The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hôi An

The tile roofs and yellow painted walls revive 

the ancient charm of the village

The ancient Vietnamese trading port of Hội An (meaning "peaceful meeting place")  greeted our senior missionary group as we made our way through its quaint streets, historic homes and colorful buildings.

Dating back to the 15th through 19th centuries, this town blends the influences of settlers from China, Portugal, Japan, Holland and India. 

The senior missionaries throughout Vietnam were in Đà Nẵng for several days of training and rejuvenation. After training, our group toured the homes and shops of Hôi An, just 29 kilometers south of Đà Nẵng. 

Yellow walls and tiled roofs led to a sense of warm echoes from the past.



Homes as old as 300 years still house multi-generational families, while local shops and artisans swell the ground floors, luring the successful tourist industry that brings a modern twist to its streets. Today the town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The inner courtyard brings light and a touch of nature to this 300 year old home

 

Checking out a sculpted courtyard wall

The elderly are an integral part of family life,
 part of the vibrant heartbeat of the home.

One could feel the echos of the past meeting with the vitality of the present. As we walked through the old homes, I could almost see the images of hundreds of years ago - children playing on the floor, chickens and pigs in the courtyard, and families working together in this tight-knit community on the edge of the sea.

In some ways, things haven't changed that much.

Inner courtyard

Incense blesses a crumbling wall

Selling miniature Buddha statues along the street in Hôi An

This wooden, covered Japanese bridge, constructed in the 1590's, has become the symbol of the ancient stability of Hôi An.


In some ways, however, the town HAS changed, as tourists world-wide come to stay and buy and eat and enjoy its warmth and iconic charm.

Even the incense coils in the temple are for sale

Just as the homes and families of Hôi An have seen changes over the centuries, so have all other modern homes and families.  The quiet echoes of the past are replaced by the frenzied pace of the present. The "peaceful meeting places" of home and family that graced our past are fast disappearing.

One of the opportunities we have on our mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to lead family relations classes for the public. We teach in English and a wonderful church member translates for us. The Family: A Proclamation to the World  provides the foundation for successful marriages and families in any generation. 

  So many are searching for that peace again.

Sunset in Hôi An

Celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary
while serving in Vietnam.

We're here in Vietnam to share that peace can be found, and is being found by millions of people all over the world as they turn to Jesus Christ for answers, for strength, and for family support. Even in our busy, fast paced lives, our families can retain the strength of unity and purpose as evidenced by the graceful town of Hôi An.

Here is a link that gives practical, hands-on suggestions for how to improve our family relationships - Quotes on marriage, parenting and family.

May our homes become "peaceful meeting places" even amidst the challenges of mortality and modern society. 

Reflections Off the Beach in Da Nang

I had another childhood memory – something I hadn’t remembered in decades.  It just swept over me with warm fuzzies and a happy heart.

It happened last week, while I was watching the rhythm of the East Sea swirl around my feet, the gentle waves making a soft lapping sound.  We were at a senior missionary conference in Da Nang, Vietnam, and the early hour provided time for a visit to the beach.

And there they were – something I hadn’t seen in many years. Coquina shells.

Flickr.com courtesy of Glenn Marsch

The flash back took me to when I was a little girl, maybe 5 years old, maybe 7 – I’m not sure - living with my family in Venice, Florida off the Gulf Coast. My mother loved the beach. We found ourselves there frequently, and while she sat and enjoyed the sounds and breeze, we children would often track down coquinas. The live clam-like animals would be washed up in the surf and then burrow down quickly into the sand, leaving small holes and air bubbles to mark their location.

Quickly we’d dig down with our hands or plastic spades, find the little animal and scoop it up into bucket of sea water.  One by one, our bucket eventually would be full of coquinas. Mom would take them home, clean and rinse them, and make a coquina chowder with the mini version of clams. The memory made me feel close to her again. 

It was a pleasant memory on a pleasant trip to Da Nang, where all the senior missionaries of Vietnam assembled for several days of training, fellowship and much-needed renewal.

The house all of us stayed in.

The training meetings were full of insights, counsel and inspired direction.

When we weren't in training, we had time for several side trips - starting first with the beautiful beach. 



A cultural mix of old and new made the splendor even more wonderful.

Keeping her legs warm as this grandmother soaks in the peace of the ocean

Basket boats, or thung chai

These little boats were being used by the local fishermen, bringing in fresh seafood each morning, such as squid and octopus. The boats, called thung chai, were developed during the French colonial period. A tax was imposed on ownership of a boat, so the Vietnamese crafted these round "baskets", thus avoiding the boat tax. They are still used today throughout Central Vietnam. As are the larger fishing boats. Fishing is still a primary trade today.





And you'd better like seafood - because it is everywhere!

We also visited the Marble Mountains - Ngũ Hành Sơn - a group of hills jutting up from the land.  True to the name, the mountains are made of marble as well as limestone.  



Exploring the caves and sacred Buddhist shrines on the way up the mountain... 

Marble-carved Buddha within one of the caves

Dragon wall - all in marble.

Marble pagoda

The reward of climbing the 156 steep, slippery, uneven marble steps was this beautiful view.

Missionary conferences help us to "see the view" as it were, regarding the work that continues to move forward here in Vietnam. They help us see where we are in perspective of the Lord's work.

As senior missionaries, we don't always see each other very often. Our unique assignments take us to various parts of the country. Some work with Latter-day Saint Charities. Some work with finances and office logistics.  Some teach English and assist in local branches. And of course the mission president and his wife lead us along magnificently.

