At Family Home Evening, Elder Tugabaatar brought a leaf that he had found near where he and his companion live.  During the evening, he drew on the leaf.  He is a very good artist and hopes to use it in a career after his mission.  It is so distinct that you can read the words on the name tag.  Elder Tugsbaatar then signed it and gave it to Elder Shrope.  We were honored to receive it.

 Then tonight we returned to Nalaikh to deliver bikes to the Elders.  Elder Tugsbaatar was playing basketball when we arrived and did not want his picture taken but here is his companion with his bike that we brought.

 This morning we went on a tour of the State Palace of Mongolia, their government building.  We did not get to see everything because the President was arriving and we had to leave.  But we did learn some very interesting things.

 This is a painting of Chinggis Khaan that was in one of the foyers.  All of the sofas and chairs in this room are of red leather.  And the carpets are mostly red too.

 In the hallway of the foyer is this beautiful handmade tapestry.  It is 20 meters long and 4 meters wide.  It is called, "Our Mother Country."

 This painting was in a hallway.  It depicts the 21 provinces of Mongolia.  Each figure is dressed differently to represent each province.

 Elder Shrope is looking at the center of a painting called "Seven Treasures of Statehood."  It is 18 meters long and 1.5 meters wide.  It illustrates 108 activities of a day in nomadic life that are being carried out by 999 people, 551 livestock, 13 gers, and 9 dogs.  9 is a very special number in Mongolia. Elder Shrope is looking at the Public servant treasure.  The other treasures are Wheel, Chandmani, Queen, Elephant, Horse, and Warrior.

 This is Elder and Sister Gledhill, Sister and Elder Martin, us, and Sister and Elder Richardson.  We are standing in front of a white statute of Chinggis Khaan but I am afraid it did not show up too well in the pic.

 

 This is the State Nine Great White Banners.  They are made with the mane and tail hairs of white stallions from all 21 provinces.  The head spikes represent the past, present, and future.  The center one's spikes depict flames, symbolizing eternal prosperity of Mongolia.  The white represents peace.  When they went to war, they used banners made with hairs from black horses.  Above the banners hangs the State Emblem of Mongolia.  The steed is a symbol of independence, sovereignty, and spirit of Mongolia.  The blue signifies the eternal blue sky.  Under the steed is the Fortune Wheel and green mountains.  The wheel is entwined with hadag, the silk scarf.  You see this scarf tied in places all over the city and countryside.  The circular outside stands for longevity and sits on a fully bloomed pure white lotus.  The three jewels at the top are wish granting jewels.

 This our group plus Pugie, standing by me, who set up the tour for us, and the Gledhill's translator, Zzaya.  Behind us is the white marble pedestal on which the banners stand.  Inside the pedestal is an urn that holds samples of soil from all 21 provinces(which are called aimags) and Ulaanbaatar City.  We also got to go in the Parliament Hall but were not allowed to take pictures there. 

This is across from the entrance of the Palace.  It is the Stature of the State Seal.  I am not sure just what kind of animal that is on top.  It was a wonderful tour.