Expensive Taxis and Miracles

This week we've seen a lot of miracles. On Thursday we went up into the country to find a less active. The town we went to was SUPER pretty. I wish I had some pictures to send of that area. The people were super nice and friendly, and we managed to find some people who new the person we were looking for and directed us to the house (also something that never happens in a bigger city. The old lady who answered the door said she didn't know the person we were looking for, but we felt like she had to be there, so we kept asking. Someone else in the house then came out and said the less active was her sister and that she had moved about twenty years ago. We weren't able to find the person we were looking for, but we were able to share a short message about family and family history with them. Hopefully they will spark some interest about what we shared. So, we went back down to the main road where there was a group of people shucking corn next to the bus stop. From them we learned that the bus had left about five minutes ago, it it was unclear when the next one would come. Assuming it would probably been a couple hours, we started walking toward the nearest city. About thirty minutes later we stopped at another bus stop and looked at our map. Realizing we had a super long way to go, we were wondering what we should do when we noticed a taxi call ad in the bus stop. So, we ended up calling a (very expensive) taxi to come from the city and get us, after which we took another bus back to Wonju. 

The next day we had a meal appointment with a potential investigator. We were running late, so we decided (with the other elders) to take a taxi. Elder Ryu told him wherever it was we were trying to go, and the driver took us to a small town, and we paid him and got out. As he drove away, we looked up at the name of the school next to us and, lo and behold, we were in the same area we had been in just the day before. This was unfortunate because our meal appointment was in the opposite direction from the way we had come, and was now about two hours away from where we were, almost on the opposite end of our area. Somehow we had made a mistake when we told him where we wanted to go. When we called our appointment to explain what happened though, he wanted to meet us in the middle and then drive us the rest of the way. So, we were going to have to pay for a SUPER expensive taxi to come all the way from Wonju again and bring us there, which would have been over $60 or even $80. Luckily, though, we remembered the number we had just happened to find the day before for a much closer city. We still forked over a lot of money over a couple days for taxi fees, but we saved a lot of money the second day because we had missed the bus the first day. Interesting how that all worked out.

 

Last Saturday, a long-term English class member and church attendee wanted to have a meal with us. We had discussed what we needed to do to help him get to baptism, and were amazed when he told us he wanted to take the lessons for baptism. This was a huge miracle and he has been in our prayers a lot as we start preparing him for baptism. He seems already to be living the gospel and coming to church, so we need only help him understand that baptism is a gateway that leads to eternal life and help him start on the path toward the temple and receiving the Holy Ghost more abundantly. So excited for him!

This week is Chuseok! That means we are going to Seoul and staying there for the night for Chuseok conference. It's gonna be great! Chuseok is basically Thanksgiving in Korea, but has more of a Christmas-level feel to it. For three days we will either be preparing, going to conference, or deep-cleaning. Looking forward to it!

Elder Tyler Crisp

This week has been great! We got a surprise great new investigator, and Nick came to church. Unfortunately we haven't been in contact much with Wang Ju recently, but we will keep trying. This week is going to be a lot of fun because of Chuseok. I'll try to take and send some pictures. 

​Me and Elder Steward in the back of the bus on the way back from zone training in Gangnung

The church building

Our apartment building

​Something I ate. Don't remember what it was called

Forgetting ourselves

Wang Ju came to church again and we taught him with Branch President Kim. Our branch president is so great! He is a great example to me of selfless and diligent service. He has been serving for three years here under great trials, but is pressing forward with determination. He is always there for the missionaries, too. When we taught with him he said a lot of things Wang Ju needed to hear. We are trying to set a baptismal date for him, but it seems we first need to help him build faith in Christ so that he will make it a greater priority. He is doing well, though, and seems to be reading, praying, and coming to church diligently. Nick wasn't able to come again, but he suddenly decided to refer one of his friends to us on Thursday. This was a great miracle, and we hope it will help both of them strengthen their roots in the gospel further. 

Elder Peterson and I also hope to do a lot of family history proselyting this week. We had a special training up in Gangneung, and Sister Sonksen gave an inspiration training on using the Spirit of Elijah in our work by sharing some stories about ancestors, asking people about their families and ancestors, and introducing them to family search. We really want to take advantage of this blessing to try to help more people obtain interest in the gospel. 

Another thing we learned in training is that nothing we do - planning, personal study, companion study, language study, or activities - should be for us. It all needs to be directed toward others. This is hard to do, especially during studies. But as I have done it I have already noticed my thought more often be drawn to investigators and members. We have better been prepared to receive revelation for them and accomplish more during the day. I feel that when we are prepared to use them, the Lord blesses us with more opportunities. 

Love you all! Thank you for your prayers. 

