Wow, this week a lot happened. I had the opportunity to go on 2 exchanges with 2 missionaries in the zone. Both times I was in the Hmong area which was fun to be the only one able to speak Hmong and being with the English missionaries because they think Hmong people, culture, and language are really cool. So that is really fun doing exchanges with them. A part of the Hmong culture is giving names and "adopting" people into their clan. So, for example, I was adopted into the Tsab clan so I'm "a part" of their family. I had the opportunity to talk to a Hmong grandma and get a Hmong name and clan for Elder Dickinson but wasn't able to get one for Elder Conlin. I have a big list of missionaries that want one in the zone so we will see what we can do haha!
Also one of the cool things that I learned is that Elder Dickinson family has only been members for 18 years. Missionaries knocked on his door when he was a baby, his family was baptized, and now he is on his mission. Really cool!
Saturday we had the opportunity to go down to Appleton again for a baptism for a family of 6 that Elder Lamb worked with, so lucky for me I got to tag along again! It was amazing! A whole Hmong family of 6 was baptized and they are super awesome. Last month when I went up for the other baptism with Elder Taylor I visited them. It was cool to hear their testimonies. They were Shaman before and they said that "the gospel has changed their life." Super cool! After the baptism, we had some bomb Hmong food and got to talk to some members and hang out with Elder Lo and Carlson which was a blast!
Afterward, we went to a Hmong wedding of a Hmong member and ate some more Hmong food!
Afterward, we went go the Vangs and they taught us how to make Phở, so now I have a recipe to try out. I had 2 bowls that day and it was so good. I also had 2 bowls the next day too! So much Phở. Kinda Phoed out :/ Cool thing is they are going to teach us how to make something every Saturday. I am pumped!
Next day was Sunday and we had a great Sacrament meeting on the Atonement. It was really powerful and great to hear others' testimonies of the Atonement and ponder what the Atonement means to me as well. We also had the opportunity to sing in sacrament with the Vang family. We sang 'Peace in Christ' and that song is a really powerful song. That day I actually had the opportunity to work with Elder Lamb in our area which was good since we weren't together like the whole week! You would think the Hmong people that practice Shamanism wouldn't celebrate Easter, but they do haha. I guess it's an excuse to get together, eat food, and drink alcohol! They even put out Easter eggs for their kids to find, but sadly I guess they don't know what the true meaning of Easter is.
Monday we had interviews which is why my P-day is today. Had a great interview with President. We had a great discussion on the Atonement. He said something that I really liked he said, "Never judge yourself in the past with your testimony and conversion that you have today." I think that is so powerful that as we go further on the Covenant path we will become more righteous and our testimonies will become even stronger. Things that we didn't think we did were bad in the past we may now realize is not good, but we shouldn't judge our past selves with what we know today. We can always repent and become better. That's the amazing thing about the gospel and the atonement of Jesus Christ.
Love,
Elder Rich
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| Baptism in Appleton |
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| Hmong elder selfie |
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| Lotus flower cookie - a Hmong treat |
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| exchanges with Elder Dickinson |
