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1068 Steps Up, 1068 Steps Down

 Xin chào mọi người,

Happy May! Seems like everyone is having a good start to their summer breaks. Congratulations to the many friends who recently graduated and are starting their new chapter in life! 

This week was good. We had a lot of fun adventures and spiritual experiences.

Last Preparation Day:
Last P-Day was great! We went to the Ba Đình area and did a hike. It was 1068 steps up a staircase to see an awesome statue on the way to the top. There was also a massive Buddist temple halfway up the hike which was beautiful. The scenery was very neat - I'll attach some photos of it below, but my Google Photos will have more! We were absolutely drenched with sweat by the end.

The Language Arsenal:
Wednesday and Thursday Elder Vassantachart and I went on exchanges with the AP's. While we were finding I got to use every single language I have studied to say hi to people! It was a very fun experience. I even got to invite a Chinese man to the English activity at the church. I was surprised how many people come to visit the Ba Đình area - it is super international. I was with Elder Minh for the day, who was also from Seattle! It was fun to connect with someone who also appreciated the rain. 

Mixue < Vaccum:

Elder Vassantachart and I decided to find on the way to a nearby ice cream shop, Mixue. However, after a series of events we ended up in... an appliance store? And Elder Vassantachart bought a vaccum? We got the owner's FaceBook info, so it was worth it? 

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      God can hear my prayers in Mandarin?

I have been looking forward to sharing a spiritual experience we had this week. Last Sunday, a random man from China walked into our church building. He spoke no Vietnamese, only Chinese and broken English. We gave him a church tour and started teaching about prayer. 

While explaining how we pray, I wrote out and explained what we do/say in Mandarin. Once I began writing it down, he then asked in Mandarin, "Oh? God will understand me if I pray in Chinese?".  I was taken back by the question a little bit. Never in my life, had I thought about a language barrier between me and God. I have just always taken for granted that he will always understand me. He was shocked when I explained he could pray in any language he wanted, and God would understand him. 

Elder Holland recently testified in General Conference,  "God hears every prayer we offer and responds to each of them according to the path He has outlined for our perfection". 

I love this simple and powerful truth. I testify that God hears and answers our prayers. If God can understand my prayers in Vietnamese, he can certainly understand yours. This week, I invite you to reflect on ways God has answered your prayers throughout your life. 
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That's really all for this week folks. I am super grateful to be serving here in Cầu Giấy! We should be having quite a few baptisms coming up which is always exciting. 

Wishing everyone success and blessings,
Love,
Anh Cả Reynolds 



Pictures from P-day hike:












A modified pasta dish my mom usually makes, but made with ingredients from Vietnam. It turned out well.


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