We are on the Verge of Miracles!

Sain bain uu ger bvl min!

So family, things here in Choibalsan are great and we are on the verge of so many miracles.  Let me explain....

So Ganbayar was my second baptism here in Choibalsan as you might remember.  He is a great young man.  He will be receiving the priesthood anytime now.  As many people from Choibalsan do, he went to the countryside for the summer.   So we are just waiting for him return next week so that he can receive the priesthood.  But anyway, ever since we baptized him three months ago, we have been developing a great relationship with his mother, Naraa.  Elder Khash Erdene and I met with her a few times three months ago, but never felt that it was right to just throw the Gospel at her.  It was weird that we didn't feel right about teaching her lessons back then, but now it all makes sense.  So we have been going to her house about every week for the last three months, visiting with her, eating the "buffet" that she makes for us every time we come over, and just talking to her about her family and her job.   She owns a little vegetable store at the market here in Choibalsan.  Her oldest son, Ganbayar's brother, died like 10 years ago, so that is really sad for her, but we are hoping the Plan of Salvation will mean even more for her.   When Elder Osorjamma and I were companions, we also felt like we should not share the lessons with her yet.  So strange, but we decided to just teach her about God and how we can pray to him to receive blessings.  She loved that lesson a month back or so, and has been praying ever since. She even told us a story about how one of her prayers was answered when she missed a bus she needed to get on a month ago or so. She has slowly but surely been prepared by our Heavenly Father to receive this message.   Well, two Sundays ago, she just showed up at church!  I was shocked, and ecstatic all at the same time!   I guess Ganbayar had called her on the phone and told her that he didn't want people in the Branch to forget about him and think that he was inactive, so he asked his mother to go in his place.  He told her that all the people at church are really nice, and that she would find friends there.  So she came!  What a great example my new convert (Ganbayar) set for his mother!   We were so stoked about that!   She left after Sacrament Meeting, but before she left we made a appointment with her for Monday night.  So Monday came and we felt ready to teach her the message of the Restoration.  Honestly, it was the strongest lesson I have been apart of in my whole mission. The spirit was tangible.  I truly was receiving Heavenly help with the language.  She felt it too....couldn't recognize it...but she felt it.   We have since met with her four times.  She came to our baptism on Friday, and again to church yesterday.  Tonight we will show her the Restoration video at the church, and hopefully through that movie she can find her answer.  She has prayed three times now about whether or not our message is true, but is just now starting to recognize the Spirit teaching her.  She says how good she feels at church, and when she meets with us and when she learns about Jesus Christ, and we have linked those feelings to the Holy Ghost testifying to her that this is true.  But she is having a hard time recognizing that.  It is going great though, and I am so excited for her!  Truly, it was a miracle we have received because we listened to the Spirit a few months back and were patient with her.   Mom and dad, she is truly an Elect Lady.   How great is God!

Sainbayar was baptized this past Friday, and received the Holy Ghost on Sunday!  He is such a stud, and will shortly be a leader in the Church here in Choibalsan.  He has such a strong testimony and a desire to learn more about the Gospel, not to mention that he has almost finished the Book of Mormon.  He will be a Branch President sometime soon I predict.  President Benson is coming to Choibalsan this month, and will meet with him.  That will be great for Sainbayar to meet President Benson, and that will allow him to hopefully receive a calling of great importance.   Choibalsan and Mongolia need more men like Sainbayar.  He truly is a miracle.  He lived in England for 11 years, and met with missionaries there, but his English was poor, so he didn't really get much out of it.  Then he moved back to Choibalsan, saw the same church that he saw in England, (the church was not here in Choibalsan when he lived here 12 years ago), knocked on the church's door two times, and no one answered (it was a door that is not in use...!).   Then finally the third time that he came back, he caught Elder Sims and Ulziibayar walking in and bada boom bada bing......Baptized!

