Opps! Last part of our Hong Kong Trip

I just realized that we did not quite finish our report of our trip to Hong Kong. Too much going on here to remember all of it!

During our little excursion to the south end of Hong Kong Island , we also visited a place called Aberdeen(see map posted April 24th) . Aberdeen is a sea port and was fascinating! We marveled at the conglomeration of ships in that little harbor (the larger ships were further out). If you look closely, you will probably figure out that people not only work on those boats, but many live on them, as well!



The various Sampans were the most fascinating -- including the one we were riding on! That's Elder and Sister Gibbons (our area supervisors who serve in Hong Kong) with us on the front our our little Sampan.

We often think of the blessings we receive through our service here. Being able to see parts of the world we had only seen in movies is just the icing on the cake.

After our little excursion around the bay, we just had to have a sea food dinner! One always is taking something of a risk eating out at a place that we are not familiar with. But we did pretty good. Dinner wasn't bad at all, though it didn't measure up to Johnny's On the Dock, Fisherman's Wharf or anything else in the US!

The large 'shrimp' we like to eat in the states we know is not really shrimp at all, but prawns. But I bet you've never seen one served this way! Hmmmmm good! Just makes your mouth water, doesn't it?! Want some Amy?!

Good to hear from you Rod. It's fun to see comments from folks we've temporarily left behind. It doesn't even matter what you say; it's our way of feeling connected. Kind of like our version of 'letters from home'! Thanks, all for not forgetting about us!
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Darkhan-Erdenet Continued

We saw many new things as we journeyed from one city to the next. Our first target as we continued north from the interesting rest stop before described (see post dated May 16th) was a city called Darkhan. This gentleman seemed to be guarding the way to the city.

It's likely difficult for you to get a perspective of size but he is probably about three stories tall and seemed to be made of materials which might be commonly used in construction.

After staying the first night in the Kiwi Hotel (let's just say it was not the best place we have seen even though the food at the restaurant was, in fact, quite good, despite taking them over an hour to get it to us), we switched to this room at the Comfort Hotel. Quite nice, as you can see. We got a really good deal on this particular room because it was about the last one they had left. [We probably shouldn't have shown you this. Now you won't feel sorry for us!)


Once settled in our room, we went to eat at their restaurant. This room is where they seated us! There was an in the wall TV and a nice big window overlooking the area. We ate at that nice little table . . . and it didn't take them an hour to bring us a really nice dinner!

We ended up taking three helpers with us. Sitting next to Sister Caldwell is Zola who just wanted to come along and help our translator with the work to be done. Next is Miigaa, our translator, who did most of the teaching. Next to her is Tsolmon who lives in Erdenet and wanted to visit his family. He was very helpful in carrying baggage and directing us to the church buildings and other areas unfamiliar to the rest of us.

The two girls stayed in a room which we provided and Tsolmon stayed with friends in the area.

By the way, no matter where you stay in Mongolia (our missionary apartments included!), the beds are pretty much rock hard. No box spring and mattress sets here! Just what looks like a slightly padded box springs. Ouch! This was the only one we had seen which at least included a one inch foam pad on the bed. We stuffed a couple of spare fluffy comforters (which are kept in the room), under the bottom sheet and it really wasn't to bad! [Now do you feel sorry for us again?!]

As we continued even further north at the appointed time, we saw a temporary change in scenery. Trees! Not very many, mind you, but trees,none-the-less. It was really nice and a bit refreshing even if it didn't last very long.

Unfortunately, the landscape returned to the rather bleak and dry rolling hills we have seen so much of in Mongolia before we reached Erdenet, our next destination. But we understand that further west it becomes very picturesque for miles on end. If we are fortunate, we may be called on t0 provide some instruction in those areas, as well.

The horse drawn cart shown below is becoming a frequent sight as we travel from place to place, now that warmer weather has arrived. Sometimes the carts are loaded with a variety of goods. Other times there is what looks to be an entire family bunched on that rather small but serviceable conveyance. We assume that this is the only form of transportation some of them have.


