Orphanage Open House for New Kitchen Appliances November 23, 2013

After just a couple of months working at the orphanage we noticed the old appliances they were using in the kitchen.  The TINY refrigerator was broken and a recent inspection by the health department threatened to close them down without a working refrigerator.  Other equipment was old and broke down often as well, costing them a lot of money for continuous repairs.  We contacted Deseret International Charities (D.I.C.) to see if they could help.  They asked us to put together a proposal of what the orphanage needed and submit it for review. They said proposals like this usually take 2-3 months to get approval. It took some time to locate a distributor, identify the right equipment and pricing.

       Here is the old soup cooker.                                         The old cooking table.

We were so surprised when we heard the proposal was approved within two weeks and we could order the equipment!!  The story is much longer than this but D.I.C. felt it was so worthy a project it passed it right through the Ulaanbaatar office and then the Hong Kong office where final approval was given.
 
Here are the new appliances which included: A new, LARGE refrigerator, a commercial-size, electric soup pot and cook table,  an electric range, a commercial-size dough maker, a large washing machine for the girls dorm, an industrial vacuum, and an electric water kettle.  It truly helped their shoe-string budget.  With the money she had allocated for on-going repairs they were able to  purchase new, much-needed carpeting for the boy's and girl's dorms.

They were so thrilled to get all of the new appliances that they painted the kitchen before it all arrived. They put up new curtains and their art teacher even designed and personally made new cabinet doors!

Below is the new cook table (left) and soup pot (right).             
 

    The Dough Maker

 

The New Kitchen Cabinet Look

 

Help for the Hearing and Vision Impaired

Those with hearing problems

As we were meeting with an older member we asked why he was not coming to Church any more. He said we can't hear the speakers anymore.  I told him that there must be a way to hook up some earphones to our sound system and I would get back to him. I called a number of people and finally talked with the head of Physical Facilities for all of Mongolia.  He told me all the buildings in Mongolia have a wireless system for the hearing impaired. He said we just need to order the headphones and chargers.  We ordered six sets and a 10 head set charger. We had hoped to have all in place by the Christmas Program today.  The equipment arrived a couple of weeks ago, but the charger didn't work, so we are waiting for a replacement.  We will be so happy when we see their faces light up to hear the sacrament prayers and the speakers.  What a wonderful blessing it will be.


Those with vision problems

In late October Mission President Benson issued a challenge to all Mongolian members to read the Book of Mormon in 90 days beginning November 1st and ending January 31st. There was a Mission-wide broadcast kicking off the event, large posters for recording names and progress of all participants were placed in all buildings, a nice bookmark with the daily reading schedule was given to everyone. 

Debbie thought about a few people in our Branch and then we thought about a number of people in all the units we work with that are vision impaired.  She had the idea that we could record the Book of Mormon in Mongolian and make CD's so they could participate in the challenge.  We called the Mission President and he loved the idea and checked on resources. He called back and asked us to do it locally.  The Sister Missionaries and another couple took the project on and recorded the entire Book of Mormon in 5 days working day and night. We then started burning CD's for each unit for them to make copies in addition to the copies for all the people we knew who would love to participate. They were a big hit. They are thirsting for resources like this.  So many Mongolian members want to learn English so they can read other LDS books written by General Authorities.

We also received quite a few pairs of reading glasses provided through an Eagle Scout project!  As we are visiting members throughout the District we take the box with us.  If we find anyone that has difficulty reading we have them try on different strengths of glasses to find one that might help them. We were visiting one sister in the hospital we knew had vision problems but none of them helped her. Her roommate asked if she could try them on and she found one that worked for her. She was so thankful.

Other

An Eagle candidate in our Ward in Utah chose a project to supply winter coats for the 40 children in the orphanage where we teach.  We will be presenting them to the kids at their Christmas Party coming up.  The logistics to gather them and also to earn the money to pay for the shipping was quite a task.  We were excited to find out he was willing to take this on for his Eagle project. We will create a new post after the event and include some pictures with the kids and their coats.

