Two Months into our Mission

We are two months into our mission, still at the MTC and in language 6 hours a day. I thought I would fill you in on our daily schedule, just to let you know:
We start out class at 9:00 am every day. We have a native Mongolian Tutor for two hours, she helps us with grammar, tasks, words, phrases, vocabulary and word endings - love those words endings!?! She gives us approximately 2 hours of homework also. We have 3 hours for homework and lunch. Then, at 2:00 we have a Guide come in for 2 hours in the afternoon, she doesn't speak Mongolian. For an hour she guides us, helping us learn how to study and use the materials, CD's and books, we received. An hour of that time a volunteer comes in, usually a return missionary, they do alot of role playing with us (my favorite thing - not!!), and help us practice speaking and listening. Class ends at 4:00. We are pretty tired by then!
We come home to - more studying, scriptures and so on! Jody is good to keep doing the cooking and cleaning, but Dad still likes to putter outside and is trying to winterize things. He and Garry went to Scofield last Saturday and winterized the cabin.
This week has been a long week - we started a new task, "Make a Contact", I felt a little overwhelmed with all the new, and BIG, LONG words, one had 17 letters! But, we are learning, and they keep telling us we are doing really good, and we can see improvement! We can even understand some of the conversation - if they talk slow! They told us today that we have received more language training than any couple - ever, at the MTC, that is because of the visa's! So that probably means they are learning on us! But, that is OK! We're grateful they are willing to do all of this, I imagine it is costing them some money.
Two other couples entered the MTC on Monday, it looks like they too will be on delay. Sister Lasson, they left 2 weeks before we were scheduled to leave in August, emailed us and said that two of the couples in Mongolia had gotten sick and went home early, so they are now short 5 couples and 13 young missionaries...they are anxious to get us there, too.
The travel office told us that the Mongolian Govt., still has not issued the letters of invitation - once they do it takes 2 weeks to process them - I guess someone hasn't heard of faxing, emailing or something!
We are so grateful for something to do and somewhere to go everyday. The Lord is aware of us and we have felt of His love and protection - All is Well! Take care of each other and we Love You!

Oct 2, 2009

It has been almost 6 weeks we have been on visa-delay, and trying to think of something different to say. But, we are so very grateful to have been here for Joshua's birth! He is a cutie! We are so proud of all of our wonderful and cute grand kids!

We have had a couple of e-mails from Pres. Andersen in Mongolia, informing us that they are making progress on our visa situation.

Today, we checked in at the travel office, at the MTC and they said Salt Lake has not as yet received the invitation, but once they do get it, it will be approximately 2 weeks longer for the paperwork and sending it to Washington DC, or whatever they need to do! We were taken back a little, hoping they wouldn't be that long.

We are still in language lessons - learning the finer points of Mongolian grammar. We can pray and testify and talk with members, a little! We can tell the taxi driver to turn right or left or take us "near to the Chinggis Khan Hotel"! The church office building is next to this Hotel. Next week we will be learning how to purchase something.

One quote, I really liked, they gave us in the MTC is about language..."When we can teach someone in their second language, we speak to their mind. When we can teach them in their native language we speak to their hearts."

We are doing good and grateful to Jody for putting up with us and cooking, too! I haven't done much of that. Thank you to all of you for your prayers and checking in with us. We love you!

This is for you Richard...

I would just like you to see how well Kevin is taking care of your cactus. It's now white instead of green, extremely hairy and it looks like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. This is why I only wanted him to take ONE of your plants. Good thing we love him.

He's Here

Joshua Ryan Williams

Born September 27th, 2009 at 4:25 a.m. after 8 hours of labor.

7 lbs., 1 oz.

20" long

Happy, healthy, stinky, and squirmy

And we love him more than we can say.

The Student of the Month

Only a few weeks into the first semester at a new school and Ethan was presented with a Student of the Month award. Way to go Ethan! Your family is so very proud of you. You have worked very hard in school and it is nice to see your hard work acknowledged.

