For my last week in the MTC, I was itching to get to Korea and start the real work, but I wasn't going to let that ruin the well needed and precious experiences I would have to better prepare me. Both of my teachers were sooo sweet and I could tell that they gave their best to prepare us for the field. I truly am eternally grateful for the love and knowledge they have given me to better serve the people of Korea. I learned a lot from them, and being out in the field and hearing about other missionaries experiences in the MTC has helped me realize how bless I was to have the teachers I had,and my zone and branch, etc.
It wasn't too hard to say goodbye to all of the missionaries who I poured my heart and soul into because, first of all, I knew it was a see you later, whether they are coming to the Seoul Mission in 6 weeks or some other time in the future. As Elder Simon in my zone would always say, "This gospel is not a gospel of goodbyes. I WILL see you later! :)" And, I know that God will be with them. They are all well on the way to the path of success!!
This last Monday, I woke up at 1:15am to get on the bus to the Salt Lake Airport. I was toooo excited to be tired. At the airport, I got to call my family, and it was just nice to hear their voices, and let them talk about life. I love them sooo much!!!! And, I am always praying for them.
That day was my first time ever flying. And, it was FUN!! It was like a movie and it sort of felt like a fantasy. I spent a good amount of the first part of the plane ride looking out the window, because it was sooo COOL and the city lights at night were BEAUTIFUL!! And, for the rest of the plane ride I just studied Korean, and some scriptures. I always love studying. We landed in Texas and we got lots of "Good Lucks!" and "Don't waste a second on the mission" because there were still a good amount of Mormons around.
And, it all felt like a dream, an AMAZING dream. When, we got on the plane to KOREA, almost all of the people were KOREAN and we got KOREAN meals on the way to KOREA!!!
We arrived in Korea and we all were in AWE. We all were so talkative because of the excitement, and, as we were processing through the airport we realized how calm, quiet, and collective everyone was and our voices got quieter and quieter. It was a little nerve racking a first, but once we met our mission president and his wife, Pres. and Sis. Sonksen, out in public, it got louder, which was a welcome sound along with the Sonksen's warm welcomes.
We got started right away with the work and took the extremely clean public subway system to get to the mission home. AND, we started talking to people! Everyone is so kind and always complements our Korean, even if all we say is Hello! It really is a mood lifter! And, it was fun.
Also because we are in Korea, it is humid and I can actually breathe here!!
The first week out in the field has been wonderful!! When I first got here I was so excited and I would talk to everyone! Even though my Korean isn't too hot. And, they are all sooo kind and polite, so it is easy to talk to everyone. As I have been talking with people, I can see progress and have been learning what is most effective in breaking down barriers of fear or distrust to better be able to connect with them. By doing this I am better able make a bridge and connection with things like what they love and are passionate about or the gospel, and add to their faith.
Since the first day here, I have improved on how to draw out their interests and start conversations.
I listen with all of my heart and eyes as I try to understand, because, I really do want to understand what they say, but I can only get the jist and feeling of what they say so far. So recently, as I have been diligent in using everything I can to show I do care and that I am trying, I can feel the Spirit telling me what I need to say. It is an awesome feeling! As Nephi, I am led by the Spirit not fully knowing or understanding. And, I will go and do the things the Lord commands.
On that topic, I restarted reading the Book of Mormon and I read 4 chapters this morning and I love it!! Just before I started reading today, I wanted to be able to better show why I am here in Korea to people on the street by being able to share scriptures, from the Book of Mormon, that I love and that pertain to their needs. So once I remembered the goal of reading as a mission, I got started right away. And, I started writing down scriptures that would make sense to, and touch the hearts of those I teach in order to spark their interests. I want to memorize the verses locations and read them constantly in Korean so that I can have the Spirit with me as I share them. And, with the Language Learning program, I want to be ahead of the game and try to pass a lesson off every six days. So, I will be memorizing all the vocab and grammar forms so that I can better share these topics with others and better support my companion.
My Companion Elder Lowe is a fantastic missionary and has his heart invested in the Lord. Because, we both want to share with the world His truth and we are eager, there haven't been any problems. When we are both coming closer to the Lord daily there is no room for contention to exist. He is very helpful in making sure that I understand what is expected of me as a missionary and what others are saying in Korean to me. He is helping me push myself and it is great! I love being around 3 leaders in my home. And, they are very accepting and great at keeping my confidence lifted in the work and in my competence in Korean. They are always complementary.
My first lesson was awesome!!! We taught on Friday and I was on a high ever since. It was such a blessing in keeping me going in the work, because the day before I wasn't able to do everything I wanted to do and I felt a little off. But, everything in the lesson went perfectly! We had a member with us, he was very accepting and soft hearted about our message on the Restoration of the Gospel. He was open in his questions about the gospel while giving the lesson (Which I hear from my companion it is rare, and the Korean people don't like to be questioned, because it means that the teacher didn't do well or something along those lines), and he accepted our invitations to read the first chapter of the Book of Mormon, to pray about the truthfulness of our message and the Book of Mormon, to go to church, and he accepted a soft Baptismal Invitation!! The Lord truly has prepared his heart! And, giving this lesson increased my confidence in my ability to teach in Korean, answer questions, and it recentered my focus on what we are here for!
I love Missionary work!!!!!!!! And, KOREA is FLIPPIN AWESOME!!
No time to caption them all. Have fun guessing. LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!
My last week in the MTC
Our choir director Ryan Eggett
Fall colors on the mountains!
ON THE PLANE!!!
KOREA!!!
The redhead is my companion. He spoke to a drunk guy on a bench for a while. You can tell that someone is drunk in Korea if their face is red. And there are a lot of them in Korea!
No comments:
Post a Comment