A delightful experience in Darkhan

On Saturday, November 23, 2013, We had the opportunity to travel up to Darkhan and to attend the turnover ceremony for Sun Child Orphanage.  It took us 3.5 hours going up and close to 5 hours coming home because of icy roads. However, this turnover ceremony was worth the long drive.  We went up with Elder and Sister England, (In his former life he was an adoption attorney for the LDS Social Services and both he and his wife have a special place in their hearts for children and especially orphans). Elder Farmer and our translator Muugii. We meet with Elder and Sister Fredley up in Darkhan.  They teach English at this orphanage and were instrumental in getting this project going and completed.

 One of four buildings.  I love how they have painted all of the buildings both inside and out to be so cheerful.

They do their own painting.

 They made their own cement blocks (staff and children) and put up their own wall.  The children did the painting

 Elder and Sister England, Elder and Sister Nay and Elder Fredley

Us, The Director, a cute kid and Elder and Sister Fredley

Deseret International Charities partnered with them in supplying some very needed kitchen equipment and cleaning equipment.  This orphanage is home to 40 children (20 girls and 20 boys).  We were impressed with how happy the children are, how hard they work and how well trained they are in the arts.  The director of this school learned when she first started that it was easier to have the children doing something than to be bored and getting into trouble.  She provides different kind of art training to meet the needs of the individual children.  Some are trained in the visual arts of drawing, painting, crafts or sewing.  Some are trained as singers, dancers or musicians.  The children also take care of the cleaning and cooking at this facility.  They have a large greenhouse where each child is assigned a plot of ground and they get to choose what to plant and to take care of it.  The director said that she wanted three things for each child:

1. To get an education both in school and the arts
2. To become productive citizens in Mongolia.  Ones who are self-sufficient and know how to work.
3. To become loving mothers and fathers in their own families someday.

 Cute Girls!

Doing her chores. 

 Elder England making friends.

 Best friends

 Finished cleaning the kitchen

Sweeping the snow. (You hardly ever see anyone shovel the snow.  The snow is so dry here they just sweep it.

The orphanage gave us a tour again of the facility.  The real treat however was a performance by the children.  Every year 20 of the children get to go to Japan and put on performances.  Last year they were able to perform at Tokyo Disneyland.  They are sponsored by some people in Japan to put on these performances and that is how they earn money to run their orphanage.  They also earn money by selling the children's art work, baked goods and garden produce.  They are truly trying to be self-sufficient.  They just needed a little help from DIC when their refrigerator, cooking pot and clothes washer are broke down at the same time.

 Throat singing.  It is a Mongolian art and very hard to explain the sounds they can get out of their throat.

 These two children were amazing contortionists.  It hurts my back just watching them.

Playing the Morin Khuur (The horse head fiddle)  It is so fun and to hear this instrument.  It only has 2 strings and they place their fingers under the strings on the neck of the instrument, beside the strings and on the strings to get all sorts of beautiful sounds.

Scripture for the week:  Doctrine and Covenants 136:28 If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing, and with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving.