This week we have been traveling again, doing some turnover ceremonies and preparing to get the DIC office in order for when we go home the end of November.
We traveled to the Songino 405 prison to do a turnover ceremony for a project that DIC did there. Deseret International Charities provided equipment for the prisoners to make frames and also equipment for them to do artwork and embroidery work that they could frame with the frames that they make. They then would sell these items to help pay for more items to make and with the excess funds, send some money home to their families and to their victims. This prison is for more serious offenders. The prisoners who make frames, do it one person at a time. The prisoners who do the embroidery and artwork do it in their cells. The prisoners are confined in their cells, by themselves most of the time and the prison authorities thought it might help the prisoners to have something to do that was productive. It would help them in their mind, and also helps their families out by providing some way for the prisoners to make a little money to send home.
This beautiful cross stitched picture of Christ was given to
Deseret International Charities as a thank you for the project.
Both the frame and the picture were made by the immates.
When asked "How long it took to make this picture, (The picture is very large)
It took them 3 weeks!
The Captain in charge of this project was surprised that the prisoner
could complete it so quickly.
They expected this project to take between 3 months to 6 months to complete.
I guess when you have nothing else to do, you can get it done.
The next project that we traveled to was in Erdenet, (six hour drive one way from UB). This project was done at the Good Works Center for Children. This center originally started by giving a place for street children to go. But Mongolia has come a long way and now there really are not "street children" but there are children who have alcoholic parents, or are forced to sell and work to provide for their needs. This center is a place for these children to go after school or before school. It is a safe place, they are given a meal a day here and are helped with their school work. The local government refers children here and the staff themselves are observant to local children and invite those who are in need to come. The center is right across the street from the local "black market" and they can observe and see when children are out selling or asking for money. This center also provides showers for the children and cleans their clothes once a week. It is nice to have a place where these children can come and get clean. DIC provided a closet, a washing machine, a vegetable and meat cutter, a pan and also a used computer and printer. The children were cute and they looked happy and clean.
Next we traveled to Darkhan. The first project that we visited for the turnover ceremony was a center that provides physical therapy for handicapped children. The physical therapist that does this therapy works with a union for handicapped parents, and volunteers her time and expertise to these children. The facility was donated by a daycare facility that cares for handicapped children in return for the treatment of the handicapped children that go to the daycare.
It too was a great project for the poor and needy children of Darkhan.
Most often, the mother of a handicapped child has to stay home and care for that child which affects the whole well being of family. Often the father will leave because he can't handle the stress and then the mother is caught between providing for her family and caring for her child.
The daycare facility where this equipment is located, does take some of those children who can not pay for care, so the mother can go to work.
The last project we visited was a Kindergarten. DIC provided 30 new chairs, tables, closets, bedding and mats for a special kindergarten class. The class is for children whose families are not able to meet the children's basic needs of adequate food and shelter. The children are brought here early monday morning by their parents and then are picked up Friday afternoon to spend the weekend with their parents. The parents are also trained in sanitation and nutrition. The children are trained in that as well. The classroom before did not have any bedding, the tables and chairs were broken and no closets to put the children's coats and clothing in. The children were adorable and looked healthy when we visited. They were so cute and well behaved. It was just a joy to be there.
This is the teacher of a class of 30 3 year olds.
Amazing, the children were well behaved and preformed so well!
It was a fun, but tiring week. What makes it so tiring is the travel time and the road conditions
Elder Nay (with the watchful care of our Heavenly Father) did an awesome job in getting us home on treacherous and unsafe roads during a snowstorm. (It wasn't the snow that was the problem, but slippery slimy mud down a very step hill with accidents on every side and other cars also sliding with no control on anyone's part but our Heavenly Fathers) We made it home and we are so grateful for our Heavenly Father's watchful care.
Scripture for the week:
Luke 18: 16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
