Safe Arrival in Mongolia

Here we are just after our arrival to Mongolia after we passed through Immigration.  It went really well with

no hiccups or problems.

Our hosts, Gansukh and Oogie picked us up with 2 vehicles because we said we had so much luggage.  We had 6 bags, 2 carry ons and a guitar and everything fit into one car except the guitar!  Here we are at the Chingas Khaan Airport, Ulaanbataar.



This is a picture of the road just leaving the airport.  As you can see it is dry and without any vegetation.  There isn't a flower or grass to be had anywhere because they've just come out of winter.  Spring is in the air now, however, no rain till June.



Here are some pictures of the area where we are staying.  We are actually staying East of the city about 15 km which is a 20 minute drive down very bumpy roads!

Today we went to MIU University to check in with our new employers.  MIU is located about 2 miles from the center of town and comprises of 3 buildings.  There are over 600 students 30% are foreign from Korea, Russia and China.  It was the happening place with students coming and going and the feeling of aliveness. 

Richard will work in one building (the nicer one) and I in the other.  I will send pictures in the next blog.  It was a bit overwhelming meeting so many people all at once and we ended up spending most of the morning and lunch looking over the campus and talking with different ones.  The word "campus" brings another picture to mind than what MIU offers.  Most of the grounds are dirt and rubble and the buildings are needing paint, however, this is the state of most of the buildings in UB. 

We also looked at 2 apartments.  Here in Mongolia they count the rooms and say it is a 3-bedroom apartment.  That means there are two bedrooms and a living room with kitchen and bathroom.  One of the bedrooms is quite small and the other is somewhat larger.  The trick to getting a good apartment is knowing someone who can help.  One has to be sure the heating is good, that the warm water works well, that the building is well made and in a good area.  If the apartment is unfurnished there is nothing in it but a kitchen sink and bathroom.  Kitchen cabinets, fridge, oven, washing machine, furniture are the responsibility of the renter.  You can imagine the job of buying all of these things being a foreigner!  A furnished apartment could mean bed, sofa, kitchen cabinets, oven, and maybe a fridge.  Please continue to pray for us for a good apartment. 

Tomorrow is Saturday and we will look at more apartments and Sunday we will join our hosts at their church.  They've asked me to play guitar for some of their songs and Richard and I will probably teach them a new song.

So, until later........we send our love to you all with grateful hearts of your love and care.

Love, Kathy