A Blessing in Disguise

June 27, 2014

Hi All

First off, I can’t believe Kevin is so tall! That is not cool! Kevin, stop becoming a man okay? Just hold out until I get home and then you can start growing again. The same goes with Mitty. He better still be a puppy when I get back! hahaha.

So, this week has been a crazy one! We got a new sister in our branch who has kinda been moved around from place to place. She came here a month ago from some small island next to Fiji. She was originally supposed to go to the Philippines, but she got really sick here. The doctors this week just told her that she has leprosy. That’s right. Like in the bible times. It so hard on her because she can’t go to any mission in her condition but, she is too sick to go home. Plus, she wouldn’t have the medical care at home that she needs. So, this whole week, since she got moved into our branch, I have been sitting with her and making sure that she isn’t alone. At first, I felt like it was such a burden. I’m sorry to say it, but I was being so selfish. All I could think about was "I can’t believe she is making me miss my Mongolian class for this" or "why don’t they just send her home". But as the week went on, and I witnessed how much pain she is in and yet how happy and optimistic she is, I was truly humbled. As she told me her conversion story, I realized that things were actually the other way around. Was I sacrificing class time to be with her? Yes. But I was certainly not missing out on anything. I have seen the blessings of heaven poured out on me. I have not skipped a beat with learning Mongolian. I use that time to study the scriptures and Mongolian and I understand it! And I am so blessed and humbled to get to spend time with such a worthy and dedicated missionary. She is so strong and I hope one day I can be more like her. On that note, I have a request for you mom. She has to spend most of her time in her room. She is isolated there and she is in pain most of the time. Her family is very poor and sending her things is out of the question, I am sure. So, I was wondering if you could get a little care package together for her? She says she loves candy and fruit. But no chocolate. She could probably benefit from some time wasting activities? I’m not really sure. haha like puzzles or coloring books. Is that dumb? haha I don’t know. Mom, if you could do that, I would be so grateful! But I already know that you are always so willing to serve! Let me know what you think. Her name is Sister Teirua, but you can just send it to me ;)  

So this week was a special week because all of the new Mission Presidents were here for training, which meant that all of the apostles and the prophet were here also! There was security everywhere all week and buildings were closed at random times during the day. But the upside to that was that we had great speakers for devotional! I kept hoping that the prophet would speak, but alas, I never got to see him. haha But elder Christofferson spoke to us and he was so powerful. You can just feel the spirit and power of the Lord fill the room when he walked in. He talked about the greatest thing we can do as missionaries and as people is to love. Love everyone and everything. We are never just talking to ordinary people. Our investigators aren’t just robots that are disguised as a baptismal number. They are the children of our Heavenly Father and he loves them. I am always so humbled by the trust the Lord has in me to go and be his hands and his heart out in Mongolia. Elder Christoffersen said something that hit me. He said, "The amount of trust that we have in the Lord can only ever be match by the amount of trust he has in us. Let us not disappoint Him". It is so true! Think of how much trust he puts in us each and every day! We have the freedom to choose everyday. So, let us all trust him as much as he trusts in us. He is there for all of us :) 

Finally, this week we started learning Mongolian sign language as well as continuing our language training and ESL training. So, I guess there is a large community of deaf people in Mongolia because of the vaccinations they gave everyone when they are babies. They just gave one big shot to everyone and it wasn’t very accurate and so there is a whole generation of deaf people. So it is very very likely that we will at some point teach a deaf investigator or even be called as a sign language missionary for a while. Sometimes, I feel like they are going to keep giving us new things to learn each week.... haha I get overwhelmed a lot. There is a lot that is expected of us as these young representatives of the Lord. But I know we can do it! I’ve already been blessed sooooo much! And the missionaries in my district are awesome! The elders are so young 19 and 20, but they are soooo mature. And us sisters are just awesome anyways ;) Well, I think that is all for this week! I love you all so much! Trust in your Heavenly Father. He will help and guide you if you ask! Have a good week and know that I love you all!

You da best! 

Love always, 

Sister Royal 

Climbing The Mountain

June 20, 2014

These 6 Missionaries are all heading out to Mongolia.

This is Amy's District 

The English as a second language zone

Hi Everyone! 

