Off to the Deep Khuduu

Dear Family,

Well, this week has been good, slightly stressful, but good.   The stress this week has come from our work.  We schedule and teach lessons; we teach all of our investigators regularly, but they do not want to come to church.  Our hope was that they would come to this activity we had last Saturday, but sadly none of them came.  At this point, it is almost like starting over again.  You can only invite so many times.  Our only progressing investigator at this point is the 9 year old girl, Namolon, I told you about last week.  She came to church with her mother, so we were really excited about that!  If you remember, her mother and father are both returned missionaries, but are inactive.  The mother is really loving our visits and our lessons and we are seeing that "spark" coming back in her.  The father is working a lot, so we still have a lot of work to do with him. 

The activity a mentioned earlier was this past Saturday.  It was a ward activity with food, Karaoke, dancing, and a Book of Mormon trivia game!  We planned for about 150 people to come, because the members on the Ward Council were certain that everyone would come out of the woodwork for this activity.  I never thought that 150 would come.....We barely get 60 to church!  So food was prepared for 150 people, but only 50 showed up.  Oh well, it was still fun and a really good time.  The members that came LOVED it.  Plus, everyone took home tons of leftovers!   A lot of Elders Sims and Ulziijargal's investigators came so that was great!  

Well, this past week, the mission doctor, his wife, and their translator came all the way out to Choibalsan for few days to treat us to a great time and some good food.  From what we are told, all the elders in the city (UB) had a few days of activities with Naadam being last week, so President Benson sent the Doc out to spend some money on us to do some fun stuff.  President loves us all the way out here (haha)!  So today for P-day, we are heading out to Sister Ulziibayar's sister's get (several  hours away in the DEEP countryside)!   There we will have a traditional countryside meal and do some other activities!  I am sooooo pumped and excited!   It will be fun!   We have had a really great time with the coming of Elder/Doctor Lewis, his wife, and their translator.   They have spoiled us with food and much more!   I am really glad they came because all the members here seem to get a little extra burst of faith when the senior couples come and visit.   Senior couples from the city are always treated like celebrities by the members....and we become chopped liver!  HaHa.  The members really do love us! 

Side comment:  So my companion leaves to go home a week from today.  His mission is over.  So sad to see him leave.  We've been together a quite a while and I just found out that he LOVES Linkin Park!  So we sing "LP" songs everywhere we go now!  HaHa!  Who woulda thought!!!

Mom, I got the letter from you this week that you sent with tons of pictures!  Thanks!  I love it!!

Grandma Harris, I got your letter!  Thanks so much for not forgetting me!  Great to hear from you!  I love you!

Well, I am off to the Deep Khuduu!   It is time to go, and the taxi is outside honking his horn!!

Love you all,

-Elder Xappuc 

This is the deep countryside. Mongolians believe this to be Chinggis Khaan's foot print. I'll tell you more about our adventure next week. 

I know my Savior knows me

Dear Family!

Well, this week is Naadam in all of Mongolia!  Naadam is the huge summer holiday here where they have three huge events:  Horse Racing, Archery, and Wrestling.  But, since I am in Choibalsan, it will not be celebrated this week.  They celebrate it on their own at the end of the July because we are so far away from any other population.   I am pumped for it, but missionary work will be dead on those days. From what I hear, it will be like letting missionaries off on Christmas morning.

Before I get started telling you about my week, I have to tell you that the package that you guys sent so long ago was finally delivered to me on Thursday! How long did it take?  Like 3 months, I think?  I was so excited!  Dad your letter brought me to tears and I will treasure it forever.  I will also treasure Grandpa Harris' blanket you sent to me.  I know he is watching over me here.  I feel him sometimes, as weird as that may sound.  I will write you a letter about my experience and my feelings about when I opened this package, I just don't have time today.  Thanks again, mom and dad, for this box.  I love you guys.

