First Baptism!!

Dear Mom and Dad,
   This week ended up really happy!!!  So Odmaa decided to get baptized and it was really wonderful.  I also was given the opportunity to baptize her and it was really special.  She said later that it was one of the best nights of her entire life.  She was more happier there than at any other time.  She is still going to India next week but she might come back early.  Even if she doesn't she still plans on going to church in India and she told us herself.  It was really neat and it all worked out despite the stress and depression I had for a few days.  So anyways we also found this great new investigator.  She is really strong, comes to church, and is reading from her Book of Mormon everyday.  She is great and we will set a baptismal date with her next time for sure.  The work in this ward is definitely a little better than my last two areas.  Well the work here is going great and also we are just doing good  too.  So it sounds like your week was pretty crazy.  Well I have to apologize in the middle of my letter.  I will not be able to send pictures this week due to a power outage in the middle of this letter.  Luckily my draft saved but I don't have the time to send pictures due to it. So it was good wait and we got the power back.  So your week did sound pretty crazy.  I hope Kristalyn and Becky enjoy themselves.  I can just imagine this little Kristalyn driving around a car.  All you can see is her little red hair just barely above the window.  :)  Just kidding but it would be funny to see her.  I will get pictures to you next week for the shoes and my baptism and a few more fun things.  Well despite the week being stressful at least you are done with it for a while.  I know that whenever transfers come around here it is fun to see the new area but I (in Brother Tawa's words several years ago) would rather poke my eyes out than move again.  Well at least you are all done.  Well I wish you the best of luck and I love you all.  Love Elder Williams
 
 Dear Little Sisters,
     So this week has been........GREAT!!!  My investigator named Odmaa met with us and decided to get baptized.  I baptized her and it was a great experience.  She told us afterward that it was one of the happiest moments of her life.  I was so happy and we also found like a golden investigator like the next day and she is already reading the book of mormon.  It has been so fun to see the success here in this ward.  Well let me just say that that really made me happy.  Well, apart from that it is starting to get cold here in Mongolia again.  It makes me a little depressed and also all the Mongolians are saying that this next year is supposed to be really cold and that last year was actually pretty warm.  minus 40 is warm?!!!  Well I am just working hard here in the land of Mongolia.  We also talked this week with a ton of people  (a few were a little drunk).  So this week has been really good.  So it sounds like your week was crazy.  Caelen, don't worry.  The first couple weeks of school are always a little hard.  And drivers ed...yakh uu dee. (nothing much) You can do it.  It shouldn't be hard and if you just go you will pass.  You will have to send me your first day of school pictures. Just smile and keep on truckin.  Chi chadnaa!!!  You can do it.  By the way I looove your little smiley faces.  Just remember those when you get a little down.  Well Rebecca, good luck up at college.  You can do anything!!!!  (If you noticed I am trying to get all of you girls excited for school in this email)  chi bas chadnaa. You also can do it!!!  Well college will be great for you.  And you can date lots of guys  (remember my policy)  :)  Well good luck and don't kill your older sister.  :)  So Rachel you are indexing.  Chi shuu.  Keep up the good work.  Don't worry about not having a lot of friends in your other classes.  In just gives you an opportunity to make more.  Also remember that the easiest way to make friends is to ask them questions about themselves.  You may ask anything and they will think that you are friendly.  I have learned that in Mongolian.  Just ask them questions and smile.  They will love you!!!!!  :)  So I love you all and just keep up the good work.  Good luck and you are all the shuu.

