Monday, November 28, 2011

Hey Family!

Wow. What a week for some of us (nuguu Elder Jolley jr)! I haven't been able to get an email out to him so I need to drop him a line this week, and I smile because I know that the first transfer is where the Lord shapes His missionaries! So bring on the character building experiences! To start off this email I'll give you a rundown of the pictures:

This first picture you'll have to share with the Neubergers.... a classic missionary moment. Elder Neuberger was not used to the "fill-it-yourself" washing machines and last preparation day the water filled up and over! We got it before anything serious happened and I snapped a sweet shot for his family back at home.


The second picture... Thanksgiving dinner. Elder Neuberger and I had two rounds of English teaching on Thursday and between that and office work we had little to no time for food- so we did our Thanksgiving in the morning. We had apple crisp with ice cream, and then "steakon" and eggs with chocolate milk. Delish.


The third picture, the highlight of my week, was Brother Ganbold's baptism. His family was there (who are also preparing to be baptized), along with Brother Ganzorig and his family- Brother Ganbold's friend and new member. I was really impressed how Brother Ganbold viewed his baptism with the respect that a baptism deserves. He was in his white shirt, early, very reverent and thoughtful about the whole event. This symbolizes a lot of changes in his life that have taken place in only a few short months and it was an incredible night! We're going to have a family home evening with them tonight where we're going to be talking about The Family: A Proclamation to the World.


The fourth picture is with Elder Neuberger, Brother Jiguur and I burning the midnight oil in the office. President Clark spent the weekend in Darkhan reorganizing the district presidency and on Friday night after the baptism we prepared some training materials for the District Conference on Sunday. So after a great baptism the three of us ordered some Mr. Pizza (hadn't eaten all day), turned on some Mormon Tabernacle Choir and got to work. Brother Jiguur is our mission office secretary and served a mission in Hawaii- he's great to have in the office!


Also, talked to the Fords today about Skype- we're on. What if I were to call you guys on Christmas Day in the evening like we did last year? That would be Monday morning for us, and the Fords said that would work out fine. I know we're working two missionaries this Christmas so I'll take whatever time- just let me know what works best! I had a ton more that I wanted to write... but as per normal the preparation day has slipped away from us, so here's a little from what I shared with the President Clark (we just made an unexpected stop in at a wedding with President and Sister Clark!).

It's been a great week for the work in Sansar! I feel like we've really been able to gain the Bishop's trust this last week and show him that we're not just office Elders, but we love the ward and want to serve them! We've had the opportunity to speak in sacrament and work with the ward leaders a lot and I see them taking an initiative to improve the ward- and we are more than happy to be helping them in any way we can! What can I say about Elder Neuberger? He's great! Because of English teaching and such we've fallen a little behind on our companionship study program and are working to find a way for our companionship to be the most effective with the situations we are placed in! We all know about those who "teach exceptions" and I'm trying to not have any in our companionship.

The investigators we have now are truly amazing! Almost all have connections to the Church through family and close friends and we are working toward their lasting conversion as we strive to teach with the Spirit! The referrals and contacts keep pouring in and I feel overwhelmed but happy with all the prepared people there are here! I wish that I could meet with all of them, and I worry that some prepared people are not receiving the Gospel only because their missionaries. But, I know as we work our hardest the Lord will guide us to be doing what He would have us do. "Shall we not go on in so great a cause?"

I love being apart of this work, I love being a missionary, and I'm grateful for the incredible opportunities that the Lord has given us through His gospel. I testify that it is true. Love you all!

Elder Jolley

Monday, November 21, 2011

Hey!

Ger bul n sain biz dee? Ajil undur baina uu? You'll probably get to listen to me ramble in Mongolian after my mission so I'll start throwing in bits and pieces. It's going to be a sad day when I'm not surrounded by Mongolian speakers! This week I've had a real love and appreciation for the people, the language, and the culture this week. Being in Mongolia and serving the Lord here feels so natural that I don't think I'll hit my mission "culture shock" until I get back. It's been a great week and things continue to be on the rise! Elder Neuberger and I are now approaching the 1 month-as-companions mark and it's incredible to see his progress in such a short time. The new 12 week training program is incredible, as a trainer it just is what I need and for a new missionary there's nothing else to help them get off to a better start. Huguu Elder Jolley (it means the other) should be using this too and so I'm excited to hear what he thinks about it. I can't believe he's in country!? As I've been thinking about the time I've been blessed with I believe that missions are supposed to pass by quickly so that we can learn to effectively use the precious opportunities that the Lord gives to us.

