Interludes and Inter-“missions”

 The story isn’t over for those who have followed the events and thoughts in “Along the Hong River” just as it isn’t for us in our renewed life along the Oklahoma River. It is now a full two years since we emptied the storage unit which held our earthly belongings, thinning again our possessions,  before reassembling the puzzle into the space of our home on Northwest 17th Street. A lot of the content of our daily activity is not terribly different than it was while we lived in Hanoi, while some things are decidedly different.

We still rise early (the 5:30 am alarm is mostly redundant since the biologic clock is quite firmly set it would seem) and engage in morning exercise and gospel study. We use that study period to seek guidance and revelatory ideas that will help us lift and serve those whom we may meet or connect with during that day and days ahead. My friend and missionary department proselyting guru David Weidman counseled me to inquire of the Lord each day as to which of our elders or sisters may need an emotional touch of some sort that day. More often than not, when I have done that, the resulting experience has been rich and tender. The lesson for me is that the endowment of love for our fellow missionaries, and for the saints and friends that came into our lives there, carries with it the responsibility and opportunity to continue to minister and grow with them.

It wasn’t very long after we had been home that I realized how treacherous the period of  life following a mission was for most returning missionaries. So many critical decisions were to be made, that would lock them into patterns and positions that would work powerfully for their good, or for ill. Selecting the right spouse seemed to me the most potent of these decisions. So for many months now, I have prayed and fasted for them in that regard, sometimes as a whole, and sometimes for particular ones. The readily obtained answers to these pleadings are beginning to accrue. This month, four new families were founded in the Holy Temples, and lives full of hope and anticipation have been launched together with able and worthy spouses. If the ultimate measure of our efforts is to be measured in the character and devotion of the grandchildren of those missionaries, then we have reason to hope for good inasmuch as so many have begun well, taking to heart the admonition to “do it right from the beginning.” We rejoice in their joy, and hope in their hope.

 

Similarly, as the number of offspring from these marriages begins to grow and these young fresh spirits make their entrance onto the stage of life, we feel great anticipation and excitement. Mission grandchildren, as we have come to refer to these offspring, are a big part of our joy as well. We only regret that limitations on time, resources, and the current travel restrictions have cut off direct contact with these joys, as well as our own biologic grandchildren. 

In another aspect of the heritage of these genealogies, we have the on-going opportunity to see many of the new converts and even former investigators of our time in Vietnam stepping forward to serve full-time missions. For many of these Pioneers, this is not a trivial decision, nor even entirely their own. Our dear friend L was baptized in 2017, the only member of her family, of course. As a young woman who had entered the workforce following school, her family’s next expectation was for her to marry and begin a family. But to make matters more complicated, a sibling was pursuing a career in the Public Security arm of the government. As is well known to all in that division, a primary responsibility is to oversee potentially seditious religious organizations, and therefore any officer with personal OR family connections to religious organizations is black-marked to not advance into increased duties. Hence that same sibling looked upon L as blocking their ability to move up in the security apparatus, and as the oldest child, he easily recruited both parents into opposing L’s participation, attendance, and support for the Church. 

But Wonder of Wonders, Miracle of Miracles, after much counsel, prayer, fasting, and gentle persuasion, God did make a wall fall down. What tremendous joy we felt when the text came from L detailing with ebullient joy that both parents had granted permission for L to serve a mission. To make matters even sweeter, we know a certain returned missionary who will be waiting for the completion of that service. So our fasting for L and L’s parents, also meant fasting for a future spouse of infinite worth and high commitment and faith. It was two for one!

And so the rivers flow and we shall both watch from the banks, and at times follow the currents.

Turning further towards our desires...

