Videos of Mother's Day Skype! Check it out!

My New Companion is AWESOME!

Hello everyone!

I hope all of you are doing well! This week was absolutely amazing! I got a new companion on Tuesday, Anh Ca Hung. There was also a baptism in our Branch on Sunday! Ironically, all three Branches in Saigon all had a baptism on Sunday! The work is really moving forward here, and it is exciting to see! We also got some English Class Training from Dr. Nelson from BYU Hawaii, and Dr. Paul from BYU Idaho! 

Testimony Time: 

Once I got my new companion on Tuesday, I am now the Senior Companion, and now in charge of leading out our area. This means that I now have much more responsibility with the missionary work. It has been so busy, but it has been absolutely amazing, because I have had the wonderful opportunity of focusing on others rather than myself. I have grown to love the people here in Vietnam so much, and it makes me so happy to bring the joy and the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for God's Children here in Vietnam. I have found that I am so much happier when I focus on the needs of others rather than myself. There is just this huge feeling of joy that comes with thinking of others and their happiness. I want to testify that when we truly have charity for others and when we truly put them first, that is when we will find true happiness. I would encourage all of you this week to continue to look for ways to serve others and put them before yourself. I love you all!

Sorry I've been really bad about taking pictures lately!

1 May 2017: I'm Getting a New Companion! Transfers are Here!

Hello Everyone, family and friends! Xin Chao Gia Dinh va Ban Be!

I have some exciting news......We got our transfer calls on Saturday night, and I will be getting a new companion! His name is Elder Hung. He was actually born here in Vietnam in Mi Tho (probably spelled that wrong). It is a town that is a little further south than Saigon. He was adopted when he was 1 year old, and has grown up with an American family in Colorado Springs. He has served up in Hanoi for seven months, and we will be together starting tomorrow!

This week has been a little bit of a slow one. We haven't had many lessons or appointments, which means a lot of contacting! Contacting can be very difficult, but it can also be pretty fun as well. When we contact, we have some church cards, and we basically go out and get to know people better, and share the message of the church with them. This week we really focused on contacting in the "Hems." The "Hems" are these really narrow streets away from the noise of the street, where all of the houses tend to be. When you are in these Hems, you actually feel like you are in Vietnam, rather than in the very modern city. In the "Hems" people often sells things, hang around their houses, and even do Vietnamese karaoke! (that is quite a sight). The "Hems" are great places to contact because things are more calm and you really get away from the hustle and bustle of busy streets. It was definitely a major blessing for me to have so much time to contact this week because it was a great opportunity for me to practice my Vietnamese, as well as my people skills. Let me tell you that sometimes it takes quite a bit of courage to just go up and start talking to someone in a language other than your native tongue, plus sharing about the church, but it can be so fun as well! Last night I had a wonderful experience contacting. I went on splits with another Elder in our apartment, and we started contacting in those "Hems." We weren't having much success, so we went to a park called Cong Vien Khanh Hoi (Cong Vien is "park" in Vietnamese). It was amazing because it was almost like the Lord had just lined people up for us to talk to. Almost every bench we walked by, we ended up talking to someone. I don't think even 5 minutes went by when we weren't talking with someone. We met this really cool guy named Anh Son who spoke every good English. He said he liked us and could tell that we had a good heart. 

Testimony Time:

We had Breakfast this morning with the senior missionary couple in our branch who work here for LDS Charities (Elder and Sister MacDonald). At the end of breakfast, we shared with them about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and how wonderful the Atonement is because it gives us the opportunity to change and to become better. They shared about how they had seen the Atonement in the work they do here in Vietnam. One of the services they provide are wheelchairs from the LDS Charities organization. They shared about the joy that comes from seeing the change in these people and themselves when they give service. As great as this was, one thing in particular really stuck out to me. Elder MacDonald was talking about how some of these people would carry their family members who couldn't walk (this was before they received the wheelchair), and just how much charity that these people had for their family members. Charity is truly the "pure love of Christ." We were able to relate it to how the Atonement of Jesus Christ truly is the greatest act of Charity for God's children. I am so thankful and grateful for Christ's charity for God's children through His Atoning sacrifice. I want to follow the example of the Savior, and always have charity "the pure love of Christ" in my heart, for others. I testify that the Savior's grace is sufficient for all of us, because of the charity that he has! I want to invite you all to read Mornoni 7, and to really ponder and pray about how you can have more Charity. Remember that without charity we are nothing! I love you all!

Picture Time!

1. Let's just say I got a little distracted with something cute while we were contacting....probably one of the cutest dogs I've ever seen...looks a lot like Kizzy, except Brown LOL!

2. Last picture with Elder Vinh and me as companions with our progressing investigators, Anh Ha and Chi Tu and their kids, Moon and Bee.

3. Last picture with Elder Vinh and me, and our Investigator who is so close to being baptized, Em Doan.

4. Last picture with Elder Vinh and me, and the recent convert we are teaching who will hopefully serve a mission soon, Anh Hieu.

5. Getting ready for English Class with the District!

Trip to the ZOO!

Hello Everyone, friends and family! Xin Chao Gia Dinh va Ban Be!

This week has been full of some new experiences, as well as a lot of spiritual growth! To start, on Monday we went to the zoo in Vietnam, so that was pretty cool! Don't worry, I have a lot of pictures! On Tuesday, I had a companionship exchange with the Zone Leaders, and I got to teach an English Class to some very advanced students. On Wednesday, we had a special English Class where we set up the church like a restaurant, and had the students order food in English. On Friday and some of Saturday as well, I had a companion exchange and got reunited with my MTC companion, Elder Craghead! It was neat to see how much we've grown since the last exchange that we had together, and since the MTC! On Saturday and Sunday, we had a District Conference with the church in Vietnam, and the Mission President and his wife (President and Sister Hassell), both gave their talks in Vietnamese!!!

Testimony Time:

This week I have really been contemplating about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Last night, we shared a spiritual message with a less-active member, Anh Nhan. He has been struggling, because of mistakes he has made in the past, and feeling stuck because of those mistakes. As we were sharing with him about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I really felt the spirit as we were sharing with him about how he didn't have to feel guilt forever. Because of the Atonement of Christ, he can be lifted from those burdens, and behold the Light of Christ again. We shared Mosiah 27 with him, and how Alma the Younger was a big sinner. However, he repented, and had a marvelous change of heart. Perhaps one of the greatest gifts that we have been given is the gift to constantly change and become better. Thus the greatest gift we have been given is the Atonement of Christ. I invite all of you to read Mosiah 27 if you can, and to ponder about what the Atonement of Christ really means for you in your quest to change and become more like the Savior!

Vietnam things (unique to Vietnam):

1. people sleeping in hammocks for nap time.

2. very narrow" hems" for houses

3. any little breeze you get feels like Heaven.

Zoo trip!

Refreshing passion fruit drink for a HOT day...and Korean BBQ!

The Recent Convert we are teaching, Anh Hieu, and the Plan of Salvation drawing by one of the Elders. I like this idea!