I'll go where you want me to go

 

July 27, 2023

 

Hello, 

 

I have lots to write about and share. July 6-10th we had the mission branch tour and conference. We traveled in a large van with President Hughes’ counselor, President Phan, who is the acting president of the branch, President Vuong a counselor in the mission presidency and his wife Ngoc Trinh and with Elder and Sister Peterson who have been teaching on line several classes to the branch. It was a joy to see them meet everyone in person. The Peterson’s also brought with them pictures of Jesus and temples to give away. We visited 7 different homes or groups spread all across the south of Vietnam. They live hours and hours apart. Once a year the church pays for them to all gather and have a mission branch conference. They start traveling the night before or as early as 2 am to make it. Before the conference we arrange to visit some of the members. Each of the visits became ministering visits. Everyone in our van connected with a different person. There were priesthood blessings given, comfort given, questions answered, and encouragement and love given. After the 3 days we all agreed the conference was wonderful but it was powerful to see how God had sent us to help “the One.” We knew we had been instruments in His hands. 

Wow we have had a lot of missionaries coming and going! This month we said goodbye to 5 missionaries on the 17-18th. We took our good-bye pictures at the rice field and they had dinner at the mission home, had a devotional and flew out the next morning after breakfast. They were AP’s, District leaders, zone leaders and a Sister trainer leader. We will miss them! On the 19-20th two missionaries who served in our mission for 9 months and the rest in Cambodia flew in to be released. It was the first time we had seen Elder Thanh in person. The whole time we served with him we never had a visa for the south of Vietnam. It brought tears to my eyes to finally see him. They slept over and flew out the next day after breakfast. On the 21st three Sister Missionaries flew in from the Manila MTC to start their mission. We did part of our orientation with them that day and finished the next day. Then we took them to the rice field for pictures and 2 of them flew to Ho Chi Minh to serve. As we had the farewell devotional with the first 5 missionaries we sang “I’ll go where you want me to go.” It was a powerful witness to me that everyone in that room had truly been willing to go and serve where God needed them to go. They were now willing to go and do what he needed them to do in the next phases of their lives. I knew I was sitting in a room with consecrated missionaries and it was an honor to be there. We love the Lord’s missionaries so much! 

We were also blessed by a visit from my brother David and his family. He and Alyse brought us a suitcase full of things from home. There were notes and pictures from our grandchildren and photos of one of the families. That was so much fun for us! They also brought a gift from my mom. It was a book of stories from her life. I sit down to read one story but I end up reading more than one. She is such a good writer. I am grateful for the church supplies they brought. They also brought food and treats we can’t find here, besides some of my requests Alyse was so thoughtful and brought me the ingredients for homemade hot fudge. Homemade salsa and wassail mix. I have already had a few cups of wassail even though it is not winter yet. It just tastes like home. I don’t know how they did it but they brought a big box of dental supplies for us to distribute to those who need it. They were so thoughtful. Then I got to have fun with them for a few days! We toured a lot of places in Hanoi and we went out to beautiful Ha Long bay. My little brother is a great example to me of also being willing to go and do what the Lord wants him to do. I am so grateful I am his sister. We missed them when they left but we are so grateful they came so far around the world to see us. 

 

Every day our missionaries are working so hard to find people who are ready to let God prevail in their lives. We pray daily that we can find them. When we do it is a joy to see their happy faces as they come out of the baptismal font and when they receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. The scriptures say “The harvest truly is plenteous but the laborers are few.” I am grateful to be serving with those willing to sacrifice and serve the Lord. Love, Sister Hughes

 

PIctures: Sister Hughes with Sok Mana and her mom, President Hughes laughing with Sister Chau, SIster Hughes hugging Mai Phuong, President Vuong is so loving and good to President Hughes, Visit with a mom and daughter who are members, President Hughes and I with all of our gifts from home, Us with my mom's book, At Halong Bay with David's family, Being greeted by Em Diệp Anh at her baptism (her mom is recently baptized and her dad is taking the lessons), Me and my brother David at the flower market, In front of the Cau Giay church, President Hughes having english conversations at English club, 1st stop of mission branch tour, another stop the young boy is seeing picture of his baptism i took the year before, Last Ap meeting with elder Carter, Us walking to the Tra Cu group, touring the women's museum, Farewell Devotional, Airport send off,  Road trip, and my menu planning