Pictures and Thoughts on Vietnam

We really enjoyed our trip to Vietnam. We stayed 2 1/2 days in Hanoi and 2 1/2 days in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). They are somewhat similar to Cambodia, but the people are a little more aggresive drivers than Cambodians and not quite as friendly. The members of the Church are really great and friendly and when you start to visit with the Vietnamese people they are just warm and friendly. There are more motos than Cambodia. Alot more motos! We have Elders in Hanoi and one couple for LDSC (Latter-day Saint Charities). The couple have been there for one month, the Talbots from Snowflake, AZ. Our Elders there are Vietnamese from Ho Chi Minh. They are somewhat tied in teaching the Gospel because it can only be taught in the Church and it needs to be taught by Vietnamese, which they are so that works. If people ask them why they are dressed up (they only wear name tags in the Church building), they can tell them come to our Church and we can talk to you about it. Sometimes, people just ring the Church doorbell and want to know more. IN the last three years they have had 35 baptisms and they now have a Vietnamese branch president who does an outstanding job. There are 5 ex-patriots there who are a great strength to the Church. Our Elders are just valiant young men, who live on their honor. They are far away from the mission headquarters, yet obedient in all things. Just great young men and when I look at them, I become overwhelmed at how hard they try and they are all alone there, and tears freely flow down my cheeks. We had a mini zone conference with them and the Talbots. The Talbots are somewhat restricted in how much they do, they are only allowed one project at a time, and here in Cambodia the LDSC do about 10 projects at any one given time. They are a wonderful couple and trying to be patient until they build trust with the government. In Ho Chi Minh branch, they have around 100 members and in Hanoi around 45, but have 60 people to church sometimes. The Ho Chi Minh branch has pretty much Vietnamese leaders and there are 4 families that are English speakers. ONe