This week has been as close to a "normal week" that I've had with my companion in a long time! We were able to attend services in the Sansar ward and I spoke in sacrament! We were asked by Bishop Enkhbold to discuss missionary work and preparing ourselves for it. Nervousness in giving talks in a universal principle- I have no fears teaching, contacting, or approaching people, but still get that with talks! But none of those fears were from the language and it was a great experience for me. We did have, on Thursday and Friday, the Bayanzurkh and Songino zone conferences here in the Bayanzurkh building and so I take back what I said about having a normal week! Our theme was the Plan of Salvation and we were able to cover the plan of happiness in greater detail and depth during the conference. By the third conference we had all the behind-the-scenes work down to an art, and with each conference I was able to gain something new that has strengthened my testimony in our Heavenly Fathers plan.

As far as Thanksgiving goes, things will be really casual from our end. We've got that stuffing that you sent and we'll go from there, there's so far no plans as far as with other missionaries, but we teach a ton of English on Thursday so it will be in between that. Elder Neuberger's teaching English now! On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday he teaches at the Jonon University for a total of 9 hours on top of my 4. But this is the first week we'll be doing that so I'll let you know how that goes next week. It's another way to help out our brothers and sisters in Mongolia and Elder Neuberger's excited for it. Make sure you tell all the Jolleys "sain uu" for me! My Thanksgiving festivities are going to be Friday. Our investigator Ganbold is being baptized!! He's incredible. The last 2 months he has completely changed his life around. Now his baptism will be just another stepping stone on that path. I've been really slacking on pictures lately, but I'll have some of that baptism this next week!

I love you and hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

Elder Jolley

Monday, November 14, 2011

Sain uu Ger Bul ba Naiz Nuxud,

Sometimes I wish I could write you guys in Mongolian! How is everyone? From what I hear things sound good and only getting better! I hope that I can continue to say that to you all in the future like I am this week. Things are good and they are getting better! I'm going to try to send a really detail packed letter (Mom's loving prods/jokes are doing they're job), it's hard for me because I feel like you all are here with me and so you just automatically know what's going on. Not to mention the time! See if we can get Brayden to transfer a few "months" from his mission time over to mine because mine are going too fast!

Elder Myagmardorj and I just got back from Darkhan.... yes, Elder Neuberger wasn't able to come along. They will be participating in this week's Bayanzurkh Zone Conference on Thursday, so he and Elder Myagmardorj's companion, Elder Boyd, held down the fort in smokey UB. Darkhan was a lot colder than the capitol, but the air was crisp and clean and we visited an incredible branch. Every time I go to a new branch I have this thought of how cool it would be to stay there, to serve and love and work with the people in that area- and I again felt that in Darkhan, it's an awesome place. The Lord's work tends to give us those feelings and desires and Mongolia isn't short on incredible places to serve!

This week we had an incredible meeting with our investigator Brother Ganbold and his family. Ever since we have been meeting with him he has been 100% committed to the change and repentance part of this Gospel. He has seen the change of his friend Bro. Ganzorig and now wants that change in his life. Mongolians have powerful faith as a people! Brother Ganbold met with us on Thursday and we taught him the word of wisdom, he knew from Bro. Ganzorig that members don't drink or smoke and so as we read D&C Section 89 together he said, "Oh I've already stopped. I haven't drank in 2 months," or "I've already stopped smoking and I won't pick it up again." He is now living according to the word of wisdom in preparation for his own baptism on the 25th. I hope that we as followers of Christ, are willing to "let us lay aside every weight, and the asin which doth so easily bbeset us (Hebrews 12:1)" as Bro. Ganbold is in his life! Change, the expectation and belief in this principle is a defining characteristic of Latter Day Saints and the true follower of Christ and it is one of the miracles of this Gospel.

With Zone Conference on Saturday we left Friday afternoon to Darkhan and arrived Friday night before Old Darkhan Branch's baptismal service. Saturday was a complete rush. We were going from 7 in the morning until 10 at night running leadership training, zone conference, missionary interviews, meals, and then the missionaries travel back to their areas. Sometimes zone conference feels like a battlefield and I get in the grind of things and forget to be that loving representative of Christ that I need to be. I noticed this and spent the rest of the trip trying to be more loving and patient with all the missionaries I get to serve. The opportunity to help others is godly service in the very sense of the word and so I have made a commitment to make sure that I show that in all that I do. I have been given so many blessings by the Lord and the fact that I have this opportunity to try to repay Him is a blessing in and of itself! It was a good humbling experience that I needed and probably should have more often.