Wonju is great! My companion played trombone in school and has a lot of similar interests, like reading and music. He is actually leading the branch choir right now. He is form North Carolina, so the hot and humid weather is totally normal for him. He also has a strong testimony and desire to accomplish a lot here, especially the branch. His mom is a writer and may even be getting a book published soon. He is super smart, too. Apparently he finished high school a year early and went to college at SVU. He is really great, and I feel like we work very will together. 

Me, Elder Peterson, Elder Steward, Elder Ryu​

The wind under our wings

Our investigator came to church yesterday! It was so great. The members noticed him and really welcomed him into the branch. He really seemed to like it. He has been studying the Book of Mormon and been praying regularly in his search for light and truth. We need only have the Spirit with us when we teach him, and I have no doubt he will grab on to it. Unfortunately, another gentleman we are working with was out of town and was really tired on Sunday when he came back, so he wasn't at church. But, he is also doing well, and is also desirous to keep the commandments we have been teaching him. Both are struggling with addiction to cigarettes, but I know through faith in Christ they can overcome it.

Over the past couple weeks in Wonju, I have tried to keep in remembrance the most important lesson and doctrine, which is Jesus Christ. Every transfer, every zone meeting, and every conference, I feel inspired to renew my efforts to give everything I can all day, every day. There is a time between these uplifting events, though, where the anticipation, excitement, and eagerness of the serving the Lord seems to grow thinner, more difficult. I have searched for how I can keep the same eagerness and joy of daily service in my heart. The answer is remarkably simple. We must always remember Christ. Through faith in Him, as President Uchtdorf describes, He becomes the wind under our wings. Why? Because Christ is not just a lesson among many, but He is THE lesson. He is the Son of God, meaning the foundation and hope of our lives and a better tomorrow. Everything we speak of and teach is from Him and through Him. I know that He is our Savior. I have found the strength to press forward by continuing to feast upon His word, become filled with His hope through the Spirit, and share that with others. 

Have a great week everyone!

Wow! The house and yard look amazing. That looks like it was a lot of work. You know, in Korea, to have a house and yard like that would cost a fortune. When Koreans see a house like that, topped with a fountain, orchard, and everything else, they first think, "Wow, you must be rich!" Our house is going to feel so huge when I get back. I'll have to remember never to take things for granted. 

Wonju!

Wonju is awesome! There is a lot to do here to build the branch, and I'm so grateful for Elder Peterson's commitment to do everything we can for the people here. I looks like we have a lot of great people to be working with. So far, I have met Wang ju, who is pretty golden. He has a sincere desire and humility to find truth. He said he would come to church, too! The branch had an American-style barbecue last Saturday, put on by the mission's senior couples and President and Sister Sonksen. Everything was from the U.S. (bought from the base), so it was a genuine American barbecue with hot dogs, potato salad, chips, baked beans, and jello. The members seemed to like it a lot. There, I met Nick, another one of our investigators. He is fluent at English and really cool. Elder Peterson and I have plans this week to meet some of the part-member families and less actives here, as well as visit the members. 

I've learned recently about the importance of diligence with prayer and seeking revelation. The Lord wants us to take great care with the things that he gives us. Kind of like the parable of the talents. When we feel impressed to do something or learn something from scripture study, it is important that we apply it, grow it, and develop it in every way we can. The more we "arouse our faculties" and strive to follow Christ's example, the greater the witness, knowledge, and revelation we will receive. Through our diligence, we show that we can be trusted with more. 

Thanks for your messages and support! It means a lot to me. Love you!

Wonju is great! It is a little cooler than Seoul, but I think everywhere is cooling down now, so it might just be the timing. Elder Peterson is great! He has a lot of faith and is doing a lot for Wonju Branch. He is from North Carolina and played trombone in high school. He is pretty big into music, and is actually leading the branch choir each week. He's been in Korea for 11 transfers, which are each six weeks. I am on my ninth. He is also SUPER good at Korean. 

There is so much going on at home! There must be a lot of grass now. How do you water it all?

Our apartment window! 18th floor!

​Elder Steward, Ryu, Peterson, Me

Back to the Countryside

Transfer calls came! I am going back out to the countryside again, to an area called Wonju, which is next to Taebaek. Instead of 30,000, though, it will be 300,000, so I guess "countryside" is relative. Anyway, I'm super excited! I've loved serving in Nokbeon and I've learned a lot here. I'm grateful especially for the investigators that I've taught and working with Elder Carmen and Gildea. My new companion's name is Elder Peterson.

As I thought about my time here in Nokbeon, and how I could improve and do better in Wonju, I found that what I remembered was not the planning, working, proselyting, or any of the other stuff we do as missionaries. My thoughts were about the people, and particularly whether or not they had come unto Christ. My goal for Wonju is to serve with this in mind, and every night, to ask myself, "Have I brought anyone unto Christ today?" Then I can better keep my destination in mind - not just to teach a lesson, to learn Korean, to learn more members names, but to actually love them enough to reach further out to the hearts of every person, and to more people each day, to bring them the Spirit. 

