Week 61

We got a new investigator through our recent convert!!!!!!! Whoot Whoot! When members and missionaries work together it brings new fire!
The Sunday before yesterday President and Sister Taylor came and taught about having your own Sacred Grove each morning. They invited the district to pray for 10 mins in the morning, with a specific purpose, like Joseph. And, we have been visiting members to follow-up/recommit them to what Sister Taylor invited them to do. And, they are reacting a lot better than we thought. They have already experienced revelation and are having good experiences.

This last Saturday a typhoon hit our zone. And, one of the members was following the commitment like Sister Taylor asked and she had the Spirit come over her, telling her to get her family together and head over to her father. Once she got there she saw that her father's home was having major leakage due to the heavy winds and pouring rain. And the whole family worked together and everything turn out alright!!!

I am grateful for the promptings of the Spirit to guide us in our everyday lives!!! I know that if we have fervent prayer, it will open our minds to the insights from on high!

We in DongHae, really want to kick off English Connect!!!!!!!!!!!! (Here is a link to what the headquarters in Seoul is doing. https://www.facebook.com/englishconnectHHC/)
They have it only in 3 areas in Seoul, but are now ready to reach out further!
When I first came to Korea, we used a program that was made by missionaries and some members here in the mission. But, just recently the Church Headquarters has come out with a formal and official English program, called English Connect! And, here in Korea we do it using the Helping-hands just like we did during the Olympics!

 When I was on exchanges in KangNeung, I could literally get instant good impression on people by saying, "Do you remember the people helping out during the Olympics wearing yellow vests?" And, they all know! President, the APs, and Elder Huillet and I really want that to be the same for every Korean.

I think it is the next step to bring good a image and draw more attention to the Church and how we aren't like the 100,000,000 of other churches that Koreans have to choose between. Of course the restored truths are what draw attention for those who do get baptized. But, in the society we live in today. People don't want to hear a lot about religion. So, we are approaching it like Ammon does with the Lamanites who don't want to hear the message of the Lord. By really caring about their concerns and devoting our lives to making their lives better. For Ammon it was watching over the king's livestock. In Korea, people are really concerned about English!

Every single Korean wants to learn English! Whether they are curious or it is so they can be successful career wise. I can see us becoming really big! And, that we can have good image with the people we meet on the streets!

"Joseph took his question directly to Heavenly Father. He sought personal revelation, and his seeking opened this last dispensation. In like manner, what will your seeking open for you?"  I feel it coming. We are pioneers over here! What does the Lord want to open up for you in your lives??

Love you all!!

Hiking 무릉계곡, Exchanges, and the Typhoon!

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