Mother Rock

There were many things we saw on Saturday on an observation trip outside of the city. Whew! It was a bumpy two-hour ride out to see a place of worship in Mongolia. In this picture, you can see that there aren't roads like what we're used to...basically, there are paths in the hill country fields. And, here's a car in front of us and one meeting us going the opposite direction! Often, we were the only ones for miles (or, should I say, kilometers?).

All around the countryside areas, there are many piles of rocks with blue ribbons tied to long sticks which poke up out of the piles. These are called ovoos (pronounced "owoe" I think). It is believed that to prevent evil spirits from coming near you, it is wise to circle the ovoos three times. For the less dedicated, like our driver that day, you can simply honk your horn.

The place we were headed to is called "Mother Rock". The reason for this name, is that it's a rock in the shape of something like a plump, grimmacing mother. Nice fabric is kept wrapped around this rock as her dress and lines of people wait to whisper prayers into her arm holes, men on one side and women on the other. In this picture, the woman on the right wearing the navy blue sweatshirt with the yellow stripe is praying into the right armhole. Do you see the rock's "face" under the yellow turban hat? And how about the necklaces that have been draped around its neck?

Also, in this same area are incense-burning stations, a vodka table where you can purchase some vodka to toss up to some spirits, a table with milk and cookies---the milk is also to toss up to a spirit (it was so so windy Saturday, that we were often splashed with vodka and milk).

I will post more pictures in days to come! Before the day was over, we had also visited a complete stranger (even unknown to our driver who only speaks Mongolian and our guide friend who speaks English and Mongolian) in their ger and had hot tea with them. After leaving the ger, we became stuck in the mud with the van we were riding in while crossing a low spot that was exceptionally murky. The process of getting us out of the mud was, well, muddy...and took about an hour! There were three or four vehicles across the wide field which had gotten in the same predicament, so men were running back and forth between vehicles to push them out, dig them out, etc. It was a pretty funny sight, and definitely all part of the "Mongolian Experience".

My washing machine is presently running to get mud, vodka, and milk out of our clothing. It was an insightful day...and a day to be thankful for our personal relationship with Him.