Week 27

I am leaving 교문 (Kyo-Moon)...

I have been here for 4 months and is my first and only area so far.

I am very blessed to have been able to serve here in 교문. I am so thankful for the opportunity I have had to work with the wonderful leaders in my apartment, and also amazing members. 

I have made many eternal friendships here. I love each and every one of my investigators, they truly are special. As I have served here, I could see and feel more and more how God does feels for them. They will always be in my heart. Especially, Elder Lowe and my convert and his wife. I will always be there for them! 

The whole time I was working in the area, I had a vision to leave it better than when I came, and  to establish the area. I definitely did not accomplish all that I wanted to in this area, but I did learn a LOT. I know that God is pleased with the work I have done in this area and I know now what it takes to get results, and how to accomplish what the Lord needs me to accomplish. 

And, what is really neat-o is, the missionary taking my spot was my last companion, from the MTC, Elder Nelson. He and Elder Lowe are going to shoot off from here. Elder Lowe and I prepared the hearts of those we found, and taught. And, I know that they now can really make a difference in this area!

I though it is sad to leave, I am extremely excited to be working with Elder 이세기 ("E"-say-key). I have heard many great things about him. I am excited to start new, and apply what I have learned in my first area to help the people in 동대문 (Dong Dae Moon). I really want to learn everything I can from my new companion. I will fully immerse myself in the Korean culture and better learn the language!

There are mountains to climb!! 

Love, Elder Alger

​We play a traditional Kids game in Korea. 공기 (Gong-ki)

I lost the game. But, it was fun!

Here I am playing, very poorly, but having lots of fun! https://youtu.be/8qym3rqYru4

I love the traditional clothing. I was so close to buying them with my birthday money for the girls! 

What Elder Lowe Calls his hobby, we visit members and drop off treats for them. Especially Less Actives. (From What I heard in the MTC 10% of all members in Korea active members, so there are plenty of people to visit)

  

Eating Dog. In Korea they used to eat dog, but now a days it is only the old people who lived in that era.  It was not good, even the rice. And how can you mess up rice. Apparently you need to buy $30 ones for it to be good.

This is a video of me trying dog. https://youtu.be/qTXs5yqUqzA

Elder Lowe Said "That is Beautiful, I will take a picture of you" So we did. This area is a great mix of City and Farm

Even though we are missionaries doesn't mean we still can't celebrate Olympics. Elder Lowe really likes challenges. 

This a cake that one of the members bought me for my birthday. I will miss the members when I leave to my new area

Week 26

I can't believe my mission is 1/4 over! It is going so fast.

This last week was definitely different from how we normally do missionary work.
With all of the new tools that we have on our phone, we can see missionaries' results being multiplied by how big their personal desire is. The work and outcome is reflected and amplified according to our nature, intents of our hearts, and our personal will. And, I can see why the safeguards are what they are. The safeguards for technology help to keep everything inline. They help us to be in tune with spiritual promptings, be focused on our missionary purpose, to be disciplined, and to be one.
 
This last week we got a lot done!!! And, it is all because of the trust God has in us being able to use these devices.

We finished recording all of our current investigators in the Area Book App. (It is soooo useful and I love being able to see what type of investigators they are, where they specifically need to grow, etc, and all on our portable device!)

Through Kakao Talk (Korean Social Media that everyone uses. Even the 80 yr old grandparents).  We have been able to reach out to the same amount of people that we normally do, but in less time, and we have been able to get more of the result we need. Lots of people are wanting to meet with us.
Also, through Kakao Talk, we have been able to meet with all the people who give us the excuse of "I am too busy". When they say they work all the time or have to study, we invite them to do video conference meetings with us. By doing this, we can meet with more people in the week than usual, and reach out to our recent convert who hasn't been able to see us. He has been packed with his business's demands and other things.

And, I know that there are so many other things that we can do using the device to be even more effective. The opportunities are endless. I look forward to being able to learn fully what God has planned for us in using these new methods in furthering His work. 

