Our companionship's first interaction with President Taylor was last night... haha. We were just heading home from a apartment complex, where we were knocking the doors, (here in the country, there aren't many people out on the street, so we have to defer back to knocking on doors to find people) going up and down the stairs of the complex, and being exhausted from the leg exercise on a fast sunday evening. When we returned home and opened our old front door and it popped out and attacked Elder Boden! Haha. It was funny, but if your house is less than the standards listed in the missionary handbook, you have to call the mission president. So we did. He just laughed, still excited for the journey that lies ahead for him in Seoul. It wasn't a bad experience, just a funny first impression.
Here is part of what I said to him in my letter today:
"I am Elder Alger! I am serving here in 태백. I love it here so much! I am new to the area, but I love the people SOOO much! I mean our area is probably the smallest population wise, so I can get to know the people a lot easier.
Here in 태백, we have a solid 10 faithful members. It honestly just feels like family. After all it is about the size of my family of 11 people. It is great!
The people out here in the countryside smile a lot more than in Seoul. I really can't express the love I have for them~! And, our investigators are great!! 3 of them have been going to church consistently since I have been here in 태백!! Our investigators make up all most 1/3 of the congregation, that sort of a crazy thought, huh?!
.....
I am honestly extremely excited to follow your and Sister Taylor's every direction. I want to follow the Lord's will! I know that you will bring in new ideas, and inspiration that will help make the Seoul Korea Mission flourish!
Thank you for taking 3 years to sacrifice for the people here in Korea!
Have a fantastic first week in Korea!"
Because the branch here is so small, our church is just 2 hrs long! It goes by really quickly. (If we had more than that it would be more stress on the members in responsibility for maintain the church, and the church will start to be more of a negative effect on its members. That's not the goal of church. Church is supposed to uplift the members. They all already carry lots of great responsibility. And, to make things lighter and to give a better experience for the members, the missionaries here [Elder Alger, Newton, Boden] run a lot of the Church functions. We do make up half the Priesthood.)
I love learning and serving the people! You have to give a lot to the members out in 태백. Service does magic for the server and the one being served.
Love you all!!!
Getting a customized traditional Korean stamp with my family name on it.
yup it's the market!
Cool fish in the Market
Flowers!
The mountain looks even bigger in person
Riding the bus back from a lesson
There is a plaza, park, and pond right in Front of our Church, here's the plaza!
Fun little reading spot. It is actually a place were you give and take books from people in the Neighborhood. Fun Idea!
This art tells the legend of how the pond in front of our church came to be. I still don't understand it, but you can imagine a lot!
There is some sort of tree that drops a fruit something similar to blueberries and they are everywhere!
We hardly ever use transportation out here. It is not like Seoul where you ride the subway multiple times a day. But, on the rare occasion we use the bus. But, when we do, it is a long ride.
I honestly love the Farming environment! I feel at home with all these plants!!
Visiting one of the Power Three Sisters in the Ward that make up our Relief Society. She honestly has the biggest heart. Here in Korea if you enter the slightest bit into the house they naturally feed you till you are full! But, because her husband wasn't home we just sat in the doorway with the door open talking about how she got converted, about her mission experiences, and just all good things that the Gospel has brought to her life! And, I really am not lying we I call these members faithful!!!!! And, the power 3, really are the POWER 3. I love the members here!
와 잘 보여요? 아닌데요 (I find myself first thinking a lot in Korean naturally. It might be because I wanted to improve my Korean skills, and told my Zone Leader about it, and then he followed up with me the next day, say "You are not to speak a single word in English while your are in 태백. And, when you do, you have to put a coin in a cup every time you slip or can't fully express yourself." I accepted the challenge and honestly it is FUN! Not, many slip ups. :) haha anyway this is a picture of a extraordinary bug that you can find back home in AZ. Sorry for the blurriness
Lantana!!!!!!
A treat you can only find in Korea! Extremely delicious! (made of red beans, shaved ice, granola, some other fruit, and a little magic)
My Companions
Is the Korea countryside beautiful, or WHAT?
We do English class twice a week like I did in my last area in Seoul, but the big difference is, in previous area there was 30ish people that attended. And, here, a whole total of 1 sometimes 3. Hey but they are our Investigators, so it is good time to bond, help them learn, and teach a spiritually message according to their needs
More 태백, (Taebaek)
A building that is under construction right by our apartment.
Our Door fell! Ha! I guess it is time to move!
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