Unexpected Adventures

 Last p-day, some of our missionaries were sick so we didn't plan an adventure. Instead, Allen and I decided to go on a long walk around our area and see if we could find any fun shops, etc.

We DID find something unexpected! Our walk took us down some very narrow streets...

And through an industrial area, and then we turned a corner and had a surprise...

This was tucked away behind a wall in an unremarkable area of small shops in an old neighborhood. After experiencing the area we had been walking past, I found this to be beautiful!

Allen is standing next to a very tall Plumeria tree...

And now we've seen a papaya tree!

We left and continued our walk and saw more interesting lifestyles of the Vietnamese people...

Here's a place to pick your own chicken or duck for dinner...

And here we discovered an underground pool for one of our neighboring apartment complexes. It was quite the place!

On Tuesday, we had a Mission Devotional with Elder Teixeira of the Seventy and Elder Johnson with the Asia Area Presidency. They are very optimistic for the Church in Vietnam.

This picture is from District Conference the Sunday before... (All the members who attended the equivalent of "Stake Conference".

And this is from the missionary devotional on Tuesday.

At lunch before the devotional with our district...

Another chance to eat Bun Cha!

And here is another view of the narrow, tall Vietnamese homes...

We ended our Adventures this week with the Young Single Adult Conference, where we were invited to present a class on missionary work. And then we all traveled to Ocean Park for all kinds of activities and games at a beach near a lake.

This is President Quang, our District (Stake) President. He's wonderful.

And President Canh, the 2nd Counselor, who blends right in with the young adults. Both President Quang and President Canh are 38 years old.

The Vietnamese members are often quite young, in age as well as in their Church membership. One member was telling us his story of joining the Church and having his parents almost disown him and his new wife. These members are all so dedicated to the gospel and full of faith. They are a special people.

We had a very nice dinner that night...

Sticky rice steamed inside of bamboo? And all kinds of meat, including squid.

Followed by dancing as only the YSA can do! A lot of American music was played, and a lot of jumping up and down happened. :) 

Some of us didn't jump. (This was actually earlier in the afternoon when they were learning how to dance.)

The next day we were part of a dating panel with the mission leaders and a young Vietnamese couple.  The man sitting behind us is our interpreter; the mission leaders had another interpreter behind them. That's how we roll in meetings in Vietnam!

We had a lot of fun and were happy to be invited!

We miss our family and friends, but we are treated with so much love and appreciation by the members in our area that we feel needed, and a part of something special. 

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!  We hope to have some pictures next week of our Vietnamese Thanksgiving. 

Gap Lai Sau...