Well this week I have been down with a touch of bronchitus so did not do a lot but rest.  I would make it to our English lesson with Altan in the mornings and then rest in the apartment the rest of the day.  Elder Shrope did go to Nalaikh for FHE, and then again for visits to prespective Melchizedek priesthood holders, and then yesterday for a priesthood activity.  He also gave a couple of more Michigan tests and then got them all mailed off to BYU-Hawaii.

On Tuesday we had a career workshop, the first one in awahile that was not part of a return-missionary Reverse MTC.  This one was open to anyone seeking help in job searching.  Miigaa taught a great class as usual and at the end of the day we had seven happy graduates!

Tuesday began our wonderful two day all mission conference with Elder Grow of the Seventy here with us, and his wife.  Tuesday evening we had an all missionary talent show.  It was great and here are some of the acts:

 Elder Tugsbaatar did a sand art presentation.  He is a very good artist and would like someday to work for Walt Disney.

 Elder Naranbat sang a traditional Mongolian song, "Praises of Chinggis Khaan."

 The Elders and Sisters serving in the Nalaikh branch did a traditional dance called, "4 Western Mongols."

 Sister Lkhagvachimeg and Elder Huff sang the traditional Mongolian song, "Yundin Guuguu."  Elder Huff is one of the American missionaries serving here but did very well in his Mongolian.

 Elder Jolley and Elder Quiton performed a guitar and vocal duet of, "I Can Do Anything Impossible."

 This was the Mongolian National dance performed by the missionaries in the Bayanzurkh district. Three of the four you see here are American.  There were 5-6 Elders and 2 Sisters in this dance.

 Elder Zorigtbaatar sang a solo of, "Moved Feelings When Remembering Homeland."

 Elder Reeve played the quitar and sang, "I Can Only Imagine,"  He goes home in about a month.

 President Clark, Elder Huff, and Elder Call sang "Look For the Silver Lining, & Smile" with Elder Lloyd accompanying them on the piano.  Elder Lloyd also did a piano solo of "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief."

 The Elders from the Darkhan district did an gymnastic dance to the song, "Quick to Observe."  They had words written on the front and back of their shirts, one leg of their shorts, and on their arms which they choreographed to show when the words were sang in the song.  Very ingenius.

 The Elders and Sisters from the Selenge district did a little ballet called, "Swan Lake Baptism."  Very cute.

 The Elders and Sisters from the Bulgan District sang, "Missionary Song."

 The missionaries from Erdenet 1 & 2 did a Mongolian song and dance.

 The sign language missionaries sang "The Army og Helaman" in sign language.  Very moving!  There were also video skits made by some of the other districts.  It was a wonderful night of enjoying the wonderful talents of these young missionaries!!

Then at the end of the conference on Wednesday, as we were leaving, Elder Tugsbaatar, who did the sand art, presented each senior couple with a caricature drawing he had done of us.  This is ours.  He knew that Elder Shrope had been in carpentry and maintenance so therefore the tools.  But we also found our that our name is the Mongolian word for the screw.  I have the book because I teach the English here.  Now I can see what I will look like when all my hair is gray!  We love it!
Except for monitoring a Michigan test and walking a couple of miles to a restaurant, the rest of the week was pretty normal.  And all the snow is almost gone, which means Spring is here!!

Well today was district conference(like stake conference at home).  Last night was the adult session and we spoke on family councils.  Elder and Sister Hunt spoke on Bishop's youth council, and President and Sister Clark spoke on branch(ward) council.  It was a great evening.  Then today at the general session, Elder Shrope was sustained not only as the executive secretary in the mission presidency, which he has been for almost a year now, but also as a district councilor which is the same as being on the stake high council back home.  He is assigned to the Nalaikh branch where we attend church.  Here in Mongolia it is nothing to have two or more callings at the same time.  And he is already doing some of the things he has been called to do in the branch already.

On Friday and Saturday morning, we had temple prep classes for four missionaries leaving this coming Thursday for the MTC in Manila.  One of the young ladies was not here for the picture.  We usually teach the classes the two days before they leave, but since Elder and Sister Grow of the Seventy will be here starting tomorrow and all mission conference starts on Tuesday, we had to do it early this time.  Oktober was our translator.  She is a sweet young lady that works as translator in the English department of the building for Elder and Sister Gledhill.  She comes down during her lunch to talk to us about her dating and about possible schooling.  She served her mission in Australia and we just love her.

Had a sad time this week.  We had to say good-bye to Elder and Sister Ford and let them return to the States to their family.  We miss them already!

But on Wednesday afternoon we had a farewell party for them with others that work in the building and have worked with the Fords in the office.  A group of the Mongolians plus Elders Richardson and Hunt sang a Mongolian song for them.  It was lovely.

 Elder Ford turned his hat over to Elder Shrope as we are now the senior Senior couple, not counting President and Sister Clark of course.  That means we have been here the longest of the couples that are here now.  He also gave the hat because everyone was always concerned about Elder Shrope because he never wore a hat in the cold and everyone else does.  It is a German hat which fits well because Shrope is a German name!

On Friday we went to Nalaikh because we thought there was a baptism.  But there wasn't so we drove a short ways on a road we had never been on before.  As we enter the area of Nalaikh that goes to the chapel, there is a fork in the road.  We always take the road to the left but this time we took the road to the right.  There was nothing much out there except some radar towers and a couple of graveyards, but as we came back we got to see a view of a different side of Nalaikh.  We have now seen it from three sides.  Maybe someday we will drive straight through and then turn around and see it from the fourth side!  It looks quite large for little town.