The Year of Miracles 3/20/17

Hello I love Cambodia!

This week was a huge step for the Vietnamese program!! We finally got the branches split and now there are only two branches, but we've been waiting for forever for things to get approved,  and now the work is only going to move forward from here on out. I'm so grateful I was here to see it happen!

Our investigators, Co Phien and Em Tieu and Phung walked to church this past Sunday and we walked with them. We taught them about keeping the Sabbath day holy and they were so willing to give up their tuk tuk rides so they wouldn't have to spend money on Sundays.

I don't have a lot to write and also I don't really want to. I'm grateful I came on a mission. This has been the best 18 months of my life and these are the best people ever. I love this work. and I know that the Lord loves His children especially the people in Cambodia. and for anyone even thinking about going on a mission, DO IT.

I can't wait to see you all!!!

love, Sister Nguyen 

I have a lot of pictures, but I just want to show you this one. I went on exchanges back into the Khmer program back to Toul Tom Pung which was my second area!!! We went to go teach one of my RCS Thanh and we had her and her little sister Vyy (who just got baptized) share with us about the plan of salvation. It was a perfect week. 

   

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The Week of History Lessons from Kim Ess 3/12/17

Hello! Things are getting weird.

Our golden family is doing great! They told us that they were leaving back to Vietnam on Saturday to get their visas renewed. I panicked a little bit but then they reassured us they were coming back this week actually. 

One of our other investigators, Em Oanh is doing really good. We went to teach her and she confessed to us that on international women's day, she broke the word of wisdom. It was sad, but she said she repented and realized how bad it actually was and that the next time she had another urge, she just prayed and it went away! She also told us about how much opposition she's been facing and how her life has been really hard and everything that could go wrong is going wrong. So Sister Mead whipped out a scripture in DC 24:8 and we had Oanh read it. And she got really quiet and we told her that that scripture was Heavenly Father talking to her. She said she realizes that she needs to read the Book of Mormon. Then she said she really wants to get baptized but since she is only 17 and is hiding from her parents that she is learning, we can't baptize her yet. And then she said she'll do whatever it takes because she knows this is the true church and that she is so much happier ever since learning with us. And then she said, "I've felt really prompted these past few days to tell my parents I'm learning and I think I'm finally going to do it" 

All of us Viet missionaries had a going away party for the Leavitts where we each wrote a speech to them and read it. It was really fun and a very tender moment. I'm grateful for senior couples. and I'm grateful for the Leavitts because of how loving they have been to us missionaries and to the Vietnamese people here. 

On Saturday, we had a meeting with Branch President Kim Ess. When we go to the church we found him standing outside and getting ready to go home because he forgot we had a meeting hahah! Anyway, we went inside did our meeting and talked about needs of the branch and then he gave us a history lesson. He told us about a Vietnamese princess long ago who married this prince and she was never happy and he said "what can i do to make you happy?" and then she told him she was sad because her people didn't have any land to live on so he agreed that every time she laughed he would steal another Khet from Cambodia and that's why Cambodia is so small now haha. 

Last night, we went over to Co Kim Ly's house and were going to share with her about gratitude but felt prompted to ask her if she was preparing to go to the temple. She told us that all of her family history work was done but she has put off going to the temple. and then we gave her a stern talking to and at the end of the lesson, all we could do was testify of the necessity of temple ordinances for ourselves and for our ancestors and she looked at us and said "Ok, Sister. I will go talk to branch president next week and get started on going to the temple" and smiled super big. we were really happy!!

I love this work more and more each day! It is such a blessing to be a part of it. I love the people here more than anything!! 

Love,

Chi Ca Nguyen 

Picture 1 Our super cute golden family

Picture 2 Em Oanh

Picture 3 At the Leavitts going away party. I was in the hot seat. 

Pictures 4 & 5 Co Kim Ly

 Picture 6 Em Vy's baptism. She is my RC, Thanh's little sister

Picture 7 The Party for the Leavitts. It was a surprise going away for me too haha sneaky

The Week I'm still a kid 3/5/17

Hi!!

