"The Warmest Winter in Years"

Hi Everyone!

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday for those of you celebrating. Good luck to all of you who are preparing for fall finals! You've got this.

This week was great! Elder Mayne and I did a lot of contacting (stopping by and saying hi to people) and some lessons too. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with some members, then visited an assisted living home for those who may need an uplifting message.

I've decided "tracting" in an assisted living home is the best because:

1). It's warm.

2). People are friendly and happy to talk.

3). Everyone has their name on their door.

4). All the doors are already open. No knocking required.

On Friday we attended the Bemidji Christmas parade and lighting of the city. For being out in the middle of nowhere - they know how to celebrate! They have over 750,000k Christmas lights this year, hoping to hit 1 million in a couple years. Although the celebration was fun, I have never been so cold in my life.

It's very cold here. People keep saying this has been the warmest winter, so I'm grateful, but it's still cold. The weather app says it is 13⁰F, but with wind chill and humidity it "feels like" -3⁰F. Only a little bit if snow so far, but the lakes have started to freeze over! I don't know how people stay warm - especially residents the reservation in metal homes.

I also did some black Friday shopping because I needed a blanket and found "Space Laser Kitty" or "Carl". I really hope I can bring Space Laser Kitty with me to Vietnam.

That's pretty much it! I'm working on taking more photos. Make sure to check out the videos of the fireworks and the wind.

Have an amazing week, and happy holidays! Love and miss you all.

Elder Ethan Reynolds

The WIND!

Dogs are everywhere here

Sunset over the lake

Comments

Hanoian Hamburgers

Alo- Hope you are doing well and enjoying the Spring Weather. We are hoping to start getting some warmer weather this next week (meaning the grey overcast that has been here for the past 3.5 months leaves). This week I don't really have much to report on. Always Adjusting: This week was mainly just adjustment to the new area and assignment. This transfer I'll be helping as an Assistant, which is mainly a lot of behind the scenes work. It reminds me a lot of when I was doing Social Media work a little over a year ago - rather than managing the social media, you help with different aspects of the mission. There isn't anything extremely stressful or overwhelming -- it is just lots of small tasks you have to learn to do. My current companion has great experience in this role and has been teaching me lots. He leaves at the end of this transfer, so I am trying to absorb as much as I can to get it ready for the next transfer. The Mission Branch: One aspect I have been enjoying ...

30 Chưa Phải Là Tết

Alo, It has been a great week. After eating some delicious tacos and having a crossover with the Binh Duong/Phu My Hung districts in Saigon, we flew back to Hanoi in the evening. We finished our Hanoi Zone Conference and welcomed our two new senior missionaries. We've been meeting with lots of our friends and having member meals, which is always enjoyable. On Sunday we had a man from China come to participate in a sacrament meeting. We aren't certain how he found out about the church, because he randomly showed up at the building. I helped "interpret" for him, but I could really only give him the general idea of what was going on. I was feeling a little embarrassed how little I could communicate, despite my previous studies. During the sacrament, I was just praying I could at least do the basics to help him the best I can. After we took the water, he tapped me on my shoulder and asked me a question. I had to ask him to repeat it 2 times because I thought I misunder...

Unphởgettable

Alo- This week was enjoyable having our MLC meeting and preparing for the upcoming transfer. Lots of changes are happening, which is exciting. It just means more unforeseen good things are yet to come! Tuesday, I conclude my time as a missionary. Service as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has been such a blessing to me. Both written and spoken words are inadequate to share about what I've learned in these last 23 months. So I'd just like to give a brief, but sincere testimony: I testify we have a loving God, who is our Heavenly Father. I know he has a Son, Jesus Christ, who sacrificed his life for us. I've learned how God's Plan for us will lead us to eternal happiness and joy. I know as we repent, we can overcome our burdens and be strengthened by the Lord. I know as we read in the Book of Mormon and pray, we will have an increased knowledge of His love for us. Overall, I testify true, pure happiness and joy is found in Jesus Christ...

Elder Reynolds in Hanoi

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