Although there wasn't one big event to write about this week, we were soooo busy!
This week was transfer week, which always makes for a busy schedule. Once again, we worked with the Assistants to the President to coordinate travel logistics for missionaries all across the country. This transfer was especially interesting because of the long-anticipated mission split.
For the past few months, we have been preparing for the Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Mission to become two separate missions: the Mongolia Ulaanbaatar East Mission and the new Mongolia Ulaanbaatar West Mission. Additional missionaries have gradually been arriving so that both missions would be fully staffed when the split became official—including 15 new missionaries who arrived this week! A few weeks ago, each missionary learned which mission they had been assigned to, and this transfer was all about getting everyone to the correct mission area.
The transfers took place on Thursday, and yesterday the new mission president and his family arrived. The split is now official—Mongolia officially has two missions! Although we are staying with the East Mission, we are assigned as Area missionaries, so we will continue to work in both missions. It is exciting to see the continued growth of the Church here.
Besides the busyness of transfers, we spent much of the week doing office work to help prepare everything for the new mission president. We also did some shopping to make sure their home was stocked and furnished with everything they might need. One morning I went to Emart to grab some supplies for them only to find the doors locked up with a sign on them. This is what Google Translate told me it said.
After returning to the office, we found out the reason for the closure...there was a fire on the 6th floor of the building. Thankfully it was only closed for a few hours that day!
Since our mission president is currently in Tokyo, we also helped keep things running smoothly and represented him at a farewell lunch for the departing missionaries.
As if that wasn't enough, we also completed apartment inspections and handed out our fun cleaning awards. The missionaries worked especially hard this transfer to remove extra clutter in preparation for the mission split. As you can see, our missionaries earned the award for "Not Having MUSHROOM for Improvement!" 🍄 The little mushroom cookies weren't just adorable—they were delicious too!
We also had a late-night lock adventure with these cute sisters. When they went to lock their apartment for the night, the key became stuck in the lock and wouldn't turn. After moving them to another apartment temporarily and then eventually back again once everything was resolved, we finally got everyone safely locked in and settled around midnight. We love being able to help these young missionaries in so many different ways—even when it involves unexpected late-night adventures!
Last week we shared about our surprise snowstorm. It isn't snowing anymore, but it certainly looks like it! The cottonwood trees have released their cotton, and it is everywhere. It floats through the air like giant snowflakes and manages to get in your eyes, your nose, and just about everywhere else. It can be a little annoying, but it has reminded me of another tender mercy. Despite all that cotton floating around, I still haven't had any allergy issues. Anyone who knows my history with outdoor allergies knows what a huge blessing that is!
I think we've mentioned before that the scariest part of walking around Mongolia isn't crossing the streets and hoping the cars stop—it's the scooters! They are everywhere, often driven by young kids. They zip up behind you without warning, race straight toward you before swerving at the last second, and weave between pedestrians on the sidewalks. They drive on the streets, the sidewalks, the wrong side of the road, down the middle of the road—pretty much anywhere they can get to their destination the fastest. We've witnessed a few minor accidents involving both cars and pedestrians, so every walk feels like an adventure. We simply hold our breath, say a little prayer, and keep walking!
Thankfully, the government is trying to improve the situation. Beginning at the end of the month, a new law will prohibit anyone under 18 from driving scooters, establish where they can legally be ridden, and increase penalties for unsafe riding. We're hopeful it will make a difference, although the locals aren't convinced there are enough police officers to enforce it. Until then, we'll just continue walking with a prayer in our hearts...and maybe one eye looking over each shoulder!
It wasn't a week filled with one headline event, but it was full of the kind of behind-the-scenes moments that remind us how much we love serving here and helping these wonderful missionaries.
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