Good Job, Missionaries!

 Today's title refers to a time a few months ago when the president of the VUFO--Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations--visited Utah. He toured Temple Square and Welfare Square, and he even found time to visit the MTC where he met our latest batch of missionaries. He was so impressed by them that he invited them to come to the VUFO for a visit after they arrived. Well, that invitation was finally fulfilled not only for the new missionaries but also for all the missionaries in Hanoi.

We were warmly greeted by the staff and department director of the American relations group, and we all had a chance to introduce ourselves. He particularly enjoyed speaking with the new missionaries whom he had met in Provo, and complimented them on their speaking ability. 

It was all very dignified and formal. The president gave a speech for about an hour, talking about Vietnam and American relations and where they stand now. He was grateful for help from the Church and the work that the Humanitarian Missionaries will be giving. I think this was all a bit more than all of us missionaries were expecting in length and topic, but he was very nice and respectful, and a lot of his talk was interesting.

Allen gallantly let me introduce ourselves and practice my Vietnamese. I didn't screw up too badly; they seemed to like it.

And then they treated us to a special luncheon with goose, fish, beef, seafood, salads, etc.

(I had to take a picture of this. I quietly told the servers we didn't need the beer.) 

The next part of the treat the VUFO had in store for the missionaries was to visit Bat Trang, the pottery village that Allen and I had visited with our district 2 months ago. But this time we were taken to the museum and given a tour of the entire building, even the floor that we had not paid for when we went.

This floor was amazing. We don't remember exactly what it was called, but it was art made with light and shadow. The artist amazingly carved wood, and placed wood where, when the light shined through it, we would see a portrait, or a scene from history.

The most incredible was on a plinth that held 3 separate wooden structures.

The attendant shined the light through these structures for the shadow art...

Then rotated each structure separately, or only one at a time...

And the picture added Vietnam in the background.  She rotated again to add the scythe and again to change that to the star...

And once again to add another portrait, I believe of the same man in his later years...

This art was made from the gears, etc., that you see...

The talent these artists have is incredible.

From here we went down to the basement for the next treat of the tour.

We got to attempt our own pottery!!

It was pretty fun, but the instructor made it look way too easy. haha

That was a p-day for the books!

The next day was district planning meeting and included Allen--yes, Allen--singing with the others--yes, singing--and recording a Christmas hymn to send to the Mission Branch.

In Vietnam, missionaries are only allowed to teach in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Anyone who lives outside of those areas is in the Mission Branch, so if you lived in the center of Vietnam (or the north, south, east or west) you would be in the Mission Branch, and only the Mission President, his wife, and the two Assistants to the President can teach in those areas. There are quite a few members in the Mission Branch, but you can imagine that with the great distances the people are spread over, they don't get together very often. They meet by zoom for Sunday meetings, and for Branch Conference they may get up at 2 am to ride a bus all the way to the branch building once or twice a year. These people are among the most humble you will ever meet, and for Christmas the rest of the mission (all of us missionaries) recorded us singing Christmas hymns as a Christmas present. It wasn't much, but it was given with love.

The next day, Allen and I needed to get the price on printing a small book for the mission, so we took a grab a few miles away to a print shop. We concluded our business and decided to walk around, and this is what we found across the street:

It had a moat around it, crossed by a bridge.

 And the next picture shows how it's out in the middle of the city but surrounded with peace and quiet.

It's amazing to find these places out in the middle of neighborhoods.

We did it again on Friday as we went shopping at L's Market, a store that caters to anyone looking for some Western food. We bought a small stash--about a dozen items--and it cost us around $60, when we included the cost of the Grab ride out there, 6.5 miles away. Worth it. Christmastime.

And down the street was the next pagoda/temple...

And that takes us to Saturday, and our branch Christmas party. We played the Saran Wrap game--4 large balls among about 50 people. They all seemed to enjoy it.

And then a program upstairs, and then a FEAST.

 

It was a huge success, and the food was delicious. 

We are grateful to be able to serve these sweet people, and hope that we are a good example and a good influence. They have so many challenges and need the hope that Jesus Christ can bring to their lives. So do we all.

Bless you all at this Christmastime!!  Thank you for your support and friendship and love!!

Consider yourself Christmas-carded!!