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We have learned much on just about a daily basis! We have talked with the Missionary Department a couple of times, the MTC in Provo, have received emails from the area Welfare Specialists in Hong Kong and spoke on the phone with President Andersen, the President of the Mongolian Mission! And it seems that the Area Presidency and President Andersen need us there sooner than December. So we have moved our departure date to October 27 and hope we will get our Passports and Visa's quickly enough to make it all work.

We have now learned that there are 20 branches with nearly 8000 members of the Church in Mongolia. That's about 400 members per branch! But there is no Stake there, yet, so the branches can not become wards. Part of the reason that there has not been a Stake organized yet is that the members are nearly all under the age of 30.

Mongolia was created under a Socialist government. Free thinking and expression were not exactly the norm. Thus the older generation is very slow to change or adapt new ways. It is the younger generation which has pushed for a free economy and a democratic government. The result is a membership which is largely very young -- both in age and in Gospel experience. Leadership is still in the making. But the people, we are told, are unusually strong in Spirit and are committed to the Gospel. It will likely not be long until a Stake is formed and the Church there takes a giant step forward.

Mongolia is quite an economically poor nation with an average annual income of $2100 US. Nearly 40 % live a nomadic life with yerts (or gers as they more commonly call them) as their home and shelter. Gers are dome shaped tent like dwellings covered with sheep skin which can be readily broken down and moved. None-the-less, the national literacy rate is an incredible 90%!



There are officially no proselyting missionaries in Mongolia. We go under the umbrella of the Deseret Charities Foundation. Our duties (as we have learned them thus far) will likely include about 15 hours per week of formal teaching of the English language, positions in the local branch and managing the very active employment office there, as well as any other duties President Andersen assigns us. The Church offers many opportunities to these good people to improve their education and employment opportunities.

We have official become pin cushions, now, with the need for at least 17 shots between us! Ouch! Our arms are indeed a bit sore!

We thank you all for your wonderful support and are really looking forward to this opportunity to serve the wonderful people of Mongolia.

About Mongolia

The initial shock is finally beginning to wear off!

Here's what we know. Mongolia has 21 branches of the church - no wards nor stakes, yet. The capitol city (where we will be stationed) is Ulan Bator (formally spelled Ulaanbaatar) and is about the same altitude as we are here in Salt Lake City. It is, however, further north with a latititude roughly equivalent to the US/Canadian border -- perhaps a few miles south of that.

The average temperatures seem to be approx. 10 degrees cooler than Salt Lakes, with cold, dry winters and warm, wet summers.

Mongolia has a population of about 2.9 million, with nearly 40% of that population living in Ulan Bator. There are 5 Universities and eight foreign embassy's in the capitol city with much of western culture having been adopted, as well.

We are really excited, now, and are doing all we can to make preparations to go. We are working on our passports and shots, along with trying to figure out how much we can take with us.

At first we thought, "No one has ever been sent to Mongolia!" But since receiving our call, we find nearly everyone knows someone who has just returned from there! When one young and recent returnee heard where we are going, he said, "I know exactly what their responsibilities will be! They need Welfare missionaries desparately!" He was right on! We will, indeed, be serving as Welfare missionaries there!

We'll post more as we learn more!

We have our mission call!

Well, we are not returning to Nauvoo! In fact, we are not even in the United States! Melba and I have been called to serve in Mongolia! Really!

We will be serving a Welfare Mission in Ulaanbaator, Mongolia and report to the Provo, Utah Mission Training Center on December 1, 2008.

What a shock! We'll post more when we can think more clearly!

July 22 - Today's Question

We visited the famous Henry Doorly Zoo this morning. What an amazing Zoo! A person could take a couple of days there without any problem! Over 60 acres in size! Before we knew it, it sa time we had to leave. S0, we headed west.

We stopped near Kearney, Nebraska at a VERY unusual museum. It was built as an arch right over the freeway! It is a monument to the first highway across the country (from Boston to San Francisco) and is exactly halfway - 1733 miles either direction.

We have passed by that museum but never felt we had time to stop. This time we were determined! It looks big, but is even bigger on the inside. The arch across the freeway is two tall stories high. You walk across the lower level and then return on the upper one. It's really cool!

Today's Question: What was the name of the river the pioneers tried to follow as they crossed Nebraska? The above monument also honors that trail and is built next to the river.

July 21 - On our way Home - Today's Question

Well, we finally got under way this morning - about 3 hours later than planned! Just couldn't seem to pull ourselves away from this place! As we tried to complete a couple of things before we left, there seemed to be additional things the Lord wanted us to do before we left. It turned out to be a surprising and special morning as we said our goodbyes.

We still find the drive absolutely gorgeous. Everything is so green! Corn everywhere. No mountains, though. Just rolling hills and beautiful scenery.

Ate lunch in Oskaloosa, Iowa. The pictures are of the park we stopped at. Such spactacular play areas seem to be the rule in the local parks of Iowa. That is all stained hardwood and is really something.

We are really tired - be doing fine. See ya' all soon!

Question: The saints stopped near here (Omaha) for the winter. Supplies and housing were left behind by each group who stopped here, in order to help those still to come. What was that place called?

July 20 2008 & today's question

Well, all good things must come to an end! And, for us, this one has! What an adventure it has been! Miracles of one sort or another have been a daily occurance and much good work has been accomplished.

Our theme, recited at each daily cast meeting, as been, "no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.”

We recited that standard of truth in every cast meeting. This is a picture of that final cast meeting. See if you can find Melba in it.

In our cast meeting last night, President Renouf (pageant President) shared with us one of those little miracles I mentioned. It was a story written by a young lady who had just come to see the pageant. It seems this young lady who lives within about three hours of Nauvoo was blind sided by her grandmother whom she apparently lives with. Grandma had invited the missionaries to their home and she was none too happy about it!

But when the missionaries arrived she decided they were kind of cute and made the best of their visit together. The missionaries asked if they would like to travel to Nauvoo to see the pageant. This young lady was one who enjoyed outdoor theater so she agreed to go. And besides, a three hour trip with these young men didn’t sound too bad, either!

They arrived in Nauvoo and the pageant began. She was quickly taken in by the story being portrayed. As the story came to the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum, she found herself crying, and she couldn’t understand why. And then, all of a sudden she knew. It was true! It was all true!

We turned in our costumes and held one final meeting after the pageant last night, finally getting to bed at about 1:30 am! It was a wonderful and satisfying meeting. We made lots of new friends, some of which live very close to us in Magna and we hope we may continue some of these associations. But a good friend taught me something very wise a few years ago. He said that not only our families are Eternal, but so are our friendships (after all, we are one big family!). And if we are not able to always associate with each other as much as we would like to here, we will do so in the world to come.

We look forward to seeing you all.

Today's question: In what year were the saints first forced to start leaving Nauvoo?