WASHINGTON D.C. SOUTH MISSION: OUR MULTICULTURAL WEEKEND

Thursday, March 11, 2010

OUR MULTICULTURAL WEEKEND

It began with A Mongolian New Year Celebration at the Arlington 2 Ward. Sister Murray and Battulga serve in this ward. Sis. Battulga is from Mongolia and she was so excited. This was a celebration of their new year which is a hugh holiday in Mongolia. This ward has a large group of about 50 Mongolian members. They had decorated the gym with beautiful pictures of the country and had a wonderful authentic meal. Their were so many amazing costumes. I couldn't get pictures of them because it was too dark. But they were remarkable, with large head dresses and embroidered materials. They had a program with all Mongolian performances and music. Dancers, songs, a really amazing THROAT singer ( so high and low I thought it was some instrument), and our own Elder Tamir (also from Mongolia) played the HORSE FIDDLE.

The throat singer

A dance

Sisters Battulga and Murray

Elder Tamir with Elders Hill and Khishig-Erdene. Elder Tamir is so dedicated to his mission. He sold his own Horse Fiddle to pay for his mission. So hearing him play one was a real treat.

A child with a costume

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Stephanie Smith Fireside

Last Sunday evening we were privileged to attend a fireside in the mission. It was held at a beautiful old chapel in McLean. One of the pictures shows the inside of the chapel and the wood beams on the very steep-pitched ceiling of the room. The gym is under the chapel in the basement. I have never seen a floorplan like this one. Very unique. This fireside hosted Sister Stephanie Smith. Her story was in the Ensign sometime in the last year. She has a remarkable conversion story. She has held very high government positions and at one time was 5th in command at the CIA. She said something at the first of her talk that I wrote down: she said, "I've been on some remarkable adventures. But no adventure in my lifetime has been as extraordinary and life-changing as my path to conversion and baptism in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. She then told about her introduction to the church. She was at a time in her life with tremendous worldly success achieved after clawing her way to the top without any regard for others, and she felt her life was shattering into a million pieces. At this time she turned to a colleague she admired who was a member of the church. He told her two things. That her Heavenly Father knew her by name and loved her and that Heavenly Father had a plan for her success. The next day he sent her a map to the temple visitor center. She told how when the missionary sisters came to her door, she didn't think she could relate to these young women. The first thing they did was ask if they could sing to her. They sang,"I am a Child of God." That was the beginning of her conversion, a long a beautiful story. You can read it on the web at Meridian Magazine. Her testimony was a real inspiration to me. There were over 350 people there and she does a great missionary work speaking to investigators. What a blessing to have heard her and felt her spirit.

Chelsea Our recent Convert

We have met the sweetest young sister. Chelsea is amazing. She joined the church during the last year and has an incredible testimony also. She never misses any missionary function and we were able to take her with us to the Stephanie Smith Fireside. She also came to the mission home a few weeks ago and we had family night. She gave the lesson and is was unbelievable. She is hoping to go on a mission next year. What a great young woman. This is a picture of her with Elders Ganaway and Gifford.