This week was very successful, funny, and productive. I had a slight panic moment this week when I got off the bus and realized my companion wasn't with me. I turned around just in time to see the bus driving away from the bus stop. I was actually quite calm, but it was a very strange feeling. I quickly started walking to the next bus stop to find Sister Nancalmaa. I found her running towards me, and she looked like she was about to cry. She told me that she tried to get the bus to stop, but that it just kept going. She took her name tag off so that no one would wonder where her companion was. I already love her. It was good to be reunited!
This week we were able to do real missionary work together. My favorite missionary moment of the week was a lesson with Erdensowd. We hadn't taught Erdensowd a real lesson in about two weeks. This week we taught her the Word of Wisdom. Although she was worried about tea, she readily accepted the commandment. I'm not sure why it was such a spectacular lesson, but Sister Nancalmaa and I taught well together and I really felt the Spirit.
If all goes as planned we will have a couple of baptisms in the next few weeks. This week we reviewed prophets with Bolganjargal. (Her baptismal date is set for September 20). After the lesson I was thinking about prophets. How do I know that President Monson is a true prophet of God? I can't say that I've ever really prayed about that--I've always just accepted the fact that we have a prophet. But, as I thought about it I felt the Spirit confirm to me that I do have a testimony of prophets. I know that President Monson is our living prophet. I know that he teaches us the word of God, and that if we follow his counsel we will be blessed.
It's starting to get cold around here. So far, it's been typical fall weather--dress boots, and a light jacket. Today I was talking to my English sponsor and she mentioned that some of the parents were concerned about my welfare with winter coming. "I'm worried about Laura, the English teacher. When winter comes she will probably want to go home." I assured Nara that I know a little bit about cold weather and that I will successfully make it through the winter without leaving.
It's also starting to get dark much earlier. I always remember that I need to keep a flashlight in my bag as we're walking up and down mountains in the pitch dark with dogs barking all around us. We usually stumble and trip along the path, but one night I actually fell when my foot found a small hole. Luckily, I just scraped my hand a bit.
On occasion I like to feed the pigeons. Come on, we can't be the boring apartment on the block. I threw some bread crumbs out on the window sill and left the window open. We usually leave the window open, but this time a pigeon actually came in. It walked along the inside window sill and even left us a little present. That's probably as close to a "pet" as I'll come to here in Mongolia. Next time, I'll probably shut the window because cleaning up after the "pet" wasn't very fun.
Thank you for your prayers and your love. I'm learning so much about myself, the gospel, and the world. Every day I'm grateful for the opportunity that I have to be a missionary here in Mongolia.
Love, Sister Magleby
Editors note: We laughed at the name Laura used for herself in the title of her e-mail. Then we remembered this note that she had written to us in one of her first e-mails from Mongolia.
Sister Magleby (aka. Sister Bagalmaa: This is a real Mongolian name that means "Nature Woman" or something like that. All of the church members joke that I should change me name to this because it is easier for them to say. I'm thinking of "losing" my name tags and requesting a spelling change! :)
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| Orantsetseg (our new member), Sister Nancalmaa, Laura |
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| Sister Nancalmaa and Laura outside the Bayanzurik Building |
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| My first day of school!! The piano was brought down from my sponsor's home just because I play the piano. The sign says, "Welcome to Kindergarten." |
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