And The Destroyer Will Pass Them By

September 20, 2016

     Well, 3 weeks down, and 3 general apostles heard from. Elders Cook, Ballard, and D. Todd Christofferson. That number will go up when we watch conference...in person. 

     I had to buy a red tie, so I could match everyone else in the choir.  Look out for me on Saturday.  I think that is when we'll be there singing. 

     The choir director is HILARIOUS.  if anyone serves a mission, and he's still here, DO IT!  He's great.  

     Also while on the topic of songs, I sang a special number in sacrament meeting this week. And One elder, his name is Elder Calahan, just makes up songs on the fly about random stuff.  Sometimes we'll even sing about poop to gross out my companion. 

     We've taught 3 investigators and a few members some lessons. I find as I try to do my part to learn the language, and get away from looking at the script, I start to have words and phrases come to my mind which testifies to me of the power of the gift of tongues. 

     Also in my personal study, I started looking for things pertaining to opening your mouth, or missionary work in general. There is SO MUCH stuff about it, its crazy.  Also the scriptures talk about mouths a lot, like A LOT.  Swallowing, and feasting, and whispering, and tongues, and lips, its weird. 

     One cool thing I learned that I hadn't really noticed before was that in Jacob 4:18, Jacob talks about how he's SUPER excited to share the gospel with his brethren.  So excited he's actually afraid he'll lose the spirit.  That's how I want to be.  And sometimes I kinda already feel that, like just get me out there I have something I need to share!  

    

     Anyways, other than that, the only interesting news is, I've lost a few pounds in the first week, my waist size went down a bit, but now I'm starting to put on muscle, so I weigh 185, but my waist is still a bit smaller.

     A cool thing about Hmongs is they believe everytime they're sick an evil spirit has stolen their soul, and they're about to die. So they have shaman come sacrifice pigs and chickens and journey to the other world (spirit world) to get it back. Which we might think is weird, but Jesus cast out evil spirits, so we know that people can be possessed by them. 

     Also they put a red cloth above their door to keep out evil spirits, which is reminiscient of the people in Egypt, who put lambs blood above the door to keep out the destroying spirit. They're a living testimony of the scattering of the tribes

anyways 

Hwj Chim out

The Name Game

Sept 13, 2016

     The first part is for the family and should be read in order to anyone who wants to hear it.

     *Dad:  Lub Paub Tsaig (chin) or "round jaw of knowledge", is what it directly translates to, which is hilarious. Anyways, dad Im so thankful that you're my pop, and you taught me how to work hard.   Just get it done, and not do dumb things...some people out here could learn a thing or two from ya.

     *Mom:  Tau koob hmoov tus niam (blessed mother).  Jeez Louise, people need to learn hygiene. Thank you so much for that. And thanks for teaching me to love learning.  Others are miserable, but i think its super fun.

     *Derek:  Ib qis taub (short one). ha! shrinkie.

     *Naomi:  Ib nrog peev xwm ( one with talent). Listen some sisters here are like, "oh i might want to run, maybe do elliptical or a very friendly game of volleyball". Just work out guy...thanks for not being afraid to push me around a time or two. And for just being so independent. And thanks for the camera, the pictures are hilarious.

     *Greg:  Raws plab txiv neej (diarrhea man). THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING ME DO CHOIR!  Holy cow. Not only did I have a great time, get to know cool people, and go to cool places, but Hmong has 8 tones, which when a native speaker talks its hard to distinguish.  But its basically like each word is a note and singing helped get me ready.

     *Hannah:  Ntev ib (long one).  Happy 20, good work. There's a lightskin here named Elder Glaesner, who's a bit taller than me. He's from Luxembourg, and has a sweet accent. He's hilarious, and you would love him.

     *Trevor:  Tus neeg ua yeeb yam uas hnav khaub ncaws joj loj thiab pleev plhu phem phem (clown).  Happy 17.  I want to hear that dad had to buy an ice cream store to keep up with the goals you score. Do ya homework, and say 'Hi' to Mrs O'brien. You're a good kid, keep it up dude.

     *Moriah:  Rog ib (fat one). Jk, but eat food, play uno, and rap on.

     *Xander:  Quav (feces).  hahaha!  I learned the word for poop.   Do good in school, and no girls yet.

     *Isabelle:  Nrov saub (loud voice).   Sing on baby!  Middleschool must be fun. Learn what you can. Do ya homework, and stay away from the computer.  There's people here who honestly cannot cope without technology...learn to live without it.

     *Lavinia: Lloj pob tw  (large butt).  heh!  I need you to make 100 shots a day. That's the only way you get better, by practicing.  Keep up the german, that's cool.

     Derek: I love you man.  Thanks for being such a good example and serving a mission.  And thanks for cutting ya mop man!

     This week we got to hear from 2 apostles.  And today we here from another one. D.  Todd Christofferson, last Tueday,  M Russell Ballard,  Sunday, and who knows today. 

