Llewellyn Juby , director of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency Mongolia , on March 7 received on behalf of ADRA, the Friendship Medal from the President of Mongolia, Natsagiin Bagabandi.

The following was written by Llewellyn Juby, ADRA Mongolia Director. His staff submitted his name to the President of Mongolia’s office for an award in recognition of his leadership of ADRA. Since we were unable to have anyone from our staff present we asked Mr. Juby to share the experience with us.

I went the Mongolian Parliament today to receive an award from President Bagabandi. This friendship award is given to foreigners who have made a significant contribution to the welfare of Mongolians. This award has been over a year in the planning and it was kept a secret from me. It was first passed through parliament and then a police clearance from South Africa had to be procured.

ADRA has worked in Mongolia for 10 years doing development and relief work and we have built up a team of amazing colleagues. They had put forward my name for this award. Although I accepted it from the President of Mongolia, it was really on behalf of ADRA and our team in Mongolia that I did so.

It was an amazing privilege to have this special time to talk to the president and have his full attention. I thanked him for the honor and told him briefly that ADRA was so happy to collaborate with his government and serve in Mongolia. He said that ADRA was well known for our teaching and training people to work for their own change. He thanked us for the contribution we had made to the improvement of Mongo¬lians in this period of transition.

My team met me outside the parliament. Only my wife, Renee, our board chairman, Dale Tunnell and my right-hand man, Munk-Jargal, had been allowed into the Pres¬ident’s office. Everyone wanted to shake the hand that shook that of the president minutes before. My staff gave me a bouquet of roses and all wanted a photo with me. We posed on Sukh¬baater square in the icy wind for some photos and then went off to a posh restaurant for a celebra¬tory meal together.

They presented me with a tra¬ditional del which I had to put on immediately. They had a wonderful meal planned. It seemed as if no-one wanted to leave afterwards. They began to take turns singing traditional songs. I knew that we for¬eigners would soon be called on to sing too. It was wonder¬ful fun to relax together and to take our turn to sing some songs of home too. It is indeed a privilege to work with such amazing people in this most unusual country.