Monday, January 8, 2018

Week 22

This last week was loads of fun!! There is nothing more fun than pushing forward the work of the Lord! 

교문 (Kyo-Moon) is great!!! I love being here!!! When I first came to the area there was little progress. But, by constantly working to find and KEEP the people that we contact, meeting with them, and teaching from our HEART, we have seen incremental growth!

When I first started working in Korea, I was excited!!!!!! And, ready to Work! I had fire! I was enthusiastic, because the MTC filled me with so much hope, they created a vision, and they in-directly force you to grow and learn. 

So when I came to Korea I was ready to GO! And, sometimes it can be a little hard to not see the results that you want to achieve, right now. And, because you don't see those instant results it you find yourself questioning whether or not you are being effective. Or successful.  

And, what I would have to say to that is, don't worry about the instant results! The only thing you have to think about is whether or not you are following exactly what the Spirit is trying to tell you to do. Are you doing what the Spirit is telling you?

We are mortals sent to a world of confusion, and so many different views. The natural man can only see what is right in front of him. We are sent here to the world, living out of the presence of our loving, all knowing Heavenly Father. Part of our test in life, and the key to true growth (to fullness of joy) and success in the things that really matter, is Word of God! It is through the Word of God (or commands) that we can receive instruction and guidance from heaven. We can obtain this guidance through many ways, such as in Church, Scriptures, and Words of the Living Prophet, etc. Because as humans we have a limited view, we must rely on these tools. 

The surest way to make sure you are doing exactly what needs to be done is by learning, listening, and acting according to the promptings of the Spirit. If you are following God's will by the influence of the Spirit, then there is absolutely nothing to worry and stress about. If you strive to to always be worthy of the divine and perfect guidance of the Spirit, and ACT and apply what the Spirit is telling YOU personally, then there is no fear.

What is the Spirit telling you to do? Any time you feel that you have received a prompting of what you should or should not do, write it down and review, and learn how you can apply this prompting in your everyday life, during and through your nightly prayers. 

As you apply this simple principle in your life of listening and applying the words of God, you may not see results right, now, but over time you will the genius of God in establishing exactly what you and those around you need to have in their lives. I promise you will see the blessings of the power of Incremental Improvement over time, because I see God establishing and building 교문 (Kyo-Moon) when I follow those promptings.

I love you all! God bless!


Elder Hipps has been wanting one of these weird seats that you strap to yourself
so you can sit anywhere. I don't see why? lol 
Watch my demo video here: https://youtu.be/DV8JY2tkCOc



LOl it looks way less bury on the camera!
P day (Preparation Day)
  Every once and a while we go to a buffet!! As you can see Elder Hipps is very happy!! It was really good stuff!!!


The food was sooo good!!! I ate WELL!


Hard to decide... 


Trying out new Fruit!!! The biggest fruit (Passion Fruit) was the BEST! The smallest one taste like Baby Wipes.... very slimmy




Before and after going to the Spa! Honestly you feel like you are walking on air for the rest of the day, everything is clear!




The oddest, rarest, but yet the cutest dog I have seen, You can't see it because it ran away! Very Asian looking though.



Looking for less-actives out in 덕소 (Duck-so). We climbed up a mountain to get up to the apartment that 2 less actives live in. It was a tall building on a hill so it had a great view!




물고기! They have fish everywhere! Fish's direct meaning is "Water Meat"! LOL




만두! I think it is dumplings in English. One of the best foods that I have had in Korea!!! Soooo good!! They like us so much that they gave us free steamed bread with Red Bean paste (You can't bag it until you try it)!




As usual, we talk with everyone we can on the subway, but this time we found a grandpa that wanted to buy us chicken and he grabbed on to Elder Lowe and wouldn't let go, lol. We ended up giving him a Book of Mormon, and was very grateful! He definitely was drunk, but really nice!





  I think in English you call this persimmon. I'd never had it until a came to Korea! It makes good juice!



LOL another one of those moments where you are expecting on thing, but they give you a tray of just plain fries with a package of some powder cheese similar to mac n cheese powder. 



Santa Came!!!!!!!!! I opened the gum and now my room has a very strong smell of Watermelon Gum. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!



 Elder Alban from the Philippians! I got to train him as Zone Leader in the MTC. He is an energy filled, happy Elder.



Our last picture together as a district... :) "We go where you want us to go"



 Emailing



(With pics 9-10) Walk up a six floor Car Garage to get to the base of an Apartment Complex! First time seeing something like this!
 


Reminds me of Sam's weekly graffiti pics in Elders in the Hood.



Elder Lowe really wanted to take this pic! In Korea, us missionaries replace the substances that are harmful in people's lives with one of Hope and Purpose!



 Riding the Metro Train!! 



And waiting for the Train



 Pic with an Olympian



Rick and Kelly, our newly found investigators! They are very cute and are trying to learn and achieve their dreams together! Kelly loved the hymn book! 


Here's a video of them playing: https://youtu.be/lvXfeZPq-Cg



Sunday, December 31, 2017

Week 21

This Christmas was the BEST!!!!
I got to experience the true Spirit of Christmas. The Spirit of Giving and Sacrifice!

