Mongolian countryside

Presented here are portions of Elder Daniel Willoughby’s nineteenth email from the Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Mission. If anyone wishes to send Daniel a message, write it in the comments and I will make sure he receives it.

The boating trip looked fun. Thanks for the pictures. They are always fun to look at.

Missionary Work

Missionary work here is moving right along. In the summer it slows down a bit because lots of people move to the countryside. My companion and I are doing the best we can. Yesterday was exciting with seven investigators that came to church. One of them my companion invited just once and he came. I like people that do things that they say they will. I’ve noticed a lot of the older Mongolian men keep to their word. It’s a good quality to have. Also church was refreshing. It was good to renew covenants and reflect on what the Savior did for me and all people.

Yesterday a 22 year old started talking to me. He read, “Book of Mormon” on my Book of Mormon. Normally people don’t talk to me first so I asked if we could meet with him later and he said yes. We went to his house that day and taught his family. It was a great experience. He said, “Please come. Please come” as we left indicating he wanted us to return.

There isn’t much more to say than that the stake was formed. Everything else is much the same and works just as normal as it did before. I know that soon they will get a Patriarch and he’ll be able to give blessings.

The Hike

Strange as it sounds hiking in Mongolia is like hiking in Utah. You start at the bottom of the mountain and walk up it. The faster you hike, the more exhausting it becomes and stopping to rest is always an option. I like to conquer the hill as quick as I can. Maybe there are some differences in hiking. I am on the other side of the world… so I’m hiking the opposite way I would be if I was in Utah. It doesn’t feel that way. It still seems like an upward direction to me. Anyway, it was great. The land was great to look at and it was relaxing to get out of the city for awhile. I really enjoyed it. I sent a few more pictures of the landscape.

To Mom

My companion is doing well. He is trying his best to learn English. We saw his sister in a mini bus while we were walking down the street. That is always exciting.

The picture of me in front of the city with the mountains in the background is my new area. All the way to up to the mountain and to the right. It’s big.

Daniel’s new Ulaanbataar area

To Dad

Hey! Happy Fathers Day this Sunday. You are an awesome Dad and I love you a lot. I decided to give you pictures for Fathers Day (Mom probably likes them better). There should be 7 or so. Thanks for being so active in the church and honoring your priesthood. It is a great blessing for me to have a wonderful Dad like you.

Elder Caldwell (a couple missionary here) said you posted something on his blog. He found me at the fireside and said Hi. He said he had no clue how you found his blog. Not bad for being a little Rickety.

Love, Elder Willoughby

P.S. I think I got my mission call a year ago today.

Daniel holding a Mongolian Book of Mormon

Presented here are portions of Elder Daniel Willoughby’s eighteenth email from the Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Mission. If anyone wishes to send Daniel a message, write it in the comments and I will make sure he receives it.

Ulaanbaatar Mongolia West Stake

It was history in the making for Mongolia. The first stake was formed yesterday. I was happy to see how many members were there. What impressed me was when the Mongolians that accepted the new callings in the stake seemed like they had been members their whole lives. To have the Church already have a stake here shows to anyone that it really is true.

We traveled to the country side this preparation day. It was an adventure and took up most of the day so I can’t write much. The picture is of a hike we went on [Rickety note: It appears Daniel sent the wrong photograph]. It is similar to hiking in Utah. The sky is very blue here.

To Bryon:

Good luck! You’ll be great. There is granola cereal at the far left side of the cafeteria. I enjoyed that, Paul told me about it. I liked the very front of the bleachers for the firesides and devotionals. Careful though some of the seats are slightly broken and lean forward. Anyway you’ll figure it out. It will be great.

Love, Elder Willoughby

External Articles

The Ulaanbaatar West Stake! (Mike and Melba’s Mongolian blog)
First stake in Mongolia is organized (LDS Church News)

Celebrating Ganbeleg’s birthday

Presented here are portions of Elder Daniel Willoughby’s seventeenth email from the Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Mission. If anyone wishes to send Daniel a message, write it in the comments and I will make sure he receives it.

Wow its crazy that Nathan is already home. Didn’t he just leave? It sounds like he had a very successful mission.

Daniel Singing in Mongolian

Mongolian

On Mother’s Day Daniel spoke with the family and Jill recorded him singing in Mongolian.

Missionary Work

This week was definitely different from last week. It has been good to get to know my new companion. We celebrated his birthday in our apartment (see picture). Surprisingly I have almost met his entire family. One day his dad was on the bus in the city and his brother gave a ride another day. Mongolia is a small place so a lot of Mongolian missionaries here see their families.

