Elder Reynolds in Hanoi

Alo -  For the sake of the read time of this email, let's just get right into it. It has been a crazy week. Let's take it day by day:  Monday: Before receiving the new missionaries on Friday afternoon, the Elders were put into temporary assignments until we got our new companions. Elder Kotter, Elder Vassantchart and I were a trio for the P-Day. We got their apartment ready for two more Elders and got some burgers. For the evening, we organized a plan to get all of the bikes to the correct apartments. It was a bit of a complex plan, because some bikes needed to be switched with other bikes to meet the needs of taller Elders.  Tuesday: I stayed half the day with Elder Vassantachart and Kotter until Elder Esplin flew into Hanoi. Then I went with him back to HBT where we stayed temporarily. Elder Esplin and I then had quite an adventure: To help with organizing the bikes correctly, we rode around with the delivery driver all day in his big truck. It was a fun time and d...

Alo, It has been another week here in the HBT area. Nothing too crazy happened, but we did get our news for the upcoming transfer!  Monday: The district went to a massive market in Hanoi to do some fun shopping. This places has everything you could possibly need or want - with hundreds of little shops selling knock-off shoes, bags, hats, and other strange things with famous brands.  Elder Kotter and I specifically went to find raw fabric materials to make some suits. We found some people willing to sell the fabric for a good price, but we need to find a person to actually make the suit. The people who sell the materials know where to take it, but they charge you extra for them to take the materials and do it. After searching in the market we ate at Chops, a burger place, and then went to an American Import Store and bought some Root Beer. It was a great day.  Transfer Tea: I will be staying here in HBT and training a new Elder! I am excited. I know there will be some chal...

 Alo,  Glad to see everyone is doing well and staying healthy! Thank you for those of you who wrote last week, I really appreciate it! This week was interesting - no huge stories to share but lots of little fun ones and random events. Preparation Day: Our district went to the Temple of Literature together and then got some good bún chả in the Old Quarter area. Elder Kotter and I went and got some fancy haircuts and then relaxed for the rest of the day. It was very refreshing. We also bought some really, really, loud bicycle horns for our bikes to help us DOMINATE the roads while we bike. The horns we have make us sound like birds, hence the title of the email. We have noticed it makes quite a difference - people don't cut in front of us anymore.  The 103 Year Old Man: Outside of the church one day Elder Kotter and I stopped to talk to an old man sitting out by the lake. He was 103 years old! He had no teeth and we understood nothing he was saying. I tried asking him what ...

Alo,  Wishing you a wonderful start to October and lots of Fall leaves. Things have been pretty quiet here in the Hai Bà Trưng area, but we are working hard and having fun. Here are some updates from me for the week:  Last Preparation Day: We went and visited the famous "Hanoi Train Street" in the Old Quarter area. I have to admit it is pretty cool - but all the shopkeepers trying to scam you and get you into their shops along the street aren't. After we saw the train we went to get some Indian Food which somehow poisoned the entire district except me. I got a super spicy dish, so maybe the spice I got killed all the poison.  Goodbye, Elder Nelson :( Last week our Mission President was surprised with two new native Vietnamese missionaries. They were assigned to Australia, but have not recieved visa approval to go yet. Therefore, they will serve here in Vietnam for the time being. Elder Nelson was assigned to train the new missionary and moved to Hà Đông. We will miss Elde...