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Counting Airplanes is Better Than Counting Sheep

 Xin chào mọi người! 

I hope you are doing well and having success. Remember to keep moving forward, even if it means one step at a time! Or one pedal at a time, if you are biking here. This week was quite an adventure.

Putting a Friend On-Date for Baptism:

We started off strong by having one of our friends accept an invitation for baptism which was exciting. He has a very sincere testimony and works so hard at having a relationship with God. It is amazing to watch people develop and grow their testimony. I'm so grateful God put our friend in our path and I'm faithful all will go smoothly. I hope I get to stay in the area for his baptism, but we will see what happens!

Finding at Hutech University:

This week we did some finding at a nearby university. We actually ran into a couple of our friends we were actively teaching and got to chat. Coincidence? I think NOT! I really enjoyed finding at the university. At times, the students are a bit shy and don't want to talk. To counter this Elder Luân and I developed some unique strategies to start conversations. 

#1. Have Elder Reynolds stand next to a sign and attempt to read it out loud in Vietnamese. While I am learning how to read and pronounce the sign, Elder Luân actively corrects me. Other people nearby join in and help. It's pretty great and I have learned a lot. Language study and finding - Two birds one stone. 

#2. Have an awkward silence? No worries. Elder Luân mentions I know how to introduce myself in other languages and asks me to do it. "Introduce yourself in Chinese... okay now Italian... okay now Spanish... now English... now Vietnamese!" It gets a little repetitive- but hey, people enjoy it and it's a great way to meet new people. 

Exchange with Elder Mai:

I had a super fun exchange with Elder Mai - another Vietnamese native Elder. Their apartment was on the top floor (22nd) and had a SPECTACULAR view of Sài Gòn International Airport. It looks directly into the runways which is awesome. If I lived there I would get nothing done because I would watch the airplanes all day long during personal study. 

Elder Mai and I made a quick video for a Facebook post. It was super interesting trying to make a film when both of you don't speak each other's native languages. It turns into a lot of pointing, acting, and laughing. Somehow we got it to work, and the video turned out great! I'll see you all on the big screen. 

To fall asleep that night, I cracked the curtains on the window a bit and watched the airplanes take off and land all night long. It was therapeutic, I actually really needed it. 

Cow Hot Pot: 

Was excited to go with my companion and some friends a couple nights ago to have beef hot pot. It was pretty much everything you don't want to eat from a cow, and none of the parts you do want to eat from the cow. One of the friends I was with always made sure to translate what I was eating before or while I was eating something  - spleen, tongue, liver, tail, veins, skin. Ya know, the good stuff. I'm not trying to complain, it was still alright. Just certainly wouldn't be my first choice. 

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Great Uncle Warren:

This week Great Uncle Warren passed away. Although my interactions were few with him, I will always remember him as an amazing and loving man. I have fond memories of little letters we would mail to each other and talk about playing the saxophone. I don't know what prompted Uncle Warren to write those letters to me - but they will always be a special memory to me of his awareness and kind heart for others. 

Koa: 

This week my cousin (Chance's family), lost a great furry friend, Koa. Koa was an amazing dog and blessed many people with all the joy and shenanigans a great dog could. I know Baxter, Abby, Buddy, Shanghai, Mokie, and all our other family dogs are there waiting. 

What a blessing it is to know that although our goodbyes are tearful and difficult - we have eternity to look forward to. I'm so grateful to be able to reunite with all of my family and furry friends again. 

Mosiah 2:41 brought me peace this week. It reminded me that as we follow God, even when things are difficult, we will be blessed: "And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness..." What an amazing promise. 

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Wishing you all the best! Life is good here in Vietnam. 
Love, 
Anh Cả Reynolds
Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/KXNEyuJ6epdKQtAq6

Airplanes on the tarmac


Heading out for the Day

Exchange with my Zone Leader Elder Mai
He is great at doing social media posts 

A still from a video I did with Elder Mai

More Vietnamese to Mandarin

Since I'm not fluent yet, at least I can help by sweeping up...

But I guess these are one-handed brooms and I was not using proper form, so the locals helped me! :)






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