Dear Kristalyn,
  This week was awesome!!!  SO that investigator that we thought would not get baptized came to church and she decided that it was what she needed to do.  So I baptized her the next day and it was the happiest moment in her life.  It was my first baptism and it was really special to do.  It was a blast and in the end she is still going to go to India but told us that she has decided to be faithful to the church down there.  It will be so cool for her.  Well we also found this other woman that is a great investigator and she is already reading from the book of Mormon and the area is becoming a little more successful.  So this week has been a little cold and it just reminds me that this winter is supposed to be colder than the last one.  That is so cool that Rebecca moved up.  It should be fun for the both of you.  SO speaking about spreading the gospel to the four corners of the earth did you know that there are internet missionaries that serve on the MTC grounds.  Just an interesting fact.  They seem to have good success there.  So the piano lessons are doing well even though it is hard to teach in Mongolian.  They just kind of follow what I tell them to do and it eventually clicks in their heads.  I have gotten sunburned a few times here in Mongolia but let me just say that I have a wonderful wrist watch tan.  It just proves to me that red heads can tan a little.  So the work is going on here and it is always such a blessing to see it going.  Well about your anxiety just don't worry about it.  I hope you are taking your medicine and if you are not take it but sometimes the human mind just does thing like that.  Just remember that you can always pull strength from Jesus Christ's Atonement and he can give you his grace to help you accomplish anything that you didn't think was possible.  I read a talk from Elder Bednar that says that if we pray and instead of us asking the Lord to change the situation we need to ask the Lord to strengthen us so we can change the situation.  It is a great talk about grace and the atonement.  Well just keep living life in your great way!!  Good luck and I love you.  Love Richie

Dear Mom and Dad,
  Sorry about the short email last week.  I didn't really want to do that but in order to stay obedient I had to.  So what happened was that we went up to the country because several of the Mongolian sisters that we are all good friends with were being released the next week.  So we went up played some games ate some food and it turned out really nice.  Well this week has been good but also depressing.  Soo I will tell you the hard part.  SO our great investigator named Odmaa has some doubts and might possibly not be baptized.  We gave her until Wednesday to decide.  We think that she has realized all the responsibility involved with becoming a church member and we think that it is scaring her.  She actually meditates and that was one of the issues.  In meditation all you have to do is sit and never act.  In the gospel it is all about acting.  If we don't act and do something then we can never be blessed.  Well that is the only sad thing.  Well on a lighter note, I lost my key this week and so we had to stay the night over and another elders apartment one night.  That was pretty fun.    Also we found a store that sells turkey but it is going out of business in the next several weeks so we might not get any.  The only thing you can get here is fresh beef, mutton, horse (yes they eat horse and yes it is a really good meat) (don't tell Bethany) goat and bagged chicken.  But sadly not turkey.  Oh well.  Well we also found a pancake mix this last week which was really good.  Soo I might only have a few months left due to VISA issues so I was thinking about like souvenirs and gifts for all of you.  So there are some really cool stuff and some of the good gifts are in the area of 20-25 dollars.  Though if anyone is wanting a fur hat that is about 45 dollars.  (I think that is still pretty cheap for real mink hats)  (they are real)  So I will try to get you some things but if you want anything cool you can put a little on the card and tell me how much you put and than I can get something for you all that is pretty cool.  Also I can't check my card here on any ATM and if you would be so willing to send me my balance next week.  I pulled some out because I might get a few new white shirts.  It is almost cheaper buying them here than pulling that guarantee thing at the Missionary mall and having to send it all the way over here.  but there is one more thing.  I really have been thinking and I might need some new good shoes.  I don't need them now but I will take a picture of the old bad ones, you can send that up to the missionary mall and then they will send you a new pair of shoes.  Now the problem is that shipping is expensive and you would have to ship it back to me but you can send them in December with my Christmas package.  You really don't need to give much and I would be happy with just the shoes for Christmas.  So I will think about that in the next several weeks.  Well now that this is over....the work is going good and we had 6 new potential investigators show up to church last week.  It has been good and we are having a blast here in Unur.  Everything is turning out pretty good (despite Odmaa).  I teach in a few weeks and well I will just keep doing my hardest.  I love you all and wish you all the best of luck.  Love Elder Williams

