Your Nose Is Too Big. July 19, 2014.

Good day to all~^^ 

I hope that all is well. It's been a fun week. I'll write a bit and send a few pictures, I'll have to leave a bit early. We're going to "Dream Forest" today for Sister Kwon's last P-day as she goes home this week. It means activities three weeks in a row, ㅎㅎ, but we're excited and it's great to have such a close district. Last week we all rode bikes at a stream near our home, which was a treat for us- we're not a bike riding mission.

We've spent much more time than I have in the past with members this week. We ate together several times, and spent Tuesdaymorning cleaning the carpets in the church, which I didn't realize how badly needed to happen until we were in the process and were looking at two different colors of carpet. It really is an incredible ward. We went to primary yesterday, as one of our investigators brought his young child, and it was just a lot of fun. As we had our lesson, the cute little bundle of wiggles next to me had remarks for me such as "Your nose is too big, American," and "Your eyes are the wrong color."

We went to President Christensen's house on Thursday for 12-week follow up, and it was a lot of fun considering the small size of Elder Ahn's together-coming group- he's the only elder that came at the time. We talked about training and life and work and desire, and it was a great time.

I got your package this week- my heartfelt thanks. I really appreciate it, and the rest of the district does too. Our ward mission leader and his children, who may never again see chocolate lucky charms, also send their thanks. It's great to have a taste of home, but sweeter to feel your love and support, so thank you.

Elders Ahn and South

We've had some great lessons this week, and some not so great ones. People coming to a fireside with us, and people who said when we asked them why they came was because we had an air conditioner, and that was it. It's a good life, and as we all let ourselves be changed, the change always comes.

I played cello at the same fireside this week with sister Choi on the bassoon. Considering that it's her major, and the accompanying Sister Ahn is one of the most accomplished piano players I've met, I was pretty nervous. It was okay. It was a good experience. It's hard to make up for no practice and rusty fingers, but I was grateful to be able to participate, and it was a good evening wherein I really felt strongly the Spirit and had some valuable experiences. We enjoyed a missionary-produced musical, with Sister Boud singing about MTC food to the tune of "Let it Go."

It's hard to believe that another week has come and gone. We really are grateful for this short time. Transfer calls were this past week. Sister Kwon is headed home, and Sister Kang over to Sindang, but all of the elders will be staying put. We're excited. It'll be a good transfer. I'm really enjoying working with Elder Ahn.

Elder Mumford, who I served with in Imun, is serving out in Taebaek- countryside about four and a half hours away. When we were in Imun, and Elder Grimshaw was ill, we taught a lot together, including Dongwon, one of our incredible investogators. Fast forward a little bit, and Dongwon had to go to Taebaek for a few months, which we were very sad about. We tried to get in touch and have him continue to meet elders out there, but it never went through. Just this past week, Elder Mumford went out to a place that he had never been to before to knock on doors, because he felt like he needed to be there. He ran into Dongwon, and recognized and talked with him. They're now meeting, all those hours away. Pretty cool, and pretty miraculous.

Have a wonderful week, and as always, all of my love~
Elder South

In Which Sam Mentions a Cello and Says Nothing More About Why He Mentioned a Cello. July 12, 2014

Good day to all! Lots of love from Seoul. It's been a crazy week full of meetings and cello practice and going up north to Uijeongbu, but a great one. We're happy and grateful to be here, in Sanggye and in Korea. We went to a beautiful arboretum this week, and enjoyed fresh rain and great conversation. We also had interviews with President Christensen this past week, which were really wonderful, he's just fantastic, and really has great insights from another perspective. Both Sister Deng and Elder Jones called from Imun, and one of our Chinese investigators, Ziyong, will be baptized in a couple of weeks, by Zack {whom Sam baptized}! SUPER excited! We'll probably be able to head down for the service. We had a great meeting with Seongdeok this Saturday, and saw several true blue miracles this week, including a guy calling us off of a namecard (which NEVER happens) after reading part of the Book of Mormon and saying that he wanted to come to church. There was a grat baptismal service after church yesterday, and it's just been a good week. We're getting along really well! Elder Ahn is seriously so great, and I'm learning a lot from him! I hope it goes the other way at least a little bit, too. I apologize for the brevity, but I'm trying to send a lot of pictures today, which are much more fun. 그런데, it does take quite a while. Please enjoy, and to my friends serving missions as well, well, we'll have a slide show and reminisce later.

It's a great life. I love being here and all of you. I'm very close to finishing Talmage's book Jesus the Christ, and have been amazed and inspired this week at what an atoning sacrifice for individuals really begins to mean. All of my love and prayers, and have a wonderful week,

Elder South 

"I love Korea because, 사실, no poison insects." July 5, 2014

Hello from a beautiful day in Seoul! The weather is perfect, as always. My hope that all are well and happy, my prayers, love, and thoughts remain with you.

