Wednesday Writings

A couple tidbits to share: here's a pic of me in our apartment entryway.  We've hung this world map in each of our apartments, and it gets used quite often in conversations. 

The picture was taken so I could show you my new boots I purchased for the equivalent of $16 at the Mongolian/Russian border town of Sukhbaataar.  I love them.  They are comfy (a must for me!), they're fur-lined (my feet got hot in them last night!), and they're boots (95% of the women you see outside are wearing "fashion" boots from October to April).  My only boots last winter were my heavy, -40 degree, clomping monster boots.  Don't get me wrong...I'll still use them once the really cold weather hits.  However, these are my "fashion" boots, when the occassion calls for something a little dressier..like when we're teaching.

It appears I bought these just in time.  This is what we woke up to this beautiful Wednesday morning:

I'm sure we'll still have many beautiful days ahead, but winter is beginning to descend upon us!

They Do Not Pay Attention to His Deeds

I have been awed by the creativeness of our Father!  The trees, flowers, fruit, fish...all have a beauty and uniqueness that we must stop to acknowledge.  I was reading Isaiah 5:12, and was impressed with this thought: "They do not pay attention to the deeds of the Lord, nor do they consider the work of His hands."  His creative hand is everywhere we look, but when in a new place, I seem to notice it more readily, because I'm looking at new things.  Just look at an apple with its skin and seeds and flavor...all of it is creative.  But here's some of the creativity I've enjoyed these past few days:



Mangosteen fruit...I will post more on this little fruit in a day or two!






This is the outdoor fruit stand/restaurant, right across from the place we are staying.  We've eaten at least four meals there, and we've had a couple fruit smoothies there.  Here, our new-found friend is peeling a mango for the banana/mango smoothie he's making for us. 





While riding on the moped, we stopped to take this picture.  This is a busier beach than the one we are at. 





Here's Kevin relaxing at our quiet beach.  This was the day we hung out with Craig and Sarah, fellow teachers from Mongolia, hence, the four lounge chairs all lined up together.





Here's a view from our lounge chair.  There are 4-6 Thai boats out in the ocean in front of the area we are staying, at any given time during the day. 



We walk past this water buffalo every day when walking to the beach.  Another sign of our Father's creativity!



Trying to be thankful for this little creative creature who is an uninvited roommate!  So far, he hasn't joined us in bed!




 

Brrrrrrrr!

Winter has officially hit.  It was 4 degrees F this morning at 8 a.m.  Granted, it has been cold the past two weeks.  It's been dipping into the teens, but even the teens feel tolerable when you move just a few degrees cooler every day. 

However, the trick to living in cold weather is dressing for cold weather.  I don't have a picture to post here at this point and have no desire to get all dressed up just to take a photo, so let me describe the "get up" I "get on" before venturing outside. 

This morning I put on long underwear and thick jeans as well as wool socks.  Two layers for shirts is a must.  Then, my wonderful, black "North Face" coat recommended to me by Sharon W. (thanks Sharon!), a scarf, an ear headband hanging around my neck to tuck in where any cold air might seep in around my neckline, a Carhartt facemask hat, and a pair of cheap-o gloves from a sidewalk stand in Ulaanbaatar which serve as my "lining" under some wonderful wool mittens made for me by Dianna P. (thanks Dianna!). 

As I took my 15 minute walk over to a friend's house this morning in the 4 degree weather, I was quite happy to find that really the only cold part of me was from right below my eyebrows to right under my bottom eyelashes--the only part of me which was exposed.  Perhaps I could invent heated goggles and then I'd be set!

Another thing which really helps to keep warm is running for part of the journey.  I was actually warm enough to take my hat off a block from my destination. 

Perhaps I'll soon have someone take a picture of me with all my goodies being worn!  Until then, just picture a black abominable snowman running the streets of UB.

Cheeseburger Soup

Okay, this is the cheeseburger soup I mentioned in my Menu Plan Monday post earlier this week.  It would be just as delicious with chicken, and perhaps just as delicious with camel meat.  I'll try the chicken option someday soon...but not sure about that other option!  I received this recipe from Deanna C. at Berean in Rochester, MN.  I have added the cabbage option here in Mongolia since cabbage is plentiful and cheap.  I buy it weekly here, since I can get it for about 80 cents a head.

Cheeseburger Soup 


Brown together first three ingredients, then drain off fat.
1/2 lb. hamburger, browned
3/4 cup onion, diced
1/2 cup celery, diced

Add these ingredients to pan and simmer for 15-30 minutes:
3/4 cup carrots (I like to grate mine)
4 cups potatoes, diced
1 cup cabbage, diced up real small (optional--I've done both ways and like both ways!)
3/4 tsp. salt (or a salt/pepper/dried garlic combo)
1 tsp. basil

Make a white sauce with the following ingredients (melt butter first, whisk in the flour and let simmer for about 1 minute, then slowly add other ingredients as you whisk it together and keep heating and stirring to prevent lumps):

4 T. butter
1/4 cup flour
3 cups chicken broth (if you need to "make" broth with bouillion cubes and water, that works fine)
1 1/2 cups milk
2 cups cheese

Combine the white sauce in with the vegetable mixture.  Eat right away, or put in a crock pot or on a very low warm burner until serving. 

Preparing to Stay Warm

We've had a nice kick of cold in Minnesota and Nebraska...perhaps to get us used to that Mongolian cold? Here's some "fine" hats we received for Christmas! We'll surely use these in March when we get to the Outer Land!

Finding the Right Stuff to Keep Warm

I've been on the hunt for great warm stuff for a decent price. A friend is loaning us this awesome coat to see if it works for Kevin or Micah. I tried it on...a bit too big, but thought it made a great pic. I could get lost in this coat!