This week, Sister Enkhtoya, Brother Ganbaatar's wife, received her baptismal interview and passed it with flying colors!  Also this week, we met with her nearly every day, reviewing all the lessons, and teaching the 5th lesson from PMG.  She is so great, they are already planning to go to the temple in a year with their kids to be sealed for time and eternity.  I have been so blessed to be her missionary.  Truly, they are a family that I will be life long friends with.  I can't wait to see her go through the temple in a year with her husband, who will be going through for his first time too, and be sealed.  To see someone you love so dearly make eternal covenants with The Lord is indescribable.  She also asked me to baptize her, so I am truly so humbled and blessed to be where I am.  I love it here!

Our Church meetings were great here on Sunday.  The members love Elder Baldandorj as the Branch President, and are really receptive to him.  We had three speakers who all spoke about Temples, Temple Work, and Family History. We had 54 people in attendance. The numbers are almost always the same, but the unity is so much stronger.  I truly believe that unity will lead to lasting conversion and activity, and will keep people feeling the Spirit that is here on Sundays.

I am loving being Elder Baldandorj's companion again, and we are working harder and harder to receive more miracles here in Choibalsan.   Like I said, we are on the verge of so many miracle with investigators, and members being strengthened, and we are just really happy to be doing it together.  I know we are doing our part, and I know the Lord is blessing us.  We have set goals of exact obedience.  I know that is the only way we will receive the needed miracles here in Choibalsan.  I wouldn't want to be anywhere else than Choibalsan right now.  I have been putting in the required work with all my companions ever since I arrived here four months ago, and man does it feel great to see the Lord performing miracles right before our eyes. He lives!

Хайртай шүү!
-Ахлагч Xappuc

This Ganbaatar and his wife, Enkhtoya! August 15, 2014 is her baptism date. Eternal covenants!

Here I am just chillin' at the airport after teaching my English class. There are tons of Russian army people here, and I hear the President of Russia is coming to Choibalsan soon or some big parade and conference and training. 

 

This is one of their army helicopters. 

Sainbayar's Baptism.

After-baptism party!

... And then there were two.. Again

Dear Family,

Zaa cain bainn uu ger bvlth min?

You will never guess what happened last week in transfers. You probably won't be as shocked as I was, but here we go. So the transfer call came a week late, and every Elder and every Sister was just on their toes waiting. Thursday came and we got the call from the Zone Leader, and well, Elder Sims and Ulziijargal were transferred back to UB. My new companion is Elder Baldandorj, again. He was my companion in Bayanzurkh before I got transferred to Choibalsan, about four months ago. So we are now the only two missionaries in Choibalsan again, and he is the new Branch President. I am excited for him to be the Branch President because from what President said, he should be here until about December or February. Our Branch needs a steady Branch President, and they all are very familiar with Elder Baldandorj because he served here 8 months ago for about 2 transfers. So we are back together again, and he is back in his old area. I really have faith that we will work well together again. We will work hard and do what the Lord would have us do. I am excited though. He is a funny and happy kid, easy to get along with for the most part. I know if we are obedient and obey with exactness, we will be successful here.

We now have six solid investigators with baptismal dates set, one being Brother Cainbayar, who will be baptized this Friday! He was Elder Sims' and Ulziijargal's investigator, and we picked him up when they left! He is such a stud, actually the most Golden Investigator I have seen in Mongolia in my 6 months time in the country. We refer to him as Choibalsan's Savior. He is such a great investigator, and will be such an incredibly huge asset to this Branch. He might move to UB in September, though, if he can't find work here. He has already read about 1/2 the Book of Mormon and his understanding of gospel principles is amazing. Also, as I told you last week, Brother Ganbaatar's wife will be baptized on August 15th. She is great and I am so excited for Brother Ganbaatar! He has waited for this for quite some time. She is the only one left in the family not to be baptized, so it has been a long time coming.

With the other two Elders leaving, we are back to being extremely busy and extremely "ajultai" (with work)! I am excited about that, and also a little nervous, but I have faith in my companion that he will rise to the calling of Branch President and we will work, work, and work. Other than that, this week was pretty uneventful. Elder Ulziibayar and I were sick from Monday through Wednesday, I was willing to work, but Ulziijargal just couldn't do it. He was throwing up a lot so we were stuck in the house.