We are thankful for so many people that have donated time, effort and resources to help those in need here in Mongolia.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

It has been 6 months and a week since we arrived in Mongolia! The time has gone extremely fast. We are still enjoying our mission and the wonderful people here in Mongolia. We have made many friends and are continuing to meet new people weekly.

I am becoming expert at making khyaram. It's basically watered-down milk. The Mongolian people serve it as soon as a guest arrives especially in the winter time. You bring a pot of water to a boil and add milk and salt. (Approximately 4 cups water and 1 cup milk and 1/4 tsp. salt.) You then bring it to a boil again and pour the boiling hot liquid into small bowls, not cups, and serve. They drink it very, very hot, because it is very, very cold here. We have learned that whenever Mongolian guests come, I put a pot on right before they arrive. I'm finding it tastes pretty good, but I've burnt my mouth a few times. :) The people here do not drink coffee! Just plain boiled water is also popular. No one drinks hot chocolate except if we offer it here in the apartment.

Most people in Mongolia are Buddhist and do not celebrate Christmas. The stores however have been playing Christmas music since Thanksgiving like they do in the States. Several businesses have put up trees and decorate. The first Sunday that the Old Darkhan branch had their tree up, several families were wanting to have their picture taken in front of the tree. Most families do not have that luxury.  We bought a little tree for Christmas and some lights and ornaments. We placed our family picture album under the tree because it is one of the greatest gifts we have received from our Heavenly Father. The family is of God and everyone needs to do all they can to fortify, strengthen and protect.




I did buy a cute little Mongolian nativity. It has a camel, yak, horse, goat and lamb. Jesus' birth is such an important event. I didn't want it to come and go as Thanksgiving did. The birth of Jesus brought light and hope to everyone who has ever lived or will ever live on the earth. It should give everyone a reason to rejoice.

For the past couple of weeks Dan and I have been sharing our own family's Christmas traditions by reading Luke 2 about Jesus' birth, whenever we visit someone or have them in our apartment.  We also invite them to sing a few Christmas carols. Most know Silent Night, but that's about it. It has been a very special time. I hope that you will gather your family around you and share this wondrous story.
When we are out visiting at night in the ger district, and it is bitter cold, we have the Sister Missionaries sing Christmas carols with us as we make our way back to the taxi stand (at least a half mile away. It helps us forget how cold it is and makes the time go faster. :)

We spent Fri., Sat., and Sun., Dec. 6, 7, & 8, up in a little town on the Russian border, called Selenge. We visited about 12 families in their homes, sharing the good word of God and some Christmas carols. In the picture on left, the girl in pink has been in a wheelchair all her life. Whenever we visit the Branch, she is faithfully at church with a beautiful smile. She is such an example to us. She is the oldest of 6 children. All the children are so sweet.









Dan and I spoke at a fireside Friday night in the chapel up there. The topic was "Obeying the Commandments." We also spoke in Church on Sunday as well. Dan conducted Leadership training and I gave a Sharing Time lesson and conducted Music Time in Primary for the children of the Branch. They were all so sweet and eager to learn about Jesus' birth and when He will come again. The people are so warm and friendly.  It was a good trip!

This family is being taught by the Sister Missionaries (Sister Batulga is wearing a white coat and the other is in the tan coat.) They came to the fireside and also to the Sunday meetings.

 

The two ladies closest to me are Mother and Daughter. They sew children's boots and vests for their living. The Mother is deaf and lip reads. 

 

I imagine that all of you are busy with preparations for Christmas. We wish you all a very, merry and blessed Christmas. We pray for all our family and friends back in the States. Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement. Thomas S. Monson said if you remove the last three letters in, "The Spirit of Christmas" you will have --- "The Spirit of Christ". I like that. I know as you focus on the reason for the season, you and your family will be blessed with the Spirit of Christ. Merry Christmas and God Bless!   ~Dan and Debbie

Baby, it's cold outside!

This is us on a -28 below zero, sunny day. 

They keep telling us it's going to get cold in January!!!!!

What fun?

