Church Activities

The branch has fun activities.  The Primary celebrates birthdays every two months.  This was our first birthday celebration.  LaNice made and decorated cupcakes for the occastion.

These are two of the children whose birthdays we celebrated for December and January. 

                        

 The come to Primary activities all dressed up like going to church on Sunday.  So cute!
 

They played games -- ring toss and bean bags. 

                                            And then they ate cupcakes and other goodies                          provided for the occasion.  It was a fun day!   

 This is Bilguun.  He was helping teach Primary one Sunday.

The lesson was on the creation and he drew pretty good pictures for each of the seven days of creation!


LaNice taught a lesson on the Book of Mormon--how we got it and what we should do with it now that we DO have it!

 

RELIEF SOCIETY
There were several new member young women who said they didn't have long enough skirts to wear to church.  So the Relief Society got busy with fabric provided by us and made two skirts for the girls.  The sisters didn't even need a pattern.  They took a skirt off Arynjargal that was really cute and made their own pattern from it!  They turned out really cute.

They all pitched in and did not need any help from LaNice!  They knew what they were doing!

She would have needed a pattern!

  Sarantuya, RS President, and the Visiting Teaching Coordinator!

Choibalsan Family History Library

Elder and Sister Farmer, from St. Louis, are the Family History missionaries.  Their daughter served her mission in Mongolia 13 years ago.  They were thrilled to get their call here.  They visited Choibalsan in February, 2013, and created the first Family History Library here.  They brought a computer, a nice monitor, keyboard and printer.  The internet was a problem, but it was soon resolved and the library was fully functional with director and consultants. She trained two consultants, but, unfortunately, the director was out of town that weekend.

Sister Farmer explaining New Family Tree to Gereglchimeg and LaNice.

 Elder Farmer training the priesthood leaders.

 Sister Farmer and Gambold training branch members.  There were about 25 people who 

showed up for this first fireside on Family History.  They are excited to start their work.

One couple was getting ready to go to the temple in March and we were able to help

them get some names prepared to take with them.

We helped Bodisteg and Purve get some of their family names ready to take to the temple in March.  They went to be sealed and to have their deceased children sealed to them.  It is really hard to do genealogy in Mongolia. Over the years of different governments, records were destroyed and most people don't keep good records of their own.  And they don't really know their ancestors very far back--even as close as grandparents.  Birth dates, death dates, and marriage dates just don't seem to carry the same significance here as they do at home.

Purve showing LaNice her pictures of the temple after they got back.  They had a great trip and came home with a glow about them!  They were so excited to be sealed together and to have their children sealed to them.  It was quite the trip!  They came home and promptly applied to serve as Church Service Missionaries and are anticipating serving somewhere in Mongolia.  They will be the first senior couple to serve here!  They are wonderful people and will bless the lives of those they serve wherever they go!

Piano Lessons

The only thing the Branch President asked LaNice to do is teach piano.  So she is!  She started with about 15 students which has dropped now to about 10.  They were really excited to come to lessons when school was on break, but when school started up, they got busy and some dropped.  Oh well, at least they know more about the piano now than they did when they started!

Tumee

 Erdenemonkh

 My youngest student--Mondoohaa (5 years old).  Her dad or mom usually came with her. 

The students have to speak some English or bring someone with them who does. I wasn't too excited about starting her so young. but she is one of the first who started and stuck with it to the end.  And I was amazed at how much she learned.  If she could keep taking, she would be able to play.

 Monkhtaven--my star student.  She was playing from the simplified Hymn book

before she left to go back to school in UB,  Her English was also really good!

 Monkhtsetseg, Seminary teacher and RM!

 Nomin -- one of the ones who dropped out!

Holboo--He really didn't take lessons, but he got his mission call to the Ogden, Utah mission and really wanted to learn to play "Called to Serve."  So I helped him memorize it.  He doesn't know the notes or anything, but he can sure play "Called to Serve!"

Gansukh has alot of talent, but tended to memorize the notes on the keyboard instead of learning to read the music.  He could play by ear pretty well.  He was determined to learn "Fur Elise" which he pretty  much did.  Then he wanted to learn something by 'Thumb', a group I had never heard.  So I found him some music and we'll see how he does!

 This is Munkhentsetseg, a kindergarten teacher from our kindergarten English class.  She only took lessons for about 4 weeks, but did amazingly well.  She learned the notes on the keyboard quickly and then learned them on the music.  I hope she will remember and keep practicing!

Future Missionaries!

The Choibalsan Branch is a legend in Mongolia for the number of missionaries they have produced.  They were made a branch in 2001 and have sent out 59 missionaries since then!  The young people are called to be branch missionaries when they turn 17.  They each have a name tag that states "Future Missionary" on it.  They each also have a companion they study Preach My Gospel with; they also study the scriptures and English together.  They are given an assignment to visit a certain number of new members and less actives, and they actually do it.  By the time they reach missionary age, they are so pumped up and prepared to go!  It is incredible to see!  Here are some of Mongolia's finest Future Missionaries! There are 3-4 others who are planning to go, but weren't there for the pictures.

 They all want to serve in Mongolia and hope that is where they are called!

Arynjargal has received her call and went into the MTC in March.

 Aryunjargal and Oyuntuya (still waiting for her call).

 Azjargal and Holboo.

 New member (baptized 7 times before going all the way under and investigated the church for a year) and Nyambayar, Branch Mission Leader.

 Gansukh and Chimguu.

 Munkhtavan and Aryunjargal!

Mongolians have the CUTEST Kids!

These are random pictures of darling Mongolian children, most we don't even know, but their parents allowed us to take their picture.