All is well!! 

Co Phien's family is doing great! They're keeping commitments, coming to church, and reading the book of Mormon on their own!!! They're so good and I'm grateful everyday that we get to be a part of this with them. They are always so happy when we come over and always have a billion questions for us. And I realized some of the questions I don't even know how to answer and so I was really grateful for Co Xoa, our member help, for coming along. 

Ba Ut, the old lady on the boat, is slowly understanding. She doesn't really understand how to pray even though we've taught her like three times now. She burnt her leg on her rice cooker... #cambodiaprobs And she likes to rock the boat back and forth and make us super nauseous haha We prayed with her at the end of the lesson and she said she felt so good and peaceful and then she remembered about how her boat is always about to flood and sink and got super sad again. We're still trying to figure out how to approach this. 

We had zone conference this week! It was my last one and it was really sad. We talked a lot about how to teach the Sabbath day and then President had me and Sister Mead do a role play in front of everyone and I realized how much I still have to learn about teaching haha President made all of the departing missionaries get up and bear their testimonies. There were lots of tears. Not from me. I'm not a cry baby. Just kidding. I cried. And then we sang called to serve and I cried some more.

Yesterday, we had 6 investigators at church!!! Miracles! And we had branch council where everyone started yelling and it got a little tense and then one of the members said we need to stop it and love each other because everyone is a child of God. they all laughed it off. So I'm grateful they were good at solving the contention!! 

 That is all from me! I am running out of things to write about. This week, I realized how much I still don't know and it kind of excites me. I'm grateful Heavenly Father gives us our entire lives to gain knowledge. how cool is that!!!! We're just going to keep getting smarter!! 

I LOVE this work!! I LOVE the people here. and I love God!!!!

Have a gr8 week!

llooovveee,

Sister Nguyen 

The Week of Gold! 2/26/17

Hi. 

If you ever read any email, please just read this one. Because this was the best week ever and at the end of it, I testify that God lives and, man, is this his work or what?

I fell even more in love with Cambodia and missionary work this week.

Last Monday, we planned for a few lessons with some active members in branch 6. Sister Trinh and Davidson were still with us and all of our plans fell through and we ended up a little far from our area with so little time and so decided to head back home and just go contact in front of our house. We split up and I went to contact with Sister Trinh and our koons went to get a snack and contact as well. While we were walking, Sister Trinh suddenly stops and says "Hey, lets contact them" and turns to three neak mings/Cos and starts speaking Khmer to them.Sister Trinh told them about our free English class in Comkamorn. One of the neak mings said that her friend had just moved there and didn't know where that was. And so I turned to her friend and asked her where she just moved from and she said Kampuchea Krom!! So I asked her if she spoke Vietnamese and she said yes!!! And we said "wow! well we can come  to your house by Wednesday and take you to English class if you want!" and then she said "why don't you just come by my house now?" So we walked with her a little down the road and went up some sketchy stairs into her one room apartment where her two daughters were sitting on their bed. And we told them all about what we do and even our free English class and Co Phien (the mom) says "I am so happy I met you two. I have been looking for something like this for so long!" We came back the next day with Co Xoa and taught them about the Restoration and it was just the best thing ever. We asked them what they understood and one of the daughters, Phung, said "If I pray to God and read the Book of Mormon, then I can have light in my life just like the 14 year old boy and I don't have to live in darkness any more!". We committed them to baptism April 22 and we're so pumped and so are they!!

They also said really great stuff like...

(Our third lesson)"Sister, I was reading in the BOM yesterday about baptism by water. Why does it have to be by water?"

"I am so happy we met each other. I am so lucky!! And I'm so grateful you are here to lead us to God. I've been looking for something like this for so long and now I finally found it! "

"Ok. SO on Wednesdays and Saturdays, we go learn English and then every other day you come here and teach us about Jesus? and then on Sundays we go to church!!"

(In church. Yes they came to church!!!!!!)"Are we about to sing, Sister? I can't sing. How am I supposed to be a Sister like you if I can't sing???""