                                   

The things that motivate us are most often pretty universal, although also individual. In a country with a history of poverty and deprivation, the widespread yearning to build a better economic life for themselves and their children has been a dominant theme in Vietnam's psyche for a long time. The belief that by working more, working harder, they can lift themselves from their plight is prevalent. We often encounter people who work 15-17 hours a day to provide for their families. It is a habit born of the day when one's employment barely covered the costs of putting rice in the bowl for half the month. Lawyers and teachers take on extra work by driving an Uber or Grab ride-sharing vehicle in their off hours. Home businesses (from selling smoothies to hardware) supplement the office job or factory work, managed by the at-home grandparent or spouse, usually with opening hours that would make a convenience store jealous.  
Clearly related to this is the recognition that war and conflict poses a risk to that hope, just as it has imposed a heavy cost in the past. So a desire for peace has also been a celebrated theme here for a long time. 
Hanoi has proclaimed itself a "city of Peace" and the symbolism of the dove figures strongly in public iconography, right down to the public buses that feature an idealization in their exterior paint design. While maintaining a strong presence of a military, and often attracting recruits by means of the economic advantage of education and employment, the city is not one that has seen armed conflict for a long time now.

The drive for economic improvement is related perhaps to the thrust to become educated, and the desire to see one's children better educated than oneself so they have an advantage in the marketplace ahead. Schools in Vietnam are often crowded, with generally large classes, sometimes with two different sessions for different enrollments, a morning session from 7-12 and an afternoon enrollment from 1-5. In addition, the number of evening classes offered by private teachers and tutors, as well as institutes, academies, and such is protean. Walking by the ILA, or the VietMy Association, or Titan Education buildings at 8 pm is to see the upwardly hopeful parents awaiting their children's release from these enrichments.

Of course many of these enrichments are merely core capabilities like English, math and science as well. While suburban parents in the west escort their kids to soccer or gymnastics or music, the after school hours here are crammed with added study sessions in languages and STEM content.
These drives and desires carry over into times when we might rather they did not, such as Sunday mornings, when we would prefer that families were together and attending church services, and of course Monday evenings when we'd encourage families to strengthen their bonds with each other.
I think the challenge for families in this case, or individuals, is in understanding truly the ultimate costs, rather than just the marginal costs. With a bias towards seeking economic improvement, or educational benefit, or even peace and social harmony, we make most decisions to seek these things based only on the added incremental cost, the marginal cost- be that a couple of more hours of work at night, an extra class for an hour on Sunday morning, or an added social imposition of control to preserve peace. But in making these kinds of choices we often undervalue the alternatives, things which might also be strong values, but less urgent and more easily deferred to another time, or just relegated to someone else's duty.
What is the true value of a few hours each week for family time in the evenings? What kind of difference does it make for a father to hold and play with his children each day? How would one's life be different if one were together with one's family in church each Sunday? What kind of human values would develop if allowed to gather for social action without the need to register content details and the ID card numbers of each participant whether foreign or domestic? These are questions oft forgotten or left unanswered in the rush of humanity towards the elusive goals of a better more secure economic life, higher education and urban tranquility.
We are heartened however by the number of bright young single adults who are seeing the difference that a balance between these dominant drivers in society can make. They are bravely swimming against the stream in taking time to worship, time to serve, and time to integrate spirituality amid the press of the corporal concerns. The recent YSA conference in Hanoi centered around the theme that "Your Story Begins at Home" and helped many of them see the relationships with parents, siblings and friends as the starting point for happiness in the story they are writing to include a spouse, children and grandchildren. The inter-connectedness of choices in small and simple things now and the state of their lives decades from now became more clear as they heard the story of others further along the path, like Elder and Sister Peter Meurs, from the Asia Area Presidency.

Though we are not totally sure whether they come for the fruit and home-made cookies, or the chance to discuss the topics from the institute courses on preparing for an eternal and glorious marriage, we are grateful to welcome a varied group of these young people to our home on Sunday evenings. Even when the topic is as grave as how to confront and overcome problems like pornography, they seem eager to listen, ask insightful and probing questions, and linger after to visit. (And they are always keen to clean up the kitchen and such before they leave!)

