Mongolia: Cleaning up a city, making new friends
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ULAANBAATAR, MONGOLIA
The banks of the Selbe River, which runs through the heart of Mongolia's capital city, are now free of unsightly trash, thanks to a service project led by the Church's Ulaanbaatar District.
The Church's public affairs leaders in Mongolia invited other faiths to join in the community project.
More than 800 volunteers from various religious traditions were brought together for the cleanup effort.
"We are all God's children," said Ulaanbaatar District President Odgerel Ochirjav. "We all believe that this Earth was given to us by God. It is our responsibility to take care of this gift."
Joining with Latter-day Saints in the riverbank cleanup were members of the Mongolian Muslim Society, the Roman Catholic Church, Dashchoilin Buddhist monastery, the Shinto religion and the Shri-shri Meditations Center.
Bayanzurkh Branch member E. Uyanga was pleased by the outcome of the project. "I have become good friends with two Muslim girls who were on our team. We've exchanged phone numbers and have promised to keep in touch," she said.
Mongolia LDS leaders say that leaders of the other religious groups have expressed their hope that a tradition of working together may continue.