Cant wait!
We are acclimating to the colder temperatures and not letting it slow us down. Before leaving the states, we were told that we would need to wear two sets of under armor in the winter. We had a hard time believing it, but it is true. How cold is it here in Darkhan? Well with the wind chill, the coldest it has been so far is -28 degrees Fahrenheit. We have been told that it will get colder! We have not had our eyelids freeze shut yet, so that is a plus. It happens. Several people keep telling me that I do not dress warm enough and that the wool coat that I bought before I came is not warm enough. We will see. The only place I feel cold right now is on my face, so I did go out and purchase a long heavy scarf to wrap around the face a few times.

We will definitely be having a white Christmas. It is so cold here, that when it snows in November and December it stays until April. It's not like in Utah or Kansas where it snows and then melts later in the day. It's beautiful, BUT UNFORTUNATELY the ice stays all winter as well. :(  I have to hold onto Dan's arm constantly so HE doesn't fall. :) Dan and I were walking along and I slipped so fast I didn't realize what had happened until I was on the ground. Dan kept on walking not knowing that had even fallen.  I have been holding his arm firmly ever since. Fortunately I wasn't hurt. Two members have recently fallen, one broke his arm and the other cracked his ribs! Two of the younger Sister Missionaries fell at the same time. We see a lot of people around town falling because of the ice.

Speaking of ice, they do not have snow removal trucks or salt and sand trucks here in Darkhan. But, they do have a lot of people who work for the street department chipping ice at 7 a.m. They then sweep the ice up with a shovel and throw it on the sidewalks. Few businesses will remove snow and ice from the sidewalk in front of their shops.

We took a taxi to Erdenet on Sunday, a 2 and 1/2 hour drive. The temperature "felt like" -28 degrees Fahrenheit. There was NO heat in the taxi. Mongolians say, "That's normal!" :(  It was cold! I kept my hat and gloves on the whole way and a scarf around my face. Dan's toes were frozen! :(
 

Baji's Bistro

We have made a number of new friends here.  Baji and Suuvda have been special friends. About a month ago they opened a little restaurant we have started calling "Baji's Bistro". A bistro is a French word meaning a small, casual restaurant serving local food at a modest price.  That's their place. It is straight Mongolian food with soup, stir fry, fry bread and peishcke, a meat stuffed, fried bun. 

We asked the art teacher at the orphanage where we teach English to make a sign for them and we presented it to them today. Bon Appetit'!

She teaches Institute class and he teaches the early morning Seminary class. Their daughter is serving a Mongolian mission now and their son is a returned missionary and works for the Church in UB.

Great couple!!

A Special Evening!

"And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!"

 Dan had the privilege last Friday of baptizing this sweet grandmother, Duudee. The little girl is her granddaughter whom she is raising on her own.  After she was baptized, this sweet, quiet woman stood at the pulpit and gave her heartfelt testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and how she was a "changed person". As she spoke, you could hear a pin drop in the Chapel. The Spirit was so strong. It was truly a highlight of our mission.

Afterwards they had refreshments. The sister missionaries, Sister Onon and Sister Stevelmaa, had baked 2 delicious cakes and 2 pans of  jello with fruit! Then everyone around the table read 5 scriptures each. Sister Onon, who is cutting the cake, is a very good interpreter and has helped us out many times when Nyam-Od was not available. The interpreters are our life-line. Without them we surely could not accomplish all that we set out to do. We are still learning phrases and words in Mongolian, but it is slow going. :(  Nyam-Od has been invaluable. She is like our guardian angel, always watching out for us!

 

It was a very special evening!

 

 

 

Below is the Batsaiken Family that we've been visiting. We first got to know Brother Batsaiken as he did a lot of taxi driving for us. He's an exceptional taxi driver, always willing to go the extra mile and the real PLUS is that he knows where all the members live!! :) If you've ever driven or walked the ger district you would understand why. It is just a mindboggling maze of fences, gates, ruts, rocks, dogs and mudpuddles.