We have had a bunch of meals with members come up since Sunday when the leaving missionaries gave their farewell talks, and tomorrow is temple p-day, so we're pretty packed right now, which is great. Hopefully I can meet Brother Samuel, the less-active we are working with, Tim, and a couple other members before I go. Unfortunately Jimmy is still on a trip, but he is in good hands!

Thanks for your messages, faith, and prayers. Love you all! 

​Lunch today - seafood Jambbong! Elder Gildea, me, Elder Brown

​It was super good!

​Brother Yun took us there today. He is awesome!

​There was shrimp, octopus, mussel, and clam - here is the remnant

​Nokbeon living quarters with Elder Brown

​Me, Elder Bradshaw, and Brother Lee, our awesome English Class Coordinator

This week we had a really special experience when a member suddenly called and asked for a Priesthood blessing for her mom. I was nervous, because I had never given a blessing in Korean before. But, we went, and I sealed and Elder Gildea gave the blessing. It was most powerful to see the member's faith in Christ, and therefore in the blessing. This made me reflect on how important it is to always be prepared in our faith. Like Elder Holland once said, lightning may strike. We don't know when or where, but, like this member, we all must at some point experience a deep trial. It is at this point where the true stature of our faith will be tested. As for this member, she was prepared enough in her faith of the Savior that, no matter the outcome, she could maintain hope. The sweet comfort that comes at a time like this can not be bought by any means beside faith. As for me, I know that Christ is our Savior. Through him we can receive all the promised blessings of peace and assurance of life after death and of eternal life with family. Nothing created by man can replace the hope and joy of the Savior.

Along with that experience, we had a great week. On exchange, Elder Gildea with Elder Bradshaw found an investigator over in the Newtown area named Brother Ahn. As I heard it, they were walking along when this high school or college teacher came up behind them and started talking. They went and sat down in a cafe about 200 meters away and taught the Restoration. Then, when they asked for his phone number, he actually got up and got his phone from off a different table, meaning he had already been in the cafe when he saw them pass by and had chased them down the street. Elder Gildea and I taught him again on Tuesday, and he is really great! 

We were able to meet Jimmy again this week, but he is going away again on another trip again. Tim is leaving for college in a few weeks, so we plan to help him increase his faith so he can keep learning and be baptized when he meets missionaries out in Gangweondo. 

Love you all! Have a superb week.

Elder Gildea is great and super hard working. Korean is coming along great - I'm starting to understand more and more all the time. Love you all! Have a great week!

Pictures of our area from a random apartment building.

Elder Gildea

Pictures of our area from a random apartment building.

Pictures of our area from a random apartment building.

Pictures of our area from a random apartment building.

2016/07/31--Simple Truth

This week has been great! We weren't able to meet with Jimmy, who is on vacation, or Tim for most of this week, who is also on a trip. But, were were able to meet with some others pretty unexpectedly that we were able to teach. Also, the Bishop here in Nokbeon has a goal to get eighty active youth coming by the end of the year, so we've started focusing on how we can help him accomplish that. Other than that, we've tried spending time visiting members and finding new investigators.

On Friday, though, President Sonksen's mission president from when he was a missionary here, President Brown, came and spoke to all the missionaries. It was an incredible meeting, especially when we learned about the impact President Brown had in Korea when he was here. A lot of what he did had a huge impact on the history of the church in Korea, and he shared some incredibly powerful stories, like being part of the first stake organized in Korea. He talked about how the first missionaries in Korea, who started their missions in a time when Korea was in dire circumstances after the Korean war. People lived in cardboard houses with roofs made of flattened soda cans. People were so eager to meet with the missionaries that they never had time to proselyte - they were just always teaching and setting more appointments. It was super interesting and enlightening to see how the church as it is today came to be, and see how Korean history has made it what it is right now.

As we meet new investigators and talk with people on the street, we usually teach the Restoration lesson more than any other lesson. This week, a lot of people opposed the idea of a restoration, the Book of Mormon, and such. It has occurred to me as I continue to teach, testify, and invite, over and over again, just how significant the promise in Moroni 10 is. There is no end to the doubts people can express about it, but the fact that the whole matter is so readily, simply, and easily resolved that it shows Heavenly Father's love even more powerfully. If you want to know, all you have to do is to read it and ask Heavenly Father if it is true. Heavenly Father does love His children, and he wants all of them to know about Him and His truths. A witness of the Book of Mormon, and answer from God, certainly resolves any doubt our concern about the truth of the restoration. First, you must just desire to know.

Thanks for your emails and messages! Have a great week everyone!

This is Jimmy

Not sure if I've sent this one yet - left to right - Tim, me, Lee Dongseon, Elder Manwaring, Elder Bradshaw, Elder Carmen, Jeoung Suhyeong, Sister Mun Hyejee, Sister Park, and Sister Cameron