An international missionary discussion!

 We had an extraordinary experience last week.  An international missionary discussion.  It was only slightly challenging to set up, but it turned out very well.  A photo of my computer screen is attached.  The description is below:


 

We have a Vietnamese family here in Sydney that has been attending church for 2 months with a member friend.  They have asked to have the missionary discussions.  Sister Uyen and her 2 children are recently from Vietnam, their English is at a minimal level, but they are learning it quickly.  To communicate with them in a discussion setting, I thought it best to teach in their language, so I put in a call to the Mission to see if we had any Vietnamese speakers, which we do not.  So Elders Rothenberger & Williams put out a call on a worldwide MissionARY Facebook page to locate VN speaking missionaries.  Almost immediately, a pair from California responded!  Elder Huynh’s family is from VN, and he is quite fluent.  A Zoom call was arranged with participants at 4 sites:

                Sister Uyen & family with her friend at the Branch President’s home

                Us at our apt with a VN member Br. Tommy

                Elders Rothenberger & Williams in Kentville, NS

                Elder Huynh and his companion in California

 

Elders  Williams & Rothenberger led the discussion, they would speak a concept and Elder Huynh would translate it into VN and get her response, translate it back into English.  Then the next concept, and back & forth throughout.  Br. Tommy would also contribute.  We were not physically present with Sis Uyen, but the Spirit was felt by us, and was most definitely present at the Branch President’s home.  The Uyen’s will have another lesson soon on the same format.  I


f you would have told me a couple of years ago that missionary teaching could be done remotely, over any distance, and from multiple locations, I would not have believed it.  But we saw it happening, it was a most delightful and spiritual experience.  The young missionaries are quite adept and comfortable in teaching remotely, but it is taking some time for me to get used to it.  I'm of the old school, face to face teaching, but I'm coming around to how the new technology can benefit the Lord's work.  It certainly has in this case.

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