We aren't going to turn the tide of Vietnamese society away from its yearning for a better economic future, nor will we have much impact on the private enrichment educational industry here through our branch-builder's English sessions, but we think there are a growing number of wondereful young Latter-day Saints who are seeing that fulfillment and joy in life is not measured in the size of a bank account, or the score on your IELTS exam. It is however found in the peace of mind and heart that comes from relationships made pure by the Atonement of Jesus Christ

Harvesting... and tools

                                

The culture of Vietnam has such a very strong tie to the “que huong” or home town. It persists over generations even for people born in the cities, who nevertheless still maintain a fondness for their village of origin. And it is not an idle passing nostalgia. Rather, it is an on-going vibrant relationship with the land, their ancestral homes and what has been built over generations. One manifestation of this is the regular exodus from the cities back to the countryside, most especially for holidays, such as the recently passed Ngay Quoc Khanh, or National Day (commemorating a declaration of independence from French colonial rule by the Viet Minh in Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi in 1945 following the defeat of the Japanese.) But depending on the distances involved, it is not unusual to find people who travel a hundred kilometers or further each weekend, or perhaps several times a month to reconnect with parents and family in the que.

     

We took the opportunity to enjoy some time with some friends recently on such a visit to their hometown in Ben Tre, located about 120 km from Ho Chi Minh City, normally about a two hour drive. But the holiday turned that into more than four hours. But that did however give us a pause on the bridge over one of the “Nine Dragons” as the translation of the Mekong would be from the Viet term “Cuu Long.” Pausing as we did (for what must have been 45 minutes) we were able to see the river traffic, a few floating houses, perhaps shepherding herds of fish, and enjoy an elevated perspective on this otherwise quite flat landscape.

      

Any visit to the delta of this massive river reminds one of the richness of this land. It is a veritable cornucopia of agricultural and aquatic richness. And that brings me to my topic of the harvest. In addition to the rice paddies which often yield three crops a year, there are also massive amounts of fruit produced- bananas, coconuts, mangos, jackfruit, citrus, and a host of others including lychee, longan or dragon eyes, and rambutan (cham cham.) One of our stops during this visit was at the orchard of a friend who had an acre or two of rambutan and lanzones (yup, I had never heard of them either!)

Rambutan trees often have braces between branches, and supports from the ground to keep the tree from breaking under the weight of a heavy harvest.

                                   

Lanzones or in Vietnamese "bon bon" grow from the trunk, hence the species name "parasiticum" I think.

                                   

Rambutans grow on a rather tall tree, which tends to spread out broadly, with the fruit at the ends of the branches. As a result, the boughs in the fruiting season can easily become too heavy for the main branches to bear. So they require bracing and props to support them. But with this spreading habit, harvesting fruit from the tops of the 20-30 foot trees, even when they are bowed down with ripe fruit, would be a challenge. Enter human ingenuity.

                                    

The tool of the harvest for these terminal branch fruits (rambutan, dragon eyes, longans, etc.) is a long bamboo pole, with a narrow gap, perhaps 20 cm long between the two sides at one end, braced from splitting further or breaking by a wrap with poly-ties or other material that reinforce the end at the base of the gap. The harvester simply extends the pole to engage the small fruit bearing branches into the gap and then twists the pole to break the branches off and lower the fruit to the ground. Each such action might easily yield up to a dozen of the fuzzy red to yellow fruits.

The bags are quickly filled when the harvesting rod brings down a few bunches.

                                   

This is an activity not without its likeness. We see the fruit ripening all around us- it is the sweetness in the lives of young and old, the growth of wisdom and meekness that comes to accept the light of Christ's life and message and desires to follow him. To follow his example in being baptized, to follow his example and teachings in loving and serving others, and to participate in the model of feeling his love (often through others ministration), changing for the better, and partaking in a covenant promise to live his commandments (most often by participating in the sacrament each week) that they may have his spirit to be with them on the next, and each subsequent leg of this "eternal round" journey back home, to the ultimate "que huong" above.