 

We have a hard time getting the Mongolian people to smile for pictures. I guess it's a tradition. :)

Anyway, they had us over for delicious Mongolian homemade noodle soup, so we had them over, and of course our interpreter, Nyam-Od, for American BBQ chicken, American potato salad and of course American baked beans and homemade French Bread. :) It was quite a different experience for them but they loved it!!  Brother Batsaiken said he wanted to drink the whole bottle of BBQ sauce!

 

 

They are a sweet couple and family. See the boy, in the red sweat shirt? He is sitting on a box. We had originally put our coffee table at the end for the kids to sit on since we did not have enough chairs. But, the mom and dad said it was bad luck to sit on a table and would not allow it. We thought that was very interesting. There are a lot of other strong traditions/superstitions like that in Mongolia, of which I am sure we have broken especially when it comes to ger etiquette! Oh dear!!

 

 

Above is our dear, sweet, Sister Uran, her grandson and great grandson! Sister Uran is a precious daughter of our Heavenly Father. We met her when we first arrived in Mongolia. She had had two daughters pass away within two weeks of each other. It was so, so heartbreaking. As we continued our visits, we have become very close. She says, "You are my parents"! :)  Sister Uran is 78, hard of hearing and going blind.

 

 Her oldest son who is 60 years old, is totally blind, mostly deaf and needs a wheelchair. Deseret International Charities gave him a wheelchair some years back, but no longer can Deseret distribute them to anyone. The government here requires that they are given first to Social Services, then the people have to apply for them. If they want to give you one, they will. Deseret recently gave them 200 wheelchairs. They got a newer one from Social Services but it was too small. We took her to Social Services to get a bigger one and at first they said yes, then a week later they said no. But a few weeks later, they just showed up one day and delivered one. Yay!!

 

 You can't help but smile when Sister Uran is around. She is such a fun person to be around and always upbeat. She reminds me so much of my own mom. Brother Batsaiken, the taxi driver, and I make our way to the far end of the ger district to pick her up each Sunday for Church. She always has her dell on and ready to go. She came to one of my English classes and had a blast!! 

 

 

 

 

Nomin Kindergarten & Handicapped Day Care

A couple from Ulaanbaatar, who own and operate a Kindergarten there, bought an old Darkhan Police Station and converted it into a large Kindergarten.  For the first time she is accepting handicapped children at a very reduced rate so parents can afford to place the children in this Day Care. They have no experience working with the handicapped and a local handicapped children support organization was asked to help.  We have been working with that group on other projects and we were invited in to offer our advice.  Since I worked for 7 years as an OSHA consultant I provided advice and ideas on how to make the facility "accessible". 

At that point Debbie really took over and has been instrumental in changing the dialog about how to support the handicapped.  Her experience working with Autistic and Aspergers kids in Kansas has been a huge help here.  Her ideas and experience teaching them "Life Skills" has become the new buzz words for how to teach these kids to become more independent from the constant care of their parents. She has given a number of lessons to the staff and parents on how to teach the kids to brush their teeth or their hair. Also, how to hold a spoon, etc.  She has other great ideas to help them communicate using patches with Velcro on the back. Last night we attended a presentation in another city nearby and the presenters spoke about the need to teach "Life Skills" they learned from her to the handicapped kids in their town.

(News just received. At the event last night the parents has been requesting a room in one of the schools to be just for the handicapped kids. They want some developmental tools, floor mats and physical therapy equipment too.  The board said no at previous meetings.  I meet with them and I guess I argued a pretty good case.  The parent heading up the effort told us they approved the room today.)

She has been out scouring the city looking for toys that can be used for teaching kids to speak that haven't spoken or made noise before.  She found a toy the kids immediately took in hand and tried to speak or make noises. The parents were in tears.  She found others that helped them to develop flexibility, eye-hand coordination and increased motor skills. She is also helping to develop a proposal to submit to Deseret International Charities to fund floor mats and physical therapy equipment.

I am so very proud of her. She is so good with kids. They all immediately fall in love with her.  We are in demand to attend every handicapped event or activity in the area. They all want our advice and to speak at the event and to have pictures taken with us.