The announcement was made at a school-wide assembly. Mommy, Bronwyn Sue and Daddy were invited to attend. Jonah was there with his kindergarten class. Papa Mike and Grandma Sue were in Boise for Gabe's birthday so they were also able to attend. (We missed you Papa Richard and Grandma Jean.) Ethan was pretty excited. He wore a shy little grin the entire time. After receiving the award, he told us he really liked it when everyone clapped for him and the other winners.

Needless to say Tama and I were very proud of him for achieving this accomplishment. At the same time, one of the most satisfying parts of this experience was watching how excited Jonah was for his brother. Jonah clapped and waved to Ethan. Ethan is lucky to have a little brother who is such a big fan. He is also lucky to have such a great supportive family. I hope he realizes what a great fan club he has.

Kye

Kye is funny, we love it when he comes over to visit.

He looked a little ticked at his mom for steeling a bite,

"Mom, Mom!"

MTC Devotionals and Firesides

Sept 21, 2009

Hi everyone!...We are still at home and traveling back and forth to the MTC. Today and tomorrow our 13 young missionaries are leaving for temporary assignments in the US. It was sad to see them go, now we feel all alone, with 2,500 other missionaries!?! But some good news, our Mission Pres. emailed us from Mongolia and told us they are making progress with the visas, they have no date as yet but only a couple of things to be negotiated. So we are getting closer! The MTC Devotionals and Firesides have been so wonderful! We will miss those when we leave. So, I wanted to share some of the thoughts we have learned.

MTC: "Notice the hand of the Lord and the miracles that are happening in your life, while you are on your mission, share them with your family. A mission is a life-changing event, it will affect you the rest of your life. Embrace all of it - the good, the bad and the ugly! Let it make you what God wants you to be. Be the missionary my grand children think your are!"...Elder Jeffery R. Holland, Quorum of the Twelve

"There are 104 languages in the world, we teach 52 of them here in Provo. There are 53,000 missionaries world-wide, 2,500 (give or take) here at the MTC, with 56 Branches. There are 15 MTC's across the world, with 344 missions. There are currently 4,400 senior missionaries." He then went on in jest..."I get phone calls from 341 Mission Pres. a week, pleading their case for senior couples, and why their mission should be put at the top of the list. We could place 6,500 seniors, right now." ...Richard G. Hinckley, Missionary Department of the Church

Elder Richard G. Scott, of the Quorum of the Twelve also came and spoke, his was so touching! He ask by a show of hands how many were learning a language..."As an Apostle of the Lord, I leave you with an Apostolic Blessing, I wish to confer upon you the gift of tongues, to be able to bear testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ, in your language!" He also left a blessing upon the sister missionaries, "As long as you are completely obedient, you will be protected!" He spoke so powerfully, "Jesus loves and strengthens us, all of us, who are in His Service, He lives! I know He lives, because I know Him!"

Obedience & Faith: "Stay so far inside the rules that you don't even know they exist." and "Satan wants us to be selectively obedient, by choosing what we will and will not obey." and "Don't be afraid of mistakes, there is no magical formula for life. Satan glories in our disappointments and discouragements - because they will limit our faith." and Elder Bednar was quoted, "Success is a gift, don't get frustrated...Do everything in your power, work hard...expect nothing. Then when things work our and something good happens - Be grateful! Be surprised!" and "If we lower our expectations and think negatively our faith will be weakened."

Preach My Gospel is a wonderful book and we have learned so much from it, if you want something to read - it is wonderful. "Preach My Gospel was "born" to convert the missionary. Previous plans and lessons were written to convert the investigator. But, the Lord and the Church cannot afford to loose you! It's purpose is to bring the Gospel into your heart and into your very soul, then you can go out and convert the investigator!" ...J. R. Holland

One last thought on the Atonement: "The Atonement is not for all - but, is for each one of us individually. We have to accept and receive Him one by one!"...R. G. Scott

I also must say how wonderful the music is at the MTC. Hearing 2,500 missionaries sing "Called to Serve", is quite an experience and gives me chills!

We love all of you so much and thanks for the prayers, support and love!! Love Emaa and Ovoo