What do we do here?

Well, looking at all of our blogs it seems like one big party of events, celebrations and activities, but we are involved in a lot of other projects, training, support and reactivations efforts. We were called to serve as Member Leadership Support (MLS) missionaries. All of the younger Mongolian missionaries teach the gospel to people interested to know more about the Church and the gospel of Jesus Christ. One Senior Couple serves in the Mission office as a support to the Mission President.  There are several other couples in the same building that work with Humanitarian Services, Church Education Services, Family History Support, Medical Services, Welfare Services and another couple serve in Employment Resources.

As we are located outside the capital city (Outer, Outer Mongolia), our job is to help strengthen the branches in the Darkhan District. There are 6 branches total in our District. I am serving as Second Counselor to the District President.  I am responsible for training the High Council members, Branch Presidencies, Sunday School Presidencies, Primary Presidencies, Branch and District Employment Specialists, Young Single Adults (18-30), also, to direct the Self Reliance Welfare Programs and Family History. Debbie is the Second Counselor in the District Primary Presidency and works specifically with the Primary, which is the children's organization. Each week she is working on songs to teach, Sharing Time activities, or class lessons for when she is called upon to assist. We visit all of the Branches often. I spend most of my time with the Branch Presidencies teaching and training them how to conduct Branch Council Meetings, Presidency Meetings and how to minister to the members.  I also work with auxiliary leaders and teachers to help them understand their duties and how to teach by the spirit and with power. Most of what we do is visit families in their homes. Last month we home taught 24 families in one branch.

In July we were assigned to focus on the Old Darkhan Branch.  At the time there were around 50 members that attended sacrament meeting each week.  We worked to organized and train the branch council in their duties and how to focus on families and individuals that needed support. We started visiting the less active families and inviting them back to church.  By November we were in the 80's attending sacrament meeting. In December we consistently had over 90 each week. In January we had our Branch Conference and set a goal for 100 to attend.  I personally wanted to reach 110 attendees.  We had 121 attend. We are now achieving 100 each Sunday.  Update 3/24/14 Yesterday there were 130 attending our Sacrament meeting and 162 in the New Darkhan Branch conference. Things are really turning around.

A week and a half ago we spent three days in a small branch in Zuunkhara visiting with less active members there. We met with 10 families and had great moments with them. The Branch usually has about 40 attendees.  Last Sunday 9 of the 10 we visited came to church with a total of 63 people.  It was wonderful.

Our plan now is to start training the other Branch leaders how to duplicate these efforts, how to organize, strengthen the members and families, reach out to those in need, improve home teaching efforts and to make it happen in their units. We spend a lot of time speaking in Sacrament meetings, firesides and other events. 

Additionally, we are involved with a number of handicapped children groups trying to help the kids.  There is a large project in the works right now for a Day Care Center that is taking in disabled children. It is the first one in Darkhan to offer the service at a discounted rate.  We have been meeting with a dealer in UB that provides equipment for the handicapped. The Day Care Center and the parents had no idea what type of equipment to even consider, so Debbie and I have been researching many websites about physical therapy and occupational therapy for the disabled and learned a lot.  We then took pictures of the equipment that might be beneficial for the kids at the Day Care.  We are waiting for the pricing and availability to develop a proposal to submit to Deseret Charities for the funding. They toured the facility a few months ago and they are anxious to help.  If we are successful we will meet with other day care providers to invite then to open their businesses to disabled children and hope to get similar equipment for them. Update 3/24/14 We will be going to UB this week to find the last two pieces of equipment to complete their needs. Hope to get the proposal into the charity to approve and move this to completion.

We are now working with an ophthalmologist in UB to come to Darkhan to evaluate and help some of the children we know with serious vision problems.  Next week we will meet with one of the City leaders responsible for all disabled children under 18 to see if she has data on how many have vision problems, who they are and to assist in putting together a program to help them.

All this is when we are not teaching English at Sun Child School.  We teach about 9-10 hours a week there and so it allows us to help in other areas.

We love what we are doing and know the Lord has opened up all of these opportunities for us to help and serve. We are so very happy to be here. There is so much need and so many that are so appreciative.  They are wonderful children of our Heavenly Father. We feel blessed beyond words to be here at this time.

