Week 25

Hello!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love missionary work!!!!!!!!!
There is never a moment in which I am not learning how to get my weaknesses out of the way of the work of the Lord. Everyone needs to struggle, because that is why we are sent here to Earth, so that we can overcome and become more.

I am grateful that I have only leaders in my apartment (the Zone Leader companionship and my companion is the District Leader), because they are leading a group for higher things, and want to get things DONE!! As well as their fantastic examples, they tell me about their early experiences in the mission and what they did wrong when they were getting started. Because of that, I able to learn from those before me.

I believe that is how God wants it to be, for everyone! So that new people coming in (to a new life) can learn by the previous peoples' good examples and what to avoid or what they can do in order to do better then they had.

 "31 Condemn me not because of mine imperfection, neither my father, because of his imperfection, neither them who have written before him; but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than we have been." ~Mormon 9: 31

Those who were before us, who are trying to go on the same path as we are now, tried, tested, experienced, and made mistakes in order to find out what is best. It is the way of the Lord.

I have found out that the scriptures are the greatest source of learning from those before us. We find out how God has worked miracles among the people in the past and how we can apply it today.

And, for sure we will not be absolutely perfect because of all of the knowledge in the scriptures, but if we learn to trust that this is the best way, and exercise our faith with action and application, then we can learn, grow, and become without having to have fear, suffering, and any other in just things of this life. For it is overcome through Christ! 

If the scriptures show us an example of those striving for the most in life, and their experiences (successes and failures/mistakes), than it is proof to us that the best path to fullness of joy in this life and hereafter is through our Savior! It is the common theme throughout all the scriptures! The people before us have found the way!! 

But, now it is up to us to apply! The people with the results worth while, are the followers of Christ. And they wrote how to do it! All the scriptures are a TESTAMENT that Christ is the way to achieve! (Old TESTAMENT [of Christ], New TESTAMENT [of Christ], Book of Mormon Another TESTAMENT of Christ)  The end result is miraculous beyond imagination!

Test it for yourself. Look for the results you want in life, through the scriptures, and follow the examples of those who have the results you want!

Love you All!!
Elder Alger

Walking with a man to an Elementary school! He was really kind, but looking back, know he was drunk! You find a lot of them in Korea

Hello!!!!!!!!

These are our upstairs neighbors! Every time we go, they bring more and more kids! Building a pool of families to serve and love!

BIG woops on my part for not telling you sooner. Not this last Saturday, but the one before, there was a baptismal service and I was asked by the sister missionaries' investigator 강민규(Kang-Mean-Kgyou) to baptize him! It was a pleasure and a blessing. He is a fantastic kid, and has a lot ahead of him!

  

Sometime as a missionary in Kyo-Moon Ward you have to go out to far places on the bus, and when there is no one that will talk to you, then I get great great Korean Scripture study time!!! I am understanding the scriptures!!! I love learning new ways to express the gospel or to look at it from a different view, and reading it in Korean forces me to focus more on the tiny details and a different way to explain the gospel. It is fun!!!!! 

Week 24

Hello!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This last week I have come to realize new things on how to be effective as a missionary.
But, as every single missionary does, I was starting to feel worn down...
I am trying the best I know how to be able to be the best missionary. Truly!
At times, I was feeling stress by the fact that I have great responsibility on my shoulders and I am not living up to it. I feel sort of like 2 Nephi 4. I want sooooooooo badly to follow God--His commands for my personal ministry among the people, and to not give in to the natural man.

I am trying everyday to stretch and grow and do more. And, I will follow Nephi!

 "Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul."
"Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions."
"Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?"
"Wilt thou make my path straight before me!"

I really want to have breakthroughs with those I work with, and, so I will listen to the promptings given to me and not let the adversary plant a single seed of fear in my heart. When, learn to listen to the right voice I will become the exact type of person he needs me to be. And when we all learn to rely on Him we can be unified and one, for higher and more wonderful purpose. 
I will listen and devote myself to what is asked of me from my leaders on Earth and on high!
I know for certain that I am not perfect, but through Christ, I am made spotless.

"32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is His grace sufficient for you, that by His grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God."  Moroni 10

I need to forget myself, and go to work!!! I need to think and act only for the benefit of those I serve here in Korea. And I hope that my focusing and giving my all will bring the heat I need to grow and be molded in the hands of God!! Bring the friction through working your hardest for your purpose, and let the Spirit of God shape us by heading it's every word during the struggle! For it is by the Spirit we achieve the Victory worth receiving. This is His plan, to find and follow His principles in order to receive!

I am accountable to you!!!
Until next week :)

On our way to the temple! The graffiti art reminds me of Sam's mission.

 Our district always makes missionary work FUN! Because that is the way it is meant to be!

The Temple!

 I am still with my trainer in the 3rd transfer. I guess I didn't learn what I need to in the 1st two transfers with him. ;p Love him!

There Koreans are very artistic. I am always looking at the art and architecture in the subways and out and about.

 Pictures never capture the greatness of the first person experience.

The next few pictures are of the museum we went to. It was very touching to learn about Koreans' history (Wars). (American Soldier holding up a Korean)

Inside the same Structure

Center Entrance.

J(o)uhn Jaeng Key Nyo Gwan) War museum

They put so much detail in to every aspect!!!

Elder Lowe Really loved the war vehicles!! It was interesting to see how the different nations varied. And, I spent a good amount of time trying to learn new vocab from the information boards, while Elder Lowe was in AWE. I love KOREAN!

We finally got inside! It had more # for the Korean war and a lot about the Ancient Wars

Replica of Turtle Boat.

Art of War on Water

Their old weapons were different and cool looking

Missionaries in Korea!! We love you! 

 I got surprised with a late Christmas present from the Relief Society of my beloved ward! THANK YOU! I was surprised at all the things they fit in that small package! Just what I needed!!!!!!

The members are so kind to take us out! 김희정 (Kim he juhng) and 정도원  (Juhng Dough Woahn)

An elder, whom I perceive to be Elder Remington, left this hidden in our old phone. The message is in Korean pronunciation, but is very English. 

It goes something like this. Hello (in low form) Elder Alder! Yuu Ahrl Da Beh Suh Tuh  (Missionary) Eh Boh! 

In other words: Hello Elder Alger! You are the best Missionary ever! 

Thank you, Elder Remington!!!!!!

Just a Sunday night meal with great members!! (I have never tried apples and crab together in a salad up until now)

Korean Couple Factoid! The couples here in Korea are always trying to be very romantic  (and display it). If anyone on the streets are matching then they are a couple! And, you see a lot of them! So we always say to them in a Korean Pronunciation "Best Couple". And that almost every time gets them worked up, flattered, and laughing!