Hey Family!

What a good week, on both ends! I love reading your emails (yes, I'm going to keep saying this) and especially this weeks were exciting- here I sit in Mongolia and I still feel like a part of things back at home, thank you all for that! I didn't lay out any of what I wanted to write, so I'll try to get it all in and still get a couple other emails out. I had the opportunity on Friday to baptize an investigator that the Sister missionaries in our ward taught, and so I've included some pictures of that. It was a really cool experience. The sister I baptized name is бурэнжаргал, жабхлан is the man also in baptismal whites, he's a new member and was baptized a week or so after I got here. He baptized дариймаа, the other 3 in the picture are their missionaries and relative that's also a member (grey jacket). Elder ганболд runs the baptismal services and we were finishing making the plans for that when he remembers that бурэнжаргал asked that I baptize her, this is around lunchtime. So my first baptism in Mongolia was kind of a surprise. As I've been thinking about my investigators, I plan on not baptizing them so that way they'll have that bond with a member that lives here in Mongolia and won't be leaving, but a request is a request. I still feel grateful to be a part of that ordinance, it makes me grateful to witness God's love for His children and after all the change that an investigator experiences, giving up an old way of life to accept the Gospel, the blessing of Baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost stands out all the more. I'm learning to find joy through the accomplishments of others rather than my own, and that change is a slow process, but I felt that especially Friday night. Afterwords some people met to congratulate the new members and we all bore our testimonies and I sat in the back and soaked up the joy as I was thinking about that!

The package came. Thank you guys a ton, it took legit self control to wait to get back to the apartment to open it! But it was fun to get stuff from home. The missionaries in my apartment had never eaten candy corn before and it was really cool for them! I am starting to make a list of some simple things that I know they'd really like, so in the next couple emails can I include that in the next package you send? I know they'd love it!

The teaching we've had the last few weeks has been a lot of growth for me! Where Ахлагч Амгалан was really big on the senior/junior companion relationship, Ахлагч Ганболд is having me step up and do a lot more in our companionship which I've loved! It's all unplanned as far as when, so sometimes I start lessons, the transitions are random, and I work the phone, and it's really helping my language come along being unplanned like that. It's how a companionship will work and I like the extra responsibility there! His English is really good, but he hasn't had the practice in a while so we speak Mongolian out of the apartment and inside I speak English to him. He's got an really sarcastic (almost Elder Jensen like) kind of humor, so our personalities really click well. He's not a big fan of the English teaching though, so I handle that one solo. The teaching is coming a lot easier and it's cool to get to know my students more as my Mongolian and their English improves. Mom, you asked about the food. My companion loves everything so I make American and He makes Mongolian. I've been Americanizing my breakfast here, usually I eat oatmeal, eggs, or toast and fruit (I've got canned peaches.... ya!). I miss constant cereal from home, but it's pricey here so I stick to the cheaper stuff (some times cereal is 5000 төгрөг when a bag of oatmeal is only 500 төгрөг, and milk is about 1200 төгрөг per liter). Everything is so cheap here! That meal you saw in the picture last week cost me 2600 төгрөг, just 2 bucks! When I see a meal for 5000+ I don't want to fork out that kind of cash, then I realize how cheap that still is. It's going to be crazy when I get back to the States and everything's so pricey! About the кола (Coke), definitely agree on the caffeine and sugar, but кола is a great killer of bacteria and it's everywhere! So if we eat risky хоол at someone's гэр that's a great way to "neutralize" any sickness worries! But I limit myself to 2 a week, 1 for pleasure and then 1 if I eat something I'm worried about, which hasn't happened too much yet. I live in a better off area so the food is alright. I did eat my first гэдис бууз, бууз are the meat dumpling things, but stuffed with liver meat called гэдис бууз- and it wasn't too bad and it was a break from mutton. I'm getting a solid 3 meals a day and still working to get more veggies and fruits in my meals- I'm going to go get some food after email time for the apartment.

Happy Halloween guys, I hope you have a great week! More than anything remember to think about other people. Our natural tendencies are away from the tendencies of our spirits. Our spiritual tendencies point to God and in that we find happiness (Moses 1:39, 2 Nephi 2:27, Mosiah 2:41 and lots of other scriptures). SO our natural tendencies to look to ourselves lead us away from being happy and I would say satisfied with our position in life (not to be confused with complacency). Keep that outward focus, especially with those who need to feel the joy of the Gospel. We have so many in our lives that we don't help while we have the Gospel that will bless their lives!

