Another Week in the Books

Dear Family,

Well, this week has been another crazy week, to say the least. Let me get started.....

Since my companion and I are white-washing here in our new area (meaning we are both new to the area), we have spent TONS of time just getting to know the area and the people.  We live 30 - 40 minutes from our area, so there are plenty of long and crazy bus rides.  When we get out to our area, we are either on all flat ground, or all hills, no in between.  It just depends on where we are.  Our area is huge, so we have to decide what area within the area we want to go to for the day.   That kind of stinks, because if we get there and get rejected all day, then we have to spend a lot more money to get to another area.   I love it though, really.  In this area, there are cows everywhere....on the road and even at the entrance to a store.  They just don't care!  

So as of now we have 14 investigators, but only about 3 are progressing.  Our most promising one is Brother Bimbaa.  He is such a great man.  He works himself to the bone everyday at his job and then he allows us into his humble ger every night.  He has no electricity so we always teach by flashlight and candle, which I really like!   He understands all that we teach, and he keeps every commitment we ask him to make.   He will be baptized, I know it. The problem with all our investigators is that they live so far from church building and they simply cannot afford to come.  So we really pray for them and just share scriptures with them on how much attending church will bless their lives.  One of scriptures is 3rd Nephi 13:31-33.    I love this area and I love the people.  I was asked by our investigator from our last area, Sister Althmaa, if I would be the one to baptize her!  Of course I said "Yes!"  The baptism was supposed to be this past Friday, but sadly she worked on Sunday and couldn't come to church so it will be pushed back one more week.   I am so excited for that experience though!  Another investigator is a young mother who just lost her husband.  He passed away a few months ago, leaving her with a newborn child.  She says there is just no way she can afford to come to church because of the distance.  We will continue to pray for and with her so that things will work out that she can attend church.

A few days ago on the bus, there was a crazy altercation between the bus driver and a driver of a car.   The bus driver and the small car were going at it.  The bus and the car are just driving down the road and they both are jockeying back and forth for the lead position.  Who knows why!   You think the car would have backed off, but no, he was not giving in.   So as we are pulling into our bus stop, the man from the car is on the side of the bus banging on it!  Soon the bus driver stops, opens the doors, and everyone quickly gets out.  The man from the car gets on the bus and storms down the isle towards the bus driver.  Elder Ulziibayar and I are now standing on our chairs to get out of his way.  The bus driver gets up and he start duking it out right there in front of us, in this little space in the bus. I am literally so close I could have touched the two men.  We just stand on the seat and look for a way out, but I am not moving because I am not getting hit!   My companion felt the same way!  So after about 10 seconds of punches being thrown, the bus driver lands a huge punch which knocks the other man down.  We are just shocked!  We then see our chance to escape and we take it!  So we are now outside of the bus, waiting for our next bus, and the driver of the car comes out just dripping in blood.  He then goes back to his car (which he left in traffic) gets in it and drives off.  My companion wasn't too fazed by this.  He said it happens all the time.

Also, if you all would please look in the February edition of the Ensign magazine.  On page 24, you will find a picture of some members we have here in Mongolia!  The bigger man with the red and white stripped tie on was just released from the District Presidency!  Also, on the inside of the back cover there is a Mongolian family!  We are getting publicity here in Mongolia!!

So as you have heard, my companion's father is expected to pass away this week.  It is very sad.  His whole family has come from the countryside to be at the hospital with their father.  He has a very bad heart and has for quite a long time.  So this week, Elder Ulziibayar and I were allowed by  President Benson to go visit his father in the hospital.  It was honestly so sad.  That is the last time he will see his Father in this life.  He spent about two hours in the room with him, and then he came out very quiet.  We then went to the church, and he still didn't say anything.  I am so incredibly sad for my companion.   I have so much respect for him.  I don't know if I could handle a family member dying while I was here in Mongolia.  He is very calm, and just keeps to himself, which is okay.  I am here for him and whenever he needs me I'm there to lift him up.  His father is expected to pass away this week, so he is really having a hard time.  His whole family is begging him to leave his mission so that is really hard on him.   They are not members of the church.  He is getting advice from President Benson and a decision will be made soon on what he will do.  Please keep him in your prayers.  I am so grateful for the knowledge I have about families.  I know my family is Eternal.  I love you guys so much.  There is a reason why the second thing we teach our investigators about the gospel as missionaries is that God loves us so much that He has given us families.  They are the only way we can return to our Father in Heaven.  David F. Evans of the Seventies told us in the MTC,  "Endure to your temple endowment, and endure to your temple sealing. That is the only reason you were sent to Earth."  Endure to your temple sealing.  Become an Eternal Family. Thank you so much mom and dad for your choice to have our family sealed for all time and eternity.  The Gospel is true.  I love this work and I love you all.  I pray for your health and safety everyday.  I know the Lord is watching over you all at this time.   D&C 100:1-4 says so.

