Mongolia Mission Week 21 - The Gathering

 Mongolia Mission Week 21

Our hope with this blog is to share highlights with our family and friends about our exciting opportunities and awesome responsibilities in Mongolia. It's an impossible task, though, because it's hard to condense everything into a few words and pictures. So ask us individually if you'd like to know more about anything! You can contact us by email (jrose219@gmail.com or krose213@gmail.com), Facebook messenger, or you can text Kathy's phone (515-537-3273). 

How is the weather in Mongolia? Well, it depends on the day. Lately, we've had several nice days, including some without the spring wind. The people, bikes, and roller blades just keep multiplying. 

The playground in our apartment complex has kids' play equipment, a basketball court, and several adult exercise devices, which we work out on periodically. One day we had a little shadow who mimicked Kathy's every move on each piece of equipment. She was so cute! She stretched on the stairs afterwards with us as well. Then she went inside when we did, telling us something very serious in Mongolian which we didn't understand. "Thanks for playing?" "Tell me when you want to play again?" "Why do you exercise for such a short time?" We miss a lot in this country, or assign our own meanings to streams of conversation-

However, next week is another wild ride with the weather. Thursday is supposed to be 71 degrees. Friday is predicted to be 35 degrees with 1-3 inches of snow! Oh, well. We have learned to take it all in stride (or use Clyde - in spite of our pact to keep doing a lot of walking!)

Predictions for future erraticity.

As we imply in our headline, the Gathering of Israel continues in Sainshand! After two baptisms last Saturday, we had another one this past weekend. Erdenejargal is a 16 year old boy our English teachers met one day when their normal students, a bunch of military guys, didn't show up. Miracle Moment. He asked them questions about the Gospel, and in the words of Elder McWhorter, he "truly was one of the most prepared people I have or will probably ever meet. To be more prepared by the Lord would be someone standing in a font just waiting which pretty much he wanted to do do since the first time we taught him." 

President Namgur, our Mission President, spent the weekend here, and it was such a blessing to have him visit. Side note: You heard a story about him told by Elder McCune in General Conference. (We recognized him through Elder McCune's description of the man with energy and light.) The mission president actually holds the Priesthood keys for groups, so he does interviews with our people in Sainshand and knows them all well.

Elder McWhorter and Elder Eves had ties made for 
themselves, Erdenejargal, Elder Rose, and President Namgur. 
Here are the five in matching Mongolian ties.

Sister Tumenjargal, Sister Rose, Elder Rose, Elder Eves,
Erdenejargal, Elder McWhorter, President Namgur,
Erdenejargal's girlfriend, and Sister Tierney.

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Group photo after the baptism service, including
Bayartsogt, President's wonderful traveling companion.

Missionaries all make treats for 
baptisms. Elders made no-bake cookies,
sisters made banana bread, we made
mini-cinnamon rolls. 

Later that night, we held a "girls spa night" for the women and girls in our group (and friends). They painted nails, braided hair, used face masks, watched each other's dance performances, did crafts, and ate treats. Lots of visitors had fun together with our members. The guys got together with President Namgur and studied the For the Strength of the Youth pamphlet (which was new to them), sang "I Am a Disciple of Christ," and ate pizza. It was a powerfully spiritual event for them, in spite of boys who often are full of rambunctiousness. 

We did a lot of cooking in our apartment for that weekend: mini cinnamon rolls (turns out that with frosting they are too sweet for a lot of Mongolians), cookies for the women's event, and rolls and soup for a group lunch after church the next day so the President wouldn't leave without food. It was a logistical challenge, given our small oven and few baking dishes, but with some careful planning we made it work. Although Clyde did spill soup on the way - there are lots of very big speed bumps in this town.

Traditional Mongolian dance

We all went home really tired after a busy Saturday of activities, but floating on a cloud because of how well they turned out. We really feel the love and support of the Savior as we strive to serve in this area!

On Sunday Erdenejargal was confirmed a member of the Church. Another young man received the Aaronic Priesthood and was ordained a Deacon. President Namgur, who was presiding and bore his testimony, mentioned it may be his last visit to Sainshand as he will be released from his calling at the end of June when we get a new mission president. It was sad. 

Although it was the first weekend of April and General Conference in America, on this side of the world we still had our fast and testimony meeting. The conference meetings are in the middle of the night here. We have General Conference a week later when we can schedule to watch during the day and when the talks have been translated into Mongolian. 

What a difference from the Sunday meetings when
we first arrived. Those generally had 6 missionaries 
and a small handful of other people attend.

We had 33 in attendance in Sacrament meeting - a new record for Sainshand. The church has been here for just over a year and has grown from one family to an exciting group of saints meeting together, serving together, and worshipping together. 

Yes, many are kids. They love hanging out at the church, because they love the feeling and the people there, whether they know it's the Spirit they're feeling or not. Most native missionaries and adult member leaders in this country joined the church when they were teens. Most were the only members in their families and many still are. Kids absorb the truths of the restored Gospel like wide-eyed sponges. They can feel the Spirit, recognize truth, and are humble enough to want more. They don't generally have a lot of bad habits to get rid of when they join. True, they may have challenges which take them from the path before they become the next generation's leaders, but the Spirit has borne witness that they will return to these foundations. 

It is truly amazing to see the Gathering of Israel in its infancy in one of the remote parts of the world.