District Conference!
Mon, May 6, 2019 (Week 83)
Hello everyone!
Wow, this has been a busy week! First off we had district
conference! That occurred this last weekend, and all the members in southern
Vietnam met together for it! On Saturday, my companion and I got to watch the
adult session with some investigators broadcast at our church building, and on
Sunday, we got to go to the Metropole hotel to see it in person. There were a
lot of people there! And I got to see some people from Quan 6 and it was cool
to see them again! Also, district conference is when they sustain new
Melchezidek priesthood holders, so from Binh Duong we had Chu Tu get the
Melchezidek priesthood! We are really excited for him and the new
responsibilities and opportunities he will have to serve God. Also, Anh Khang
and Anh Quan got the Melchezidek priesthood in Quan 6, so I got to talk to them
a bit too since they were at the event! Also, Anh Hung and Chi Chi came and
enjoyed it, as well as Co Hue and Bac Dung. And we had a few Chinese people
come, so Elder Bao translated for them! Overall a very good event.
Well, we were busy every day this week! I don't think I have ever had more meal appointments in one week! It was really good! But we also had to bike a lot too, and my companion and I were pretty worn down, so we will relax a bit today. On Monday, we visited Chi Hoa's and Em Dat's house for dinner. And we got to share the gospel with their sister Em Thuan, and she said she would read the Book of Mormon and wants to learn more! On Tuesday, we got to go to Anh Ha's house for dinner, and that was really good too! Also, his wife had a baby last week, and he is really cute! Then on Wednesday, we had interviews with President Chiles. My companion interviewed for a while since it was his first time, so I only got a few minutes. But it was really good, and I got some good advice to help our investigators more and to help as I train Elder Bao. President Chiles took us out for potstickers since he loves Chinese food. And then for dinner, we met with an investigator named Eric at Cowboy Jack's, an American restaurant, and I got a full pizza! We also talked to him about the Book of Mormon, and he will try to read more. And that evening we met with Chi Dung, who is a friend of Chi Chi's and we shared about the restoration. She really wants to know the truth, and is excited to learn more! Also, it was YSA night, so we helped out since this is the second time they have had it. Everyone had to build a bridge out of paper. Both groups did really well, but the other team's bridge held more... But ours looked better! On Saturday, we had a bunch of other appointments that again got us biking out to Di An. I think we biked out there almost every day this week. Because we also biked out there on Sunday too. But it was really good, and we are sharing a lot with a lot of people! But now we are exhausted with all we have been up to...
Elder Bao and I are growing a lot together. We are really
trying to focus on communication. It definitely is not easy, as we are from
different cultures, and have different mother languages, but as we are more
open, we have seen more unity and success. But we are doing well together, and
are really excited to see things progressing here in Binh Duong!
And I wanted to share a spiritual thought of course at the
end of this email, so I will just copy the scripture I shared with President
Chiles in my email today. "And for scripture. This is an interesting one I
found in 3 Nephi 1:5-8.
5 But there were some who began to say that the time was
past for the words to be fulfilled, which were spoken by Samuel, the Lamanite.
6 And they began to rejoice over their brethren, saying:
Behold the time is past, and the words of Samuel are not fulfilled; therefore,
your joy and your faith concerning this thing hath been vain.
7 And it came to pass that they did make a great uproar throughout
the land; and the people who believed began to be very sorrowful, lest by any
means those things which had been spoken might not come to pass.
8 But behold, they did watch steadfastly for that day and
that night and that day which should be as one day as if there were no night,
that they might know that their faith had not been vain.
There is a lot that can be learned from this scripture, but
when I read it, the thing that stood out to me was the faith of those who
believed. While those who did not believe used the sign as a reason to not
believe, and were trying to tempt God with a sign, the believers "did
watch steadfastly". They did believe the prophesy would come, and eagerly
awaited the coming of the Savior. But something else to note is they too did
experience disappointment, when they thought it was possible that their faith
had been in vain. A lot of us feel like if we doubt our faith at all, then we
don't have any. Or that if we wish to see a sign or miracle, it is a show of
lack of faith. Some might think that in this story. But I believe it is the
phrase in verse eight that shows the people's belief. Yes, they became
sorrowful when they thought it might be possible they were wrong, but they
still had trust in God and waited. Elder Holland also had a quote on this to
"doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith." These people stuck
to what they believed and then as we know, the prophecy was fulfilled and they
still believed. And those who did not after seeing the miracle hardened
themselves. We need to have the right reasons to believe, but for those who
believe in God, His promises will be fulfilled, and we need not to worry. It is
okay to be sorrowful sometimes, that is normal, but we need to hold on to what
we know."
That is not as eloquent as I would like to make it, but alas
I am out of time. But I really do know we need to hold onto what we do know and
believe and wait for more to come, as God has promised to give us more. And I
want to say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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