(no subject)
I had a flashback to my mission yesterday, We baptized this family towards the latter half of my mission. The little boy sitting between his dad and my companion is no longer a little boy--he is now attending BYU and just received his mission call to share the gospel to the Vietnamese peoples of Australia.
I read the message to Bruce and he says he would have written my response differently. He says it sounds like I'm defending myself and justifying my actions. I agree to an extent, but there were things I needed to say for myself--if that makes any sense. Anyway, here is the exchange as follows:
Hi anh ca Minh!!! Lau roi kg gap, con nho em kg?! It's probably been awhile since anyone called you by that name huh. I'm so happy that I found you on facebook! My family and I misses you a lot! Well one of the reasons that I decided to try to contact you is that I would like to inform you that I have received my mission call! I have been called to serve in the Melbourne Australia, Vietnamese speaking mission!!!! I will report to the Provo MTC on April 11! My family and I would like to say thank you for your work while you were here in Houston and we are eternally grateful for you to bring us to the gospel and the church! I'm glad that I can contact you now and hope to hear from you soon!
Dear Future Missionary,
What a pleasure it is to hear from you! I want you to know how proud I am of you and the example you have become for your sisters and your family. I think about your family a lot-especially when I think back to my mission. Meeting you guys was a turning point in my time in Houston and really helped me to understand my purpose as a missionary. I have no doubt that you will have experiences like that on your mission as well.
I also see you’re attending BYU-rise and shout! I was a Cougar once too! Where did you live on campus? When I was there, I lived at Deseret Towers my first semester before I left on my mission. However, it has been torn down now. Also, what are you studying? I loved my time at BYU and I’m sure you do and will continue to do so too!
I guess I should address the big gay elephant in the room…as you might know by now, I’m gay. This has made it hard to keep in contact with you and your family, let alone any one from my mission. The fact that I felt like I wasn’t the person you and your family remembered me to be made it very difficult to confront you all with the truth. So instead, I fell out of contact with a very special family because of my fear-and I am sorry.
I want you to know that I served my mission for the right reasons. I wanted to share the gospel of Christ with others and a part of me still believes in the Church. I have a testimony and I can never deny the things that have led me to join the Church. However, I am also gay. I’ve learned that having a testimony doesn’t automatically translate into staying in the Church and it takes effort and hard work. Please understand that I just didn’t give up. I had to make a very difficult decision to leave the Church.
I believe Heavenly Father made me the way I am and that my homosexuality isn’t a disease or a trial or tribulation that had to be overcome; and because I believe that, I am no longer a member of the Church. The scriptures teach us in 2 Nephi 2:25 that, “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.” I believe I am entitled to joy in this life as much as everyone else. I am married now to my partner Bruce. We’re very happy and enjoying our lives together in Ogden. We’re just trying to do the best we can to live good lives-just like everyone else.
One of the things that led me to join the Church was an understanding that God has a plan for everyone. It is my sincere belief that he still has a plan for me and my husband; and that in the end; everything will work out for the better.
I wish you all the best on your mission and I hope to be able to write letters of encouragement to you while you are serving the Lord. It has been a blessing in my life to be a part of you and your family’s story. Please send your parents and your sisters my love. I hope this message finds you all well and I really hope we remain friends despite the different paths we have taken.
Your friend for life and longer,
Anh Ca Minh aka Elder Nguyen aka Mike