Serving Abroad, Cheering From Afar

 We had a busy week!

On Tuesday, we had the privilege of helping pack food bags for people with disabilities who are struggling with the rising cost of basic necessities. Together, we assembled 100 bags filled with flour, rice, oil, noodles, sugar, and hygiene products such as toilet paper, shampoo, soap, and toothpaste. (Read the article we wrote about this event here.) About 30 of the recipients were able to come pick up their bags, while the rest needed to have them delivered.





So on Wednesday, we spent the day delivering supplies to four different homes. With our favorite Ulaanbaatar traffic, it truly became an all-day adventure! As we visited each home, it was heartbreaking to see individuals who had been bedridden for more than 20 years, but it was also touching to witness the loving care their families provided. They don’t seem to have the same level of government assistance that many would receive in the United States, so families carry much of the responsibility themselves.

The people were deeply grateful for the supplies they received, but even more appreciative of the visit itself. Even though we couldn’t understand much of the conversation, we could feel their spirits lift simply because someone cared enough to spend time with them. It was a beautiful and humbling experience.





This assignment also took us to parts of the city we had never seen before. This picture shows the rapid development taking place throughout the city. Ulaanbaatar is well known for its ger districts, where many families traditionally burn coal (and whatever else provides heat) during the winter, creating significant pollution. In recent years, high-rise apartment buildings have increasingly replaced these ger areas in an effort to reduce pollution. The contrast is striking—gers standing right in the middle of massive apartment complexes—showing the realities of a city in transition.


This week was also transfer week for the missionaries. Seventeen new missionaries arrived on Thursday, and nine returned home on Friday after completing their missions. At least half of the remaining missionaries were transferred to new areas. As you can imagine, this creates quite the logistical challenge! We enjoyed helping everything run as smoothly as possible. Several of the missionaries from our very first district returned home this week, and it was wonderful to see them before they left. We received a very sweet note from one thanking us for the difference we made in his mission.  Sometimes we aren't aware of how we affect these young missionaries so it was nice to hear we had an impact! 

The Roses

Sisiter Fafita

Sister Morton

Elder Hughes

Elders Harker and Paul

New missionaries and their trainers

On Friday, we attended an interfaith tree-planting service project. We joined members of many different faiths to plant 100 trees in a large national park in the city. It was 48 degrees and incredibly windy (I felt like I was right back in Laramie, Wyoming!), but it felt good to dig in the dirt and know we were making a small difference. You can click HERE to read our article about this event.





Yesterday, we attended an open house at one of the church buildings in the city. Only a small percentage of people in Mongolia know much about our church, so members organized the event to share information about what we believe and the many programs and services we offer. Displays highlighted Primary, Relief Society, and Young Single Adult programs, humanitarian efforts, the family history library, self-reliance programs, BYU–Pathway, and free English classes. The members worked incredibly hard to help others better understand our faith, and around 200 people attended, making it a very successful event.




And finally, life back home seemed just as busy as our week here, so we need to do a little grandma-and-grandpa bragging! Corbin’s baseball team won the championship, and he had a fantastic season. Paxton played his first year of t-ball and absolutely LOVED it. He is completely dialed in and always knows exactly what’s happening—no playing in the dirt for this t-baller! Little Miss Remi continues to keep the boys in line.


 


Carson’s football team also won the league championship, and he had a great season with lots of touchdown catches. His team even had both the largest and smallest players in the league! 🤣🤣


And last but certainly not least, Miss Kara graduated from kindergarten! She also performed in her dance recital and did a wonderful job. We love these little ones so much and are incredibly proud of each of them.



This week’s service opportunities caused us to reflect on the many blessings we often take for granted back home. They also reminded us how grateful we are for the opportunity to serve others and witness so much goodness and resilience in the people around us.


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