Week 60

추석(Holiday Conference) I think that it is just what we all needed. It was a huge spiritual experience for us all! It surely was for me. Probably the most spiritually experiences I have had! Really! I was preparing for the conference! Right as soon as I got the transfer training plan I had been doing everything I could to ponder and study exactly according to the transfer training plan. I had been praying to have a spiritual witness.

The Spirit throughout the conference was strong. Starting with the "Sacred Grove". We went out in the wood as a group, and Sister Taylor had me share Joseph Smiths's First vision experience. I felt the Spirit so strong, and I found myself teaching it differently than I had ever had before. It was almost like God was telling me what I needed to hear through my own mouth. It sounds a little weird, but I could hear God voice there.

 And, then once it got towards the end of the day they showed us a video they made of the missionaries. That video really hit me, because there were so many stellar missionaries that I had worked with and had touched my heart, but have finished their missions and are now home. After that we got to hear from 6 great missionaries whom I have looked up to since the beginning of my mission, all of which are going home in the coming weeks. Three of their talks felt as though they were directed toward me, but that could have just been the Spirit talking to my heart. The Spirit really was so palpable there. I was feeling so loved, warm, and constantly having the Spirit confirming truths to me, that it my eyes started watering. 

Once they ended their testimonies, they had Brother Brower say the closing prayer. He was so sincere, and earnest in his prayer for the missionaries, I don't even remember, exact what he said, but it was all for the missionaries.  When the prayer ended, I still felt the comfort of the love of God wrapped around me by the Spirit. The other missionaries started getting up. You know me. Of course I was smiling the whole time, I could not help it from the joy I could feel. And, even though tears kept coming down, I found my self laughing, almost giddy. It was a beautiful experience. After about 2 mins I finally got up. 

I know that God is with us in this mighty work! I know that God wants to talk with us, it is up to us to a line our will with His and do what we can to follow his words. His commands can be whispered to us personally by the Spirit. The word of God is the word of God!

 I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet, the prophet to open up the last dispensation, the fullness of times. I know that God works through his servant to touch the hearts of man. I know that through the Spirit we have access to all of the God's spiritual blessings, revelations, testimony, and access to the healing power of the atonement. That is why we NEED the Spirit as our constant companion! And that is why it is the first gift promised to us in covenant, because it is essentially for our salvation. The greatest witness we can have from the Spirit is of the divine mission of Jesus Christ.

This is the work of the Lord. And, I will do all I can to make sure that his children in 강원도, get the chance to hear the word of God like he has done for me, many before. God is the same then, now, and forever! 

Dearest love from Elder Alger!

  

Week 59

This last week was great!
We had our first Zistrict (Zone/District) Council. We used video call to do it. There were very little bugs with it. Instead of having people spending 2 hours on bus to meet in the center we did video conference.

This was my first time running a meeting in the field. Good thing I got Elder Huillet! I was doubting a little the night before, thinking "I am not the oldest, don't know everything about what to do." But, the Lord quickly turn my heart the other way. He calls people to positions and He makes them be what He needs them to be through His power. I felt Him say to me "Don't worry you are not the one leading the show, I am. All you have to do is listen and follow." And, I would say that is how it went. I am not saying that it was miraculous meeting or anything, but I know the Spirit fills in the gaps for the true seekers, and believers. Elder Huillet and I just provided enough for those in tune to the Spirit to be able to find answers to what they needed. After all we are the teachers! And, on the side, I love applying training to eternal truths, it is sort of thrilling, because the Spirit is strong.

Exchanges: I loved having the chance to learn from our AP and my previous district leader Elder Horne. He is an excellent leader!!! And, he brings the Spirit with him everywhere. I admire his passion for the language and the people (Maybe because I love the same things so dearly). He helped me out with how to be a leader. He kept on saying that President Taylor is an inspired man and I know it as well. But, that just add more fuel to my desire to follow my leaders' direction more fully and completely. I want to be an example to the Zone of what it means to be fully committed to, and complete trust in the Lord's direction given through his servants.This is my vision.
We are having a conference this week because of 추석 (Korean Thanksgiving)!!!

Funny Thing: Sometimes I forget I am a foreigner. There was a new person we met with this  past week, and we were discussing about why truth got lost and such, and when I was in the middle of talking, the person interrupted me and said "May I touch your nose?"  He had never been that close to a foreigner before, he said I just stood in awe from a distance. HAHA. It made me laugh. I grabbed his hand and said "You see I am a real person!"

