But It's Your Floor

Well it seemed like a busy week for everyone back home as everyone finished up the summer and got back to school. We're hoping that the same things starts going on here and we see just a few more people at church on Sundays. 

Thanks for the great pictures from your trip to BYU with Kristi Lee and I can’t believe that anything is that green  .  .  .  it was blinding. 

Elder Ocorjamaa upon learning that Travis was his trainer.

This week was a little slower than last week as we struggled to keep our investigators in the growing and progressing category.  Despite the struggle we were blessed with 6 new investigators who the Lord has placed in our path in one way or another.  Four of them are relatives of church members (always a bonus) and we'll be headed over to meet with one for family home evening tonight.

So I moved and rebuilt my first ger this week. It’s like putting up a really intricate tent.  Everything gets broken down and fit into a small flat bed (the height of the stacked items exceeding all safety standards).  The best part of the experience was setting up the floor which is a series of wooden pieces not unlike a giant circular puzzle.  Unfortunately, we forgot to draw/take a picture of the floor before taking it down creating a bit of a problem when setting it back up.  It was like an awesome team building game from scout camp as we all stood around and tried to figure out how to make a circle from the pieces we had.  Due to my lack of ger making experience my ideas were not highly regarded nor were my companion’s, so we just helped move the boards around.  The rest of the experience was a blast and I’m not sure what the levels of experience are, but I feel like I moved up a few points in the ger building category.

Elders Ocojamaa and Neuberger with Pres. and Sis. Clark

This week I also got in my second bus accident, the car we crashed with had no driver (someone remind me to tell this one later).

This week I read a fantastic excerpt from the September Ensign by President Packer.  It was the story of two farmers who lived side by side and grew the same type of wheat.  One of the farmers decided not to work on Sundays to keep the Sabbath day holy.  The farmer who did worked on Sundays asked the other why he didn’t work and he told him that his crops wouldn’t turn out as well come October.  But the friend responded that he wished to receive the blessings of the Lord through keeping his commandments. Time passed and it came time to harvest.  One day the two farmers talked over the fence.  The farmer who worked on Sunday looked at his neighbor’s crops and asked, “where are the blessings that you were trying to receive.  There is no question that my crops are better looking and more abundant than yours.” The neighbor paused, thought for a minute and then responded smiling, “The Lord doesn't balance his books in October!” Wherever we are and no matter how little the blessings seem for following any of the Lord’s commandments, realize that the blessings may not come in October this year or even in this lifetime.  But the promises and the blessings of the Lord are always certain if not swift.  Do what’s right.  Be obedient. Reap the rewards when the Lord says the harvest is up.

Have a great week
 

Elder Neuberger

Editor's Note: Please note the addition of a new blog in the links in the right margin.  Elder Farmer is serving in Mongolia with his wife.  They arrived last month.  Coincidentally they are also from St. Louis.

The Dog Days of . . . Fall?

So apparently its been fall for the last month and a half...not sure how we count it here.
Either way it definitely feels like fall today as the temperatures dropped into the thirties yesterday at night. I’m imagining a nice St. Louis August day, but can’t say I’d trade at the moment.  But talk to me again in two months.

In other news Elder Osorjamaa  and I are off to a fantastic start together in Songino. We are putting up some legendary numbers in the key indicator column of the weekly report.  It was new records for the Songino area  almost across the board.  One reason is because of the relief of half a English schedule (we only have to take time for my English teaching since Elder Osorjamaa doesn’t have to teach) and the other being tremendous blessings all week.

At Nadaam Picnic last month

First to the fantastic returned missionaries in the ward, who's only difference between now and a few months ago is the absences of a badge.  If there is a referral that every missionary would prefer it’s a friend of  a returned missionary. We continued to meet with Amaraa the friend of RM Zulbayar who returned from the Washington DC south mission a month ago.  For the lessons we taught, there were actually three returned missionaries which at first was as intimidating as it was comforting.  The testimonies born by the three friends were 10 times as powerful as anything that Elder Osorjamaa and I could have ever said.  We saw firsthand the blessings of making missionary work a team effort.

