For those of you who don't know, here in Korea, we don't really knock on doors. Although I have done so several times before, our main source of finding people is by talking to them on the streets, and in the subways. There are so many people here in Korea!!! And they are all out and about. Even the Grandmas and Grandpas! Unlike, America where many have their grandparents in a retirement home or care center, here in Korea they are always going from one event to another. Such as, Yoga, Karaoke, Hiking, Painting, Aerobics, learning foreign languages (English), and so on. And, the youth are always going from academy to academy. Here in Korea, they never stop learning.
And, so because it is that way here in Korea, we as Missionaries not only need to learn how to share quick, compact, yet simple messages and principles of the restoration to these busy, busy Koreans on the go, but we also have to learn how to get tight with people easily. Along with promising specific blessings the Gospel can bring to their lives and inviting them to learn more. We have to learn how to get their faces off of the their screens in the subways and break the silence. It is particular process, and I definitely feel I have acquired a lot of the necessary skills, but it is always a work in progress.
Another thing that we have work over, is the impression they have of missionaries, that we are not like all the 1,000s of other churches here in Korea. Most "missionaries" (translated and view by Koreans as 전도사s, Evangelizers) in Korea stand in public places with microphones yelling a memorized script to the people. Usually saying "REPENT!! YOU ARE SINNERS!!"
Which in a way reminds me of the scriptural prophets standing on walls telling the people to repent of all there sins and be saved. And, maybe that is what they do here in Korea, but we are not told, as missionaries of the LDS church, to yell at people to repent. We are actually told here in Korea to not use the command form in the language (No 하라s to people, and even avoid 하세요s {Nice way to command others}). "We INVITE others to come unto Christ..." We ask them to follow Him. We try to follow Christs example of when He ministered. I think of His ministry in the Americas where he talks to the children individually, and cares about their specific needs. Even our prophet, President Nelson, mentioned this in 2017 Oct Conference
“If I am converted and join the Church, I will bring my whole tribe with me.”
“Oh, King,” I said, “it doesn’t work that way. Conversion is an individual matter. The Savior ministered to the Nephites one by one. Each individual receives a witness and testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ."
So when we talk to people from Korea, they all have the image of us there just to yell at them and say your church will go to Hell, come to our church!!!
We have to fight that bad image. We have to learn how to really care for individuals.
So it is really gratifying to find investigators without that bad image of us. (It doesn't help that there is an official list of churches here in Korea that everyone know as the cult and twisted churches, 하나님의 교회 God's Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, LDS church)
We met 3 new people this last week. Of the 3 we met last week 2 of them were foreigners who don't have the bad image our church!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All of them have great potential!
One of them we were able to meet with every single week day this last week!!! He was someone who actually had direct bad experiences as a foreign exchange student in a home in Utah (Really not a good background). So we had to be a little sensitive we were teaching the Gospel. But, it is was extremely cool to see the change that he has already made in his life!! They are all small things, but it is amazing what just a little bit of the Gospel can do for you, if you apply it daily!!!
It reminds me of what we have learned in our recent Zone Conference (Somewhat a shadow of what the 1st Presidency of the Church taught in the last General Conference, President Oaks "Small and Simple Things")
"None of these desirable small and simple things will lift us to great things unless they are practiced consistently and continuously. President Brigham Young was reported as saying: “Our lives are made up of little, simple circumstances that amount to a great deal when they are brought together, and sum up the whole life of the man or woman.”"
The other 2 are from Vietnam, we met them separately but both are just so happy! All of the Vietnamese people I have met so far are just joyful! Even though we found them separately, we invited them to come to the Lexi Walker Concert! It was a great chance to get a feel of what Mormons are like. We got extremely tight!
One of the two brought friend to the concert, and the next day we invited him to church. And, he came and brought a different friend! Bring in the 소개s!! He enjoyed Sacrament meeting and said that he can probably come next week!
I am thankful for our Area presidency!! We have had so many great chances to invite the people to we meet to come and see!! John 1:38–39 Because our leaders are really involved in Northern Asia, we have had Alex Boye, Lexi Walker, 서출구 (Famous Rapper in Korea that is a Mormon), and other events like Helping Hands! Helping Hands has an amazing image here in Korea because of our efforts in the Olympics, and any other National Big events such as Children's Day, Service Day, and so one!!!
I love every part about being a missionary here in Korea!!!! I constantly find myself in AWE! I never want to be worn dull of the greatness of serving a mission!
I love you ALL!!
P.S. 김민수 (Pronounced, MeanSue Kim) has a Baptismal Date, but the only way he can have the Spirit fully in his life, he needs to be able to attend church. Work is holding him back. He wants that Gift of the Spirit in his life, and has talked with his Boss, but still has not let him have Sundays off, and still thinking. If you would be so kind pray that everything will work out for him! Thx!
Studio of one of our investigators
Elections here in Korea
Making Korean Side dishes at home
Lexi Walker Concert
I love this guy!!! He asked me on the way back if I will always remember him and be his friend. I said yes of course!! I guess he has got a little more to learn because I believe we can be friends for Eternity! He wants me to visit his home in Vietnam when I am done with my Mission.
Lexi Walker came to our Ward yesterday!!! I was great to hear talks from her and her family (I am in love with her pianist!!)
This is an extremely weird kids show that came from Korea, called "Larva", I took this for Susie, because she watched this before I came out on the mission. I still don't suggest it, but I guess Susie just was trying to get a taste of what Koreans make, before she knew I was going to Korea.
I found an OLD Korean hymn book! Is this in the American Hymnal?
We were told by our Mission Presidents that their mission home is the nicest and most expensive of all the mission homes in the World!!! We are so privileged here in Korea with nice things!!
The kids we teach English to every Wednesday! The are precious!
My District!!
Random Pics
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