Hey Everyone!

So big stuff happened this week!

ONE … my first trainer, Sister Sneddon, finished her mission, so she's home now- so sad.

TWO… I got my new comp. Her name is Sister Naranzulth, and she is AWESOME! She is from Mongolia and is the sweetest soul I've ever met! She is 25, graduated in family psychology research, and she will finish her mission in 6 weeks... yep, I killed my first trainer, and now I will kill my second trainer. She is so kind and helps me so much with the language, while I try to help her with English.

THREE... Transfers! Did I stay or did I go? Well, I went. Wednesday night, I found out that I would be transferred to the country! Yep, the Mongolian countryside. So after packing all night Wednesday, I got it down to one suitcase and was ready to leave on Thursday. I am serving in Erdenet (NW of UB). We took a 12 hour train ride there on a sleeping train (there are little beds that you sit/sleep on - 4 beds in a section, two above the other two). We traveled with two elders who were coming out here as well, and they were hilarious -  haha, we had so much fun. Although, I have got to say it was weird sleeping next to Elders... how many sisters have that experience? haha

So I’m in the country now, and it's way different. I live in a super ghetto Russian apt with a ton of broke stuff, but it’s okay. People here are a lot harder to understand but so kind! It looks like we have may have quite a few baptisms planned for the end of the month, so I'm praying those happen. As for English teaching, I will be teaching at the church, and I basically have full reign over what I want to do when I want to teach, and so on. I will probably start after Naadam. Oh yah! Naadam is this week! I am so excited for it!!! (It’s the biggest festival of the year for Mongolians. It runs for three days in all parts of the country and highlights the greatest athletes in horse racing, archery, and wrestling – google it, it’s awesome!)

Missionary work is amazing. This gospel changes so many people’s lives for the better and I've definitely seen that here. My mission is definitely changing me too. I am growing and learning sooo much! This is the hardest thing I have ever done, but it's so worth it, and I wouldn't change my decision to serve if I could.

RANDOM QUESTIONS:

1. What kind of cars do most people drive? And does everybody own one? All kinds of cars and mostly the rich own them or taxi drivers. All the people I teach don't own one.

2. I think you get a new companion this week, were you nervous? Are you still the junior companion? I was sooooooo nervous! But, she is great! Yes, I’m the junior comp because I'm still being trained.

3. How often do you eat with members? What do you usually eat? We don't have set up meals with members, but every time you visit someone they feed you--- at least hot water or hyrum and bread things, if not a full meal. We eat all kinds of Mongolian food... and the meat is so hard for me to eat! I just want a salad! (They don't have green salads here)

4. Do they have TVs and movie theaters just like us? Do you see advertisements for current stuff? Some people have TV's but watch Mongolian or Korean or Japanese tv. And they might have movie theaters somewhere, but I don’t know where.

Playing games on the train - Mongolian cards are different then we're used to.

A view from the train.

Part of my new area.