Until next week,

Elder Harris

I love this little kid. He's the 9 year old son of one of the counselors in my Branch.

Last sunday was a day that we were turned away at every door. It was so cold... and then it started snowing on us. But I love Mongolia, and I love my mission. 

My apartment building. I live on the second floor. 

Zaisan Hill in Ulaanbaatar where Elder Maxwell dedicated Mongolia for the preaching of the gospel back on April 15, 1993.

We made a mission work-our video on p-day! It was way fun. Here are all the Elders that came! We call it P-90 X-alltation! Get it?

Transferred to a New Area!

Dear Family,

So this week has brought some pretty crazy news!  My companion and I have been transferred!   After only 3 weeks in Khailaast, we have been transferred to the Bayanzurkh Branch!  So we are now meeting at the main church building where the mission home is!  Honestly, I was pretty sad to leave our area because I loved teaching the investigators we had found there, but I am so excited for this new area too! The Assistants were serving in this area, but they were transferred so we took their place.  So at the end of March we will move into their apartment!  It is so nice.  It is on the 9th floor of an apartment building, and it has an incredible view of the city!  I can't wait!  We went out with the Assistants on Saturday to get the "down low" about our new area.  Our area is pretty much the biggest area in UB.  If you want to look it up on the map, we cover Khoroo (micro district) 8, 9,16,17,19, then all the way out to a place called Khonkhor.  From what the Assistants said, it is the closest to the countryside you can get while in the city.  The area is HUGE though!   We will end up spending like three times the amount of bus money a day than we used to in our previous area. The bus fees are more expensive here.  The cool thing is, my new District has Sister Ackley and her companion in it (remember, she's my friend from Snow College).  Kinda weird we went from Ephraim, Utah, all the way to Mongolia, and we are in the same District.  This new area is so ready for the work!  In our previous area we only had three progressing investigators, and now in this new area we have 14!  The Assistants did some serious work before we got there!  I hope for many successes in this area, and hopefully I don't get transferred again here soon!

This Saturday we met with an investigator named Bimbaa. We went into his ger, and it had no electricity, so we taught about the restoration of the gospel through Joseph Smith, by candle light!  It was so cool!  I couldn't help but think of that picture of Joseph Smith as a boy reading the scriptures by candle light! I really love teaching about the Restoration of the Gospel because #1 - It is the single most important thing that has ever happened in the History of the World, #2 - there is nothing quite like the Spirit you feel while teaching about it, and #3 - I have finally memorized the First Vision in Mongolian so I feel comfortable teaching that lesson with no holes in the lesson!  Then on Sunday, Bimbaa came to all three hours of church!   In Priesthood Meeting I looked over at him, and he was leaning forward so engaged with what the teacher was teaching. You could just see the happiness written on his face!  That was really my first experience with seeing the Spirit really touching an investigator. It was so evident, and I can't wait to keep teaching him!

Good Stories of the Week:

1. Yes family, this week I have eaten horse, and honestly you would never tell the difference between that and beef.

2. This week I also ate sheep again. It really isn't bad.   I just have a rule for myself to try everything that is on the table, so it had to be done.

