Road Trip from Murun to UB

While in Murun, Batbold wanted to drive up to Khuvsgul Lake to find an early spring purple flower that, when eaten, would ensure good health throughout the year.  It was really early, but we consented to go.  The road up and back is so amazing.  Before it took us about 4 hours to make the trip and, with the new road, we were able to make it in a little over a hour!  Progress!  Anyway, the lake was frozen over still and nothing was opened.  I'm not sure if he even found the flower he was seeking!

A typical countryside Mongolian farm.

This was a house at the place where we stopped to eat. 

Another place we stopped is at a well in the middle of nowhere where nomads stop to water their animals!  The pouch at the end of the pole draws the water up from the well to be put in the trough for the animals.  I'm sure it's a really blessing for sheepherds in this area. 

This young man was watering his horses there!

The countryside is so very beautiful in the spring.  Everything seems exceptionally green this year!

This is the iron man who invites drivers to Darkhan. 

There is often a man at the iron man with a falcon that tourists can handle.  Alan had never done that before and decided now was the time. 

We had a wonderful visit to Murun.  When we left 18 months ago, we didn't think we would see these wonderful people again.  Thank you so much to President Benson for the opportunity to return and see the progress they are making and to be with them one last time until the next life.  We loved our time in Murun the first time and loved our time with the wonderful saints there this time too!

Reunion with Murun Branch Members

It was SOOOO good to see President Batmonkh and Byanjargal!  They don't live in their ger any more, but have moved into a house with Nyambayar and her family!

We had a very nice dinner with them and their children and grandchildren.  Nyambayar's husband is very nice and has joined the church.  Now we just need to get all of them to the temple!

Byanjargal made this fancy candy dish out of beads and presented it to LaNice.

We were a little disappointed to learn that the Murun Jeep had really died and had been replaced.  We quickly renamed this old Mercedes "Murun Jeep 2". He still has the same wonderful attitude of service, making his car available to help anyone who needs it at no cost.  He wouldn't let us pay for gas for the all the chauffering he did for us, but we were able to sneak some into his car!  He's such an amazing man and is so good for this branch and it's members.  He was told he should not drive in town and we were worried the whole time he was driving us around.  He's getting a little older and I guess they are concerned about his driving judgement. He has been the BP now for about 4 years and was the first Mongolian to serve as the BP in this branch.  We love this family. 

And Bayarkhoo is still riding his motorcycle to church.  Some things just don't change!

It was so good to see him and Tsetsgee.  They are so faithful.  We feel so blessed to have been with them when they went through the temple in Hong Kong last November. 

Oyundalia and Darjhand had so many baby lambs at their place.  And they were so very cute!

They are also a very faithful couple and help build a strong foundation for the branch in Murun

This is Sister Tsevelmaa's mother who we didn't know when we were in Murun.  It was so good to meet her and tell her what a wonderful, faithful missionary daughter she has. 

Orna, LaNice, Puje and another member. 

Many of our favorites!

We were invited out to Bolroo's and Uldish's hose for dinner.  Their children, Merlyn and Dena, were also there.  Uldish's father had passed away and he was able to go to Uzbakastan (I think) for the funeral and brought back these really cool hats.  He gave us each one.  I wish this wonderful family would return to activity in the church.  Maybe some day!  She was offended and now they are almost totally less active--even though she says she still has a strong testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel!  It's sad how offense can stand in the way of progression.  We all need to be more cautious about the the words we speak and our actions!

It was also wonderful to see Jamian and Delgorjav.  He was baptized after we left, but is struggling with the Word of Wisdom and other church doctrine.  He was genuinely happy to see us and we hope and pray he will have the faith to overcome these challenges.  He says he's too old to change his many years of drinking tea and alcohol.  The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak!  He's a wonderful man.  Hope he makes a stronger commitment to live gospel principles and enjoy those blessings!

We did an FHE on being anchored firmly in the gospel and also talked about worthiness and preparation for the temple.  Following the fireside, we had a party and, of course, we all danced the Heel and Toe Polka!  What else would we do!

I also tried to teach them the Virginia Reel and we did pretty well considering Puje was busy doing some translation work for SLC and we were pretty much on our own. 

They really enjoy dancing, and they really liked the Virginia Reel. 

Elder Groesbeck, Bayarsaikhan, Munkhbayer and Sister Groesbeck.  These are two of the faithful RMs in this branch.  They need to find good LDS women to marry and raise children in the church!

Childrens Palace, Murun

It just didn't seem right to not have Puje on this trip since she was so much a part of our experience in Murun.  She was originally going to come with us, but President Benson was supposed to come and there would not have been room.  By the time we learned that he would not be able to make the trip, we had already purchased the plane ticket for Puje to fly and meet us in Murun.  She got there a little earlier and lined up our visits.  One of the first places we went back to was the school where we taught.  Some of our students had moved on, but many were still there. 

These are the regular teachers at the school and two of our students'--Ulzii and Hishgee.

Puje and Bilgee.  And all the kids who were in school that day. 

Shuree (left) is blind having had her eyes removed as a young girl, and Enkhee (right) has deformities of her hands, but it an incredible artist.  They are both amazing young ladies and it was so good to see them again.

We didn't really have favorites, but if we did, these would be the ones.  Augie, Purwe, Shuree, Enkhee and Bilgee.

These were the first students we taught and we grew to love them so much.  It was such a blessing to see them again.  We know their imperfections will be remedied in the resurrection and they will be blessed with complete and perfect bodies.  It will be so awesome to meet them then!

Driving to Murun

We felt so blessed that President Benson gave us the opportunity to go back and visit the members in Murun before we went home.  We drove (rode) in the car with Batbold and Jiggur as the drivers.  It was an amazing trip to see the country from the ground that we had flown over previously.  It was early in the spring and bit chilly still, but it was beautiful 

It took us about 12 hours to make the drive--mostly because the roads were like this--or much worse. 

Alan with Batbold and J.

It was apparently the time of year to move the cattle.....

and the sheep.

I believe these are wild horses. 

The scenery was beautiful. 

We stopped a few times--once to eat and other times to just stretch our legs.  Batbold loves fishing, so we had to stop and check out some of his favorite fishing holes.  This was one of them.