Sain Uu!

Daraagiin neg dex udur bid Skype-eer yarix yum baina! Yansiin goe shuu! Setgel xutluj baina uu ger bul mini ee? It's been an incredible fast week here.... it hasn't registered with me yet that Christmas is already here?? So I'll make sure I get on that on before Sunday! I love missionary work because of the constant focus that we have to be closer to the Lord and His spirit. That really is something that every man needs to have in his life, not just in a Christmas season or a short two year period. I want to share with you a line from this weeks Pass Down that really impressed me while reading/translating it:

"Certainly the greatest discovery ever made is when man discovers his Redeemer."

This week I've seen that principle over and over a few times and this sentence sums up a lot of this week's thoughts and impressions. We take upon ourselves His name through baptism so that we can discover His joy and receive peace and eternal life. We discover more about Christ as we read the scriptures with an attitude that allows His Gospel principles to be revealed to us (without love, charity, and a desire to draw closer to Christ the scriptures will not be opened unto us). I am and need to continue working harder to discover my Redeemer.

So here's a little look into what's been going on here:

On Monday I got a haircut, that's about all we got to, we had a busy preparation day. Elder Neuberger and I did try to make hash browns and had a wonderful failure- so were going back to the drawing board on that one! I'm constantly grateful for having Elder Neuberger as a companion- he's great! Elder Wilson had me help him in a little translation service project for a member that finished the day off, we keep saying we're going to get the deels made, but it hasn't been happening... that's why I haven't drawn out the money yet, but we'll get it done before Tsagaan Sar baix aa.... I'm excited to show you all!

Tuesday after district meeting we had lunch with the Fords and some of the best enchiladas/the only enchiladas I've had in the last couple years! I'm really excited for all the food exchange that will be had upon our meeting up again- I'll make you guys delish Mongolian food! You guys are probably, out of "respect," saving that aaruult that I sent you and I want you to know I'm grateful that you guys are being so patient before enjoying. Tuesday night was mostly spent teaching English at New West, which is going really good! We have a lot of involved and interested students which makes the teaching rewarding on both sides. Then we got one more lesson in before heading home with our couple that are getting baptized this next week, Bro. Purev and Sister Nyamsuren. They are what we would call an "Uvuu" and "Emee" (Grandpa and Grandma), a couple of their kids are members of the Church and we've been working towards their baptism day for over a month now. I love them! They meticulously record every principle that we teach in the lessons (to not forget) and we can't leave until they've been given a commitment along with a reading assignment (sometimes they will ask before we have the chance to give it) and are working very hard to be ready for baptism. Elder Neuberger taught me an important lesson this night, that while we don't track and knock doors to find that "golden investigator," in our work through teaching English and then getting out and teaching we are being led in a similar manner to those who are prepared to receive the Gospel. It changed my perspective on English teaching and made me more grateful for that opportunity. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were also a lot of teaching for Elder Neuberger and I with lessons squeezed in between and on the way home.

Saturday, a full day of study and work! We met with Ganbold and his family and also our investigator Batsaikhan. Have I told you about Batsaikhan? If I haven't I'm sorry! I'll summarize: When Elder Tuvshinbayar and I were companions, Elder Tuvshinbayar was very insistent about getting his haircut at this certain place (the "Best Salon" gedeg), and so I'd follow him along and then just bring something to read. The last time we went as a companionship I brought along a copy of the Book of Mormon and read while I waited. Next to me a college student sat down and started flipping through a magazine, but glancing over at this American reading a book in Mongolian. First a few glances, and by this time I notice that he is watching, (say a quick prayer that I will be able to have the Spirit) and wait patiently for the right moment. Within a few minutes the magazine is down and he is reading with me! As he starts looking around for the name of this book I take the opportunity to introduce the Book and share my testimony about it. He very happily accepted the copy that I was carrying with a few marked passages and I gave him my number, told him that we would like to explain to him more about this book. After reading some he called and we began meeting with Batsaikhan. Fast forward and Batsaikhan is now preparing for baptism. He has been praying for an answer, but remarked in the last few weeks how he hasn't been able to recognize an answer. Then on Saturday as we taught him about the Plan of Salvation, he closed by telling me his version of the same story I just shared. While attending college he began to search out religion because he felt like he wanted to belong to something and wanted the faith and the path to lead him to a better life. His parent's religion didn't satisfy and he determined to find out more about Christians, investigating a few different churches. The day we met he was discouraged at the lack of success his search had shown and took a few minutes to sit down and think. He then asked that God would help him, and then went to get a haircut. He said to me that he then realized that God had been answering his prayers and guiding him. It was a great lesson and his faith has increased immensely as we have been meeting with him this week.