This week has been great! We did our first TRC this week (it is where we meet with real people and speak Mongolian with them) I was sooooo nervous for it! Elder Hatton and I work really well together, but his Mongolian is so much better than mine so I was scared I would get drowned out. I prayed so hard to have the spirit to be with me. And as we walked into the room with real investigators, I felt such peace come over me. Both Elder Hatton and I tried not to write a lot down becuse we wanted the spirit to guide us and it worked! We were conversing and talking about things we hadn't really learned. Words were coming to my head that I'm sure we haven't learned before, but I knew them! The spirit was so strong! It was one of the coolest experiences I've had so far! I love being a missionary! I am so humbled by how much the Lord blesses me each day. When I first started my mission, I though that I was giving up something by being here and I was happy to do it, but As time progresses here at the MTC, I realize that I am not giving up anything. I am leaving those whom I love for only a short period of time and I am gaining so much from it. I am being blessed in ways I can't even express. And I am so grateful for it! Life it great! 

We've had quite a few cool speakers lately at devotionals. I think it is because it is summer time so the apostles are all in town. Plus we are here for so long, so its bound to happen. lol We've had Elder Cook and Elder Ballard come as well as Sister Dew. Sister Dew said something in her devotional that really hit me. She said, "The Lord rarely moves the mountians in front of us, but He will ALWAYS help us get to the top". And It is so true. Missions are hard. Life is hard. Each of us have our own little mountians to climb each day. but all we have to do it ask the Lord to help us get the the top. And he will! Sometimes it is easy to feel like we are downing in the stresses/craziness of life. But just remember, our lifeguard walks on water! I love you all! 

Until next week! 

Sister Royal

Watch out for Mongolian Bankhar dogs!!

Weekly email: June 13, 2014

Sain Baina oo!!! 

This week has been such a blur! As I was thinking about what I wanted to write about in my email home, the days seemed to blur together and it felt like it was the longest and shortest week of my life. Time kind of melts away as you are here in the MTC. It is like a whole other world here. But I love it! We got more international missionaries this week and they are all so great! I also had to say goodbye to a lot of missionaries from my zone this week and it made me so sad! I just want to get out in the field already! haha. I met with our English as a Second Language teachers this week. It was a bit overwhelming to think that I have to learn how to teach English while also learning how to speak Mongolian and learning how to be a missionary. I have come to the embarrassing realization that I am a crier when I get stressed. After a particualrly hard day of Mongolian class, I was so stressed that I had to leave the room holding back my sobs. Needless to say that the poor elders in my district as well as my teacher didnt know how to handle that. But, it is funny how I can be so stressed, yet so happy all at the same time. Even as I was crying in the hallway, I was so happy to be a missionary. And it turns out that all I needed was a little crying sesh with my comps and then I was able to get back to class and learn more about the language than I ever have before. Each day that I learn more about my mission, more about the people of Mongolia, and more about the other missionaries in my district, the more I realize how honored and lucky I am to be going to the place I am going with the missionaries I am going with. 

Happy Father's Day to all of the fathers out there! There is a councelor in my branch presidency that looks just like my dad and it makes me smile everytime I see him. I wished him Happy Father's day for you pops :) Also, I found out that there are these large Dogs in mongolia called Bonkers (I dont know how to spell it in english...)( Mongolian Bankhar Dogs) Just google it. They are the most terrifying things I have ever seen and I hear they just roam the streets of mongolia and that they like to chase american missionaries.... hahahaha. They say some can get as tall as I am! It will be an adventure for sure. I am so happy here and I am so grateful for all the love I have felt from my family and friends. I love you all! The church is true and missionaries are awesome ;) 

Love always, 

Royal Egch

PS From Mom..Amy is missing getting mail except once a week by email. Send her a letter throughdearelder.com It's free and often same day delivery. Information you should know: 

Amy is at the Provo MTC. Unit #44 Mission MON-ULA Date leaving MTC JUL29

It's like texting (but you get no response) 

Working Hard at the MTC

Day One at the MTC. The orange dot on my tag lets everyone know I am new and to be nice to me. My companions are Sister Peterson and Sister Cleaveland. I love them already

June 6, 2014

Hi Everyone! 

My week has been so busy, stressful and wonderful all at the same time! We taught our first investigator in Mongolian... twice! It is a little hard to communicate when you dont know what they are saying and you are not even completely sure what you are saying... haha but the spirit speaks through all languages, so its been good. I can now pray and say a few simple sentinces about Joseph Smith in Mongolian. My teahcers are so patient with us. haha. 

