11.19.12

Well, it hasn't been too long since my last email. Not a whole lot is different from the last few days. Me and Elder Robison are still here, just working, working and working to serve the branch and the members in it. With direction from our branch president we are beginning to try and find new ways to serve and additional things that we can do to help.

 

Its hard to believe that it is already Thanksgiving time again. I was already a missionary last Thanksgiving. I am very grateful this year more than before for the opportunities that I have to serve others, particularly to serve full time as a missionary. Of course, I am grateful for the chance to help others and play a part in changing their lives and coming closer to Christ, but I think I am more thankful for the changes that has brought to myself. Things that are good, things that are bad, they all fit together like a puzzle, a really big puzzle. I couldn't possibly put that puzzle together, but I am grateful for a God that can.

 

Have a great weekend and awesome holiday!

 

Love

Elder Phong Manhardt

11.14.12

Its really been a crazy week. Honestly so much has happened that it feels more like a month since that last time I emailed. 

First, just to clear things up, because I didnt explain it like I intended to in my last email, nobody here died. I meant to put that died in quotes, meaning his mission was over, went home. Sorry about that. Ha, missionary language.

So we have had a lot of meetings over the last week. We had zone meeting last week because it was the beginning of the month. It was a good meeting and we received quite a bit of training. We also just yesterday had a zone conference, which is a much bigger meeting involving a few zones. We received much more training from the assistants and President Ashton. We were taught much about finding people to teach. We learned how we must talk with people not to people. Its a hard tendency to break as missionaries, but it must be done because the is no effectiveness in talking to people. We must be sincere and charitable in talking to and getting to know people. It puts a different perspective on missionary work. It becomes much more becoming a missionary and not just going on a mission.

Another thing that happened occurred as we were planning for the week.... Oh yeah, by the way. My companion is Elder Robison. I guess I haven't actually said that. We are together for now and is anticipated that we will stay together for quite a while.... Anyways, as we were planning for the week, we had strong impressions that we needed to give up our English area and focus entirely on the Viet branch. That was a hard decision to make. That means we had to pass off Maurice and the other investigators that we had to other missionaries. It also requires that we become very creative in how we can fill all of our time working in Viet with productive activities. We have spent a lot of extra time planning and figuring out what our approach will be. It will be difficult, but we know that it is what the Lord would have us do right now.

Well, thats about it for right now. Have great week!

Love
Elder Phong Manhardt

10.29.12

Things just keep going on and on. Its strange as more and more often things that happened in the past become relevant. Its like a mystery book. As you read more you see how certain details that were previously thought insignificant are very important. Well, this chapter is coming to a close and things in the past have become more important. Elder Hoopes goes home tomorrow. His book has been finished, for me its just a chapter...

 

Ok, enough with this whole book thing. This last week was pretty spectacular. We were able to visit A LOT of people, mostly members of the branch. We were always busy doing something, so much so that we could even get everything we wanted to done. But its all good. We were able to accomplishsh a lot.  We are still teaching Maurice and he keeps asking more and more questions. Its pretty great. I thoroughly enjoy teaching him.

 

On a less important note, but still amazing is that the weather has cooled down! Finally! It all happened pretty suddenly too. We had one day nearly 100 degrees and then the next was down into the 60's at night. It continued to get a little colder, down into the 40s/50s at night. People here are wearing jackets and the like. I'm loving it. They might have jackets, but we are still in short-sleeves!

 

This week will be exciting. We have transfer meeting on Halloween where I will find my "new" companion. Until then, I will be with another elder who's companion "died". Thatss about all I've got!

 

Glad to hear everybody is doing good. There seems to be alot of great things happening out there. Keep it up!

 

Love

Elder Phong Manhardt

10.22.12

Well, this was a good week. We were able to get a lot done. Nothing particularly exciting happened. We had some new students to the English classes that we teach. We were able to see some good people. We saw Maurice again who is still full of questions. This time, his questions were about baptism. He is trying to gather as much info as he can. He realizes that it is a very big decision and that he will have to rededicate himself to following Christ, and he is not going to take that lightly. We are very excited to keep teaching him. This weekend was also stake conference. It was pretty good. We heard a lot about temples and about missionary work.

 

Well, thats about all I've got for this week. This coming week will be interesting and he have some pretty lofty goals. It'll be fun.

 

Have a spectacular week!

Love

Elder Phong Manhardt