     Work here is great. I know the language is hard, but with practice, and the lord, it starts to come a little easier. 

     We "baptised" our first investigator.  And we started teaching another. Every day is pretty similar, but its crazy to think it's been 2 weeks. 

     Elder Williams left yesterday.  Let me tell a bit about him. He's about 5' 5" and hilarious. He's from Samoa, and speaks 3 languages. He learned Malay for his mission, so that's 4.  The first time I met him he farted, and looked over slowly at me with a blank expression.   Then he said "I bettah go check my pants", in his Samoan accent.  It was hilarious!  He's so childish, even his voice. I love it. 

 Can tell which one is Elder Williams? These are the Malays who left yesterday. Wednesday there are 16 new Thai and Cambodian Elders coming into our zone.

     I  get 3 "big" meals a day, and money on a card to buy extra food, if I want,  so I'm good.  Other elders get sent food and they just stockpile it, so when they leave they have mounds to give away.  

     I workout all day, everyday.  Like when I learn Hmong, and study the gospel, I have to workout to keep myself awake. My companions made me get up at 5:30 to do laundry, which was completly unnecessary. Its kinda like, every 5-10 minutes I'll do push ups or something to stay awake. Plus I have a pull up bar right outside my room--ohhh yeaahhhh! 

     Like i said, we heard from 2, soon to be 3, apostles in the first 2 weeks.  That's gotta be a record.  Plus, we got 7 more weeks to go.  It's great!   The spirit is so strong here, kinda wish i could've come earlier, but also not, because waking up early in the morning womps. 

     I don't want to leave the mtc, because I have so much to learn, but at the same time I can't wait to leave to go teach, and bring the gospel to the world. 

     Which did you know there are Hmong people in France?  And the U.S. really did the hmongs dirty.  They asked the Hmongs to fight with them, then when communism spread to Laos, the U.S. hightailed it out, leaving the Hmongs to prevent the Viets from getting to Thailand...which they did...all by themselves.   After the war, Vietnam issued a "kill all" order for the Hmongs, and even though they eventually retracted it, Hmongs are still, to this day, being hunted down and killed.  

     Which is why we aren't sending missionaries, that speak Hmong, over there. As recently as, 2007 the U.S. was still bringing Hmong refugees to the U.S., so it's not like it was a one time thing 40 years ago.   There are super new native Hmongs to teach. 

     Anyways I'm also writing a rap, because my companion hates poop, and thinks it's really gross and inappropriate.  I'm going to help him be comfortable with poop.

   This week was great thanks for the letters and packages every one it brightens my day. 

It's a New World

Sept 1, 2016

     I arrived safely to the MTC...yeah!  Its been pretty crazy.  Right when we stepped in the classroom they started speaking Hmong to me.  I teach a lesson in Hmong to an investigator tomorrow.  I know the gift of tongues is a real thing, and without it I would be super lost.  Its still hard wither way.
     I'm in a tri-panionship because there are only two other Elders leaning Hmong.  Turns out we're all going to different places too, California and Wisconsin for them.
     There are lots of meet ins and the days are really full, leaving me tired at the end of the day which is good because then I sleep pretty well.
     Anyways, my P-day is Tuesday, so expect letters from me then.



Tuesday Sept 6, 2016
     Well as they say...make it to Sunday. And to be honest it wasn't that hard, but hey. Sunday was awesome, we got to hear from a guy who was in the NFL on the eagles, it was pretty sweet. Lots of devotionals and talks and conferences made sure the day was filled with the spirit.
     My companion had an eye infection, maybe iridocyclitis who knows, but we were out in the world for almost 5 hours getting him to the doctors, and waiting for medicince at CVS. Hopefully that clears up soon.
     I have 2 companions, Elders Fielding and Macdonald. We're the only Hmong speakers, and we're all serving in different places. Wisconsin, Minnesota and California.
     We've already taught 3 lessons to Paj Ntxhee, and I'm starting to understand a little better and not have to look at prewritten stuff. He's already a member, but we aren't supposed to know that.
     Also, in Hmong they can't pronounce my name, so our teachers gave us new ones. They used to let the members give names, but they'd give people names like "skilled tempter", so they stopped pretty quick..."Hi my name is skilled tempter, do you want to come to my church?"  Mine is "Elder Hws Chis" (pronounced roughly like 'who key').  My name means "power", so I hear it a lot during lessons, but its not actually people calling me.
     The Hmong language is weird.  "W" is a vowel.  "K" makes a "g" sound, etc. I can read pretty well and my understanding grows each day.  We committed our first investigor to baptism.  Too bad he's already a member...  
     Not much else this week other than a happy birthday to Isabelle, Hannah, and Trevor, you turds, keep on livin'.
Es Daws Hws Chis

P.S. Also those super absorbent towels are like sandpaper. Literally.  They're mad scratchy, and they dry about as well as I imagine sandpaper would.  Feel free to send that story to the family, I'm sure they'll find it reeeeaaalll funny...