Adventure

Well this week we had quite an adventure.  We learned why cars have a scuba! We drove to Khovd.  It was a 37 hour ride in a Land Cruiser in three days.  We went there to investigate a well request. The road was paved for the first 6 hours then 400 kilometers of dirt.  After 200 kilometers we ran into a river about 100 yards wide.  No bridge.  The river had spread itself out into 5 sections so it was shallower than other parts.  There were 10 geirs (yurts) and tractors on our side. These geirs were for the people to stay in if they need a place to stay, for the people working the river, and a place to cook and buy food.  For those vehicles not high enough to drive across the river the tractor pulled them across.  We drove into the river, following a tractor, pulling a truck.  The water covered the top of our tires. We went across one part of the river then drove up the middle of the river a ways then turned and went across the rest of the river.  On the other side there were geirs lined up doing the same thing as on the other side of the river.  The water comes up into the engine compartment of many the cars so some of the cars have to dry out before the engine will start again.  We were told by our driver that this is a common way to cross a river in Mongolia.  We were in part of the Gobi Desert. After crossing the river we drove another 200 kilometers before we found civilization again. We will never forget our river crossing.  We had to do it again on the way back.  We think we will do the well. The people sure need it.  There are 3000 people in the soum (area) and only one working well and the water does not test good.  So we are going to try and get a new well with good water.  

We also watched conference this weekend.  Conference was great! 

We're so grateful for these voices of wisdom that guide our thinking and actions.