Hiking Elephant Mountain

At the trail head

Not far from the hustle and bustle of downtown Taipei, just to the east of the city, lies Xiangshan, or Elephant Mountain. Apparently one of the points of the mountain looks like an elephant head, though it is hard to make out with the densely covered jungle-like forest covering it like a soft blanket.

Taking the MRT to the end of the Red Line, the walk is just a few minutes to the trail head. The trail is 1000 steps up. It was a P-day, and many of the senior missionaries gathered to enjoy this very popular hike.

Besides being very beautiful, peaceful and well-marked, the hike is particularly popular because of the exquisite birds-eye panoramic view of Taipei, with its crowning jewel of Taipei 101 rising distinctively in the distance, (101 floors high). 

Fall is officially here, and with temperatures in the upper 70's, a cool breeze, and no rain, it was a perfect day for an adventure. 

There are three viewing platforms along the way up. Each has amazing views of the city.

Large outcroppings of boulders make an excellent stage for a photo-op at the second viewing area. People patiently wait in a line up beside the boulders for their turn to scramble up the rock and get some good poses with the Taipei 101.

The rest of the group went on ahead while I waited my turn. It was Saturday, with plenty of young people making the climb to catch a photo. 

The trail wasn't too hard, but there are spots to sit and rest along the way for the weary hiker. Lots of friendly people surrounded us, all making their way to the same destination - the pinnacle of the trail. With it's very own "great and spacious building" in the background, I couldn't help but think of the beautiful path we walk in this life with its every enticing distractions that can sometimes engulf us. President Nelson has invited us all to "keep on the covenant path." 

The reward is definitely worth the journey in life, no matter how long or hard it may seem. And when you are surrounded by good friends of solid faith who also consecrate their lives to the work of the Lord, the blessings are multiplied. 

Xiangshan - Elephant Mountain, with Taipei 101 in the distance.

The amazing skyline of Taipei.

So You're Thinking About Serving a Mission?

When we first started out to get ready for our first mission, we had so many questions!  Unanswered questions about little things became unsettling concerns until they were resolved.  For example: What kind of shoes should I bring? Can we buy things we are used to buying? Will they have hot water or will I be taking cold showers for two years? Do they have air conditioning? Will I ever see chocolate chips again?  Ha!

For us at least, these “little” questions felt pretty big.  Yes, even the chocolate chip question!

So we started this blog – a blog to help people who are thinking about serving an LDS senior mission – to take the journey with us as we discover the answers many are wanting to know. 

Here are some of the questions that burn in people's hearts...

Can we communicate home easily? Absolutely - modern communication methods are in vogue....

Flickr.com - Courtesy of Wonderlane

Flickr.com - Courtesy of Richard Vignola

Can I get my own medicine for my needs?   Yes, but “medicine” is relative…

Chinese Medicine Shop - Flickr.com - Courtesy of Charlyn Wee

Can I drink the water? Yes, if you seriously want to... 

Flickr.com -  Courtesy of Clive Reld

Can I eat “regular” food?  Yes, but “regular” is also relative…

Octopus Pizza - Hong Kong

Will my house be fine while I am gone? Wait - you have an actual house????

Emergency Housing in Nepal with 5 families living inside.

Can I get money out?  Yes!  Worldwide. They always want your money.

Flickr.com - Courtesy of Jessica Paterson

Seriously though, the thing to remember is this.  Whether you serve a domestic or international mission, tens of thousands of seniors have gone on missions.  If they can do it, you probably can too. Everyone has had these same questions and resolved them in various ways. Here are some tips that may help as you prepare for a mission:

• The Church puts senior missionaries in safe, clean, modern housing.  All of the senior housing we visited in Asian countries were of very high standard and were comfortable for each couple.

• You will usually be replacing another couple who has already been there. They and your mission president are your #1 source for specific answers to your particular mission. Once you receive your call, you will be given contact information of who you can email to get detailed information.

• Other senior missionaries who have gone before you have already found all the stores, markets, shops, ATM's, and transportation tid-bits.  You probably won't have to re-invent the wheel. 

• There are phone numbers you can call about insurance, medical and mission-type questions. If you have questions about senior missions, you can call 801-240-0897, or email: seniormission@ldschurch.org.

• You are welcome to email us anytime too!  We'd love to hear from you and answer any mission-related questions that we can.  You can email us at: coffey58@gmail.com.

• If you have questions about different types of missions that are available, check out THIS LINK.  It has email links to senior missionaries whose mission it is to answer your questions. Operators are standing by!  

Ultimately, when we walk in the footsteps of the Savior, we put our trust and faith in Him. Serving a mission is a true act of faith. When we feel the call of the Savior moving us to serve a mission, may we have the courage and faith to, like Peter and Andrew, drop all and follow Him. The rest of the journey will be priceless.

Best wishes on your exciting mission.

Elder and Sister Coffey

Celebrations of Tết, Then and Now

Happy Tết!

It’s Tết here in Hồ Chí Minh City.  Tết is the Lunar New Year, often known as Chinese New Year in other countries.  The city is bustling with activity as people clean their homes from top to bottom, buy new clothes, pay off old debts, give gifts to employees and friends, and prepare for the holiday itself with flowers, specialty foods, veneration of ancestors, and visits to their hometowns. Tết officially begins on the 16^th, but many people leave early to head to their hometowns in the countryside. In another week, the streets will be nearly deserted.

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It was fifty years ago this Tết.  The plane carrying my mother, brother and me began its slow, calm descent to the Saigon International Airport.  We were joining my dad who was living here working for a civil engineering firm.   I was nine years old.

