Ulaanbaatar Farewell to Mongolia

Mongolia is really great and beautiful this spring.  These pictures were taken when we drove from Darkhan to UB for the last time.  Sister Tsevelmaa is a special missionary and we love her. 

After driving through the beautiful countryside, we encountered traffic like this in UB!  So glad we got to spend our mission in the countryside and not in this mess!

We spent some time doing things with our beloved Puje.  We will so miss her when we leave. 

Our last time to eat with her at Molly's.  This was probably our favorite restaurant in UB.  They served great American food!

We had not yet visited the puzzle museum, or the Intellectural Museum, so Puje took us there and it was so incredible.  Everything in it was a puzzle from huge tables to tine chess pieces. 

This whole ger is a puzzle.

It was amazing. 

Puje also took us to visit Buted (a famous Mongolian opera singer) and her husband, the stake patriarch, Bayarabat (I think) at their summer home.  He has Parkinsons' and so doesn't get around very well.  They were both very cordial and gracious

They have an amazing yard, which is very different for Mongolia. 

The greenhouse was incredible and her raspberry patch was amazing.

We missed many of our friends as we visited other branches because they are now in UB.  So we decided to take them all to lunch.  It was WONDERFUL to see them all again.  In the picture are Tumee, LaNice, Oyuntuya, Gambold, Deaf Gambold and his wife Aruna (we went to Hong Kong with them), Puje and Alan. 

Gambold was one of our translators in Choibalsan. He told us his parents are back together again and he is so happy to be a completed family.  We are so happy for him!

Us with Oyuntuya and Gambold--both Choibalsan translators.

There was a small going away meeting held for us at the Bainzurk Building where a few missionaries and a few members came to tell us goodbye.  We also had a chance to express our love for the gospel and the mission in Mongolia and the wonderful members and missionaries we worked with.  It was a little hard to say all that was in our hearts, but we loved seeing those who came.

This is Alan and Gansukh from Choibalsan.

Choibalsan missionaries Turbot, Battetseg and Gansukh

Even though Elder Linford drove us to the airport the last morning, Puje insisted on coming to see us off.  The traffic was aweful and we almost had to board before she arrived.  Fortunately, we had a few minutes to say our last goodbyes.  So much of what was wonderful for us here is a result of Puje.  She translated for us, taught us Mongolian, translated talks and teaching materials from English to Mongolian, defended us to immigration, drove us around all over UB to see the sights, introduced us to wonderful people, scheduled wonderful outings and meetings.  We LOVE her and will so miss her.  We are hoping she will be able to come to America someday.  If not, we have planned a meeting at the Sapporo Temple dedication in 2016.  We will see her again, I KNOW it!

She is truly like a sister and it was so hard to leave her behind, especially when we know how much she wants to visit America and her children. 

Our last view of Mongolia.  We loved our time here and only hope that they work and effort we put forward here has made a difference in the lives of someone here.  They have all certainly made a difference in ours and we will never forget our wonderful experiences with God's children in Mongolia!  What a blessed opportunity to have been able to serve here!

Returning to Choibalsan

We were so grateful President Benson provided us the opportunity to return to Choibalsan before coming home.  Byamba, our translator, picked us up at the airport in an older car that we had to push once to get started.  He hadn't been driving long and it was an interesting trip from the airport.

The first place we visited, of course, was Damdindorj and Suvdaa.  He was the previous Branch President.  We love him and his family.

We also visited Purwee, one of the older members of the branch

It was also very good to see Azbayer and her daughter, Nomin, who is 9 and not yet baptized because her parents are not active.  Azbayar is a returned missionary and so is her husband.  He is also a former Branch President.  Not sure what happened, but wish they would come back to church.  They are so badly needed in this area. We were thrilled that Azbayar is pregnant.

Missionaries and Branch members. Elder Simms, Alan, me, Munkhtsetsge (RS President), Newgui, Elder Ulziijargal on back row.  From is Bolorerdene (Primary President), Shingerbaatar (BP), ??? and Holraa.

Us and Munkhtsetseg.  She is so amazing, as is her family.  Her sister, Battsetseg, is serving a mission in Mongolia now and her brother served also.  They are a missionary family!

Us with President Damdindorj and Erdensuvd

Us with Azjargal, Bilguun and Sarantuya

Me and Holraa.  She has not to church too much because she has been working in the countryside on a large garden.  However, because it has been raining so much, she didn't need to water the plants today and so was able to come to church.  I don't think she knew we would be there and it was such a tender mercy to be able to see her and hug her again. The BP and Suvdaa and us and the elders all loaded into a tiny car and went to Holraa's after church for a short visit. She is such an amaziing women!  Again, as so many times in the past, I wish I could speak the language well enough to speak my heart!

