A Face Only a Mother Could Love

And no, I Don't Mean The One In Red.

Snake-charmers

Not to be outdone, Jonah and little Bronwyn Susan joined in the reptile lovefest.  Absent from photo, Mommy.

Choibalsan Countryside - July

The pictures all made it! It has taken so long to download them, finally! This was our Preparation Day, not a day of rest, but a day of fun! The Missionaries were invited out to a members Ger in the Countryside, and to eat, they always like eating. We were to be at the Church at 7:50 am. They had a meeker to take us. So, at 9:00 the meeker shows up, then we had to get gas and they changed a couple of tires. So by 9:30 we were on our way! (Typical Mongolial time!) The missionaries and members love their basketball. They played while we waited at the Church. Dad actually made this shot!

The ride was an hour and once we got out of the city, about 15 minutes, this is what we saw, for the most part. A meeker ride is kind of hard on the back, and a few times we bounced kind of hard, I'm still feeling it! I'm in the front seat, and when he found a straight road, as above, he would go kind of fast - I closed my eyes a couple of times!

This is the Kherlen River, the same one that runs through Choibalsan. The missionaries are teenagers - mud and water fights! The Sisters got the worst of it, but they are the ones who started it! The meeker driver got into it too.

We shared the river with the locals! Even the cowboys went in for a swim/bath!

They play volleyball when they get a chance. It was a beautiful day!

I took off my shoes and waded into the water, it was't over a foot deep. Of the Sisters, guess whose feet are the whitest and the biggest? Notice the beautiful sand!

This is the family, and the missionaries. There are actually 3 families that are living here for the summer. They have sheep, goats, cows and horses, no camels.

Dad and I got to ride on a Mongolian horse. The saddle is so different, not like an American saddle. They actually turned the reins over to us, for a minute. The flies were bad, and the horses were a little jumpy.

They are cooking dinner - "Horhog" is what it is called. Another word for "Dutch oven". The white liquid is hot milk, I think they are making yogart. The covered one is the meat, today's menu - goat that the 2 men went out and killed. So, now I can add to the list of meats I have eated - goat! I have a question for Tama, have you eaten goat? I'm 2 up on her, I've had sheep's head and horse meat! We're learning to try new things.

They brought us hot stones, they used to cook the meat. If you turn them over in your hands, they are supposed to bring good health, helping your head and stomach. I'll try anything if it helps my stomach, especially with goat meat and Mongolian cheese!

These are the other foods we ate. Milk curds, on the left, with Mongolian butter, I think they said it was from a cow. Mongolian cheese is in front and fried breads in the back. They gave us "medical water" which is supposed to be really good, it is from their well, hot milk, and juice, which the missionaries brought.

One of the men is dishing up the meat from the horhog pan. The Mongolian people are so giving and so kind, they share what they have! The towel on his head is to keep him cool. They get it wet and put them around their neck or on top of their head, sounds like a good idea, but I'm too worried about my looks, I guess, I haven't done that...yet. But, if we keep having 100 degree temperatures I just might.

This is the picture of the missionaries and Marthla, whose family it is. Starting from the front left - Sister Mandkhi, Elder Batsaikhan, Marthla. Back row, Sister Onon, Sister Yunga, Sister Bassanjav and Elder Sukhbold, he is the DL. They seem to be a good group of missionaries. They are good to take us visiting and to include us in some of their outings.

This is the real Mongolia!

We are doing good and surviving the heat, mostly! We are so grateful to be able to have experiences such as these and grateful for the Lord's guidence and protection! We are also grateful to be able to serve Him and to be on a mission in Mongolia!

We love all of you!

The Replacement Mommy?

When Ethan and Jo chose a new pet to replace Speedy, Mommy put her foot down and gave them an ultimatum.  Mommy said it was either her or Snakester, but one of them had to go.  Welcome to the Anderson Family Snakester!  We all miss Mommy.

Dad's First Baptism!

Belthguun Tamer is 8 years old.

We went to the Church knowing he was going to be baptized, what we didn't know was that he wanted Dad to baptize him!

He likes Dad because Dad gives him candy, sometimes.

Belthguun, his brother Altangeral and their mother, Sardanchemic are members of the Church.
The water was so cold!

