Сайн байцгаана уу?

Hey guys, Happy late Thanksgiving! I loved seeing all the pictures and I'm sending a few of my own with this email! Everyone looks so different!! Especially my Дүү's (siblings), but I loved all the family pictures. This week has had a ton of amazing experiences and I'm loving my time here in Чингэлтэй! About the pictures I sent, 2 should be of my new apartment, it's so classy!! It has 2 big rooms then an entryway and a nice bathroom and a legit shower which has been way nice. It's a bit farther off from Чингэлтэй because there are no apartments there, but well worth the distance. The are also 2 shots of the Choir Festival that was on Saturday (I'll explain more farther on), but that is our branch choir. Then the last picture is of the Elders in my district (also my roommates), my companion Elder Мөнгөнсор (glasses), Elder Нямбаяр (white shirt), and Elder Мягмардорж (green shirt), great Elders!

Ryan's new apartment in Чингэлтэй.

Here's a bit of what's been going on:
Monday was all house restocking and cleaning, it was low on food and full of trash! I've got super proactive Elders that I live with and we're already a tight district! I grabbed the rest of the stuff from my old apartment, made a huge shopping trip, got a haircut, those kinds of things- but it felt really good to get everything in order so we could focus on the work throughout the week. My companion has also been having some stomach problems so we took a trip to the hospital for some tests. We barely finished in time to head to English class so it was a busy day! That took up the rest of the night. This class that I teach Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday has almost turned into a tutor hour than a class time, I usually only have 2 students or so show up. Their English is really good though and so my lessons are really loose and mostly conversation, you all know how long I can talk so no worries there! I have a plan to ask my sponsor to give me a 6 week break when spring comes so I can go serve in the countryside for a while! That would be incredible and so I'm waiting till the time is right... hope it works!!

Tuesday we had a very powerful district meeting on the power of the Atonement and forgiveness in our teaching. Without those two things our message truly lacks the power to change people's lives the way the Gospel can! I love leaving these meeting ready to "soapbox" and refire for another week of work! After the meeting we spent another couple of hours at the hospital, but from the tests my companion is all good to go and the pain has stopped... so I hope that's the end of the hospital trips for my companion! My companion has been on his mission since May. Kinda shy, but has an incredible knowledge of the scriptures and he will whip out the perfect verse, unprepared, in the middle of our lessons, I love to use the scriptures when teaching investigators and together it's been really great to teach that way! There is such power in the scriptures when we teach. I realize this more and more that on our own we have little impact to change (especially with my growing Mongolian!), but if we focus rather on doing all to invite the Spirit the lesson can change people's hearts in a way that words can't! I've been studying up on the 2nd lesson and it amazes me that we have had this blessing... all of our lives! The Plan of Salvation is incredible... I found a couple of scriptures that describe my thoughts a little better- check out Alma 28:12-14 and Alma 24:14! After the hospital we were able to get a couple lessons in before English that night. Still trying to meet everyone in our area and all the new opportunities are exciting!

Wednesday was all about new members and our assigned less actives. We met almost all of people we hadn't met with yet and now have a really good start in helping and strengthening these members. With our new members there's very little we need to do for them. Our new members in this branch are amazing! I'm grateful for the example of the members in this branch. In thinking about the differences between my new members in Sansar one thing always stands out- a firm testimony of the Book of Mormon and study!! It's amazing to see the growth that comes in just a few months of a person's life as a new member from this.

Thursday... Thanksgiving! I pulled the classic "forgot it was a holiday" today.... completely spaced! I got a call from Elder Cardinal about getting a group together for a lunch and I took a while to catch on. But we ended up getting a group of Elders (mostly the 7 American Elders and their companions) together for a Thanksgiving lunch.... Eastern style! We pulled a "Christmas Story" and ate at a classy Chinese restaurant not far from the mission office, most Mongolians don't even know what turkey is and so a classic meal wasn't happening. Without the family Thanksgiving doesn't crack up to much... but it was still fun to meet up with those Elders and talk about what our families were doing back home, and grateful to be in Mongolia!

Friday my district leader got a call for help! The annual combined choir festival (which is a big deal here) was on Saturday and as of Friday our branch choir's mens section was 3 deacons strong! So we four agreed to sing in the festival the next day and went to the final practice that evening. Remember the investigator named Наранцэцэг that I told you about a few weeks ago? She was baptized Friday night! I met her my first few weeks here and then when I was transferred to her area we worked to get her husband to allow her to become a member of the Church.... She got permission the week I was transferred and we attended her baptism on Friday! A very cool experience to be there and to finally see her faith and patience rewarded.

