Monday, March 28, 2011

Hey Family!

So our allotment didn't come in today, we won't be able to get money until tomorrow so I've got to make my email time short and sweet! Don't sweat though, we've got cash for emails and then we've got plenty of food at the house, and don't need travel money until Wednesday- we're still living the good life at home because of our budgeting and the leftover money from last week is gonna really help out today and tomorrow. It's a beautiful day in the city! No long johns, just a suit coat needed and springs really coming on now. We had a spring jump rope competition this morning (none of the double dutch business, just endurance) that our mission doctor set up and it felt good to get out and move! Since Elder Amgalan none of my companions have been runners- so jumping ropes been the alternative, but I stunk. I took first in the Elders division today, did 3,087 in the 20 minute time frame- so that was cool to see some improvement! But to answer the "matters of business:"

No baptism last Friday, but I did baptize our Sister's investigator. Friday is the big day! Our investigator Bayarmunx is getting baptized. Elder Zolthbayar and I met with him the first week we began working together and now he's getting baptized! 15 years old, going to early morning seminary, mutual, and that has made a huge difference in his preparation for baptism, I'll be sending you some pictures next week. The pictures are all on the memory card and I can view them, but the don't show in the memory card's folder- so that means the cards good and the pictures aren't lost. I backed them up a month or so ago, but I'll have to do that again soon. I'm using the other memory card for now and I'll send some of the pictures I took this last week. We haven't had any effects of the tsunami here and since we don't watch the news I get all my information from talking with people. Then the file player for the clip you sent aren't on these computers here (was it Quicktime, or Flash?), anyways, no luck on Skyguy's video. I just found out that the USB ports at this internet center have been disabled, but we're going to the Bayanzurkh office after and I'll send pictures from there. Send some pictures my way too ya?


So to close, a couple of experiences from the week. First, I played the Bayanzurkh 5 year old chess champion, a little girl named Enkhchimeg, and lost! I stink! We met at a member's house to teach their cousin the first lesson and while we were waiting for him to come they challenged me to try and beat their daughter at chess. I've never been big at chess and not a confidence booster for sure. Their cousin Batbaatar arrived and we had an amazing lesson thanks to the power of the Holy Ghost. I have noticed the influence and power of the Spirit in our work especially this week! Our investigator Eegii brought his friend Baukaa to meet with us and we began answering his questions about God. He told us straight up that he was not interested in meeting with us and only came because he heard that Eegii was meeting with an American and wanted an English speaking person to practice with. Our first meeting was all over the board, our time was short, and every time we began sharing he would ask another question, about God, Christianity, Science, lots of stuff. I left knowing that he needed to hear the message of the Restoration! But he agreed to meet with us again, and so the next time we asked that before we answer his questions that we could share our message with him. During the lesson I prayed that he would feel the Spirit from this message and that we would be blessed to "speak with boldness." It was, from my Mongolian speaking point of view, a lesson that I would've taught 2 or 3 months ago, but the Spirit was there and that's all that mattered. I saw that seed of faith beginning to grow in someone who was sure this was going to be a waste of time. I was so grateful for the power of the message that we share and it's simple truths that apply to every walk of life! Later that night (Saturday) we met with Batbaatar, who I wrote about at first.


As of this morning, my group became the "old American" Elders. Elder Davis and Pickett, and about 18 other missionaries, had their fireside last night. When we arrived in Mongolia Elder Cardinal, Davis, and Pickett gave us our orientation and would be leaving in 9 months, now we'll be orienting the new American Elders in May with a year left. Time's flying by way too quickly! This morning I read an amazing scripture that I would like to share with you, Moses 7:62. It talks about the power of the Book of Mormon. In PMG it also states (in Chapter 5) that we should use the Book of Mormon to answer any questions or concerns regarding an investigator and the Restored Gospel. That same power is available to us as members, but I don't think we use it like we could! So, this week, in meetings I've taught or in lessons, I've been trying to look for examples that I could use from the Book of Mormon and I haven't been disappointed yet. Elder McConkie, in last Octobers Conference, said it is against the order of heaven for God to give us revelation that He has already revealed (bad quotation) and that we need to use the incredible blessing of the scriptures that God has revealed to us through His prophets. So, I challenge you all this week, with all of your questions and concerns, to first trust in God's promise and seek an answer from the scriptures! Time's up, but I love you guys, 6 weeks (not that anyone's counting right?)!