My companion is big into learning English, so it’s been a  blast learning the languages together and learning great new stuff every day.  Because he’s asking as many questions about my language as I am about his, it just pushes me to learn more and faster.  Did I tell you how great he is?  The "let’s go and do it" attitude to match anyone, but the humility and “laid backness” to understand and not get disappointed.  Also a bit sarcastic .  .  .  I love a little witty banter.

Please leave your ideas for a caption in the comment section.

On Saturday we had the most successful day of missionary work ever heard of.  Everyone we wanted to talk to/meet with/see seemed to be home and ready to go and then some. On some days you get burned so many times you end up with a little bit of time at the end of the day that’s unplanned.  On Saturday we completed so many appointments as planned that we had extra time at the end of the day  (I’m not even sure how the math works on that one).
The best visit of the day was without a doubt our meeting with Baatar Ax, a recent convert of 7 or so months that just got back from the countryside.  The man is always in a suit and reminds me a bit of Grandpa English.  He also wears this sweet sailor hat all the time.  Coolest of all he has a Prayer Ger.  Which is this really tiny ger next to his real ger where he reads scriptures and prays.  The man goes like clockwork and before we sat down he already had decided who was saying the opening and closing prayer.  He shared with us the most amazing story of faith.  On his way home from Khovd he was riding a bus that tried, but failed to cross a stream or pond.  On the way across it got stuck and the passengers were fine but everything under the bus would be assuredly ruined.  Because of the great amount of things he had under the bus of not just material but sentimental value, he was worried for his things.  In his moment of panic he though first to turn to the Lord.  He prayed hard he said for the time that it took a tow truck to come and pull them out.  When all was said and done, although the outside of all of his things were soaked and the cardboard boxes ruined, he didn’t lose a thing on the inside the of the packages.  May we all have faith as this man as we go about our week.  Find the small miracles that are in every moment.

You're the Best!

Elder Neuberger

With Elder Robbins last transfer

If I Had a Nickel for Every Ocorjamaa I Knew

What a busy week...
First of all the greatest part of becoming a trainer is the bonus interview with the mission president.  Is there a kinder, more caring, more involved and interested person?  We talked for about 20 minutes, but I’m pretty sure that’s enough to make anyone happy for at least 2 transfers!  I’ve got to admit that when I learned I was training a Mongolian I was just a bit nervous.  The language obviously isn’t a problem for him,  so I wasn’t even sure what I was going to teach him.

The week unfolded like this:  Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday were as normal with Elder Robbins and I rocking a great couple last days together.  Then on Thursday morning I met with the President.  Because everyone had to interview, we weren’t done until four o’clock which left us three hours till the big training meeting with the President and since it’s a two hour transit to get home and back .  .  .  Not doing that.  So we went with Elder Boyd and Elder Quinton to do some service in Khailaast for a less active member.  We pulled weeds for an hour, got our hands sufficiently green, and laughed with the sisters and the member.  Then it was back to the Bayanzurk (that’s the main church building) for training.  In short, that was an hour and a half of pure inspiration as the President outlined our duties as trainers.  What struck me the most was his admonition to "not train alone" 

A major part of being a missionary is realizing that I’ve got nothing on my own.  No language skills, no teaching skills and most of all no purpose in Mongolia.  With the challenges come the realization that in order to succeed in any degree we are going to need a whole lot of help.  Sometimes its intimidating and frustrating to face obstacles where so much seems unknown or the chips even seem stacked against you. It’s amazing to look back at almost every problem in life no matter how big or small it seemed and realized that the Lord has provided a way.

So who is this new Elder that I’m training?
Elder Ocorjamaa is the greatest 5 foot missionary out of Enktaivan ever.  He’s full of energy and spiritual knowledge, but humble and ready to learn. He finished high school last year and spent the last year working to make enough money to serve a mission.  He turned 19 in May making him the youngest missionary in the mission.  He is one of two church members in his family having been baptized just 4 years ago with his sister.  It’s been just so fun to be with a Mongolian again I can’t even tell you.  Nothing on Elder Robbins, but being able to ask anything about the language again is great.  This weekend has been especially great because Elder Anar (who also started his mission this week) was with us.  He’s a member from Khailaasst you may remember if you’re an avid blog follower.  We have had a great weekend working through the training and just being together.

