Week 15 Buuz building 101

 

Again, we began our week with a wonderful CFM/FHE.  We spend a little time at the beginning of the evening going over the CFM reading for the week and their input and thoughts are awesome.  We admire their simple faith and exuberance for the Gospel and the Saviors message of love.

Our first experience with making Buuz was over-the-top fun.  We were invited to our friend Gan-Erdene's house and there had the blessing of meeting his family.  What an evening and the beginning of a truly eternal friendship.  The pictures don't really do the experience justice, but the videos may fill in some of the gaps.  We began by rolling the dough into a snake and then cutting off small pieces.  Then rolled it flat into about a 4" circle.  That's a lot tougher than it looks.  Then you fill them with a prepared meat and then tuck and pinch.  You can see the traditional shapes that are beautiful.  Ours on the other hand looked like a "mouse" and a "dragon" based entirely on the professional's opinion.  We tried our best.  It's going to take some time to perfect.  They have 30 years of experience on us.  Nevertheless, the finished product was amazing regardless of the design.

Gan-Erdene was showing us a traditional snuff bottle that his dad makes out of beautiful stone.  There is a very specific way to present one to a friend and the video shows it.  

The entire evening was wonderful, the food was amazing, and the company was outstanding.  Thank you Gan-Erdene, Namuulan (mom), Tsetsentsolmon (19), and Tsovoo (11).  Next stop our home for an evening of making cookies.

Odergel (dad), Ariunchimeg (mom), Misheel (our companion) and Arigun (son).  Super amazing family.  We spent a wonderful evening with our sister Misheel's family.  Misheel crocheted the nativity.  It is indescribable.  It took her about 4 months.  The mountainside are white rocks placed as a tribute to the Great Chingis Khan, looking at it from their 11th story.  Arigun also favored us with a piano piece, he's amazing.  

We had our District Council meeting at our apartment this week.  These are the awesomeness' of the Lord.  So long to sister Boyle.  We have loved getting to know her and serve with her.  Zuunkharaa will be blessed for you being there.

Elder Hancock, aka. Maximus or just Handcock to his students, has been waiting for this moment.  He purchased his Dog Boots, and I might add just in the nick of time.  It is crazy cold.  I have spent a lot of time outside at home in the wintertime and there is something about this cold that's piercing.  Maybe it's because I don't have my Carhart's!  Won't those look great walking the streets of Rexburg.

We spent some time in a beautiful school this week.  We have teachers here and they are looking for ways to possibly send some of their teachers to the US for additional English training.  We will be working with the English Learning Center at BYU to hopefully facilitate.  They are also looking for interested interns to come here to teach English to their students and they provide the housing, which is very nice.

What an amazing week leading into Christmas. It is so different here during the Christmas Season. Buddhism has been Mongolia's main religion, for centuries, until Russia took over and no religion was allowed to be practiced.  So, Christmas here is not really recognized, only by a few Christians.  There are a few Christmas trees in the squares of the city and in front of a few stores.  Everyone in the city live in apartments and we have only seen a few Christmas trees in windows.  New Years is a very big holiday here and their time for giving presents.  What we have seen though, is the Spirit of Christmas in the friends we have met and by their Christlike acts of service.  We are looking forward to celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.  His birth has changed us all.  Joy to the World has a whole new meaning for us as we sing this year.  There is pure Joy in serving all of God's children.  Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!