This is not a unique story to missionary work. But I was grateful again for the confirmation that the Lord is leading us, and leading others to us to receive this the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that this is a great work that we are all involved in, and I pray will not be a hinderance to this cause but with the Spirit can continue to invite and help. One of the highlights of my week!

Then Sunday. I have been doing some branch-hopping lately and yesterday went to Baganuur with the Clarks, the Gledhills, and Elder Myagmardorj. We left at 9 to make the noon sacrament meeting and then after attending the block ( I had the opportunity to translate), we took the 2+ hour drive back, met up with our companions and went to meet with Ganbold and his family again. Brother Ganbold is the best! Not a big talker but is incredibly kind. He found out that I really dig aarts (it's like the aaruult but in a hot drink- by far my favorite Mongolian treat!) so he made us some buuz and aarts before we met as a family. Too good! I know that I'm going to miss Mongolian food so bad and so I'm soaking it all up as much as I can know. Elder Neuberger.... ha ha hasn't really caught the fire yet, took about 2 sips of the aarts and then threw in the towel (he really wants to like it so it was kind of a bummer for him, but he'll have it after a few more attempts). And so I got double portions, everybody wins!

Merry Christmas to all of you that read this email. I hope that we can all remember Him who loves us, and to put aside all the desires, bad feelings, and habits that keep us from being closer to Him. The second we do that we will have peace and surety in our lives. That is the goal of Christmas and a main purpose in our lives. To my family, I'll tell you all Merry Christmas in person on Sunday!

Love, Elder Ryan Jolley

P.S. Most of the pictures are very obvious. But you may wonder why Elder Neuberger and I are touching buses.... We had some choice traffic this week that was so dense that there was little clearance between us and the other cars on all sides. So in the standstill we decided to each touch a bus.

Hey Family,

Yu baitsgaanaa ve? This has been one of the quickest weeks here, I don't know where all the time's flown by... things are settling down from transfers and now we're getting ready for Christmas! We're skyping in 2 weeks! Mom and Dad are both begging for more "juicy" stories in their emails- and it's funny because that's what Elder Neuberger's parents are saying to him too. I do feel strange because I feel like I'm trying to pick the best of hundreds of incredible moments, events, spiritual experiences that happen each week and fit them on one page- and though I've got months of practice in I still feel like a greenie!

Yesterday we attended sacrament in Zuun Kharaa, and this time Elder Neuberger came with! President and Sister Clark, Elder Neuberger and I left at 8 in the morning to make some 10:30 interviews with some of the priesthood brethren up there. Saturday night and Sunday had a thick fog/smog that covered the city (incredibly thick! We couldn't see the buildings next to our apartment out the windows), and it made the trip really slow. But we got out of the city, and up above the clouds- and caught a beautiful sunrise. This was Elder Neuberger's first time into the countryside and between the ride and the company it was a great trip. The opportunity to spend so much time with President and Sister Clark is an amazing! President made the comment that we really don't comprehend the blessing that it is to be here, and it will take a long time for us to realize the impact that this experience has had on our lives. It's incredible to be apart of the Lords work, and though I can't see the Lord's design in all this I know that it is true and that as we are worthy He can work through us.

"And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord ^cknoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he ^dworketh in me to do according to his ^ewill." (WofM 1:7)

Today I ended up with no time and a computer that has typing problems.... I'm sorry this is so short but if I get back to the office in time I'll send some pictures out.

Love Elder Jolley

Air in the city

Air out of the city

Elder Neuberger and Elder Jolley

Love this picture!

Sain Uu,

Yes, it's already December... yachvaa. This last week has flown by so quick! We had new missionaries come from the MTC as well as Zone Leader Council and Transfers. So a lot of time was spent planning and carrying all that out this week. I'm going to try and do a day by day overview of the week:

Monday- The best preparation day ever!! We went out and got a district picture taken, but it wasn't very eventful until we got home. Elder Neuberger forgot (time #2) to turn off the water on the washing machine and we had water all over our bathroom! Before I had been good about keeping the washing machine in the bathtub, but forgot to tell that to Elder Neuberger. Anyways the water was a good inch in the bathroom and then it seeped into the wood floor of our entry way. So great! This all happened about 30 minutes before we were supposed to head out to a family home evening with Elder Myagmardorj and Boyd, visiting Bro. Ganzorig, Bro. Ganbold and their families. So we called, explained that we'd be a little late, and went to town! We got all the water cleaned up and had a great time doing it, and the apartment below us hasn't come up yet so all's well that ends well. I have a great video that I will show you when I get back. Then we had a great family home evening with our new members and have given them the charge to continue to conduct these each week.