Most of the time I can understand what my companion says, which is an amazing blessing from the Lord. Sometimes we get out the Oxford dictionary and attempt to say things to each other. It is a good experience. He is trying really hard to learn English and thanks me for teaching him. I am not the best teacher but the Lord is helping him learn.

The Branches

The new branch is great. I am doing my best to get to know them. I am able to talk to one member a lot that likes to try and speak English. Most of the time I can understand what he is trying to say. The branch missionaries are really good to come with us when we teach lessons and they are good teachers.

Helping to convert to a summer ger

Yesterday made me very happy. There was a fireside being held at my old branch and we were able to attend. When I got there my old district all said, “Elder Willoughby!” I couldn’t help but smile. They all gave me hugs and when I say that the Sisters are excluded. I also got to see Mongon od and Erdenmuhx. As I was talking with Erdenmuhx she said she was looking for me when she received the Holy Ghost. She recited to me, “Where is Elder Willoughby?” I said I really wanted to be there but when the president says to move, we move. She understood and was happy to see me. Mongon Od also volunteered at the fireside to read a scripture. Elder Altangerel said to me, “That’s our new member. :)” We gave each other high fives.

I was also greeted warmly from the Branch President, his counselors, and the other members in the branch. It made all the hard efforts worth it. It made me so happy to see my new members there going strong.

Weather

It is warm mornings, kind of hot in the afternoon, and great temperatures the rest of the day. It is much just like the weather in Utah.

To Mom:

I am very grateful that you are my mom. You were and still are my favorite mom. I love you for who you are and you mean a lot to me. I’d be no where without you.
The backpack I got from the MTC works great for my mission. It was 30 dollars. I bought a carry-on in addition to my backpack at the MTC as well which was even cheaper. It worked great and I had no problems. Every mission is different. The apartment is nicer than the last one. It’s very comfortable. Thanks for taking care of Mikey. :)

To Dad:

I have to say that for how old you are, sleeping in church should be part of your routine, but I am grateful for your example of always making the effort to fulfill your callings. I am not really sure where Ehxtaban is… The stake was delayed because of presidential elections here. Nothing bad happened, they were just being cautions I think. When I learn more I’ll tell you about it.

To Byron:

You’ll be great. Work hard in the MTC and it will be a blessing your whole mission. I absolutely loved the MTC, even after 13 weeks there I would have stayed (well, maybe). Don’t let anyone mess up your thinking of what you can become. The possibilities are endless. The Lord has great things in store for you. I am excited for you to serve along with me. I don’t want you at my homecoming but I want to be at yours.

To Steven:

Thanks for the pictures. Its fun to get to look at them.

Love, Elder Willoughby

Altangerel, Mongon Od, and Daniel at church

Presented here are portions of Elder Daniel Willoughby’s fifteenth email from the Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Mission. If anyone wishes to send Daniel a message, write it in the comments and I will make sure he receives it.

Thanks for the great letters. It was fun to read what everyone is up to. It honestly feels like a month has passed by since last preparation day. It’s the benefit of waking up early and going to bed early. We accomplish so much in one day. Thanks Annie and Marci for the great letters. Happy birthday Paul! Are you really 24? Wow.

There are some hamburgers at this one store, but they tend to be expensive. Some missionaries go and buy raw cow meat from the market and fry up some hamburgers. I haven’t bothered to do that I am content with rice and noodles.

Missionary Work

Our investigator Erdenmohx passed her baptismal interview and will be baptized this Friday. Yesterday I was talking to her about her interview she would be having today. I asked, “Do you have to work tomorrow?” She said jokingly, “Work doesn’t matter, Church is first.” We both laughed and I could tell it relieved some of her stress. She has made great sacrifices to qualify for baptism, while working to pay for her daughter’s school and turning down her friend’s requests to go to parties. I have truly seen the power the Book of Mormon has to change lives. We are so blessed from Heavenly Father to have such a good investigator and are very excited for her. I have learned that the Lord provides a way for anyone that is willing to put forth the effort. Everyone has great potential to become something great.

I am starting to understand people better. I am working hard to learn the language. At times it is very difficult, but instead of getting frustrated I pray and ask for help. I keep a positive attitude about all things and know that if I rely on the Lord He will help me. What I have learned so far has been a blessing from Heavenly Father. He has increased many of my abilities and continues to teach me.

Our branch decided to try and start home teaching again. They got really excited and started assigning companions. I realized that missionary work is exactly what home teaching is, but instead of teaching members we teach non members. It says that in Preach My Gospel somewhere. We had a lot of Mongolians attend the fireside again. Along with them come Hyrbek and Erdenmohx. I was happy that they came with us.

