Happy Fathers Day Dad! Ta shuu!
I've been tempted a bunch to write an email to ya'll in Mongolian, but I'm pretty sure there's no Google translation for Mogol xel right now. But... don't worry, I'll make it up by rambling off in Mongolian to you guys. Tehuu? Nuguu Elder Jolley's email reminded me of that.
It has been a most excellent week. A ton has gone on!
We had a baptism.
I have a new companion.
A ton biz? So let me explain:
Monday after I sat in internet we went and met with Brother Byambsaikhan and Sister Otgonbayar and had a wonderful family home evening! Their family along with my companion wanted to learn to make pizza and so we made pizza together before the lesson. They are now attending church as a family each week and their oldest daughter also came for the first time in a while, they're an incredible family!
Tuesday we originally going to Nalaikh to conduct a baptism interview, but that fell through and we were able to attend our own district meeting. It was overcast and rainy and felt really good to be out in a suit coat. After eating lunch with the district we headed out with Bro. Byambasaikhan to his house and dug a well hole with our two district sign language Elders. Bro. Byambasaikhan could no longer get out of the hole that he had thus far dug and called us for help! So we took his meter deep hole to a good 2 plus meters. It feels nice to roll up the sleeves and do a bit of manual labor once in a while! Then Brother Byambasaikhan surprised us by making us a khorkhog while we dug. I'm definitely showing you guys this food when I get back. You make a khorkhog by heating up rocks in a fire, then throwing the rocks in with rib and leg meat, whole potatoes, carrots, and onions in water, sealed in a pressure cooker, and let it stew over the fire. Delish! I had tons of cool pictures to show you, but then the pictures were deleted.... so that was a bummer. After service we then went to companionship exchanges with Elder Bataa and Elder Davaadorj in Nalaikh; Elder Bataa and I were in Nalaikh and then Elder Davaadorj and Elder Tugsbaatar stayed in Enkhtaivan.
Elder Bataa is actually the older brother of a new member of mine in Chingeltei named Urangoo. We had an incredible day Wednesday! Elder Bataa's last 3 companions have been on their last transfer and he's really pulling at the reins wanting to feel that missionary fire in his companionship. No complaints here! So we spent all day Wednesday working like crazy and it was a great exchange for both of us. Having known him before his mission and he knowing me as a young missionary it was very easy to see the way that missionary work had changed us for good. I love how we are able to become the more Christlike versions of ourselves through the strengthening and enabling power of our Savior's Atonement. I have seen that change in myself over this last 2 years, and more importantly, I have found such joy seeing that change occur in other peoples lives- missionaries and investigators.
Thursday Elder Tugsbaatar and I settled back into work in Enkhtaivan, then things got shaken up on Friday! While we were doing our personal study Friday morning the assistants called and told us that President Clark wanted to meet with us at 9:30. So we rushed out the door and headed to the Bayanzurkh. In the meeting there were Sisters Oyun-Erdene and Uyanga, because of some immigration office issues in Khovd the 2 foreign missionaries there (1 Elder and 1 Sister. Amerik gesen ug) were being sent back to the city and Elder Tugsbaatar and Sister Uyanga would be flying out at noon on Saturday! With the baptism also coming up that didn't give us much time. So we spent the whole day preparing for the baptism and packing up in between. I conducted the baptismal service and Elder Tugsbaatar performed the baptism. Khishgee Egch was nervous, but the service went great and she is a great addition to our ward! I attached 2 pictures that we took at the baptism- 1 is of Khishgee with Elders Tugsbaatar, Huff, and I (Elder Huff was the missionary that first met with Khishgee almost 2 years before), and the other is of a member that we are working to reactivate and his son is preparing to be baptized, Baldorj Ax and Taivansanaa.
Elder Huff, Khishgee, Elder Tugsbaatar and Elder Jolley
Baldorj Ax, Taivansanaa and Elder Jolley
I've saved all the info on my new companion for last. Elder Haas! He came to Mongolia with Elder Verdusco and I couldn't be more excited to work with him for the next two weeks! In this next two weeks he's getting training on being a zone leader and then with the next transfer will be paired up with a new missionary as the Bayanzurkh Zone Leaders. I don't have a picture of us together yet but I'll send you one asap. He has a lot of enthusiasm to learn and grow as a Mongolian speaker, as a missionary and a mission leader and so we're going to pack a lot into these next two weeks! I get excited every time I think about it, Elder Tugsbaatar was a bit bummed at first about his new assignment, but it will be a blessing to him and I learned lessons with him that I could not have any other way and I'm very grateful to him for that. After I met up with Elder Haas Saturday we had a weekly planning session, and still got out for 3 lessons before the day was over. It was a good way to start our new companionship off!
Then Sunday we attended Church (next week will be my last week in Enkhtaivan, the following Sunday, July 1st, I'll be in a companionship with the other departing missionaries and attending Church in Sansar). Khishgee Egch asked that I give her the gift of the Holy Ghost to her, then after we spent the day introducing Elder Haas to everyone! After the block we headed up to Nalaikh for that nuguu baptism interview. It was Elder Haas's first time conducting a baptism interview and it went great!
This week I'm finishing up Moroni in my Book of Mormon reading. I love the different perspective and new insights I've received from studying it in Mongolian. To close I want to share a small passage from the Book of Ether, Chapter 12:
1 And it came to pass that the days of Ether were in the days of Coriantumr; and Coriantumr was king over all the land.
2 And Ether was a prophet of the Lord; wherefore Ether came forth in the days of Coriantumr, and began to prophesy unto the people, for he could not be restrained because of the Spirit of the Lord which was in him.
3 For he did cry from the morning, even until the going down of the sun, exhorting the people to believe in God unto repentance lest they should be destroyed, saying unto them that by faith all things are fulfilled—
4 Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God."
I love you all, and I love this work! What a great opportunity we have to submit our will to the Lords and to be then blessed and changed!
Elder Jolley
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