To answer some of your questions:   Mongolians do play soccer but have no national team that I am aware of.  They all love playing and watching it, though.   I have been getting World Cup updates from people here.  Last night I was at a new member's house teaching a lesson and the Brazil vs Netherlands game was on.  It was fun to watch for a bit, but too distracting.  Mongolians love the NBA too.  Everyone's favorite team is either the Lakers or the Heat!  Also, fishing has been good.  We had a Mutual activity this past week and the theme was "Fishers of Men!" Haha!  We just went out and had a spiritual thought from the account in the Bible where Jesus tells John and Peter to put down their fishing nets and "Come follow me" and he will make you fishers of men!  It was was fun and the youth loved it.  They love catching fish! 

Anyways, the work is picking up, and we are finding and teaching.  We had to drop a few investigators that were just 0% progressing.  That is always hard, but sometimes necessary.  Along with that, we have picked up a few new investigators! One being a 24 year old English teacher (she is Mongolian), named Munkhzolth.  She is a really great person and has great potential!  But sadly she did not come to church yesterday.  When that happens, that is the WORST!!  The other is actually a 9-year old little girl, named Namolthon, who is the daughter of two inactive Mongolian RM's (returned missionaries).  Her parents called and told us that she needs to be baptized.  Since she was not baptized at the age of 8, she will be considered a convert baptism. The father, Gansukh, served in the Oklahoma City Mission there in the states and has great English.  He was also the Branch President here in Choibalsan 6 years ago. I hate to say this, but we really don't want to baptize her unless her parents are active, so we are really going to focus on reactivating them.  I know they know the Church is true and important, otherwise they would not have called to have their daughter taught the lessons and then baptized.  We are really going to push for the father to baptize his daughter, and not us. That is the way is should be.

I just want to take the time to say that I know this is where I need to be.  We had a lesson with our new member family, Gerelthtsetseg & her daughters this week, and also mom's friend on Facebook, Sister Bolorerdene and her son, ErdeneMunkh, sat in.  The lesson was short and simple, from Chapter 5 in PMG (Preach my Gospel), Learning and Teaching in the Church.  As we taught, I was just overwhelmed with love and compassion for these two families.  I just pray and hope that I can do something for them that will everlastingly lead them to our Savior.  I can't describe what I'm talking about in detail.  It is more of a "Marc" thing, but I LOVE these people. I speak somewhat weak Mongolian (compared to them), and I won't be around to have the relationship that I would dream of having with them, but I know they love me, and they make it known.  I love them too.

I love this work Mom and Dad. I love Choibalsan with all my heart, and I do not look forward to the sad day when I am transferred from here.  I know my Savior knows me and these members that are so new and fighting with everything they have to hold on.  It is so evident. The hand of the Lord is here, I know this for certain.  I feel it every day.   I am so blessed to be a part of the great history of this growing Vineyard of the Lord.

"When nameless faces have become my best friends."

-Nashville Tribute Band

Until next week,

Love,

Elder Harris 

Me standing in front of one of our member's yard. That is the font door to their "hashaa" (fence). The only thing is... they don't have a fence. 

Look what finally came! The box my mom and dad sent 3 months ago that we thought was lost forever. So excited!

This is my "emee" (grandma!). Her name is Purew, and she is 76. She was baptized about 8 years ago and is SO STRONG in the gospel! We love her! She feeds us homemade "huushuur" once a week, and man is it good! "Huushuur" is traditional Mongolian food, something like a scone with meat in it. Delicious!

The beautiful landscape of Choibalsan, in an area we tract quite often. The "Big Skies" of Montana have nothing on Choibalsan!

These are the children of two of our investigators inside their ger. This was what was for dinner... fortunately (for me!) we had another appointment and we had to "go"!

Another shot of "Whats for dinner!"

One more picture of Elder Odd and I from last week. 

Hard Work (along with Prayer) is the Answer!