Saturday I taught English in the morning and then after was all Choir Festival! Crazy day. It was a great opportunity to support the branch, but sad to lose a prime day of teaching. Our choir sounded terrible in the practices and I was really worried! No one knew the parts, partly because no one had seen the music before Friday! So after a few of us recommended we just sing melody we tried again... 15 minutes before the festival started! It sounded good and things worked out great in the performance.

The Choir Festival.

I'm outta time, but I want to quickly finish up with Sunday! We committed one of our investigators to baptism and had a great discussion with her about the Gospel of Jesus Christ (PMG Lesson 3). Going along with what I said about the role of repentance and the Atonement, it will be a great experience to witness that first hand as Эрдэнэцэцэг prepares herself for baptism. We (my district) had dinner with one of the Senior Couples, the Fords last night. Straight up, classic American Sunday dinner!! I haven't had this since the MTC and I loved it! Chili, cornbread, legit cheddar cheese, and cookies and ice cream. Even better than the food was the opportunity we had to share a mini lesson on the Plan of Salvation after. It was a powerful lesson, each missionary shared 1 part of the Plan and the Spirit bore testimony to me again of the love of our Heavenly Father in giving us this plan!

I haven't gotten anything from ya'll this week... but now I'm super stoked for whatever is coming and I'll make sure to let you know next email... Thanks! As far as the Christmas package goes, I just love getting stuff from you guys, stuff that reminds me of home and so nothing specific for me as far as sweets or other stuff. I can't say thanks enough to all that you do for me and I wish I could send a package your way!! I gotta go, and I found out that one of the pictures failed to load, bummer... sorry, but I love you guys and I will see you next week!

Elder Jolley

Editors note: the picture that didn't come through was the one mentioned of Ryan with his new district. Hopefully we will get it next week. : )

Hey Guys,

Happy Thanksgiving! It's been a great week here and I'll jump right into what's been going on. Monday I went to the зах with Elder Wilson, Elder Huff, and дабка (a future missionary heading to Riverside in March!), it was a great day with them and I finished all my winter shopping. I haven't been able to find any winter boots my size that were cheap, but finally found some winter boots that fit and I got them for 28,000 төгрөг which is cheap even for here! Just in time because we've had some snow this week and the temps are starting to drop. Then that night I had FHE with a RM (who my teacher Brother Cannon served with), шинэбаяр, and his family. He's a great example of a successful RM and it has been cool to chat with him every now and then. Gov't curfew was still going on so that ended off our night.

Tuesday was a great day for the work. After District Meeting we took one of our new members баярсүх out with us and taught 5 lessons out in дарь Эх before the day was done. Thanks to a referral we found a less active older sister named Нэргүй (it literally means "no name," she was probably named by a monk, they give out some crazy names!), and met with her and her grand kids. Then we get in bed, excited to sleep and someone knocks at the door at about 11 pm. The government census lady was making her rounds and so that night we got registered, she was amazed that I was living there and that she was registering a гадаа хүн (foreigner), kinda funny. She took off about 30 minutes later and we got to go back to bed. Man that feels so late know!

Wednesday. I told you in my last email that I was really working on improving my lesson 1 teaching abilities and today I got to put that study into action! We taught a new investigator named булган, it was a great lesson and I loved the increased confidence that came from that study, it allowed me to focus more on his needs rather than stressing over the language and it allowed me to feel the Spirit of the lesson better, I was grateful for that! I've really been working on bringing myself closer to the Lord and by doing that allowing Him to have a bigger part in our work, being mindful of that and always asking for His help. I noticed such a difference throughout the day and blessings come into our work! I am very grateful for the Lord's watch over His work and His children.

Thursday during companionship study we received the transfer fax... going to Чингэлтэй!! Ахлагч Ганболд was then called to go to Сэлбэ with Elder Huff, and Elder Wilson coming to my area in Сансар, Elder Reeve will still be in Хаан Уул. Transfers are always exciting and that set up the plans for the rest of the week. I set up with Elder Wilson to exchange on Friday to show him his new area. It was hard to leave after the work was really starting to pick up, but I was grateful to leave the Sansar with lots of potential for the new Elders. Spent a bit of time at night packing up, almost forgot how slow of a packer I am and how much I hate packing!

