Packages and M&Ms

April 26, 2015

Dear Family and Friends.

 I GOT THE PACKAGE!!!!!! Can you believe it? I can’t. The APs called me on Friday night and told me that I got a huge package and I just burst into tears. haha I thought it was a joke because you guys just said you sent it. But, sure enough it was! It took only 10 days to get here... can you believe it?? PS, I love all the clothes in it. M comp. and I had a little fashion show on Saturday night and on Sunday, I changed twice half way through the day because I had too many cute things to wear! haha.I forgot how much  I love clothes. I’ve gotten so lazy on my mission. I usually wear the same thing or a variation of the same thing everyday. I’ve been wearing little Mittinator shirt to bed every night and am wearing it right now actually! haha. I feel kinda close to you in a way :) Thank you so much for all the wonderful things you gave me. I am so blessed. I’ve already started giving out all my chocolates and Jesus pictures. Everyone loves them :)

I am so so so happy that you got to hang out with Dani. That girl is one of my best friends. Did you end up taking her out to lunch?? I hope so. And if you did, did you pretend like she was me for a little bit?? I hope so :)

So this week I have seen soooo many blessings. Did you get a picture texted to you this week???? We have an American family in our ward, the Hills. They are here on a 2-year contract for work and they are wonderful. They invited us to come to their house for dinner and I felt so blessed. They are so willing to help us. They asked us if we needed anything and I just knew it wasn’t just an empty question, I knew they really meant it. Then, at dinner, they gave us a HUGE bag of peanut M&Ms. They were all a little surprised when I was brought to tears (let be honest, who cries over m&ms... haha.) But little did they know, for the past week, I had been planning and saving to buy myself that same bag of m&ms in the near future. I was really craving them, but our missionary budget just doesn’t allow stuff like that. So, each day, I would write it in my planner and each night, I would cross it out, knowing it wasn’t a very smart decision. So, yeah. I cried over peanut m&ms. But it wasn’t just candy at that point. It was a true blessing. A little tender mercy sent through some truly wonderful people. Mom, if you ever get the chance, please find and be friends with Laurie Hill in Mongolia. She is wonderful.

Also, this week, I got a package! Mom, i was so happy. Thank you so much for all the wonderful things you gave me. I am so blessed to have you as a mom :) ive already started giving out all my chocolates and Jesus pictures. Everyone loves them :)

I am so happy and blessed to be here in Mongolia and to be part of my wonderful family. I love you! Have a good week :)

Love,  Sister Amy Royalth

Greetings from Sister Royal

April 19, 2015

Hello Family and Friends,

My year mark is in a month.... A MONTH! Time goes by so quick and so slow all at the same time. I feel like I just got here to Mongolia but it also feels like I’ve been away from you guys for at least 13 years. haha.

First of all, no it feels just like home to be called Amy :) I would feel weird if you called me anything else. Second, I do dream in Mongolian! My comps tell me I sometimes teach them lessons in Mongolian in my sleep. haha. But, mostly my dreams end up being in Monglish (mostly Mongolian with English words here and there) haha. And I can’t tell you how excited I am for this weeks weather!!!!! I think I might be able to take of my coat for the first time in like 7 months! yay!

You made CHICKEN WELLINGTONS?!?!?!?! I think that might need to be the first thing that you make for me when I get home! Or yummy pasta. Or a chicken burger! haha. I guess anything will sound good if it doesn’t have fatty meat in it. I never thought I’d say this but a steak sounds like the least appealing thing right now. lol. And, I will definitely take you up on your offer to go KFC. It is so good mom. Like a million times better than American KFC. haha.

It made me really happy to hear about Kevin’s talk. I actually loved reading it. Its so weird to me that Kevin is becoming such a fine young man. I hope he really means what he says about me being an example for him. That’s not the only reason why I went on a mission. But, I am aware of that and I try hard to make him understand the importance of missions. To be honest, missions really suck sometimes. haha. You go to some foreign country, you’re far from home, you have to live with people you may not like and you are never so aware of your insecurities and weaknesses. BUT, there is this other side of missions that are really hard to explain on paper. It is this feeling you get that even though it’s hard it is worth it. I’ve had some of the funniest/happiest times of my life while on my mission. And not only that, but I know and can feel that the things I’m learning and the blessings I’m receiving will continue to bless me the rest of my life. So, it is worth it. It is worth going through really hard times. It is worth being exhausted every morning and every night and all in between. It is worth it. So, I hope I can convey that to people through my words and my example. A mission is so worth it.

I was ready an article in this months Liahona about weaknesses. The point of the article was that weaknesses are not sins. The difference between weakness and sin is that while one takes you further from God, the other (weakness) actually brings you closer to God. Sometimes though, we rationalize our sins as weaknesses and assume our weaknesses to be sins. The trick is to identify your weaknesses and use the help of the Lord and His atonement to become strong. We all have weaknesses and sometimes our problems can be a combination of sins and weaknesses but the important thing is recognizing it and then growing closer to the Lord by making your weaknesses stronger instead of walking farther away from the Lord by sinning.