Time for basketball .  .  .

Have a great week!
Elder Neuberger
 

One down, one to go

It is truly amazing how the Olympics bring the world together.  Ugaasa. It’s huge in America, but witnessing it from the other side of the world is something else.  It’s amazing to see every Mongolian in the country get revved up for the participants they're sending.  From what I hear Mongolia has won a silver and a bronze, but there’s some upper weight class, open wrestling guy who’s supposed to be lights out. Also how great is the Olympics for small talk conversation starters.  Everyone’s got their two cents.

So the sad news this week is that I’ll be saying goodbye to Elder Robbins this week as he heads to Khailaast with Elder Quinton.  It'll be tough to part after we had such a short time together, but we've had a great 5 weeks or so. 

Who's my new companion .  .  . well, he's coming from the Philippines. That’s where the MTC is for Mongolian Elders.  Although I don’t know quite exactly who I’ll be training, I know pretty much everyone in the group coming in and they are all fantastic guys who will make superb Elders.  That all happens on Friday. Elder Boyd will also be training a new Mongolia and Elders Stranski and Lloyd will remain the zone leaders for the city.  I’m looking forward to two months with whomever I’m with.  It’s great serving with another American, but what an opportunity of a life time to live with someone from halfway around the world. Plus it never hurt anyone’s language skills to work with a Mongolian.

As for this week .  .  . the non spiritual highlight goes to being fed five days in a row. First by a returned missionary who served in Australia, then the Farmers who are actually from my home stake in St. Louis [find their blog (drvalfarmer@blogspot.com) and there should be a picture], then by Elder Robbins' sponsor, next by my sponsor, and finally by a church member (first time I’ve had broccoli in almost a year. Wow! is that stuff is underrated).

I feel like I neglected telling you anything about Elder Robbins who is from California, was at BYU the same time I was, likes the outdoors and weight lifting. He’s a fantastic missionary with great spiritual insights, huge into healthy eating, and not immune (reference last week’s email) to the difficulties of cultural eating adaption.  His one flaw would be not being a sports fan, but what can ya do?

This week I’ve seen the Lord place people in our path on several occasions whether for their good or ours.  The spontaneous meeting of people interested in the Church has resulted in receiving quite a few great referrals and even better gospel conversations. One was my first ever Bible Basher in Mongolia. Another was after a long day of English teaching while we were eating yogurt and super kontics (best combo ever) we were approached by a young girl probably about our age. She introduced herself as Munktenger and told us that she had been a member of the Church about a year ago. Not passing up a good opportunity we began to discuss what had brought her to leave the Church.  She told us that she had always had great faith in the Bible and it had been a wonderful source of truth for her. Although she felt she had received a testimony of the Book of Mormon, under the pressure of her friends and family she had slowly drifted and stopped coming to church. She wasn’t sure if what the Church taught was true anymore. One of her comments had striking similarity to the Father of King Lamoni in the Book of Mormon. She said "if I knew it was true, if I absolutely knew, I’d give up everything, my family, my school  .  .  . I would put everything I know in correspondence to my faith."  She continued to ask questions that bothered her like the last verses of Revalations and why the Sabbath was moved to Sunday instead of Saturday. We answered slowly and simply the best we could to all the questions she posed.  Ingrained in my mind were the words out of Preach My Gospel that that at the root of all doubt and disbelief is a lack of understanding or a lack of testimony in the Book of Mormon.  As we continued to calmly answer questions we made it clear that there was no possibility, even if we answered every question, to prove to her that what we were saying was true.  The truth of the Gospel and a testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon comes only through personal study,  pondering and asking God our Heavenly Father for ourselves if the words in the book are true. While the doctrine may seem demanding or confusing at times, the answer for a personal testimony in any facet of the Gospel comes though the instruction given in the last two paragraphs in the introduction of the Book of Mormon 

“We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See Moroni 10:3–5.)

Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is his revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the second coming of the Messiah.”

The best part of the Gospel is that you truly can know for yourself!

Have a fantastic week!

Enjoy the Olympics (Kevin and John, watch it twice for me)

Elder Neuberger

Happy Olympics

Unfortunately our hot water has been out all week which has made for the need for some extra hard workouts to counteract the glacier that flows from the faucet. Hysterically cold water!  Our other loss this week was our refrigerator which has knocked down the variety in our meals.  However, this was quickly remedied by my sponsor giving us 8 cans of peas, 16 boxes of spaghetti noodles and 5 lbs (I kid you not) of honey. I was extremely close to laughing as we packed it up. We haven’t tried them all together (I’m not sure if that was the intention), but individually they've been delicious.

As the number of people we know in the area and in the ward has grown I have become increasingly aware of the absolute necessity for using the inspired forms and techniques found in chapter 8 of Preach My Gospel. Without the organization of names, numbers, and notes in folders, planners, and phones it would be a nightmare to keep track of everyone and even the best effort wouldn't be enough to keep some from falling through the cracks. There is a certain confidence that comes from organizing information and keeping track of details.

This week we continued to work with investigators and were able to have three come to church on Sunday including a friend of a new member who says she has been searching for something more for her family for awhile. I think the greatest joys in missionary work come when we invest our lives in the lives of our investigators. When we know where they are from, where they want to go and what they are doing. In this transfer I’ve learned the importance of building relationships with investigators that allow the spirit of understanding to flow more freely during our lessons. As I hear and think about each person’s personal situation it fills me with an increased love and understanding for them. And at times a certain glimpse at what our Father in Heaven must feel.

This Wednesday became a microcosm of missionary work in Mongolia. We started with normal study in the morning and our weekly planning session before heading off to Elder Robbins’ English teaching. Once we finished up there we headed out to Narangin gol (a part of our area to check on some addresses.  When we arrived at one address we found a grandma, Delger egch, who had been meeting with the sister missionaries who were in this area before us and so she had heard the first few lessons.  In preface, there are people in Mongolia that no matter how you speak, refuse to understand a word you say because they don’t believe you can speak at all (Elder Jolley and Wilson are hopefully nodding right now).  As we began to teach it was apparent that she couldn’t remember anything that the sisters had been teaching.  She was probably only picking up about 50% of what was being said at all.  We began to get frustrated and did what we could to help her understand what makes our church any different. Despite our attempts her interest level just wasn’t there.  I left the house frustrated with myself that I couldn’t do a better job. As we continued down the road we found the house of a new member that we have been trying to meet with for three weeks. They were again not there. Legitimately deterred for the first time in a while we pressed on.  Finally, we came to the house of a young investigator,  Javkhaa, who had been in the countryside for the last month and it was great to finally make contact with her.  Although we weren’t able to meet with her because her parents don't allow the gospel discussions to be taught in their home, she told us how she had been reading daily form the scriptures and praying.  It came as needed relief. Next we found another investigator, a single mother, Uugii who lived in Germany for the last 11 years or so. She is without a doubt the wittiest, quickest Mongolian I’ve ever met. We talked to her in her yard, sitting in the sand box while her child played for a 1/2 hour.  Before we could get to our scriptures, her slightly inebriated neighbor made his way over to talk to us.  That led to a 45 minute discussion with him where he praised our missionary efforts but told us he couldn't believe in God. Although after the time was over it was clear that he wasn’t going to be swayed by anything but the beer he had, it was a testimony builder for me as I defended to the best of my ability the greatest truth I know.  To close the day we rushed to the house of a new member, Munhkbaatar, who is struggling to keep his testimony alive. To our pleasure he had read from the Book of Mormon and prayed telling us that he had felt in small part the feelings he had felt before baptism.  While he inst completely back I could feel his determination to know for himself which is the greatest start.  We had to run a little bit to get home on time, but at the end of the day I felt an overwhelming gratitude to my Father in Heaven for the blessings and most importantly the trials and the struggles of the day.

