Missionary Dan Email #16 from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Presented here are portions of Elder Daniel Willoughby’s sixteenth 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.

Daniel Speaking Mongolian

On Mother’s Day Daniel spoke with the family and Jill recorded him speaking in Mongolian. Next week I will post Daniel singing in Mongolian.

Thanks

Wow! Thanks for all the pictures. Everything looks so different. Why did you move the couch? The pictures look very good. Arches national park is very pretty, I liked going there. Aurora looks great, does she already know how to use GIMP? That’d be nice… it took me forever to figure things out in that.

Thanks also for the great writings. I’ll share what I can with the people here. It is amazing how the Lord always help those people that put Him first.

Missionary Work

We were very excited for ErdenMuhx to be baptized this Friday. The branch also was excited too. Our branch president baptized her and the relief society president welcomed her. I was happy to see her fit in with the ward members so well. She brought both of her children to the baptism. She bore a good testimony after her baptism as well. She has done a lot of things to change her life and become a member of the church.

Speaking of change a lot has changed. We had half-transfers on Saturday. I didn’t get to see ErdenMuhx confirmed but the change has been good for me. I have a Mongolian companion that is learning English and knows very little. His name is Ganbeleg. He is full of energy and does good work. My new area is still in the city, actually it’s just right next to my old one. The branch is great and we have a newer building to meet in. I am humbled that I am now going to use my Mongolian a lot more to communicate. With Altangerel it was half English, half Mongolian. It was sad to leave him because we had become great friends. Now I get to develop my listening comprehension and speaking ability at a much quicker pace.

I have been very blessed with all the success the Lord gave to me and my old companion. I am happy to get to know my new one. Transfers are always a little crazy. :)

To Dad

Thanks for all you do with your blog and letting me able to be a post every week. I haven’t heard much about what the new stake has done for my new branch I am in. I know that my old branch was going to become a ward. Its exciting for the Mongolians to be progressing in the church so quickly.

To Beny

The Mongolians truly have a lot of faith and have really embraced the gospel and the Book of Mormon. The Lord has prepared them to be taught. It’s exciting to be a part of it. :)

To Steven

Thanks for the pictures. You have a great talent for taking gorgeous pictures. Some of them I thought you bought at the gift shop and edited yourself with GIMP. It looks like your new little family is doing great.

To Jake

Thanks for the great feedback. You’re a great brother, keep up the great work. I need to continue to study PMG and make sure I become something and not just do missionary things. I’ve put a lot of effort into my mission so far and I will continue to do so. We are still waiting for General Conference… Hmm maybe they are still translating it.

Love, Elder Willoughby