This past week, I studied a lot about faith from chapter 6 of "Preach My Gospel" and learned so much more about faith than I think we all think about. I went through and underlined all the verbs that are required to have Christ-Like faith, and it was overwhelming. I am really going to focus on Faith and becoming a stronger disciple of Jesus Christ this week, trusting in the Lord's plan for us, and knowing that he is here with us.

I love you guys!

Elder Xappuc
Elder Marc Harris

P.S. How awesome that Elder Huckvale is in Ryan's new ward! I'm so pumped about that. We have never actually met, but we have been good pals via Skype!

My new companion and the new Branch President, Elder Baldandorj, and I outside the church building. This is the second time around for us. We were companions before I cam to Choibalsan. He is a good missionary. I am excited. 

Elder Baldandorj and I at Dandindorj's family's home for dinner. They are probably one of the strongest families in the branch. They went to the temple and were sealed two years ago. 

Naadaam in Choibalsan

Dear Family,

This week was pretty slow due to Naadam. In Choibalsan, we celebrated Naadam on July 24, 25, and 26^th.  We only taught four lessons all week, because everyone's lives basically shut down for the whole week in preparation for Naadam….experiencing Naadam…then recovering from Naadam. 

The best way to describe Naadam for Americans is: It’s a 3-day long 4th of July!   It was crazy!  PEOPLE EVERYWHERE!  I swear, Choibalsan’s population shot up to like 20,000 during those 3 days. Throughout the 3 days of Naadam, we watched the Opening Ceremonies, wrestling, archery, finger archery, and went to the Choibalsan City Museum. Finger Archery is by far the coolest event, in my opinion. They flick these stones at targets like 20 feet away, and sing these crazy Mongolian songs.  I loved it!  I took a great video, but I can’t send it so you will have to wait another 17 months or so for that.  Anyway, it was really cool being in Choibalsan for Naadam. It is like being in small town America for the 4th.  So much Mongolian pride, traditional clothes, and HUUSHUUR!  Huushuur is a fried dumpling-thing with either beef or mutton inside it. All year long Mongolians eat huushuur, but Naadam huushuur is famous, they say.  It really was so much better then any other huushuur I have eaten here in Mongolia.  I had 4 huge ones, and I called it a day, haha!  Also we stayed really busy with dinner appointment after dinner appointment.  This was Elder Osorjamma’s last week.  I felt bad for him because his last week in the mission field was more or less one long party, with no missionary work.  But there was not much we could do about it. 

My companion flies out today at 6:00 p.m.   There will be a going away get-together for him and then dinner at the steak house!   I will miss him.  He is a great missionary and representative of the Savior.  After he leaves, I will be in a companionship of three for this coming next week until my new companion flies out here. Transfer Day is this Thursday, the 31^st.  Who will my new companion be?  I do not know, but I do know that he will be Mongolian.  Also, I have no clue who the new Branch President will be (remember my last two companions have been the Branch President.  Will it be my companion?  Or another man in the Branch?  I’ll tell you all about it next week. 

Yesterday, I had my quarterly interview with President Benson via Skype. It was really great to talk with him.  He gave me tons of great insights on how to better myself, and how to do the Lord's work the way He wants it done. 

Regarding investigators, not much to tell you about right now, except that the 1st Counselor in our Branch Presidency and his wife have returned from the countryside after working there for 2 months and she is finally available for baptism!  This week we will be reviewing all the lessons and teaching her Lesson 5 from PMG (Preach my Gospel), because now all investigators must receive Lesson 5 before baptism. Before it was an after-baptism lesson. We hope to have her baptized on August 8th!  She is so golden, and she is ready to join her whole family as a member of the true church. Her name is Enkhtoya, so please pray that all will go well!   Also, our 9-year-old investigator's mother and father are coming along. The mother is about to give birth so we hope and pray that that will be a huge turning point towards God and His gospel for their family.  Please remember them in your prayers also. 

Gotta go.  I love you guys! 

Until next week,

Elder Harris

Our 9-year-old investigator, Hamolon, and her mother and father. Isn't she so cute?