1 Nephi 13: 37 "And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up ... and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be."     

He prepares the way!!!
Love,
Elder Tim

그냥

Sushi Buffet!!! I had never had Sushi until now!! Sooo good

 This is our 할먼이 (In Korean, the word grandma, sounds like Harmony). We see her very often. She can't hear well, but I love my  할먼이(grandmas). You see grandparents on the streets often in Korea. They always have a cackle because they don't expect foreigners to be able to speak Korean.  They go around the town and pick up any trash that they can turn in to the recycling unit for money. It is actually quite a sad way to get money, so we always offer to help them. 

Happy Birthday Gifts!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE SWEETEST OF LETTERS. 

I enjoyed every word!

Teaching English to our neighbors through American games. 현호 cracked me up!!

Down Town!! Lots of great shops for P-day

Elder Lowe ;l :)

Eating at a member's home

원준!!! English Teacher in 마석. I had never met him until my Birthday.. He is so kind and sincere and took us out for Burgers. Love him!

Waiting for 동호 and his wife 영미.

 I love studying and meeting with them as much as we did this last week!! My favorite is when they say "I love you" in English. They are the best!!!

Week 25

Hello!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love missionary work!!!!!!!!!
There is never a moment in which I am not learning how to get my weaknesses out of the way of the work of the Lord. Everyone needs to struggle, because that is why we are sent here to Earth, so that we can overcome and become more.

I am grateful that I have only leaders in my apartment (the Zone Leader companionship and my companion is the District Leader), because they are leading a group for higher things, and want to get things DONE!! As well as their fantastic examples, they tell me about their early experiences in the mission and what they did wrong when they were getting started. Because of that, I able to learn from those before me.

I believe that is how God wants it to be, for everyone! So that new people coming in (to a new life) can learn by the previous peoples' good examples and what to avoid or what they can do in order to do better then they had.

 "31 Condemn me not because of mine imperfection, neither my father, because of his imperfection, neither them who have written before him; but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than we have been." ~Mormon 9: 31

Those who were before us, who are trying to go on the same path as we are now, tried, tested, experienced, and made mistakes in order to find out what is best. It is the way of the Lord.

I have found out that the scriptures are the greatest source of learning from those before us. We find out how God has worked miracles among the people in the past and how we can apply it today.

And, for sure we will not be absolutely perfect because of all of the knowledge in the scriptures, but if we learn to trust that this is the best way, and exercise our faith with action and application, then we can learn, grow, and become without having to have fear, suffering, and any other in just things of this life. For it is overcome through Christ! 

If the scriptures show us an example of those striving for the most in life, and their experiences (successes and failures/mistakes), than it is proof to us that the best path to fullness of joy in this life and hereafter is through our Savior! It is the common theme throughout all the scriptures! The people before us have found the way!! 

But, now it is up to us to apply! The people with the results worth while, are the followers of Christ. And they wrote how to do it! All the scriptures are a TESTAMENT that Christ is the way to achieve! (Old TESTAMENT [of Christ], New TESTAMENT [of Christ], Book of Mormon Another TESTAMENT of Christ)  The end result is miraculous beyond imagination!

Test it for yourself. Look for the results you want in life, through the scriptures, and follow the examples of those who have the results you want!

Love you All!!
Elder Alger

Walking with a man to an Elementary school! He was really kind, but looking back, know he was drunk! You find a lot of them in Korea

Hello!!!!!!!!

These are our upstairs neighbors! Every time we go, they bring more and more kids! Building a pool of families to serve and love!

BIG woops on my part for not telling you sooner. Not this last Saturday, but the one before, there was a baptismal service and I was asked by the sister missionaries' investigator 강민규(Kang-Mean-Kgyou) to baptize him! It was a pleasure and a blessing. He is a fantastic kid, and has a lot ahead of him!

