Zuunkhaara

We took the train to Zuunkhaara to check on a well building DIC is building.  On the way we saw something that amazed us.  The grassy countryside almost looks like a huge golf course because so many flocks and herds keep the grass trimmed back. Because there is a fence along the railroad right of way, to keep the animals off the tracks, the grass grows taller -2 feet.  Farmers, by hand, are cutting this grass and raking it into piles. They then load it on trucks with pitch forks.  We saw these huge loads of grass on trucks.  The load is so big it almost buries the truck.  They take 16 foot long boards and put them cross-ways on the truck bed so that it makes the bed 16 feet wide and 20 feet long.  They then throw the grass up to someone on the pile who tramps it in place.  The pile looks to be 10 feet tall.  It is huge!  This is something out of American history, which I imagine Grandpa Maynes and Daw and Christensen did to harvest hay in the early 1900's.  It was an amazing sight.

We also had a closing ceremony at the Chingeltei Handicapped Association. They were so.........o grateful and appreciative.  We purchased sewing machines and sewing supplies for them: also origami supplies.  They've trained about 150 handicapped people, so that they can find employment with new skills. The things they are making are beautiful:  Slippers, wall hangings, shoes, pillow cases, cards, small stuffed animals, scarfs, etc.  They made all the prizes for the Mongolian Paralympics.  We are attaching pictures.  The embroidering, all done by machines, was amazing and beautiful.