Mongolia:
The Circle in the Clouds
By John and Nancy Hopkins
Reviewed by Catherine K. Arveseth of Meridian
Magazine
I was surprised by The Circle in the Clouds – pleasantly surprised
by how much I enjoyed reading the travels of John and Nancy Hopkins through the
urbanism and countryside of Mongolia.
The Hopkins spent countless dedicated hours
recording their days of humanitarian service in Mongolia; from the mundane minutes
it took to “clorox” their vegetables to the most memorable of human moments,
like a young crippled boy receiving his first wheelchair – a moment that
infinitely changed a life because of the selfless act of another.
Initially, I felt the weakness of the book was in its
structure – dated chapters that read like emails home to family. The
writing was not necessarily masterful or procured over time. It was
dense, dripping with detail and sometimes laborious. After further
reading, however, I was so impressed by the work they were doing, so invested
in learning about the people of Mongolia
and the growth of the church there that I couldn’t stop reading. I began
to fall in love with the Hopkins
and their lengthy journal entries. Their approach was a down-home, hands
in the dirt, unabashed “here we are at our best and worst” approach. It
was sincere, without pretense and refreshingly open. And I liked
it. As I read on, I came to greatly admire and appreciate the purpose
with which they recorded each new experience.
Called to Serve
John and Nancy Hopkins were called to serve a Humanitarian
Service Mission in Mongolia
for the LDSChurch in 1997-1998. Their primary
responsibility was to serve as directors of the English Project, sponsored by
Deseret International Charities. They were also required to teach English
at various schools/locations. This was a requirement of all missionaries
to maintain a visa and stay in the country.
Hurrah for Senior Missionary Couples like the Hopkins! Married 50
plus years, this charming couple left the comforts of an American home,
including those ever-persuasive grandchildren, for an entirely different
lifestyle and experience. An apartment that frequently lost power, a
language they didn’t know, grueling days of hard work, miles and miles of
walking, below freezing temperatures, relentless dust storms, new foods, little
access to American products, uncomfortable train rides, and the list goes on
and on. Ask them, however, if they would do it all again and they would
immediately answer, “yes!”
I chuckled to myself as I read of the inconveniences in Mongolia and
thought that this book could either discourage or encourage seniors from
serving a mission. For the Hopkins,
however, the love, hospitality, and spirit of the Mongolian people far
outweighed any inconvenience they would endure. For all you seniors out
there contemplating missionary service – read on! This might be just the
thing you need to send in your papers!
The zeal and energy with which the Hopkins attended to the Lord’s work was
astounding, as was their unconditional love for the Mongolian people. In
the following excerpt, NancyUlaanbaatar. While touring the
orphanage, they passed a room in which young children were holding a talent
show. records their
Thanksgiving visit to a local orphanage in
Attending the Lord’s Work
“As we looked in, children were dancing together, children
and teachers were dancing together…all were having a wonderful time. We
couldn’t resist. We grabbed the hands of some of the little ones standing
around the sides and then others got brave and joined our circles. We
were silly and they laughed at and with us. One little boy who I had
earlier thought looked especially sad and emaciated came over and took my hand.
With that, the little part of my heart that hadn’t yet melted,
disappeared. Their kindred who are still on and under the streets don’t
have anything to smile and laugh about. What a blessing that God has put
us here that ‘our eyes may see and ears may hear’ his little ones who have a
need and that a generous Church and people stand ready with outstretched arms
to succor them. I’m thankful on this Thanksgiving Day for The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the generosity of its members.”
The Hopkins made several return visits to the orphanage to
donate clothing, school supplies, toys and medical supplies, all of which were
shipped to Mongolia by the Church’s Humanitarian Center. It is often
mentioned in the book how grateful the Mongolian missionaries were for the
welfare and charitable services of the Church. This book lets you peek
into the lives of those who benefit from such donations.
You will laugh as you read of the Hopkins’ outings to the
black market, the Mongolians who knock on their door just to have their picture
taken in front of a Television set, John’s taxi ride from Darkhan to
Ulaanbaatar smashed into the back seat with four other Mongolian women, the
little Mongolian girl who sits on John’s lap just to rub his balding head (few
men go bald in Mongolia), and the singing of “Old MacDonald” in all of their
English classes. As the Hopkins put it,
“The sun shines every day in Mongolia!”
even if it is 20 degrees below zero.
Circle in the Clouds
The book’s title, The Circle in the Clouds, comes from an
image the Hopkins
grew to love. The Mongolian “ger” is a type of dwelling for nomadic
peoples that live in the mystical Mongolian countryside. It is a round
structure with an opening in the top that is circular. The circle is
sacred in the lives of the Mongolians, sacred in its symbolism and
perfection. The Hopkins
often looked up through a ger’s circular opening to see the sky perfectly
framed like a “circle in the clouds.”
In addition to journaling their adventures, the Hopkins gave an excellent history of the LDSChurch
in Mongolia
and its rapid growth. When the Hopkins
served from 1997-1998, the Book of Mormon had not yet been translated into
Mongolian. Yet, church membership in the country was growing at a phenomenal
pace. All missionaries looked forward to the coming translation because
94% of the country was literate! No tracting or door-knocking efforts
were needed. All missionary work evolved out of referrals from members
who excitedly shared the gospel with family and friends.
Readers will be humbled by the faith and innocence of the
Mongolian people. During their teaching and service, the Hopkins reflected often
upon the lines from the song “Getting to Know You” in The King and I.
“It’s a very ancient saying, but a true and honest thought. If you become
a teacher, by your students you’ll be taught.”
The Hopkins went on to serve
a second mission in Hong Kong as Area Welfare Agents, following which they were
transferred back to Mongolia
to serve another nine months creating employment programs for returned
missionaries and unemployed members.
Brother Hopkins now serves as the Patriarch for the
Philadelphia Pennsylvania Stake of the Church and Nancy is his typist.
I found the Hopkins’
book to be delightful. I must confess I skipped past the early chapters
of waiting for the mission call and entering the mission training center.
I wanted to get to the meaty stuff where the book really started moving.
Any prospective Senior Missionary or young Missionary headed for the countryside
of Mongolia
should make sure they read The Circle in the Clouds. It is an honest,
celebratory narration of an invaluable service to God’s people in one of the
farthest corners of the earth.