Mongolian wrestlers. 

This is just part of the celebration.

These are judges who are judging an archery event.

Naadam in Choibalsan. Elder Sims and I are sporting our traditional Mongolian wear. These shirts are called "Del's".

I hear that Mongolia is world famous for their "huushuur", especially during Naadam. Huushuur is a fried meat pastry or dumpling that is filled with beef or mutton. 

P-Day Trip to Deep Countryside

Dear Family, 

Today, July 21st, 2014, was definitely one to remember. Let me get started. During this time in the summer, the Elders and Sisters in UB are doing fun activities such as hiking and siteseeing with President Benson and other leaders. Since we here in Choibalsan and are so for away and really do not have the funds to do such activities without the help of President or Senior Couples, our mission doctor, Doctor Lewis, his wife, and Ulzika, their translator, were flown out here to do church business in Choibalsan, and show us a good time. We planned a great P-Day activity in which we would all go with our member, Sister Bolor Erdene to the deep countryside of Mongolia to have a day with her sister's family, who are mostly all members. We found out from Bolor Erdene that it would take about 2-1/2 to 3 hours to get there, so we arranged for the necessary taxis that would be needed to take 9 people. (Elder Osorjamaa and myself, Elder Sims and Ulziijargal, Doctor Lewis, Sister Lewis, Uizika, Bolor Erdene, and Erdene Munkh.) Arrangements were made with the 2 taxi drivers that we would leave at 10 a.m., and return by 2 p.m. so that the Doctor and Sister Lewis could catch their flight back to UB. The Doctor, of course, would be covering the entire expense. We let the Doctor know about the entire plan, and everything was a “go.” They originally had wanted to see more “historical” sites of the Dornod province, but we informed them that those sites were 300+ kilometers away and would never fit in the time limit, so this plan was approved by the Doctor. So here we go!

We got up that morning and headed over to the church where we waited for the 2 taxi drivers. That's when we heard from one of them that the other driver would not be coming. Already off on the wrong foot! We asked him to find another driver for us and he drove somewhere and found one pretty quickly. Most taxi drivers could only dream to have this job for the day because there is no way they could make 85,000 tugs for one day's work. So we piled into the 2 cars, adults in one (and Erdene Munkh), and we Elders in the other. With an all expense paid trip to the grocery store, we loaded up on snacks, and we were soon on our way, off the pavement, and onto a tiny dirt trail. After about 5 minutes down the trail, one of the driver realized we were going the wrong way, so we turned around, got on the right path, and we were smooth sailing from there....until about an hour down that trail. Our driver decided to test his car, I guess, and took it off the trail and into a huge flooded area of Mongolian steppe. Yup, you guessed right...we got stuck. After realizing the car had no way of getting out, we four Elders ditched our socks and shoes in the car, got out into the mud and grass and started pushing. The car would not budge, but luckily some local countryside folk came to the rescue with rope and wire to pull us out. All in all, we were there for about an hour and a half.

So we got out of the mud and were on our way to Cergelthen Soum. After a while, we came upon a river crossing right before the entrance of Cergelthen Soum. So we were faced with a serious decision, well the taxi drivers were, “Do we try to attempt to cross this river, or do we turn around and give up?” We sat there and contemplated the choices and after the taxi drivers did some fine-tuning to their cars and washed them in the river, they decided to just go for it. So they both got pretty big head starts and gunned it, eventually crossing through the river and making it safely to the other side! It was so funny and awesome to watch these little 1999-ish Toyota Camry-sized cars drive through a river.

We now arrived in Cergelthen Soum and Doctor and Sister Lewis realized that it was only two hours until their plane left, and there is no way they would make it if they continued on with us. The drivers informed us that it was only 50 more kilometers, but Doctor Lewis decided to turn one of the cars back around, cross the river again, and go back to Choibalsan. So we four missionaries loaded in the back of the other car, with Bolor Erdene and Erdene Munkh in the front, and we traveled on without them. What was supposed to be only 50 kilometers ended up taking about 3 hours to get there. Along the way we drove on a road that was used by Chingis Khaan many, many years ago, and also saw a famous rock that supposedly has his footprint in it. It was really cool. The landscape was absolutely breathtaking. Greener than you could ever describe, the blue-est skies ever, and land that was flatter than a tabletop.