Friday. Exchanges with Elder Wilson, look out! Friday was an awesome day; two Americans that are still learning the language, but with enough drive to compensate- out in good ole Сансар! Without a good map or reliable addresses, the goal was to show him as much of the area as I could and to get a few lessons in as well! We ended up teaching 3 lessons and finished the day with 5 new investigators to start off the next week! It was great to be companions with Elder Wilson and to work with him! It was also really cool to compare how our language, teaching has grown in different ways since the MTC- we taught a ton better than we did back in Provo and though it wasn't perfect, they were some of my favorite lessons! As soon as I got home I busted out the rest of the packing to be ready for transfers tomorrow. I still can't believe that I served with Ахлагч Ганболд for 6 weeks, but grateful for the time together with him!

Saturday morning was a party at the Bayansurkh building with all the coming and going traffic of transfer day. My new companion is Ахлагч Мөнгөнcop, he began his mission in May, just came from the countryside and is great! I'm excited for our work in Chingeltei, he served there his first transfer and so he already knows the area which is awesome! It's about as close to the countryside as Ulaanbaatar gets and I love the feel of our new area! About 1 o'clock we got to the apartment, dropped off the suitcases and went to work. The goal right now is to meet with everyone on our whiteboard and get some of our own work here as well as continuing what the other Elders left. We taught the 1st lesson to a son of a church member, there was that great peace and simplicity of the message of the Restoration that is always present and I was especially grateful for that!

Sunday we were able to meet the new branch! We are now in a legit Church building and it feels a lot more like the "home ward" than I did at Bayanzurkh. There are some incredibly powerful Saints here, and again I was feeling very blessed for this new assignment! The Ford's, the office couple for our mission, also attend that branch and so I will translate the meetings for them for the most part, no one else there is a better option than the rookie missionary. It was really fun translating though to see where I'm at. I've still got a long way to go, but it went better than I thought (with the help of a little creativity on my part ha to fill in what wasn't understood- but the main message was there). It's just been a great week overall and soaking up the satisfaction that comes from this work! It's incredible to look back and reflect each week as I write and I hope I'm sharing that better with you all now, let me know what else you want to hear!

A couple of things before I close, I've been trying these last to days to fish out a Christmas gift idea for my new companion, but still drawing blanks! Every answer I've gotten has been something that's here.... but could you include in the Christmas package something Christmas-y for him ( I have 3 other Elders I live with and I had an idea, maybe a small stocking, nothing over the top, for each of them for Christmas? Just some American treats, stuff we would do for Christmas, and a small gift. I don't want you guys paying a ton so make it simple for all of us here, but they would love that!) I'll keep thinking this week, but let me know your thoughts next Monday. Thanks a ton for that and I wish I had more time, but I love you guys, am grateful for your individual updates and I'll respond to those next week. Хайрт шуу дээ!!

Elder Jolley

Hey Family!

I loved hearing about your week! I've been refocusing my study this week to be more goal oriented then my own personal spiritual upliftment, especially to bless those who we teach and I've been really enjoying that!

Monday: I had a surprise package come in the mail, from my trainer Elder Amgalan. He bought me a camel hair beanie, but even better was the letter that came with it! I don't have time to share what he said, but I was grateful again for that time to be with him, and glad to be able to look back on that 1st half transfer without regret, and of course for that continued friendship. He shared with me D&C 15:4-6, it's great reminder of what our main goal is as missionaries. Sometimes we want to be really flowery in our approach, but simple is always more effective and I love seeing that throughout the scriptures and in the PMG lessons! I taught English today over at the Rokmon Building, they by far are my favorite class, their language skills make it that we can learn more of what they want to know and have fun with it. That took up my night and finished off my Preparation day.

Tuesday: a new companionship moved into my apartment! I'm not going to spell their Mongolian names out right now, but Elder Althansukh and Batsengeth now live with us! I was loving all the extra space, but I knew those 2 from before and they're really great Elders! I'm really trying to push more activity in the morning in our apartment, but now everything is settled down from the moving this week. Just in time for big transfer! This next Saturday is the end of my 1st legit, 12 week transfer, I don't know what will happen yet, but I'll fill you in next week. I've been in the same apartment and area for my time here, which recently is pretty impressive with all the moving around so we'll see what happens! I went with Elder Cardinal to teach English so his companion could sit in District meeting so today was a double dose of English class. After I joined back up with my district (which right now is just our companionship and the 2 training sisters) and we ate some tasty tsoivan at a members house. One of our wards' new members stopped by with a friend who had some questions about the Church. We left to go teach a lesson, but as we were leaving the Sisters began teaching the first lesson to her. It was a unique experience "watching" a lesson being taught from the "back seat" and I was again impressed with the simple power of the message that a missionary bears! It's something that most people believe themselves, but are just looking for a confirmation! I left there re-fired for our own work, what a great lunch! And that has been driving my study goals for this week.

