Chicken Feet

Nyob Zoo kuv tsev neeg! (Hello my family)

This week has been going pretty well. Highlights include: Eating some chicken feet..."just chew the soft bones, spit out the others." Surprisingly delicious. Also, I got to eat some great pho (Vietnamese soup, pronounced Fa). There are these sweet old peanut farmers named Pab Zeb and Mili and they made the best pho ever. We also found new investigators this week which has been the answer to tons of prayers. We went and found one on the weekend in this apartment complex. It’s crazy though, because on the weekends, that is when all the "jingle bells" take place (jingle bells are ua neeb; shaman rituals etc.). Another crazy thing that happened was when we went to go visit a less active member, we were about to get out of our car when we heard a couple yelling at one another (not nice words about inappropriate things and drugs etc.). They were both men and the one was storming down the street and the other one was in a door way so it was all kinds of craziness on that street. So when I got out of the car, I walked up to some Hmoob lady that had been watching the whole thing and was just like "Nyob Zoo" "Koj nyob li cas?" (Hello, how are you?)   Super funny, b/c I just pretended like nothing happened when it had obviously just went down. Old hmoob lady...super nice. All the old people call you son if you’re younger and if you’re familiar with the older people you call them dad, mom, grandpa etc. :) Also, just to fill you in on some of the obvious that i forgot to mention. I live in Fresno. I am in the Fresno East Area. Elder Doane is in the Fresno West area. There is one companionship for each (hmoob speaking). So, me and Elder Burton operate on the east side. We live right next to the airport (Google earth that if you want to try and find it). We live in a gated community right across the street and there is an Army National Guard aviation repair depot right in that corner of the airfield. It’s so great. Every day we run past all the helicopters (Blackhawks, Apaches, Chinooks) during our morning jog. Totally want to be a helicopter pilot...just kidding.... 

Anyways, I'll answer dad's questions now. 1st week was kinda crazy but still awesome. We don't speak Hmoob as much as I would like but that just means I'll need to work harder on finding older people to teach etc. President and Sister Gelwix are awesome. He is super inspirational and just gets you fired up. His way of teaching is very unique because he takes nontraditional routes. For instance, he reads scriptures by explaining what it doesn't say. EX: 1 Ne 3:7--"I will go and do because it'll be easy. I will go and do because I know exactly what to do. I'll go and do when I feel like it. No it says he'll go and DO!!!" It’s great. It really puts scriptures in better perspective. Next question to answer: The bike is assembled and ready to go. However, we have a car so we haven't biked at all yet. We have such a large area so its kinda crazy. Food is great here. The spiciness is a killer but it’s so good now. Sticky Rice and kua txob (peppers) are the best! Anyways, the work is going great. 

Spiritual Thought: 

Joshua 1:9 

Great scripture... definitely in my top 2. We have no need to fear because the Lord is with us through it all. Read and ponder and apply!!!

Love you much! Good luck back home! 

Love, 

Es Daws Fwv Leem (or full name: Es Daws Tseem Fwv Leem Xai Yob Vaj) 

Fresno Days (Week 2)

Nyob Zoo tsev neeg (Hello family)!

Kuv hlub neb tiag tiag! [I love you truly] Fexanaus zoo zoo heev! [Fresno is very good] Cov Hmoob zoo tshaj plaws [the best Hmong zone]! tiam sis, kuv hais lus hmoob tsis zoo. Kuv yuav tsum kawm lus hmoob ntxiv thiab hais lub hmoob ntxiv [I must study the Hmong more]! Fresno is the best. I have the best companion; Elder Burton. He knows his stuff like crazy. I feel pretty stupid almost all the time because he's got it down so well. I went tracting this week for the first time and it was fun. A lot of people don't really like us but whatever.  I walked up behind somebody changing a tire and (from Elder Burton's account of the story) I yelled enthusiastically "Can I help you with that?" He was like "NO" ---Sad face.

The work is going really well, we are doing a lot of finding right now. We have tons of lessons with members and less actives (our ward directory has 800 people, only 200 are active). We had a miracle on Sunday; our investigator family showed up for church so zoo zoo heev. I went to ward council for the first time and that was interesting. There are a ton of parties in the ward and we are invited to all of them.

The food is amazing. Sometimes a little sketchy but always delicious. There is this pepper called kua txob [Bing translator said: peppers] and I had it the first day I got here and my mouth died. I eat it everywhere we go and everyone tells me that if I eat it, I will speak Hmong better so I’m definitely doing that. Kua txob is a thai pepper that is used in fish sauce, etc. Delicious heev tiam sis nws ntsim (spicy). Anyways, the pepper wrecks me every time but I love it still. I basically now love spicy food.

Hmoob is coming along well but it’s hard. We don't talk to enough old people yet so we have to work on that.

The apartment that we live in is super nice. We have a ton of friends that rhyme with mockroaches. hahahahahahaha. But it’s no big deal, it’s super comfy. I'll hopefully be sending pics soon but it’s hard to find time to take them all. Anyways, hope everything is going well back home. Apparently the new DC south mission president is a former hmong missionary's uncle so pretty cool.

Spiritual Thought:

This week we've been struggling to help people truly understand the importance of the gospel. They understand it in their minds but not in their hearts. I've really thought about this and heard an object lesson once describe the dilemma. It’s like a delicious bag of chips. You can show someone the chips, you can eat it and tell them it’s great, you can do everything in your power to try and help them understand how delicious it is....but they will never know unless they try it. Many times, we forget to try the chips in the gospel. We believe that we understand it and therefore its all good, but we have to feel it to truly know. We have to go out on a limb with faith and see what happens to truly know.  Jeffrey R. Holland spoke of a french poem that went something like this:

 

"Come to the edge," He said.