3. Yesterday in Fast and Testimony meeting, a man who appeared to be drunk walked in about 30 minutes late, plopped down on the back row, took his jacket off, then walked to the front and sat up on the stand and proceeded to talk really loud to a man who was about to bear his testimony.  Everyone was staring, it was just crazy!  Then he walked up and went to the pulpit, and started to bear a testimony I guess. He was pretty much yelling into the microphone, and everyone was just looking around wondering if someone was going to do something. Turns out, he is a member, and he was bearing a testimony about how God saved his life. Then after Sacrament meeting he walked up to me and put his face right up in mine, I mean nearly nose to nose, and said something I couldn't understand.  All I could think about was the alcohol I could smell on his breath as he breathed right in my face!  Then he took my copy of the new Ensign and walked out! Another Day in the Life.  I suppose he needed to be here for a reason and he needed my Ensign magazine more than I did.

So I want to share a little insight I had this week.  Last Tuesday, the Branch President asked us to come to his house. He told us he had a family he wanted us to visit.  He pointed to their house, and it was the highest house on the snow covered mountain across from his side of the mountain, so we went.  It took us about a good 30 minutes to get up to it.  We knocked on the door at about 8 p.m, and a teenager came to the door.  He had no clue who we were looking for and he couldn't help us one bit.  So I am thinking, "We came all the way up this mountain for nothing.  I am cold, I am tired.  Why?!"  So we both were kind of distraught, but since we were like 5 minutes from the top of the mountain, we decided to take a hike up the mountain to take another road to come down the mountain.  So we hiked some more, and then we stopped.  The view was incredible.  Here we are in Mongolia, after going to a house where the person we needed to see didn't even exist, on top of a snow covered mountain  (or as Stevie Nicks would call it, "A snow covered hill").  So we just took in the view for a bit and talked about what we were going to do.  I sat there thinking to myself, "Man this is rough, we have no one to meet with, and everyone always seems to cancel on us. What am I doing wrong?  Why is this so hard?"  Well during all my discouraging thoughts, I had a thought that came to me.  Elder Harris, this is the Lord's work.  He sees how hard you guys are working!  He knows you need help.  You are not doing all of the hiking, and walking for nothing.  If you aren't helping others to come unto Christ at least you are helping yourself and your companion.  Then I just had a feeling of accomplishment!  I honestly felt okay with how things are going.  I am working hard, the Lord sees that.  Also one of those cheesy Bronco Mendenhall speeches came to mind. "Enjoy the view... The view is always better from the top."  I can't believe I just quoted Bronco.....But that really made sense to me at that time.  I kind of compared it to life.  The hike is our travels, trials, failures, and successes through life.  Then the top of the mountain, where we finally get to rest is finally receiving eternal life and living with our Father in Heaven and His Son Jesus Christ.  Like in Alma 34:40-41, I look forward for that day when we as a family reach the top of the mountain, and we can finally let go of all the trials that it took to get there.

I continue to see changes in myself everyday, sometimes little, and sometimes big.  Either way, I can feel and see myself becoming the type of missionary I want to be, and the type my Father in Heaven wants me to be.  It is hard, but I have had a few experiences this week where I come home, plop on the couch before we plan for the next day, and I just feel content and pleased with myself and the work that my companion and I have done that day. 

I have a testimony of this work.  I love my calling.  I love my Savior.  I am a missionary of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I love you all,

Elder Harris 

Meeting a family in our branch.

This is my new area. My companion and I have been transferred to Bayanzurkh.

Just cooking up a little lunch. 

Going out to meet with our investigators. It was a very cold evening!

This is the market where we buy our meat. 

All the American missionaries in Mongolia.

Mongolian Saints told to Prepare for a Temple

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. 

I Really Love My Area!

Dear Family,

Well hey guys!  I am just here at some video game computer cafe writing this email because I hear you can send pictures from this one!  Keep your fingers crossed and let me know if the pictures come through! 