"Ever since mom met you, she's been smiling and super happy all of the time and it's for no apparent reason. It's so weird!"

"Wait. I can pray whenever I want? I don't have to wait for you to come over to pray!!"

They're literally so good and so humble and so receptive. And I find it such a privilege to be a part of their journey. God really does prepare people and I WANT EVERYONE WHO IS OUT THERE ON A MISSION OUR ABOUT TO SERVE TO KNOW THAT!!!

We also went to teach a referral from the Elders this week. Her name is Ba Ut and she lives on a boat and we had to teach her on her rocky boat. Unfortunately her boat neighbors were blasting some really loud karaoke and we had to shout to her the whole time...she is already deaf in one ear haha. She kept complaining about her cough and that she was sick. We asked her she felt in her heart knowing that she has a loving Heavenly Father. She responded, "It hurts really bad. I haven't stopped coughing. I am so sick" hahah. Her boat also kept rocking back and forth and she thought it was so funny that I was scared and so she sat there rocking it. Hahah.

Yesterday, we had our Asia area conference and I really liked what they focused on. Families. Responsibilities of mothers and fathers. Temples. Conversion. Etc. Etc. I think it was everything that our members really needed to hear. I hope they got something out of it.

Last night, Co lien, a less-active, had us and the Elders over for FHE. She said "Anh Ca, Chi Ca!! I've been a member for years and this is my first time ever doing FHE!! I'm so happy you are here!" It was a really tender moment. She's been pretty sick lately and hasn't been able to go to work and make money for food for the 6 people in her home. So we made dinner and brought it over. After sharing a message with her, we sat and ate. I watched her grandkids just swallow the food whole and asked them if it was good or not. They said "Wow! Anh ca, Chi ca!! You make really good food. This is the first delicious thing we've eaten in so long!!" I asked Co Lien what they eat every day and she said eggs and MAYBE some fish sauce. And then I looked at them and immediately lost my appetite. The food was so good but then I thought about how privileged we are to have so much food to eat every day and how much we complain to have nothing to eat and how much they struggle. And so i put aside my portion and we just left the rest of the food for them.

I learned a lot this week. So it was probably one of my favorite weeks and it made me want to go home even less. There's not much I, personally, can ever do to help anyone. But I know that that's what God is here for and He wants all of us to just go around and spread that good news. He brings us so much joy and really does help us overcome a lot of grief and sorrow. What a blessing.

Sorry that was a novel. I love you all!! Have a GREAT week!!

Love,

Sister Nguyen 

 Picture 1 A bunch of Vietnamese living on house boats

 Picture 2 Ba Ut's house? boat? 

 Picture 3 Biking Co Xoa home after a lesson 

  Picture 4 Viets

Picture 5 This is Chi Van. She is so good at everything like khmer and vietnamese and so beautiful. I want to be like her. 

 Picture 6 CHI QUYNH!!!! 

Picture 7 A really cute girl from FHE last night 

This Week 2/19/17

This week was great!! 

We picked up an investigator's that the old sisters were teaching. Her name is Oanh and she works for one of our members and is so eager to learn and knows so much! Her family however is part of a different church so she has been hiding the fact that she is learning with us and is too scared to get baptized. She did come to church this week though!!! 

Our other investigator, Chi Lin is in Vietnam. 

Our Sunday got a little funky because of some things that have been going on with branch 10 and so I went on exchanges to branch 10 church with Sister Oanh and it was a blast! A lot of the members were so kind but kept asking when I was going home and then sang "God be with you 'til we meet again" to Sister Leavitt and I because we are down to four Sundays now. NOOOOOOO.

Do you want to hear funny things that happened at church?

1) A less-active named Co Be never comes to church and is super catholic now or whatever but still lets us visit her and her daughter Chantha. Chantha is good and has been coming back to church every week. They asked us to talk to branch president about giving Co Be's grand daughter a baby blessing. We got everything set up and they ended up doing it in the middle of Sunday school...haha. And  check this out. President Kim Ess tried to sit the six month old baby on a chair by herself!!!1!!! HAHAH. And then Elder Leavitt came up and said nononono. We have to hold the baby. It was funny haha. 