The Savior lives. He has fulfilled a perfect plan set in place by a loving Father in Heaven. While not everything that occurs day to day seems to go according to His will because of because of the agency he has given to each person, know that there is no experience from which we can’t learn something for good. I think the biggest thing I’ve learned in this first year is to look for the learning opportunity in every experience. That no matter where we are, we can learn from anyone in any circumstance. There is unlimited room for improvement and how great is that!

Have a great week!

Go team Mongolia (every sport that has some relation to fighting)
Go team USA (.....every sport)

Elder Neuberger

Finishing the White Wash

I think on your mission you recognize more than ever the truth in the words of King Benjamin when he speaks of unprofitable servitude:

20 I say unto you, my brethren, that if you should render all the thanks and praise which your whole soul has power to possess, to that God who has created you, and has kept and preserved you, and has caused that ye should rejoice, and has granted that ye should live in peace one with another—

21 I say unto you that if ye should ^aserve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants.

The more I try to push a little harder and be just a little bit better the Lord pushes hard with increased blessings. It is then when we realize that in this zero sum game the only way to keep yourself from going more fully in debt  is by helping others.  Truly saving souls is of the greatest worth to our Father in Heaven.

We started the week by meeting at the end of P-day with the greatest family of all time.  On our records the family was less active, but it became immediately apparent that it was only their work schedule that was keeping them away from church. After talking for 45 minutes about their small business and their lives we turned the conversation to the gospel and read a few scriptures from the Book of Mormon. The wife got excited and started talking about how much she loves church and especially paying tithing.  At this point she is talking a mile a minute and just beaming.  I’m also beaming as she talks about the blessings she has received in every aspect of her life from paying tithing.  Now at this point it may just seem like an awesome tithing story/testimony, but it’s not over.  She then started talking about the tithes and offering slips in general and all of the other donations that it is possible for church members to make.  She said and this is pretty much word for word except she wasn’t speaking in English, "I figure the general authorities of the church wouldn't include them on the slip if they weren't important, so I just donate to all of them!" 

The rest of the week included Elder Robbins catching a bug for a couple days that put him under the weather. I also started teaching English again this week which was a bit of a surprise, but has turned out pretty good.  I’m teaching three times a week to my sponsor’s husband who is in parliament.  He loves talking and is anxious to learn English, plus teaching just the one person is so fantastic the time goes very fast.

We met with more and more members from the new ward and were aided again by the help of the branch missionaries who are lifesavers in white wash situations.

Oops! The internet dropped and I’m trying to finish before it does so again...
In closing I just want to include some experts from a Bishop Edgley talk entitled "Faith, The Choice is Yours"  (read the whole thing!)

“Because of the conflicts and challenges we face in today’s world, I wish to suggest a single choice—a choice of peace and protection and a choice that is appropriate for all. That choice is faith. Be aware that faith is not a free gift given without thought, desire, or effort. It does not come as the dew falls from heaven. Choose faith. Choose faith over doubt; choose faith over fear; choose faith over the unknown and the unseen; and choose faith over pessimism. We are responsible for our own faith. We are also responsible for our lack of faith. The choice is yours.
While I don’t know everything, I know the important. I know the plain and simple gospel truths that lead to salvation and exaltation. I know that the Savior did suffer the pain of all men and that all repentant people can be cleansed from sin. And what I don’t know or don’t completely understand, with the powerful aid of my faith, I bridge the gap and move on, partaking of the promises and blessings of the gospel. And then, as Alma teaches, our faith brings us to a perfect knowledge (see Alma 32:34). By moving forward into the unknown, armed only with hope and desire, we show evidence of our faith and our devotion to the Lord.”

Like Bishop Edgley I also "have never witnessed the removal of an actual mountain. But because of faith I have seen a mountain of doubt and despair removed and replaced with hope and optimism. Because of faith I have personally witnessed a mountain of sin replaced with repentance and forgiveness. And because of faith I have personally witnessed a mountain of pain replaced with peace, hope, and gratitude. Yes, I have seen mountains removed."