Wednesday: We had FHE with a new member (Bat tsetseg), her son, and her parents (who are great members in our ward; her dad, Bat tumur is in the Bishopric). I shared with them 3 Nephi 13:33 and we talked about how we are blessed in our lives by following the Lord first. I love that scripture and we had a really good discussion about that. Not being able to street contact or tract brings the need for us to be creative in our finding and it very important that we ITS, or invite others to share with us people they know who would like to hear about the Gospel. We received the names of some less active members in our area that we had no idea about before, Elder Ganbolthd has been having me ask the ITS's and it's been a great conversation improvement opportunity. We left FHE later than we wanted, kinda stressed about getting home by 9:30, so we flagged down a bus and hopped on only to find out it was the wrong one! Thanks to a few prayers and a fast taxi we made it home on time. It's nothing huge, but I'm grateful for small blessings like that.

Thursday: We are meeting with a super active new member named Bayarsukh and we taught him about missionary work. He wants to serve a mission, but is worried he won't be an effective teacher of the Gospel. I wanted to throw in an "amen" to that one! I still feel that all the time when I'm teaching in Mongolian. We watched the "Called To Serve" video with him (it's a classic! Has to be from the 80's or so, I'd never seen it before), and even being a missionary I loved watching that! I loved that traditional missionary view it portrayed and I'm working to have more of that in our work (Dad I wanted to hear what you had to say about this from your mission.... let me know next week!). We have a lot of really strong new members in Sansar, most of them are great ward missionaries just a few months after their own baptism. I love seeing that desire that comes after they've accepted the Gospel message. Then we had English at the New West Hotel. These students are my "beginners" and we're working on accents and we learned about the "Th" sound. Dang we've got a long way to go there!

Friday: We had an interesting call from our AP's - government curfew! Because of the census Mongolia is doing right now everyone has to be home by 6 p.m. until this next Thursday. So I've been getting a lot of extra study time since then! I don't know how well its followed because there's still people out, but the plan is that census workers will go to every apartment before Thursday and do an accounting of the occupants. We still haven't had a visit yet though. That also means no English, which normally would be sweet to have that prime meeting time back! But, being in the apartment means no missionary work. That gave me some time to get creative cooking in last night, made doughnuts! They were just like the ones you make with the dutch oven. I got a bread recipe from one of the Senior couples and I'm going to try that out this week.

Saturday: Christmas came early on Saturday! I told you about the need for referrals Elder Ganbolthd and I have.. we received about 20 referrals for our area from the Ward and we went on to meet with 3 new investigators! We also were given the referral of an American man living in Mongolia, called him and am planning to meet with him on Saturday. I'm excited for the opportunity to teach an English lesson and I'm excited for the new opportunities those referrals will provide! Because of this curfew we were unable to set a baptismal interview for Narantsetseg (I wrote about her last week, our investigator who is preparing for baptism), but were able to meet with her again and she is all ready! The plan is for her to have her interview this Saturday and that's exciting. She has been waiting a long time for this to happen and it's exciting to see that desire in her.

Sunday: Our ward also had their primary program like our home ward, it was cool to find that out from your emails. They were a small group, but they're some of the first kids that have been born into the Gospel and that's really cool! We had a really slow day as far as the work after, all of our appointments fell through which was a big bummer. But nothing like a fresh week, new goals and new opportunities coming! I love the story of Aaron. You read in Alma about his first few "transfers" of his mission and he was rejected, cast out, and thrown into prison. But, here is what makes him a powerful missionary: he remembers something that I just read in a talk by Elder Oaks "Our faith is in Jesus Christ and not in outcomes." As soon as he is released from prison he resumes the work, and was obedient throughout this experience! I'm very impressed by his example and working to pattern my service after that, whether it's a great day, a slow day, to always remember the importance of being steady and patient! A couple of other things before I close, I would love some pen refills for a Zebra F-301 .07 pen, black and blue, my "ole reliable" MTC pens. Also, maybe a few family/other photos of stuff I can throw into my album. I really don't have any preferences on things other than that, just stuff from home is great! I'll look into the Skype stuff from my end and make sure I'm for sure able to do that, but sounds great to me! I love you guys and am always impressed by the examples you are in following the Lord and doing what's right, I see that in each of your emails!