"No, I'll fall!"

"Come to the edge," He beckoned.

"No, I'll fall!" I replied.

"Come to the edge," He called again.

So I came.

And He pushed me.

And I flew.

 
We must trust in Heavenly Father. We must go to the edge where Peter, James, and John are; where Moses and Elijah are. We have to go ALL THE WAY! When we do this, that is when we truly come to know. We taste of the redeeming love of Jesus Christ. Not only understand it, but taste it. We feel it in our souls. This is how we are converted. It is sometimes hard when we only understand it, but when we ask for the strength to go to the edge, we are enlightened and feel it, and then know it. This is what we invite people to do as missionaries. We invite people to do things that will help them feel and know things in their hearts. Therefore, I invite you, to think about how you can better know it in your heart and feel it in your soul. Then ponder and ask the question: What must I do in order to achieve this? Then go and do it. I know for me it’s super hard sometimes, but definitely worth it. :)

Kev Hlub [Love],

Tseem Fwv Leem Xai Yob Vaj

P.S.

Send all mail to the mission home. And please post that address on the FB and on the blog :)
Ua tsaug nawg [Thank you]

First Fresno Days

Hello!

 

I don't really have a lot of time today to write.  I will write a ton next week, though.

 

Life is good. I got my Hmoob (Hmong) name: Tseem Fwv Leem (true spiritual soldier). I ate eel sushi...good stuff.  Elder Burton is my companion and he's awesome.  He's from Utah, 6'3, plays football and basketball.

 

I've been eating a ton of spicy hot food. Good fruit, in fact, BEST fruit ever. It's so fresh! 

 

Anyhow, next week I'll update you on everything and the teaching, etc. Love you all.

 

Send all mail to the mission home. Love you again!

 

Love,

Es Daws Tseem Fwv Leem

 

P.S. 

I had to translate in priesthood meeting...I've never seen a funnier lesson about food storage :)

Arrived!

Nyob zoo!

 

I'm here. Its awesome. Its all good! We went tracting in Lil Laos and yeah everyone spoke lao except one guy. There was a hit-n-run on a little girl. Crazy! Cops everywhere. Good day though, we gave out pass along cards.  I'm just letting you know I arrived safely.  

 

Love you much! Will let you know more on P-day (whenever that is?)

Love,

 

Es Daws Npuaj hwm

 

I 'heart' the MTC!

We were able to talk to Scott on the phone for about 12 minutes on Wednesday, August 8th from the airport.  He sounded fabulous, spoke a lot of Hmong, and was super excited to be headed to Fresno.

Here are some pics from his time in the Missionary Training Center.  There were about 200 of them (mostly cafeteria shots), but here are the highlights:

Must start with the standard map picture

Working hard to get in spiritual and physical shape :)

Temple Work

Laundry...

Elder Doane (one of Scott's companions) combining study & laundry

More study time



Eating

In front of the 'old' Lao flag

Ready to go forth and serve!

Only 1 Week Left at the MTC!

Nyob tsev neeg (all family),

Nej nyob li cas xwb? (How are you all?)  Kuv nyob zoo zog los sis zoo zoo los sis zoo heev (I am better or good or very good)! Anyways so there's a lot happening! This is the last week...CRAZY!!! So I've got a lot to write about.

Temple

I got to go back to the temple since it’s been closed for cleaning. I have a much deeper appreciation for how pure and clean the House of the Lord is (and the carpet leading up to the entrance, which I had to pull up J)

Travel

Apparently I can call you at the airport when I'm traveling so I need to figure out where you all will be so I can call.  I will leave the MTC around 5:00 am and my plane from SLC will leave at 8:21 am. I have a layover in Phoenix for 30 minutes so I'll be bookin' it to the next gate. There will be a lot of other Elders on the phones so I'll have to be fast.  I know you want me to explain some pronunciation, Mom and I will try on the phone.  It’s taken me forever to even begin pronouncing the words correctly, but I’ll try and speak a little Hmoob to you J

Spiritual Thought

We were listening to a talk and the person mentioned a group of people doing an in-depth study of the bible. They came across the verse about the refiners fire (referring to refining silver). One decided they would go to a refiner and learn about the process to better comprehend the scripture. When they recounted the story they said that when they came to the refiner they said nothing about their purpose other than to learn more about refining silver. This is what they learned.

In order to refine the silver, one had to take it and hold it in the center of the fire...the hottest part. You have to watch it...ALWAYS, to be sure that it doesn't get heated too much to where it is destroyed. While in the hottest part of the fire, the impurities are burned away and the refiner watches it intently! The person then asked, how do you know when it is done? The refiner responded "That's easy...when I can see my reflection in it"

We are sometimes found in the hottest part of the fire, but do not fear, for the Lord is holding us and He watches us every second of the way. He will not let us stay one more minute in the fire than what we need. We are in the refiners' fire so that we can become more like the Savior. In our afflictions, we have the greatest opportunity to come closer to God. We grow nearer to God while going through adversities. Let us never forget the refiners fire. And most of all, let us never forget who our refiner is.

I love you all so much. I am more than excited to serve the Hmoob (Hmong) people...and the more I learn about them, the more I love them too.

I will email one last time from the MTC next Tuesday, since I fly Wednesday morning. 

Love,

Es Daws Npuaj Hwm