Finding our Joyful Mojo! - Week 31: Holms on the Potomac

      

Mojo's brother-in-law, sister, mother, and niece; MOJO!, and Fayoz and Kylie Mulladjanov.

Elder and Sister Cole, MOJO!, Sister and Elder Groth, and Sister and Elder Holm.

 

Sister Mulladjanov gave a talk about receiving the Holy Ghost. 

Sister Still, who has known Mojo since March; Fayoz, and MOJO; Sister Hyman--one of our SWEET MTC buddies-- and Sister Ledyard.

Sister Hyman and members of the ASL Ward in downtown Washington D.C.

To have  “mojo” means to have “a magic charm or spell; supernatural skill or luck; personal magnetism; charm.” Today we met a man who with lots of mojo. Not surprisingly, “Mojo” is his nickname. Mojo—officially, Munkhzaya Dorjdagva, is of Mongolian descent. He works in a sushi shop and is deaf.  He got interested in the Church in March, referred himself on Facebook, and Sister Melissa Still and her companion began teaching him in American Sign Language.  Mojo is deaf. 

The Washington D.C. North Mission is blessed to have five ASL sisters who cover an area that extends outside the mission boundaries, since not all missions have any ASL missionaries. The ASL sisters invited us to Mojo’s baptism.  They said he decided to be baptized in July but things came up, and two weeks ago, his mother, sister, brother-in-law and niece came here. He was glad they were able to attend! 

Translation is an issue at a bi-lingual baptism.  1.  All the members of the D.C. ASL branch are fluent in sign, and a few can also translate for those who don’t know signs. 2.  Mojo’s mother speaks Mongolian and Russian but not in English or ASL, because Mojo’s dad went to college in Russia. Not to worry—the branch president went to Ukraine on his mission and sat behind her to translate. Another tender mercy: Sister Kylie Mulladjanov’s brother is in Mongolia on a mission and can have remote chats with Mojo and his family about the gospel if they choose.

Mojo is a happy and enthusiastic fellow in his thirties, and was baptized by a dedicated branch counselor, Fayoz Mulladjanov.  We didn’t hear the baptismal prayer—Fayoz signed it in ASL. Then in perfect silence, all of us “cheered”—waved our hands and wiggled our fingers—with joy. 

The twelve- year-old daughter of a  branch leader led “I Believe in Christ” and “I Love to See the Temple” in sign—poetic, choreographic and spiritual. ASL speakers use expression as well as signs—it puts ideas across better—and two of them gave excellent, Spirit-led talks. 

Another bonus— Elder Holm drove  on this gorgeous, crisp, fall day through the changing colors of the trees and past the glory of the National Mall to a church in downtown D.C.  that used to be a Safeway store.  One thing about him that I LOVE—he can parallel park!

 

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