Experience:
This last week was New Years!!!!! The Koreans love New Years more than they love Christmas. Our branch planned to go together to see the first sunrise of the new year and they wanted us to tag along. That meant I had to ask for permission from the mission president to break the schedule and get up early. He said yes right away, being the really open minded president that he is.
When we arrived, there were more people gathered together than I have seen in a long while. It reminded me of the busy streets of Seoul. It was a fantastic opportunity for talking with people, which I love doing, but the best part of going was meeting the colleagues of one of our members.
This member is actually from England and is teaching English here in Dong-hae. His colleagues were nice and the members invited them along with us to eat 감자탕, after the sun rose. We talked together and the members liked them. Because we were in suits and had name tags on, of course, we stood out from the rest, and church quickly becomes the topic of discussion with us. We were able to introduce what we do in the church and why we were serving. It was a great first impression.
But, hey, get a load of this. One of his friends grew up going to church and has been wanting to go to church since she got to Korea, but Korea churches and the language are quite intimidating for her, so she just didn't go. When she met us, it sparked that feeling and desire she had and she felt completely comfortable going to church with her colleague, and us.
She came to church yesterday and plans on going to church every week now. She loved the Come Follow Me program. Even though she could only get bits and pieces through my broken translations, she enjoyed it, and later went out of her way to thank me!
We will also be teaching Oliver, and his college friend, Korean every Thursday as well. I love serving people through multiple mediums!! I am excited!!!
That is just one story of three great stories this week. I see the Lord working through us!!! I love this work!!! "Miracles are not a big thing, but rather it is composed of small little things that happen day after day" as my companion Elder Torres says! Alma 37:6
I have gained a strong testimony on the mission of serving people just purely out of love. We missionaries desire to improve peoples quality of life in every way possible, but of course the hugest way to improve life's quality is through following Christ's teachings. I have also learned the importance of getting involved in your communities. When I get home from my mission I will for sure get involved in my community and offer service. I like having the mind set that I am a member of the Dong-Hae Branch, and that I live here as a service. It has helped me be more involved in the branch, and many other things.
(A parable pressing on my mind recently:)
The thing I am going to share sprang up in my mind recently. It has gotten me in the mind set that this is the way I am to act when I get home. The things that I now do daily aren't habits to be formed for these 2 years only. I feel like the mission is training me for how I should behave as a member missionary the rest of my life. My NAME TAG is my training wheels, and once I get home the training wheels are coming off.
On the mission my training wheels keep me balanced, without me having to do much of anything. I don't even have to mention that I am believer of Christ, or that I am a member of His restored church. My name tag does that for me. My life is naturally and steadily balanced in Him. Of course I still am expected to sit on the bike and pedal (obey mission rules and guidelines) in order to see any movement and spiritual excitement, but for the most part I don't have to worry too much about how to keep my bike balanced in Him. The more I think about it, the more I can see that this calling is just like learning how to ride a bike. Right now, while I am riding my bike with training wheels, it teaches me what riding a bike really is supposed to be like. Once I get home, I know that the training wheels are coming off. That is the exciting part!!!!!!!! Hey, I love having training wheels while I can, because it feels safe and easy. But, I think that Father's goal for His children is to be able to ride more freely without the training wheels.
I can imagine the day when Father takes off the training wheels, and He says, "Alright let's do this one together! I will hold the rear while you try riding without the training wheels." And, then, I start pedaling and picking up speed. I start to experience the thrill of what riding a bike without training wheels is like. And, as the excitement of it all runs up my spine, I call out "Hey, Dad!!! Look!!! I can do it on my own!!" I found balance without my training wheels! It is almost the same as before, but this time I feel more free in my direction and movements and I am left to my best judgement. Then I look back, noticing that Father let go of the back of my bike a long time ago, and that He is way down the street cheering me on. Shouting to me, "LOOK AT YOU GO!"
Though it may have been harder to keep things balanced when I went through the roughs, I was now no longer slowed down by the traction of my safe and sturdy training wheels. Not that the training wheels were bad in any way. They actually quite essential for me to learn what riding a bike felt like.
I knew from my Father, prior to riding the bike, that I was not to keep the training wheels for the rest of my life. He told me and made it clear that I am to one day learn how to keep my bike balanced without the training wheels. So I am going through this learning process knowing that one day I'll have to take off the training wheels. I still am aware of that future, today.
Haha, sorry for the weird analogy, but I know that it is very applicable to me. That is why I envision myself as member missionary in Dong-Hae. There are things to realize about this process for all. Whether you are preparing for a mission, on a mission, finished your mission, or never got the chance to go on one. Let the Holy Spirit guide!
I know that I am building a foundation for for the eternities in this life. And that those who are earnestly seeking will have a foundation bedded with timeless truths. Hel. 5:12
I definitely see that foundation being built for me now! But what is a foundation without a well crafted architecture constructed upon it? I believe we are free to draft our own future "building", but it is only successful and will only last through the eternities if we build upon a right foundation.
Christ is the Light, Life, and the way!
Love,
Elder Alger
I eat well here in Korea! The Koreans feed us and it is cheaper for us to at cook home.
Still having fun teaching the Philippino Family!!!! The took my heart!!!
새해!!! One of our members has the tradition of jumping in the sea on the New Year's Sunrise! It was about 2 degrees C out side but the water was 15 degrees.
https://youtu.be/JdvwfxtEMU4
https://youtu.be/JdvwfxtEMU4
Less active's home looks very traditional! This last week we visited him and his grandkids came in from Australia! They were very kind and we discuss about restored church with them, sort of refreshing to teach the restoration in natural English, everything flows so miraculously well!! Haha I love them! This less active has such a big heart and raised up a GOOD family! Very loving! The funny thing is, when we called him the day before to see if we could visit him he said right away, come to my house at 12pm, without having eaten. And, to our surprise his grandkids were there! And to add to it he also invited 2 women deacons from another church. Haha it was sort of fun at first, but we all got along, and the deacons were very surprised that we could speak Korean and that we aren't payed. Haha, I feel that the less active was trying to imply something to his grandkids!~~~ Love this brother so much!
As we go about we are surrounded by such fun scenery!
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