We'll conclude our trip next time.

It's Spring Time

Before we share more of our trip to the north, we just had to show you a little bit of spring as we have here in Ulaanbaatar. You'll have to pardon us, though. After the winter we just had, we can get pretty excited about seeing 'green stuff' around! And it doesn't take much!

The first picture is the side of our Church building. One of the few landscaped buildings in the whole city. The lack of water and not having much history in landscaping things, make this something of a rarity here.

And we were really excited to see these flowering bushes looking so nice in the middle of the city.

They are making some really significant attempts to beautify this year. The main road through the city (Peace Avenue) is being heavily planted with trees. All of the trees visible in this picture, are new. Once they decided to plant, they apparently didn't want to wait for 20 years to have them grow to decent size. So they planted them half grown!

Also thought you might like to see the only 'river' running through the city. The main river runs just outside the city but this little flow runs close to our apartment and is actually enjoyable. It is, apparently, unusual for it to be flowing at all this time of year. The wet season doesn't start for another month or so.

I know none of this compares to what you are all seeing now, but I told you, it doesn't take much to get us excited!

Darkhan-Erdenet

We've spent most of this week traveling to northern Mongolia and conducting training
and testing in three cities -- Darkhan, Erdenet and Sukhbaatar. Thought we'd just do a quick blog to let you know we are back -- very tired but back -- and share a couple of quick pictures.

Among the many new things we saw, was our first camels. These are young camels and haven't developed their humps, yet -- Mongolian camels have two. You might notice that they are still shedding their heavy winter wool and look a bit scraggly. But it was fun to see them and they seemed nearly as curious about us as we were about them.

Then we were surprised, in all honesty, to find cultivated fields that would rival the big farms of the Midwest in the United States. We saw mile after mile of fields similar to those pictured here. We also saw a variety of equipment used to cultivate those fields, from very large old Russian tractors, to old caterpillar type machines, to very new looking, eight wheel, enclosed cab John Deere tractors. We think most of these fields are wheat. We have seen Mongolian flour in most of the local stores.

And the last picture is the most important, or course -- at least if you ask Sister Caldwell. It provides notice of the only real 'rest stop' in all of Mongolia. And while it still would not measure up to most U.S. most U.S. reststops, it is far better than the 'three holers' we saw scattered along the way. Those three holers were just off the roadside and the only thing approximating a door on them, was a little half wall built in front of them which managed to mostly hide the occupants. Sort of.

This one was a real rest room, though not in a great state of repair. The above picture hangs on the outside wall of the building and is rather large, easily visible from the highway. No mistaking what this building was for!

We'll post more about our trip later.

Missionary Service

We have had Conferences in the mission this past week. President Perkins (the soon to be new Area President) came to visit and to instruct us. The current President (President Hallstrom) you may recall was called as a new member of the Presidency of the Seventy this last General Conference.

President Perkins shared some good instruction while here. The General Authorities always do, of course. But there was one thing in particular that he shared which we thought would be interesting to share with all of you -- how senior missionaries are called.

It goes something like this.

Mission Presidents communicate with Salt Lake City and request needed missionaries. In the case of seniors, they include in their request the specific skills needed and what specific responsibilities are to be assigned to the couple in that mission. Those requests are then directed to specific Church Departments, based on what the need is. For example, a need for welfare missionaries is directed to the Welfare Department, a need for Humanitarian missionaries is directed to the Humanitarian Department, etc.

When couples complete an application to serve a mission, copies of that application are also directed to each department. When a particular application seems to match a mission need, the department will ask for that couple on behalf of the requesting mission. Usually, several departments request each senior couple.

The request is then assigned a priority level, with the need deemed to be best met by that couple being given priority one, and so on. Once prioritized, the application is then sent for review by a member of the Quorum of the Twelve and the chairman of the missionary committee. Each missionary application (all of them, seniors and young missionaries alike) then appear one at a time on a computer screen.