Ахлагч Райн Жолий

Editors note: Ryan's pictures didn't upload correctly on his end, so no pictures to show. Hopefully they will come through next week and I'll add them in!

Howdy— Okay before I forget, a little about the pictures I'm sending this week. One is with my new English class. I teach at the "New West" Hotel now on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, so I'm up to 12 hours a week! With prep time and travel right now it takes about 4 and a half hours out of my schedule each day! Oh boy. We'll see this week what effect that has on the work.


The picture with a bunch of missionaries outside of the Bayanzurkh Church Building is my mission group- all the Elders and Sisters that started their missions when we 4 Americans arrived in Mongolia.


I sent you all a picture of some greasy goodness and a coke. The dish is Tsoivan and it follows the good ole style of Mongolian cuisine. You all know how much I loved getting the glass bottle cokes from Kohlers.... well I consider this a tender mercy! Everyone drinks Coke here, and they cost about 25 cents, so I keep it to a "eating out" only rule or I'm gonna get fat! I'm a solid 192 lbs. right now so I gotta take it easy (ha ha). Now I do try and eat healthy to balance out all this mutton, so don't worry Mom. I've been able this week to get a jump rope and I'm looking around for some dumbbells. There's another picture in the same restaurant, the Elder I'm sitting next to is my new companion, Elder Ganbolthd.



I'm living in the same apartment, but just got a new area- and we've been getting the "lay of the land" this last week. I love it though! Our work has been better than I've had before and he's been a great blessing as a senior companion. The other picture (snowing outside) is the "gardens" at the Bayanzurkh Building. Landscaping hasn't quite caught on here like it has at home and people are blown away by the garden in front of the Church building! The two Elders with Elder Ganbolthd and I lived with us during Mission Conference. We all had the great opportunity to refocus and refresh last weekend with Mission Conference, General Conference, and Transfers all in one weekend- I loved the re-emphasis on having the Spirit to be with us from Mission Conference, and by the last day we were all anxious to get out and work.

I got to go, but I love you guys, and can't wait to hear from you again! I'll send you a written letter with Conference and Mission conference highlights... take care!

Elder Jolley

Hey Family!

Bah, the computer I was just on kept cutting out on me and I've lost some precious time, so I'll get as much in as I can! I haven't had a chance to read your emails more than just a quick glance, but loved hearing about everything. Your lives are so exciting to me, I think not being in the daily grind makes it seem so much more fast paced, but I hope you guys notice that a little bit as well.

A little bit about this week... right after I emailed last Monday I got a call telling me that I would be teaching! No word on the students, how many, or how much they knew so I had no idea what was coming. I'm sending you a picture of me and my "students" against a projector screen, my class has actually doubled since then, but that's a good gauge of who I teach. They're all graduated designers and engineers so it's cool because I can relate to them and also strange that I'm teaching them! But so far so good and I'm right now working on laying out the goals and what they would like to learn from me. I teach every day from 6-8 p.m. and then Saturday's from 11-1 p.m., so I'm still not sure the effect it's going to have on the work... but now's my chance to really give a good impression and serve and I'm excited for that! All in all, it's been a really exciting week with lots of changes.

Transfers were on Saturday and Elder Amgalan was transferred to Nathaink (another area in the city)! It was a surprise to us and really weird to already have a transfer under my belt so early on (usually a transfer is 12 weeks), but I ended last week grateful for the opportunity to serve with him and excited for the new opportunities ahead! My new companion just came from the countryside and just moved in on Saturday. His name is Elder Ganbolthd and I'm super excited for the work we're going to do! He's got a really easy going personality and clicks easily with everyone- I'm excited to have a fresh view on our work and our investigators!

In addition to transfers, Saturday and Sunday were General Conference and then Sunday night to Wednesday is going to be our Mission Conference! I love the renewed commitment felt at Conference and add that with transfers and Mission Conference you have a Spiritual feast and I have been soaking it up as best I can. I especially took Pres. Eyring's challenge to find "my message" in every talk, and enjoyed receiving that promised blessing! My favorites had to be Elder Christofferson's talk on character (love that man), and President Uchtdorf's talks we're both incredible. I have been meaning to write this, but it has been interesting to me to see the spiritual thoughts you share with me, and notice a similar testimony building experience that I had or the things that you have shared will be that answer I'm looking for. Thank you for those thoughts! It's nothing short of inspiration and I constantly hope that I may be able to share things with you guys that will have the same impact. I've been working on an assignment that Elder Powell extended to us at Zone Conference; I have taken an unmarked Book of Mormon and am rereading it, marking every time that I see a word that refers to Christ. Along with that I've been trying to finish up Jesus the Christ and it has been strengthening my testimony of all that our Savior does for us! We have no reason to ever think of ourselves. Every blessing promised in the Book of Mormon is a result of a covenant or a commandment that He has given us as an OPPORTUNITY to be more greatly blessed. It had me thinking about the baptismal, Priesthood, and other covenants I have made and it was a great opportunity to remember the magnitude of those choices! If I can extend the same challenge to you guys, take a FHE lesson and look at these opportunities we have been blessed with, especially baptism and the sacrament- it's incredible!