This week has been such an adventure! So let me give you guys a run down of my typical day!  We wake up at 6:30 a.m., work out, eat, and shower.  At 8:00, Personal Study starts followed by Companion Study at 9:00,  then the 12-Week Training Program at 10:00, Language Study at 11:00, then lunch at 12:00 noon!  We make it to the bus stop by about 12:45 p.m., then ride the bus 15 minutes to our area.  The bus costs about 25 cents.  We make it to our area, and if we have lessons planned, we head there.  As of right now we only have two progressing investigators so we don't have too many lessons planned.  If we are not teaching lessons, we are just walking around, up and down hills, trying to find member's homes to get referrals from, and we also do ITL's, which is pretty much street contacting.  I really can't do that since I'm a "foreigner," but my companion can, so that's nice.   After a long day of walking, hiking, and being barked at by dogs, we make it back to our bus stop at about 9 p.m. and then home we go!   We get home, plan for the next day, and I am out like a light!!  Next morning, wake up, repeat... and so on and so forth. 

I really love my area though!  Our area is set in between two mountains, with the main road running in between. Our area covers pretty much from the bottom of a big hill, all the way to the top and over the other side a little bit.  As I have said, our area is pretty much all hills.  It could be worse though, so I don't complain about it.  The best part is the view!  We have a member, who is pretty much our Area Mother, and she lives at the TOP of a mountain in the area!  It is a hike to get to her house, but when we go, the view is breathtaking!  You can literally see all of UB!   The best feeling though was a few nights ago when we were trying to get over to her house to teach her two kids a lesson about tithing.  First off, we went up the wrong mountain, so we hiked along the ridge of two other mountains to get over to her house, a "ger."   We left at about 5:00 p.m. on our journey and made it there just as the sun was setting!  It was so pretty!  Then after we left her ger, it was about 8:45 p.m., and we started our trek down the mountain to our bus stop.   I cannot tell you how gratifying it was walking down that mountain in the dark of night, with the city lights off in the distance, knowing we put in a long hard days worth of the Lord's work! 

As of now we have two progressing investigators, Sister Althma and Sister Ochbayar.  Sister Althma is so great!  She is so ready for baptism, and we know the gospel has truly blessed her life already.   Her testimony is so strong!  You can pretty much call her the Golden Investigator. She will be baptized on March 14th if all continues the way that it is, but I know nothing will stop this Sister.  Sister Ochbayar is great as well. She was referred to us from a member, and we have met with her three times now.  I had a really incredible experience with her a few days ago during our first lesson with her.  We taught her about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and how we can have a relationship with our Heavenly Father through prayer.  I taught her the "why" and "how" of prayer, then we asked her to pray.  She didn't really want to, so I prayed first, and she agreed to pray after.  Well she prayed for US, my companion and me!   I honestly did not understand a single thing she said except for "Dear Heavenly Father" and "Amen," but I will tell you that I felt the Spirit so strong!  We all felt the Spirit in that room.  It was so powerful, and in our next lesson we asked her how she felt when she prayed and she talked about how peaceful it was and that she wants to keep on praying!  

I am so grateful for the Spirit that is connected with this work.  Like I said, I can hardly understand anything anyone is saying, but the Spirit speaks to make up for it.  This work is real.  I am so blessed to be a part of it!

This week I also went to the Mongolian Immigration Office and was "accepted," I guess!  They took my fingerprints and asked a few questions.  I had to wear street clothes so that was nice!  The undercover work here is great!  HaHa.   No word though on when I will begin teaching English.  

I had one of my "firsts" this week:   For the first time, a dog actually posed a threat to us....so nothing like a little rock to the leg....I was 1 for 1! 

I love you guys so much!  Thanks for all the support!  I am so blessed to have a family like you.  All the members that I show my family pictures to just look at you guys and smile ear to ear!  I love it!

Until next week,

Love, Elder Harris 

My companion and Trainer, Elder Olzyybayr and I. 

Walking through a tunnel on our way back home for the night...

My area... See, all hills!

My area. see the "ger" on the hill to the left? They're all over.

My area

My area

Elder Olzyybayr and I.

Where I sleep.... and yes, it is pink.

Home sweet home!

Inside our Branch President's ger. By the way, a "ger" is the traditional house of the nomads in Mongolia.  It is tent-like with a wood frame and covered with wool. It can break-down and collapse easily and also can be put together again after its been moved. 

This is our Church building. It's called the Khilthaast building. It is kind of like our church buildings back home, but three floors instead of one. Also, is is narrower in width than ours at home. It only has one hallway on one side, instead of both sides. It is like 30 minutes from the mission home. 

