Sukhbaatar, Cinemas, and Skating

Let's talk about the last three days and look at LOTS of pictures. 

Saturday

After a morning workshop on classroom management and group lunch at Millie's Cafe, Bethany and I split from everyone else and headed for Sukhbaatar ("Sook-ba-tar") Square. From Sukhbaatar you can see the Blue Sky Hotel (arguably the most popular building in the city), Parliament, the opera house, a neat statue, and other things I can't identify.

And it is GORGEOUS. 

In front of the Blue Sky Hotel.

Parliament and the square.

Opera House. Duh.

I don't know these children--but aren't they ADORABLE???

Bethany and THAT GUY.

After we were done, we met up with some other folks at the movie theater to watch the LEGO Movie.

You know what I like about going to the movies here? People talk to each other and use their phones while the movie is playing but nobody gets uptight about it. 

Being a chronic movie talker myself, I am 100% behind that.

Sunday

One of the hardest parts of being in China last year was not having a good Fellowship to go to. 

Here in Ulaanbaatar, though, there are multiple thriving Fellowships to choose from. 

This Sunday Bethany took me to Antioch Mongolia, which meets in Blue Sky Hotel.

The real energy and passion from the people around me--OH, it was amazing. After the service, everyone split into "life groups" to discuss and process what had been talked about on stage.

And for dinner that night?

PANCAKES.

Pam and Bethany.

Monday

This afternoon, Bethany somehow talked me into going ice skating outside.

It was BRILLIANT. I laughed the entire time.

Well, I laughed until two little twerp-nuggets showed up and started laughing at ME. 

These kids were full-out blowing raspberries across the rink and pushing me from behind.

Seriously, children, I wasn't born in the land of ice. I didn't burst forth from the womb with skates on my feet LIKE YOU.

Somehow I managed to contain my Elsa powers and NOT snow-blast the smirks off their faces.

That is to say, I didn't let it go.

Instead, I nursed my wounded pride with a cinnamon roll and coffee, and now we're watching Frozen back at Pam's. Everything is ok. 

The last week has exceeded my expectations in every way. So far it has been the easiest transition I've ever made to a different country and a COMPLETE contrast to the utter anxiety I had during my first month in China. I've been given time to rest, I have a good friend here who's been showing me around, I have a better idea of how to cope with stress, and I already know how to jaywalk foreign streets. 

But this time, unlike other times of transition, I'm really trusting the Father to provide. And He has.

Things will change when I (probably) move across the city this week to be closer to my school and start teaching. I'm thankful for each day as it comes without holding too tightly to tomorrow's plans. 

Things aren't perfect, but I know I'll be fine.

Sometimes living in the right now makes life easier.