Elder Jolley

Extra little somethin' we received yesterday...

Dear Sister Jolley,
I just got to hug your handsome son about 10 days ago when my husband and I were in Ulaanbataar. We are Wheelchair Missionaries with LDS Charities. I had a long visit with your darling missionary and it made me feel like I was hugging my own son who is currently serving in Edmonton, Canada. Your boy is almost EXACTLY the same age as my son and even went to the MTC just one week after my son went last June. He also told me he had been a swimmer in High School and I told him our son had been a swimmer for Davis High for four years! Your boy is almost exactly the same height and build as our son as well, so it did my heart good to give him a great big bear hug. I told him I was giving him an OFFICIAL MOM HUG so I could report that to you. He is so great and appears to be thriving well in Mongolia. His language skills are excellent and he is terrific with the people. His new comp is still pretty green and shy, but Elder Jolley is so upbeat and positive. Everyone loves your son so much.
Anway, I just wanted you to know how fun it was for me to meet Elder Jolley and that he is GREAT!!!!!
All my love,
Sister Gaye Brown

Elder Kim and Sister Gaye Brown
LDS Charities Wheelchair Initiative Missionaries
http://kimbrownfam.blogspot.com

Canada Edmonton Mission
Elder Mitch Brown
http://missionarymitch.blogspot.com

Elder Jolley with Sister Brown

Elder Jolley and Elder and Sister Brown at the church building

Monday, March 21, 2011

Sain uu?!

I hate trying to choose what to tell you guys each week, I feel like I'm throwing away tons of good thoughts and experiences and you guys know how good I am at throwing things away! But May's coming up quick and I look forward to the chance to talk again!

We've especially been blessed this week as we've worked on finding the "lost sheep" here in Sansar and meeting with inactive members. We've found and are meeting with two great families that were baptized 6 or so years ago, but for whatever reason have not been attending church. You can see the absence of light, of the Spirit and then to see it begin to return again is an amazing thing! One sister and her son came to sacrament meeting, worried that she and her son wouldn't have anyone that they knew or anyone that remembered them and were immediately surrounded by friends and fellow members from the moment they walked in! The members can help and support in ways that we missionaries can't. I've especially noticed that in the last few months here as we've tried to work closer with them and it's incredibly rewarding to see the member, not the missionary, doing the strenthening! Thursday was an especially great day because it was Wednesday, at home Brayden's starting his papers! Woohoo! Make sure to keep me updated.


This week we set a baptismal interview date for our investigator Bayarmunkh, and he's about to go from a golden investigator to a great new member! His sister is a member of the Church, he's been faithfully attending Seminary and Mutual and we feel that he's on his way to becoming a great strength to this ward! I'm grateful that the Lord prepares the way for us to meet with those who are ready to accept the Gospel and I see that especially here in Mongolia.


It looked like things were warming up here and then we got hit with a huge wind gust that's been lingering for the last few days, but I'm ready to shed a few layers as things warm up a bit. We did get out on Wednesday morning and ran- it was great! But Elder Zolthbayar is not much of a fan so we'll see if there's a round 2. I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve with him and as his trainer we should be together for 3 months+ and I like having time to really settle into this ward! I'm going to have to switch to the new memory card, all of my pictures are on the old one, but I can't do anything with them right now, it's showing no folders on the computer, so I'll send some pictures in next weeks email! If Dad or anyone else has any ideas on how do de-bug this memory card let me know. I want to give you all an assignment this week, go to the temple! I've been thinking a lot about the temple this week, the power of the covenants we make there, and the peace, strength, and direction that we find within it! I miss having a nearby temple and look forward to going again. We all need that divine direction from our Heavenly Father and the key to that revelation is on our side of the veil, through prayer and the temple!


Love,
Elder Jolley

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

With Ryan's memory card temporarily out of commission, I thought I would post a fun video clip from October when he and some of the other missionaries had an opportunity to visit a new theme park on their p-day.