  

Sometime as a missionary in Kyo-Moon Ward you have to go out to far places on the bus, and when there is no one that will talk to you, then I get great great Korean Scripture study time!!! I am understanding the scriptures!!! I love learning new ways to express the gospel or to look at it from a different view, and reading it in Korean forces me to focus more on the tiny details and a different way to explain the gospel. It is fun!!!!! 

Week 24

Hello!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This last week I have come to realize new things on how to be effective as a missionary.
But, as every single missionary does, I was starting to feel worn down...
I am trying the best I know how to be able to be the best missionary. Truly!
At times, I was feeling stress by the fact that I have great responsibility on my shoulders and I am not living up to it. I feel sort of like 2 Nephi 4. I want sooooooooo badly to follow God--His commands for my personal ministry among the people, and to not give in to the natural man.

I am trying everyday to stretch and grow and do more. And, I will follow Nephi!

 "Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul."
"Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions."
"Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?"
"Wilt thou make my path straight before me!"

I really want to have breakthroughs with those I work with, and, so I will listen to the promptings given to me and not let the adversary plant a single seed of fear in my heart. When, learn to listen to the right voice I will become the exact type of person he needs me to be. And when we all learn to rely on Him we can be unified and one, for higher and more wonderful purpose. 
I will listen and devote myself to what is asked of me from my leaders on Earth and on high!
I know for certain that I am not perfect, but through Christ, I am made spotless.

"32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is His grace sufficient for you, that by His grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God."  Moroni 10

I need to forget myself, and go to work!!! I need to think and act only for the benefit of those I serve here in Korea. And I hope that my focusing and giving my all will bring the heat I need to grow and be molded in the hands of God!! Bring the friction through working your hardest for your purpose, and let the Spirit of God shape us by heading it's every word during the struggle! For it is by the Spirit we achieve the Victory worth receiving. This is His plan, to find and follow His principles in order to receive!

I am accountable to you!!!
Until next week :)

On our way to the temple! The graffiti art reminds me of Sam's mission.

 Our district always makes missionary work FUN! Because that is the way it is meant to be!

The Temple!

 I am still with my trainer in the 3rd transfer. I guess I didn't learn what I need to in the 1st two transfers with him. ;p Love him!

There Koreans are very artistic. I am always looking at the art and architecture in the subways and out and about.

 Pictures never capture the greatness of the first person experience.

The next few pictures are of the museum we went to. It was very touching to learn about Koreans' history (Wars). (American Soldier holding up a Korean)

Inside the same Structure

Center Entrance.

J(o)uhn Jaeng Key Nyo Gwan) War museum

They put so much detail in to every aspect!!!

Elder Lowe Really loved the war vehicles!! It was interesting to see how the different nations varied. And, I spent a good amount of time trying to learn new vocab from the information boards, while Elder Lowe was in AWE. I love KOREAN!

We finally got inside! It had more # for the Korean war and a lot about the Ancient Wars

Replica of Turtle Boat.

Art of War on Water

Their old weapons were different and cool looking

Missionaries in Korea!! We love you! 

 I got surprised with a late Christmas present from the Relief Society of my beloved ward! THANK YOU! I was surprised at all the things they fit in that small package! Just what I needed!!!!!!

The members are so kind to take us out! 김희정 (Kim he juhng) and 정도원  (Juhng Dough Woahn)

An elder, whom I perceive to be Elder Remington, left this hidden in our old phone. The message is in Korean pronunciation, but is very English. 

It goes something like this. Hello (in low form) Elder Alder! Yuu Ahrl Da Beh Suh Tuh  (Missionary) Eh Boh! 

In other words: Hello Elder Alger! You are the best Missionary ever! 

Thank you, Elder Remington!!!!!!

Just a Sunday night meal with great members!! (I have never tried apples and crab together in a salad up until now)

Korean Couple Factoid! The couples here in Korea are always trying to be very romantic  (and display it). If anyone on the streets are matching then they are a couple! And, you see a lot of them! So we always say to them in a Korean Pronunciation "Best Couple". And that almost every time gets them worked up, flattered, and laughing!