Third Transfer in Phú Mỹ Hưng, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Hello everyone!

So the last few weeks have been excellent. I am still with Anh Cả Vương in Phú Mỹ Hưng for the third transfer in a row. It’s been amazing. We have gotten super familiar with the area and have been able to help a few different people accept and follow the Gospel of Jesus Christ. At this point, there is no doubt in my mind that regardless of who, where, what, or when, life with the Gospel of Jesus Christ is better than life without it. 

Here are a few stories. When I first got to this area and met my comp, we both established that we really like basketball. So we started a basketball activity for the branch. The church buildings here are just rented out space in a bigger building so we are yet to have a classic, beautiful, hardwood church basketball court in Vietnam. But we will get there one day. Anyways, because of that, we just find a place to go play for the basketball activity. It’s usually just a park where we go and play pickup with a bunch of people already there. I have yet to see anyone nearly as tall as me and also yet to see anyone else who can dunk. But it’s super fun to play with these people. And my Vietnamese basketball vocabulary is getting better and better. Basketball, like the Spirit and music, is a universal language and I love it.

Yesterday we had a district conference. This is the equivalent of a stake conference but for a district. There were just over 200 members there. Since we don't have a church building big enough, we rented out a big hotel conference room downtown. Great talks were given by the leaders of the church in this amazing country. My mission president (President Hughes) is the priesthood leader for both the missionaries and the members in this country. He spoke about a temple in Vietnam. He helped all of us understand the importance of a temple in vietnam. He also helped us realize how much more needs to be done in order to have a temple. We are a ways away and it's a big mountain to climb. But we are going to work until we earn a house of the Lord. 

Temples are of incredible importance and worth. These people have all been promised eternal families if they follow the Gospel and they are looking forward to a temple. What a blessing it is to have the house of the Lord!

Love you all and hope you have a great week!

-Elder McConkie

PS. Hyrum’s mom here—he didn’t attach any photos with his email so I will put some on here that he has shared with me over the past few weeks. Teaching the people, working with his amazing companion elder Vuong and all the other missionaries, the food, and basketball are all things he loves so much. Also pictured are some interesting sights around his area, and the little yellow truck where the elders enter to get their $3 haircuts. Love to you all, Laurel 

Two Weeks in Vietnam - Phú Mỹ Hưng, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Hello everyone! I've now been in south Vietnam for just over 2 weeks and there is a lot to say. Here it goes:

We had zone conference and interviews this week. At zone conference, we heard a lot of great trainings about our missionary purpose and how that will bring us more unity with each other and Christ. It was definitely the smallest zone conference I've been to. There were about 29 missionaries there and that is most of the mission. It was so great!

The people in vietnam are so ready to hear the gospel! Their humility and willingness to improve their lives is inspiring. When we promise that the gospel blesses individuals and families, these people want to learn.

We had dinner with a family yesterday and it was an incredible experience! We sat on the floor in the home of a family that was a bit smaller than the average American bedroom. Then at the back of the room there was a ladder going up to a second floor with the same amount of space. We sat on the floor of the ground floor and there was a bunch of noodles, fresh greens, and a big pot of broth. In that broth was a mixture of squid, cow tongue, and cow liver. Now, this meal was delicious. I would eat the tongue again in a heartbeat. The squid was also really good. But the liver is something I'll have to get used to. Anyways, these people are amazing and have 0 pride. They don't care what we will think about the size of their home, they just want to invite us and share what they have. It was a great experience.

This week I read the book of Enos in the Book of Mormon. I learned a whole lot. Enos follows a pattern of: faith, Repentance, more faith, covenant with the Lord, then his soul is at rest and he goes to serve the Lord. It reminded me of President Nelson's talk from the most recent General Conference. We can all follow the pattern of Enos! And we don't need a perfect or unshakable faith to begin repenting. 

Have a great week everyone!

-Anh Cả McConkie

Photos: Zone conference, English Club, Park

Zone Conference

English Club

Arrival in Vietnam!

With President and Sister Hughes

President & Sister Hughes