Dear family,

Well another week in the books. This week was long and tiring, but very successful! I honestly have not been more tired in my whole mission than I have been this week. I mean, every night we have 10:10 pm "hits." That's when our heads hit our pillows.  Instead of my companion and I staying up and watching a few Mormon Messages (MMs) for another 10 minutes before we pray and go to bed, we just hit the sack and I am passed out within minutes (we downloaded tons of MMs to watch on our little DVD player).  Even though I am getting full night sleeps, it is nearly impossible to ever catch up. Seriously, around noon we are both so tired and feel like we're about to die, but as any missionary will tell you, the only way to stay awake and not think about how tired you are, and how great sleeping will be when you get home, is to WORK, so that is what we do. We WORK!  As a full time missionary name badge wearer, I can honestly testify that “work” is the answer to everything in the field, combined with sincere prayer of course.  Tired? Just Work. Hungry? Keep Working!

This week some very awesome things happened.  As I mentioned last week, Monday the AP's (Assistants to the President) came, Elder Odd and Tulga.  They are both absolute stud missionaries, and we are so blessed as a mission to have them at the helm under President Benson.  I love Elder Tulga. He is such a funny Mongolian Elder!  His English is incredible, and the best part is that not only does he know all the “educational/proper” English, but he knows more slang than I do probably!  He says stuff hat he has acquired through the years from other American Elders, and it just kills me, he's so stinkin' funny. Along with my companion, his mission will end this month on July 31^st.   Elder Odd, well I have mentioned it many times, but he is my best American friend in the mission. He is such a great guy.  He was Valedictorian in high school, and when he gave his speech at graduation, he talked about how he accomplished so many goals throughout his 4 years, but one was never filled, his first kiss.  So he walked over and kissed the girl valedictorian, 100% not planned, and now they are kinda still boyfriend and girlfriend, while she is serving her mission in the Ukraine. He knows exactly when to be funny and have a great time, but also knows when to get down to work. We went on splits for two days, and it was already pre-determined that Elder Odd would work with me. So I was Odd's companion for 2 days, but not long enough. We have been hoping to be companions since I got here, but that hope was dashed when I was sent to Choibalsan. He will never leave UB.  Remember, he teaches English to the Parliament Lady I talked about a long time ago.  He promised me that he most likely won't be married before I get home.  Summer of 2016 is planned pretty tight with Odd & Harris adventures, all of which are outdoor adventures to Zion and all his spots up near Cache Valley. He goes home this December.   I am bummed about that. He really wants to come to our house and stay with you guys for a weekend and do a ride-along with dad, and I told him that my dad would love to do that.  So expect a phone call okay!  He already is pretty much family. He knows everything about us Harris'.  I am reading all that I have typed about him, and I feel like Matt & Ryan will make fun of me and say I have a “Man Crush,” but hey, didn't they always tell me that you meet your best friends on your mission?

This week also, the Grosbecks, a senior couple, came to Choibalsan for a few days. They are from Springville, Utah, and will actually fly home on Wednesday. They served here in Choibalsan for a long period of time a year ago or so, and they are just here to say final goodbyes and do some trainings. It is neat to see how much love and affection all the members have for them.  I mean there are a lot of people who are too busy to meet us, then all of a sudden, the Grosbecks come to town, and everyone's door is open, with food-a-blazzin' (haha).  They have a translator here too, so they get tons of work done.  Great people!

Interesting tidbit....We just found out we have an Elder's Quorum President in the Branch. He is very active, but never told us he had a calling, and it was just confusion on both parts, (He is blind, so he has some definite challenges....It is really sad).  I don't know how it took so long to find this out.  But anyway, his wife, Munkhbayar was just baptized. The translator for the Grosbecks (the senior couple) didn't show up for the baptism so I translated all the talks, prayers, etc.  It is crazy how much Mongolian you know when you need to translate. Very cool experience!

As for the Work.....it is coming along. Elder Sims and Elder Ulziijargal had a baptism this week and we have 5 investigators as of now. They are all decently solid, but need a lot of help and faith building.  We taught some great lessons this week to them, I mean, the Spirit was there, and I know the investigators felt it too, but only one investigator, the 14 year old son of one of our adult investigators, came to church this week. He is great, and we will continue to teach him, but we are hoping and praying that we can get the whole family in on the message we have to share. The whole family has baptismal dates for August 1^st, but we will see if that can happen. Please pray for Sarantoya (the mom) and Togolthdor (the 14 year old son), and also the father. Please pray for all of them.