Dad had to pick him and carry him into the water!

He wouldn't get in!

But, with the temperature outside at 102 degrees,

they said it felt good, after they dried off!
Dad was glad that it was not required that he give the prayer

in Mongolian, although,

the Elders were teasing him that he would.

Elder Batsaikhan made a cute comment -

"It's good, because it looks like a Grandpa and his Grandson!"

Elder Sukhbold, (L) is the District Leader, he has been in Choibalsan for one week.

Elder Batsaikhan, (R) is the same Elder that held on to the camel, trying to buck Trish off.
They are both good Elders and good workers.

I forgot to tell everyone - We love You!

The Lord is so kind,

and we are so grateful for his little tender mercies!

July in Choibalsan - 2010

Picture is part of the city of Choibalsan, from the river.

We live to the left of the red and white smoke stack you see on the left side of the picture.

The river isn't very far from our home,

and the prairie is only a 10-15 minute walk in any direction, from our home.

Notice the blue sky. Mongolia is called the land of the "Blue Sky",

for good reason, it is beautiful!

A home we visited, they are members and so cute!

Sunset in Tumerzan, a little town about 10 minute meeker ride from Choibalsan.


Ovoo and Emaa, have been in a previous blog. Zolboo, the young girl is our translator, she is so cute and so willing to help us, she is one that we would like to wrap up and bring home with us. She graduated from High School and is going to a Medical University next month,
a long ways away, we will miss her alot!
But, here we are looking at their photo albums, they love pictures and every time we go anywhere we always look at pictures, sometimes the same ones as before. And when they come here they look at our pictures, it doesn't matter that they are the same ones, also
they still look and enjoy them.
Notice the Deel that Ovoo is wearing, they have summer and winter deels, shirts and dresses and jackets that look the same, just fabric weight and colors and length are different,
they are so unique and so pretty!


We went out to Shijirbaatar's home for FHE, he is on the right next to Dad. He invites the missionaries or a family to his home nearly every Monday night.
This is a family that lives near him, Monkhtuya and her 4 daughters. Her oldest daughter is on a mission, here in Mongolia. Their father died about 2 years ago. They all live in Tumerzan.

Again, we are at Shijirbaatar's. He had all the missionaries over during Naadam for a picnic.

It reminded me of the 4th of July, with watermelon and food.

He cooked horse meat, potatoes, onions and tomatoes. He is so willing to share.

Dad and I had a pre-packaged sausage.

(I'll spare the details of the horse meat!)

Neema and Elder Batsaikhan. Neema teaches Seminary and is a counselor in YW
In Choibalsan, Naadam will be celerbrated July 28-29th.

(pictures on that later)

Shijirbaatar's garden, he wanted a picture of it with us.

Some of the Branch members have planted gardens and they are doing very well.

Group picture at the picnic.

This is Saradenyum (right) and Hungersol (left).

Hungersol just received her mission call, she is going to Russia, and is so excited!

What is so cute about this picture is that they always sit 2 per chair! There was a vacant chair on the other side of the table. I think it is because they are so use to close quarters that it doesn't bother them to be so close. In Seminary or Sacrament meeting, they will sit 2 to a chair, or 3 to 2 chairs, all the time.

Only in America do we have to have our 'space'!

I think one of the things I will really miss are the smiles, they have such pretty smiles.

Out on the street, when they first look at you they can be quite somber,

but when we smile and say 'Hi' to them and they smile, their whole face lights up!

They have so many different looks, they are such a pretty people!

We are so grateful for the Gospel, for our Family and Friends!

I look forward to doing these blogs, because I feel connected with you.

I'm grateful to be able to share our experiences with you.

We are so grateful to be here in Mongolia and to share

our Heavenly Father's love with them!

Summer Vacation

We took Joshua on his very first airplane ride, and he did better than expected (thank goodness). We bundled him up and took him on a four hour ride to Baltimore to see his brand new cousin. The trip was one for the memory books. We saw the sights at the Baltimore Inner Harbor, toured the Mall in Washington, D.C., and dipped our toes in the Atlantic at “the shore” in Chincoteague, Virginia.

Dipping their toes in the Atlantic.

In the shadow of the Washington Monument.

Joshua's day at the shore.