Dear Family-
Thank you so much for the Thanksgiving card and the pictures! Things are going great here, in fact, this may have been one of the fastest weeks of my mission. It just zoomed by I guess. President White and Sister White are returning from Vietnam tonight which will not be here to pull off the E-mail. I will get it later this week but will take the opportunity to tell you some more about Elder Hoffman and I and what we have been doing in the Kampuchea area.
Remember the man Bunthaa his is the guy we gave the 2 plans too for baptism and we went to help him get his family. He’s kids ages 5 and 7 like us and joined us to see pictures and hear stories but his wife is not yet wanting to join in. We continue to pray for her and will continue to try to get them together.
Tov Tun is 60 year old lady who is cute enough to hug but we refrain due to mission policy. She was introduced to the church by her son who came all the way from Fresno California to show his mother the true church and gather names so he can prepare them for the new Fresno Temple. She hasn’t missed a day of church since the visit of her son, and only struggles because she can’t read. She gets so frustrated with herself that she cries. We have recruited help from District Missionaries, 2 young woman who go and help and read to her. Rumor has it that she knows how to pray and will be baptized soon, probably Nov 28 or Dec 5.
We have been pounding the middle streets in our middle class target area and have family men, who drive cars and good jobs. One of them came to the full 3 hour block this Sunday, he seemed to be hanging on every word said. He asked afterward, what is the priesthood? We continue to meet both of them this week and want to get going on the discussions.
On the way to an appointment on Saturday, Elder Hoffman and I cruising down the road and I saw a guy coming out of his house, who was heading back to work, and he looked at me and I looked and him and seemed somewhat puzzled at what we were doing. Well I peddled on one or two more cranks and said wait we got to talk to that guy. We flipped the brakes and did a full u turn and headed back to the guy who was already in his car getting ready to go and we pulled up alongside of him and introduced ourselves through the window of this car. He nor us had time then, but he accepted a return appointment. It was great. well the next day was fast Sunday and during the last hour of the day our original plan fell through and we made a couple of back up plans on a curb side planning the discussions together, but nothing really felt good and physical energy was low. As we started off with the intent of the backup plan, I was praying. Who could we go see? I started saying names through my head , after 1 or 2 attempts a name came into my head. I asked Elder Hoffman and he said he felt good about it too, the name was the same guy that we introduced ourselves through the car window. We were planning on Wensday but we thought we would drop in and sure enough he was home and free and we taught him and his 3 sons the first half of the 1st discussions.
I really enjoyed working with Elder Hoffman. We are trying to get him ready. In the discussions he teaches 2 or 3 paragraphs to my one, as discussion material is what he knows best and this is his greatest opportunity to speak! He is a great companion!
I have already enjoyed the conference report. I try to read a talk a meal as that this is the only time slot to work it in. as a missionary, if you are not thinking constructively, even at meal time, you feel like your wasting time and have to do something. These talks are tremendous! Let me recommend one for a family home evening. “One link still holds” Vaughn J. Featherstone.
Love you all very much, until next week. Love your son, brother and missionary,