Merry Christmas

December 21st

HI Family and Friends!!!!

I just can’t wait to talk to you! I just got the news last night and I will be Skyping you on Friday morning at 8 AM. That is sometime Christmas night for you guys! Make sure you get the time right ok?? And don’t forget!! haha.

Also, We got your package this week!!!!!!! It was such a blessing mom. I just want you to know, you gave me the best gift I could have received. It wasn’t the candy or the Oreos or the Christmas tree. It was the Christmas spirit. I’ve been denying the fact that Christmas is here because I was scared that I would miss you too much. But by doing that, I was also denying the beauty and peace that comes by remembering Christ and what his birth meant for us. But, as I put up the Christmas tree and lit the lights and put up the cutest little manger I’ve ever seen, I let the Christmas spirit into my heart. And it hasn’t been a sad or lonely thing. It’s been wonderful! I’m so glad to be giving the Lord the only present I can offer: my time and my will. Don’t get me wrong; I miss you guys more than ever. But I now have a reason for the season. I just love you guys so much! I’m so happy you’re all together. Have you gotten my letters yet?? I’m praying they will get to you in time!

Also, we are having a Christmas party and the Sister and Elders are each singing two songs. We are sing "Santa Clause is coming to town" in English and "Come all ye faithful" in Mongolian. It’s brought such a sweet spirit into our apartment as we try and memorize the words. My comp is the cutest when she sings the Santa song! haha. Also, I opened your present... sorry. haha well, open isn’t really the right word. It was already halfway ripped open. So I had to ;) and I was reminded how much you mean to me. So thank you :) And I’m wearing the scarf right now :) 

Ok, I love you! I will be talking to you on Friday morning at 8 AM. Which is like Christmas night there. Get the time right and don’t forget ok??? I love you :) 

Also, This Sunday, we went to Naraa's house again to be a part of the Nativity scene: Mongolian style. All the young women came and they did the nativity play in the little ger all decked out in pictures of Christ. It was the sweetest thing I‘ve ever experienced. 

I realized in that moment how lucky I am to be here. Mom, I’m really not sacrificing anything. I’m the lucky one. I love my mission. I love the people. I love the culture. I love the language that I can’t speak. haha. I love it all! But don’t be mistaken; I don’t think this Friday can come soon enough. I love you! Make sure you come up with lots of questions to ask me so I don’t waste anytime being an awkward missionary ok??

I Love you all

Sister Amy Royal

Pictures

1.My comp was just too excited. We danced around in our new pajamas and she insisted that we took a million pictures haha.

 Sorry, our excitement was just tooooo much! And our pajamas were already ripped open, So we opened just the pajamas. haha. And they are a little big on my comp ;) but she seriously loved it. Thank you so much!!!

2.Our little Christmas tree.

Our new apartment is cute because it used to be the couple apt! I got so lucky! We even have a Crockpot. I hear it’s really easy to cook sheep heads in a crock pot. My comp really wants to do it... But I’m a little hesitant. haha

A Good Week In Mongolia

December 14, 2014

A Good Week

Hi :) It sounds like you had a busy week! Thanks for continuing to do your part by serving our ward. Seriously, when the members of the ward work together, great things can happen. We are trying to do that for our district right now. Our branch is pretty weak... People come to church and do their callings, but there aren’t real friendships being built. So I’ve been watching the district a lot and trying to figure out ways we can be better. One of our roles as missionaries is to leave the ward or branch better than when we came. And I’m trying my hardest to do that!

Here are answers to your questions.

Do you have dead time or do you go and go?

Um, dead time doesn’t’ really exist here. I still haven’t really figured out why, but I’m pretty sure everyone has a job of some sort, but they are always at home during weird times of the day. The Mongolian culture is just so different. It’s really relaxed and laid back. Most of the time, we don’t even call before we stop by. We just show up and they invite us in like they were expecting us all the time. It’s pretty nice. haha.

I have heard that Mongolian writing looks like falling knives. Is it true?

That is true! I’m learning how to write in the old Mongolian script. It’s actually kind of easy for me and looks really cool! When I’m riding on the bus, all the windows freeze and I practice in the ice on the window. People really like it. haha. It always strikes up conversations.

Are you able to sing any Christmas songs in Mongolian?

