Quilts Received

When President Clark, his wife, Elder and Sister Ford and President Batbold came to Choibalsan, they brought the big box of Quilts. Sister Clark said the box was very well known at the Mission Home. "We left it right in front of the door so we would trip over it, so as not to forget them". And the first question I ask the Guard at the front desk, the day we all left, "Did they take the box of quilts?"

We kept them, unopened, until they all came for dinner on Sunday night.

We opened the box, all together.

Everyone was hoping for an explosion, since we knew they were vacuumed-packed,

but the girls had neatly put them into 5 vacuum bags.

They arrived safe and sound!

We received 29 quilts and blankets in all. They are gorgeous!

And we knew where to take some of them immediately!

Kevin and Ashlee sent some baby blankets earlier, too.

The missionaries were so impressed, they all wanted their pictures with one,

and I think they wanted one too...so we'll see...

They will help us give them away. We have some plans...

Elder Dagva and Elder Sarangerel

Sisters Narangarvuu and Nyambayar. Elders Usbayar and AP Elder Wilson,

yes, from America, he's been here for about 5 months.

Elders Davis (AP,) Davaadorj, Sarangerel and Usbayar, again.
They like their pictures taken!

What wonderful service, you, our family has done to send these quilts!

I know the hours and expense they have been.

But, we also know that you all will and are being blessed because of it!

We sure are proud of you and so, so very thankful for you!

We send our love and best wishes to you!!

10 days and counting, but who's counting?

Some of the Youth We Love!

Early Morning Seminary - These kids get up and are at the Church at 6:30 am 4 days a week, sometimes with tempuratures of -30 c! There are usually about 9 0r 10 of them, but the Tsagaan Sar Holiday is starting and school is out. We go once or twice a week to support them and this day took some microwave popcorn, they ate popcorn for breakfast! From left to right - Erdendsetset, Enkhsetseg (teacher), Erdenemunkh (in front), Tuvshinjargal (in back), Batholboo and the tall one is Enkhmanlai (he is being baptized next week). These are good kids and we love them!

After Mutual they always play games and just hang out at the Church! Top - Borgethmaa and Urangya. Very center - Chingunjav, he is not a member but hopes to be baptized next week. Lower center - Tuvshinjargal he is a member of a couple of months. A 6 year old who comes to play, don't know his name. Belguin (Dad baptized him a few months ago). And Batholboo, he is a good young man. The bottom center is Erdenemunkh.

One of the games they love to play is called "Meow". You are blindfolded then feel your way to sit on someones lap. They say "meow" three times and you try to guess who it is. Dad sat on Holboo's lap, but the funny thing was that Holboo wasn't on a chair, he had just squatted down, and he was trying to not laugh or fall down with Dad! We all laughed so hard, Dad guessed him right, too!

These are some of the older youth. All have graduated from High School and are at College, some are back home for the holiday. They decided to come to the Church and bake some cookies, they then shared with everyone. From left - Sodmaa, Neema, Shijir, Erdenesetseg, Enkhtuya, and Marathlaa. Some of them have been in our English classes. We know and love each of them!

For FHE one night we invited this couple, they gave us some Shagai, ankle bones. And here they are trying to teach us how to play. It is a fascinating game, we have enjoyed learning it. Hopefully we can show you how to play when we get home. Their names are Bodisog, and Purevjav. The two Elders are Davaadorj and Sarangerel

Missionaries and Service

The Agriculture Center in Choibalsan called us and wanted us to come and teach English - Tuesday and Thursday would be good, at 8:oo am...They would have a driver pick us up and bring us back after an hour. They had a place for us to teach and students ready for us! We tried to tell them we were leaving in 2 weeks, they didn't seem to understand. We finally called Soyoma, in UB and she talked to them. We have had so many of these incidents - they just assume we can do whatever it is they want. And we have tried to help as much as we could. They were kind, they brought us to their buildings, gave us a tour and introduced us to the students we would have! It didn't happen...

I love the Deels, they are so colorful, so beautiful and so traditional! The older people wear them all the time. This is Tserentsogzol and her daughter Munkhtuya, there are 3 generations of Church members in this family. Tserentsogol, comes to the Church every Thursday and cleans for 2 hours. She is a Primary teacher and so faithful!

They dress their little ones in the Deels also. They look so cute. By the time they get them all wrapped up and layered, they look like Ralphie's little brother in "Christmas Story"! They are so cute! It still amazes me that the children don't resist the bundling up. Maybe because it is -15c, outside!

This picture is out of order...This is the Agriculture Center, again. The man in the deel is a vetinarinarian. He was just returning from the Countryside, he had gone to help some herdsmen, with their cattle, sheep and goats.

