Call Me Drago...

Hey mom, 

So this week was pretty good. We had so many appointments, it was actually the busiest week I've had in a long long time. So that was really nice to have. I've been thinking a lot this week about a lot of things. Just kinda been caught up in my thoughts about a lot of things, but it helped me to come to some real conclusions about life. I taught a lesson in district meeting this week about optimism and that started spurring all these thoughts. Dad told me something awhile ago that came to my mind late one night this week, about how the only thing we can control is our attitude about life. And that's where the real test of life is located. I really liked that. But let me tell you about my week. 

Tuesday: So for P day we went hiking, and we took a bus as far away as you can get from the city and man it was awesome. We found this pig that must have been like 600 pounds. No joke. And we had a fire and found some frozen lakes that we skated on and ice wrestled (a mongolian thing they do here) and it was so nice. I really have gained a greater appreciation for the outside and trees and nature and air since coming here. Tha'ts something I am super grateful for. 

Wednesday: So now I teach on Monday and Wednesday because they changed up the teaching companions and days. So Ogden and I teach at the high school, it's connected to the University I teach at. Monday I teach at the University, Wednesday I teach at the high school. So it's a change, the kids are way harder to teach though. They just kinda sit there and don't say anything, and they are super rude and stuff. But oh well. I get along with most of them once they got to know me. But it's a huge change from the college. After that I got with Sweetwood because our companions teach together. So we just hung out and studied some stuff. Then when I got back with Perry we went to help Cox teach his investigator (the girl from the bus). It went really really well, she is being baptized on Saturday which is really cool. Then Perry and I got with Rand and Teasdale and went to a members house. It was Batsaagan's family and it was a really good meeting. They made some super good food for us. After that lesson we hussled over to this other lesson. There is a lady in the ward who wants us to meet with her son once, he is 8, and get him ready to be baptized. So we went to their house and this kid is already ready, so it was a super easy, and fun lesson to teach him. He is getting baptized on Saturday, along with Enkenerel, the little 8 year old girl we teach, and Oiyunanden, Chuka's granddaughter. It's really cool to have been able to help these kids get to this point. We are all really excited to see them all get baptized.

Thursday: Today we had district meeting and I taught about optimism. I actually referenced Dead Poets Society a lot. At one point I stood up on my chair and emphasized the point of seeing things from other perspectives. I felt like it was a good district meeting. I dunno, I hope I taught it well. After that Perry and I were going to meet with a member but he got busy so we had to reschedule for later in the week. So we tried to go to a monastery but it was closed, so we just walked around and checked out some cool stores. We found this place that sells a fur coat made from 10 wolf pelts. I wanted to buy it so bad, but then I realized it was $3000 haha. It was also Chinggis Khan's (Genghis Khan, correctly it's Chinggis Khan) Birthday. So the city shut down and they had the horses and military out marching around the city. It was pretty cool to see. 

Friday: We started off the day by getting some KFC for lunch, much deserved for the hard work we are putting in. Then Perry and I went to this Russian Military Surplus store and I got a sweet Russian Ushanka hat. It is 1/4 inch pressed wool. So freaking warm that I can't even wear it yet, and when I have the ear flaps down I cant even hear out of it. Needless to say I'm pretty stoked. I wear it around and look so Russian it's not even funny. People really avoid me now on the streets haha. But yeah, its freaking awesome. Straight from Russia. Then we got back to our apartment and met with a member in the ward and his family. He and his wife are planning on going to the temple in April, they have all the money and logistics figured out, they just have to wait. It's pretty sweet to see how dedicated people are here to going to the temple. After that meeting, we went and chilled at the church in between our lessons, and I played the piano a bit. Then we met with Enkenerel and taught her what's going to happen when she gets baptized. She is such a cute girl and so excited to get baptized, its pretty cute. She is the girl that I mentioned a while ago that had her tithing all set out when we went to visit her.  

Saturday: So this was our most busy day, and for me, probably the most busy day of my mission. We met with Pujee first in the afternoon. She is a member and we chatted with her and really got to know her. She is actually going to the temple next month and she is stoked for it. We helped her chop some wood for winter which was pretty fun. Then she made us so much food, I couldn't even finish my plate it was so much. Remember that for later. Then legit immediately after, Perry and I went to Ganbold's house to meet with him. He is the member with the Shaman wife. So we got there and they also made us so much food it hurt to eat it. But the lesson went super good. I just asked them to read one verse as a family a day from the Book of Mormon, I really hope they do. I think that could help change the wife's perspective a bit. So then after that lesson we went straight to another one. This lady in our ward invited us over for dinner. At this point I hurt from the amount of food I have eaten. But Rand and Teasdale were there with us at this lesson. Little did we know, the Doctor (Elder Anderson) and his wife were also there. And this lady is actually the same lady that Rand and I brought the sacrament once. So we had dinner and it was really sweet. They cooked super good food. And then this lady's granddaughters played this Mongolian instrument called the Morin Khuur. It's made of sheep hair and it's dope. But after dinner I legit almost died from the amount of food I had.

Sunday: Church went really well. After church we went back to the lady who's house we went to last night to bring her the sacrament again. And when we walked in, the entire ward was there too eating dessert and chatting. This lady is like the Great Gatzby of the ward haha. She has quite a bit of money and throws these parties for church members which is really neat of her. Then we just went to our apartment and hungout for a while with Rand and Teasdale. 

Monday: We didn't really do much today, I taught which took a huge chunk out of the day. Teaching went really really well. It was at the University and the students are really awesome. They all participated, and were involved. Plus we can have some laughs which is good. Then we met up with Cox, it was his birthday. We were going to have an appointment tonight, but she cancelled on us. So we chatted for a while, and then we got dinner at this mexican restaurant with some other people. It was a really fun night. 

Talk soon, have a good week.  Love you lots.

Austin

My deel.  It's pretty sweet.  I sent a video that explains it.  

 Dinner at a members house.  

 This is Brother and Sister Anderson.  The mission Dr and Perry, Teasdale, me and Rand at the members house. 

 These members make these little books.  Pretty sweet.

 Enkhenerel.  She is so cute. 

 It is so pretty here.

 Mongolian nights. 

 Walked by Chinggis Khan to wish him a Happy Birthday. 

 I felt like one bad man in this coat.  So freaking cool. 

 Marriage Palace.  It's really cool at night. 

 My Russian hat.

 District Meeting

 Our P-Day hike.  We found an old sled.

 Sweetwood at what we think is an old abandoned power plant.  Don't worry he didn't actually push the buttons. 

The massive pig. 

 Cox and I contemplating touching the pig.

 

Teasdale got a little freaked out by the pig.

Sweetwood making snow angels. 

 We found this frozen pond.  It was so fun. 

 Me and Perry.

On the bus ride out to our hiking area. 

Chinggis Khan Birthday parade 

Explaining my deel