Nyob zoo, and sib ntsib duab: “Hello,” and “See you again”

Lots of people and lots of hard work came together to put on a great WELS Hmong conference this summer. For the first time ever, the conference was hosted at my home church, Faith Lutheran in Anchorage, Alaska. In the blink of an eye, the opening service was happening. Before it started, a few members of our youth group and I greeted people from other churches who were attending the conference. Brothers and sisters from California, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Kansas came to attend this conference, which happens every two years.

Sitting at the front desk, I had never heard the phrase Nyob zoo so many times in my church until the opening service. Nyob zoo is a phrase that means “hello” in English. Just like in any other culture, in the Hmong culture, it is important to get up, shake hands, and say “Nyob zoo.” Person after person, so many familiar and new faces filled up the whole sanctuary. I had never seen this many Hmong people fill up the seats in my church. Every time I would look back, more and more seats were filled. Faith Hmong Lutheran normally has five or six families that consistently come to church, so seeing all the seats filled up was such a surreal feeling. Seeing a big community of Hmong people all in one place, believing in the same God and the same doctrine as you, really gives you a good perspective on why ministry is so important.

The actual conference days consisted of breakout rooms, with one focused on adults and the other focused on the youth. This year, the youth had the opportunity to be taught by Pastor Semson Lor. He really focused on the importance of knowing what you believe in and the importance of community. And for the first time, many of the youth from Faith Hmong Lutheran were able to meet other youth around their age. Seeing the fellowship among all the different groups was amazing! It was encouraging to see youth from all over the country come together and share the same faith. It’s also a good reminder that, even though our churches may be spread throughout different states, we are still all a part of God’s community. Seeing this community come together shows how important it is to continue this mission. The Hmong ministry in the WELS continues to grow, and with that growth, the next generation has a place where they can grow in their faith as well.

So much fellowship and learning happened throughout these three days. There were many great breakout rooms, hikes, and even just getting together for dinner. Every conference may be different each year, but the goal is always the same: that one day, we will be in heaven with Christ Jesus.

In the Hmong culture, we say, Sib ntsib duab, which means “see you again.” As we finished church on Sunday, that phrase kept echoing throughout the whole church. As sad as it was knowing that it might be a few years before I see some of these faces again, I was reminded that we will see each other again. The Lord has truly blessed us this summer. He has given us amazing pastors and leaders who continue to help grow this community and strengthen our faith.

Until next time, sib ntsib duab!

Written by Kennedy Moua, son of Rev. Pao Moua at Faith Hmong Lutheran Church in Anchorage, Alaska.