Other than that, the Work here in the Branch has been good. We had a solid fast and testimony meeting on Sunday, with 52 people in attendance, and great testimonies were shared. I always admire Mongolian testimony meetings. There is never a gap, people are always hopping up to bear their testimonies. Also, I have noticed a little Choibalsan kwerk when it comes to Testimony meetings. Everyone, and I mean everyone, always says an introduction:  1. Their name, 2. When they were baptized, 3. What calling they have, or what calling they had, 4. When they were endowed (if they were endowed), 5. If they hold the Priesthood, what office they hold.  It is just kind of sweet and I find myself looking forward to hearing their intro as they walk up to the pulpit. 

Well, I have one last small experience to share that happened this week when the AP's where living at our house.  One morning, our personal study was just finishing up and I walked over to the kitchen to get some water after I prayed to close my study time.  I looked back in the room and every Elder in the house was on their knees in supplication to the Lord.  It really hit me and made me realize how close we are to God here. I love this work Mom and Dad. It is hard as can be, and investigators right now are hard, but I know I am doing my best.  I know the Lord and my Heavenly Father are blessing us and are happy with us and how we are upholding this part of His Vineyard.  Love you all. 

Until next week,

Love Elder Harris

Elder Odd and I.

Walking hard, working hard.

The four Choibalsan Musketeers! Elder Ulziijargal, Elder Osorjamaa, me, and Elder Sims at the river.

The 4th of July at a crappy little steak house here. It's the only place with somewhat American food... it was definitely worth it though!

Got to do it for 'Merica!

Loving the Work

Hey Family!

Again, sorry so short!   We are really coming off a great week!  I must tell you how much I love my companion, Elder Osorjamaa. I am learning so much from him.  The Work has truly picked up this week as we found five new investigators, all of which I believe have great potential.  The best thing about it is that they are two FAMILIES.   We have really been praying to find a family to teach, and we found two!   This is truly an answered prayer.  One family is the mom, dad, and sister of a 16-year old young man in our branch.  I am really excited and hopeful for what lies ahead.  I'll tell you more next week.

So the Assistants (to the President)....Elder Odd (the Elder from Cache Valley, Utah) and Elder Tulga (a Mongolian elder)....have flown out here to Choibalsan for the week to do exchanges with my companion and I, so we have a fun p-day of fishing and other activities planned today!  ....then we will get to work!   I am excited to have them here for the week.   I love Elder Odd!   I am sure there will be much to report next week!

Mom and dad, I am on Cloud 9 right now!   I am loving my mission.....I am loving every second of it.  Also, I have never been more tired than I am now. That is how you know you are loving the Work.

I love you guys!

Elder Xappuc out!

Last night we had a great dinner at our deaf member's home. The man in the back, the big man in front, and the woman are all deaf. It was a really fun experience. We know just enough Mongolian Sign Language to get along. Super fun experience. 

This is a famous statue here in Choibalsan. I actually think it is a statue of Khorloogiin Choibalsan, a military leader back in the day. Elder Sims and Ulziijargal were also with us. 

This is a picture from back when I was in Ulaanbaatar, but I thought I'd include it today. I'm on the back row. 

Learning to be a Better Disciple of Christ

Dear Family,

Well, we're kind of short on time.  I promise a better letter next week.  I will, however, take the time to tell you what I have learned a lot about this week, and that is about the Pride within me.  This week I have been reading and studying about "the Natural Man" in Mosiah 3:19.   I see a lot of the Natural Man in myself, and I am learning how to combat him.  It is terribly hard.  In "Preach my Gospel" (PMG) we learn about Christ-like values such as charity, love, and humility, just to name a few.  This is my favorite chapter in PMG for many reasons.  Mostly because within this chapter, it talks about the person, missionary, husband, father, priesthood holder, and most importantly, the son of God, that I aspire to be in this life.  As I study all these values, I am constantly reminded by the Spirit when I am not following my Savior and His example.  I know that through the power of the Atonement, the Natural Man within me can be fought off everyday.

