Week 78

Week of Baptism miracles! This week we met with Brianne 3 times! She is so eager to learn about the Restored Gospel.

We taught her last Monday before her friend (church member) Oliver headed out to Thailand for vacation the next day. So we actually met them during when we were supposed to have our P-day! Haha! I would have only just read a book in Korean during that time anyways, I am addicted to Gospel Discussions and learning! (Side note, I have just finished listening/reading all of the Talks that Pres Nelson has given ever since he became an Apostle! There is a bunch of hidden gems in there. I'll share with you later)
But, anyways we formally taught her the Restoration with Oliver that day along with a Baptismal Invitation. It followed perfectly  and the Restoration made perfect sense. So she said "Yes!"
After doing so we asked her to get a confirmation for herself that this is the right decision for her. !
She told us at a later point that that night she read from Alma 16 all the way to Alma 32 before she went to bed. Then she went to Bed.
And, she had a dream. (She told us sometime after the Come Follow Me Sunday school, the one with Joseph receiving revelation through a dream and how we can receive it in our lives, that she felt that if God was going to speak to her it would be in a dream.)
She then shared this experience with us as we were heading over to the Baptismal Service in Taebaek.
I was in a building that didn't look like a my home, but in my dream I considered my house. And, all of a sudden I hear a knock on the door. I get up and go to the door to discover that there were two Missionaries who were standing at my door. (She said the funny thing though is they were not wearing any name tags, which sort of perturbed her. Because she knows we have name tags on no matter where we go. But, she know they were our missionaries)
She asked "How may I help you?"
And one of the missionaries simply responded by asking "Have you found out who God is to you?"
She said that she was surprised by her own answer. She proudly and confidently said "Yes! I have. As a matter of fact I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints."
Then the other Elder responded saying "Congratulations!" as he handed her a tiny little sapling in a pot. "Take this, it yours to nurture"

After telling me about her dream she said that she thought it was so odd, because she was actually lying, because she wasn't a member. But, ever since then she has been eagerly a waiting the very day Oliver gets home from his vacations so that she can be Baptized by him. Her Baptismal date will be on Feb 23rd.
 And, her desire to get Baptized keeps growing. She truly is FEASTING upon the words of Christ. Already got to Alma 50 after a little more than 2 weeks. Another thing this last week, she got really eager to get Baptized because this last week for Come Follow Me was all about Christ's Baptism. She was in the middle of watching Christ getting Baptized for the Come Follow Me when we invited her to come and see a real life Baptism in Taebaek.
 She extremely enjoys taking the missionary discussions. She wants to learn as much as she can before she heads off to Japan for vacation. She is actually going there to be with someone who stayed at her home in Canada as an exchange student from Japan. So she considers her as her sister. She wants to try to go to church with her this Sunday! (She knows how to speak a good amount of Japanese!)
And, because she is studying so much on her own we decided that it that she would really enjoy "His Grace is Sufficient" by Brad Wilcox. We thought that it could be too deep for her, but as I originally thought she loved it so much! She even ended up sharing it with Oliver texting him saying "You have got to watch this talk!!"  Her favorite quote was "Jesus doesn't make up the difference. He IS the difference"

Even though she is attending an extremely small church, with members who speak Korean, she is able to know for herself that the Church has been restored. As she has shared her story with us, I could see God working such a huge role in her life and everything just fits into place perfectly. More than I could imagine. Maybe I'll share more on that later.

Thank you for all who wished me a Happy Birthday! The best gift I have been given is to be able to share what I cherish  so much with others!! It has been a fantastic 2019 so far being able to have the chance express myself fully in my native tongue with Oliver and Brianne. It is a great example to me of how the discussions are supposed go like with the prepared. I love Oliver's cheeky comment in our discussions. (Like him saying the UN unites for another conference in Korea! Us being from England, Canada, America, and the Philippines, and more)

No better time to be here in Korea! Brianne didn't realize how much the Lord was in the fabrics of her life until afterward. And I could realize the effect that I had in my last area and I probably even in this moment can't see the full effect, but I can see that the person I taught even now this last week (the friend of the person I taught) got Baptized.
  Even if in the moment we can't see it, the Lords grace is trying to save us! I know his Grace is sufficient to save! All we have to do is keep practicing! Practice your faith and let it show like Oliver did for Brianne!!

I love you all and wish the best of luck in your work back at home, for the work never ends, until the Lord says in majesty and glory "The work is finished!"

"Hoorah For Israel!"

Elder Alger

Videos for the week:

Pretty lights in Taebaek
https://youtu.be/ist6Qky80HQ

I love Taebaek!
https://youtu.be/s2nMISpw50U

Snow Festival
https://youtu.be/la3Qne03jgI

Ping Pong with Pres. and Sis. Taylor
https://youtu.be/IIT_TjUzZvc

Snow
https://youtu.be/SEfx72w_xrg

This the Area I was supposed to go to! President wanted me over there to help with uniting wards and bringing awareness for tours, but God kept President up in the night telling him "Brianne needs to get Baptized! Don't mess up what I have been doing to prepare her for this moment!" Haha at least that is the way I envision it now~ So grateful that I get to stay!

Baptismal Service in Taebaek. I can't seem to get away from my last area, but I am not complaining! 

Church! There were a lot more visitors than usually because of the Korean Holidays.

Elder Torres got us Chicken for my birthday!!! He is such a sweety! I was trying to pay for half of it but he keep saying that he would get offended if he received it.

Korean Holiday!!! Chinese New Year!

Deep cleaning day was on the same day as the Baptism in Taebaek, so it was one of the best days on the mission!!! Haha if you know me I LOVE LOVE LOVE cleaning! But, the fun part was we listened to almost all of "Saints" as we cleaned. It was fun to get a view of the big picture. The first time I went through it I looked at every reference to Doctrine and Covenants and made notes so I could get the background of the Revelation in there.