Dear Little Girls,
  So this week has been pretty good but a little bit of a downer at the same time.  My golden investigator named Odmaa, well she just got some doubts and planned a out of nowhere trip to India for 6 months and she leaves this next Monday. She isn't sure if she wants to get baptized anymore.  I am really kind of down about it because she was like my favorite investigator and I taught her pretty much from the beginning of the lessons.  We gave her a few days to think it over and pray about it.  She decides Wednesday.  Well apart from that it was a pretty good week.  It rained a lot this week but it has been ok weather.  We did have like 6 new potential investigators come to church this last week.  That was pretty cool.  I am still in Unur with my old companion and we are doing just fine.  The work is continuing and so I will eventually get the investigators I want.  We also have a few other really good investigators but they just need to come to church.  So Caelen,  I love your little smiley faces.  They are really cool.  Hey, spanish class will be awesome.  But most important if you really want to learn some good spanish do some practice and learning on your own.  I can honestly tell you the best way to learn a language is to learn stuff by yourself. (Plus your dad knows really good spanish) Also ceramics is awesome and I think you will do well.  You were always good at that kind of stuff.  Don't worry about school, if you are happy everyday will be good.  Rachel, you got your patriarchal blessing.  That is so cool.  That blessing can guide you the rest of your life.  Just always remember how special that blessing is and what it told you to do.  That blessing literally comes straight from heaven to you.  Heavenly Father has personally given that blessing to you.  SO good job on kayaking.  That is something that always scared me when I was young. Rebecca, you da man....well...sort of.  So college.  That is so weird to think that you will be more experienced with college than me when I get back.  Chi shuuu.   (once again ....your the man.)    PROVO!!!!!!  ahhhhhhh I am kind of freaking out.  Don't date tooooo much.  By the way Caelen, I do remember that you are turning 16.  Happy early birthday and you also are not allowed to date that much.  Every guy that you two (I can't believe I have to say "two" now) date has to send a personal email to me telling me what he wants to do with his life and so forth.  :)   (Rachel when you turn 16 I may be at home but he still has to do the same thing)   :)  Well girls I love you all and just good luck out there in life.  Remember to turn to the Lord in times of trouble and he will direct thy paths.  I love you and good luck.  Love Elder Williams

Dear Kristalyn, 
   Sooooo,  I saw your car and let me just say it looks cooler than I imagined it.  Good job!!!   I looks like you will have a blast with it.  So that whole Las Vegas thing sounds fun though it sounds like the strip was absolutely disgusting.  Yeah, unfortunately that stuff exists and it is a shame on mankind.  Once you go out of Utah you do really become thankful for Utah itself.  I am thankful everyday I was born there.  Well, I have heard that Celine Dion was one of the best live voices ever.  One of my MTC group members is a huge fan of hers.  So the mission is going good.  Becca is getting married.  It is kind of weird to say that my old mads partner will be married in a few months.  Tell her congratulations for me.  So I really don't know about my VISA yet but it won't come up until November.  Though if you want any cool souvenirs I can probably get some for you.  I don't really have that much money but if you really want something and you put some money on my card tell me how much you put and than I will spend that on you plus extra if I can get any.  I am starting to worry about souvenir stuff lately seeing that I could go in a few months.  So I haven't baptized anyone yet but our golden investigator who was going to get baptized just kind of backed out because she got some doubts.  We are letting her decide until Wednesday and unfortunately she is going to India the following Monday.  Well the work moves on.  So don't worry about me and though I might not be having the success of some of the other Elders around the world I know that the lord sent me here for a reason.  Well I love you and just keep up the great work back at home.  Good luck.  Love Elder Williams    PS  I will try to get pictures today to you.   or dad.

