Сар шинэдээ сайхан шинэлсэн үү? Алт мөнгө их цуглуулсан уу? It was a Tsagaan Sar to remember! First an explaination of the pictures:
The first picture should have a few familiar faces- the Ford's fireside was this last Sunday! They came almost a month after us and are now heading home on Thursday... it's a sad week for the mission in that way. You'll have to see if you can find out when their farewell is- you won't want to miss it!
The second picture is of "the original 4" with Sister Chuluunkhuu. She's back from Korea! This sister was in the MTC with us last September. (It's nice to be able to talk now!)
The third picture is Elder Myagmardorj and I, the Fords, our mission financial secretary Battsetseg and her husband Mugii and their daughter Chinkhuslen. She had us over for tsuivan on Saturday and we had a great time at their house and a nice break from eating buuz. We worked with Battsetseg almost every day in the office and she is a huge asset to our mission.
You may have the fourth picture from Sister Hunt, the "family picture." Elder Verdusco, Elder Neuberger, and I all sporting our deels. Good looking group ya?
The picture is of Elder Quinton and I with President and Sister Clark. I love these two! What an incredible year it has been with them. We all met as a mission on shinii 1nd (the first day of the lunar new year) and "greeted" them (zolgox?? I don't know a cooler way to say it in English).
It's been an incredible opportunity to soak up Mongolian culture this week! An email can't describe all of it, but it was a great week to grow closer to these Mongolian Saints. Tsagaan Sar this year started on Wednesday the 22nd with "Bituun" (Tsagaan Sar's "Eve") and then throughout the rest of the week! Tuesday we had district meeting, got some other work done and then went home and put on our deels! You think two foreign missionaries get stares wearing shirts and ties- it's even better when we're wearing deels! We spent Bituun at Sister Unurmaa's house and started the buuz count, had a great night as a district (all 8 of us).
The next picture can only be appreciated by those who have been to Mongolia. A great Өвөө picture.
The next is of Elder Quinton and I at our 1st Counselor in the Bishopric (Spelled right? sanixgui bna aa) Ganbolds house.
Picture 3 is Elder Huff and I at Brother Ganbolds house. You can see from the last 2 pictures the 2 main types of deels. 1 is daavuu, simple fabric; and the other is torgo, or silk. I have a fabric deel, but you'll see that most of the Elders have silk- just preference! I think the fabric is more common for a Mongolian deel and looks less "tourist!"
This Elder Buyanbat (with the hat), Elder Tugsbaatar, our district leader (the suit), and I playing ankle bones on Bituun. There are some sweet games you can play and I had a rough time playing against all that experience- but had a great time.
The next picture is a different game we played at our new member Brother Sergelentsogt's house.
So on shinii 1-3 (Wednesday through Friday) out visiting the members and investigators! Every house has the same basic arraingement of food. You go, greet the family from the eldest down, and then feast! You talk about family (yamar garaltai ve?), their conversion story, and sometimes show talents. We never did the talents last year in Sansar, but this year in Selbe we've been able to see a lot of Mongolian singing, etc.- and doing a bit of that ourselves! We were at our 2nd counselor in the bishoprics house, Brother Ganbold (same name as the 1st counselor), and I commented jokingly at my companions great singing skills (singing's not his thing). Brother Ganbold heard and called Elder Quinton out for a solo talent and asked him to sing a solo! Poor Elder Quinton's stammering and trying to find a way out of it, so Elder Stranski and I helped him out. They requested an American song and so we sang the national anthem. And then after I joined with the Mongolians and we sang the Mongolian national anthem (thanks to the MTC teachers for teaching us). So that's a little look into what happens at these appointments! I love speaking with Mongolians and so I really like the appointments.
Okay I'm running out of time really quick here, if there's anything that I didn't explain it's because I was rushing and let me know next week.
On Shinii 2nd we went over to Sister Tungalags house with the district and the Bishop and his wife. On Thursday I ate 66 buuz with all the trimmings, this was the only day that hurt by the time we got home. If you remember from last week my goal was 175 for the 4 day period, but the last day we ended up not going to a few houses and so I only hit 166 for this year.
The next picture is the whole group in our deels. This was on Wednesday when we met up with President and Sister Clark.
This is Munkhjargal, our new member on Shinii 2nd. He's 11 years old and getting ready to receive the priesthood! In the city a lot more people wore deels then they did last year and it's really cool to see even as modern UB is getting.
You should recognize these 4- Brother Purev, Sister Nyamsuren, and Sister Unurjargal (and her son)! We got to visit them Saturday night and it was by far my favorite visit over Tsagaan Sar! They're doing really good, Brother Purev was having a lot of headaches and pains relating to his cut off cigarettes and alcohol about the time he was getting baptized, now that's all doing a lot better and they're really growing as new members! Their youngest son is now taking the lessons and after he is baptized they've set the goal to be at the temple one year later. As a missionary there are few things that bring more happiness then hearing those words.
The third and final picture is President and Sister Clark, some of the couple missionaries, and the Songino and Bayanzurkh zones at the Bayanzurkh Building.
Hearing from you all this week, in this missionary's work, and from every other aspect of life there is countless witnesses that we do have a Father in heaven, that He does listen to and know us, and he answers sincere prayers.
Love, Elder Jolley
On Shinii 2nd we went over to Sister Tungalags house with the district and the Bishop and his wife. On Thursday I ate 66 buuz with all the trimmings, this was the only day that hurt by the time we got home. If you remember from last week my goal was 175 for the 4 day period, but the last day we ended up not going to a few houses and so I only hit 166 for this year.
The next picture is the whole group in our deels. This was on Wednesday when we met up with President and Sister Clark.
This is Munkhjargal, our new member on Shinii 2nd. He's 11 years old and getting ready to receive the priesthood! In the city a lot more people wore deels then they did last year and it's really cool to see even as modern UB is getting.
You should recognize these 4- Brother Purev, Sister Nyamsuren, and Sister Unurjargal (and her son)! We got to visit them Saturday night and it was by far my favorite visit over Tsagaan Sar! They're doing really good, Brother Purev was having a lot of headaches and pains relating to his cut off cigarettes and alcohol about the time he was getting baptized, now that's all doing a lot better and they're really growing as new members! Their youngest son is now taking the lessons and after he is baptized they've set the goal to be at the temple one year later. As a missionary there are few things that bring more happiness then hearing those words.
The third and final picture is President and Sister Clark, some of the couple missionaries, and the Songino and Bayanzurkh zones at the Bayanzurkh Building.
Hearing from you all this week, in this missionary's work, and from every other aspect of life there is countless witnesses that we do have a Father in heaven, that He does listen to and know us, and he answers sincere prayers.
Love, Elder Jolley
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