Looking through the gate in my area, into a yard. You can get a good look at a ger. 

I'm not in Kansas Anymore!

Muhuu Ger Bolth,

Well it is safe to say I'm not in Kansas anymore!  Well everyone I am here in MONGOLIA!  This place is incredible.....cold, cold, COLD, new, and AMAZING!  I am so blessed to finally be here and doing the Lord's work. How great is my calling!

Well after a very long flight, stopping at LAX, and Korea, we made it to Mongolia! When we got off the airplane it was time to go through Immigration, which we have heard is the "make it or break it" point.  We can't declare any religious affiliation, we are English teachers.  As I approached the Immigration counter, I'll be honest, my heart was beating 100 miles per hour and I was very nervous. The good thing is, they didn't ask me any questions and I went right on through!  Haha, there was nothing to worry about!   We got our bags and then our new friend, Batbolt, the Mission Driver, grabbed us and we went to his car.   It took about 30 minutes to get to the mission home, and on our way there, I was literally in shock!  This is such an amazing place, and it is definitely not as "third world" as I thought!  There were nice cars everywhere and people wearing nice clothes!  Seems weird that I am saying that, but I was not expecting that!   One of the first things I noticed right off the bat was that there are 100% no road rules!  ANYTHING GOES!  I'm dead serious.  I was kinda scared a couple times, but we made it to the Bayanzurhk safely!

We then met President Benson and his family!  They are so great, and I really felt their love for me right from the start.  Sis. Benson made us tacos for dinner and we had played some get to know you games.  Their kids are soooo cute and funny!  They were crawling all over me, and soon enough we were rock climbing in their room! President Benson interviewed me, and then we were off to bed. I went and stayed with Elder Hill and Elder Sims for the night. They are great Elders, and have been here for a while.

The next day we walked back to the Mission Home real early in the morning.  I considered this my first walk on Mongolian soil.  Holy cow!  It was nuts.  I felt like I was in a movie or something.  We were walking through straight slums.  I mean trash everywhere, pigeons everywhere, old rusty playgrounds everywhere, and an extreme amount of pollution!  Once we made it to the Mission Home we had some training, then the AP's took us out to lunch!  My first mongolian meal was........Sheep with potatoes, carrots, and onions.  It actually was really good!  The AP's ordered for me, so I just had to trust them!  To drink I had a nice boiling glass of some mystery juice.  That night I went back out with Elder Sims and Elder Hill, and taught a few lessons.  It was a great experience to say the least. Thursday night we had a huge training with President, and all the new missionaries were assigned their Trainers.  My trainer wasn't there because he was traveling in from Muran, the countryside.
So that night I spent the night with Elder Papenfuss and Elder Ericsson.

Friday, my trainer arrived!  Elder Ulziibayar!  He is a native Mongolian!  I was kind of nervous at first, but he does speak a little English so that made me really ecstatic!  He is a 3-year convert, and he is from here in UB.  He is such a great Elder, and a great example to me.  He keeps me in check!   But anyways, later we moved into our apartment and went to the Zack to buy a lot of meat, potatoes, carrots, and onions.  Elder Ulziibayar is a great cook, so I am very excited about that!

We then went to the Mission Home where I met a member, who turns out to be my sponsor, but I didn't know this at the time. She took me to her car and we were off!  Well soon enough, we were pulling into a building and getting out of the car. I really had no clue what was going on, so I just followed her.  We waited in a long line, and then we were taken into a little room, where a nurse was waiting for me.   So I am assuming it was a hospital of some sorts.  Well my name was called and they motioned for me to roll my sleeves up. So.....I am in a pretty sketchy building, which turns out to be a hispital, in the middle of Mongolia, and they want to take my blood!   Well I was pretty nervous, but the blood drawing commenced...haha!  Then we went to another building where I had to go into a room, take off everything but my pants, and they put me in this weird machine and did some tests.  I am not sure still to this day what it was, but I assume it was an X-Ray.  Oh, I'm making memories!   Saturday we left our house around 12 noon and rode a bus out to our area.  We are serving in Xaalthaast, and we are "White Washing" it,  which means we are both brand new to the area.  The area is about 30 minutes from where we live, so the bus ride is required.  Bus rides are Crazy....Anything goes.  Once we made it out to our area,  we just walked around with our member list trying to meet members.  We walked around from about 1 till 8 p.m. and we didn't find a single soul.  That's just how it goes though!  The neighborhoods here have no structure or organization so it is very hard to find out where people live.  Good thing I have a native with me or else it would be impossible.  After my first full day of work, I was dog tired and crashed at about 9:45, thirty minutes after we got home.

