As mentioned in the last post, they had a live band for part of the Returned Missionary dance here. The leader of the band has an interesting story to tell.Burt Enkhbold Badarch is the lead guitar player for the band (see picture). He is also a Bishop in one of our wards. He is the only member of the Church in the group. The other members of the band are, however, Christian in their belief, being members of the Baptist Church.
At first, the other band members would sort of give him a hard time about being a Mormon. But that didn't seem to last very long. They soon gained a lot of respect for this man who always seemed happy, calm and viewed life with a positive attitude. Now they readily admit that they view him as sort of their spiritual leader.
But, when he asked if they would be willing to play at the dance for a bunch of Mormon missionaries - free of charge - they were somewhat less than enthusiastic. Some what begrudgingly, they did agree to play four songs - and four songs only. That was ok because most of the music was to be recorded and played over a sound system anyway. The live band was just to give the evening a nice feel.
The night of the dance came and they made everything ready to play their four songs. The recorded music began first and everybody started dancing. And the band members were astonished at what they were seeing. Well, all but one, that is.
Here was a group of young people looking as though they were having the time of their lives. They were laughing, socializing with each other, dancing - and just plan having a good time! And, they were not even drinking or smoking or being particularly rowdy! And then the band started having fun, too!
Well, they played their four songs. And then they played four more songs. And after that they played a few more songs. About fifteen songs total, they say.
I don't know how many of those returned missionaries realized that they were still being missionaries that night.
Way to go!
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3 comments:
It is truly amazing how we can be missionaries and not even realize it. Who'd have thought that dancing could be considered missionary work?
And those kids will actually remember the fun they had! I have never understood the idea of having "fun" and being too drunk to remember any of it.
I have to tell you that every time the missionaries here start complaining about how cold it is, I remind them they could be in Mongolia. Funny story about that. I was talking to a sister and she said, "There was a couple who was supposed to come to Nauvoo and when they opened their call it said, "Mongolia". I said, "That's my sister and brother-in=law". She said, "I just thought it was a myth." I said, "Nope, it's true."
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