We've heard the experience of serving in capacity of a mission president and wife likened to jumping onto a treadmill operating at full speed, where one clutches the safety rails tightly, desperately hoping not to get thrown off. Or perhaps like jumping into a canoe in the midst of the class III rapids, with no calm eddies and flatwater in sight. We thought that perhaps we would enjoy the luxury of a more reasoned approach, starting from a small number of missionaries, in just a few branches, in two locations. Our ramp-up time was the "leisurely" first nine months of our mission serving as a senior couple, but whether by our own design or desires, the pace has not been that of a slow saunter since. In fact, anything but. And now, somewhere in March, someone nudged the speed needle up another notch or two. In fact so much has passed beneath our feet that the events of our one year "anniversary" as a mission seem already like remote history.
We crossed the 40 missionary threshold somewhere in the last month, not counting the welfare services missionaries who do most of their work outside our jurisdiction, though clearly with great impact on our work. The latest group consisted of three sisters and six elders, all coming from the Provo MTC, meaning that they came with limited language.
And we are now deep into a training mode again as a mission, some areas more than others. It is so amazing to see the particular niches prepared for each of these eager and enthusiastic, if also slightly apprehensive and anxious young saints. And it illustrates to me another maxim of missionary work- that the good stuff doesn't happen until the companionship gets to the point of true love and trust in one another.
When I attended Philmont for priesthood leadership training, led then by Charles Dahlquist as YM General President at the time, I was highly impressed by his admonition to get as many as possible of our young men and other priesthood leaders to complete the Woodbadge training offered by the BSA. Finding a schedule for this graduate level leadership course that was "LDS-friendly", meaning that it didn't mandate Sunday activity, was a challenge in Maine, even when my time was more under my own control as I was on "sabbatical." Moving then to Oklahoma it remained a goal. Finally I abandoned the notion of finding something that would fit my Oklahoma schedule and studied the offerings through the Great Salt Lake Council, and then talked Jonah, my son-in-law into joining me for the successive Friday-Saturday sessions.
So why do I bring that up here? Well, some time ago as I interviewed our missionaries I recognized that the companionship struggles many of them were going through followed precisely the stages of team development that I had learned of during my time with the Bobwhites out near Toole in our Woodbadge course, and witnessed time after time on lengthy youth outings. And that insight then allowed me to clearly teach these missionaries that their real task was to get beyond the "storming" stage, and through the "norming" stage to the point where they could truly perform. Indeed since we have begun to teach that process, and direct their focus to accomplishing and reaching that goal, some rather dramatic changes have begun to occur. As the number of companionships reaching the "performing" stage has gone up, and as they have reached that stage earlier in their time together, not just the key indicators have improved, but the whole tenor of joy in the work has shifted.
And maybe that is why the belt speed on this treadmill has gone up. Early in March, we enjoyed a moment or two of respite and renewal as we sharpened our saws with the other area mission presidents in Hong Kong. We came back in time to share a few days with Yai and Cameron Allen and their two charming children. It was a brief dose of surrogate grandparenting that was rich and meaningful to us. Liem and Lydia were willing and trusting in sharing their love with us. And they all got to join in seeing a baptism (one of the fruits of a companionship that was truly performing, even though their language skills were still weak- a young man from South Africa who brought himself to church and was ready soon afterwards!)
We made a quick trip to the south for our family class, which continues to grow and have impact. It was over 30 people this time, mostly non-members and investigators, who brimmed with good questions and a willingness to share their experiences and questions. Teaching repentance, which is to say, a better way of doing things, on matters such as this which impact day to day happiness, is quite rewarding. If we want happier families, we will need to change, to repent, and ultimately follow Christ more fully. The Proclamation (Family: A Proclamation to the World) gets this right.
We rushed back to Hanoi in time to welcome a new senior couple, the Jenkins, to our mission, and to help get them settled into their new digs in an area of town where we have up to now, had but little presence. They have planted the flag in the Hai Ba Trung district, and will soon be teaching in a university nearby there, where we also expect to have an exchange with some visiting ESL teachers early next month.
Following that addition, we prepared for and welcomed the visit of Elder and Sister Funk, Elder and Sister Gong and Bishop Davies for two days of meetings and discussions, and a mission conference. The latter was a special dispensation, allowing us to bring together all the missionaries for a wonderful experience together. They love one another and love to be together, but even more they loved the chance to be instructed by three general authorities. (I sometimes think they will think this is the norm! Actually they have no idea how unusual the number and frequency of visits of this sort are.) In addition to being more fully instructed in teaching repentance and baptizing converts, they each had the opportunity to ask questions and hear answers up close.
