Week of February 17, 2014

We had the privilege of being invited to Ukraine Nara's home for Family Home Evening.

We attended with Muuggii our Translator, (Muuggii is also Nara's second counselor in the District Young Women Presidency). Elder and Sister Wood who will be leaving Mongolia the end of February, (Sister Wood has been Nara's first counselor.) The little girl is Nara's niece and then Nara.

Nara served a mission to the Ukraine, (thus the name, Ukraine Nara)  She is indeed a Saint.

She is always serving and volunteering somewhere. 

She has been unemployed, but she had a beautiful garden this summer

and has canned her vegetables and has a cold storage pit under her ger.

 Elder Wood sitting on the bed.  Nara had made these beautiful curtains for her ger.

 A beautiful needlepoint that Nara had made.  She did it by just looking at the picture.

She is sending it to Salt Lake City for display at the LDS Fine Arts Museum for display a year from now.

 She also made this needlepoint and it was displayed awhile back in Salt Lake. 

It was Beautiful.  I don't know how she finds time to do this, 

or find the space and the lighting to do it in her little ger.

Nara is a very talented woman!

I thought I would share a few cold weather pictures before it warms up

It has actually warmed up this week.

I am getting spring fever!

Alvin has been so good to get out and run no matter how cold it is outside

This is him bundled up before his run.

This is what he looks like after his run

Looks fun Huh!

It was -35 C going to church this last Sunday.

We had walked 18 minutes to get to a bus stop and this is what we looked like

My glasses were iced over, 

We look like a couple of wimps compared to the man in the background

who doesn't even have a hat on!

On Friday, February 21, 2014 we had the turnover ceremony for Bolor Melmii Eye Hospital.

Deseret International Charities donated $25,000 worth of vitrectomy surgery packs to this hospital.  We also donated $25,000 worth of vitrectomy surgery packs to the government hospital, Hospital 3.

These packs are used for retinal surgery, (detached retina) surgery and also to correct damage to the eye from diabetes etc.  These packs are to be used for the poor and the needy.  

In the past, DIC has paid for the training of the surgeon for this kind of surgery.

Front row: LDS Mission President, President Benson, Dr. Bassenkhuu, Elder Nay, Elder Stewart

Back row: President Adiyabold, (Member of the UB Stake Presidency) Two representatives of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Munkhsaikan and Dr, Munkzaya.

President Benson talked at the turnover ceremony and just totally impressed the Mongolians with his mastery of the Mongolian language.  The two ladies from the Ministry were very impressed and wanted to know more about our church and DIC, so President Benson is sending them a formal invitation to visit us at our building.

Dr. Munkzaya is the surgeon that DIC paid for his training.  He now is head of the ophthalmology department at Hospital 3.

Scripture of the week:Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.