So here is the first of two experiences I had this week that has driven this principal home to me:  All week, it has been POURING rain here in Choibalsan.  Literally everything is flooded and muddy. There is no such thing as drainage here, so everything just pools up into rivers and puddles of water all around the city.  Thanks to my good, sturdy mission shoes that are pretty much "anything proof," I just walk through it all and let them get muddy.  Then when I get to the house where a lesson is scheduled, I just wash them in the pools of water before we go in.  On the other hand, my companion, Elder Osorjamaa, will never walk in the water or mud.  It was pretty funny to watch him try to avoid all the water and mud puddles.  It eventually got a little annoying because he would take like a 3-minute detour to avoid it.  I finally asked him why he won't just suck it up and walk through the puddles.  He replied that the shoes he has now are the nicest shoes he has ever owned and he is not going to ruin them.  He has been out on his mission for 23 months and these are the only shoes he has worn.  I then thought, well you will get a new pair after your mission....duh.   I mean I probably won't be wearing my mission shoes after my mission.  I will get a new pair just like my brothers did.  Then it hit me like a brick and I realized, Marc, he doesn't want to ruin these shoes because he will not be able to afford another pair after his mission.  I felt awful, let me tell you.  So instead of him running around finding dry ground, I just started to give him piggie-back rides across all the water and puddles.  I am sure we looked ridiculously funny, but oh well, that's mission life....and it made me feel somewhat better about how I behaved..  

Here is the second experience where I fell short of the mark.  Every morning, before companionship study, my companion and I always say a prayer to invite the Spirit into our study.  Afterwards, we always shake hands then get started.  This time, when we shook hands, I let go but he kept shaking.  My companion commented on my hand shake and told me that it is important for a missionary to have a good, firm hand shake.  Here is the lesson I learned:   I'm sorry to say that I was offended and my companion could see it in my face.  I thought to myself, "Are you kidding me?  That is the first time Iin my life I've been told I have a weak handshake."   That was the pride within me that I am talking about.  My companion told me that he was just trying to help, and then he apologized.  Again, I felt awful as I saw the lesson he was trying to teach me.  This is what I learned. Over these past two years since my high school days, I have been very humbled.  I have gone through experiences that have changed me for the better, and have undoubtedly humbled me.  I would like to think that I have changed from the prideful, cocky, high school kid I was, but I see everyday that I am not done. The Natural Man is still in me and I need to work harder and harder everyday to combat him by "listening always to the enticings of the Holy Spirit," and thus become a "saint."  Something as little as my missionary companion questioning my hand shake, got to me and I responded in a way our Savior would never have.  As I have thought about that experience, I am sad and disappointed in myself, but I have faith in good things to come.  I know this change is not fast, nor should it be, but I do know that My Savior is supporting me.  He smiles upon me while I make these changes, but He also is sad and disappointed when I take a step back.  All in all, I am very grateful for the experiences I have had this week and the lessons I have learned from my companion.   I hope and pray, that when you see me again, you will see the change in my countenance and in my labors.  I hope even more that my Heavenly Father and my Savior will have no problem recognizing me as a His disciple, through trail and error, and through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  Sometimes, it is scary to look inside yourself and see where you are lacking, but I know that through the merits and mercy of Christ, I can make the mighty change in heart that is talked about so often in the Book of Mormon.  I can become a better Disciple of Christ.  

This week, even through the rain, the Work has progressed in many ways. We have been finding and reaching out to less active members.   I know they are being placed before us by a power not of our own.  It is obvious. The Branch is finally starting to come together well, with callings being filled and members learning and knowing their roles in this faraway branch of Zion.  I know it is still a work in progress, but we are very pleased with this, and there is a lot less stress with the help of the members knowing their callings.

