I'm Beginning to Understand

Dear Family,

I’ll start out with a story I forgot to include in last week’s email. Last Sunday (June 23) I was sitting next to our new member Shinechemig and our investigator Altangerel. After Sacrament Meeting they started talking to each other and then they both turned to me—they were pointing to their hands and asking me a question that I couldn’t understand. Well let me clarify—I thought I understood. I nodded my head like I understood and answered the supposed question. Their faces looked shocked and then Altangerel resorted to English to clarify—“Long fingernails, are they okay?” Well I understood that, so I hurried to clarify the answer. Yes, you can have long fingernails. Yes, you can use nail polish. They were somewhat relived at the end of that conversation. They are both really anxious to do what is right.

Yesterday was a good Sabbath. I feel like I was able to understand a lot of what was said—finally! I’m not sure if I would have understood another conversation about fingernail length, but I’m getting good at gospel topics. Yesterday we had an awkward situation with a church member. A few weeks ago she signed up to feed us dinner. The members almost always feed us at their homes, but on Saturday night our district leader called and told us that she wanted to take us to a restaurant after church. Sister Largin and I decided that we didn’t want to be a part of that and we explained our thoughts to the district leader. We  thought that the situation was taken care of, but apparently it wasn’t because after church this particular member waited for us to finish our visits and then started walking us to the restaurant. We stopped and tried to explain our position—this is not an appropriate Sunday activity. Unfortunately, our district leader was siding with the member which made her more mad that we didn’t want to come. It was a difficult situation. In the end we didn’t eat the food, and only a few bad feelings were felt.

Friday was my last day of English, and I don’t have to go back until August 20th. I really enjoyed teaching the two teachers because it gave me the opportunity to get to know them better. They are both so kind, and helpful. This week Nara (my sponsor) taught us how to make hosher (a fried empanada type food). They made folding it look so easy, but it was difficult. My finished products looked pathetic compared to the work of a true Mongolian. Hopefully, I will learn. Speaking of hosher, last Monday at FHE I ate sheep heart, liver etc. It was inside the hosher that we ate for dinner. Luckily, I didn’t know what it was until after we finished or I’m not sure I could have chocked it down.

Altangerel got baptized on Friday. There were a lot of people there to support her. At one point I thought I was going to have to give the talk on baptism because the member we asked to speak wasn’t there. Lucky for me, the bishop had asked someone else because he didn’t know I was the planned “backup.” The other member spoke much longer and much more eloquently than I ever could have. The night was a success.  

We have a few other investigators that we’re working with, but not many that are close to baptism. We’ve been doing a lot of work with the less active members recently, and it has been neat to see them progress. With Nadaam coming, Sister Largin keeps reminding me that things are going to get difficult. Apparently people would rather celebrate and enjoy summer than meet with the missionaries. This week we waited 2.5 hours for someone to come to the church. They never came. That was frustrating, but it reminded me that everyone still has their agency. Without the knowledge of the gospel they don’t know what they’re missing. I’m glad that I have a testimony of the gospel, and that I know how important it truly is. I’m glad that I have this opportunity to share the gospel with the Mongolian people.

Today we gathered and presented a gift to President Clark. He will leave on Wednesday. We’re all looking forward to meeting President Benson and his family soon.

Love,
Sister Magleby

Altangerel's baptism

 

 

Shinechemig's baptism