Tsagaan Sar: The Mongolian Lunar New Year

The last post was the day before Tsagaan Sar officially started. The following three days were solid visiting and eating. We visited 7 homes on Friday and 7 homes on Saturday. We were invited to 5 more on Sunday but we ended up getting sick Saturday evening.  I ate 65 byyz's (bodz--A dumpling filled with meat, usually mutton, but we did have some with camel and horse.) and Debbie ate 12 over the 3-day celebration.  We had a wonderful time visiting so many church members that just kept feeding us.  We not only had lots of byyz's but they serve mutton by the slice (see picture), lots of wonderful potato salad, a pickle/salami plate, heddum (a hot water drink with 1/4 milk and salt), candy and cookies.  Some also serve hot, Sea Buck Thorn berry drink, which is rather good.  We were eating and drinking all day, both days.  It's so crazy!  One, very large, American missionary is reported to have eaten 200 byyz's in three days!

The following pictures are from some of the homes we visited.

A typical Tsagaan Sar setting with the traditional "plate" in the background. It is 3,5, or 7 layers high depending on the age of the host. It is mostly like a cookie.  The white stuff that's mounded in the back is Aaruul  (ardow)- nomads use yak and cow's milk to make yogurt, cheese and aaruul. Aaruul is the nomads' candy. It is made by leaving squares of cheese to dry in the sun and wind on the roof of a ger. Once dried, aaruul becomes as hard as stone. Take care; you don't want to break a tooth.

In preparation for Tsagaan Sar, each family thoroughly cleans their home from top to bottom. The mothers and daughters get together and make 1,000 to 2,000 byyz. If they have extra large families, they may make up to 3,000. One family we know had 100 visitors. On top of all the food that they serve you, they have a tradition of giving gifts to all their visitors. It was quite interesting. One place we received socks, another place a vase, another a pen. I received a copper bracelet at one home and then there's Debbie's favorite--a large chocolate bar. :)

 

This is the Sun Child school where we teach English to 40 children. Since we were almost the oldest ones there, we were greeted by all the staff and the children. They had some entertainment--a duet on the Morin Khuur, the 2-string instrument with a horse head carved at the top. They also had singers. It was a fun experience!!! 

The Mongolian people  have a tradition to pay off all their debts before Tsagaan Sar begins!  There are tons of traditions here and we learned a lot about them during this most important holiday. Tsagaan Sar means "White Moon" and is all about the Lunar New Year. It is NOT associated with the Chinese New Year. 

Below is the Nyamsuren family. The father serves with me on the District Presidency. His wife is Relief Society counselor.

Aaruul - nomads use yak and cow's milk to make yogurt, cheese and aaruul. Aaruul is the nomads' candy. It is made by leaving squares of cheese to dry in the sun and wind on the roof of a ger. Once dried, aaruul becomes as hard as stone. Take care; you don't want to break a toothBelow is the Baterdene family. The father was kicked by a horse and is now in a wheel chair. The whole family was baptized back in November. Great family. The American missionary on the bottom right is Elder Robbins. He's one of the finest missionaries. He has been such a help and support in translating for us as we visited families and in church meetings.

Above is the Gambatar Family. The father is the Branch President. They are such strong and faithful members.

 

Above is the Erdentugs family. The picture below is us marching all over town in -30 below weather going from one house to another. We visited about 14 families total!

Above is the Galmagna Family and below is Sister Batuh with her family.

Below is our good friend, Erdensogt and his wife. The sister in the bright pink dress is Sister Onon. She has been a wonderful interpreter.

 

Sagaan Sar Opening Events! An Amazing Day

Sagaan Sar is the biggest celebration of the year in Mongolia. It is their New Years celebration.  Sagaan Sar means "White Moon".  It is not the Chinese New Year, it is strictly Mongolian.  This year it falls on January 31st as the "first day", of a three day feast. On the 30th they clean their homes from top to bottom. This is also a time for the people to pay off any debts that they owe. In the weeks before Sagaan Sar they prepare byyz (boodz), thousands of them. Most make between 1000 to 2000, bigger families make 3000 to 4000. They invite family and special guests on the first day which is Friday this year.  We have 8 invitations starting at 8:30 am until 8:00 pm Friday evening.  We are told we need to eat 6-8 byyz at each place we visit.  We heard one large American missionary ate 400 byyz over the 3 days. We plan on many less. We've been told not to take any hostess gifts, but that they will give you gifts!

Today was planned for foreigners to attend a get- to-know Sagaan Sar event. It started with a demonstration of how to make byyz, traditional clothes to wear, vendors selling Mongolian crafts and art, contortionists, a large childrens group performing traditional songs and dance, slide show and displays.










