My stories as a Sister Missionary serving in Mongolia.
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Email Address: amy.royal@myldsmail.net
Sister Amy Royal
5th Fl, LDS Church Bldg, Tokyo Stree 6
Bayanzurkh District, 1st Khoroo
Ulaanbaantar
13381
Mongolia

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

A Week Of Miracles

July 18, 2014
I Love My Companions 
Sister Petersen and Sister Cleaveland


This has been a week of miracles! 

This week, my companions and I have been praying for miracles in our missionary work. But, as we prayed, we realized that there is no good praying for things if we were not willing to look for them. So, we bought a journal at the bookstore and I have converted it into my mission miracle book. And as soon as I got that book, the miracles have been flowing in. It makes me wonder if miracles happen all around us and we just don't take the time to see them.
Miracle #1
We got special permission to go visit a sick sister in the hospital. Sister Teirua is not doing well. She has been in the hospital for a little more than 2 weeks now and she is not showing any signs of improvment. I love that sister so much and it breaks my heart to see her like that, but we get to visit her weekly which is such a blessing. It was such a tender mercy and I was so happy to leave the mtc for a little bit ;) But after we left and we were waiting for the shuttle to pick us up, I couldn't help but feel like I needed to be more missionary like... hahaha we were sitting in this waiting room full of people, but I couldnt get the courage up to talk to any of them. Then, we moved outside on the benches so that the driver could see us better, (we were beginning to think he forgot about us because we had been waiting so long) and I kept saying a silent prayer in my head that I would have the courage to talk to someone. Soon, I looked over at the valet stand and I see the parking attendant reading a mini Book of Mormon. I assumed he was a member, but I decided to start small and to build up enough courage to talk to him. So I just said "Hey, I really like that book you are reading". That sparked the start of the best converstaion I have had while on my mission so far. It turns out that he had actually never really heard much about the church. He had just moved here a couple weeks ago and an old co-worker had given the Book of Mormon to him. He was bored that day and so he just started reading it. We were able to answer all his questions he had about the church and to bear my testimony of the truthfullness of the gospel. I told him to read the Book of Mormon and that if he prayed about it, he would know of its truthfullness. Then, he looked me straight in the eye and said, "I dont like when people lie to me or are not straight up with me. So, can you honestly tell me that you beleive this is the true church?" At that moment, peace overpowered me and I said with more conviction that I even knew I had in me "I know that this is the truth and I know that the Lord loves you" Our shuttle came at that moment, but we asked him to go to church and to contact the missionaries. We are going again to the hospital today, so I hope we see him again! 
Miracle #2
I GOT MY ENGLISH SPONSOR!!!!! And you know what that means..... I got my Visa!!!!! ok, drum roll please......... I will be a private English tutor for a wealthy family living in Ulaanbaatar. I can't remember their names right now... But, there are two young boys and I will be teaching them in their home after school. We do not know for sure, but they are probably members. My teacher says that if they are members, they will be really flexible with my schedule. They also said that the mission president usually uses the people with member sponsors to go out to the country side when needed. They said that I will probably be able to spend a few transfers in the country side!! ahhh! Can you beleive that?? Because I can't... hahaha. But I am so excited! 
Miracle #3
I GOT MY TRAVEL PLANS! I will be leaving on Sunday, July 27 at 8:30 PM and I will fly to LA, Beijing, and finally to Mongolia!!!! We will be traveling for a total of 2 days and we will be getting to Mongolia on Tuesday morning ready for a full day of missionary work..... hahahaha. I will not lie, when we got our travel plans, I cried so hard. It was a mix of relief and excitment and fear all put into one. haha. I mean, who goes to Mongolia??? But, That night, I was reading my scriptures and I came accoss D&C 78:17-18 Read it. It is a beautiful scripture. Sometimes, we are asked to do things that are hard and that we may not fully understand. But, we are his little children and we cannot comprehend all the blessings he has in store for us. But, until we can comprehend it, he will lead us by the hand. So be happy! Because the Lord is watching over you :) 
Miracle #4
I taught my first English class at the English Learning Center near BYU. We had a class of 8 students whose English is about as good as my Mongolian is. I was so scared! But things went so well! It makes me excited to be able to teach those cute little boys in Mongolia. 
Ok, this is probably the longest letter I have written, But I had so much to tell you! I miss you all so much but I am so happy to be here! PS, my next Pday will be on Thursday instead of Friday, so make sure to email me ;) oh and mom, I will be calling you at every airport I go to, which means you will probably be getting a call at 10PM and 2AM. Sorry if that is an inconviencence, but I will be tooooo excitedddd to sleeeeeeep! hahaha. I love you all. 