I still remember the unexpected lurch of the plane and the steep surge as the plane rapidly changed direction and climbed upward.  We were shocked and stunned, frightened and confused.  Then the news – the Saigon airport was under attack, and we were headed elsewhere for safety.  The Tết Offensive of 1968 had begun.

Hong Kong graciously housed us and many other stranded travelers until it was deemed safe enough to travel to Saigon.  Ten days later we finally made it safely on the ground at the small terminal in Saigon.  As Customs officials meticulously scoured through our belongings, I explored the area around my seat.  Damaged walls were visible from the earlier attack, and I found an empty bullet shell on the ground.  But my dad had been safe during the attack on the city, and now we were there to join him. In a strange war-torn country,  and in an odd kind of way, we were “home”. 

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  Scenes from our Tết of 1968

Barbed wire across the streets

Presidential Palace

From the roof top of our house, watching
 attack scenes like this were not uncommon

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Fifty Years Later - Celebrations of Tết Today

"̀50 year anniversary of the general offensive and rebellion 1968"

Today, however, Tết is definitely the happiest time of the year. It is kind of a combination of Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Years all wrapped together. The festive spirit couldn't be brighter. 

The beautiful wide Nguyễn Huệ Street, or Walking Street as it is known to foreigners, transforms into a garden paradise at Tết. 

The pink water lily, or lotus blossom, symbolizes resurrection, purity, and enlightenment.  Growing out of muddy ponds, the flower emerges perfect and beautiful. It closes at night and opens each morning with the sun.  Truly a remarkable symbol.

Everyone's doing selfies! Buying new clothes for Tết is a popular tradition.

More selfies!

Tết gift bags lined up for sale at a local shop

Celebrations continue on into the night with song, dance and  festive foods.

 Tết lights outside the Catholic Archbishop's Palace

One of our branch members decorating the church building for Tết

Tết dinner celebration

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But for us, Tết just means continuing our service in trying to bless people's lives. Our last two weeks of mission time have arrived, and between Tết celebrations and mission assignments, we are fairly swamped.  There are more branch builders arriving soon, and Elder Coffey and I have the blessing of finding, renting, and outfitting 4 new apartments (2 as replacements for already existing branch builders and 2 for new branch builders), moving them to their new apartments and cleaning and closing out the old apartments - with help of course!

When we first arrived here, there were 3 branch builder apartments.  Now there are 11. There were 8 branch builders.  Now there are 26, with more on the way.  We think these are by far some of the top missionaries in the world. They are incredibly faithful, funny and fearless, like the stripling warriors of old. We just love working with them!

Moving into a new apartment, cleaning out the old.

The apartment is now all clean!! Branch builders and senior couples pitched in together.

So Happy Tết from all of us here! Some may wonder if miracles still happen in today's world. We know that the greatest miracle is the one that occurs in a person's heart when they discover the pearl of great price.  Well, here in Vietnam, miracles happen all the time.

The work moves forward like a stone cut out of the mountain.  Truly, hurrah for Israel!

Holiday Season for Senior Missionaries

The holidays are rolling around again. Our fourth Thanksgiving without children and grandchildren has just passed.  Because we served a two year mission in Hong Kong immediately prior to the one we are currently serving, it has been a long time since we have spent the holidays at home. We are facing our fourth Christmas.

Many senior couples might wonder how they could cope being away from loved ones during these tender moments.  Some may find that to be a key deterrent to serving a mission.  Admittedly, it is tough.  How does one do it gracefully?

First and foremost, we strive continually to stay focused on Jesus Christ and serving Him.  We might not be perfect as this yet, but day by day we remember Him as we pray individually and as a couple – praying for those who we miss at “home”, while praying for those with whom we are working here at this “home”. We work to remember that we are here just for a short time, just for one and a half years or two years, to possibly make an eternal impact on someone in helping them come to Christ.  Indeed, if we can be the means of even one person finding faith in Jesus Christ, the sacrifice will have been worth it. 

What if many come to Christ through our efforts?

Secondly, getting through the holidays is made infinitely easier when we stay focused on the people.  These are not their holidays. Thanksgiving and Christmas are full of memories from childhood that spark powerful emotions and warm fuzzies for us – but not for the Vietnamese.  To them the fourth Thursday of November is just another work or school day.  

Turkeys are not a thing here and cranberry sauce is hard to come by. 

It’s actually kind of easy to nearly forget about the holidays here. Largely because of the people. It’s always the people – people who bring us back to reality as we see their sacrifice, their faith -their simple, powerful child-like faith – that teaches us what it means to serve.  Rather than us serving and helping them, we are pretty sure we are the recipients of far greater blessings than we could ever leave with them.  They are teaching us so much about courage, faith and devotion to the Lord.

Though we might not be in the full spirit of the holiday season, nevertheless our hearts to “home” are always tender as we visit by Skype those sweet little family faces and share via email, Facebook, Viber, Skype or Instagram. Senior missionaries have privileges, and we take advantage of them!

So you scrounge up some quazie-holiday dishes and invite some of the young branch builders over to share in your bounteous “feast”  - and the turkey-lacking-football-missing holiday is filled with warmth and love anyways. We are creating memories of a new kind.

Our Thanksgiving guests!

It is nearing time to return home.  Christmas will come and go, the New Year will roll in quickly, and we will soon return to the arms and lives of our dearly-missed children and grandchildren. It will be so healing to be with them again.

But a part of us will always remain here, where our lives have been forever changed by the powerful, faithful saints of Vietnam. 

So how do senior missionaries pass the holidays on their missions? 

With the Lord, and with the people. As it should be.