1 Month - Mongolian is killing me!

Hi!!!
I can't believe that I've been here a month already. It feels like I've been here forever but then it feels like I just barely got here. We're starting to feel like the oldies of the MTC. Everytime we see new missionaries we think that they so cute. We say, "Oh, how cute the newbies!!" And then we smile at how lost they look there because we felt the same way.
This week has been going pretty well. Last Friday we taught in Mongolian to a volunteer. It was tough and not pretty. We spoke in primary langauge which made us feel quite foolish because our vocabulary is really limited. It was really slow going too. Me and my companion didn't even get through the entire lesson in 30 minutes, that's how slow it was. Memorizing and speeching the language is very difficult since the alphabet isn't even close to the english language so you can't really accociate mongolian words with english words.
This week at the RC was an amazing experience!!! Our district goal was to get 8 referrals in 1hr 45 minutes. Which means we send missionaries to someone's house. My goal was to bear testimony to at least five people. I also asked the Lord to let me get at least one referral during the time I was at the MTC. The Lord pleased me five minutes later with an inbound call from a man who saw one of the Church's commercials. He was calling to order a free Bible but he really wanted to talk about finding happiness in this life. The man sounded really depressed and was on the verge of tears while I was talking to him. I told him that God loved him and was mindful of his trials and tribulations. I told him that since Christ suffered and felt our pains he knows exactly what we are going through. I told him that this gospel has brought me happiness and peace during my times of need.
I asked him if he wanted the missionaries to come to his house, deliver the Bible and teach him about becoming happier. He thanked me while holding back tears. I prayed so hard last night that the missionaries will be able to get a hold of him and to help this man. I'm so grateful for being born into this gospel and for the joy it brings me.
So that was one referral and then the Lord blessed me again. I was making outbound calls and seeing if people had received their orders. Before I started, I decided to be creative when talking to people so it didn't sound like a script. I chose a scripture (Alma 7:11-12) and decided to read that to people who had ordered the Bible. People who order the Bible aren't really interested in the gospel they just want the free Bible. So I decided to read that scripture and try to get them to accept the Book of Mormon. Well, after figuring out a plan I started calling people. A called a lady in Ohio who had ordered the Bible. I asked her if she had received it and she said, "YES! I love the Bible." Not to sterotype but it was a nice, black woman. I then asked her if I could share a short message about Christ and to read her a scripture. I didn't tell her where the scripture was from until after reading it and then I bore my testimony of Christ and his Atonement. I asked her if she had heard of the BofM. She said that she had. But she didn't sound like she held anything against it. So I asked her if she would like a copy. She said, "Sure, I like learning about other religions." I asked her if she would like the missionaries to bring her a copy and share a message about Christ with her. She tried to give me an excuse of "I have four dogs and they don't like strangers." I wasn't going to let her get away that easily. So I said, "Well, we can send them over anyway and see if the dogs like the Elders." I know, it was pretty lame. But she said okay. It was really easy to talk to her and I didn't feel like a saleman but a friend talking to her over the phone. She talked about some missionaries she had met a few years ago. I asked, "Were they nice to you?" "Oh, yes, very nice." she said. "Good, they better be." We talked for a few more minutes before we hung up. Man, I felt so good!! I had boldly bore my testimony and boldly extended her an invitation. I felt so grateful for the Lord once again. I love being apart of missionary work!
My teacher Sister Marta from Mongolia is very blunt which is good for me. The class was doing individual interviews with her about how we were doing. Me and her talked about me being more quite in class and how I was trying to get over it because it is really hard to teach people the gospel when you won't speak to them. She asked me to try to extend myself in gospel discussions and during Monoglian class. Well, we went back to the class and started to do a short lesson from PMG. Usually she asks for thoughts and feelings about the lesson she shares but usually she controls the lesson so she bears her testimony and shares experiences. But this day, we read the section from PMG and then she said. "Sister Sumsion is going to lead our discussion today." My head popped up from what I was reading. Man, she doesn't lose anytime trying to get me to speak more. The sisters said I handled it beautifully but I felt a little uncomfortable but not too nervous. I'm so grateful for her and her diligence to make me better. If she keeps this up then I'll be talking to the whole world when I come back from my mission.

The church is true and remember to keep the faith.

Love, Sister Sumsion