Love, 
Sister Royal 

Send a letter before  July 27

Sister Amy Royal
JUL29  MON-ULA
2007 N. 900 E. Unit 44
Provo, Utah 84602

Friday, July 11, 2014

Happy Fourth

Happy Fourth of July

July 11, 2014
Hello Everyone! 
Well, another week has come and gone here at the MTC. Yes, Im still here. hahaha. But, I only have less than 3 more weeks before I leave! Ahh. I feel no where close to ready to leave, but I am excited for the adventures to come. (And also excited to not have to eat MTC food any more!) I hope everyone's fourth of July was awesome! Mine sure was! We had a talent show, watched 17 miracles (*gasp* a real life featured film?) and finally watched the fireworks at the very end. It was my first glance into the real world since I entered the Missionary Training Center. It was great. And I even heard Carrie Underwood belt the Star Spangled Banner. It was a breath of fresh air! This week, I also observed my first ESL class and on thursday, I will be teaching a class by myself! Scary! I dont know how they expect us to teach after a week or so of training, but I will do it with a smile on my face :) I loved working with these ESL students! They are so willing to learn and excited for my help. 
So, I have 2 funny stories to tell you before I go. The first is when we were teaching one of our progressing investigators named Thauga. He is a middle aged man and is very closed off to our lessons. But he still continues to meet with us. Anyways, one lesson, he asked me a question I wasnt prepared to answer. I knew none of the mongolian words I needed to explain it and I was put on the spot. And as I searched my brain for some sort of help, all of my mongolian left me and I was all of a sudden thinking in spanish! thats right. I could explain the whole thing in spanish, but my mongolian was gone. After sitting in silence for a few minutes, i decided to just say something. And the first think I said was I spanish word. It was so embarrassing. My companion looked at me like I was crazy and I couldnt beleive it. My comp took the raigns on that one and afterwards, all of us had a nice laugh about it. Second Story: So, a couple days ago, my teacher pulled me aside after a lesson and let me know that there was a problem with my mongolian. She said in the nicest way possible, "Sister Royal, just so you are aware. Everytime you promise me something, you are actually telling me that you are killing me." hahahahaha WHAT?? She continued to explain to me that to promise is "amthax" and to kill is "athax" I was missing the M in my pronounciation!!!! Could you imagine if no one corrected me and I went around mongolia telling everyone that I was going to kill them.... oh man. I love being a missionary! Each day, we do things that take me out of my comfort zone and that stretch me beyond beleif. But I do it because I love the Lord and I want to serve him. And the funny thing is, I am so happy to do it! Even if I embarrass myself, its all ok because at least I am trying. I am so happy here and excited to go to mongolia! I miss you all and I love you :) I feel your love and support everyday. 

Hugs and Kisses! 
Love Always, 
Sister Royal 

PS, I posted some more pictures from the week. Sister Petersen got a fourth of July package and we all got flags to carry around. Also, I started wearing my mission shoes and I hate them. hahaha I dont even know who I am with these hideous shoes on my feet ;) but they sure are comfy! 

Love you! 



 My Ugly Mission Shoes


I Love The Lord

Friday, July 4, 2014

Happy 4th of July




Happy 4th of July Everyone! 

Tonight will be a special night here at the MTC! We have a special talent show/fireside and we get to watch the fireworks! And if we get really lucky, we will be able to hear Carrie Underwood sing from the Stadium of Fire!  Man, I miss music so much here! When ever I get the chance, I always go on Mormon.org and listen to Brandon Flowers' I'm a Mormon video because it has some of the Killers music in the background. haha I'm not kidding. We can't listen to music at all here in the MTC so, I think I'm having withdraws. 

Today has been an insteresting week with our lovely sick sister, Sister Teirua. She got especially bad yesterday and Sister Petersen and I got to go with her to a MRI appointment. We missed almost the whole day and what was more, we got to leave the MTC! It was so weird leaving those walls and going into the real world with my nametag on! But I liked it! I felt so bad for poor Sister Teirua, but she is so strong! Any prayers would be much appreciated though. 

This week, We got to do our TRC teaching in Mongolian again and we got to speak with a real Mongolian! Her name is Boika (I think that is how you spell it in English...) and she is living here in Provo with her husband! I think it might be the one that Aunt Sheree was talking about from her Stake! It was so fun, but also so different from our teachers! It was a wake up call for me knowing that there is a big difference between our American Teachers speaking Mongolian and actual Mongolians speaking Mongolian... hahaha. But we were able to communicate alright, so that was good! We have been practicing our Mongolian Sign Language more and more. it is so fun! And much easier than speaking Mongolian, oddly enough. We now know how to say our prayers and sing I am a Child of God in MSL. Its awesome! 

This week, We had a devotional from a really awesome guy... But I can't remember his name at the moment... haha.. anyways, he said something that really stuck with me. He said that "Love fuels the refiners fire" And as he said that, a line from one of my favorite songs came to mind "Chasten my soul that I may be in perfect harmony with thee". A lot of times we see our trials and hard times and as a punishment from God. Why would God let this happen to me? The word "Chasten" always seems to have a negative connotetation, often associated with getting in trouble. But I learned this week that the Lord chastens us and tries us so that we can become more like Him each day. He puts us through the refiners fire because He loves us. He wants us to become better. A mission is kind of like one big, beautiful refiners fire. I am humbled and chastened each and everyday. But I am so happy and so blessed! And I know that the Lord is only doing it so that I may be in better harmony with Him. I love my mission! The church is true! I love all of you and can feel your support and prayers each and every day and only 4 more weeks till I can get out of these walls and head into the real world! (well, as real world as mongolia can get...) haha. Love you! 

Би номлолоо хайртай! Сүм үнэн байна! Би та бүгдийг хайрладаг.

Love Always, 
Sister Royal 

Write to Amy at:

Sister Amy Eileen Royal
JUL29  MON-ULA
2007 N. 900 E. Unit 44
Provo Utah 85602

Or go to deareleder.com to send a free letter delivered that same day!

You need to know,
Sister Amy Eileen Royal
Provo-MTC
Jul29, MON-ULA
Unit#44

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