Dear Family,
Well
this week has been such a crazy roller coaster ride! There has been a
lot of changes here in the Mission, and in myself. I am very grateful
for the opportunities that I've had this week, though. I have started
to see our companionship, our work, my understanding of the Mongolian
language, and also Elder Ulziibayar's English progress.
On Saturday
we had a stake conference-style meeting. Elder Wilson and Elder
Toronto from the Asia Area Presidency were here to speak to the Saints
in Mongolia. The purpose of this conference was to prepare the saints
here to receive a temple in Mongolia!! How this will be accomplished
was what was addressed the entire meeting. In Mongolia there are
approximately 10,000 members. About one thousand are active. Out of
those 10,000 members, 1000 have served missions. That is one-tenth of
the membership! That is crazy, especially when the church is only 20
years old here. Out of those 1000 returned missionaries, only 100 are
active. The saints here were told that Mongolia needs to have 1000
current temple recommend holders in order to submit a request to the
First Presidency for
Mongolia to receive temple. Problem is, there is barely 500 members who
have a current temple recommend. Then on Sunday,
another big conference was held at this theater-type place in downtown
Ulaanbaatar (UB). All the members in UB were there! This place was
packed. It was like all the members in Vegas coming to the Thomas and
Mack. Again Elder Wilson and Toronto spoke. A temple in Mongolia was
the topic again and many re-alignments were made to the wards and
branches. I was in the Khailaast Branch, but now we have combined with
the Chingaltai Branch to form the new Jargalthant Branch. We are now a
part of the only Stake here in UB, as well. There were many more
realignment, but it would be hard to explain it all. This was all done
for the sole purpose of preparing Mongolia for a temple! How exciting
is that! I know that my responsibility as a missionary here in Mongolia
is to
assist in that process. It was so incredible to see all the faithful
members there, wanting to know what they needed to do to receive the
blessings of a Temple in their country!
This
past Monday my companion and I went to the "Zaak," the underground
market of surprises! I was amazed at all the meat and other things! It
was crazy! Meat from every animal imaginable was just on a table ready
for sale. We went there to buy some groceries and we also bought horse
meat! We shall see how that goes! Like I said, my companion is a good
cook! Then on Monday evening we went up to that member's house who
lives on top of the mountain for their son's birthday party! It was
really great, and we were able to share a special gospel message with
him. Funny thing is, his father looks just like Donny Osmond! Mom, I
know what you are thinking.... No, not Donny! But, yes! He is the
Mongolian Donny!
Tuesday
was a day for my record book. The day prior (Monday) was such a great
and beautiful day! A coat was almost not even necessary. So my
companion and I thought Tuesday
would be the same.... NOPE! We got out to our area (a 15 minute bus
ride) and it started to snow! On top of that, the winds were so strong!
I was literally freezing! We were walking around all day with our
heads tucked in because the wind was blowing the snow and dirt right on
our faces! The snow and dirt were blowing so hard, it hurt! I am not
lying when I say that it was literally painful. This goes down as "The
Official Coldest Day of My Life." This day was hard because no one was
outside and for some reason no one would let us in, so we literally just
suffered in pain and
agony all the day long. Makes for good memories though!
Wednesday
I woke up feeling refreshed because I had a great, WARM, nights sleep.
I made two eggs and a piece of toast, and then I realized that we had
bought milk on P-Day so I decided to have two cold glasses with my
breakfast. I was feeling fine, but then about an hour later in personal
study.....it hit me. I didn't know what it was, but it hit me! I told
my companion that I was dying, and we both kind of laughed it off, but
then about 10 minutes later I ran into the bathroom, ripped off my shirt
and tie, and had a nice date with my head in the toilet. The best part
is, as I am dying in the toilet, my companion comes in and starts giving
me a back massage! Preach My Gospel teaches about unified
companionships, but this took it to a whole other level! Best Friend
Award right there! So in trying to
find out what the problem was, I discovered that pretty much all the
milk here is at least 3.5% fat. Are you serious! No wonder I couldn’t
hold it down! I have been drinking skim or 1% for as long as I can
remember! So the rest of the day I went around feeling like garbage.
Our mission doctor told me not to drink or eat anything but Sprite and
it will pass. So I carried a bottle Sprite around that entire day. I
was amazed how this literally was sucking the power and health out of
me. I was dizzy and I had no strength. We were getting no work done
because I physically couldn't do it that day. I felt so pathetic. This
has never been like me to give up and not be up for a challenge of a
hard day's work, but I caved. We had to go home and I just went to
sleep. I slept from about 6 to 10 p.m.
When I woke up we planned for the next day and then I was back to bed.
I woke the next day and
still wasn't feeling too much better, but I wasn't going to waste
another day. ESL training was scheduled for that day at the church
with all the American missionaries, so we headed on over. It was so
great to see all the Americans! There are about 80 missionaries in
Mongolia right now, with about 30 being American. It was a fun few
hours to see everyone, and take some pictures. I met an elder from
Henderson! His name is Elder Palmer and he graduated from Coronado HS!
Crazy, huh? Weird how I had never heard that he was here and we live
only 15 minutes away from each other back home.
The
work is going great. As of right now, we have four investigators and
two with baptismal dates. It is crazy how I can hardly understand what
is being said in a lesson besides what I am speaking myself, but I can
feel the Spirit so strong, and I feel such a love for the person we are
teaching. That is such an amazing experience. I guess it comes with
the Mantel of a Missionary, and I love it!
I'll
close by saying that I know my work is the work of our Lord Jesus
Christ. He is the leader of this church. It is His church. I am here
for one reason, to bring souls unto Christ. I am so blessed to be here
at such a crucial time, when Mongolians need the Gospel the most, and
also when the Mongolian Saints have been told to prepare for a Temple!
"Kick and Stroke. Kick and Stroke." --The 4th Missionary--
Love,
Elder Harris
Officially the coldest day of my life!
Elder Palmer and I. Elder Palmer is from Henderson and graduated from Coronado High School. It's ironic that I have gone around to the other side of the world to meet someone who lives only 15 minutes from me back home.
Elder Ulziibayer took this picture of me during study time.
A picture of a great family in our branch. This family is the family who lives at the top of the mountain. Cutest kids, right?!?
The birthday boy! The's a cool young man in our branch.
Birthday cake!
Elder Ulziibayer and I!
The birthday boy's sister, Elder U, and I.
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