By the way, I got your package last week. Bayarlaa!!! Between the scotcharoos, cookies, and candycorn I was having an overload of good old memories from back home. And I have to say the highlight may very well be the pictures (I'm easy to please), everyone looks good, and caucasian. In Mongolia all the people are more similar and so to see all you caucasan folks after my mission will take some getting used to.

Now we're off to another week! Our new member Munkh-Orchlon called and now has a calling- she now will be serving as a ward missionary and we couldn't be more excited for that. Usually new members don't receive that calling so quick, but the bishop was impressed with her testimony and knowledge of the Gospel. Elder Myagmardorj and I also got a call from Bishop Enkhbold and we're speaking in sacrament meeting next week! So I'll let you know how that goes.

With Christmas..... right now all my Christmas wishes are summed up in 2 words, skype and deel. Since you all already spoil me beyond belief, what if we just skipped the package and used to money to get a deel made? I'm just throwing this out there because I know it's kind of a crazy request. Let me know what you all think.

Khuu ni ta nart khairtai shuu!

Elder Jolley

Monday, November 7, 2011

Family!

Hey everyone! So feel a little out of the loop after writing such a short email last week. So many things happen and I've been in the "busy" mode- so I've decided that I need to get out of that mindset. I love hearing from you all each week and loved the Halloween pictures (Andraya???)..... Ah good times! I have to tell you that last Halloween at home (recall the Jeep) has left a "bad taste in my mouth" regarding the whole thing and I'm excited to get a good Halloween memory to replace it. By the way.... where did October go? I have felt really torn inside as I come to the final 4th of my mission. And since time will fly by no matter what I do Elder Neuberger and I are working as hard as we can in the area with the time we've been given. Elder Neuberger! I did not get a chance to write much about him last week- but I love this Elder! He's been a blessing in our companionship and in our work, and our work has been great this week! I see a lot of the just-came-from-the-MTC Elder Jolley in him, and it has made me grateful for all the amazing opportunities I have been given in Mongolia and now for the opportunity to work with Elder Neuberger in his first 12 weeks. There is definitely a change that comes in each of our lives as we learn to be "givers" rather than "receivers" of things. So Elder Neuberger also has a blog... you'll be able to link in and get some more info about him from there. It's enough for me to say right now that he is having a unique first transfer! Being paired up with an assistant to the president is unique and it requires an overwhelming desire to work through the office work and get out and teach- and that is one thing I have really admired about Elder Neuberger and we have been blessed as we have done that in the last couple of weeks!

First off, maybe I should share a little more about last weeks baptism. Munkh-Orchlon was originally meeting with the sister missionaries in Sansar and so we began meeting with her in August. I have been impressed by her faith, and even with some setbacks before baptism, her consistency and patience. Those are qualities that we all must have in the work and I felt that were blessed to share the Gospel with her.

In other news we set a baptismal date for our investigator Brother Ganbold! He is incredible! His friend is our new member, and after seeing his friend Ganzorig change so much through accepting the Gospel and wants that change in his and his family's life. So we have taught him the first 2 lessons this last week and has a baptism date set for November the 25th! He's 150+ pages into the Book of Mormon and it's amazing to see the Gospel coming into his life! We have been incredibly blessed this last week! With Elder Neuberger is too easy work with, our work is doing great and getting better, I feel like we are being too blessed by the Lord and I am so grateful for Him. It makes me think of this scripture:

21 I say unto you that if ye should aserve him who has created you from the beginning, and is bpreserving you from day to day, by lending you cbreath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own dwill, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your ewhole souls yet ye would be funprofitable servants.

22 And behold, all that he arequires of you is to bkeep his commandments; and he has cpromised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth dvary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do ekeep his fcommandments he doth bless you and prosper you.

Just to let you know, the package hasn't come yet, but I expect it to be here this week. Will you remind me again next week about the Christmas thing? I know you'll want to hear asap but I want to think about it a bit..... other than a Skype call I don't need much! Oh and you don't need to worry about the blog! More than anything I was just glad that my letters are benefiting other people as they try to learn about Mongolia and the work here because I know how nice that was for all of us before I left. So keep on keeping on!

Other than that we're having Zone Conference this weekend! It will be held in Darkhan for the Darkhan/Erdenet Districts. I'll have more to write about next week. This Gospel is true and I am grateful for this opportunity to be in Mongolia!

Love, Elder Jolley