A quick note from the "editor." Travis' companion also has a blog. You might be interested in checking it out. If you scroll through the entries, Elder Jolley has included lots of photos during his time in Mongolia.
elderryanjolley.blogspot.com
Hey Everybody,
elderryanjolley.blogspot.com
Hey Everybody,
This week started with the first snow I’ve seen in Mongolia. We woke up to an inch and half, but it was enough to coat the ground, clean the air and make it feel like winter.
During District meeting we got a surprise call from who else but my sponsor. So we immediately left and headed to the immigration office near the airport. It ended up taking about 4 hours to take pictures and do paperwork in which time Elder Jolley worked on converting my sponsor (lol). We spent some time working out my schedule which was pretty intense. I just sat there while Elder Jolley wheeled and dealed with the owner of the school. I’m teaching English at a nanotechnolgy and accounting college. We were able to get me down to 10 hours a week but only spanning three days which is nice because a lot of elders are teaching everyday at their sponsors. The school is really nice and the people are really friendly. I just need to brush up on my nanotechnology.... Just kidding. I’ll be teaching them beginner level English as a part of their curriculum. The classes are about an hour and a half a piece so it shouldn’t be too bad. I’m kind of of nervous but mostly excited to teach. I’m fortunate to work at a location where I will be able to track my progress with students and my teaching. Other elders are teaching at hotels or classes where the same people don’t even show up every day. Should be a lot of fun! I start this Wednesday and teach Thursdays and Fridays also. Mostly in the mornings.
I have no idea how cold it is, but it feels pretty cold. I’m still just rocking the suit jacket and the Columbia omniheat rainjacket which has been convincingly warm. But it’s probably time to upgrade. If Elder Jolley gets back early enough today hopefully we will head over to the zax and grab some winter jackets.
The layer of snow has turned to ice and has created an extreme challenge to stay on your feet throughout the day. Elder Quinton ate it twice on a side walk and I bit it the first day after the snow. If I had some ice skates I’d be flying to appointments.
View out of our apartment window
During District meeting we got a surprise call from who else but my sponsor. So we immediately left and headed to the immigration office near the airport. It ended up taking about 4 hours to take pictures and do paperwork in which time Elder Jolley worked on converting my sponsor (lol). We spent some time working out my schedule which was pretty intense. I just sat there while Elder Jolley wheeled and dealed with the owner of the school. I’m teaching English at a nanotechnolgy and accounting college. We were able to get me down to 10 hours a week but only spanning three days which is nice because a lot of elders are teaching everyday at their sponsors. The school is really nice and the people are really friendly. I just need to brush up on my nanotechnology.... Just kidding. I’ll be teaching them beginner level English as a part of their curriculum. The classes are about an hour and a half a piece so it shouldn’t be too bad. I’m kind of of nervous but mostly excited to teach. I’m fortunate to work at a location where I will be able to track my progress with students and my teaching. Other elders are teaching at hotels or classes where the same people don’t even show up every day. Should be a lot of fun! I start this Wednesday and teach Thursdays and Fridays also. Mostly in the mornings.
Before I forget HAPPY BIRTHDAY KYLE and KEVIN! I hope you're having a blast at school and all you’re doing.
On Wednesday we had some amazing ITL's (invitations to learn) . Twice in a cab we had two people who when the conversation turned to work we told them we were missionaries and they took interest. In one cab we were able to give the driver a Book of Mormon. Later that day when we were in the grocery store a man stopped us and told us that he had felt impressed to talk to us. He asked us what we were doing in Mongolia and expressed confusion in what to believe and not believe in the world today. Hopefully we will be meeting with him this week.
While Elder Jolley taught English in his hotel this week I had the privilege of occupying my time with three drunks. It was actually really sad. They had no idea what was going on. It made me realize how lucky I am to have the gospel in my life. And gave me greater desire to see everyone as God’s children, even when it’s hard.
I spent this weekend with Elder Quinton and Elder Wilson because Elder Jolley went up to Darkhan with the President. It was fun because I got to see a completely different area of the city. Their area is the only area without a ger (yurt) district which was different. It’s apparently the New York of UB. It was insanely nice. Little plazas and parks everywhere. TREES and really nice buildings.
I have no idea how cold it is, but it feels pretty cold. I’m still just rocking the suit jacket and the Columbia omniheat rainjacket which has been convincingly warm. But it’s probably time to upgrade. If Elder Jolley gets back early enough today hopefully we will head over to the zax and grab some winter jackets.
Yesterday was Elder Titensor’s birthday and we made about 100 khoosher which is basically fried bread stuffed with meat. We also made something that resembled a cake. It looked less than remarkable, but tasted fantastic!
The layer of snow has turned to ice and has created an extreme challenge to stay on your feet throughout the day. Elder Quinton ate it twice on a side walk and I bit it the first day after the snow. If I had some ice skates I’d be flying to appointments.
And I almost forgot about the “Its a small world” moment of the week. This week in Elder Quinton’s area’s church meetings there was an American who is here on business. We got to talking and I learned that he served his mission in New Jersey right outside the city.
“Oh really, thats where my grandparents are from.”
“Who are your grandparents?”
“The Englishs”
Turns out he spent 6 month in their ward and knew grandma and grandpa pretty well. He spent ten minutes raving about how great grandma and grandpa are. They are great. Grandpa would always give them rides to appointments and teach with them.
Elder Jared Armstrong late 1990's.
This week I was reading in John 4 during personal study I want to say around verse 11 or 12. It relates to reaping and sowing in different locations. I’ve seen this in the first few days of my mission especially. The first couple of weeks I’ve been handed so many great investigators that I wasn’t involved in finding. And have had the opportunity to reap where someone else has sown. This week we had the opportunity to plant seeds that sometime down the road someone will be able to reap. President talked this week about worrying less about our areas and more about investigators. Right now we have more investigators than we can handle. As long as you are involved there will always opportunities to reap and sow right where you are. It doesn’t matter if you’re not a part of the entire maturing process because it’s not about you it’s about the investigator or the new member or the less active member. Just remember we’re all in the same garden!
Be safe! Stay warm!
Love,
Elder Neuberger
Our study area in front of the windows
yeah. that's cold in winter do you study scripures and prey too what happen our study area in front of the Windows why you do that
ReplyDelete