As we traveled along, we would see random things off the side of the road….a single ger, a herd of sheep or goats, a few horses, and even a few satellite dishes. It was truly an incredible site to see all these nomadic herders in the middle of nowhere, just living. The occasional mountain (really a small hill) would come up and we would hurry and get the camera out and snap a few pictures, along with all the beautiful, crisp blue lakes. We even saw 3 or 4 Falcons!

Just when we were about to freak out because the trip was taking much longer than planned, Bolor Erdene's sister’s ger appeared in the distance. They greeted us warmly and welcomed us. Because we had traveled so far, the sister decided it would only be appropriate to kill a goat and feed us a large bowl of liver, stomach, and other intestinal-looking body parts. Good thing the Doctor and his wife didn't come, they would have freaked. Well as they put the bowl of goat on the table, she asked me the typical question, one I love to hear, “Чи Монгол хоол идэж чадах уу?” (Can you eat Mongolian food?) I looked at her and said, “Чадна ш дээ!” (the English equivalent of “Are you kidding me...OF COURSE I CAN!) So I grabbed the knife, cut off a chunk of boiled goat liver, leaned my head back and dropped it in my mouth. She just started to laugh and I looked at Bolor Erdene and said, “жинхэнэ хүмүүс!” (real people!) It is kind of a little joke we have between us because one time I told her how “real” Mongolians are, so whenever I do something that a “real” Mongolian would do, I say that to her, or her to me. We also ate some bread with this slimy milk stuff on top. The milk stuff is just a layer of curdled milk that floats to the top of their large vats when it sits for a long enough period of time, then they serve it as food. Over the thousands of years in Mongolian history, they have literally found every type of food you can make from milk...except cheese. I love it though! So I slapped that slimy, milky thing (what now almost looks like a thin fried egg) on a slice of real Buriad countryside bread, and called it a meal! The Mongolian women loved that I was just downing the food they made. Elder Sims was sick, so he would not eat it, so it made me look that much more “жинхэнэ” (real)! After eating, we went out and they showed us their animals and then we had to get out of there and head for home.

The 5-hour ride home was going to be a rough one because Elder Osorjamma had to sit practically on my lap the entire way because Elder Sims and Ulziijargal were car sick.  It was such an incredible journey, and one I will never forget. I am 100% that only American that has ever gone that far in the history of the mission. #1 I am in the farthest city away from UB, then #2 I went 7 hours out of that city north to the Bayan Doon Soum, nearly going to Russia. I am glad that I got to do it, but we also kind of ruined it for any other missionary that will follow us... So I am the first and the last. Mongolia rocks.

Love,

Elder Marc Harris

This is a "structure" alongside the ger belonging to the relatives. This is Sister Bolor Erenes' brother-in-law and nephew. 

A little porcupine along the way. 

A cool pet goat.

This is a marmot. One in six marmots in Mongolia have the black plague, I was told. This one hopefully didn't. Mongolians eat marmots and we would've eaten this one but they said it had not been "prepared" yet. I have to say, I was sad that I was not going to be able to taste marmot. You know I'm all about experiencing the culture. 

Sister Bolor Erdene's nephew, Tumee, showing us his horse. I wanted to get on the horse and ride it so bad, but it's against the rules. 

Stuck in the mud.

Had to cross this river to get to the "road" on the other side. 

Along the way we drove on a road that was used by Chingis Khaan many many years ago, and also saw a famous rock that supposedly has the foot print of the Great Chingis in it. It was really cool. The landscape was absolutely breathtaking. Greener than you could ever describe and flatter than a table.

... And this was our destination, a lone, single ger in the deep countryside belonging to Sister Bolor Erdene's sister.

This is the entire group of Sister Bolor Erdene's family who we went to visit.  

Some little boys ride horses... this one rides calves. 

 

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!