Watermelons, Paper Plates, and Zone Conferences

This week was Zone Conference week, with meetings on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. We were assigned to help provide fruits, vegetables, and paper goods for each of the three lunches. To gather everything we needed, we walked to the Bayanzurkh Market.

Unfortunately, I didn’t think to take any pictures, but imagine Walmart meeting a flea market (I asked AI to help create some pictures to give somewhat of a visual).  The market is a huge building filled with small stalls and shops, each specializing in a specific type of product. We headed upstairs first in search of paper plates, napkins, and cups. Before long, we found a tiny store that seemed to sell every paper product imaginable. Paper goods were stacked from floor to ceiling and crammed into every available space. Through a combination of pointing, showing pictures, and a little help from ChatGPT, we were able to successfully communicate exactly what we needed.

Next, we made our way to the fruit section, where we once again put our communication skills to the test. We purchased two large watermelons, five kilograms of grapes, twenty large apples, bananas, eight large cucumbers, and five packages of carrots. The carrots were only acquired because the store owner went next door and borrowed them from another vendor. It was fun to see the merchants helping each other out.

After some additional communication efforts, including calling a few Mongolian friends to help us figure out why the credit card wasn’t working, we finally completed our shopping trip. Loaded down with heavy bags of fruit and supplies, we weren’t entirely sure we would survive the ten-minute walk back, but somehow we made it.

The Zone Conferences were a success, and as we finished the last one, we were surprised to realize that we only have one more round of Zone Conferences before we head home.

We have also gotten to know a gentleman in our ward from the United States who is working here in Mongolia. A few weeks ago, before he returned home for a visit, he asked if there was anything we would like him to bring back from the States. He came back today, and opening the bag of goodies felt a little like Christmas morning. Thank you, Brother Taylor!

As the week came to a close, we found ourselves reflecting on how many experiences have become normal to us here: navigating busy markets, communicating across language barriers, carrying watermelons through the streets of Ulaanbaatar, and relying on the kindness of friends and strangers alike. These ordinary moments have become some of our favorite memories. They remind us that missionary service is not only about the big events, but also about the daily adventures and the wonderful people who help make them possible.