Mapleton to Mongolia: More Member Visits

Before we left we visited lots of members. They were all so wonderful to us and we have grown to love them and will miss them when we leave.

This is Erdenbayar's family--his parents and brother and sister and girlfriend, who is an investigator and is working with the missionaries to learn more. We hope she is baptized soon.

On her last night before leaving for her mission, we visited Oyuntuya's family. We met her mom, who is not a member, and her two sisters, one of which is a member. They are very nice people and are excited about Oyuntuya serving a mission.

After the visit to Oyuntuya's, we went to Batkholboo's house. It was sort of a going away party for him since he will be leaving soon for Utah, and it was also a haircutting for his nephew. There wer quite a few people there and we had a great time.

This Kholboo with his grandmother, sister and nephew.

This is Erdenchimeg! She is deaf and is such a sweatheart. She tried to teach us some Mongolian sign and we did OK when we used it. She is planning on a mission. We bought a needlepoint picture of a boy praying that she did to help with her mission expenses.

One evening while the Gardner's were visiting, we went out to Shinjirbatar's house. We went in a taxi with the Gardner's, but the rest of these people were in a meeker! We counted them when they got out and there were 26 in the meeker. It was quite the evening. Shinjirbatar showed the video of his daughter, Oktober's, wedding in the Timpanogos Temple. She married an RM from Utah. Then many shared their testimonies and we had tareg (sour yogurt) eaten with sugar cubes! Interesting!

This is Togooch. We helped her get names ready to take with her to the Hong Kong temple. They had a nice trip. However, while she was gone, someone stole her cow from her ger! She is quite the lady. Her ger burned down a few years back and the only thing that did not burn was her Book of Mormon that was sitting on a table. Quite the amazing story.

This is President Dadmindorj and then with Alan in front of the chapel in Choibalsan. When we first got here, he seemed to quiet and stern. Now that we know him, he is such a character and laughs and smiles all the time--even when we can't understand each other hardly at all. We grew to love this man. He works so hard to keep the branch here functioning and is doing a great job! We will surely miss him and his wonderful family!

Byambajav helped us with translation after Oyuntuya left. He is an RM but works in the mines in the Gobi so he isn't in the branch regularly. He works as a translator, so his English is really good. We enjoyed him very much and hope he finds a good church woman to marry soon!

We visited Mulkhtuya and Altish when their RM daughter, Altantuya, had a baby. The baby had a small health problem and Alan was able to give him a blessing. After surgery, he seemed to be fine.

He's a really cute baby and Altunish and Munkhtuya obvious LOVE being grandparents! Altantuya is living with them for awhile. Her husband is not a member and works in the mine, so while he is gone, she stays with her parents.

They also love playing SKIPBO and here several other branch members came to visit and we all played. These members don't like the game quite as much as those in Murun did, but they do like to play games!

Sukhie, Ganchimeg and her daughter--Great members of the church in Choibalsan

Azbayar, Batsukh, and Namulan. Parents are both RMs. Azbayar teaches Institute. Batzig is a former branch president but is now somewhat less active as he works in the mine and is gone most of the time.