To answer your question, there are 2 Christmas songs translated into Mongolian and no one knows them. So we don’t sing them like at all. haha. But that’s ok

I ate sheep insides last night! Like straight up sheep intestines.... It was the worst thing I’ve ever tasted. Haha. I really love my companion. I really love being with her! I’m learning so much from her! I can cook Mongolian food. But not sheep intestines.

How is the house looking? Is the Christmas tree up?? I haven’t gotten lots of details on Christmas yet. This week we will get assigned a time to call. It could be anywhere from Christmas eve to Christmas night. But man I’m soooo excited! Its gonna be gooooood :)

I love you  :) Have you gotten my letters yet? I pray every day they will come to you!!! If you get them before Christmas, DONT YOU OPEN IT UNTIL CHRISTMAS DAY OK? hahah. Its the only present I could give to you guys..

Have a good week :) I’ll talk to you next Monday over email and then talk to you three days later of skype :) :)

Love,

Sister Royal

Pictures:

Oyoun Bileg and her family :)

Just reading my letters :)

I gave my comp one of the grammar books you sent me.  She’s trying to learn English and she does that book every day for language study :) So thanks :)

The cutest little puppy you'll ever see! I tried to feed it bacon-flavored chips... but he wasn’t having it.

Oyoun Bileg at her BAPTISM! Yay!

I caught the Christmas spirit I’ve been trying to deny... hahaha whoops.

I was purty excited. The best present a girl can get: a package with mommy's handwriting on it J

Two Letters

Happy Holidays
December 7, 2014

This week has been a week of miricles!
1) I got your package! I cried little tears of happyness when My District leader came walking in the room with a heavy box just of me! And what made me even happier was that as I held it in my hands, It had a distinct smell of... AMERICAN CHOLOLATE! haha. I opened it and it was full of fun things from america and even funnier drawings from my mommy :) haha. It was truly a blessing! A long and stressful one, but a blessing none the less.
2) We have a baptism! Oyoun Bileg was so great! She was so nervous, but she did so well! Id love to send you pictures, but its not working today... These stinking internet cafes are so unreliable! Anyways, the service was such a humble and spiritual experience! The water was freezing and the power was out for half of the service. But we sat together and sang hyms and felt the spirit! And her family (non members) came! It was so wonderful!

This week, I caught the christmas spirit! Its been good and bad. haha Good because, duhhhh. I love christmas. Bad, because I just miss you guys so much :)

You are the best! Just 2 more weeks before I can see your cute little faces! Love you! Ill send pics next week :)
Egch Royalth

Happy Thanksgiving
December 1,2014

First of all, Thanks for the pictures! It looks like you all had a great time! I sure missed you guys, but Im blessed to be in such a remote place where they dont celebreate that kind of stuff. It means I dont have to get caught up in all the material stuff and I can focus on the real stuff!
To answer your questions, Yes, I have eaten at the KFC. Its a rare occasion because its pretty pricy, but its soooo good! even better than america! I dont wear my mask (for poor air quality) as much as I should because I hate it so much! haha. It keeps my face nice a steamy though... haha. About the picture: We were doing service at Naraa's house. We were cutting up would for the winter. Im there and the elders name is elder HashErden. Im not very eloquent... but you can make it sound really good ok?! Seriously, make it happen! That would be so cool! haha.

Ok, About my thanksgiuving: Because the work still has so go on, we decided to celebrate thanksgiving on tuesday during our district meeting. We didnt really plan anything special as a district, but we got together with the other sisters in our district and made a secret plan: we were going to make a yummy thanksgiving treat for the elders. But it was going to be a surprise! So we got together a couple hours
before and decided to make funeral potatoes and home made bread. I was so proud of our little meal and I had this picture of walking in and everyone being so surprised. But As we walked in, we were the ones that were surprised! The elders had gotten together and made tacos and cookies for us!!! And the Frankams came and brought a real pumpkin pie! We all sat together eating our makeshift meal and bore our testimonies of how grateful we were to be in Mongolia. It seems like a small thing, but I was so touched by everyones willingness to give. We had not planned anything, but it turned out to be one of the most humble, spiritual thanksgivings Ive ever had!

Man, I really so miss you guys! But there is something about having holidays on the mission that makes it so special. When you are on a mission, you give your all to the lord. And knowing that makes the sacrifices all worth it. Its almost a motiviation. But you dont have to be on mission to give selfless service during the holidays. Try it out this week. Forget about the materials for a little bit and focus on people. that is when miracles happen. I love you all!

Have a good week and Know that I love you more than words can write.
xoxoxo
Love,
Sister Royal