Forever a Missionary at Seoul: February 2019

I don't know how to put this last week into words... Well I guess you can say that I went out with a bang.

This last week was full of exchanges, miracles with the New Library English Connect, and Baptism!!!!! I can't believe that Brianne is Baptized She got Baptized so quick, and it probably would have been a lot quicker if her friend (member) Oliver got back from vacation quicker. She wanted him there to Baptize her.

I am going to miss being the Zone Leader of the country side of Korea, KangwonDo. I Love the Elders here and they work hard.

I have reflected a lot recently...

This last transfer has been the most exciting, memorable, but yet stressful transfer out of all them!! I really feel like I have gotten closer to God and His Son Jesus Christ. I feel like I can see a glimpse of how His grace is trying to save me even when I don't realize it! This transfer has been a transfer of great enthusiasm for studying the Gospel lead by Brianne's earnest desire to feast upon the Words of Christ. She helped both of us to study deeper doctrines and reach for deeper understanding behind doctrines. Oliver and Brianne were a pushing force in my endeavors in mastering the Korean Language (Because I had to translate every Sunday. I love studying "Come Follow Me" in Korean!!!! I always look forward to my bonus Gospel study in my Language Study each day haha) This transfer has been a transfer of helping Elder Torres in his struggles here in Korea, but in return he has taught me sooooo much and has caused light to reach the darker parts of my Soul and bring it relief. This transfer was a transfer of seeing Christ being made real for myself through God's chosen ones. This transfer is a transfer of doubting if I have what it takes to be a leader and questioning whether I am doing the right things, but immediately following each of those occurrences was a confirmation from God through a miracle or comforting words from his servants that I really am on the right path and there is no need to worry. This transfer is a transfer of deepening testimony of the plan of Salvation. It is so thoroughly planned out and provided by our loving Heavenly Father. My hope is in Christ and in his redemption of man. His grace is sufficient! Through him the sting of death and aches and pains of our soul are put to ease and made whole. This transfer is a transfer of seeing God work through imperfect beings for the very purpose of helping each other to be exalted all together as one giant Eternal Family, where we aren't any longer exposed to the countless injustices we are inflicted with in a fallen world, and where we can forever united never to be separated again.

I love being a missionary! And this Gospel brings so much love and comfort in my life.

I am so grateful to be a part of the Korea Seoul Mission. I promise to myself and God that I will give it my best! I love being exhausted when I finally get to bed. I am actually really excited to Proselyte where all of my mission heroes have served to help build what they have done in 녹번 and to really be there for the many recent converts and the members there. I am really going to seek out libraries out there in 녹번 that are willing to do as Elder Torres and I have worked so hard to accomplish here. Here's to the future!!!!

Love Elder Alger!

P-day Adventures/Exchanges/Baptism~~

Ha ha it has been a weird week, but a good one!! Change is good.
I now have a lot more ways to communicate with the family!!! It is weird. But, for others out of the immediate family I have to continue communicating through Email!~

Anyways, This last week was amazing. For one we got to spend a whole day with a member of the quorum of the seventy!!!! He and his wife are so uplifting. Totally different personalities compared to the last seventy and his wife from Japan, but I love them. Sister Wada stole my heart!!!!! She is so sweet and I love her energy!! I don't if you know them, but you should. They are new to the seventy as of last March.

There was one thing that was pressed upon me that wasn't even directly mentioned by them specifically at the conference. That Christ not only has a Divine Mission, but that he really is our exemplar. But, the thing is we can not see him. We can learn some from the stories of Jesus, but he is not right in front of our eyes everyday. So we really have to study his life written in the Scriptures where we can see his personal Ministry and how it effects countless others and has effected mankind throughout time. It is sort cool if you think of it that way. The scriptures are a record of man's search for Christ and to really learn who he is. I have been very aware of that before. But, this last week I realized that we can see Christ in our lives everyday through the example of our great leaders who have really studied His teachings and His life a lot and who really emanate the Spirit.

Although there are no perfect people, there are so many great followers of Christ who have taken on Christ-like Attributes, and in a way, they can be more relatable to us personally because they too are imperfect like ourselves. We can see how they overcome those obstacles.

People that I have recently really looked up to as examples are President Russell M Nelson, the Apostles, President Gay, Elder Wada and his wife, President Taylor and his wife Sister Taylor, my Grandparents, and Parents. I am so grateful for these people's examples and more, because they help show me who Christ is and how I should act. These types of people make Christ seem more real to me. Thank for your leadership and example. (The more I talk about it the more eager I get on this quest of learning Christ!!)

Another thing I loved at this day long Conference with Elder Wada was this. Elder Wada had a story of his Mother finally deciding to come to church with him. At church, a little boy stares at her and all of a sudden goes off somewhere and then a little while later he returns with a green hymn book and gives it to her. His mom, because of that very little kid going about doing the best he knew and trying to be a good boy, was able to feel the Spirit. It made all the difference and spoke directly to her heart with a completely different message saying, "It is time to get Baptized!" What a miracle! Who knew a green book could have that kind of effect? Maybe I should start handing out our Hymn books on the street to people... hahaha.

No but seriously...
I believe it is a fantastic representation of how even though we may not do anything fancy or perfect as a missionary, by doing according to what we know is good, the Spirit will give the perfect message for the person we meet. God has a specific plan for each of his children. It is in the Lord's time. (Elder Wada's mom has heard him talk a lot about the church, but somehow that little boy did the right thing for her.)

On another note...

Brianne is excelling in the Gospel!!!! Every single time we meet her she shocks me with how much she does!!! I love her eagerness and I believe she will do really well in Enduring to the end because she has got the FEASTING on the words of Christ part down well! She is so excited to be Baptized this week. It is fun to hear her side of what she felt as she first began learning with us. (A really funny story I will not share until I give my Homecoming talk 😉, so you better come) And, how she could tell when we were trying to be cautious in mentioning Baptism in the first lesson.
But, as Elder Wada taught, even though I am not an amazing and perfect teacher with my companion, we surely feel the Spirit and that is all that matters in a lesson!

We also started up an English Connect Center at the Library this last week. It went well and I can't wait to see where it goes. I love teaching English, especially to basic level people.

Last note. This last week my sweet Grandma on my dad's side passed away. It actually wasn't too surprising to me.( The passing and receiving the news). I know that she is in a place were she can rest from the shackles that our imperfect bodies can be to our Spirits. I can imagine right as soon as she passed through the veil, her friends and parents were there a waiting for her in the Spirit world! I will miss her, but I am so grateful for the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation and Eternal Families!!

I know God cares for us and wants us to return to him, and we can do that through His son Jesus Christ. That is why we must seek to know him ourselves because He is key and center to the great plan of Happiness.

Love you all!!
Elder Alger

Elder Torres again he was giddy to eat breakfast with the Japanese seventy and took a pic while he was sitting, instead of simply asking to have picture with him at the table (haha so times I question Elder Torres, I love him)