, Gantulga has 27 geese.  She started with 3 geese. (2 females, 1 male).  She is the first member that we have met this year that has been getting eggs and hatchlings.  She does have her own incubator which probably makes a big difference.  She loves her geese and she also has chickens.  They all come running when she calls.  She gives eggs to her family and hopes to start a business of selling eggs, chickens and geese.

  Here a new chick has hatched and was having problems, she was trying to save it.  I was touched how she loving took care of all of her animals.  That might be the secret to her success.

 

The second household we visited was Enkjargal.  She also had a few chickens and geese.  Her ger was  kind of in a swampy area and the taxi we took there got stuck.  We all go out and pushed. Then he left us there, refusing to go any further.  Any way Enkjargal says she lives in goose heaven.  They have plenty of water to play in.

Here is a picture of our translator Muugii and the other 2 sisters walking down the road to try to get a taxi. It took us a long time to get transportation because of how far out we were. (PS, I need to get some rubber boots! if I am going walking in the mud and pushing taxi's out of holes)

I did not get the name of the third sister we visitied.  She had a fantastic green house.  One side was made of cinder blocks that they painted black to help hold in the heat.  She was growing strawberries, cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, and other kinds of squash.  They were using a pump to pump water through a drip system to water their plants.

 On Friday, August 16 with met with a wheelchair Organization.  It was a good find for us because they represent wheelchair users throughout Mongolia and they also have a wheelchair repair shop.  We always are having people ask us where they can go to get their chairs repaired and know we have an answer.  I know finding this group was lead by our Heavenly Father.  The mission doctor happened to see an article in the local paper and handed it to us like a month later after he was cleaning up his desk.The article caught his attention so he handed it to us. I feel these people will be a good resource as we try to figure out how to distribute wheelchairs in the future.  They are all wheelchair users and understand the problems of wheelchair users in Mongolia. This group has received donations from other NGO's including a van.  Now they need to get an able bodied driver to drive the van.

Scripure of the week:  Alma 33:4  Thou wast merciful unto me when I did cry unto thee in my field; when I did cry unto thee in my prayer, and thou didst hear me.  Verse 8 Yea, thou art merciful unto thy children when they cry unto thee, to be heard of thee and not of men, and thou wilt hear them.

Our Heavenly Father does hear our prayers.  He is concerned for us and when we humble our hearts and truly listen with our ears and hearts we will hear him and his direction for us.