        

We were recently impressed by the assertion that the tool for this harvest, the harvest of souls, is the Book of Mormon. We have been thinking about that a lot, and have spent considerable time teaching our missionaries how to consider it as key to their efforts to solve the problems they face. 

                                 

It first helps them to sharpen their own lives, focus their own hopes and salvation in Jesus Christ. It witnesses of him, and brings hope and understanding to cope with their own personal journey to come closer to him. So many stories of young men and women, like unto them- Nephi, Enos, Alma, Corianton, Mormon and Moroni, speak these truths of how we can be changed by coming to Christ, and by serving others.

It helps them see the motive and the method in what they should be doing as they are sent to represent him before the world. The examples of Nephi and Jacob, who "spoke of Christ, rejoiced in Christ, taught of Christ, prophesied of Christ, and wrote of Christ" or of Ammon and his brothers among the Lamanites who said, "yea, I will be thy servant," reinforce the teachings and example of the Savior himself, whose message was pure and focused, and who "went about doing good."

We were particularly impressed with some of the lessons the Book of Mormon offers as we work with others in this cause to build Zion and overcome opposition. Here the story of Captain Moroni and his Commander in Chief, Pahoran, as detailed in Alma 59-62 is so highly instructive. I sometimes hear the young missionaries complain that they are not getting the support they wish they had from this branch leader or that member. Then I think of this story- of Captain Moroni's zeal, and his mis-judgement. And I think of Pahoran's humble and wise response to being severely censured. The lesson most pertinent however, is that once they had united in understanding and jointly worked to oppose those who were thwarting the righteous work they were trying to do, not only were they once again friends and united in spirit, but they were successful.

Finally, in the stories of the Book of Mormon we find examples and answers for so many of the challenges of life that someone investigating the doctrines of Christ and his Church might encounter. Disbelief, struggles with stubbornness, weak faith, sin and bad habits, dwindling valiance in good things, opposition from family or friends, inability to keep commitments, competing demands of work, friends and finances, and so on.

For all these reasons, it is the tool suited to the harvest, the harvest of souls in preparation for his second advent. And we are so blessed to have many new missionaries, and many capable missionaries wielding that tool with greater vigor, testimony and fervor. The sweetness of a "cham cham" or a "bon bon" is one thing, but the sweetness of a soul who has and is repenting and coming unto Christ is beyond all that is sweet.

     

While we are sleeping...

                                 

Things happen when we aren't looking. When our eyes close at night, the world of life, the work of growth, the works of God (and in fact, half or more of God's creatures) go on living. I recall some time ago seeing a planting guide for a "night garden" made up of plants that flowered at night, and thus were particularly prone to fragrances and other means to attract night-active insects or other means of pollenation in the dark. I didn't undertake the create such a garden, but one plant which might well fit is this succulent that is now quite prevalent here in Vietnam as it produces a marketable fruit. Hylocereus undatus has many common names in a host of languages, from skogskactus in Swedish to Thang Long in Vietnamese. It is thought to have originated in the Americas, and I don't think was widely cultivated in Vietnam before 1975, as I certainly didn't ever see any of it's fruits in the markets then, but it is now widely available in the markets, almost year round, and has even reached the  point where it is a staple on the airline food offerings regionally.

The blossoms begin with yellow streamers that open at night into a white petaled flower that then produces the pear-shaped fruit with a watermelon like texture and myriad small black seeds scattered throughout the fruit. The flesh is usually white, but recently a crimson-fleshed cultivar has appeared which is slightly sweeter and hence commands a higher price. But the most notable feature, and the reason that one would have noticed and remembered them from 1975, is that when ripe the fruits are a hot-pink color that stands out strikingly for the fruit-seller. Cannot be ignored or missed! The efforts of the local growers in Vietnam would lead me to believe that they are seeking access to the US markets, so this odd-looking fruit may find a place among other other imports like mangos and papaya. Then what began with flies and other night insects on a white flower will be evident to all. 

