40 degrees yahoo

Well, this week we were liberated:  It has warmed up enough to take off the thermals, stop using the scarfs, gloves, and heavy coats.  Wow, it was so nice to feel free.  We still wear lighter coats but 40-45 degrees is marvelous. 

The immigration folks are checking everybody very carefully.  We have to have our alien card, a copy of our passport and immigration papers with us at all times.  And guess what, they showed up at our door. They were really nice but they checked everything and asked a lot of questions. 

We are training the new American missionaries to teach English.  It is amazing to see so many Mongolians come to the English classes that are held in the church buildings.  We make them fun, they participate a lot.  We try to have them talking 50 to 70 percent of the class time.  We help them understand the words and pronounce them correctly, then they repeat after us 3 or 4 times, and then again 3-4 times with a partner.  When we are out on the streets or on a bus the elementary kids love to try and talk to us in English.  They are so proud of themselves when they say "hi," or "how are you,"  or |"what is your name."  They get our names a lot better than we get their names.  Here are some of the most common names: Batbold, Baatar, Osomajamaa, Aydibold, Nomuna, Undraa, Pujae, Khungarsol.  All these names have been shortened so that we can say them.  Their full name is something like Baatarazakhuraa.  They only have one name, no last names. 

We are doing good and staying busy. We are very grateful to be here in Mongolia at this time. We feel it a privilege and a blessing. We love this Gospel and it's wonderful to see it spreading throughout the world.