I know that this church is true and Thomas S. Monson is our prophet today. I know that God loves us. He sent His son because He loved us. I have felt His love through the power of the Holy Ghost. Christ has suffered for all of our sins and I know that through His atonement we all can live peacefully and happily for all eternity.

To Mom:

I’d like to have the letter from Mikey Fong. Did you give him the non-pouch address? The two letters from Steven came quickly that weren’t sent in the pouch. Mikey Fong is one of my greatest friends. Did you treat him well when he stopped by? :) Thanks for everything you do Mom, I love you.

To Dad:

Sister Andersen talked to me about your blog. She said someone who was traveling to Mongolia got their information from there and contacted her. I think he is now in Mongolia and investigating the church. I don’t know the full story but it sounds like your blog is doing great things.

The best way to describe what the hole is for is “a small house with the word out in front of it.”

Love, Elder Willoughby

The hole that Daniel helped dig for a part-member family

Presented here are portions of Elder Daniel Willoughby’s fourteenth email from the Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Mission. If anyone wishes to send Daniel a message, write it in the comments and I will make sure he receives it.

Helping Hands Project (Daniel on left)

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Happy Mother’s Day Mom!

Nergu, Totdox, and Beleg with family at their baptism

The pictures are of the baptism two weeks ago and the service project we did with multiple churches last week. Keep up the great work. It sounded like everyone was doing well and having a great life. Thanks for the continued support and love. We are working to help people continue to come to church and activities. Paul, Steven, and Jake will you send any good ideas of activities that you have done? We hold family home evenings on Monday. I wasn’t in the singles ward so I’m not very familiar with many activities. How do you balance your schedule to attend church and go to school? The members here are having similar challenges.

Missionary work is still going great. It was fun talking to you [for Mother’s Day]. This week we supported the members more and did a lot of service and activities with them. We are doing our best to strengthen the members as well and bring more into the church. It was neat to see Mongon Od pass the sacrament yesterday. He had a smile on and was doing his best to learn from the members what to do. He is a great new member. He received the calling to stand at the door and welcome people.

As for things that I need I don’t think I need anything. The dictionary will be nice to have like I said, but I could do without one. I am happy to serve the Lord and do my best so He can use me as an instrument in His hands.

You do good work Dad. Thanks for being a great father and good example to me.

Love, Elder Willoughby

Mormon Helping Hands Project working with other churches

Presented here are portions of Elder Daniel Willoughby’s thirteenth email from the Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Mission. If anyone wishes to send Daniel a message, write it in the comments and I will make sure he receives it.

Keep up the great work. As from what I have read there is a lot of change going on. Stay happy and always go to church. :)

The missionaries from my last district

Missionary Work

Hergu was baptized as well as Totdox. It was a good experience for her to be baptized. She has had a lot of opposition to overcome. Her husband doesn’t mind the church but a lot of her relatives are opposed to it. We are grateful for the Lord blessing us with many great investigators. I was happy to see her baptized. The relief society president welcomed her into the branch (soon to be a ward). Erdenmuhx is progressing, she is following the word of wisdom and attending church regularly. Totdox is our less active member’s son. He knows a lot of the primary songs. The greatest thing that he did was sing the Book of Mormon Story primary song in Mongolian. They live far away from the church. It is about a 25 minute walk to the bus stop and a good 20 or so minute drive. They did good to get all their kids there on a bus. I am grateful for the great blessings I have received. I am always learning that the church is the same no matter where you are.

Daniel standing by a ger in Mongolia

We have mission conference this weekend which is exciting. The Church here is growing very rapidly. We will receive a stake May 24, 2009. It is really exciting and there is a lot to do.

Service Projects

Today we did a service project to clean up the city. There were lots of members that attended. It was a joint church project. We wore our yellow shirts and went to work. It was a great experience to see how many yellow shirts there were. The best thing about our church is that everyone is always willing to get to work. There are lots of missionaries as well that contribute to the helping hands army. I was happy to be apart of it. We cleaned up most of the river side within three hours.

We also tilled some dirt for one the church members. We used some pick axes and shovels. It was hard work for our district but we accomplished it quickly.

Mother’s Day Call

I can call any time that works for everyone. I am thinking 7 o’clock pm. I will call once at 7 pm, then if need to I can call later. I have a phone card that seems to work well as all the other missionaries said. It will probably be delayed so no need to worry. It is preparation day for me so if 7 o’clock Mountain Standard Time doesn’t work I can easily call later. Happy early Mother’s Day! I love you mom. Thanks family.

Love, Elder Willoughby

Related Posts

List of Daniel’s missionary posts.