New Area and Pictures - Bình Dương, Vietnam

 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

December 19, 2022 - Lebanon, Tennessee

December 19th 2022

Hello everyone! I hope you are all doing well. It's Christmas season! The holidays are amazing as a missionary! I'm glad I have the opportunity to celebrate these holidays with the great people here. I'm also happy to finally be able to wear my red and green tie. It's a great tie and it has already earned a good amount of compliments already. So pretty happy about that.

Cool story: we had a door approach with this guy who had a really cool old looking car. He opened the door and immediately we saw one of the greatest mustaches ever. He had a navy blue beanie on, with a gray hoodie and sweat pants. And he had a short but qualified length for his grey beard and then coming out from right below his nose was probably a good foot and a half of mustache flowing down on each side. He is a tour bus driver for different bands. He named a bunch of people that are famous but I don't know music very well so I don't remember very many. I do remember that he drove the band Kiss around for a tour of theirs once. Cool guy. Door approaches can be really interesting, I love them.

We had a baptism on Saturday for one of our friends! His whole family showed up and it was amazing! He is 11 years old and has come to this decision completely on his own. It was a unique (and a little hectic) service but he got baptized! He then was confirmed on Sunday and we were really happy for him. Anytime anyone that we serve makes any step along the gospel of Jesus Christ, whether it be gaining faith, repenting, being baptized, receiving the holy ghost, or enduring to the end, it makes me really really happy. Because it makes them and their family happy too!

We were at a members house for dinner last night and we were talking about inviting others to come and see Christ as He is. We talked about how in the Christmas story, there are multiple ways that people were invited to come and see Christ. God told some people using a star, and others using an angel. An invitation for others to come and see can come in many ways. Try to find your best way to invite others to come and see the light of Christ this Christmas!

Have a great Christmas and thank you for all the prayers! I am praying for you all as well!

Elder McConkie

Mom sent PHƠ! LETS GO!

Andrew and his family on Sunday. He
was baptized by a member from the 1st ward.

Farm view of a place we went to knock