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



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

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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