First Photo of Ovoo and Emaa!

I emailed the parents of a missionary in Choibalsan (I found their blog through a Google search).  They sent this link back to me from a blog by another couple in Ulaanbataar, with a post about Ovoo and Emaa's arrival and subsequent departure to Choibalsan.  I think they look great!  The link also has an aerial view of Choibalsan.  It looks pretty darn flat!  I didn't realize that they were replacing another Elder and Sister Anderson!
http://mikeandmelba.blogspot.com/2009/12/elder-and-sister-anderson.html

Choibalsan Chapel

I found this photo of the chapel in Choibalsan on another missionary's website.  Pretty barren looking behind the beautiful building!

Choibalsan

Yay for a safe arrival in Mongolia!!!  We are all so happy to hear you made it safely.  How wonderful that your months (and months) of training will pay off in your new assignment.  I am sure the fact that you know so much Mongolian already is a huge reason for you being sent to Choibalsan.  We all are excited to hear the details of your trip and the things you are experiencing.  The first couple weeks in the mission field are overwhelming and wonderful at the same time.   If anyone is interested in learning more about Choibalsan, here is a link to some information: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mongolia/eastern-mongolia/choibalsan

You can see the city on the right side of the blog's map

Good luck, stay warm, and enjoy those dirt roads! (Oh, how it reminds me of Bolivia!)  We love you!

Anderson Boys (and Hailee) Campout Chapter I

Mongolia Mission Address

Today is the big day, and we sure have mixed emotions - it is hard to say goodbye and to know that this time is really is for real! But, we are so grateful to finally be on our way. I was thinking last night that we started this mission process on Jan. 18th! It has been almost a year! We have talked to many couples who have had 3 weeks from their call to being in the field! But, we bhave been so blessed and feel prepared and ready. (I hope!) Love you and pray for each of you every day! May you see the hand of the Lord in your lives, as we have done!
Of course the blog and email will be the best and fastest!
But here are the address and information they gave us:

"The US Postal Service flat rate box is the most economical method of shipping to Mongolia. A package usually takes 2-4 weeks to arrive-longer before Christmas. Insure your packages and get a tracking number. DHL is the fastest and most reliable, but also the most expensive with packages arriving in about a week."
Direct mailing address:
"Missionary's name"
Mongolia Ulaanbattar Mission
Ulaanbaatar 49, P.O. Box 242
Ulaanbaatar, 210649, Mongolia

Mission address:
"Missionary's name"
Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Mission
Bayanzurkh District - 1st Khoroo
LDS Church Building, 4th F;oor
Tokyo Street - 6
Ulaanbaatar, 210649, Mongolia

Pouch mailing:
*this is for letters and postcards only. Letters are to be single sheet, folded into 3 panels, and taped at the top only. Letters sent any other way will be returned to sender
"Missionary's name"
Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Mission
PO Box 30150
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84130-0150

To Contact Mission:
Mission email address is: 2013223@ldschurch.org
Pres. Dallen Andersen

Mongolia Here We Come - Ready Or Not!

Just a quick note to let you know that we received our flight plans today. We fly out on Thursday, Dec 3rd. We are really going! Love all of you and we'll try and keep up with you all. Love you and take care! Love Mom and Dad

Christmas Lights at MTC!

In October, when they were hanging up Christmas lights at the MTC, I told Pres. Cardon, one of the District Presidents, that as pretty as they were going to be we really didn't want to see them turned on...well we did, and sure enough, they are pretty! And it is fun to see them, I don't think Mongolia will have them this pretty! As, you know we received an email from Pres. Andersen that the government has given us permission to come into the country. There are the three couples and we are all excited! We talked to the travel office today, at the MTC, and we will be flying out the last of this week or the first of next!

It was good to see all of you at Thanksgiving and to say good bye one more time! We missed Kevin, Ashlee and Brynlee, we know that Kevin had to work.

A thought from your Dad - "A person soon learns how little he knows when a child begins to ask questions." (so true!)

In D&C 31 the Lord tells missionaries that their families will be in His hands, and He will take care of them. That brings great comfort to us, because we do love each of you and sometimes worry about you! Remember we love you all, and remember to love and take care of each other!