The Ancient Origins of J.D.'s Popularity
On a more serious note, it is always uplifting and productive when people of different faiths come together to work toward common goals.
Before J.D.'s birthday, one of the missionaries in our district asked what he wanted as a gift. J.D. jokingly replied that he would love a Diet Coke because, in Mongolia, we've only ever been able to find Coke Zero. The missionary wasn't able to locate one before his birthday, but this week he stopped by with none other than a Diet Coke that he had found in a small American import store. Way to go, Elder Benson!
On Monday, we went out to eat at The Mongolian, a local steakhouse, to celebrate Elder Ellersick’s birthday. He works closely with Batmunkh, the mission employee responsible for cars and apartments, helping with repairs, apartment preparation, and countless other projects. When Batmunkh left for a two-week trip to the United States, Elder Ellersick suddenly found himself in charge. We quickly nicknamed him "Steve-Munkh," and of course, that meant he needed his own toolbox for his birthday!
During dinner, Elder Horito and Elder Rottweiler were talking about their missionary service. They had previously discovered that they served in the same mission but didn't think they had ever served in the same area at the same time. Then the topic of Thanksgiving came up. One memory led to another, and before long they realized they had actually spent Thanksgiving together many years ago. J.D. even had a photo to prove it: Elder Horito and Elder Rottweiler making cinnamon rolls!
On Tuesday, we had the opportunity to help with a humanitarian service project. Volunteers gathered to package and load supplies destined for schools and hospitals in the countryside. We assembled bundles of bed pads, sheets, and blankets for local kindergartens, then loaded those items onto trucks along with backpacks filled with school supplies, sterilizers, water purification units, and wheelchairs. It was rewarding to work alongside so many enthusiastic young volunteers and be part of such a meaningful effort.
Today was a rather unusual Sunday. Due to some misunderstandings with the government that are far too complicated to explain here, we were unable to meet in our church building. It felt a little like the COVID days as we held church at home instead. While different, it was also a meaningful reminder of the importance of the sacred ordinance of the sacrament. We are hopeful that things will be resolved shortly and that we'll be back to meeting in person soon.
This afternoon, we met up with good friends for lunch. Since we work with Jay and Bogii, it was especially enjoyable to spend time getting to know their families while sharing a delicious meal together. It was a wonderful way to end an eventful week.
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