Sunday was great!  We went to a member's home before church and had lunch!  This was my first member meal, so I was pretty excited!  We had a lot of Boads (like dumplings), which are Mongolia's traditional food, and then some mystery soup.  I still have no clue what it was but there was a sufficient amount of fat floating throughout it.  Church was great!   Elder Wilson of the Asia Area Presidency came and spoke in Sacrament Meeting.  He spoke in English so that was the only thing I understood all sacrament.  He did have a translator so the Mongolians could understand.  After Sacrament, I taught my first lesson to one of our progressing investigators!  Her name is Althmaa Egch, and she is scheduled to be baptized on March 14th!  We taught her about being obedient, reading her scriptures, and the importance of prayer.  My companion had me carry the load in this discussion, so I was on the spot!  I did the best that I could and she understood everything I said, which wasn't that much, but I would consider it a success!  Sunday night we went to the Branch President's home and had dinner, mystery soup again, and discussed how to strengthen the branch! They spoke a little English so I could understand the overall jist of the meeting.

All and all, I love this place!   I know I was called here for a reason, and I can't wait to find out why!   I am so blessed to have a member of the church as my sponsor!  This means I will have so many more opportunities, so for that I am feel truly blessed.  This place is a whole new world with stray dogs, drunk guys on the streets, and pollution beyond belief.  UB is said to be the world's most polluted city, but I am loving every minute of it!  This work is work!   It is hard and tiring, but I wouldnt have it any other way.  I know this gospel is true, and I am truly a messenger of Jesus Christ.  How great is my call!

I love you guys!

Elder Harris

This picture was taken from our airplane as we were flying over Mongolia. I don't know where we were. 

This picture is of the sisters that traveled with me, our trainers, President Benson on the right, and his two kids. Ulaanbaatar is in the background. It was freezing!

With my trainer and companion, Elder Ulziibaytar. Notice that Elder Ulziibaytar has his mission badge on. He can wear it because he is a native. I cannot wear my missionary badge, except in church settings.

I HAVE ARRIVED!

Dear Family,

I am here in the mission president's home safe and sound. It is 7:30 pm Tuesday night.  We just had an excellent dinner with him, his wife, and kids. I am so blessed to be here, and I am ready to get to work!  I think he is going to let us rest tonight, so we will get to work tomorrow!

I love you guys!

Elder Harris

ATTENTION! UPDATE! FLIGHT PLANS HAVE JUST BEEN CHANGED!

ATTENTION! UPDATE!  FLIGHT PLANS HAVE JUST BEEN CHANGED!!  Disregard the last travel plans I sent!!

So Sister Sneddon's VISA CAME!!!  She is now flying with us to Mongolia!   So glad we didn't have to leave her behind.  BUT, they couldn't get her on the same flight as us so they COMPLETELY CHANGED OUR FLIGHT PLANS!  We aren't flying to Beijing now, we will be flying to Seoul, Korea!

HERE WE GO!!!

We are NOW leaving the MTC at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, February 9th.

We fly Delta Airlines Flight 4543 from SLC to LA:
Depart: 1:55 p.m., Arrive: 2:56 p.m.

We then board Korean Air Flight 12 from LA to SEOUL, Korea:
Depart: 11:50 p.m., Arrive 6:20 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 11th

We then board Korean Air Flight 5865 from SEOUL to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia:
Depart: 1:30 p.m., Arrive 4:15 p.m.

Sorry for the last minute change!  But those are the plans!  I will call you guys in SLC and LA still.

The Sisters, Brother Wilson, Sister Largin and myself all just went and did sealings in the temple together.  It was so awesome!   I love you guys!

MONGOLIA!!!!
Elder Harris