{Note from the editors. Sam sends his letters to many people, some who know more about the LDS church than others. In the beginning he was very aware of this and wrote more generally. Now, for better or worse, he's working very deeply in that singular church context, and his letters are increasingly more steeped in such terminology. We've included many explanations to place his letters in context. We love his good cheer!}
Good day, suoai de ren, my beloved friends-
We are really enjoying the focus of this month as a district {Sam is the district leader of 6 missionaries), on discipleship, and are seeking to apply it in our teaching, but also just in all of our actions as we seek to turn outwards and serve as the Savior did rather than look in. Perfect discipleship is an intensely personal decision of faith, of obedience, and love, and it is difficult. I am frustrated at times by how much improvement there is, but we are trying to see that discrepancy between us and the Savior not as an unconquerable gap, but a staircase upward of personal progression and service opportunities. President Faust {a senior church leader} gave a beautiful address on discipleship in conference a couple of years ago that I found this week in an old Ensign {a monthly church magazine}, with wonderful points on the seemingly paradoxical simplicity of always following our Redeemer. ("I'm trying to be like Jesus.")
We are seeking to minister and to love, to create a celestial atmosphere for missionary service in Imun {the area of Seoul where Sam is currently assigned}. We're all pretty young, at least among the Elders, but we're trying to help each other grow in the Lord. I do not have much experience at all with other districts, but it seems that teaching and communication is very integrated, with many common investigators, lessons, and such, and that has been fun. {We presume this means that his district all works together. They all live close and see each other often. Not always the case for missionaries.}
The district had six investigators at church yesterday, which was wonderful. It was quite a scramble to figure out lessons and such, but it all worked out in the end. The Chinese scene continues to progress, with two new Chinese investigators showing up yesterday, and a growing Gospel Principles class {in Chinese}. We also ate with Sister Po and Zack {two new members} at our branch President's home last night, and they are integrating very well into the branch, faithfully studying the scriptures, and have their eye toward the temple. Zack is inviting his girlfriend to church every week, and received the Aaronic Priesthood yesterday.
A wonderful high school student showed up to church yesterday saying that he and his parents were atheist, but he wanted to attend church or at least learn more, and found our church online. He stayed for all three hours, and committed to coming back next week.
We met an Anna Stritsbjarna (sp.? "fighting mountain") last preparation day, from Sweden. She was a member of the church for 30 years, and only recently said that she stopped believing. Although it was sad to hear that, it was enlightening to hear her story, and the effect that the church has had on her life. She said it's always like coming home to talk about the church, and the rest of her family are active members. The Assistants favored us with a surprise stop by district meeting on Wednesday {these are the missionaries who assist the adult mission president , and were as powerful and supportive as always, providing a much-needed and wonderful example to our district.
We got confused on directions a couple weeks back and ended up on the top of a hill overlooking Kyunghee University, and there we met a woman named Sister Byeon. We went to her home this week to teach, and it was quite an experience. She, but especially her daughters, one of which was there, are professional kayageum players, the traditional Korean harp. She requested a schedule wherein we talk about who we are, and about religion as we are there, and she also teaches us the tenets of kayageum with the eventual goal of us performing with her daughter on the radio, as she performs frequently on a station, and recently was chosen along with the singer Rain to perform for President Obama as well (casual Presidential performance 4 lyf). {?? I don't know what that means} In describing her eventual goal, Sister Byeon said that she would like us to introduce who we are on the radio, why we are in Korea, talk a little bit about ourselves, and play a traditional song to show that although foreigners, we have a love for the culture of Korea. She gave us a kayageum to practice with at home, with a case bearing the name of the most famous kayageum player in Korea.
Other fun things from this week include Jongseong committing to a baptismal date, Jinsu coming to church at long last, very, very loaded octopus stir fry and subsequent illness {!}, and Somer, who we ran into on Monday visiting from Hong Kong. Also reminiscing about Thoreau and living deliberately. Because I didn't have time, here are Elder Jones' words on Somer, the swordsman and a dear new friend: "After that, we tried to go back to the historic area because the museum is closed Mondays... We ran into a recent convert from Hong Kong who only spoke in a thick, stereotypical English accent. His name is Somer and is a swordsman. He said Elder South's flamboyantly red and pick tie "gave him the impression that [Elder South] is a bit of an Anglophile" while my plain orange tie "reflects the electric K-pop atmosphere". We met him while wandering down a back alley. After we said hello to him in Korean, he stopped, turned slowly, and said, "Are you Mo-o-rmons?" You have to imaginne all this things with the thickest English accent ever. His parting words were "I will see you again. If not through prayer, then in the Terrestrial Kingdom." He might have a little bit more to learn from the missionaries in Hong Kong..." Side note: the tie was banjjak banjjjak (a bit sparkly), but very much conservative.
Thank you for your support. Our goal for this week was to "bring the Spirit to their home," and it is our new goal for every meeting- to help others feel that peace, security, and love.
All our love and prayers, off to edit part of a Ph.D. thesis- again? {no idea what that is about, either}
Elder South
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