My family is Buddhist, the traditional religion of Mongolia. I often visited the Buddhist temple to pray and even learned to chant some Buddhist prayers. I planned to become a Buddhist nun when I finished college.

Then my younger sister, Mungu, began attending the Adventist church. I told Mungu that her religion was foolish, but she continued attending church and even invited me to go. I began noticing that Mungu no longer stayed out until late at night, and refused to argue over petty issues when I tried to pick a fight. The changes in her life were remarkable.

Mungu often brought books home from church and left them for me to read. I read the books and became curious about what her church teaches. So the next time Mungu invited me to church, I went.

The people were so friendly, and even the church leaders stopped and talked to us. I decided to return to the church. I learned about heaven and hell, Jesus’ Second coming, and faith in God. I believed what they were saying. I kept coming. My ideas of what Buddhists believe were vague, but these Christians were very clear about what they believe.

Little by little I gave up my desire to become a Buddhist nun and embraced God’s love and claim on my life. My sister and I were baptized together. Our parents tried to talk us out of joining a Christian church. But as they saw the changes in our lives that Jesus made, they let us attend.

Mungu and I share our faith with our parents and elder sister. Our sister believes in God and knows that He has answered her prayers in the past. But according to Buddhist traditions, the eldest child must remain a Buddhist so that when our parents die there will be someone to open the door to the next life. Mungu and I pray that our parents will give their lives to God and give up their beliefs in reincarnation. Then my elder sister will be released from her obligations and can follow us to God.

The church in Mongolia is still young and small. Most members are under 30 years old, and many are still in school. Your mission offerings help support the growing and maturing church in Mongolia. And recent Thirteenth Sabbath Offerings have helped build or buy church buildings, establish a dormitory for Adventist students in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, and help buy a youth training center where we can learn to become the leaders of the church in Mongolia for many years to come. Thank you!

Erdenechimeg and Mungu Sukhbaatar are working in Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia.

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.
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