Change in the Air: Transfers, Service, and an Upcoming Devotional

Although we don’t have many pictures to share this week, it has certainly been a full and exciting one! After last week’s “routine” report, it seems someone wanted to make sure this week was anything but routine.

Much of our time was spent in communication with Church Headquarters in Salt Lake City about upcoming news releases and articles—more on that in the weeks to come! One announcement we can share right now is especially thrilling: Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, will be visiting Mongolia! A nationwide devotional will be held on Thursday, September 18, followed by a mission conference on Friday. These gatherings are rare and memorable—missionaries serving in Mongolia only come all together in person when an apostle of the Lord visits. The Saints here are filled with anticipation, and so are we.

Along with preparing for those events, we stayed busy with interviews and writing projects. A few weeks ago we posted pictures of a service project where Deseret International Charities helped paint and refresh a local day care center. This week we received the “after” photos, and the transformation is remarkable! We’ll share those with the “before” pictures so you can see the difference.




We also enjoyed our monthly meeting with President Kunz and the other senior missionary couples. These gatherings are special since it’s the only chance all five couples have to meet together. Even with the need for interpretation, the spirit of unity and dedication is felt strongly in the room.

This week also brought transfers, always an exciting time! On Friday, missionaries moving to new areas gathered at the mission office to meet their new companions. This transfer was extra lively because seven brand-new missionaries had just arrived from the Missionary Training Center in Provo. They flew in Thursday, and on Friday morning we fixed them crepes for breakfast. From updating the transfer board to handing out vitamins, church materials, and even collecting clothing donations for the homeless shelter, the day was busy but filled with energy. There’s nothing quite like the enthusiasm of new missionaries ready to begin their service.




Of course, we can’t forget our dear friend Sukhbaatar. At 82 years old, he has been a faithful member for 20 years. Each week we see him at the House of Mercy lunch, and more often than not, he’s waiting in the foyer of the building, eager to greet us with a big smile and a handshake. Though he is both deaf and mute, we are always excited to give him a “sain baina uu” greeting.

Another highlight of the week was attending two baptisms on Saturday. It is always a joy to witness someone step onto the covenant path and see the light in their eyes as they begin this new journey.


The days are getting shorter and the air is beginning to feel like fall.  What a wonderful time to be in Mongolia!





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