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!!