Spiciness

Dear Family,
 Happy Thanksgiving :-) I can't believe I have been on my mission for six months...wow!!
  I have pondered much this morning about what I wanted to share with those I love and the thing that has come to mind the most is Heavenly Father's perfect planning in our lives.  Oh also, anyone who wants to be reminded of the truthfulness of the Gospel and what faith can do please read Moroni 7-10, oh how I enjoyed reading that this last week.  I know that the Book of Mormon is true and we shall get closer to God by reading it than by any other book.  I am thankful for the Spirit confirming that to me this last week.
  Now for Heavenly Father the one who is truly in the details of our lives, he knows when we shall face ups and he knows when we shall face downs and he provides comforts for the extremes as well as when everything is normal.  Last week I felt overwhelmed by how much I couldn't do, having a mother sell her daughter off and I could only teach about how family is sacred to Heavenly Father or watching a mother treat her dogs better than her children, mothers seem to struggle in this country.  But as I sought the Lord's council and strived to say the things He would say if He were here I felt peace in my heart that I was doing enough.  But it is even more than that.  For all those who know me I love to sing and I quite enjoy Christmas, I love the count down as much as the actual day, so I continue buying different flavors of candy canes and eat one every day...anyway.  Well last Wednesday after a stressful day of feeling inadequate and not knowing if I was really doing any good I found myself at choir practice.  As I sang hymns of peace on earth and good will to all I thought how blessed I was to have the opportunity to preach the beautiful news of Christ's birth to the people of Cambodia.  I looked at the young single adults I have grown to love and I knew for whatever reason I truly am where God needs me to be.  Maybe because Heavenly Father needs a strong soprano in a Kmer choir or maybe because he needs a sister missionary who laughs at just about anything, blocked roads because of a ASEAN conference in Phnom Pehn, or crashing my bike on slippery roads or maybe because I have much to learn here, whatever the case I am thankful my Heavenly Father loves and knows me.
  I am constantly amazed by Heavenly Father's perfect planning.  Last night I realized how far reaching the choices we make in this life are.  Heavenly Father has prepared me for this mission my entire life.  Whether it was having a father in multiple bishoprics so I could have an understanding of ward structure and welfare or in choosing to go to USU and being on the institute council so I could have an understanding on how to create large group activities (the first aid night was a blast.  The elders had so much fun teaching first aid and practicing with the kids, Chi Hoa also enjoyed teaching about shock, I don't know if we'll have another, but I know that night was what Heavenly Father wanted us to do) or going to the DI and having it change my life completely.  Last night I stood before a room of branch council members (with the three other missionaries in branch 10) in order to explain the basics of the welfare system of the church.  We faced a hostile crowd of people who didn't understand and didn't want to understand.  But as I faced the chaos of people talking and arguing I felt the Spirit tell me I must say something, I know how the Lord intends his house to function.  So I faced that hostility with a testimony, that the Lord wants to help His children become independent and feel the joy of giving of themselves.  I could face them and tell them I had benefited from the Lord's storehouse and I know that it could change lives because it had changed mine.  By going to DI I learned communication skills I use everyday here, I learned about the career path Heavenly Father would have me choose and I met people who changed my life.  Deseret Industries has brought so much good into my life and because I followed a prompting two years ago to visit the career center at the institute and talk with a woman who happened to have DI's number my life is amazing. And as I bore my humble testimony (in english and Vietnamese) about God's desire to bless all of his children, the hostility left and hearts began to change.  I know that Heavenly Father knows the path we will chose, he knows how to bring blessings into our lives and how to use our lives to bless others.  If you are struggling (like I do everyday to trust Heavenly Father that he wants my happiness) remember He knew you before you came to this earth and He knows what will bring you eternal joy, He will help you find it.  Your life is a tapestry interwoven with so many and as we let our Heavenly Father do the weaving we receive a truly beautiful picture.
                        All my love
                         Chi Dao