Making Mission Memories in Mongolia

After the quiet of Naadam Week, Mongolia is bustling once again! While the traffic hasn’t returned to its full chaotic glory, the roads are definitely filling up. Sidewalks are alive with people, scooters, and bikes, making our daily walks feel a bit more like an obstacle course—just the way we like it! Unfortunately, northern Mongolia is facing serious wildfires. In response, the Church—through Deseret International Charities—is stepping in to help by donating firefighting equipment and supplies. We had the chance to contribute in a small way by visiting what we lovingly call the "sock store" to purchase 100 pairs of socks for the firefighters. Tucked away between apartment buildings, this little shop was full of socks—literally thousands of socks in every size, color, and style imaginable. Safe to say, we now know exactly where to go if we ever need socks again! Another fun adventure this week was getting tsampts custom made. A tsampt is like a deel (the traditional Mongol...

We’d heard all about “Naadam Week” — how everyone in the city heads to the huduu (countryside) to camp — and they weren’t kidding! Ulaanbaatar, a city of 1.7 million, basically hit pause this past week. Shops closed, the Church Service Center (where we work) locked up, construction sites that had been bustling around the clock suddenly went silent, and the usual bumper-to-bumper traffic vanished. It felt like the entire city exhaled. With so much quiet, we found a different kind of work: cleaning out closets, cupboards, and office spaces. We’re not sure how people will feel about the changes when they return, but it certainly scratched my itch for organizing and de-junking! We also took a day to explore the State Department Store — an upscale building packed with familiar American brands. It was beautiful and modern, but it felt a bit too touristy for us. We were happy to return to our “regular” Mongolian rhythm. On the way there, a local news crew stopped us for an interview! We’re ...

We made it safely back to Mongolia and were pleasantly surprised to discover that the hot (or at least lukewarm) water was back on! What we weren’t expecting was the color of that "hot" water—let’s just say it looked more like tea than something you'd want to bathe in. Thankfully, after running it several times over a few days, it cleared up and now seems perfectly normal. On Thursday, we jumped right into zone conference with our new mission leaders, President and Sister Kunz. It was a full day of inspiration and connection. These gatherings are always something we look forward to—it’s a joy to meet together and feel renewed in our purpose. We also arrived just in time for Mongolia’s biggest celebration of the year: Naadam . Rooted in Mongolia’s nomadic and military traditions, Naadam is a national festival that highlights the "three manly sports": wrestling, archery, and horse racing. These ancient competitions were once training for warriors and, over time, ...