We visited one of the Kindergarten Schools in Choibalsan. The children are singing a little song for us. The little girls in front, were holding hands, until I snapped the picture. They start school at 2 years of age, some of the little ones were having a hard day, this day. These children were so cute! They love music and they love to sing! They all know their Mongolian Traditional Songs! The Mongolian music is very beautiful, I love it!

The Sisters wanted me to do one more homemaking lesson for them, before I leave. They wanted Fruit Salad. It was very simple, canned fruit, cut apples and oranges. I had some coconut from UB they didn't know what that was, so it was a treat for them. They use mayonnaise for a dressing.

We visited a family that lives in this little 2 room home, way out of town. The walls and floor were covered with cardboard and rugs, they hang rugs on the walls, it is warmer. They had a fireplace that gives them warmth and also, to cook on. Elder Daavadorj is playing with the little children, all pretending to be asleep. Notice the smile of the little one by the wall.

Dad and Elder Sarangerel are fixing them a light, they only had one light bulb hanging in the kitchen area... now they have one in the living room/bedroom. The mother, Gueendolum, is a member.

We walked out to make a visit, and were waiting for the Sisters. One of the building maintance people, they call them "stair people", was chipping ice from the road. It is very cold this day. Elder Dagva, who can't hear or speak very well, went over to her and started helping! He couldn't use her for a contact or teach her, because he couldn't talk to her. He just did it because he saw a need and could help! He is an amazing young man, he has such a cute personality and so upbeat and not shy at all! He is one of the first two Sign Language Missionaries called in Mongolia! He is has his back to me. He finishes his mission the same time we do.

The Stair Lady was so surprized and didn't know what to do. I held some of their books. Dad, and the Elders helped her finish her section of the road. Elder Sarangerel got some information for a contact.

These people work very hard and receive so little money. They live under the stairs of the apartment buildings. Their room is about 4' x 6' - very, very small. The go to a central place for water, toilets and showers. They do all the clean-up around the apartments and stairs in the buildings, the job is looked down upon, but I would hate to see what the grounds would look like if someone didn't pick up after the people!

We have been so blessed to have been in Mongolia for 14 months!

We love the people and their wonderful traditions!

We have learned many lessons, some easy and fun, others hard!
Our testimonies of the Lord Jesus Christ has been strengthened!

We are so grateful for the Gospel

It truly is - the best way of life!

We love You All!

COUSINS and PUNKS

Red Cross and Deseret International Charities

This afternoon Elder and Sister Lasson came to Choibalsan to deliver 19 wheelchairs, from Deseret Charities, through the Red Cross, to some people here that need them. The Red Cross is our sponsor, and without a sponsor we could not be here. But the story actually started earlier. We had to walk to the Zax, which is about a 20 minute walk, to rent a meeker, we couldn't get our regular driver. Once we got started we got stuck several times trying to get to the Airport to pick them up. At one time, the driver wanted to turn around and go back, leaving us to finish walking to the Airport, which was about a mile away, and then find our own way back, with the Lassons! Here we were out of the machine to do just that!

We weren't the only ones stuck! Dad and I said a quiet prayer, the drivers settled down and finally took us on to the airport, with Dad and Elder helping to shovel and push - more that once! It took us 2 hours to get there! When the roads are good and clear it is a 25 minute drive. But with the wind and drifts, we had to go off road a few times and the Meeker kept getting stuck. They really need 4-wheel drives in Mongolia!

Once at the Red Cross we were all part of the Ceremony, the television news and cameras were there, along with some of the recipients. Ganbold, the Leader of the Red Cross, is standing next to me, then the Mayor of Dornod Amig, (like a county) and then Elder Lasson. They said some nice things about the Church and were impressed that Lasson's would come from Ulaanbaatar to be part of the Ceremony. They even thanked us for teaching English and "even when only one student showed up the Anderson's taught them."

The Mayor, Elder Lasson, Elder Daavadorj, the translator, and Sister Lasson.

I don't know who the little boy is, but his father carried him in, and then was able to wheel him out!

We went to the Hospital to deliver this wheel chair to a man who was in an accident and his back was broken. He is paralyzed and has no feeling from his waist down, he is bed ridden, now he will be able to get around. He was very touched and appreciative!

It was really a touching experience!

The Church has given away over 4,000 wheel chairs in Mongolia alone!

The Lasson's explained that Deseret Charities is the organization

that the Church works through to help people.

As Jesus Christ went around healing and helping others,

the Church also desires to help and bless others, and to strengthen families.

What an amazing Church we belong to!

We, as missionaries, are here at our own expense to help the Lord do His work!

And we are so grateful to be able to do so!

Thank you to you and all those who have made it possible

for us to be here!

We Love You!

A Few of Their Favorite Things:

The boys must have been very very good this year!
We had a wonderful Christmas!

We miss and love you all!

SOME OF US ENJOY SLEDDING MORE THAN OTHERS