Elder Jolley

Happy Sunday!

Hey guys! I wanted to answer back from all your letters and also give you a little more into my work here, I'm going to do the letter questions from each person that asked them:

Sky Guy — The pics I'm sending this week will show you how I'm dressing... but we've been scoring as far as the temperatures, it still really warm here! Here it's not about bigger coats, but lots of layers and so I've got a bunch of cheap sweat type stuff that you wear under the suit. Ахлагч Амгалан sent me a really cool gift this week too, a beanie made of camels hair (super thick and warm), yeah buddy! How was the Haunted Forest bud? I never heard about that one.... freaky?

Brayd — Don't even give me that ab ripper talk! I bought some dumb bells last week though and that has been sweet to do in the apartment. Before I could run and do pull ups and all that outside, but with the cold coming on that won't happen again until about May. How much are you putting up right now? Wait til you get back from your mission all soft... he he. You asked about the "mission transformation," the biggest thing you can do right now is not slack on the preparation! How's your college prep? Most importantly are you working and SAVING? The one thing I promise you'll regret more than anything is not being ready on the money side of things. I wish I had done better and with you not going to college before you've got a really good opportunity ahead of you! In your next email let me know what your doing with all that. Then I would say to especially get more specific in your study, each week do a different topic, write down your impressions and the scriptures you have found. That preparation you have put in before will mean you will be able to teach with the Spirit- you having a for sure knowledge that it's true and not just a scripture you looked up before the lesson. Also, get yourself set up for college after the mission.

Andraya — Sweet witch costume! I loved the Halloween pictures. Give me an update on how school and friends are okay? You said that you guys were thinking about selling the wii, are you still doing that?

Kendyl — Check out my pictures, I met Michael Jackson! It was kind of a surprise... христмас баярийн мэнд хөөргья! That is how you say Merry Christmas in Mongolian (Christmas Biar een mend khuurgii!). Thanks for the picture you and Draya drew for my package, and you're looking good in the bangs!

Mom — Okay somethings up with these computers, I'll attach the pics and then they disappear (....Windows....). But the pictures I'm sending this week are of my area and with one of my investigators, Ерөө Ах (Brother Ерөө). He's a painter and an artist and really digs Michael Jackson, there's paintings and memorabilia of him all throughout the house! His wife was just baptized a couple of months ago, he was going to be baptized as well, but had a bit of a faith shaker when his younger sister died. In this new area the work has been really slow starting... this week has been a lot of figuring out where things are, trying to find old investigators that fell through the cracks, trying to find new investigators (which is tough without being able to street contact or tract!), and we've been fighting to get just 2 lessons taught each day. This last week we met with a lot of new people, are starting to build up those associations and I'm really excited for this week! Our hard work is starting to show some fruits and I'm hoping it really takes off this next week with the goals we've set! We committed one of our investigators, Наранцэцэг to be baptized! She has a really cool story. Ахлагч Амгалан and I met with her originally about 6 weeks ago, she told us that she had met with the missionaries before, and really wanted to join the Church! That was a cool lesson. She was not in our area at the time and so we referred her to the missionaries in what is now my area and hadn't heard anything else. Then when we were whitewashed (both missionaries transferred to a new area), Ахлагч Ганболд and I began meeting with her again. She had been taught all the lessons, was wanting to be baptized, but her husband would not allow it! He REALLY didn't like us coming over, but respects his wife and she was able to keep coming to church and meeting with us. So, we made the goal to befriend him and teach him the lessons as well... and this last week Даваатөмөр came with his wife for a tour of the Church and we taught him part of the first lesson! Knowing more about the Church and what we do as missionaries has really warmed him up towards the Gospel, and know Наранцэцэг is going to be baptized on the 21st and we are going to keep meeting with her husband. Наранцэцэг struggles with the scriptures to understand them (the scriptures in Mongolian are really hard to understand, even for a lot of Mongolians!), and we've been meeting with her, sharing scriptures and principles of the Gospel and helping explain what she has read. Everything about our teaching here is the simple, simple truths and our lessons are very basic, I love it!