                                 

                               

                         

                       

Tsagaan Sar Visits

We visited 13 homes in three days and ate way too much (see next post)!  But it was fun visiting the homes of members and investigators.  We went with the Sisters and our translator and his member friend to most of the houses.  People were so gracious and excited to have us visit.  Here are the rules for visiting at Tsagaan Sar.

• Always wear a hat until after the formal greetings.  Men and women.  Do not shake hands during Tsaaagan Sar unless the host initiates it.
• When entering a ger, go to the left.
• Greet the eldest person first.  If there is a couple there, greet the man first and then the woman.  He/she will be sitting on the north or the furthest position from the door. (Most times we WERE the oldest couple.  We only gave money to four people older than us!)
• Say "amar bain yy" (peace)
• Facing him/her, put your hands under his/her elbows like you are holding him.her.  The older person will put his/her arms on top of yours.  The oldest person may kiss you.
• Ask how your are doing.
• You say "saikhan shinelj baina uu?" (Are you having a nice white month?)
• Have money in hand.  Give it to the oldest person.  The husband will greet first.  Both give money.
• Hold a 1,000 T bill and give it to the oldest person.  The denomination of the bill goes up the closer you are to the person.
• After you greet the oldest person(s), sit down and wait.  Younger people will come and greet you.  Will you put your arms on top of theirs when they greet you.
• Before touching anything with meat, you must take a spoon of white rice or something write.  Be sure your hands are clean.  May put the rice on your hand if you don't have a personal spoon.
• If not church members, they will hand you tea with milk.  It is rude not to take it, so take it and set it down and don't drink it.
• If they offer it with one hand, take it with one hand--right hand with left hand under it.  Never use left hand.
• If they pass you snuff, smell it (don't take lid off), and pass it on.  Admire bottle.  Receive bottle with palm up; pass on with palm down.
• When food is passed or before taking food, touch the side of the bowl before removing food.
• When you leave, the host will give you a small gift.
• If vodka is served to you, take it, dip your right ring finger in it, and flick it in three different directions  Then return the drink.
• Airag--fermented mare's milk.  High and low alcohol content.  Personal decision. Even if not drinking it, bring it to your lips.

We were obviously the oldest in these greetings!

Snuff bottles come in a variety of styles and sizes, but are usually very beautiful

 Alan receiving the snuff bottle from an investigator of a part-member family.

We spent the eve of Tsagaan Sar at Branch President Damdindorj's with his family.He showed us his snuff bottle, although we never saw him use it!

                                                    

He is a regal and proud Mongolian, and really looks it in his deel, Mongolian boots, belt and hat!  He's really a great guy and his family has been so warm and welcoming to us!

This is he and his wife.  They are standing behind their Edtoo (sp) and the sheep's back on their table.   

 Mongolian really know how to slick every piece of meat off a bone.  It is literally bare when they finish!

Alan likes to do service at the homes we visit.  He used to cut and/or bring in wood in Murun, but here they burn coal so he usually brings in a bucket or bag of coal.  Here he is emptying water brought from the local well house into the large water storage container in the home! 

Sister Onan and Sister Bulgan in their Mongolian deels and Tsagaan Sar hats!  The hats were handmade for them by a branch member.

 This is our district with our translator, Gambold, in the middle. 

We visited some wonderful people!

 President Damdindorj and his family. 

While at the branch presidents, Martbold started to play the Moren Hore, a Mongolian two-string horse hair violin. It plays 28 notes.  He was good and it sounded beautiful.  Alan decided to give it a try! 

           

 Sukee and her granddaughter. (Gotta love the hats, huh?)

 Purvee.  One of the older ones we gave money to!

Altish and Munkhtuya--The only place we were offered vodka! 

 Chimgee, return missionary daughter and investigator husband.

 Sarantuya--Relief Society President.  Her mother was visiting and was older than us!

 Baatar, Suvaa, Tumee and daughter who is investigating the church.

 This is Enkhbaatar and his family.  He was just recently baptized and his wife is a non-member.  His son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter are all members. 

 Munkhtaven, Oyuntuya (branch members who visited with us), Munkhbayar, Munkhtuya, us and the sisters.

 Shijigbaatar (EQ President) and none-member wife and us.  This is

Oktobri's father--a sister who worked in the English Department in UB!

These are the oldest members of the branch--Jugder, Lhagvaa and daughter, Gerlee.

Chuka, Chimgee and children.

 Gerelchimeg and non-member husband and family.

Here are some of the gifts we were so generously given during Tsagaan Sar.

We even had some visitors to our house.  First, we had Munkhtaven and Munkhtuya.  Their visit

was totally unexpected, but so nice and considerate of them. This is Munkhtaven greeting LaNice.

 We had not really prepared any Tsagaan Sar food, so we served them lasagna and juice.  Not your traditional meal, but they seemed to enjoy it!

Children knock on doors of strangers in the quest for a small gift or candy, similar to our Trick-or-Treating.  These two young ones were decked out in traditional Mongolian dress.  The whole family was gracious enough to pose for a picture.

This little guy was visiting one of the members and he had made a pretty good haul for himself!

TRAVELING TO TSAGAAN SAR!

We walked to most of the places we visited.  Here Gambold, our translator, and Martbold, his friend, are walking on about 3 foot diameter pipes that carry the hot water to heat the homes.

 Here we are about 8 kilometers from town and are hoping to quickly catch a taxi home!

 Some people rode horses to visit.  That would have been fun, but we didn't get to do it!

We ate so much that we were glad to walk between houses!  The exercise felt great!

These little guys really had the best ride!  They were having so much

fun pulling each other on the sled!

 We survived and thoroughly enjoyed (mostly) the one and only Tsagaan Sar we will

experience while in Mongolia!  HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!