I love serving here, I almost feel like a celebratory on the streets when I say hi to people in English. We missionaries sure do grab a lot of attention.

Anyways, 
I am excited to for the future!!!!!!!! Happy 추석!!!!!!! 

 McDs, There is a parking LOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In Seoul there are never lots. But, here in East Sea area it is so wide that it gives an American feel!

 Usually police stations are the size of a Wendy's, but this one looks so futuristic and HUGE!

Beach, we walk by it a lot and some times go for studies

I love the mix of Metropolitan and Rural here in East Sea.

I love these trees for some reason! It felt surreal. I actually was honestly sort of giddy about these trees. (That is sort of embarrassing to admit. I guess I got my grandparents' plant loving blood.)

 I spy Christ

Almost everyone in Korea has just a shower head and the floor. I sort like the simplicity.   

Our lovely Sister Kim making Rice Cakes with us for the Holiday

Transfers

The Meal was from a less active that wants to come back to church. It was the fanciest meal of my life!!!!! Lots of Sea Food and Raw food

Week 58

A NEW Area, NEW people, NEW companion!
Although it is sad to leave behind what I have worked hard to build in 태백 (Taebaek), I am excited to start new.

 (This last week I left my area to go to Seoul to meet as Zone Leaders and Sister training Leaders to meet with the APs and President and Sister Taylor) MLC was fantastic! I loved the Spirit that was flowing in that room. It honestly was just like President Nelson described counseling with the twelve.

"When we convene as a Council of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve,our meeting rooms become rooms of revelation. The Spirit is palpably present. As we wrestle with complex matters, a thrilling process unfolds as each Apostle freely expresses his thoughts and point of view. Though we may differ in our initial perspectives, the love we feel for each other is constant. Our unity helps us to discern the Lord’s will for His Church."

Since the first day I stepped foot in 동해 (Donghae), I have seen miracles. I know that God has been blessing my companion and I because we have been exercising our faith. There have been new investigators, families, and baptismal dates given. I am thrilled to be in the work of the Lord.

I have recently been trying my best to approach missionary work just as the early Saints did. The earliest missionaries were always so bold with their testimonies and touched the hearts of men because of the powerful Spirit that testifying brings. I want that.

I also admire the way they were able to build from the ground up. (That is exactly what our Zone is doing in 강원도 Gangwon-do, the zone that Elder Hulliet and I are to watch over).
And, though their numbers were few, they were faithful and true the revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

Sort of a side note~ It is fun to let go of fears, ain't it? Because when you have an eternal perspective in mind, none of your obstacles seem that big of a deal anymore. You feel as if you can do anything.

Elder Hulliet and I get along really well. He, for sure, has a strong testimony. He has lived all around the world because of his Air Force father. He really, really loves Rob Gardner, because of me. I think get a lot more laughs with him then previous companions, but he does speak a lot of English. Excessive usage of English has now started to make me feel cringey. Haha, It's hard to speak Korean, when English is what you hear. Haha, but that is just one thing. He is leaving for home in 5 weeks.

We are both excited to be able to help our zone know the "Why" behind what they do through deep understanding of doctrine, and to help us all as a zone put in to application "How" we can accomplish revelations for the Seoul Mission. That is what we are here to do, to minister and help individualize the revelations we get from our leaders. We customize it to fit those we are responsible for. Here we Go!!!!!!!!

I love serving in the country side, but more importantly, I love the people!!!!!!!!

So many blurry pics, my bad...

My dear loved Brother Lee from North Korea~ He is the best and will stay faithful to the end

Intestines soup!~ I enjoy Korean food more than you all think!

My new Apartment complex (Next time I will show the inside, I am tidying it up. But, It is the biggest in the mission I hear. Though there is only the 2 of us in the House)

 The side walks have lights on the ground to tell you when to go and stop!! That was cool!

East Sea Area!

They have a lot of left overs from the Olympics here.

Elder Hulliet didn't realize that my Sister was in this Painting, and freaked out. 

I know a Crepe Myrtle, when I see one!~~~~~~~~~ 

Why not? (Just chilling in the Apartment)

Grapes are the best here! 

Hiking  Mt. Taebaek (Nice and cool)