March 1998 Part 1 Tsagaan Sar, The Feast  --Nancy How do you put into words the hospitality, love, and generosity of so many of the Mongolian people? This will probably be the most difficult entry I will write because words cannot convey the heart and spirit of such a people. I’ve had Mongolian friends tell me Mongolians are like their well-bred horses. They’re small but deceivingly strong, have much stamina, are extremely smart, and are exceedingly loyal—they’ll run for you until their heart bursts. My eyes fill with tears at the experiences we’ve had the last several days as we were invited into the homes of these dear people who prepared a feast for us and served it in a most gracious manner.           Bataar and family                                            Batarr, Nancy, John, and Enkhsaikhan   These are humble people who don’t have a lot by the standards of our world. However, Baatar and his wife didn’t hesitate one moment to invite all eight of the senior missionary couples to their homes. They scrambled to find enough chairs or stools, utensils, glasses, tablecloths, dishes, serving dishes, etc., but they did it. The entire family, children included, cooked and prepared food for days. How proud they were when they saw us all seated around tables that were so bursting with food that there was hardly room for one more thing. It was all carefully and precisely staged and when we went to Baatar’s ger we could see he was as accomplished a host as he is driver. It is the same at Batbold’s home, as husband, wife, and children scurried around serving us. (page 213, 214)   Tsaagan Sar at Batbold's Home            Gathered around Batbold's table                      Gathered around Batbold's table             Batbold's family                                              The table preparations at Batbold's   <<< back    next >>>