Good Morning
Everybody!
I can’t believe it’s
almost Tsagaan Tsar again and we've already started the 4th 9 (that’s the
coldest nine weeks in Mongolia).
Crazier than that is
that the Bishop’s daughter came back from her mission this Friday, which
is only crazy because she was in the MTC in Provo with us. Is the time
really going that fast? We had dinner with her family on Friday night
and talked for about an hour about missionary work and everything.
It was crazy to realize that practically every other mission in the world
is proselyting (no clue how to spell that) and knocking doors. It’s also
crazy that the average lessons taught in a week for her mission was
only around 5 or 6. That’s tough! What a blessing to be in Mongolia
(although I'd secretly love to knock on a couple of fences every now and
then).
This week was packed
with splits and baptisms and some great times with my English sponsor.
This Thursday was
splits with the Zone Leaders which had me with Elder Amartuvshin in our area
for the back half of the day. Wonderful day beginning
with him getting his patriarchal blessing. And then
off to a lunch appointment with the Sisters. Probably my favorite RM from
the ward made us an incredible meal of pizza and sushi and some crazy good
pasta. We knew that it had to be quick in and out to get to my English sponsor.
We had about 20 minutes as we finished up eating and were getting ready
to leave the house. Of course we shared a scripture and had a chance
to sit and talk with the father who isn't a member. After
being originally resistant about the whole idea of talking to
missionaries we ended up talking with him for about 40 minutes which had us
running to English which was close enough that
we weren't terribly late. My sponsor just got elected as some
sort of governor or something for the neighboring state of Khetii, so he’s now
out of town for the weekends, but says the only reason he comes to
the city during the week is to meet with Travis. Great guy! It’s
amazing how much my English teaching has become less and less of a
burden since being in Mongolia. I actually spent an extra 20 minutes with
one of my classes this week because we lost track of time. There’s
only one class whose picture I would write "The Alternative"
underneath (Dad might be the only one getting that joke).
English has really turned from a burden to a blessing and a wonderful
experience. Elder AT and I still had time after that to get to a new
member’s house which is probably my favorite new member, Bayarbold, who is 20
and thinking to some degree of serving a mission once he becomes eligible in a
year. We had a wonderful discussion on missionary work and asked him to
read Alma 26 and pray about it. What a fantastic new member, excelling in
his calling as a member of the young mens presidency and doing his home
teaching.
Best part of the week
and what makes the top spot as often as there is one was our baptism. Badral Ax
who we’ve been working with for just shy of 4and a half months was baptized
along with one of the Sisters’ investigators. The highlights included an
amazing musical number by the branch missionaries "I Know That My Redeemer
Lives" (which brought the number of dry eyes way down) and Badral himself
who had a fresh white shirt and a new tie to change into and looked and
more importantly sounded great as he bore his testimony.
Alright closing out
the week I read a great article by Elder Jefferey R Holland this week. He
referenced the first vision and countless spiritual encounters where people
have endured great trial before the inspiration comes, and then turned around
the opposition that comes after illumination. Referencing the Jews
fleeing Egypt, who when faced with the Red Sea in front and
the Egyptians behind feared and were ready to turn back, he reminds
us that in times of great peril it is important to remember what has been.
For the Jews it was the plagues and the locust and the fire and
the deaths of first born sons. How quickly they had forgotten. Then this
quote from Hebrews:
32 But
call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye
endured a great afight of
afflictions;
In
times of great trial realize the the Lord has blessed you before and will bless
you again. Wade in to the Red Sea with both feet and have the faith and
the confidence to receive your own personal revelation.
Have a spectacular
week,
It’s
gonna be warming up
Elder
Neuberger
 |
| At the baptism |
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