I love you all.  Be safe.

Elder Harris 

My companion, Elder Osorjamaa and I.

Listening and Following the Spirit

Dear Family!

Hey so this week I am using the internet from a really "yambui" internet cafe, and the keyboard is terrible.  I might tap out early on this email because half the keys don't work and are getting stuck and I am getting annoyed.  Please know that I love you all though!  This week has had its ups and downs.  We started off the week by splitting the city up. We figured that would be the most effective way to do the work efficiently so that everyone we need to reach, gets reached.  With that being said, after the split, my company and I had 0 investigators.  So, this week was a lot of visiting with less active priesthood holders, and through that, we are finding investigators.  But with everyone we found, they didn't live in our area, so we referred them onto Elder Sims and Uliziijargal. That's okay, as long as they are being reached.   

I want to share a quick story then we've got to go.

A few days ago, I really had a testimony-building experience.  My companion and I were out and about, a good 25 minutes from our apartment.  It was raining really hard, but we decided to just walk/run through the mud to an inactive member's apartment.  When we got there, we knocked and knocked and knocked. We could hear them inside, but no one ever came. After about 7 or so minutes, we just gave up and left.  As we walked back out into the rain, we thought about what we should do.  It is raining.  It is about 8:15 p.m..  We are tired.  The natural thought was just head for home, after all there really wasn't much we could do in 45 minutes.  But we really felt like we needed to keep going.  I pulled out my planner and read a specific name and address of a less active priesthood holder to my companion and we decided to go.  I didn't know WHY that person, and WHY now, but we went.   As we walked through a muddy and flooded "ger" district for about 25 minutes we finally got to the house.  A 25 or so year old man invited us in and said that the man we were looking for, his father, was not home.  We sat down with him and his sister, and just started small talking, and that led to the 1st lesson.  I really haven't spoken Mongolian that well in my entire mission life.  The son was not too receptive, but the sister, about 23 years old, was very receptive and expressed great desire to learn more.  She has committed to having us back.  But we had to pass her along to the other Elders because she is in their area.  That was kind of a bummer, but that is okay.  The important thing was that we received a message from heaven, and we followed it.  I didn't know why, and where we were going, but it worked.  The Lord knows. That is what matters. We actually had three experiences like that this week. One led to a family who have been inactive for about 6 years, who we are working with now.  The other led to a house farther than far, that didn't have the man we were looking for, but six teenage boys that we taught the 1st lesson to.  We hope to keep on teaching them. We are actually playing basketball with all of them today at 5:00.   One "was a member."  That just means he was baptized and stopped going.  They all say, "I WAS a member."   Little do they know... they ARE A MEMBER!  Haha.   We are also teaching a 68-year old women named Tumorcukh.   I will let you know how that goes with her.

So sorry to hear about those police officers who were killed last week in Vegas.  Thanks for the picture of dad and Matt.  What an emotional day it must have been.  As I was reading what you wrote about the officers and the funeral and what a great missionary moment it was, I was really touched.  I  got down on my knees and prayed for their families.  Such a sad sad story.  I love Matt and dad so much. Also, please tell Ryan and Angela thanks for the pictures from San Fran.  Looked like fun.

Well family, I know the Lord is guiding us. There is no doubt about it.  Sorry this email is so short, but this keyboard has got to go.   I am happy and healthy and grateful for that.  I am loving Choibalsan more each and every day.  I love the members and the love they have for me, an American missionary who struggles to speak their language sometimes.  Every day is humbling, and a new learning experience. 

Love you all,

Elder Harris

Great P-Day. Full fridge! This is what 80,000 toogs gets ya! Yogurt, 20 eggs, 4 peanut butters, 10 apples, and a lot of potatoes, carrots, and onions. We are set for the week!

This is a picture of the Air Traffic Controllers I teach English to at the airport. They are all great guys, and they like me. All the male airport employees are required to be trained in firefighting, just for "what if" scenarios, I assume. Cool huh, pops?

Low and behold: The Six-Month Tie Burning!