I am so glad that I have the chance I do to serve 24/7!

I called my Family!!! It was awesome and weird to see everyone!!! They are all so close and dear to my heart!!!! I also love my new sister Leigh! Josh, you chose right!!! My family is the whole reason for me serving a mission!! If it were not for the gospel and the foundation the truths of the gospel of Christ brings to my home, I would not be here. We would all be lost, with no light, or joy.
It is because of these many blessings I received in a home of Safety, Peace, Love, and Service that I am a Missionary.   I want to share these exact blessings and more to the people here in Korea!

Good news!!!!! Transfer calls came in and I am staying in 교문 (Kyo-Moon)!! I have been here ever since I came to Korea. And I am still with my trainer Elder Lowe!!  I know that there is a reason for Elder Lowe and I staying here in 교문 (Kyo-Moon)! 
 
This last week was a little slow because of sickness, it didn't stop me and Elder Lowe!!!

Also, now our phones are Unlocked!!!!!! We have Duolingo, Google Translate, Facebook, all LDS apps, and a lot more!!!! We are getting ready to receive the Area Book App (It really is mind blowing what it's capabilities are going to be!!! And instead of a giant book in the house it will be in our pockets, and church headquarters will be able to receive data like they never have before! I could go on forever about the amazing new approaches to the work and fulfilling our purpose in inviting and helping others to come unto Christ ) !!! I am extremely excited to use these new tools to further the work of the Lord!!!!

I am ready to start fresh and go in with a bang this year!!!!! I hope you all are too!

Happy New Years!!! Let this year be your turning point!!!
Love you all!
Elder Timothy Alger


Christmas Lunch! (Dongkas) with curry. It was soooo delicious!! Elder Lowe, being the kind person he is let me choose Lunch! It is the BEST!



After lunch on Christmas we did an activity where we show Light the World videos to people passing! Lots of fun



As a District for the evening we gave out pictures of us as a district in there ward, and sang Carols!!



Just talking to a 5 year Gold Olympian, and this years Judge, he was so cool!




We found the a Robe that we walked by. If you can't tell it is a Blanket that you wear!!! Elder Lowe freaked out when he saw this




One of our long time English Class Members, Angela, gave us these as a gift! They actually taste like an American dinner..... but the Pictures OVER HYPE what it actually was. We thought it was soooo funny. You laugh at almost anything when you are a missionary.




I love the members here, they feed us anytime we meet them. But, on rare occasions they want to really treat us with expensive American food. It is actually quite weird to eat things not from its home area. And it was extremely weird to eat food with a fork. Give me the Chop Sticks back.



Elder Lowe and I got sick this week, but he had it BAD! So I watched over him while he was on the couch having weird problems, like... Barfing and bleeding out of his nose at the same time.... I am glad I didn't get it as bad as him.  But, I did get to dive into the scriptures for that day. I got to read all of 3 Nephi and Christ's Ministry in the Americas! So much fun! I felt as if I was there with them, and his words were gold to me. It is amazing to me how the Words of Christ can bring revelation into our lives and answer all our question and bring light into our life as we come to understand who Christ is and His Doctrine!!   What a Blessing!!!!






Friday, December 29, 2017

Week 20? Hard to Keep Track

This week was another Great Week!!!!! 
I am always learning how I can be better as a person and how to be better at serving the people in Korea.

This last week was full of fun and great activities!!! It is the Christmas season after all! 
 -  한동호 (Han Dong Ho) received the Gift of the Holy Ghost and was confirmed as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!!! It was an amazing blessing. This was more special, to me, than when he was baptized last week. The blessing was very personal to him and you could feel the presence of the Spirit of God!!  

 - 전영미 (Jeon Young Mi)  She got fellowshiped so well in the ward this week; everything from going to the ward Christmas party to going to church to see her husband receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Sisters were all so uplifting and complementary to her!!! And, she really connected with one of the talks given this last Sunday. Because of this, she said that she wants all of her children to know God and have the same blessings of peace and joy that she is finding in learning about the Restoration of the gospel!! She ROCKS! And, she gets so excited and has such a great time studying the Book of Mormon

 - 최수호 (Suh Ho Choi) , is a friend of a less active son in the ward. But, because of his mom, 김은영 (Kim Eun-young), we started teaching his friend about the gospel. We came to their home for a meal and the three of them were so friendly. 최수호 (Suh Ho Choi), had met us before two other times, but this time we really got in depth about the important and huge blessings that come from living and having the gospel in his life. And, in doing so, his friend, her son, 정윤준 (Jung Yun-jun), resparked interest and wanted to learn for himself personally if the gospel and or message is true, through sincere prayer. 최수호 (Suh Ho Choi), said that what we teach is fun and he had interest to learn and find out for himself

 - We met with a new investigator and found others to meet with this week. It is fun to be helping others with their doubts, questions and concerns about life!! And, to share my conversion story and testimony!! It is powerful!! 

Today is Christmas! I am looking forward to do our finding and light sharing activities today!! It is going to be the best Christmas!! And I get to talk with my family tomorrow!!!!!!

How can you share His light more in your life?
Merry Christmas!!!!!! 
Elder Alger