Making Mission Memories in Mongolia

 Church each Sunday is such a joy! We attend the Sansar Ward, affectionately called the "International Ward".  It's a beautiful mix of cultures--a few American diplomat families and many Mongolian members who speak English.  Sacrament meeting is translated through headsets, and there's always a kind soul eager to translate second hour for us, which is good because we certainly can't read the writing on the whiteboard!  The members are incredibly warm and always looking for ways to help.  This past Sunday there was no prelude music, so I hopped on the organ.  Then, when no one stood up to lead the music, I found myself conducting too!  There's such a sense of community and willingness to pitch in.  We're seeing nonmembers show up regularly, which makes each Sunday feel extra special. Mondays are a whirlwind!  We start with a family Zoom call, then head into our communication meeting with folks in Japan, Korea and Guam.  After that, it's o...

It's hard to believe week two in Mongolia has already come and gone!  Honestly, we were just marveling at the fact that just three weeks ago we were still in Utah, frantically checking our passports and wondering if someone would be there to pick us up at the airport in Tokyo!  That feels like an entire past life now--yet somehow, the days here are flying by faster than a Mongolian wind gust in May!  We're settling in quite nicely and even starting to feel at home.  Our biggest discovery this week? ChatGPT at the grocery store!  Forget Google Translate--ChatGPT is now our personal shopper, translator, rice cooker manual, and amateur artist (see the below caricature we requested haha)!  Thanks to its guidance, we now know which mystical button to press on the Korean rice cooker without launching it into space!   Our grocery adventures are feeling a lot less like "Iron Chef: Mystery Ingredient Edition" and a lot more like real success.  The naa...

Wow, what a week! Mongolia and its people have welcomed us with open arms, and we couldn’t be more grateful. We’ve hit the ground running and are both happy and busy! We arrived late Monday evening and spent our first night in a very nice hotel. The next morning, Batmunck—who oversees housing—picked us up at 9:00 AM and brought us to our new apartment, our home for the next six months. To be honest, our first impression of the building was a bit skeptical. The exterior looked rough, and walking up five flights of uneven stairs (with no elevator!) didn’t help—especially as we passed a tangle of exposed electrical cords in the hallways.  But once we stepped into the apartment, we were pleasantly surprised! It’s actually quite nice inside and we’ll be comfortable here. We’re especially thankful for the young missionaries who helped haul our six large bags up those five floors! Our apartment overlooks the bustling city of Ulaanbaatar, which is far more developed than we had expected....

Spending a week in Tokyo was incredible!  For J.D., it brought back a flood of memories from his time as a young missionary, and for me, it was a thrilling dive into a new culture full of unique experiences.  From mastering the subway and exploring the city streets to savoring amazing food, meeting new people, and receiving hands-on training--it was all unforgettable.   We also gained deeper insight into our upcoming work in Mongolia, which has only heightened our excitement to begin this next chapter!  We fly out tomorrow and can't wait to finally be in Mongolia!! Some Tokyo highlights: As Devin pointed out, it's kind of crazy to see your location dot on the other side of the world! The views from the top of Tokyo Tower were amazing!  Tokyo is huge!!  Big city everywhere, farther than the eye could see! You can't visit Tokyo without visiting a shrine.  This is Meiji Shrine.  170 acres of beautiful, serene gardens in the middle of the bustlin...