Skip to main content

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. 

___________________________________________

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. 

___________________________________________

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! :)






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

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 ...
Post a Comment
Read more

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...
Post a Comment
Read more

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...
Post a Comment
Read more