Winter in Murun

This was our coldest day to this point on November 29.  Unfortunately, it was not the coldest day we had there, which I think was -36!  But Alan wanted to try our his cold weather underwear (which is why he looks so pudgy--he really hasn't gained any weight here).  He said it worked well and he wasn't cold after being outside for 35 mimutes!

 We walked past this statue every day we went to school.  It was a pretty cool statue!

It was pretty cold, but we dressed for it and so it didn't seem too bad most of the time!

 This is a kindergarten school which we walked by to get to English class.  This was the closest we came to seeing an outside Christmas tree in Murun.  And they are actually trees decorated for New Years--not Christmas!

It was so cold that even the dogs had frost on their fur.  We wondered how they kept warm, but they seem to survive the cold well!

LaNice got pretty good at making bread in the oven in Murun.  Everyone really liked the bread and we usually gave away about half of every batch--one loaf to Puje every baking and several to others who always were very excited to receive a loaf!

 Alan it was interesting how the women dressed here for the cold weather. Coats and tall boots and short or not skirts!  These folks are waiting for the bus at -25!

 The kids don't seem to let the cold bother them.  One day at school the class wanted to go across the street and take pictures at the Wrestling Palace.  We were freezing but they seemed to take it all in stride. There's a ramp at the school which the kids were having a blast sliding down on the icy snow.

          

 We tried making popcorn in the microwave with regular popcorn.  Alan got it down pretty good, that is until the microwave started being weird.  At night when so many lights were on in town, the microwave couldn't draw enough current to get hot.  So anything we did in the microwave had to be done during the day!

                                            

We though it was really interesting that the cows wore blankets to keep wary!  They were sort of patched and worn blankets, but they must have provided some protection.

More Member Visits

Dorjhand and Oyundalia said they would be offended if we didn't eat at least one more meal with them before leaving.  We have eaten at their house so many times, but we went again and had a great time.

 Of course, we played SKIPBO!  I think that is why they wanted us to visit the most.  The LOVE that game!  Their house gets so hot when they cook in it.  Thus the tank tops in the middle of winter!

 The next night we went out to Tuya's for dinner.  Her husband, Bataa, had just returned to Murun from working in UB.  Such a nice couple.  They are planning to go to the temple in November.  Hope they make it!  Along with Batmonkh and Bayarkjuu!

There was such a beautiful moon the night we went. We couldn't resist some pictures with it in the background.  Murun does have beautiful night skies and also beautiful blue day skies.  It's a neat place.

            

Member Visits

It's amazing how close we got to some members of the branch.  Before leaving Murun we tried to visit as many of our wonderful friends as possible.  Not sure we got them all--but here are a few of them.

This is Yenjma's family.Her husband died a few years back.  She brought out her gold cups for company and that's what she used for us when we visited.  Her daughter lives with her and her three grandchildren--Khulan, Khaliun and Erhambayar.

                                  Khulan and Khaliun.  You would never know they are twins!

This is Garumsuren's family.  Her husband died a few years back too.  She watches her grandchildren alot since her daughter is a nurse and works at the hospital.  This daughter was baptized just before we left Murun.  Her husband and older daughter were taking the lessons and were planning to be baptized soon.

The kids loved the Ipad

Garumsuren fiixing dinner for us!   

She had a handicapped 23-year-old daughter who she
cared for very tenderly.  There was a great spirit
in Gamsuren's home!

One cute granddaughter!

The other cute granddaughter!

The family loved laying SKIPBO!

   This is Bataa and part of his family.  The Elders had tried to find them but the phone number was bad and they couldn't find the address.  So we thought they had moved.  One day in November we were getting a taxi and got into his. He had just returned from working in UB for the winter and had started driving taxi.  He took us to his house that very afternoon and fed us horse meat--heart, liver, kidney and intestines.  We did fine with everything but the intestines.  Puje ate those and she got sick--not saying it was the food--but it was the only thing she ate that we didn't!