Hello everyone!
Since I have last written, I have moved to a new area. I was in my previous area for 8 months, most recently was with Elder Khôi as my companion. We were MTC companions and it was so great to go with him again. He's probably the most efficient missionary I've ever served with, and incredibly fun at the same time. We got a lot of great work done, bought some awesome new suits, and finally found some more variety of good restaurants in that area. I will forever love Cơm Thập Cẩm 49. Elder Khôi is one of the best, most trustworthy people you'll ever meet, and he is my favorite person ever to go finding with.
I also loved the members in Ba Đình. What wonderful saints. They are proof that a life with the Gospel is always better than a life without it. There are far to many I could tell you about, just know that the Vietnamese members are probably the greatest group of people on the planet outside of my immediate family.
I am now in an area called Bình Dương. It is a blessed and promised land. I just love it. The branch is smaller than normal in Vietnam, but this place already feels like a home. It is outside of the main Saigon area. But there are still millions of people in our area. The food is cheap, delicious, and there's a lot of variety. My companion is Elder Blair and he is awesome.
I was blessed to have the chance to speak about Easter in Sacrament meeting on Sunday. In a buddhist focused country there is not much celebrating going on in Vietnam. The prophet Nephi taught of a Spiritual death (sin) and a Physical death. Both are unavoidable for every living person on earth. And the only way to overcome either of those deaths, and even both of them, is through the efforts, love, dedication, obedience, teachings, and power of Jesus Christ. Every struggle we are currently facing, He felt it. But the difference is, He overcame it already, and we haven't yet. So if we want to get over these sins and trials and even death, there is someone who's already done it. Someone who has the power to help you do it to. And someone with enough love that He wants to help us.
2 Nephi 25:13
13 Behold, they will crucify him; and after he is laid in a sepulchre for the space of three days he shall rise from the dead, with healing in his wings; and all those who shall believe on his name shall be saved in the kingdom of God. Wherefore, my soul delighteth to prophesy concerning him, for I have seen his day, and my heart doth magnify his holy name.
Happy Easter!
-Elder H. McConkie
 |