President Perkins was given the opportunity to witness this part of the process. Elder Hales was the one assigned on this particular occasion. President Perkins watched as Elder Hales looked at each application on the screen, one at a time. Sometimes he would look at personal information, other times he would just look at the picture. Elder Hales told him that if he can look into the eyes of the candidate (even if it is only a picture) he can see into their soul.

Elder Hales would then quickly announce where the Lord wanted that person to serve. Usually, the mission thus assigned will be somewhere on the list of priorities, but not always.

As he was sitting there, President Perkins offered a quick silent prayer asking the Lord to help him receive a personal testimony of this process. Soon, a name of a young missionary appeared on the screen. To President Perkins mind immediately came the words, "Lubbock Texas Mission." He said that he didn't even know that we had a Lubbock Texas Mission! A second or less later, Elder Hales announced, "Lubbock Texas Mission."

Soon another name appeared on the screen, and the thought came, "Toyko North Mission" immediately followed by Elder Hales assignment of that missionary to that mission.

President Perkins then shared his testimony that he knew people were called to serve where the Lord wants them to serve. And it is always to the best place for them to be. Sister Caldwell and I have felt the verity of our own assignment and know that we were asked by the Lord to serve in Mongolia.

It is not always easy, but it is always worth it. We have had some difficulties since arriving here. If you have been following our blog, you know of some of them (a broken arm, more work than we can keep track of, language frustrations, etc.). We have been taught that where the Lord gives much He expects much. But the reverse is also true. Where He expects much, he gives much. The blessings which our children and grandchildren have received alone, have been more than enough to make this worth any sacrifice we might be making. The blessings we have received ourselves, have been astounding, but seem like only 'icing on the cake'.

We continue to encourage all of you to set a goal to serve as senior missionaries. You are desperately needed. There is work to do here in the mission field that the younger missionaries, as terrific as they are, can not do.

And, yes, if you don't go, the work will still go on. It may be a bit more challenging for those who do go as they try to make up the slack, but it will go on. But those who do go, will be the ones to receive the blessings. Blessings that are more than we have the words or space to describe here.

And you're never too young to set such goals and to begin working toward them. Today is a great time to start!

Page Two.

A new senior couple just arrived here in Mongolia: Elder and Sister Stevens. I first met them in the parking lot. He looked very familiar to me as I started talking to him. We had been told they were coming from California but at this point I had my doubts. So I said, "You're from California, right?" He answered, "Yes." I said, "Well, there's a man in Utah who's last name is also Stevens who looks a lot like you." He asked, "In what city?" and I said, "West Valley City." He said, "Oh, that's my identical twin brother!"

That twin brother and I had worked together many years ago to take a group of 14 Venture age scouts on a boating trip to Lake Powell (that was before such trips were discouraged). We had lived in the same ward and had become fairly good friends, though I haven't seen him for a couple of years, now. He used to work part time at the True Value Hardware store in West Valley after he retired from his career and I would see him there and visit once in a while when he wasn't too busy.

I remember, now, that he had mentioned a twin brother, but never gave it much thought. Now we have traveled half way around the world to meet him.

Go figure.
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Down Under

Just a couple of quick notes about Ulaanbaatar.

Before we leave winter entirely behind us (by the way, it has been warmer here than in Utah -- by quite a bit -- 80 degrees today!), we thought we'd show you how some of the men keep warm on the coldest nights.

There are manholes scattered around everywhere here. Men who we would refer to as homeless will sometimes crawl into those holes in the ground at night during the winter, in order to keep warm. It actually is quite a bit warmer down there. Attempts have been made to keep them out by locking down some of the manhole covers or by placing heavy pieces of concrete on them. But them usually manage to find at least a few they can still get into.

And we also thought you might like to see a picture or two of one of the main sidewalks near our apartment. They certainly are not all this bad, but they do seem to have problems maintaining things here. Many of the sidewalks around are topped with ceramic tile, though even they are not kept in really good repair, either.

One of these next posts, we will show you some of the better parts of our fair city!