- 30 Below

This week was around -30 below most of the week.  We bundle up and do not stay out in the cold too long so we are doing fine.  January and February are the driest months of the year in Mongolia.  We see so many fur coats, hats, and boots. So I started asking questions.  The best boots are sheep skin/wool inside and reindeer skin/fur outside. Everyone wears boots. Mink is lite and very warm so women like mink coats. The men like mink hats.  We have 5-6 projects we are working on: bedding for a hospital up by Siberia, a well house water station for a GER District,  wheel chairs, gardening, and supplies and equipment for a school.  Everywhere you turn there is a great need. We can not do everything so we pick and choose according to how many people will be helped and will our help move them along to become more self-reliant.  We are meeting with Egee to help him overcome his alcohol addiction. The Russians brought vodka to Mongolia and it is a real problem. About 1/4 of a grocery store is alcohol.  Egee told us this week that when he was in the communist party he felt troubled and confused, when he tried being a Buddhist he felt nothing. He said he felt empty; however, when he meets with us he feels warm, even, hot, and he feels peace, hope and happiness. We are going to Hong Kong this week to get our visa's. We have found a Mongolian food that we really like it is call khuushuur.  They are a small meat pie that is cooked in a fry pan and they are very good. We went to a musical program.  Mongolian throat singing and Mongolian instruments. It was excellent