Man it is hot here... and its not even summer yet! Its not fair. Nor fun. But that's alright, I'll get over it.
It sounds like last week was an exciting and busy one for all of you.
This
last week was ok. We are not back to the productivity we were at a few
weeks ago, but we definitely saw progress last week. And this week looks
to be even better. Our day yesterday went really well, actually almost
as good as our entire week two weeks ago. That was certainly a relief
and a good feeling. Hopefully we can make that the pattern for the rest
of the week.
This week looks not only to be productive, but also exciting. We
have met some pretty interesting people that we plan on contacting
throughout the week. There is a girl in the branch that just turned 8
and will be baptized on Saturday. We also just found out that there will
be a couple Seventies in Houston this weekend and our mission as well
as the Houston and Houston East mission will get to hear from them this
Saturday. We don't know exactly what the occasion is as to why they are
here, but I'm sure we will find out then.
Me and Elder Robison are still doing well and both progressing with
the Vietnamese pretty rapidly, or at least it seems like it. This is an
exciting work and it is fun to be a part of it.
Well that's all for now. I'm sure I'll have more to say next week. Until then, make it a great week!
Love,
Elder Phong Manhardt
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
5/21/12 Email
Well this week has been different for sure.
So, last week Elder Campbell did get transferred away to a different area. So it is just me and Elder Robison in the branch, the only missionaries east of California that are serving in a Vietnamese area. It is certainly interesting as we are both new, though language has net yet turned into any sort of barrier, nor do I think it will. The Lord wouldn't allow that to happen (unless He wants it to of course). So we don't really know what is going to happen in the future here. We don't know how long Elder Campbell will be away for. All we know is that it is us here to cover Houston. It has been fun. I certainly enjoy serving with Elder Robison.
With that being said though, this week was a rough one. Pretty much all of our investigators have left for the summer. Many in Vietnam, one to Florida. And they wont be back for a few months. Others have just slowly strayed from investigating the Church. With this being the case, we taught very few lessons, numerically one of the slowest I've seen. That being put into context with last week being the best I have seen, is really strange. So we are focusing nearly all of our time trying to find new people to teach as well as trying to contact those who used to investigate the Church long ago. It is a pretty slow progress, but hopefully will yield results. Well, it will yield results we just have to be patient.
We have a big challenge in front of us. To build up our area to what it was just a week before and then higher still and to help the branch with less missionaries than it has seen in quite a while. Its a hefty challenge, but one that we are up for.
Well, I cant think of much else to write for the week. Hope you guys are doing well! Make it a great week!
Love,
Elder Phong Manhardt
So, last week Elder Campbell did get transferred away to a different area. So it is just me and Elder Robison in the branch, the only missionaries east of California that are serving in a Vietnamese area. It is certainly interesting as we are both new, though language has net yet turned into any sort of barrier, nor do I think it will. The Lord wouldn't allow that to happen (unless He wants it to of course). So we don't really know what is going to happen in the future here. We don't know how long Elder Campbell will be away for. All we know is that it is us here to cover Houston. It has been fun. I certainly enjoy serving with Elder Robison.
With that being said though, this week was a rough one. Pretty much all of our investigators have left for the summer. Many in Vietnam, one to Florida. And they wont be back for a few months. Others have just slowly strayed from investigating the Church. With this being the case, we taught very few lessons, numerically one of the slowest I've seen. That being put into context with last week being the best I have seen, is really strange. So we are focusing nearly all of our time trying to find new people to teach as well as trying to contact those who used to investigate the Church long ago. It is a pretty slow progress, but hopefully will yield results. Well, it will yield results we just have to be patient.
We have a big challenge in front of us. To build up our area to what it was just a week before and then higher still and to help the branch with less missionaries than it has seen in quite a while. Its a hefty challenge, but one that we are up for.
Well, I cant think of much else to write for the week. Hope you guys are doing well! Make it a great week!
Love,
Elder Phong Manhardt
Thursday, May 17, 2012
5/14/12 Email
Sorry, some unexpected things came up and I wont be able to write much, but I did get to talk to ya yesterday.
Just know that this last week was spectacular. No doubt the best
I've had so far. We were led to different places to see different people
and it always worked out for the better. We taught more lessons this
week that ever before and have see incredible progression in the work
here. It is really awesome and I look foward to seeing what else
happens.
Today we found out about transfers and Elder Campbell will be
leaving us. That will leave me with Elder Robison, two new Viets trying
to keep it all going. We dont know where Elder Campbell will go, or
whether Elder Hoopes will make a return to the branch yet or not. We
will just have to wait and see.