Elder Osorjamaa and I walking our behinds off! Joyously, of course! Love my Comp!

New Companion This Week

Dear Family,

 

A lot happened this week, and also a lot didn't happen. Slump season has begun.

 

Wednesday, my companion unexpectedly got word that he was being transferred to Darkhan, a city in northeast Mongolia, and I would getting a new companion.  For just a split second I thought, "No!  Please don't call me to Branch President."  But that being said, Elder Osorjamaa, the last Assistant to the President was sent out to be the Branch President and my Companion.  His mission is over  in July, so our companionship will be short......then I will get a new companion, again.  He was AP for 6 months, and he is a great missionary!   Honestly, he's the best Mongolian Elder in the mission and I am grateful for the opportunity I have to be his last companion.  I have already learned a lot from him, and I know much more is to come. He is a great example, and is pushing me to be the missionary I really need to be.  Sometimes it is really hard to be all that you can be.  So much is weighing on you, and you feel like you are going to just crumble.  I am constantly studying Chapter 6 of Preach My Gospel, "Christ-like Attributes," and the more I study, the more I realize how much I have to do to be the man, priesthood holder, and missionary that I am supposed to be.  I constantly crash and burn in those efforts, but I won't give up.  I know "Great things are brought to pass by small and simple things."  I will learn tons from Elder Osorjamaa, and that is a huge blessing.

 

With the two new Elders that came, the work and busy-ness has slowed down, and I don't particularly like that.  Also, they took about 6 of our investigators, leaving my companion and I with three.  But it so happens that one of our investigators went to the countryside for work, one went to UB for the summer, and the other one is on vacation.  So as of now, we have 0 investigators.  Starting over is hard, but it comes with the territory.  We have made a goal to meet with 20 new contacts or new members this, so we will keep busy.  I'm sure the Lord is preparing some one (or two, three, or four) for our message.

Our investigator that skipped his baptism back on May 30th, once again skipped his rescheduled Baptismal Interview this week, and now we have fallen out of touch with him.  That is really hard, and it makes you feel like you are responsible.  I constantly think to myself what I did wrong, and what did I do to cause this?  It really weighs hard on your mind and your heart when you work your tail off, and it doesn't go through.  I can't really explain  it, but it is just hard.

Dad, to answer your questions, my English classes are going good.  I teach Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday,  from 9-11.  It is the Choibalsan airport workers and the air traffic control people, about 15 total.  They enjoy it, so I enjoy it.  They actually have a desire to learn, so that makes my job so much easier.  They all seem to love me because at the end of each lesson,  I teach them cool English slang!   They love that!   Everyone is like 25-40 years old.

Well, I'll end with by saying that I love the Book or Mormon!  This time around, I am focusing on diving deeper into the verses and really focusing on why the stories are important, and why out of all the stories in the Book of Mormon, they were chosen for this generation.   I have learned a lot, and I truly can say that Nephi is becoming a Hero to me.  Before, I always loved his stories, but I was more of an "Ammon and 2000 Stripling Warriors" kind of guy. I am learning so much from Nephi's example, and the small and simple things he did.  I am really seeing how and why we can and need to be "Like unto Nephi."  

 

I love you guys.  Thanks for all you do for me, and please pray for my companion and I and for the work to progress here in my little city in Outer Mongolia.

 

Elder Harris

PS:  The big package you sent like 2-1/2 months ago, and that I was expecting to come with the new missionaries, didn't come.  I was disappointed.  But the small package with your handwritten letter and pics came!  I loved it so much.  I love your handwriting, I miss it!   Let's keep our fingers crossed that the big package will arrive someday.  Mom, to answer your question about what I'd like in a new package....Candy, candy, and maybe a deflated football... and, um, maybe a life-size picture of your face!  Or may a cut-out poster of you so I can hug it.  I miss you!  

My new companion, Elder Osorjamma

Elder Harris didn't give the names of the two elders on the right, but the two in the back are (L) Elder Khash-Erdene and (Center) Elder Osorjamma.