April

 XIn chao family and friends, 

We have been blessed the last week with spending time with the missionaries in Zone conference and interviews. We have also been enjoying listening to General conference and studying about and talking about Easter. It’s been a spiritual and tiring week. We have had full 12-14 hour days. It has taken me a couple of days to recover. I realized today I was so busy that I didn’t even put out the Easter decorations I brought. 

I was humbled this week. Years ago when I taught the Teacher improvement classes, I learned a valuable truth, Preparation is the key to having the Holy Ghost be able to help you. If you do not prepare early enough he does not have time to inspire and bring things to your mind. Our Zone conference was on Chapter 10 of Preach my Gospel. It is about Teaching skills. President Hughes did an amazing job teaching about the importance of teaching with the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon. He is such a good teacher. I taught about the importance of having the spirit with you when you teach. I made a power point and practiced the timing of it for our 1st zone conference. I felt the spirit during my training, stayed on time and I felt good about it. Later that week I was to teach the same thing. I did not practice before I went, I briefly looked over my outline and it did not go as well. My words did not flow, I was not sure what I should emphasize with this zone. I had not given the spirit time to help me and I felt it. What I shared was good but I know it could have been better and I learned to prepare each time. 

Our mission is doing so good at finding. They are finding more new friends per week on average than the week before. This trend has been going on since September. We are so impressed with their hard work. We do need to work on helping our many new friends become converted to the gospel and desire to make covenants with God. That is why zone conference was on teaching skills. Teaching is one way we can help our new friends.  

Hanoi has a ceramic mural wall. It is amazing. It goes for 4 miles. Each section was done by various Vietnamese artists, businesses and different embassies. Most of the tile was made in the Bat Trang village that specializes in ceramics. I love driving along the road that borders the wall. I am always trying to get a good picture of the different sections while we are driving by. It is fun to look at. It has historic murals, important places in Vietnam, flowers, children’s drawings, murals representing different countries, Vietnamese traditional patterns and designs as well as modern art. I love thinking of all the people who had joy creating something so beautiful and unique. 

Miracle: Exchange miracle!! Chị Stobbe and I had an exchange yesterday in Q6 and met the most awesome girl! We were without a sim card for the day...oops, but somehow made our way to the mall. It ended up being the wrong mall that was super far away. But was actually the right mall because we met Nghi! We were both pretty scared about being able to communicate, but the gift of tongues is real and we made it work! She is the only person we talked to at the mall in our broken Vietnamese before it was time to leave, but we were able to invite her to church and help her feel loved!! Sister Biehler

I loved so much of General Conference. But the Title of this talk was sermon in its self: The Answer is always Jesus. 

“Whatever questions or problems you have, the answer is always found in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Learn more about His Atonement, His love, His mercy, His doctrine, and His restored gospel of healing and progression. Turn to Him! Follow Him!” President Nelson What a great reminder to all of us. 

Thank you for your prayers. Love you!

Love, Janece

Pictures: Mural wall, SIsters of Cau Giay Branch, Cau Giay branch, Hanoi ZONe, Ho chi Minh Zone, Hanoi North District, Sister Hanh's birthday, Setting apart 2 new missionaries for our mission, Reunion with RM's in south, Two sisters ready to go outside on their motorcyles. (This is how most of the women in VN Cover up to go out on their motorcycles)