Making Mission Memories in Mongolia

We figured it was about time we introduced you to TIM . You might be wondering—who is TIM? Well, TIM stands for This Is Mongolia , and we use it fondly to describe all the things that are uniquely, sometimes hilariously, Mongolian: the traffic, the broken sidewalks, the UB cab experience, the complete absence of measuring spoons, and of course, the joyful chaos of Children’s Day. This week brought not one, but two classic TIM moments. The first: cold showers . Since much of Mongolia’s infrastructure dates back to the Soviet era, all the hot water and electricity for the city—yes, all 1.5 million people—comes from a central source. Once a year, that system shuts down for scheduled maintenance. For two weeks, there’s no hot water in the pipes. On day one, we bravely attempted a shower. Ten seconds in, we were convinced the water was coming straight from Siberia. It was brain-freeze cold. After that shock, we devised a survival system: fill the tub the night before so the water could re...

  Another beautiful week in the “Land of the Eternal Blue Sky” has come and gone! For our preparation day, we took some time to explore the area and soak in the history and beauty around us. We’re so grateful to our friend Enkhjiguur Bayarjav (we call him Jay) for generously taking time to show us around! One stop we made was at the Chinggis Khan statue and as the below photos show, the statue was massive and awe-inspiring. We learned so much about the legacy of Chinggis Khan and the ancient history that continues to shape this incredible country.                          There were also camels at the site so of course I couldn't pass up the opportunity to ride a camel!                                                     Next, we visited a 13th-century village where...

One of the unique blessings of serving as communication missionaries is the opportunity to attend and report on Church events in Mongolia. This week, we had the privilege of experiencing something truly special: a youth handcart trek. While we’re familiar with the pioneer treks that thousands of youth participate in each year across the United States, it hadn’t occurred to us that youth in other parts of the world might also reenact these sacred journeys. Watching more than 200 Mongolian youth and leaders retrace the footsteps of the early pioneers was deeply moving. They walked to honor, learn from, and connect with the courageous Saints who sacrificed everything to reach the Salt Lake Valley.   It was powerful. The youth demonstrated inspiring resilience, faith, and unity throughout their 30 kilometer (18 mile) trek. The leaders and volunteers who organized the event were equally impressive—creating an authentic, spirit-filled experience without electricity, gas, or running...