We were invited to dinner with this wonderful family. The daughter's name is Crystal and she is a faithful member of the church.  We didn't know that we were eating at her family home until we got there and she was there.  Her mom is Oyanerden and her dad is not a member and works in the military.  I think he will join when he retires probably.

Anyway, it was a wonderful meal with elders, us and other branch members.  Back row:  Elder Ulziijargal, Elder Sims, Oyanerden, Crystal, Elder Osojama and Elder Harris. Next row:  Bolorerden, me, dad, baby brother, Alan and Baterden, Bolorerden's son.

Then we went to visit Tsevelmaa and Baatar.  Great people.  Their daughter, Tume, was not home and is now living in UB.

Then we visited Erdenbayar and his wife (they got married since we left).  He is blind and she is such a sweetheart.  They are hoping to get to the temple soon. 

We visited with Elder Torbat's family.  There were two parents, a grandmother and four children who lived in a house about the size of a boxcar.  It appeared to have only one room, but we didn't meet many happier people than that family.  

 

They apparently caught this huge fish back in the 90's and are so proud of it's head that they keep it and show to all their visitors!  It must have been a huge fish if the head was this big!

His dad tried to teach Alan how to shoot shagai.  He and Torbat have won money in competitions shooting.  Alan enjoyed learning, but certainly wouldn't win any contests with his skills!

We had a great visit and it was sad to leave them again, probably never to meet again until the next life.  Such a wonderful country with such amazing people.  We love them all!

Returning to Khovd

We were blessed to be able to return to Khovd before we came home.  We did some training and it was wonderful to see the faithful members there.  This mountain is just before the airport in Khovd and displays the symbol of the Mongolian flag.

Our hotel in Khovd. It wasn't too bad, but there was no hot water and when trying to get it to get hot, Alan left the faucet running and we came
home to water all over the floor.  Even though we were assured we would have additional towels to clean  up the water, they never came.  Mongolia has much to offer tourists in culture and natural beauty, but they need to learn more about how to treat tourists and provide what they need during their visit.
This is a water storage container shaped like a Murun Khuur that is built in Khovd.  There is also one that is in the shape of a boot.  Very creative and an attractive addition to the community. 

In front of the church in Khovd.  They need a new building as this one is larger than needed and is expensive to heat in the winter.  More members and activity are needed for this change. 

One of the first places we visited was former BP Ganhuyag and Nara.  He has gone a bit less active since being released, but committed to us that he would return to church and serve faithfully in a calling.  Hope he really does this. 

The sisters were a great help. Sisters Altentsetseg and Tserendolgar.

Ganhuyag is raising baby chicks again. He's a real farmer at heart!

Then we visited Baska and Suvdaa.

This is the new Branch President (Munkhtuvshin) and his wife and son.

It was great also to visit Cer-od.  Her husband is taking the discussion but doesn't seem very interested.  She had a miscarriage here not too long ago and is very much still in mourning for that baby.  She committed to return to church and be more active.  Elder Ganzorig and Ganbaatar.

Cer-od's cute family!

After calling Nomio, she arranged for a few of the students from our English class to meet us at the Children's Park.  It was so good to see them.  This is Nomio, Baska, Toogi, and Nomin.

It was just like when we were here last time about 11 months ago!  We sure did grow to love these wonderful young Mongolian non-members!

Nomin and Nomio wanted to ride this bike.  They were very good at it!

Nomio and her family were so kind to us when we were here before.  Unfortunately, her family was out of town, so we didn't get to see them again.   But she is a sweetheart!

Alan and the girls!

The missionaries cannot go on activities unless there is a sr. couple with them.  So they hatched up this trip.  When they asked us if we wanted to go to the river, we said sure, thinking it was the river close to town.  Not so.  The Seeject River is a good 2-hour drive .  We had lunch there, with everyone providing food.  Ganhuyag arranged for the transportation.  It was early in the spring and water everywhere.  We thought we might get stuck a few times crossing the streams, but we didn't!

The runoff in the river was pretty impressive. 

A little cabin close to the river.  Not sure I ever learned the significance of who lived here long ago.

A place we stopped on the way home.  The rocks are red and reminded us of Southern Utah.

We also stopped at this farm because Ganhuyag wanted to see how they raise their turkeys.  It was a fun stop with children, baby chicks and huge turkeys!

Saying good bye to the sisters at the Khovd airport!

Ganzorig and Ganhuyag drove us to the airport.  It's hard to say good bye again to such wonderful friends and wonderful people! 

However, we feel very blessed to have this opportunity to tel them good bye because when we left Khovd last time, we were fully expecting to return and finish out our mission.  There were no good byes then, so it was great to be able to tell them how much we love them now before leaving. 

Goodbye Khovd!