Dear Family,
Well this week went by really fast, and quite well. Tuesday and Wednesday
went down the drain because we were at the church all day, or handling
10 tons of coal to be delivered to members. A man from Hong Kong came
to Choibalsan to inspect our church building on Wednesday,
so I got the word that everything needs to be 100% spick and span.
Tuesday we had a impromptu Service Day, and in about 5 hours we got the
entire inside and majority of the outside spotless. It was
great.....and lots of members came out to help! In all, we filled an
entire dump truck with garbage bags filled with leaves or trash. I am
not joking, an entire dump truck. Choibalsan's members can truly work!
The inspection went great and we passed with flying colors! Actually a
man from UB was shocked on how clean it was. But then on Thursday,
during mutual, I totally punched a hole in the wall while playing dodge
ball. Well I really didn't punch it, but it looks that way....haha. I
was dodging a ball thrown at me and didn't realize how close I was to
the wall, so I put my arms out in front to protect myself (just a simple
reflex) and what do you know....Huge crack and hole in the wall! That
was an awkward phone call to explain what happened to the man who just
had left from the inspection!
Also this week,
we found two new investigators, both through Sister Nergui (if you
translate her name, it literally means "No Name"...haha...and it is one
of the most common names in Mongolia). She is a new member of about two
years and she lives super far away from the church, but still makes it
every week and fulfills her calling, as Branch Librarian and Primary
Presidency 1st Counselor, like a champ! She is actually one of my
favorite sisters in the Branch because of her humility and willingness
to submit herself to the Lord's will. We have never been out to her
house, so we decided to go out there one night this past week. Her
sister (40-ish) happens to live with her and is not a member, so we
hopped on that very quickly! Also, we received a referral from them
for Sis. Nergui's niece (27) and her husband. We were able to set
baptismal dates for Sister Nergui's sister and niece, so I am excited
about that. We are hoping for them to be baptized on Dec 19th
(the day after Transfers). The Sis. Nergui's sister came to church
yesterday, but her niece did not, so that was a little disappointing and
we will be following up with them this week. Older investigators are
just so much cooler to me, so I am so grateful that we were blessed with
these two new investigators. A funny thing happened while we were
teaching them a lesson (the mom and daughter). I kept on saying
"homosexual," instead of "respectful" while teaching about prayer. They
are really not very similar in Mongolian, but when you talk fast you
can get mixed up! Anyway, I was trying not to laugh, because I knew
what I was doing, and my companion was trying his hardest to hold a
straight face, as were our two investigators. I did clear things up and
told them what the word really should have been. We had a good laugh,
and then we went on with the lesson.
On a
not-so-good note this week, our 15 year old investigator, Tuguldur, who
has been an investigator since like August, skipped out on his final
baptismal interview and didn't come to church yesterday. It is
frustrating. We went and talked to him last night and he had every
excuse in the book, but is annoyed at us for not allowing him to be
baptized. I will keep you updated on that in the weeks to come.
Mom
and dad, I just want to say how great it is to be here in Mongolia. I
love my calling, and I love Mongolia! It is still so unreal to me that
I am actually in Mongolia and representing my Savior. You know, you
grow up always loving the missionaries at your house and at church, and
viewing as them as Heroes. It is still crazy and surreal that I AM
one! Mom and Dad, I feel your prayers, I want you to know that. I
really do. We are being blessed here, and I can feel the connection
between your prayers on our behalf, and these blessings we are
receiving. The Lord's most answered prayer is the one of a Mother.
Mom, I love you deeply, and you'll never know how much I miss you. If I
didn't have you....яанаа.
Dad, you are my hero. I love you more than you will ever know. In
the package I received this week, there was a song on a CD called, "In a
letter Home," and boy did it hit home. Listen to it, and just know
that that song describes how I feel to a "T." I read each of your
letters often, not the whole thing, just the few sentences that you
usually write in closing, and they give me just what I need to keep me
going. I love you guys, but I love my Heavenly Father more. Why?
Because He gave me you two.
Love your son,
Elder Harris
The crack in the wall. Like I said, it was an awkward and embarrassing call!
This picture is not for the faint of heart....We found this skinned dog
right outside the back door to my favorite place to eat here in
Choibalsan...yup, we did.
My favorite convenience store here in Choibalsan has a great pic of
Heidi and Spencer on the wall. I get a kick out of it every time I leave
the store. #TheHills
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