 

It's been a good week! We've been working as hard as we possibly can, and have talked to a LOT of people. That's just about all we did this week! It's been good, though, the sheaves are starting to grow and we have a lot of first meetings lined up for the next couple of weeks, including a Chinese guy. Woohoo. I don't remember if I shared this last week, but we were at a big intersection, and a guy behind us was talking on the phone in Chinese. I looked back, and he was on a bike. He was busy on the phone, so I couldn't talk, but as soon as the light changed, he cruised off, and, well, we followed. Sometimes you feel like quite the foreigner when you're chasing a Chinese guy down on a bike for a kilometer in Seoul while trying not to be too ostentatious, but we didn't see much of another choice. Maintaining a safe distance, we caught up to him at a red light, and although he was still on the phone, I talked with him for a bit. If he was surprised to see the two missionaries just ahead of him before just behind him now, quite a distance away, his casual countenance revealed nothing, and we got his number and will eat together this week. It's been a fun time.

 

We hiked Suraksan last week with some other elders in the district, and it was a lot of fun. Beautiful weather and great views. Elder Reynolds and I were in such a hurry to enjoy and progress that we got lost several times, found some fun places, and were the last ones up. Probably something of a parable in that for me, but it was a good time.

 

I was also privileged to go on an exchange with Elder Singer this week, and we had a really good time. We of course as missionaries need to rely as much as we possibly can on the Spirit, but I think God blesses us as well when we just get out there and work as hard as we possibly can. We went home tired and very happy. It has been wonderful to be serving in the district, and I look forward to continuing to serve with him and the others here. One of Sister Kwon's investigators was baptized this past Sunday, and it was a great experience. Her husband came to church for the first time, but, as it was remarked, looked like he'd been there for 20 years in a very snazzy suit. He's a great guy, and just came from North Korea 4 years ago. I hope that we can meet more with him in the future. It's Sister Kwon's last transfer, and she's a real rockstar. The fam will have to have her over for dinner when she's back at BYU.

 

It's been a fun, hardworking week, and although there may not be a ton of exciting stories, everyday is rewarding and beautiful. I've really been enjoying reading more about the life of Christ and his apostles, and seeing, in the apostle's growth, how we too can grow in Christ. We did go up to Uijeongbu today to practice cello for a fireside in a couple weeks, and it's definitely good to have a cello again.

 

In any case, really, all my love. Have a great week and enjoy the summer. Time sure goes quickly out here. We're happy and blessed to be here. I love Korea for a multitude of reasons. Elder Ahn's source of love is mentioned above {in the title}.

 

LOVE!

 

Elder South 

No Excuses. June 29, 2014.

Hello! Man, another super hurry week. Congratulations to Juliana and Mizo on their wedding, Caleb, and all! All my love, and may all be well. You are in my prayers.

Due to test period for the students, this week again has been one filled primarily with jeondo {street contacting}, with (hopefully!) many prospective meetings in the next week or two. Lots of willing but very busy students (with Elder Ahn's perspective, I'm beginning to realize really just HOW busy) that we are excited to meet with later. It's been very rewarding- there's nothing quite like a full day of street contacting to make you feel like you've worked hard, and these weeks have been among my highest contact and particularly phone number weeks thus far, and we have faith that later it will turn into people to meet!

In spite of lots of time out, we had some powerful experiences this week as we were able to meet with a few investigators. Brother Yeon, who was before primarily {interested in only learning English}, is genuinely demonstrating a real change. He has many worries, and is just starting, I think, to see that they can be taken away by the Gospel. We were able to meet him on Friday, the 170th anniversary of the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, at the same time that they were confronted by the mob in the jail. As we sang "Praise to the Man," the Spirit was strong, and his prayer to conclude was very sincere.

Brother Seongdeok came to church for the second time in a row this past week, and attended a Family Home Evening at the church as well, strengthening friendships and having a good time. We will continue to meet with him and develop his integration into the ward. Seeking to love our investigators, and doing everything that we can to show that love, has allowed us to develop good bonds with them as we seek to bring them closer to the Savior.

Elder Ahn {Sam's companion, a new missionary} is doing very well. He has a strong desire to work, and rarely does it feel that he's only been out for such a short time, explaining and teaching well, and showing love and support for investigators and members. He more than obeys rules shows a desire to do so, and accepts correction or new rules humbly and quickly. We are getting along very well, and he is already a fantastic missionary. I feel a great love for him and a responsibility to help him develop into the powerful missionary that the Lord wants him to be.

It was a privilege to hear from a return missionary, businessman, {who speaks} perfect Korean Brother Rogers this past week at zone conference, and certainly provided a lot to think about. He had great suggestions about some very specific things in the culture, but also some bigger ideas that we appreciated. Confidence, love, foregoing any excuses that spring up- we will continue to discuss his words and what they mean for us as we seek to improve daily.

Studies are going well! We will continue to study diligently and seek to apply what we learn. Role playing has been very valuable for us in particular, so far, and we will continue to do so as we practice whatever aspect of missionary work we need to work on. Elder Ahn has great questions that have led to very fruitful discussions, and our teaching has improved as we seek to make roleplaying real, willing to change humbly to needs and to the Spirit.

