Twenty empty chairs faced us in our
little classroom on the 4th floor. It was the very first day of our Happy Family class in the brand new church building in District 6. And we were waiting to see who would show up.
Ho Chi Minh City is divided into political administrative districts. The financial hub of the city is in District
1. Stretching outward from there are
numbered districts (1-12) as well as districts with such creative names as Bình Thạnh, Tân Bình, and Bình Tân, not
to be confused by open markets with names like Bến Thành and
Tân Định! (And when you pronounce them slightly wrong to the taxi
driver, you are likely to end up in a completely different part of town than
you expected!)
New District 6 Branch Building |
District 6 was the fortunate choice.
A building was located that would be suitable for the start up branch.
We had the opportunity of helping
outfit the new building in preparation for English classes. It was virtually an
empty shell, with echoing halls and blank walls.
We spruced it up with a visitor’s area, large pictures of the Savior and His life, class room dry erase boards and tables on various levels of the building. But still it sat empty.
The new building - empty and waiting |
We spruced it up with a visitor’s area, large pictures of the Savior and His life, class room dry erase boards and tables on various levels of the building. But still it sat empty.
On January 22, 2017, the new District 6 Branch was created, the
third branch in Ho Chi Minh City. Because the new building was not available
to move into quite yet, the branch met on Sundays in the Ton San Nhut building in the
afternoons.
The District 6 Branch's first sacrament meeting - a fledgling group with big hearts and high enthusiasm!
And the chairs of the District 6 building sat
empty, waiting in hollow rooms.
But after a couple of months, the building was finally ready. There
was mounting excitement for the new budding branch. On April 4, 2017 the District 6 Branch met in their new building for Sunday services for the first time. See how much they have already grown!
Scroll forward to our first Happy Family Class just this past weekend. The twenty empty chairs sat waiting.
Then several people from the community came. Then some more. Then more! They were coming!
Nowadays the building is bustling with activity. It is filled with church
meetings, missionaries, English conversation classes, family history consulting, and classes on strengthening home and
family. It is becoming a gathering place for the community.
But it’s not the classes, meetings, offices, furnishings, or facilities that makes it a great gathering place.
Then several people from the community came. Then some more. Then more! They were coming!
First Happy Family Class in District 6 Building |
But it’s not the classes, meetings, offices, furnishings, or facilities that makes it a great gathering place.
It is the people. It is always the
people.
English Class in District 6 Building |
What is most important almost always
involves the people around us.
-President Thomas S. Monson
We love serving in Ho Chi Minh City!
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