What is in a name

 

Dear Family and Friends, 

Hello from Hanoi. The weather is getting warmer. Very, very hot days are around the corner. I will miss the cooler weather of the winter and spring. This time of year has some beautiful flowers blooming and the scent of blossoms in the air. Larry and I just took a walk around our loop and we could smell the flowers of different trees as we walked by. We have also started to hear the frogs. Oh my they are so loud! They literally sound like dogs barking all night long. 

In Vietnam a lot of the people pick an English name to go by with their English speaking friends. Traditionally Vietnamese names have been given to them by their MTC teacher. The missionary department has asked that all Asian missionaries go by their last name not their assigned Asian names. This change will help the local people to be able to find and stay in touch if they know the real name of the missionaries. Some of the names that the Vietnamese give themselves have no meaning, they just like the name. There are names like Matt, Zach, or Anna. Then there are random names like  Flower, Apple, or Poseidon. Some names are chosen for a reason. Two of my favorites are Ice Cream and Alice. Ice Cream’s mom has two shops that sell home made ice cream. Our favorites are the Mango Sorbet, and Lemon. Ice Cream is a darling shy little girl. I love Alice and why she chose her name. Alice is currently serving a mission and she will finish April 25th. Sister Giang has been an outstanding missionary. She found the church will living in the Philippines. Her friend Sister Nhan (Flower) introduced Alice to her new found faith and soon Alice was also taking missionary lessons and was baptized. She chose the name Alice because the Philippines became her Wonderland. A magical and wonderful place for her to learn the gospel so she wanted to always remember that special time and chose the name Alice. She was one of the missionaries we were able to go to the Cebu Philippines temple with. Her joy was overflowing to be back in her Wonderland and finally going inside the temple she had walked around so often. 

What is in a name? We all have a family name, but we also have many family lines with different family names. Some of our first names have meaning. I am named after my aunt who passed away on the day of her high school graduation in an accident before she got to walk. I can’t wait to meet her someday and tell her I was honored to be named after her and to get to know her. As members of the church when we were baptized we made a covenant to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ. We promise to remember Him and to keep His commandments. We promise to try to become more like Him by serving others, mourning with those that mourn, and enduring to the end. We are striving to be lifelong disciples of Christ. Our grandson Nolan was baptized this month. We are so proud of him. We were happy to stay up late to watch his baptism. He bore his testimony at his baptism and I will attach a picture of it with my letter. We love that darling boy so much. 

I am wearing a badge that says I am a missionary for His church. My name is on the badge with Jesus Christ’s name. It is an honor. It is humbling. It is faith filled. I know God and His prophet called us to serve in Vietnam at this time. I know He trusts and believes in us. Being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is an eternal blessing. I know I covenanted with my Savior to try to be more like him and to serve Him as best I can. I hope when people see me they can feel God’s love through me. When I interact with others I am very aware that I am being watched and that I am an example of what a disciple of Christ should act like. It helps me make better choices. In reality with or without the badge on, we are all being watched by someone. Do our actions align with our covenant we made to take His name upon us and to try to be more like our Savior? Can others feel God’s love through us? Can they see and feel that we are different from the world? Something to think about this week as we go about our busy lives and something to ponder about during the sacrament when we hear “that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him…”

We love you and miss you!!! Have a great week! Love, Sister Hughes

Pcitures: 1. Our grandson Nolan's baptism picture 2. S/Hughes with RM S/Minh and future mother in law 3. RS birthday picnic in Hanoi 4. There are cute balloons for sale in many places 5. Sisters finind in the park 6. Farewell pics with Elder Giang and Elder Nhat 7. BO bia street food a shredded coconut crepe 8. Elder Hendricksen and Honda with President Hughes 9. Baptism font ready for baptism in Cau Giay 10. One of our walks 11. Goodbye to 4 more misisonaries 12. President with his Ap's (yes there were 3 one transfer) 13. see this often, men sleeping on ther motorcycles 14. Street shave 15. Street mending shop 16. Bitexco financial tower (replicated in an Anvenger movie) 17. Cannon ball tree flowers 18. Mlc picture with sisters and a couple of photo bombers 19. Motorcycle "guard" taking his mid day nap 20. MLC Elders 21. Nolan's wonderful testimomy and 22. Mission sister's gathering