God is in the details

 June 12, 2023,

 

Xin Chào, 

We are finishing up our second year serving as mission leaders. We have learned so much. It has been a calling that has really stretched us. There are hours of administrative work, that goes unnoticed unless it does not get done. The rewards are feeling the spirit in your life so often, being with amazing young men and young women who are willing to sacrifice for the Lord, working with members who are trying hard to do what is right and to see new members feel such joy with the gospel. 

Last week two members of the Area presidency visited Vietnam. They took time to visit with government leaders, missionaries and have a member meeting. As we sang the opening hymn “Near my God to Thee”  in Ho Chi Minh district, I looked over the members and I felt such love for them. I know names now. I know some of their stories. I see them faithfully coming and making changes in their lives. It will be so hard to say good bye. Their faith, goodness and love are so inspiring. I had a small glimpse of how much God loves them. 

We got to attend a wedding for President Vuong (1st counselor in the mission presidency) and Ngoc Trinh (a recently returned missionary). In Vietnam you go to a government office fill out some paper work and get a chop( Stamp) and you are officially married. Later they have big, loud, happy celebration with family and friends, they call this the wedding. It will have lots of food an Emcee, music, traditional gift exchanges, toasts at each table and on the stage, presentation of the bride and groom with their parents. A cake cutting ceremony that usually involves wine or fake wine and dry ice or fog of some kind. That is not the big celebration we attended. That wedding celebration will come later as well as a temple sealing they are deciding the place and date. This was a nice meeting/reception for their member friends. It started in the chapel with some talks about the importance of marriage and how to treasure and take care of each other. Then the branch president performed the civil ceremony found in the hand book. The sisters in the branch had worked so hard and created the most beautiful food and had so many fresh flower decorations. They had flowers on the tables, the patio posts had flowers and they used one of the sister missionaries’s bikes and decorated it so beautifully with roses, Gerbera daisies, Lillies and greenery. There were little white lights in the trees. It looked so pretty. It was such an act of love and service. Everyone enjoyed the evening. God’s hand was in the details for this special day. About an hour before we needed to get a taxi I asked if I would help in any way. She said yes she needed a scarf  to wear for the neckline of her dress. She sent me a picture of her in a lovely red dress. I asked the hotel where I should go and I went off on a walk to find a scarf. After looking at many choices, and sending her pictures of which one to get. I had to buy one without her final say. On my way to the wedding she texted me which one was her favorite and that is the one I had bought. Yay! Another story: the elders were teaching a new friend his first lesson at the church. They mentioned to him there was going to be a wedding later. He said he was a photographer and he had his nice camera with him. He offered stay and take pictures for the wedding. He was at the church for hours. I talked with him and he said he loved it. There will be lots of beautiful pictures for Vuong and Ngoc Trinh  and we have a new friend that had a very positive first experience at the church. 

Miracle: President Long of the Ha Dong Branch invited the branch to his home for Family home evening 6-8:30. We could be there 6-7 because of other meetings. We have been to his home one other time 2 years ago. It is located on a little alley. Google maps took us to a new business development, that was not occupied by anyone. We decided to try another map but with no success. We were worried. We thought, let’s pull over and call the missionaries that serve in the branch. We drive back to the first location of empty businesses to pull over and there stands 4 of our missionaries looking at their phone for directions. They are lost too. We tell them to hop in the van. As they are loading up the 2 sister missionaries come walking up. They are not sure where the home is either and they were hoping to run into the elders. So there we all were crowded in the van. God literally had led all of us to be together. Sister Campbell remembered the name of the family business and when we put that in google maps we found their home. We were a few blocks away, but pretty close, and it was down a tiny alley like we remembered. We all arrived safe and sound together. It think it was an answer to all of our prayers. 

We had 12 missionaries arrive on May 22, 6 missionaries went home June 5, Another missionary arrived June 11, We had MLC sleep over and meet at the mission home June 13-14th. I am grateful for Elder and Sister Carson who have been coming over to help me cook.

As a mission we are reading the Book of Mormon in 3 months. We are marking 4 colors: 1) all references to Christ, his names and any pronouns 2)His words spoken by him of by his prophets 3) His attributes and 4) Doctrine and Principles. We were all given a new book of Mormon to mark. It has been a wonderful experience. It has been eye opening for me how much I am marking every page. The Book of Mormon truly is another testament of Christ. I encourage all of you to read it every day. It will bless your life. 

Love you,  Sister Hughes

 

Pictures: Meat Market ( i shop at the store) , street b-cue, veggie stand at the market, Dinner with friends Pres and sister Stephens, Pretty flower stand, Ap's E/MInh chu and E/Carter with President Hughes, MIracle night we all found each other, Huong's (The mom) baptism her daugher Nga had been baptized a year earlier, Chi Chau, Chi Nhan and Chi Hong An going home, Pres. Long's home, Ha Dong Branch Baptism day picture, E/ Norton and Pres Hughes at Pres Long's home, Missionaries with Elder Tai and Elder Johnson form the area presidency, Food Prep at PResident Long's home, Pot luck after baptisms and church at Ha Dong. Sister and Elder Carson helpign SIster Hughes, 6 departing misisonaries, Hughes with Elder Tai and Elder Johnson, Elder Vassantachart arrives, Sister Hughes with the bride Ngoc Trinh, The Hughes with Vuong and Ngoc Trinh