Nyob zoo tsev neeg uas kuv hlub es!
I learned a lot this past week. There were a lot of big things going on this past week too, and a lot of things going on that kept us from doing a ton of work. Still overall a pretty good week though, one I won't soon forget. Highlights of the week:
Hmong Conference - We had Hmong conference on Saturday, and
we've been preparing for it for the past forever. It was a pretty huge event. There was close to like probably 300 Hmong people there from Linda, Oroville,
Chico, Sacramento, Stockton, Fairfield, and Fresno. It was down in Yuba City,
which is one of the smaller venues. Usually they have a lot bigger turn out I
hear. But it was awesome. If I had to describe what it is, I would say that it
is was like a big Hmong church party. From 9-12 we had speakers and testimonies
given. Pres. Ward spoke. It was cool. After that we had lunch, and Elder
MacDonald and I got to help serve the food. Lunch consisted of some green
vegetables, some hot noodles mixed with vegetables, pork, chicken drumsticks,
egg rolls, and this good Hmong drink called nava. I served the noodles, and the
lady in charge gave me this huge glove and told me to hand serve it. It was
pretty funny, haha. During lunch, we talked to people, and the young kids did a
few traditional dances. It was really cool. Then after lunch we had some group
lectures. It was alright. Then at 3:00, they broke off and the kids changed out of
their Sunday clothes and into play clothes and had a good time playing games. For example, we had chopsticks and we had to take gummy bears as a team from
one side of the gym to the other. It was pretty fun, and my team won, haha. We
didn't stay for too long though, cuz they were having a dance that night that
we didn't need to go to, haha.
Probably the best part of Hmong conference was seeing all of
the people who I love down in Linda. I was able to see all of my friends who
are members, and Pheng and Mai came and I was able to talk to them a ton. I
love those guys. Things are still kind of moving towards baptism for them, but
it's going a little slow. There were lots of good talks about preaching the
gospel and being a missionary as well. There were returned missionaries who came
as well, like Elder Taylor and Elder Lewis, who left after I finished training.
But probably the biggest takeaway for me came from the bishop of the Fresno
ward. He spoke for a few minutes about when a missionary reported on his
mission. He reported all these things to the stake people, and then someone
asked him what the best conversion story from his mission was. The missionary
answered and said that it was himself. His own conversion to the gospel was the
greatest thing to see on his mission. So lets hold onto that thought and go to
some other highlights.
Bee's birthday - So we've been working with this less-active
named Bee, and his birthday was on Wednesday. So on Tuesday, we made some dang good
cookie brownies, and then dropped them off to him on Wednesday. He was really
appreciative. It was the only celebration or anything that he had going on for
his birthday... his family doesn't really seem like they care about him that
much.
Interviews - We had interviews this past week. It went pretty
well. I learned some stuff, and Sister Ward said my district meeting went well.
Also, they said they know Grandma and Grandpa McArthur from serving in Nauvoo.
So that's pretty cool.
Angel Wings - Yesterday for dinner, we had angel wings. It
was a great day. Angel wings are chicken wings that are stuffed with noodles
and the stuff Hmong people put into egg rolls. It was amazing.
1 Year Mark: Thursday, I hit a year as a missionary. Thanks
so much family for the packages and the cards and all the food and everything.
I love you guys so much, thanks for all the support too. It was pretty much a
normal day other than that. Earlier in the week, Thaomee, who we had been
teaching, dropped her date for baptism because she can't come to church because
she is always working. It was pretty sad. But it was really cool to hit a year
on a mission.
Going back to that earlier thought, I think one of my
coolest conversion stories has been my own. I have helped a few of God's elect
become converted, but I have seen my own testimony and conviction of the gospel
deepen and strengthen. That has probably been one of the things I've been
most grateful for this past year. I've been able to truly live the Gospel of
Jesus Christ. I know that following Christ's Gospel is how we will receive forgiveness
and how we will be spotless in the day of judgement. I have come to truly know
that the Book of Mormon truly contains Jesus Christ's Gospel, more plainly than
any other book; I am so grateful for it. I truly believe that Joseph Smith saw
God and Jesus Christ; every time I read or recite the first vision, the Spirit
is so strong and testifies of the reality of those words. This truly is
Christ's church, and I'm so grateful to be a member of it.
I love you guys so much. Thanks for all of your love and support
that has got me through this past year of my life! I'm beyond excited to see
what this next year has in store.
Other news I forgot to include: It's been super smoky like
all week, and so the sun has looked super red, and I've felt like I've been
living on Tattooine, haha. Went to the doctors office. He prescribed me some
cream, so when you see a 14 dollar charge on your card, that's what it was, haha.
Love,
Elder Muaj Koob
Right now, these are all the pics I've got, but I know a lot
of people took pics at Hmong conference so hopefully I'll get those sometime.
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