Following that session, we also had a leadership training meeting for the local leaders in Hanoi, which also was a remarkable experience for them. They practiced counseling together, learned about handling worthiness standards, and how to better use the key to ministering the atonement which they hold as common judges in Israel.
When the leaders were departed, we were exhausted, and that was somehow reflected in the turn for the worse in our health, as we spent the next week or more nursing colds. We managed enough strength to hold another preparing for marriage class (15 attendees, mostly non-members) welcome the new missionaries and run through a whirlwind orientation with them on the 22nd. But we did a more detailed instruction with them after they had rested, on the 23rd for the group starting in Hanoi and on Friday the 24th for those who were assigned to HCM City- which of course meant that we were on the road again.
We conducted a training session for the HCM priesthood and auxiliary leaders the following week, following the pattern we had observed from our visit from Elders Gong et al. The district and mission counselors were very involved with this and that was perhaps the more significant step. Seeing them begin to step forward to conduct the leadership and counseling needed for support to branch leaders is a vital step towards becoming an established part of Zion. Rather than feeling like Moses having his arms supported aloft by Caleb and Hur, I am more inclined to think we have the beginnings of many judges who will relieve Moses' burden, as admonished by Jethro, his father-in-law.
Immediately following the completion of that training, we embarked on a further visit to members scattered in the further reaches of the western provinces. We started with a visit to a member preparing for her temple endowment in July, and she again brought us to meet her good friends and neighbors who are anxious for the gospel to be part of their lives, Sister Lin and Sister Nhu.
The spirit was particularly strong as we visited with the latter and taught her the consoling truths of the plan of salvation. She had lost her husband in an accident a few years before and was now raising their daughter with the help of her parents.
The challenge here of course is in not growing faster than we can sustain and support new members to receive the blessings of the gospel. Rather like this bumper crop of small red peppers which goes to waste if there is not means to preserve the harvest- hence the acres of space devoted to sun-drying. Having the virtual branch in operation helps this effort greatly, but distances are still a consideration. I don't know if our "ceiling" or quota on the number of baptisms outside the city is within the realm of what is right, but I think our guideline that we will strive to unite families in the gospel, and build support around existing members as we have the resources to teach and strengthen them, is a reasonable approach to a very rich field. Sister CT is a stalwart, and having others around her seems very much in keeping with this process.
We went on to visit in Hong Ngu, meeting members there who struggle for lack of proper documentation, thus limiting their access to vital services such as schools, healthcare and such. We know this is a problem for many members who have moved back and forth to Cambodia, but the toll on children in the rising generation is sad to see. The economic options outside the city are daunting, but T, L and their sister are becoming self-reliant for their school fees by raising chickens. We met also members in Chau Doc, including a returned priesthood leader from Cambodia, Pres. D, who is recovering from a stroke and staying with his son. Seeing him light up at the prospect of being able to participate in the sacrament via the virtual branch was truly a highlight.
We had no sooner returned to Hanoi than I got word that our dear friends H and X were afraid that their father was about to pass on. So I packed a small bag and traveled to Hai Duong to spend some time in comfort and mourning with their family. I assisted H in giving his father a priesthood blessing and tenderly prayed for their family of brothers and sister to be united and comforted with his departure. Of course only a couple of the children are members of the church and understand the gospel, but there was some sense of willingness to accept the further light and knowledge that is found there. As I walked about their neighborhood in the morning the following day, I discovered that the bauhenia trees are coming into bloom. and that is good.
Their father passed away later that night, and thus April has begun, a month wherein we remember the resurrection and the infinite atonement of Jesus Christ, the #PrinceofPeace, and our Redeemer. There is not a problem we have met in this time here that is not solved, made easier, and in fact, completely healed, through his plan, through faith in him, and through the gift of repentance and forgiveness that his atonement offers to us. With so many conflicts in the world, we need to know that. We need to follow Him and receive that gift. We can wash our clothes or dishes in the rivers that flow by, but only when our souls are cleansed through the blood of his sacrifice and sanctified by the fire of the spirit, will our lives be changed and our outcomes different than the sadness and suffering that are rampant in a world of terror, depravity, despair and sorrow.