Dear Mom and Dad,
      Well first thing I will explain is what happened to my ankle this week.  So I was walking away from Elder Woodward's english and it was raining pretty hard.  So Mongolia's gutter system is not the best right now in my area and there was like a stream of water in the street.  So a bus came and we had to get in so I decided to take one for the team and step in the muddy water so we could meet with our investigator.  So I stepped in and there was a hole that I couldn't see and I sprained my ankle.  I also fell all the way into the water and got soaked.  Well as I limped on to another bus  (we missed the first) I could feel my ankle swelling in my shoe.  Even now it is swollen but do to a blessing and me not giving up it hasn't slowed me down.  I have limped a little but it was really good this last week.  Well on a better note we had a baptism this last week.  It was so fun and it was our little investigator named Ariunsanaa.  It was really cool and I was just so thankful for it.  His Grandpa baptized him which was really special for both of them.  It took several days to just convince the grandpa to baptize him.  Well also Odmaa is doing well and we found a few new investigators this last week.  The work is going really good and we will hopefully get a baptism on August 10.  Well it sounds like you are all doing well back home.  I hope that Uncle Kris is okay.  Tell him I wish him luck.  Well the year mark has almost come and to be honest I don't really want it to.  It is just too fast.  Well it sounds like Pioneer day was really fun.  Though that whole trek thing about those 15 did make me a little sad.  It is too bad people have to go inactive but hopefully our Heavenly Father has a plan to get them all back.  Also it is cool that you were able to see the Olympics.  I bet (even though I didn't see) that the Mongolian was wearing some sort of del.  So it sounds like all of you are doing well and that is cool that you could find another guy that does jewelry dad.  So this week has just been good and wet.  I got soaked this week in about a five minute rainstorm.  My shoes were full of water and it was really interesting to have to go home and change clothes.  Well we also found a few new investigators that has mad the week go by fun.  So that is really all that happened this week and I will try to send pictures.  I love you all, good luck and have a great end of summer.  Love Elder Williams

So little girls!!!!!!!!
   How is life?  Sonin saihan you baina? It sounds like all of you are doing pretty well the last week.  So this week for me has been really cool.  I had another baptism Friday and I will probably be able to see the next one too.  I'm so excited.  Let me just say that this last week has been an interesting one.  So I will explain better in Mom and Dad's letter but this week I sprained my ankle pretty bad.  The good thing is that I am not on crutches.  Well apart from that I just really had a normal week of missionary work.  Our lessons are increasing every week and we are finally just becoming very familiar with the area. It has been a privilege to work in Unur.  I really am having a blast here.  We did get really soaked in a rainstorm here a few days ago.  It absolutely soaked my shoes and it took them two days to dry out.  It actually rains quite a bit here in Mongolia. So that is cool that you saw the Mongolian Olympic Athletes.  One of the Mongolian wrestlers (female) is apparently doing really good in the Olympics.  She could possibly get a gold metal.  Most of the Mongolian athletes are best at the physical sports such as boxing and etc.  To be honest Mongolians love their fighting just do to their ancestry maybe.  Well though I haven't heard much about the olympics I hope you are all watching in for my sake.  Well Caelen, it sounds like you are having a great time scooping up water.  I am so proud of you and even though your body is a little bruised you will always remember that experience.  And I would love to watch some P and F with you a year from now.  So Rachel, Yeah it is kind of weird that I have almost been out a year and it has gone really fast for me.  Hey, and don't worry about the going off to college thing.  You might not believe it but when you go away family becomes more important or at least it has for me.  As the great quote says, Absence makes the heart grow fonder.  SO don't worry about change and just enjoy it as it comes.  Change is hard but is always fun if you let it be.  Well Rebecca, no one showed up for piano this last week but I hope someone will eventually come.  Also it sounds like watching those old trek videos were fun to watch.  You are going to college in like what 3 weeks chim uu?  That is soooo cool and I wish you all the luck in the world and just don't stress.  Well girls just remember that life is good and change is good also.  That is something all people fear is change but if you just let it go it will make you stronger.  Good luck and I love you all!!!!!  Love Elder Williams

Dear Kristalyn,
SO I did get your email so don't worry.  Thank you soooooo much.  I love being able to read your email.  So this week was pretty good but I did sprain my ankle really well this last week.  You can get the full story in the other email but let me just say that it really hurt.  Well I kept walking and we still managed to meet with another 2 investigator that day because I decided that my ankle didn't matter that much when it came to meeting with investigators.  So I went and walked up a mountain and down.  It was really cool and it made me realize that Heavenly Father will help me in any situation.  Well apart from that this week was fun because we got a baptism which was really cool.  Well I am really happy that my words that I wrote last week helped you.  I wasn't sure if they would.  Anyway I am really happy because when I get home I can get a job!!!!!!!!!  Mom just told me Uncle Kevin would hire me and it made me really happy.  I didn't write it in my other email because it might sound like my mind is not on my mission but it really is.  But I am really happy about that.  So Kristalyn just have a really good night and day and whatever time it is when you read this.  I love you and just keep up being a great example. 
  Love Elder Williams