This week was a pretty great week! This Friday, Our investigator, Nom was baptized! She’s had some pretty hard times since I’ve been meeting with her. My first week in my new area, she was ready for baptism when her father died suddenly. She of course was devastated and had some really concerns and doubts about the gospel. But we didn’t give up on her and most importantly; she didn’t give up on her testimony. And although its been a long road since then, I’ve never seen her so happy as she did when she came out of the waters of baptism. I guess what I learned from this is that its ok to have doubts sometimes. It is ok to be a seeker of truth. It is ok to want to know things for yourself. But the important thing is to go to the right sources. Just like we can’t see the beauties or comprehend the vastness of space by just using binoculars, we cant receive real truth from magazines or opinions of others. The Lord, and asking him through sincere prayer, becomes our "Hubble telescope". Through seeking truth by going to the Lord, our eyes can be opened to the vast beauties of the eternities and we are able to see things through His eyes. So keep asking. Keep wondering. And as you do so with real intent and a sincere heart, the Lord with answer your prayers.

Well, even though it was a week later than all of you, I finally got to watch conference! yay! Conference is always special. But conference on a mission in Mongolia is even more special! Haha. Ok, so, there are a million other things that I want to write about right now, but there is no time! Lets just all agree that conference is wonderful and we can all benefit from listening to those talks again :) I am so grateful to be a missionary in Mongolia! I’m so grateful for a living prophet and apostles who speak the Lords words. I grateful for each of you! I love you and, family,

I love you! I’m so happy to be here and I’m so happy for the warmth that has found its way to Mongolia :) Have a good week. Oh, and don’t remember that I'll get to see you in just a few weeks :) God bless Mothers Day ;) hahahah a

Love, Sister Royal

Pictures:

1) Our investigator who is getting baptized this week! It was her birthday so we treated her to yummy KFC. Seriously, the best restaurant in Mongolia... hahaha weird huh?

  2) Just riding on the busses AKA my life. haha. I love those busses though :)

3) We went with our investigator family to get water from the nearest water pump.  Those who live in a ger have no indoor plumbing. They make mundane things fun :)

 

4) The MTC six back together again at a zone conference.

Greeting from Mongolia

Hi Family and Friends

April 5, 2015

Sorry to hear that mom has been sick this week! She seemed to have gotten it from me! But if its anything like mine, it should be better soon. So, I’ve been so excited for spring to come, despite the fact that everyone has always told me that Mongolian springs are very hard. Mongolians hate spring because one day, it can be warm and the next it can be a snowstorm or even within one day, the temperatures can drop as much as 20 degrees! They also believe that everyone gets really tired in spring because your body has used up all its energy for winter. But, for some reason I’ve decided to not listen to any of those, playing them off as silly wives tails. Well, guess what? The Mongolians were right! haha. This last week was a weather rollercoaster! One day, it would be so hot I almost left me coat at home! Then just on Friday, we got a major snowstorm and weather has dropped back to freezing temperatures. It’s a bummer! And also, I am exhausted! All. The. Time! haha. So, yeah, spring is pretty hard... but its better than winter :) Also, I got your guys letter this week! The one you wrote for FHE :) I was so happy to read your letter. Just seeing your handwriting brings a feeling of home and stability into my life :) So thanks for that. Keep working hard on that truck so it can be ready for when I get home :)

Well, I hope you enjoyed all of my pictures! I figured since I sent lots of pictures of my week, and also because time is short, I will skip the rundown of what I did this week and go straight to the things I’ve learned this week. It suffices me to say that this week was full of fun kindergarten adventures and cute little kids. I have been so impressed by the youth in Mongolia mom. They are truly the pioneers of their countries. Most of my investigators are young kids with their families. And they are so smart! They ask more insightful, thoughtful questions than even the parents do! They are so faithful and willing to do anything to get to church. I think of myself when I was 12 years old, and there is no way I was that amazing. Its been a humbling and wonderful experience to get to know these wonderful spirits!

Anyways, this week, in the name of Easter, I have been studying and growing closer to my savior, Jesus Christ. Easter isn’t really a thing here in Mongolia (it being a Christian holiday and all) and even in the church; they are still learning the significance of Easter. But, despite that, this Easter has most likely been one of my favorite Easters yet because I have taking the time to ponder on the sacrifice made by our savior and to show thanks by preaching his word to his beloved brothers and sisters. I was reading in the Liahona magazine about the savior and his atonement and what that really means for us. Because of his love for us, and the blood he freely spilt for us, we are able to be comforted in our trails and be forgiven for even the most grievous of sins. I know that there is no sin too serious, no burden too heavy, no mistake too large that cant be made right through the atonement of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for his life, for his death, and for His resurrection.
 

Come unto Jesus, ye heavy laden,

Careworn and fainting, by sin oppressed.

He’ll safely guide you unto that haven

Where all who trust him may rest.

Come unto Jesus; He’ll ever heed you,

Though in the darkness you’ve gone astray.

His love will find you and gently lead you

From darkest night into day.

Come unto Jesus; He’ll surely hear you,

If you in meekness plead for his love.

Oh, know you not that angels are near you

From brightest mansions above?¹

^{Happy Easter Everyone! I love you! Have a good week!}

Love,

Sister Royal

 

We went on a fun field trip with Sister Overson’s kindergarten.

 

My Khan-uul district! There are only two sisters and two elders, so we have to have a member sit in with us for district meetings. haha.

 

Enjoying the sights at the Buddhist temple.

 

 

 

 

 

Anujin, our latest baptism! She got baptized on her 8th birthday :)