Through our faith--And because of my faith—even in the seemingly worst of times—I recognize with peace and gratitude that in reality it is the best of times.

Have a great week

Sorry for how short this was

Elder Neuberger

Nadaam. My 1st, Their 91st

Saikhan Naadsan uu?   Bi ch gesen 

Opening ceremonies for Nadaam

So the week started off with a bang as we attended a family home evening put on by President Clark's family and some others on Monday night.  They were all in town for Nadaam and played instruments and sang. Also a local church member came and played the horse head fiddle which was gorgeous.  Unfortunately,  the video I took is way too long to send. All of the missionaries went as well as all the church members from my first area, so I was able to see a lot of friends again.

Tuesday brought district meeting and Elder Robbins’ English teaching.  Although we didn’t teach his student, I was able to talk to his brother about the economy, elections, some crazy dream he had, and speeding tickets in America for an hour and a half.  (heads up everyone - that was all in Mongolian haha). That night we began checking addresses and found some great members before they headed to the countryside with the entire city for Nadaam.

The wrestling event

Wednesday began Nadaam which pretty much puts everything on hold for the next three days. The city just shuts down, mostly cause everyone leaves for the countryside.  Nadaam is pretty much like the Olympics for Mongolians and another big holiday mixed together. It’s three days of wrestling, horse racing, and archery.  It all gets started with a giant opening ceremony at the stadium. Elder Robbins and I got invited by his sponsor to attend it (score one for English teaching). So we woke up and then headed down to the stadium at 11. It was about two hours of dancing, singing, and culture. The president of Mongolia came and opened the games. The whole thing was spectacular and we even watched some wrestling for a while.  

After the opening we walked through the city of tents that were selling khuushuur.  While buuz is the food of Tsagan Sar, khuushuur dominates Nadaam.  We ate our fill and started heading back into the main city when we ran into a group of other missionaries. We spent the next couple of hours with them and went to the main square in the middle of the city. When that was over Elders Quinton, Boyd, Williams, Woodward and our companionship decided it was time to make our own khuushuur so we did varying the traditional recipe of mutton and onions to chicken and hot wing sauce. Great khuushuur!

The next day was a planned trip for all the missionaries who are in the city.  We took a two hour bus outside the city with the senior couples  to a kind of campsite.  It was right next to a river, with a giant field and mountains surrounding it.  In summary, gorgeous! Unfortunately my camera was dead so I'm working on getting the pictures from other missionaries on that. We spent an hour playing soccer and then Elder Boyd and I converted that to some ultimate Frisbee which took some explaining to the Mongolians ("No, you don’t throw it like a baseball"), but it turned out great. We also ate kharkhug which is a whole sheep boiled in a giant 30 gallon drum over a fire with carrots and vegetables to taste.  And what would a Mongolian holiday be without a little mare’s milk…not gonna say it's my favorite.  Sidenote: the senior couple the Farmers from St Louis came this week and he was wearing a Cardinals’ shirt .  .  . Cardinal nation still exists!

After all that it was back to the "white wash" of the new area. Since  Friday was also Nadaam we struggled to find people actually at home, but by the end of the day we were able to find a less active man who lives with his family as the only member of the church. He was ecstatic to see us and spent time showing us all his pictures and sharing his testimony with us.  It was neat just to be able to give someone the attention they deserve as a child of God. That’s how it’s been this week. We’ve walked into almost every house not knowing at all what to expect and have come out with smiles almost every time. 

Saturday night I called everyone on all of our new member, less active, and investigator boards in the newest invented missionary game “Saturday night sumd yvakh  showdown." The white wash will surely take you out of your comfort zone that’s for sure. It’s way hard and way exciting at the same time. On Sunday we were lucky to have an RM show us some houses and teach us the area.

It’s been a great week!

Elder Neuberger 

The MTC group. Final P-day event before the departures of Elder Neaf and Elder Call

Caught in the rain