2) This week's relief society lesson was about the Word of Wisdom. They got super side-tracked for twenty minutes (class was only like half an hour haha) and started talking about poop and how to make going to the bathroom easier. "Well, I guess it was a good solid talk" - Sister Leavitt 

3) We were talking in Sunday school about listening to the promptings of the spirit. Co Binh enthusiastically said "YES!! I have heard the Holy Ghost speak to me before!! One time a chicken walked into my home and I tied it up and was going to eat it. But then I heard 'maybe, it's not your chicken' and then i double checked and it really wasn't my chicken!!" Then she brought up that story every other ten minutes for the rest of the hour. 

Things are going great! I love the people here. They are really so special. We saw The Lord's hand a lot this week is leading us to where we needed to be at the right time. He lives! I know that for a fact. Anyway, have a great week!!!

Love,

Sister Nguyen 

 Picture 1 Our trainers are living together in house! And now we are living together too!!!

 Picture 2 We waited outside Chi Kim's house fortwenty minutes...turns out she wasn't home lol 

 Picture 3 Elder Quang who just ended his mission a few transfers ago came back to show off his beautiful fiance and bought us vietnam shirts

Picture 4 Co Be's grand daughter who only has hair on one side of her head also hahah 

The Week We Found a Family!! 2/12/17

Hello!!

I got Sister Mead this week! And it has been a blast. She is super gung ho about the work and is exactly what I need this transfer! 

We finally contacted a referral that Chu ba came us. She just came back from Vietnam. And we taught her! She has a husband and a nine year old daughter and she is so willing and excited to learn with us! We are hoping that we will be able to start teaching her whole family so soon! 

This week, I got to go back to branch three for a day and saw almost everyone and I have pictures below look!!! They're the best and they are so loving and kind. Ba Xum saw me and got really excited and then we sat down and prayed with her and she prayed, "Please bless sister... right in front of me...to the right... She left me for a while. Maybe 5-6 months. But she remembered to come back for me" It was funny because she didn't remember my name and also I've only been gone for like six weeks hahah. But it was way sweet. 

Chi Kim a super less-active came back to church finally! We had an experience where we went to visit her and found her holding her super sick one year old who was hooked up to an IV. She asked the elders to come over to bless her baby and the elders came over and we sat and pondered for a second and decided that since the baby already got proper medical care, it as really Chi Kim that needed the blessing. We were really happy she came to church and she even asked us to come back over next sunday to do FHE with her family. Her husband is not a member yet so hopefully this is going to open some doors!!

That's all. Here are some cool pictures from transfer day when our entire MTC group was there! The elders still think I smell dang it. 

Ok! Have a great week!!

love,

Sister Nguyen 

The Week of Transfers! 2/05/17

Dear Friends and Family,

Hello. We got transfer calls! Sister Galland and I are sadly being separated :,( 

My new companion is Sister Mead who has been out for one transfer! I get to finish training her here in branch 6! Also, guess what? President put Sister Luke, my MTC companion, Sister Soem, my old companion, and Sister Brown my BFF in a TRIO IN THE SAME APARTMENT AS ME!!! ITS LIKE HE GATHERED ALL OF MY BEST FRIENDS AND PUT THEM IN ONE HOUSE SO I COULD HAVE THE BEST LAST TRANSFER EVER. yayy! 

This week was good! We had zone conference with President and it was the best thing ever! We talked a lot about HOW to teach repentance and about the new schedules and stuff. And then they taught us how to exercise and the mission even made a p90x video haha 

One of our members, Co Xoa, went to go talk to Co Hien, our investigator who said wait 4 years, and Co Hien agreed to come back to church!!!1! Member help is SO GOOD AND SO POWERFUL. GUYS. GO HELP THE MISSIONARIES PLEASE. 

I don't really remember anything else that happened. Sorry haha.

Here are some fun pictures! 

HAVE A GREAT WEEK! 

LOVE,

SISTER NGUYEN

 

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