Danilo couldn’t openly share God with his students, but his actions spoke louder than words. With a ukulele in hand, he found a way to reflect God’s love in a place where faith had to be shown, not spoken.
Mongolia, a land of nomadic traditions and extreme climates, offers both challenges and rewards for mission work. In the nation’s capital, Ulaanbaatar, Adventist Volunteer Service missionary Danilo has served as an English teacher and assistant chaplain at Tusgal School for two years. His journey, shaped by a commitment to follow God’s leading, has taken him from Mexico to Saipan and now to Mongolia.
“At that time, I decided that it was important to really let God lead and to live in the center of His will. But trusting him and leading is what brought me here and to Mongolia.”
Missionaries often face challenges such as learning new languages. At Tusgal School, Danilo faced the challenge of religious restrictions that impacted how he interacted with his students.
“We cannot overtly pray with our students or read the Bible or speak about God. We really focus on demonstrating the biblical values and communicating that in character building. So it's really a blessing to see that God is still working even when there's restriction.”
Danilo looks beyond academics, cultivating a classroom marked by compassion and spirituality. Every class begins with something unique that fosters a sense of love and connection for his students.
“I love to start my classrooms every day with at least a few worship songs. And this year we've taught them Peace Like a River. And last year was This Little Light of Mine.”
“He's very fun. He's like a friend to us. He's our motivator. He encourages us to be greater and better every day.”
“He starts every lesson with singing and playing and ukuleles. So that makes every student really into the lesson and helps them understand it more.”
Here, temperatures can drop to -40 degrees, and language barriers complicate communication. Yet, Danilo and his family embrace these obstacles, forming meaningful relationships and demonstrating God’s love.
“So we really made it a point to, okay, we're going to represent Him as much as we can through our actions. And then, you're not sure, like the result of what's going to occur. But just to see that they understand what the love of God is working through us, and they can see that in us, that is truly being a testimony.”
Action speaks louder than words in this kind of environment. Danilo nurtures transformation in his ministry as an AVS teacher, which has been both challenging and enriching. He invites others to join this rewarding experience as an AVS, or Adventist Volunteer Services worker.
“Being an AVS will change your life. When we leave our comfort zone and we choose to trust God's leading and allow him to select a place for us, like through AVS, it will give you a life transforming experience, and you will truly get to know God more deeply. You'll get to know yourself through God's eyes, and you'll be able to make such meaningful relationships. So it's truly a blessing.”
For those who are interested in serving but feel uncertain, Danilo has some inspiring words to share.
“I would say pray, bring it to the Lord and say, God, wherever you lead, I will follow. I just want to live in the center of Your will. It would be the best decision that you ever made. You will have such peace and joy and any challenging context, you can do it, knowing that you're in His hands.”
This family needs our prayers.
“Please pray that my family and I can represent God as best as we possibly can. Because our goal ultimately is to bring others to Christ. That's the most important thing.”
If you would like to learn more about service opportunities, visit VividFaith.com. Thank you for supporting the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