Love you guys!
Elder Manhardt
5/7/12 Email
This week was a pretty good one. We were able to get what we call our
"10 and 2" 4 of the days this week. The 10 and 2 means talking to 10
people per person and teaching 2 investigator lessons each day. That
makes it add up to a pretty good and balanced out week as well.
Time goes so ridiculously fast out here. I think I might have figured out another reason for it too. Here we measure time with transfers, but normal people use months. Our periods of time are 50% bigger! I dont know, maybe thats just my mind making random connections, but I think it might be part of the difference. That being said, it is already the last week of another transfer! Its absolutely insane! We are absolutely clueless as to what might happen this transfer, but we did learn something pretty cool. We will be having another Vietnamese missionary come into Houston at the end of October (according to the board outside of President's office). Thats pretty good news, because that is the time that Elder Hoopes goes home. Even though he isnt serving in the branch right now, it will still be good to keep our number above 3. Hopefully we get word of others coming in soon too.
I'll share one experience from the week. On Saturday, we were on exchanges. Elder Robison stayed here in the Viet area with our district leader, and me and Elder Campbell went to the other area with his companion. In the morning before studies, we got a call that someone needed help moving that day. It was going to severely affect our plans,. but after making some more phone calls, we decided we could help. Man, this person had a ton of stuff that probably literally weighed a ton! Out in the heat and humidity, we loaded the truck with all sorts of heavy furniture. One item was an armuar (I have no idea how to spell that...) that took 6 men to barely carry out of the apartment. It was entirely exhausting work. We had to leave in the middle to go to an appointment, we were drenched in sweat of course. It was a good lesson though. We then return to the new apartment to help unload. The new apartment happened to be on the 2nd floor. Great. We worked and worked. The armuar was not going up those steps though. We didnt even attempt it. The member decided she would take it back to the other apartment and sell it. I'm not sure I have ever sweated so much, or been so exhausted in my life. Then we got to bike back to our apartment so that we could eat. Oh man, I thought I was going to die. But we made it. We had a small dinner, with a ton of water. The amazing part was that after that, we were ready to go. We were able to get out to work with our worry of falling asleep on our bikes. In fact, the tiredness didnt return until we had re-exchanged and were getting ready for bed. The Lord blesses us when we make sacrifices to serve.
Well, I look forward to talking to you guys on Sunday. Until then, make it a great week!
Love,
Elder Phong Manhardt
Time goes so ridiculously fast out here. I think I might have figured out another reason for it too. Here we measure time with transfers, but normal people use months. Our periods of time are 50% bigger! I dont know, maybe thats just my mind making random connections, but I think it might be part of the difference. That being said, it is already the last week of another transfer! Its absolutely insane! We are absolutely clueless as to what might happen this transfer, but we did learn something pretty cool. We will be having another Vietnamese missionary come into Houston at the end of October (according to the board outside of President's office). Thats pretty good news, because that is the time that Elder Hoopes goes home. Even though he isnt serving in the branch right now, it will still be good to keep our number above 3. Hopefully we get word of others coming in soon too.
I'll share one experience from the week. On Saturday, we were on exchanges. Elder Robison stayed here in the Viet area with our district leader, and me and Elder Campbell went to the other area with his companion. In the morning before studies, we got a call that someone needed help moving that day. It was going to severely affect our plans,. but after making some more phone calls, we decided we could help. Man, this person had a ton of stuff that probably literally weighed a ton! Out in the heat and humidity, we loaded the truck with all sorts of heavy furniture. One item was an armuar (I have no idea how to spell that...) that took 6 men to barely carry out of the apartment. It was entirely exhausting work. We had to leave in the middle to go to an appointment, we were drenched in sweat of course. It was a good lesson though. We then return to the new apartment to help unload. The new apartment happened to be on the 2nd floor. Great. We worked and worked. The armuar was not going up those steps though. We didnt even attempt it. The member decided she would take it back to the other apartment and sell it. I'm not sure I have ever sweated so much, or been so exhausted in my life. Then we got to bike back to our apartment so that we could eat. Oh man, I thought I was going to die. But we made it. We had a small dinner, with a ton of water. The amazing part was that after that, we were ready to go. We were able to get out to work with our worry of falling asleep on our bikes. In fact, the tiredness didnt return until we had re-exchanged and were getting ready for bed. The Lord blesses us when we make sacrifices to serve.
Well, I look forward to talking to you guys on Sunday. Until then, make it a great week!
Love,
Elder Phong Manhardt
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