Also spotted some pictures with Ryan on Elder and Sister Ford's blog on their visit to Zaisan from a couple week's ago. Click Here to check it out!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Hey Jolleys!

You all are good people... ya know that? Seriously though, thanks for being a "firm foundation" for me and those around you- it brings strength that cannot be found anywhere else, in the hard or good times! I've had another great, great week here and so I'll try to bring you all up to date, but as always "I cannot say a hundreth part" of what goes on and how incredible a mission is! I've realized 2 problems though: 1 is time, the other is people. There is just not enough time in a day or in a week to meet with all the people we need to. Then there's people... everyone needs this Gospel! I realize that more and more and it's been very hard for me these last 2 weeks when we have so many more people we could meet with, but just don't have the time. And I shouldn't be the one to decide who gets to hear the Gospel message. That's one of those unresolvable questions, but it's been on my mind a ton lately, along with the "1 year mark" that is coming full speed. Anyways, here's the week:

Monday, with a new companion it was time to do a little bit of home repair! When we moved into our new apartment there were 3 or so lights that didn't work (bad electrical system) and a toilet that wouldn't flush. Because of time we just bought candles and jerry-rigged the toilet (the candles at night effect was actually really cool)! We contacted Pres. Batbold, who is the 1st counselor in the mission presidency (we met his daughter at the Goodrich's house) and got everything fixed. I keep searching out new recipes and stuff to shake up our eating and to avoid mutton as much as possible while at home, and I've perfected the cake, and homemade chicken noodle soup. I made it without meat though and my companion refused to eat soup with just noodles, saying that's wrong. So we'll try it again next week, with meat!


Tuesday we had an incredible district meeting and the Spirit was very strong as we learned about Charity and Christlike attributes. I say incredible because the Spirit taught the lesson. I especially felt the teaching power that the Lord will bless us with if we make that our focus in preparation, whether it be with investigators, our district, our family home evening, etc. That should always be the center of our stud, and preparation. We also had a surprise guest, President Clark came and sat in on his first district meeting. With two of the district sisters and I becoming trainers, we've got new missionary enthusiasm and I love it! This week we've also found 7 great new investigators and now I hope that through meeting with us they will become 7 great progressing investigators. Also, have you heard of International Women's Day? Neither had I , but it was Tuesday and it's big in Mongolia!


This week has been real spring weather in the city, it's warm when there's no wind, but we've had some super strong winds, which is normal for spring here. Mom asked about the 2 pants thing that I've been wearing- 1 is my church slacks and the other is a mix between sweats and thermal pants, they cost me $1.50, everyone wears them here, almost all year round. I'm super excited to not wear them again! English teaching continues to be really up and down and so I only taught on Thursday last week. It's not a priority for my student's careers or for missionary work so let the good times roll! Thursday, with our weekly planning session and English class we only had time to meet with 2 people. We've found lots of investigators right near our apartment/the Church building and that's been a blessing.


Friday I conducted my first baptismal service and had a great, late FHE with our new member/inactive member family. Usually our Ward Mission Leader conducts the baptismal services, but he couldn't come and so I filled in. We also had our Bishop not come and so I was scrambling last minute to fill in the vacancies, but the meeting was great! I had the opportunity, after the newly baptized member bore her testimony, to share my own testimony of baptism and the example of our Savior. We all enjoyed a powerful presence of the Spirit and it was a great baptismal service. We've got 8 investigators with baptismal dates and so I'll be letting you know about them as their baptisms get closer. If all goes well our investigator Bayarmunx will be baptized on the 25th of March, he'll be the first one of the group. His sister is a Church member and he's a golden investigator! This is because of his own desire to act and to learn. Two weeks ago when we planned to talk about other scriptures and Church programs he told us that he'd already been going to Seminary (early morning) on his own! Best thing an investigator can say! Anyways, after the baptismal service we had FHE with the President's Assistants and our new member Sister Delgermaa and her husband Dulguun. I made an epic cake for this one while we ate lunch earlier that day! Our hope is to reactivate Dulguun, he's an RM and there is a noticeable difference in a person after they turn away from the light of the Gospel- he needs it again! Saturday and Sunday were great days, all full of lessons. Church is a lot more stressful on a mission as you focus on investigators! But I love work here in Sansar, it's come a long way from September. I promise I'm not trying to "sugar coat" the report here, missionary work's just that way!


