Monday, April 29, 2013

Black Market, Returned missionary reunions, Sunday visits, farewell to Mongolia


 
Chandeliers for sale at the black market
Besides all the charity visits on Friday and Saturday, our daughters still found to explore the Black Market, buy carpet at the Sate Department store, go to the 20 year cultural extravaganza (see earlier blog), go to Battsey's home for lunch, attend church,, sing at church, and make one final visit to one more family Tawny helped bring into the church 13 years ago.
Missionaries from Tawny's era 1995 - 1999, Pres. and Sis. Cox are in the center back
Tawny attended her missionary reunion meeting instead of carpet shopping and going to the black market.


Tawny arrived after this photo was taken of all the returned missionaries attending the Saturday afternoon event

Here are photos from their last two days in Mongolia. It was a whirlwind vist from start to finish.

Small group discussion
 
 
Some groups were larger than others - groups of Mongolian returned missionaries since 2003




We squeezed in a visit to the State Department Store for carpet buying
 
Floor coverings at the black market --- Ogie on the left
It couldn't have worked out better. To see more pictures and learn from one of our daughter's perspective, go to tassabarney.blogspot.com.
 
Outdoor carpet shop
Looking for a purse?

Material for traditional clothes (deels)


Our taxi driver drove us right to Battsey's home despite a few obstacles


Battsey's mother Shuurai is in the middle - her sister Bagira is on the right
 
Shuurai and her family made two nativity sets we purchased for our family - she gave a camel to each of our daughters



Sacks of coal they use to heat their home


Last dinner with Tawny's convert family before their trip home. Enkhtsetseg and granddaughter back and front

Chinsanaa, Enkhtsetseg. Tawny and year old granddaughter (Ariuunsanaa's daughter)

Cute as a button

So long to Mongolia and to Mom and Dad - a whirlwind trip comes to an end
 


Daughters’ charity visits, Family History Open House, and family dinner


Children who performed their talents at School 80 where the Foundation donated school supplies
Friday: Our daughters' collected gifts and donations in conjuction with a granddaughter's personal progress project for Narantuya's family.


Grandmother, Enkhjin, Ekh Achlan and friend

A previous blog showed our first visit to their home the day after they arrived. They followed up with a second visit on Friday.

Special appreciation program at School 80
To get the complete details of their visit there and other charity visits with Nara Thompson and her foundation, you can go to the Barney Family blog at tassabarney.blogspot.com to see more of these visits. For Narantuya's family, look for Maren's YW Service Project blog entry.
Household headed up by 22 year old brother (looks like 15) with two little brothers in front. Nara Thompson and Social Worker are on the right
They saw lots of poverty and sad situations while in Mongolia intersperesed with tourism, family visits and meals, and 20th year commemoration activities.


They made a number of home visits delivering clothes
We didn't go on any of these visits made on Friday and Saturday. We were a part of the Family History Open House Friday afternoon that was a part of the week long celebration of the LDS church coming to Mongolia.
Family History Center Open House
The Open House was a huge success. It was designed to encourage members to gather, records and perserve valuable family history and data.
Nara showing her family history, photographs and genealogy work
Several displays were set up and were hosted by Family History Consultants from the Ulaanbaatar Family History Center.

 
Lots of interest
Audience for video showing

Lots of one-on-one teaching

Lots of conversations were triggered between our guests


Our FH Consultants did a great job
 

Viewing memory books

One of Tawny's convert families invited us for dinner on Friday night.
The mother was taking the picture
Tamir played the Morin Hor for us.
 
 
He performed on stage the next night in the cultural extravaganza. What a great family and a wonderful visit!
 
Tawny wanted to try it
So did Tassa
 
Tamir and Manduhai's little sister was darling



Saturday, April 27, 2013

Chinggis Khan Statue and Song and Dance performance

Dancers at Song and Dance theater
We contine our big Thursday touring day with a stop at the Chinggis Khan monument, camel rides and arriving in Ulaanbaatar in time for a song and dance performance.
The dancing gods
The song and dance performance was the only one being scheduled this week. There were some visiting dignitaries from Korea visiting Mongolia so we joined them and a smattering of a few others in a small but intimate 100 seat theater.
Check  out the headdress
This show is given nightly during the summer tourist season. This night there were probably 40 - 45 in attendance. 
Comic relief
The photos show how the rest of this day gave our daughters a quick immersion into Mongolian sights and culture.

A spectacular show

A contortionist does the unbelievable
Add caption


The throat singers were jsut as incredible to the ear as this is to the eye


A place for everyone

Not just your everyday walk in the park


Tawny had her turn

Color coordinated Tassa makes friends with her new riding partner
 
Chinggis Khan surveys his domain

Chinggis Khan holding the golden whip



Here we are again


Vulture sitting on Chinggis' hip
 
New ger camp going up for tourists
Big shoes to fill

View of the countryside from top of the monument

Modern day Mongolia - tourists on camels - guide on cell phone