It's still super warm here to me, compared to how I know it's going to get... and I haven't needed any more clothes than what I've brought so far. A lot of times my size is tricky (especially for shoes!), so I haven't been to the Zaakh yet to buy clothes. But last week I was at the mission office and received most of the clothes I'll need for the winter for free. A lot of the Elders who leave for home don't bring their coats back home and so they're up for grabs to anyone who fits in them. I've now got almost everything I need and haven't spent a Tugrug. I've been really wanting to be smart with money and that was a huge blessing to me! I can't thank you Mom and Dad enough for the sacrifice you have made to help me with this mission! I think about it all the time and I want you to know that I'm incredibly grateful for that! I only hope that I will have the chance to show the same kindness and selflessness that you show to me and the rest of the kids. Kid's- I promise you that you've got no idea of how good our parents are to us! I hope you will remember that, especially when they give you an answer or rule. I think of the Conference talk that was on parent's being "strong and of a good courage" and how I didn't always respect that counsel. I see how life is without that and I'm grateful for you Mom and Dad for having the love to be constant with that. Especially the stage that you're in now Brayd, remember that, because of all the kids right now Mom and Dad will have the most difficult rules, but that is the inspired counsel I was talking about! Coming from the super independent Ryan has got to be pretty ironic! I know. But sometimes a humbling moment is good for us all ya?

Here's a couple of other things I wanted to answer from last weeks emails:

Kendyl- Basically none of our holidays are celebrated here! Christmas is more of a Church member celebration, so that's gonna be strange to get used to eh? Last week I talked a little about the big holidays here so I won't rewrite that, but check that email out for the holidays here! As far as how you'd say Happy Halloween..... maybe "Khalthowhiin Mend!" Ha so that's basically saying "Halloween" and then "mend" after.

Mom- Love the insights each week... thanks! Haven't received the package yet but no fear everything coming to the city is super reliable. I figured out the pouch mail and it's not too bad, so I'm going to send out some letters here soon! Did you get anything from me this last week?

Brayd- I'm missing out on the mission prep updates bud! How's that going? Just got your Homecoming pics (nice work.... or ya..) Let me know how that's going bud! I've got some great ideas I've been cooking up on helping you be way more prepared for your mission- get ready for those!

Sky Guy- Thanks for the reminder on the Pastrami Burger ha ha... I had mutton instead so your totally missing out! You would love my new companion his humor reminds me of you a lot... I don't know a ton about him yet, but I'll fill you in a bit more next week. Plus enjoy the pictures!

Dad- Keep the journal entries coming! I love reading them and seeing how similar the work is! You had (as always) a positive attitude and never cease to find a positive point and a solution! I love that and am trying to have the same outlook, it's really been helping so thank you and see how the journal will bless those who read it after. No new updates on the Mechams, but I love working and hearing the Powells in their absence.

Andraya- Nice work on the tooth! I don't think anyone of us has ever been tough enough to get the tooth out ourselves! I love your emails! Let me know how school and friends are right now okay?

This is to everyone- I love the emails and the pictures especially! I second what Mom's saying about everyone looking older, the 3 younger kids have changed a ton! Kendyl and Draya look way older and Sky Guy's a man now, nice job buddy. Hope you like the pictures!

Elder Jolley

The Elders and Sisters.

Elder Jolley, Elder Amgalan and a couple of Sister missionaries outside the Church building.

Q & A #1

From Todd Campbell (Ryan's uncle):

How many areas in your mission? How many missionaries? Are there several dialects?
What kind of things do you do for fun on p-days?