                                     

                                      

In getting to and from Asia, there is often some night travel involved. Or at least it seems, given the lengths of time involved, that a night should have been in there somewhere! Even within Asia, overnight travel is often preferred due to the lower fares. Our group of 40+ who recently attended the Manila temple mostly took the overnight option, and Elder D, pictured below, bid his doting and supportive, though sorrowful parents, good bye near midnight, on his way to the Manila mission training center. So we go too sleep with our mind and body in one country, and wake up in a totally different environment. Perhaps that is the miracle we will experience with death one day.

                              

The miracle of conversion also seems to happen when we are not looking at times. We do not "cause" it in any sense, we only marvel when peace is spoken in the quiet moments of reflection, sometimes between wakefulness and drowsiness. Then like Oliver Cowdery, we are bid to cast our mind upon that night when we must answer "yes" to the query "Did not I speak peace to thy heart?" The transition from one resistant to the entreaties to believe, obey or follow is often a "miracle of the night" when we are not looking. 

At times, we stumble upon those whom the weathering and softening of age and experience are preparing for the truths that will change the course of their eternities. Sometimes these are the days and nights spend soldiering, serving on a battle's front that is anything but figurative. And sometimes the scars left in the ground are minimal in comparison to the scars left upon the souls of those who fought, or just witnessed. They stand in silence aside, sometimes without hope of repair, ever. But the Master is so often silently working when we are not looking, when we are sleeping. With time, with gentle tugs upon the heart strings that seemingly were knotted beyond hope of unraveling, he gradually pulls a bit here, snips another bit there, and hearts are softened, the seeds planted, and the soul once tattered and gnarled is made new again. In a country that has known so much  of war for so many centuries, it is endlessly comforting to know of a Savior whose balm heals endlessly and without adverse side-effect. To receive beauty for ashes, as Isaiah said, is the promise of His plan, and it is working in the lives of many souls here, so often, when we are not looking. 

But when we find them, where the miracle is ready to happen, where the seed of the Word is ready to spring forth, we know true joy.

Other comparisons could also be made. Physical growth primarily occurs at night. We put to bed a toddler, and they wake up an adolescent. A sapling retires for the night and they awaken a full grown tree, a teen turned into a young man or a young woman, exceeding so often their parent's in height, and to some points of view (often their own) in knowledge and wisdom. Some of the latter no doubt stems from the love of learning (or the external pressure for learning at times) that keeps their eyes glued to the page (or the screen) longer than older eyes can endure. Knowledge too then, is also captured so often in the late night and wee morning hours, while others slumber.

                              

So it has been for us. We turned our hearts to the work here long ago, but so much happened when we were not looking, when as it were, we stood at the gate whilst inside the garden the agony of so much work was being done in the night, the times of trial, of suffering, of deprivation. Our efforts then were weak to do much, and perhaps now are not much more. But yet, working with priesthood keys, we do see the miracles coming, as the dawn of light and truth spreads over Southeast Asia. It is such a different place than it was 40 or 50 years ago, or even 20 years ago when the gospel was still just getting a foothold in Thailand, and barely starting to be preached in Cambodia. But much has been happening here while we were sleeping. The work of the Master has not slackened at all, but has been silently going forward in every preparatory phase, in the softening of the ground, the placement of the arbors, the supports that will sustain growth and hold up the fruits as they, now long since pollenated in that night before, mature and are laid up in store for a bounteous future. 

This fellow has likewise come into our lives while we were aslumber, another miraculous blessing that is poured out to bless our lives and others, while we were not looking. His days are the obverse of ours, half a world away, so when we awake, we will rejoice again to know that the Master never slumbers nor sleeps in his efforts to pour out blessings upon his children on earth.