mongol easter.

To celebrate the new-life and joy that Easter brings us, we decorated the ceiling of our worship ger with beautiful, handmade butterflies.

Knowing that this would most likely be my only Easter here, I had a feeling it would be special no matter what. However, I had no idea how much a part it would play in my faith. Every year for as long as I can remember, I have always loved Easter and really tried to allow it to have meaning deep down in my soul. I wanted to be newly changed by Easter each year. This year, Easter was special because I not only got to celebrate it with people I have genuinely come to love but also because I got to celebrate it with a people who have been redeemed and their lives have been changed by our Savior. It is not a national holiday or even well-understood in the church here, but I think the reality of Easter affects their every day life. It affects who they are today and tomorrow. 

I learned a lot from the Disciples when reflecting on Easter this year. Probably my favorite part about the Easter story is the after. When Jesus appears to the disciples, I think their reaction is funny, accurate most likely, but still funny. I love this: "Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord" he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water" (John 21:7). Thank you Peter! I cannot think of a better reaction.

I think the biggest thing I learned was that after the Resurrection the disciples' lives changed. They were different, filled and ready to be who they were meant to be. It took a little prodding, sure, but Jesus's death and life was a life changing event.


We are supposed to be different after Easter! It is supposed to change us and fill us and be full of meaning. It is not just a day.

Thankfully I'm a lot like the disciples, sometimes unfaithful and doubtful but also moldable. I can be changed.