Hong Kong - Part 1

We don't quite know where to start nor how to share the experience we have had over the past 12 days or so. Saying that it was wonderful seems very inadequate. But we'll share what we can here with the hope we will have the opportunity to do a more adequate job when we return to Utah - in a couple of years.


The purpose of our trip was, of course, the temple and more specifically to assist the Mongolian members in their first (and for many probably their last) visit to the temple. It seems incredible to us now that we not only have the opportunity in Utah to attend temple sessions whenever we want, but to also recognize that we can choose from any of nearly a dozen or so that are within relatively easy reach. And then to further realize that there are even more temples - lots more temples - that are closer and easier for us to reach than the one single temple these members have available, is very humbling. Never again will we take for granted the wonderful opportunity we have to attend the temple in Utah.

The Mongolian members could not get enough of the temple. They virtually lived there for the entire week. Three sessions per day and more was the norm. We sealed families together, had a new bride and groom sealed together, performed hundreds of ordinances for their family members as a result of family history research they had been able to do before the trip. Much of the Lords' work was accomplished last week. All too quickly it was over and we had to make our way back to Mongolia -- home for us, for now. We'll tell you more about the temple in part 2.

We left Hong Kong two days after the rest of the group did. We have arrived in Ulaanbaatar two and a half days before they will. Mongolians do not need Visas for China and therefore travel by train -- much cheaper than by plane, for them. Foreigners would be required to obtain Visa's and when that cost is considered it is the same for us to fly or to go by train. And lets just say that the trains in Mongolian are something of an adventure all to themselves!

A word about Hong Kong. It is a city of over 7 million people and is a sight to see. And yet, traffic is much less of a problem than it is in Salt Lake. Private vehicle ownership is much discouraged through taxation which doubles the price of any car. To compensate, the mass transit system is something of a marvel. Trains, subways, taxis (tons of taxis!), double decker buses, trams, small buses, big buses, trolleys -- get the picture?! You can get anywhere in this city quickly using mass transit. And the cost is about $1 to $3 US dollars for a typical fare.

It is quite mountainous, here, thus limiting the land that can be developed. Hong Kong is an island AND a big chunk of mainland. In order to handle all of the demands for space, they simply 'go up' -- tons of skyscrapers everywhere!

We have been amazed at everything we have seen for 11 days. We'll do the best we can to continue to share some of it with you.

We have returned!

We had a great return trip and have arrived safely in UB! But it is midnight and we are going to bed. Will post tomorrow.

Good night all!

Quick hello

At an internet cafe in Hong Kong right now. Got rained out and forced to come into this mall. Just wanted to say everything is great and we will return to UB in two days. Got tons to tell everyone about. This has been an amazing experience.

Elder and Sister Caldwell

Humanitarian - Page 1

Some of you may have seen this story in the Church News. Perhaps we can add a few more details.

The Relief Society here in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and surrounding cities, got together one Saturday afternoon a few weeks ago to put together some newborn kits. The biggest part of the project was the making of 500 baby quilts. Quite a project. And they did it all in one day!
These were given to local hospitals who, in turn, gave them to mom's as their babies were born. Most here have nothing to wrap their babies in when they take them home.

The brother sitting in the first picture is President Odegerel, president of the Ulaanbaatar District (the mission field equivalent of a Stake). He is quite a character but is also one who is eager to learn as much as he can as quickly as he can about the Gospel and how to run a district.


You can see the room full of sisters behind Elder and Sister Caldwell and in the following picture. That room also doubles as the chapel. There were also sisters in the basement area and in a room on the third floor - just about anywhere we could find space to put them. They put in a long day, but got everything pretty much done before it was over.

And believe it or not, they were done by about 5 o'clock! They had quite an assembly line going, including a 'quality inspection' area to make certain everything was finished properly.



And this was the final result as all the quilts were stacked at the front of the chapel when they were completed. We've never seen so many quilts in our lives!





This is a couple of the Elders hauling loads of blankets to be stored in a closet until they could be taken to the hospitals.




We've also included a picture of the racks of little socks we dried in our apartment after washing them. These were purchased for the new born kits, but it was felt prudent to wash them, not knowing where they had been before we got them.


Next: Wheelchairs, Volume 1.

Hodge Podge

Easter is fast approaching and we wanted to thank everyone who has sent us little tidbits for Easter. Easter is not exactly a well known holiday here, even among the members. For one thing, we will be watching delayed General Conference on Easter weekend. The difference in times prevents us from watching it live (i.e. sessions are held while we are asleep here). Having some fun reminders is fun. But we will always remember the reason for which we have this particular holiday and will always be very grateful for a Savior who was willing to suffer so much so that we would not have to and then made the Resurrection possible.

How do you like Sister Caldwell's new boots? Stylin' huh? Just couldn't resist showing them to ya' all!

They are rubber and should be really great in the rainy season just ahead of us. 'Course we understand that we have to get through the windy season first. The one that blows the Gobi to us so we don't have to go see it!


And last but not least, we are packing for Hong Kong now. We leave Thursday night at midnight (about 10 am your time) and fly to Hong Kong to be with the group being sent from the mission to go to the Temple. There will be 24 of us total. Some have sacrificed much to be able to go. There will be families sealed together, one young couple just getting married and a few just going to receive their endowments. Should be quite a trip.

We will not have internet access there and thus will be silent for a couple of weeks. But when we get back, we will have much to share! But we will have to mix all of that with a series we hope to post about the humanitarian efforts being made by the Church here. There are some wonderful and fun things to share, in that regard. We hope to post the first of that series before we leave for Hong Kong.

Chow!

A Little bit of Old and a little bit of new

We thought you might find these photos interesting.

The first shows how those living in gers get their supply of water. There are pump houses located around that they walk to and cart back large containers of water such as the one shown. Many have done this their whole lives and really don't think they have it particularly difficult. We are really glad we have indoor plumbing!




Next. We teach an English class at the local archives here. Some of the work they do is to transcribe old Mongolian text.

These two pictures show some of the papers they work from. The room we teach in is often stacked with these old papers which they are currently working on.

We don't know what it says; our students don't speak quite enough English, yet, to be able to tell us. But they are getting there. Our class there is writing sentences, now, and we even read short (but very simple) stories.



And the final picture is a different shot of that same old monastery back grounded against the new sky scraper. We were back in the area and took pictures from a different angle this time. This one was such a good picture that we just had to include it.