I'll Trade Five Months of Freezing If It Never Breaks 90

Hey everyone,

I’m not sure how much time I have to write today because in a bit we are meeting Elder Jolley and Elder Haas to go out to the summer home of one of our new member’s from Sansar. That should be a blast!

Why is Elder Jolley now with an American companion rej yy? Good question.  The two Americans in Khovd got kicked out this week and had to come back to the city causing a mini transfer before the large one this upcoming two weeks.

Happy father’s day Dad!!! and good luck to Kyle in Mexico.  No city park popcicles (few will get that one).

Anyway .  .  .  It’s sad that Sister Berg and Elder Wilson had to make their way back from Khovd early, but it was sure great to see them and welcome Sister Berg into our district.  Both of their attitudes are nothing but positive and optimistic and what Khovd loses we sure do gain in the city.   This week we have continued to teach three couples that have not only been accepting of the lessons, but have repeatedly shown real interest through the questions they ask.  One of the three was able to make it to church this week and another promised that he would do everything in his power to keep the Sabbath day holy from now on.  Along with continually checking addresses and trying to find new investigators we had a wonderful opportunity to dig a 10 foot hole for a member’s investigating mother.  Repeatedly throughout the rather long digging process she told us it would be ok if we wanted to stop. But then someone would jump in the hole and continue the digging.  It was a neat experience and I’m grateful for all who represented the church so well.

In other happenings we found a few new investigators including one who is related to the first ever missionary from Mongolia.  She was excited and interested to learn what the Church is about and most importantly how it had made such drastic changes in the life of her relative.  It was a great lesson up until her 2 year old mistook a razor for a lollipop .  .  .  enough said there.  Apply pressure

For the benefit of those who played basement soccer all last summer: Thursday we were walking by a schoolyard where some kids were playing soccer and they began to heckle us a bit.  My companion having none of that decided we would stop.  Ten minutes, a hat trick and a header later we made our way to our next appointment. 

Our best lesson of the week ended up being a little longer than we initially planned.  It was with the man who I previously talked a bit about who knows the bible really well.  We taught him and his wife the plan of salvation this week.  After introducing the plan with a cool visual aid that Sister Clark made for all the missionaries, we answered questions for the next two hours.  Their interest level and the truthfulness of this perfect plan filled the room with the Spirit.

This week’s letter has been all over the place, but to add another cool experience.  We were walking to the bus stop when a guy we passed threw a large piece of PVC at the back of my leg.  In such an instance I find it best to follow my companion’s lead and he chose to keep on walking and pick up our pace.  Not 30 meters later as we were rounding a corner and a car pulled up and told us to get in.  Because everyone is a taxi driver in Mongolia it wasn’t incredibly weird, but we skeptically got in.  Once in the car the man told us he was a church member from another branch and that he was going to take us home.  I know we were in no real danger, but I also know it was no coincidence that the church member showed up either.

In closing, this story was shared by President Clark this week:

The story is told of a teacher who brought to school one day a large jar and two cups of

khyaram. When class began, he picked up the large empty jar and proceeded to fill it with ping pong balls. He then asked the class if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The teacher then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the ping pong balls. He then asked the class again if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The teacher next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The class responded with a unanimous “yes.” The teacher then produced two cups of khyaram from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The class laughed. “Now,” said the teacher as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The ping pong balls are the important things—your family, testimony, worthiness, temple work, missionary work, strengthening others—and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else—the small stuff. If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the ping pong balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are really important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.” One of the class members raised her hand and asked what the khyaram represented. The teacher smiled. “I’m glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a cup of khyaram with a friend.”

PS Khyaram is the local steaming hot milk water and salt drink

Have a great week

Elder Neuberger