Download PhotoIn March of 2007, a 19-year-old Bryce Kunz stepped off a plane in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, at the start of his two-year missionary service. He could never have imagined how deeply the people and land of Mongolia would shape the rest of his life.
He carried away with him memories of baking brownies with Mongolian companions, counseling fellow missionaries through difficult moments as a zone leader, and sitting in mission president interviews that shaped his perspective and faith. This past June, those memories came full circle as Bryce returned to Mongolia once more—this time with his wife and three children at his side—as the new president of the Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Mission.
When President and Sister Kunz received the call to serve as mission leaders last August, humility was his first reaction. “I love Mongolia. It changed my life,” he said. “To be able to come back and reengage with the people was very humbling. When I stepped off the plane, all I could think was, I’m back home.”
For Sister Kunz, the call to set aside three years of her life to serve alongside her husband was met with faith and readiness. “We are just regular people doing what we’ve been asked to do,” she said. “It is a sacrifice, but the Church provides so much training and support that we don’t feel alone. We had time to prepare, and when we arrived, we were ready to get to work.”
Their children—Natalie (12), Lyle (10), and Mason (7)—have joined them in Mongolia. While the adjustment is not easy, both parents hope the experience will broaden their children’s worldview. “For them to see that the Church teaches the same truths, the same Gospel, wherever you go will be invaluable,” President Kunz shared. “I want my children—and my missionaries—to learn to turn to their Savior more. The process may hurt, but the outcome will be great.”
Looking ahead, their hopes for the Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Mission are clear. “Of course we would like to see the gospel flourish here,” Sister Kunz said. “But true conversion takes time. Above all, we want our missionaries to know they are loved, appreciated, and valued. The work will follow as they feel that.” President Kunz expressed a similar vision: “I want the people of Mongolia to learn about the Savior, to learn His way, and to expect miracles. Their country has been blessed to be a beacon light to other nations. I want them to feel what a privilege it is to be here.”
Two guiding principles will shape their leadership. The first, inspired by The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown, is to “find our swing together.” Just as the 1936 Olympic rowing team discovered a transcendent harmony when every member rowed in perfect unison, the Kunzes hope missionaries and members alike will unite in purpose as they invite others to come unto Christ. The second principle is agency. “People are agents,” President Kunz explained. “We have to invite, but it’s up to them to choose whether to accept more light in their lives.”
Amid their missionary responsibilities, the Kunz family is eager to embrace Mongolian culture. They plan to visit the Chinggis Khan Statue and the famous Turtle Rock in Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, to experience life in the khödöö (countryside), and enjoy traditional foods such as tsuivan, buuz, and khuushuur. President Kunz especially looks forward to celebrating Tsagaan Sar, the White Moon holiday, a time when every home seems open and families exchange greetings, food, and gifts.
When challenges arise, the Kunzes ground themselves in scripture. President Kunz finds strength in the Savior’s words: “Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me” (Doctrine and Covenants 19:23). “That verse reminds us to take everything one step at a time,” he said, “and to walk with Him.”
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