Elder Neuberger and Elder Boyd (in back)
Elder Jolley Bro. Ganbold and his wife and Elder Myagmardorj (in front)

Tuesday- Usually we attend a district meeting with President Clark every Tuesday, and this week we attended the Bayanzurkh District meeting (our home district)- for our district leaders last meeting (he's off to the countryside). Each of the missionaries, including myself, gave a five minute talk on one of the Christlike attributes found in chapter 6 of PMG. Elder Neuberger and Boyd especially did a great job, I can't believe that they've already been here for a month?? With this last transfer down that means Elder Neubergers' time with me is already half over. Then we did a few reports before I taught English.

Wednesday- Elder Neuberger has been teaching English now every Wednesday/Thursday/Friday at the Jonon University. The people there love him and he has a really positive attitude about that opportunity to serve. So we went on companion splits which allowed him to teach and me to get a few things done around the office. Having 2 assistants, but being split up has changed up everything a little bit and so coordinating with Elder Myagmardorj has been difficult this past month.

Thursday- Zone Leader Council! We had a great meeting with the zone leaders in the mission from 11 to 3 (all this time Elder Neuberger was teaching English), and then it was off to meet with Bishop Enkhbold. We have the best bishop and we met with him and his family to discuss Christmas in Sansar. We had a great evening and keep an eye out, they may be sending you a email this week. I included a picture of our evening in this email.

Friday- New missionaries! We spent the day training the trainers, picking up the new missionaries and taking them to Zaisan. It's fun to be apart of a missionaries first few moments on a mission and it's one of the many blessings of being an assistant. We fought the traffic like crazy that night. The traffic is terrible in the city right now. It took us almost 2 hours to make the trip from Zaisan to the BZ bulding (less than 10 km). Then when we got the new missionaries all set up in the dorms, Elder Neuberger and I headed back to the airport to begin the transfer festivities! So we got back home late and then quickly got to bed as we had to run missionaries to the airport/bus stop early the next morning. Transfer time is marked as a time with little food and free time for a 30 hour period, the mission office gets flooded with missionaries! But I love seeing all of our planning come into play and it's satisfying to see the successful finish. To be continued 6 weeks later. Working with this assignment is teaching me love and service in yet another aspect in my life and I continue to be grateful to be able to lift wherever I stand. Having the Gospel light in our countenances truly does make all the difference. I've found that while we're up to our neck in requests and "to-do's" it's still important to not get caught up in all the chaos but to continue to love and sincerely try to help these missionaries.

Saturday- Transfer Day! We spent much of the day moving transfers around, coordinating travel funds (another huge blessing and opportunity to learn) of the missionaries. The mission received a new vehicle and Elder Neuberger and I had a nice break from the mission van (I felt like a soccer mom) and took that around. Driving has always been a stress-reliever for me. I love the way Mongolians drive! To some it seems chaotic and without any rules.... but Mongolians are incredibly attentive drivers and as long as you understand how they drive it's really exciting. Then between all this we introduced the new missionaries to their trainers and now they're off. This transfer we had 6 missionaries leave and 5 missionaries coming in. This seems to be the pattern of sorts and our mission is staying the same in number with around 45 companionships.

Sunday- We said goodbye to Elders Neuberger and Boyd, and Elder Myagmardorj and I attended Sukhbaatar Branch's meetings with President and Sister Clark. I love all the translating opportunities- it's a blessing for my Mongolian. Lately the Mongolian way of saying things has been leaking into my English and so bless President Clark for being patient. I like translating what he says into Mongolian better than I like translating what I hear into English. I feel like there's so many feelings/emotions that can't be translated with the same beauty as the Mongolian speakers. Mongolian at first seems like a more basic, simple language, but it has really opened up to me in this last year and I love speaking it! After attending Church we then prepared for the departing missionaries dinner at the mission home followed by a fireside for all the incoming/departing Elders and Sisters. I translated at the dinner for the President and Sister Clark as well as the Hunts (they had me give them your email address so keep your eye out for that), and we had a great evening with the 5 Sisters and 1 Elder who finished their missions. Scary. Time is flying by much too fast and I know how fast these last few months will go. Then we had the fireside, a quick meeting with an investigator afterwards and that was the week!

I love being a missionary, and how I love being in Mongolia! I will start thinking about some of the unique things that I love about Mongolia and I'll try to include them from next weeks email. There's so many things that I wish would be back home.... this place has truly been prepared for the Gospel and is being blessed by our Heavenly Father. "Brethren, I have many things to say to you on the subject; but shall now close for the present, and continue the subject another time. I am, as ever, your humble servant and never deviating friend,"

Love, Elder Jolley

P.S. D&C 128:22-25