R: Hey Todd & Family! There are 6 zones in the mission right now. 3 in the city and 3 out in the "Khoodoo," or the countryside. Right now we have 120 missionaries in the country, 7 American and 110 + Mongolian Elders and Sisters. Thankfully no dialects! Super pleased with that, but there are accents and some of them are tricky! When the weathers warmer we will be able to go out, see some of the big monuments and sites around the country, but the last 2 weeks we've been going to the "Children's Park." It's the first ever theme park in Mongolia, it's going to be a hit! It's not finished all the way yet, but they've got all the simple rides like: a ferris wheel, bumper cars and that kinda stuff, nothing intense. Most of the missionaries have never been to a park like that. It's more fun for me to see their reactions- every new ride is the coolest thing ever! It's pricey and so I hope the fad is wearing off!

Elder friend and Ryan with the Children's Park in the background.

Elder Amgalan and Elder Jolley at the Children's Park

From Lindsay Hogg (second cousin):
Ryan, What is one lesson you have learned from your mission that you will share with your future children?

R: Not to be selfish with what we have. At home we have a sense of ownership with everything and it's a bit selfish. In Mongolia there's not even a possessive word. You describe something as being with you and I think that's kinda cool. Everything is shared here, sometimes it's different to me and I'm working to get out of that habit that I have to automatically hold back, because it's "mine."

From Uncle Brent and Aunt Mary Hall:
What tribe do these people get assigned to in their patriarchal blessings? Where do they think they come from?

R: As of last year, all the ten lost tribes have been found in Mongolia! Cool huh? I'm not sure what the "norm" is for here yet though.

From Jonathon Hogg (second cousin):
Trivial question for you. How many 12 apostle quorums can be on the earth at one point in time?

R: Right now, I say just one quorum. But then I think of when Christ ordained Apostles in Jerusalem and the Americas and that gets tricky. Is that correct??

From Aunt Linda Campbell:
What kind of fruit do they have in Mongolia? What are the youth like? Are they very interested in the church?

R: Right now tons! Naturally almost none is grown here, but we have tons of imported fruit that are in street vendors' stands throughout town, but I'm not sure what'll happen when the cold weather hits, so we'll see. Found canned peaches this week though.... PARTY! So I'm saving those. The Church as a whole is super young here, most youth preparing for missions have callings like YM/YW presidents and such. Faithful RM's are seminary teachers and other various callings. It's really cool to see them carry their calling! The church is such a different lifestyle here that the active youth have to really work at it to live the Gospel, but they're strong and the YM/YW stuff is really starting to catch on!

From Uncle Bob Hogg:
What is a major obstacle missionaries face in introducing the gospel to the Mongolian people (other than being able to communicate as well as you would like to in the language)?

R: Hmmm.... probably commitments. I think that's a problem everywhere, but living the gospel here is a struggle, their culture is not built on Christian values and history like ours is. Feeling the Spirit and accepting the truth, but then changing your life to follow it is a big jump! Retention is a big problem here because it's so easy to slip out of that way of living.

From Jen Fullmer (Ryan's aunt):
I don't have a "real" question so I will just ask.... how is the Mongolian Beef in Mongolia?

R: Hey Jen! I have yet to eat beef here.... EVERYTHING IS MUTTON! But they do eat food that is similar to the Mongolian places in the States, it's called tsoivan and it's dee-lish. My favorite Mongol food. Mutton is the staple of everything here and it's cheaper, so not many people dig beef here. It's kinda sad.

From Mom:
I wonder about the holidays there.... do they celebrate any of the same holidays as we do? What other holidays do they celebrate? Do you/can you wear your mission badge everywhere you go?

R: The Church members celebrate Christmas from what I've heard, but other than that I think American holidays are out. The two big holidays here are Tsagaan Sar ("White month" in February), and Nadaam (in July, kinda like the national holiday here). Outside the church buildings Americans aren't allowed to wear tags as of now! I hate taking it off every time I leave....

From Kelly Pia (Ryan's aunt): Hey Ryan!
1. Are the grocery stores the same there as they are in the states?
2. How much is a gallon or pint of milk? How much is a loaf of bread?
3. What kind of cars do they drive? Make and models?
4. Do they have a McDonald's there? Have you eaten it? If so, is it good and is it priced the same.
5. Do they have any American stores there? Example...Target, Walmart, 7 Eleven?

R: Hey Kelly and Family! I haven't found any store here that is found in America. There's not even a Mickey D's here. Mongolia is still considered a "developing nation" and that is part of the reason. The milk here comes in 3% or higher and it's less than a dollar for one liter, a loaf of bread is about the same. Here 1300 Tugrugs equals one dollar, and the biggest bill is a 20000 and that's about 15 bucks. Everything is pretty cheap here, when I eat out I never spend, on average, more than 3 dollars. The " Honda Civic " of Mongolia is a Hyundai Accent, they're super junker cars though! There's a mix of left and right driver's side cars here and it makes driving kind of tricky! Mostly every car is from Japan or Korea, but the super rich will drive Mercedes and American SUV's, Hummers are boss cars here!