To close I want to share a bit of what I learned last week from studying about charity. Matthew 22:36-39, Jesus talks about the greatest commandment. Then if we read President Uchtdorf's "Of Things That Matter Most" we learn that God intends this to be a commandment that takes patience, long suffering, and individual attention. It's the only true way to have charity! And like all commandments it is a choice!


Love,
Elder Jolley

Monday, March 7, 2011

Sain yy my family!

We'll I've got a new companion again, but this time it's for real! I'm now a father! That's what the missionaries here call... a trainer! A group of 7 missionaries arrived from the MTC Phillipines last Friday and President let me know on Tuesday or so that I'd be training the only Elder of the group- Elder Zolthbayar. I have so many good pictures now, but my memory card won't let me transfer anything- I picked up a pretty cool virus! So I'll have to do my best at explaining with just words.... first a rundown of the week:

Monday I got all my pants lengthened, I was showing a little bit of wool sock, I've grown since I left! I lengthened them out 3 cms and they're almost maxed out on extra fabric, so hopefully things slow down a bit. I hear mutton is a growth booster so that must explain all the growing (wink wink!). I've been rereading the missionary handbook and especially this week working on what I need to do to be more obedient and especially now that I am training another missionary I want to be spot on, ya? Mom you asked about Elder Davis and Pickett, they will finish their missions at the end of March, just about 3 weeks away! It's crazy how fast the time has flown, my group and I just hit 6 months in Mongolia and 9 months on our missions. It will be sad to see them leave, they've been great examples to us, and it will be weird to soon be the "old American Elders" to those who will be arriving soon. Two Elders are in the MTC and will be in Mongolia by May, and it looks like, through English sponsors, more will be receiving calls in the future. We're really needing Elder missionaries right now so that will be a huge blessing!


Tuesday and Wednesday Elder Bayarsux and I continued to tear things up in Sansar. We also had a mission wide leadership meeting for all District and Zone leaders that I was able to attend. Incredible! We learned a ton about our role as leaders, the missionary handbook, and not teaching exceptions, but as Elder Oaks stated "In the Gospel we teach doctrines and principles, not exceptions." By the end of the meeting some traditions/exceptions we're brought back into harmony with standards in the handbook and I continue to be grateful for President Clark's desire to follow the Lord 100%! It will continue to bless this mission and country as we strive to be more obedient and I love the constant growth opportunities.


Thursday was my last full day of work with Elder Bayarsux and we've begun some great relationships with investigators and especially trying to involve them with members of the ward. Two Sundays ago we met a 15 year old boy investigator named Bayarmunx and have been meeting with him every other day or so ever since. He is scheduled to be baptized on the 25th of March, has been attending seminary on his own we just found out recently! He heard about the opportunity and decided to check it out. How great is it as a missionary, focused on getting investigators to act, and then to hear that they're taking the initiative- the Lord has been blessing us and these investigators! We actually just met with him (that's why I'm sending this email so late) and will continue to write about him in the future.


Then Friday we had morning "trainer" training and then met the newly arrived missionaries at Zaisan ( I sent pictures the first week I was here, it's the place where Elder Maxwell dedicated Mongolia for missionary work). It was a lot colder than when I was first there, but I was amazed at all that has happened in the last 6 months and how grateful I am for the Lord and this work! I truly cannot think of anything else I would rather do besides missionary work, any place that I'd rather be than Mongolia, and to be able to serve my Savior Jesus Christ is an incredible blessing! We are now getting down to work, Elder Zolthbayar and I, and I'm excited to work with him. Trainers and their missionaries are usually together for 3 months and I think this means no transfers for a good while! Score! For my spiritual thought I'm committing anyone who reads this email to read Mosiah 2 and King Benjamin's counsel on serving others, gratitude, and humility. I also bear my testimony of God's love for us, his never ending patience and mercy, and that through acting in faith, coming to Him we receive these blessings. Let me know how the week is, I love you guys!


Elder Ryan Jolley