Mongolia, oh Mongolia

Another crazy, but awesome, week down! I had a couple awesome experiences this week. A RM (return missionary, someone who previously served a mission) came to visit Mongolia this week. Brother Tooler served here 10 years ago and served in my area for 19mths so he knows the people and area REALLY well! He showed us apts and houses with less actives he taught, and he gave us their back stories. It was amazing the things we learned about these people. Mongolia has over 10,000 members but only about 1,000 active members. It's so sad to see and we are working so hard with these members, trying to bring them back. Anyways, these members he was telling us we knew nothing about and had somehow become lost sheep like so many do here. We are currently working on contacting these people. While he was with us, he also told us mission stories, taught us Mongolian (his Mongolian was soooo good), and just encouraged us. It was great.

At one point, we were walking in this area we had never been to, looking for someone Tooler remembered. Well, we didn’t find them, and we kinda got lost... as we were walking around lost, a super cute family waved us over. We started talking to them, and Tooler (since he’s not a missionary and is allowed to talk about it) shared about our church and that we are missionaries. The family was a mom, dad, and two little kids. The dad is a Mongolian wrestler! He also just had this light about him. I feel so strongly that he has been prepared for us, and that the Lord placed them in our paths and got us lost on purpose. We will meet with that family this week, and I'm so excited for it!

On Saturday, our apt had no water, and it was soooooo hot outside!! The struggle was real! Oh, and my comp and I had food poisoning from the night before, so that was rough. Anyways, we went to meet with a less active member in Sharxad, and when we got there, she needed to get water from the well. Well, we offered to help, not knowing what we were getting ourselves into. She pulled out 6 huge metal buckets with rope handles, and pointed us to a steep hill. We went up that hill, filled up these gallons and gallons of water, and carried it back. We assumed we were done, but we were so wrong! She sent us back again, and again, and AGAIN! It was so hot, we were so sweaty, our hands hurt from the rope, and we were exhausted. But, it was so amazing to be serving this woman and to help her in that way. Also, we went to our other area this week. It is way out in the country and then we went to the far end of the area, which is real Mongolian country. It was so cool and so incredibly beautiful with the many rolling hills!

Last note, so we have the coolest branch president ever! He went to BYU Hawaii, so he speaks English, which is so helpful. He also does Spartan races and... waitforit.... fire dances!!! He has a crew and everything and they are even performing in a big concert for 10,000 people on Saturday. So basically he is way cool. Well, he has the cutest pregnant wife and 2 other little kids. We went to their house yesterday for FHE.... and I got to speak English the whole time since the kids don’t know Mongolian. It was so awesome, but surprisingly hard to teach in English, haha. Anyways, it was such a fun night!

Those are the highlights of this week. I have definitely seen the Lord's hand in my life while I've been here, and it has strengthened my testimony immensely. I know God watches after us and helps and protects us. I know that he knows us and loves us perfectly. I promise that if you put your trust in Him, pray to Him, and follow his commandments, he will bless you. Read 2 Nephi 4:20-21.

Riding a camel. :)

We walk across this every day.