I hope that gives you guys a bit of a better look into Mongolia! Forgive me for the short emails and answers, email time is a blur! I love you guys, thank you for the support, and know how blessed we are by our Heavenly Father... we really have no idea!

Elder Jolley

Editors note: thanks to all for your questions... I think he really enjoyed giving feedback. Please keep the questions coming.... we'll do it again as soon as we get a good handful of them gathered.

Hey family! First of all, thanks for all the emails! I'll say that over and over, but I love it!

Couple quick things- I sent you a picture of my area map (with labels!) so you can see where I live! I had this email all planned out with the questions you had asked last week... then I forgot it so I'm going to do the best I can! About the water, President Batbolthd (we met his daughter at the Goodrich's) comes around each month and takes care of it, so we're all good there! I loved the questions from the family, if there are more in the coming months please send them and I'd love to answer them! I look forward to your package, thanks a ton for that! And at the same time, please don't spend an arm and a leg on shipping stuff out here - getting your emails each week is already awesome. I am also sending a surprise your way and I hope you'll like it.... (he he) you wouldn't believe my connections (or my luck) - it's nothing big but I hope you guys like it!

Area Map of where he lives and the district he serves in.

A little bit about this week~ I live with an American! Elder Cardinal was transferred to be the Zone leader in my area, and so know he and Elder Bilthguun live with Elder Amgalan and I. It's been a huge help for translating and improving my communication with my companion! It's also great to have the added Mongolian study help. He's from Bountiful and went to BYU before his mission. He also brought along dumbbells- it's great being able to get a good work out in again! I haven't been legit sore in a long time and it's helping me handle all the mutton I'm eating.

So funny thing just happened, the city's waking up and so a ton of people are at this internet cafe. Elder Wilson is next to me, and a lady just came up and looked at me, looked at the bag of baav we had between us (bread candy stuff), then took it and walked off.... okay. And now the kid next to us is trying to sneakily steal our wallets! His hand was on Elder Wilson's leg, and he was going for the pocket. Good times! Now watching the camera really carefully....

The outlined portions of my area picture are the places we cover, you'll see the mix of ger district and city, I think that's super cool! We received a new area and checked it out on Saturday (I sent a picture of it and a picture of me at the national cemetery there - lots of super old communist era stuff, it was really cool to see!). It's all hills and rough roads. Most of my area is pretty easy compared to others in the mission and so now I'm getting a taste of legit Mongolian roads! It's better to call it hiking then walking because the roads are just smoothed dirt paths out on the hillside!

Ryan at the National Cemetery

Ger District

Thanks a ton for the recipes! I've been trying to work on getting better at making stuff from scratch... that's how everything is done around here. Couple of questions for you guys.... How is everyone doing on the Book of Mormon reading? Let me know where everyone's at next week, ya? I'm working through Alma right now, going through all the great missionary chapters and still can't believe I'm actually on mine.... crazy! Also, love all the exciting stuff happening lately (Andraya lost a tooth!) and I'm printing those emails off after this so I'll be able to read them later and answer any questions.

Still no word on English teaching, the Powell's tried calling my sponsor, but I haven't had the chance to hear from them on what happened. So... maybe next week? I'm stoked to get started, the other 3 Elders are teaching right now and it sounds like they're doing good! I heard that from now on the Church is going to avoid doing sponsorships because of the hassle and the time it takes from missionary work. I'm interested to see how and when they'll be able to get more American Elders to Mongolia from here on out... because I know in the next 8 months or so the 3 "old Elders" will be leaving.

It was weird this week... looking at the clock and knowing that you were starting Conference together, going to Priesthood, all the family traditions, knowing that was happening but being a few time zones away! I'm going to be able to watch Conference at the same schedule, but just one week later. So I'm excited for this weekend and I'll be able to hear the talks you all were writing me about!! We also have Mission Conference the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday after; every missionary will be there and I'm excited for that- I'll give some highlights in the coming emails! Let me know if you have any questions, enjoy the pictures, and I love you guys!

Elder Jolley

(Editors note: I have no info on these last 3 photos. Fun shots to share though! Will ask next email and try to post next week)