40th Anniversary

 Monday July 31, 2023,

 

Dear Family and Friends, 

 

On Friday, President decided to use our frequent flyer miles and we flew to the center of Vietnam to a city called Hue. (Pronounced Hway). We spent our 40th anniversary on Saturday  there.. Then we flew to Ho Chi Minh City early Sunday to go to church. Hue was the capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945. It is where the imperial city is located. It sits on 395  acres. It is the place where 9 Nguyen Lords and 13 Nguyen Dynasty Emperors lived with their families. Hue was heavily bombed and attacked during the war. They have rebuilt a lot of their kings mausoleums and parts of the imperial city. They have also rebuilt ancient pagodas that were damaged. One pagoda was built in 1601. Their history goes back thousands of years, with different dynasties. We enjoyed our very hot day in Hue learning the history and had some fun stops along the tour for lunch and an herbal foot soak and we learned about incense making. The hotel overheard it was our anniversary and when we got back from the tour our bed room had two love bird swans out of towels on the bed with rose petals. They also delivered  a yummy chocolate mousse dessert to us. They were so nice. While we were at a tomb I met a man who was a little older than us, who asked where we were from. We said America. He asked where in America, and we said Utah. In very clear English, he then told us that he had learned English from a soldier who was from Salt Lake City. He could not remember the soldier’s name but he said the first English words he learned to say were “Salt Lake”. This conversation made us think of Larry’s uncle Newell who served in the CIA in Hue. During the war there was a branch of the church in Hue.We wondered if Larry’s uncle might have met this man as a young boy. It showed our actions can have ripple affect in the lives of those we come in contact with. 

40 years ago we were two very young adults who were in love and willing too make  an eternal commitment with each other in the House of God. We saw so much good in each other and we knew we had found our best friend. Through the years we have experienced some very hard trials. We also experienced some heavenly happy days. There were a lot regular days that we were working hard to take care of our family. We learned to forgive and say sorry. We said I love you every day and went on a date every week. We learned how to balance work, callings, school, children and other demands on our time. Through it all we always leaned on our Savior Jesus Christ. We knew the gospel was the key to a happy marriage to would help us raise our children. Our greatest desire is to have an eternal family. We made mistakes, but never gave up. I am grateful for the life we have lived. 

Today in Ho Chi Minh City, president set apart Sister Bao Khanh to serve in the Australia, Sydney mission. We are excited to have another young single adult serving. The more that serve, the stronger the foundation of the Church will be in Vietnam. She is an incredible singer and gave up her career to serve. She felt prompted to serve after attending the national YSA conference last year. She told me today last year she had 12 characteristics she wanted in her future husband, now she only has 4. She last year the #11 characteristic was a man who loved the Lord, this year that is her #1 quality she wants. She has had a big change of heart. This is what we want to happen in all of their lives. A mission will help them understand the gospel and become fully converted. 

Today our flight was delayed a couple of hours. As we sat in the airport surrounded by so many travelers, business men and women, families, young adults and older couples, I looked around at their faces, and watched their interactions. I had this desire to be like Alma and stand and teach the gospel to all of them and hope that they would listen. I knew we had the most valuable message that they could ever hear. I was sitting by the Lord’s leader of the church in Vietnam. I thought if they knew who we were representing and that we could teach them what their purpose in life is, how many would want to know more.  My heart longed to share the gospel and help them put their hand on the iron rod and move toward eternal joy and happiness. 

There is so much work to do in Vietnam. Millions of people who do not know the truth. I am grateful for your prayers. Please continue to pray for us and our missionaries. Pray that they can find those who are prepared to make and keep commitments and are willing to let God prevail in their lives. Pray for the parents of our young single adults, that their hearts will soften and they will allow their children to serve missions. Pray that the government will see the good in our members and we can continue to build better relationships with them. Pray for visas to be approved for missionaries assigned to serve here. Pray for senior couples to come and serve here. Pray for our continued health and strength as we lead the church in this part of the Lord’s vineyard. 

We love you! We pray for you. We miss you. 

Love, Sister Hughes

 

PS. 

 

After our busy week president Hughes felt prompted to go and check out two apartments we have been renting for 4 months. They have been empty as we waited for visas and a senior couple to arrive. Two young sisters moved into one and they needed quite a few supplies especially cleaning supplies and cooking items. The other apartment when we unlocked the door we were shocked. It was obvious someone was living there. We decided to go back later and see if we could see who it was. 3 Chinese men were living there and had been for 9 days already. The landlord had seen it was empty and decided to let some others live in it! So crazy! Now we knew why we needed to check on the apartment.