 
Here we are wearing the traditional "Huntaaz".
We were told to wear a "Dell", which is full length, with long sleeves and worn with a belt.
They look like robes but made with a heavier, elaborate material. They are very warm. They are usually worn by the older generation year round. During national celebrations many people wear them. Instead
of the Dell, Huntaaz are acceptable to visit the homes we have been invited to during Sagaan Sar.







That was followed by a professional group of dancers, musicians and singers. It was wonderful.



































They then escorted us to the City Museum to show us enlarged photos taken by a famous American photographer a hundred years ago. There were also a tyrannosaurus rex, pterodactyl and other dinosaur era displays and other artifacts. They gave a prize to the foreigners that wore the best Mongolian clothing. Debbie and I won. Since we were the ONLY foreigners wearing the traditional clothing, we won by default! :) We sure appreciated the gifts!!









We then attended the big wrestling match. As you may know from our Nadaam Festival photos and stories, wrestling is huge here.
















Then the BIG surprise!! After the wrestling event the city leaders announced all of the winners in many different categories.  Our own Sun Child School was chosen as the "Best Family in the City of Darkhan.  This is one of the very top awards. The biggest award is given to the "Best Citizen for 2013".  Out of 13 key individuals chosen, again, our own Sun Child Director, Erdene Chaluun won!! They presented her with this unique, traditional art with Mongolian script. We were so excited for her and the school!!! She is so deserving! She not only runs the school, but runs kindergartens for homeless children. She does a great job and works hard to make the kids feel welcomed and loved. The Director helps so many to develop talents they never new they had, to develop a strong work ethic and self confidence.
What a wonderful surprise and a great day!!!

Sun Child Performance Videos 3

This is another great dance. They are working on one dedicated to the horse. We saw their entire dry run and it is really going to be awesome. It is very high energy. The Director told us they are working on some other very difficult dances we haven't seen yet. Their costumes are not ready yet so I will post that dance when they begin their dress rehearsal. They design and make all of their own costumes. The upstairs of the rehearsal building this was filmed in has a large sewing room and the art classroom.

Their next tour of Japan will be in July for two weeks.  When we return to the US we want to find a way to get their tour to come to the States. Let me know if you can help or what connections you may have to bring them to Utah.

Sun Child Performance Videos 2

This is an amazing performance by Oyuka on the Yatga, a harp like Mongolian instrument.  Watch those fingers.

Sun Child Performance Videos

We were invited to another dress rehearsal at the school where we teach. They are preparing for their annual 13 day concert tour of Japan in July. They design and make all of their costumes. This is my favorite dance.

 

 

 

Mongolian New Year Celebration

Many Mongolians celebrate Christmas and New Years on New Years Eve.  They gather as family and eat a large evening meal, open presents, then celebrate New Years with a champagne toast and cake.  At 12:15am the President of Mongolia gives a New Years speech with his goals for the year and vision for the people.  He set an interesting example by offering a New Years toast with a bowl of milk and asked the people to follow his example and not use vodka or champagne.

This is the very large city theater where we have seen a number of wonderful concerts and performances. It is about one block from our apartment.  You can see the tall Christmas tree and the ice carvings in front. This is where thousands will gather tonight for the shows and fireworks to bring in the New Year. 

 This is Iron Man.  As you enter Darkhan from the South there is a huge statue made of iron as a tribute to a large steel manufacturer in Darkhan. This sculpture is a replica.

 Here is Iron Man later that evening as we arrived for the music and fireworks.  All of the ice carvings had lights of different colors inside them. It was cold!

The stage where Emcees introduced rock and rap groups.  There were also music videos on a large screen.

They had a nice display of fireworks. We tried to catch some fireworks behind us but no luck.  Happy New Year!!!















     The Original "Iron Man" About 60 feet tall

As part of the New Year's festivities, we had a wonderful evening with this family. The beautiful young lady in the middle is Nurjan. Her and I get together to study English for her and Mongolian for me. Nurjan is the most studious young person I have ever met! She speaks Mongolian, Turkish and English. The effort she puts into studying English is commendable!  She hopes to attend BYU-Hawaii for one year before going on a mission at age 19. The family, at the present time, have an older daughter and son serving missions in Mongolia. The dad, Raikhan, works in a gold mine in the Gobi desert and the mom, Khandaa, is Primary President in our branch. They are faithful in the gospel and such an example to us.