Hanoi Vietnam Mission senior missionaries, with the mission president and his wife.

All are engaged in the work of the Lord. The fellowship and comradery of the conference reminded us that we are never alone in this work, even when we are physically absent from one another.

So while we might from time to time only see one set of footsteps in the sand, when we reflect upon it, we discover that it is He whose footsteps we are seeing that continually moves this work forward. 

We are grateful to be engaged in this sacred work. Lives are being changed. The message of Jesus Christ here in Vietnam is healing hearts, cleansing souls, and moving mountains. One precious person at a time.

Sunrise reflection on the beach in Da Nang

Bringing Life to a New Building

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

With the membership growth of the Ton San Nhut Branch, the mission made plans to create a new branch of the church in a new area. 

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.

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!

First Sacrament Meeting in the District 6 Building

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! 

First Happy Family Class in District 6 Building

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.

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!

Vietnam Hanoi Mission Conference

Elder Coffey is taller than everyone in line!

It’s technically not the rainy season yet in Ho Chi Minh City, but torrential downpours delayed commercial flights last week, setting us quite a bit behind schedule on our trip to Hanoi.  We were on a trip to the nation’s capital in the north to enjoy a missionary conference for the Vietnam Hanoi Mission.  But the airport was modern, clean and air-conditioned, so the long wait was pleasant.

We finally boarded, found our window and middle seats and took our spots on the plane.  An older man came and sat in the aisle seat beside us.  This must have been his very first flight.  He was so excited about everything.  The seat belt was a novelty.  The view outside Elder Coffey’s window filled him with wonder as he stretched himself out over me straining to see.  It was like Christmas morning and he was filled with unrestrained excitement.  The stretching over me and the straining to see continued for some time, until finally Elder Coffey decided the man deserved the window seat more than he did.  Offering it to him, the man jumped up without a second’s thought and took the window seat with unashamed enthusiasm. 

  

It was actually quite endearing.  He hugged the window the entire rest of the trip.

Due to the delays, we had time to tour only one of Hanoi’s tourist spots before heading to the hotel.  Hoan Kiem Lake was our point of destination. The Huc Bridge gleamed beautifully under the lights at dusk.  The red bridge leads to Jade Island, home of the Temple of the Jade Mountain. It was like stepping out of the bustling crowded city into a paradise apart from the world.

Reflections on Hoan Kiem Lake

The offerings to the gods were lavish and colorful.

 

Interesting that one of the offerings
 was a pyramid of Choco Pies...

The next morning found us at the Hanoi Chapel.  I am still in awe to think we have branches of the church in Vietnam. 

Nearly every missionary and missionary couple in Vietnam was in attendance.    

Vietnam Hanoi Mission March 18, 2017

We were blessed to receive training from our leaders.  It was wonderful to see them again - we had worked with several of them while on our mission in the Hong Kong Area Office.

Lunch break between sessions

Sisters in the Gospel

 

 "May the Kingdom of God go forth,

 that the Kingdom of Heaven may come".

Doctrine and Covenants 65:5

Finding Refuge from the Storm

flickr.com courtesy of Brian DePalo

flickr.com courtesy of Greg Willis

It was pouring down rain the day we met Hiếu.  We were at a print shop, standing under the awning waiting for the monsoon style rain to subside. It was the end of September of 2016 and the rainy season was in full swing.

Suddenly, from out of nowhere, a young man was standing next to us, also seeking refuge from the storm.  Elder Coffey said, “Hi”, and Hiếu responded, “Hi”, and that began a lasting friendship.  Hiếu speaks only a little English, and we knew almost no Vietnamese, but between the three of us, with the help of the Spirit, communication occurred.  Hiếu told us later that for some reason he was able to understand us that day, beyond his normal capacity to understand.  When Hiếu learned that we were on our way to church to teach English, he said, “I come too!”   

At the print shop where we first met Hieu

Hiếu at Young Single Adult Activity Night

And come he did! Hiếu came to everything.  He came to Monday night Young Single Adult activities, Wednesday night English classes, Sunday church services, and anything else the church members were doing. 

The church building is a major hub for members of the Church and their friends day and night every day of the week.  Always open, it is a gathering place for members on lunch breaks, a place for home teaching, a place to meet with friends. And Hiếu was nearly always there. 

Soon he began meeting with the missionaries and learned about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the blessings that could be his.

Meeting with the missionaries for lessons

Changing one's life to conform to the teachings of Jesus Christ is not always easy.  There are many 'storms' in our lives - physical storms, private storms, family storms, economic storms.  But like the physical rainstorm in which we met Hiếu, if we are patient and persistent, we can weather the storms, overcome our challenges and qualify for the blessings of the restored gospel.

The grandest moment in the history of mankind, supernal and eternal, was the moment Jesus Christ took upon Him our sins, paid the price for those sins, and stood with outstretched hands to receive us unto Him. Those who turn away from their sins, or repent, and follow Him into the waters of baptism, are freed from the negative effects of their choices, and forgiven of their past sins.

Today Hiếu entered the waters of baptism and made a covenant with Jesus Christ to follow Him. Hiếu asked Sister Coffey to be one of the speakers at the baptism. 

A 72 year old woman ( Sister O.) was also baptized today. The chapel was filled to capacity with more than 75 members from 8 countries coming to support them on this special day.  

Sister O.and Hieu, dressed in white, ready for their baptism. 

Hiếu’s mother came to the baptism (standing next to him in the photo). She expressed her deep gratitude for what the Church has done for her son. It was a glorious day for all of us.

Elder and Sister Coffey with Hiếu