Being a sister training leader has been awesome! It is a difficult calling, especially when I am by myself (why dont they call two sister training leaders again....), but I have grown so much from it. Our zone is the English as a Second Language zone, which means almost all of the new missionaries coming in are foriegn. On Wednesday, we had 25 new foriegn missionaries and 18 of them were girls. I had to make sure that they got to their meetings on time, get them aquianted with the MTC and make sure I didnt loose any on the way. It was stressful to say the least, but it is amazing how willing these sisters are to serve. I respect and love them so much! We have an elder from Micronesia who barely speaks english and he is headed to a spanish speaking mission! He is such a strong missionary already! 

On Tuesday, we had our service assignment. our district was moving bed frames into the new dorms for the missionaries. I dont know why they asked the sisters to come because it seemed like the Brothers in charge were determined to have us sit on the sidelines while the men did the work. Finally, after begging enough, the elders let me carry my very own bed frame up to the rooms. And that may have been even worse that sitting on the sidelines. Every elder I passed on my way up greeted me with a "good job Sister" or "wow sister, thats heavy!" hahaha I was furious! And the worse part was, the bed frame was actually really heavy and I had to carry it up 4 flights of stairs! But I couldn't give up in order to prove my point, so I think I may have pulled something in the name of making a point. haha but it was worth it! (mom, you can take this part out of the letter if you are too embarrassed to have a closet feminist as a daughter ;) I really do love everything about the MTC, even the elders who think us sisters dont have muscles... ;) 

My district is fanstastic! The elders are so funny and dilligent. they work sooooo hard at the language. And my companions are just as strong. Each day I am more and more honored to be going to Mongolia with those elders and sisters. I love and miss all of you! Aunt Debra, thank you for the wonderful email update you sent me! Sorry I didnt have enough time to write you back! I took lots of pics this week, but I am still not really sure how to send it in an email, so you will have to wait a little longer. The church is true y'all 

Love Always, 

Royal Egch    

Amy Off to the Mission Training Center

 Week One at the Mission Training Center May 30, 2014

May 28 2014

Bye Bye Amy

May 30, 2014
Sain baina uu!! 

Surprise! I bet you guys didn't expect to hear from me so soon. My P-days are now on Fridays. I love P-days more than I have ever loved any weekend! I know I have only been here a few days, but I am already worn out! haha. I guess that is what the mission is. My Branch President tells us that you enter the MTC and you are exhausted the whole time until the night you come home from your mission. But it is a good kind of tired. I am so happy here! I love having my name and the Lords name on my badge at all times. It reminds me of the importance of the mission. My companions are great! Sister Petersen is so kind and funny. We are so alike. Sister Cleaveland is quiet, but so kind and always so dedicated to the Lord! I feel so blessed because it is so easy to love my companions! The other Elders in my district are so great! They are in a trio as well and they work so hard! The language is hard.There is no easy way to put it. But we take all our free time and dedicate it to making up fun games to help us remember the alphabet. Our teachers are great, but they only speak to us in Mongolian. So, I spend 90% of the time feeling lost and stupid, but there is that glorious 10% where I can actually remember the things I've learned and sound like a true mongolian for a few seconds. haha. On Saturday, we are teaching our first investigator in mongolian. You read it right. IN MONGOLIAN! I am terrified. haha. And because we are both trios in our district, I am paired up with Elder Hatton, who I swear is part mongolian because he is running circles around me when it comes to the language. But, I know the Lord can strengthen my weak things and help me to learn! 

Last night, we had our first branch meeting and I was called to be the Sister Training Leader! It is basically the equivalent of a Zone leader and I am freaking out. I have only been here a few days, so I am still learning how to do things myself and now I have to help all the other sisters as well... But I am humbled by the opportunity and I pray that I wont lose any of the sisters. haha. I have only been here for a few days and I already feel like I have been here a lifetime, but I enjoy every second of it! I miss you guys a ton, But I truly know you will be blessed as you support me through the mission. 

Love you all! and I cant wait for next P-day! 

Love, 

Egch (Sister) Royal

PS, because we have to spell our name out phonetically into mongolian, I will now be known as Egch Royalth. haha oh well :)