Elder Jolley and Ерөө Ах (and Michael Jackson??) : )

I guess that Skype is fine here and so it will be up to you guys on that! I don't know about the Christmas call stuff yet, but I'll ask around this week. Whoa... I almost forgot.... We have a new mission president coming! President and Sister Clark from Mapleton, Utah have been called and are scheduled to be here as early as the first week of December! I don't know anything more than that right now, but we found that out this week. The Powell's will return to being senior couple missionaries until they leave in April, and the Mechams will stay in the States to ensure a full recovery. I've known for a while that they wouldn't be returning and that's sad, the Mechams were incredible and I loved being able to meet them before coming. That also means that before the end of my second transfer I'll be on my 3rd mission president.... not many missionaries can stay that!

Dad—You asked about English teaching, it's really calmed down a ton. The students I teach now are the really committed learners and it makes the lessons a lot easier and more tuned to their needs which is nice. This last week my lessons were canceled for 3 of the nights and I didn't teach much which gave way for more time to search out our members/less active members and investigators. The roads and addresses here don't follow any reliable pattern and so finding houses can take forever! This week we were looking for a house that was on the 28th road and the 274th house. All the house roads branch off from the main road leading to the city, so we were walking and passing 26th road, 27th.... then all of the sudden we were at the 33rd road. Wha??? So we searched around for a while, but it was time to head back. The next day we were about 1/2 mile away from there and found 28th road, and that's the address system out here!

About Christmas. Would you start checking around for a slim, bifold wallet with 2 bill dividers? My companion wants an American wallet super bad so I've been trying to figure out what kind he would like, nothing too expensive, but quality so it can take a beating out here. Also, he loves Mormon shows like The Best 2 Years, if you can find a DVD of that he would love it! I don't really have any big needs... you know that Degree deodorant I always buy? Maybe send one or two of those and I'm set. I'll add in next week if I can think of anything. Other than that just stuff from home! I bought a pair of winter boots and dumb bells, so that's why I transferred cash from my account. Have Dad work his magic and see if anyone will buy my guitar off KSL and then that can also go to that card as reserve cash. Have him email me when he does it to check the price and stuff. But other than that I'm living really well! I'm making sure I budget the cash and it's really rewarding to have some money at the end of the week to go out to eat or something! I'm usually the sole cooker at my apartment (the other 2 Elders have moved out so it's only our companionship), and so I'm having fun with that. This week I'm makin' my own bread!

My thought for this week is to have you all do a cool FHE. Look up Preach My Gospel page 3. I've been learning a ton, having a companion, about the power of a good relationship and the affect it has on our work! I love the way that PMG sums this up and it would be a really cool thing to do as a family. Will you all do that with me? We'll talk next week and remember that just reading and talking about it does nothing! Goals are probably the coolest and most under-utilized things we have! After you guys read and discuss, talk about what you are going to DO! I love you guys, hope that this would be able to give you a better look into things here.

Elder Jolley

Hey Family!

Oh man, I just checked all the emails and I loved the pictures; thanks for that! Everyone looks so old, I can't believe it! For times sake I won't elaborate... but dang! But, I do remember having a mother and a father- do you have any pictures of them?

A little about this week, it was one of my favorite weeks on the mission - we worked hard! My companion left for his home town, Choibelsun, on Tuesday for a nationwide census. He was gone until Thursday and for the first half of the week I was companions with my Zone Leader, Elder Cardinal, and we got, work, done (pretend those are dramatic pauses)! But seriously it was busy, we both had to teach English at night so we packed the day with appointments to make up for the lost time. From a numbers stand point it wasn't a great week, in general we had a ton of appointments fall through. But Elder Cardinal and I sat in on some incredible first lessons and enjoyed the Spirit that was there. As we taught I thought about the incredible love that our Father in Heaven has for His children. I wanted to turn to them and say, "It just makes sense ya?!" I love that simplicity and clarity that the Gospel brings. It was a great couple of days and I was excited for Elder Ganbolthd to come back so we could again work in our area. We did some of our best planning this week, but had very few people who we actually met with. That's always a bummer when plans fall through, but I had the satisfaction of knowing we had worked our best with the situation! I did get your letters and loved having the hard copies again to read, thanks guys for that! I've been getting a lot of stuff from the Ward as well, I'm working on return letters right now to say thanks. Forgive me for the short email, but I love you guys; I love seeing the Lord's blessings in your lives and I still don't understand/recognize fully the blessings in mine. There is joy in small improvements, getting out of those small ruts in our lives and rising to a higher plane~ Mosiah 4:27 talks about this, we often get overwhelmed with all that must be done and because of that we stay the same or do less. Pick little things that you want to improve, make a goal, it's awesome to see the results!

Elder Jolley

Editor's note: No I didn't forget to post pictures.... he didn't send them. Bummer! Better luck next week. : )