We are happy and very, very blessed to be here- in Sanggye, in Korea.

All my love,
Elder South 

Still Good Food Spacy. Bonus Email, June 29 2014

The email translation of an email i got earlier this week:

Korean translation feature = doesn't work!

 

 

---

Hi ^ ^ that's a transvestite yiyejin 'sister missionaries' s!

I tried to e-mail last week that I have only a little time for snacks ㅠ ㅠ went blank

How well being a missionary today for furniture? Blah blah blah blah

I've been here 10 days now, Mr. MT that coming true is still good food spacy ... ㅠ ㅠ But for that I do not belong to it too good to have you tell I hold heh heh heh heh Note Vertigo

I was good at the end of the Korean elders sinikka heh heh heh'm sure understandable

Mr. MT be here in two weeks, I immediately go out of the field! Fully expecting her! Mr. MT of course, but the story I want to meet with investigators eolreung! I am frightened But of course ... heh

I came here felt the biggest thing that's investigators do not teach knowledge? The principle of the body where a lot of experience and I'm getting a good feeling too! Hamkkehal the Holy Ghost when we better understand and love seekers can convert doeeot I learned that itda

O do not have a lot of time today ㅠ ㅠ I want to write a longer e-mail me or Elder After a lot of training is a good feeling let me blah blah blah blah ^ ^ bang

Labouring for the Meat. June 22, 2014

Hello from a very wet Seoul! The rain comes and goes in droves, and so close to the mountains here in Northern Seoul the rain clouds, lightning, and accompanying thunder paint quite the picture. It won't be for another month or two until the rain really comes, though. One day in Beijing it started to rain, to really rain, and so we put on swimsuits and went outside to play soccer while buckets poured down. That's probably not going to be an option here, but I am looking forward to rainy season, perhaps alone among Korea- rain is not overly loved over here.

I hope that all goes well in studies, work, and merrymaking. The summer is a good time. All of the students over here are just facing the end of term test period now, which is always a pretty tough time to meet people! 열심히 공부하네. Students here really study unbelievably much.

It's been a great week. Elder Ahn and I are getting along very well, working as hard as we can, and are just having a great time. We're very, very excited to be here, and to be doing this. We're still struggling to meet with the investigators from before we got here, and it really has felt more like opening an area so far than anything, but we have faith and hope that we will be able to make that transition. Lots of street contacting, lots of numbers, and lots of asking to met after test time this week. It's been a blast. The missionaries here in Sangye are really just superstars- great example, hard workers, just incredible. It's a wonderful district with a lot of faith. The ward is great as well, really just the best it gets, and we've enjoyed meeting several members and less active members already.

Brother Seongdeok came to church yesterday, which we were really excited about! We met him last week. He was quite late in getting to the subway station, and we were in quite, quite a crunch to get to church in time for the sacrament, which naturally is a pretty big deal for us to be there for, especially as missionaries. We ran, which was definitely not ideal, the not insignificant distance to the church with him, but arrived just a bit too late. It was definitely a bit stressful, what with being new missionaries in the ward, and all, but in the end, he enjoyed church, said he'd like to keep coming, and we did the absolute best that we could. There was a baptismal service after church that we sang for, and enjoyed.

I got a few name tags in Chinese this week, just in time for leaving Imun^^ That was fun in any case.

I do my very best to share ideas and whatever needs to be done with Elder Ahn, but sometimes, it doesn't get through too clearly. As we were planning a lesson this week, I was trying to share what I had read in Elder Talmage's Jesus the Christ in Korean, which, for all those familiar with his beautiful but undoubtedly occasionally recondite style of writing, is only asking for trouble. While trying to translate Christ's "Labour not for meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life," after some blubbering about animate and eternal meat, it was looking like the ideas didn't translate all too well, at least not mine. It's all right, we moved on. Kind of the life of a missionary, I guess. Move on and find what works better. The last few days have felt a little bit like things have been stacked against me in some regards, things aren't always sunshine and roses on the outside, and in fact when we just went out to give the sisters an umbrella, and one of them questioned where my necktie was, I looked down to no sight of a tie. It's all right. We deal and move on. It's a great life if you can laugh.

I read Elder Gong's article on perfectionism in the Liahona {church magazine}  this week, and was pretty amazed to see just about everything I've ever struggled with as a student, a missionary, a friend, and just a human mentioned, so I'll continue to think about that and how I can improve. How Jesus Christ's sacrifice helps us to become perfect without us needing to be perfect... now.

We came to Korea "not to do [our] will, but the will of Him that sent [us]." We will continue to strive to improve and invite more effectively every day. We're loving our time, and I really dope hope and pray for all the best for you. A special congratulations to Juliana and Mizo this week- may the weather be perfect and the occasion magical.

Everything is beautiful, in God's hands, and happens for a wise purpose, even if it's a wise purpose of which we know not.

Be still my soul: Thy God doth undertake

To guide the future as He has the past

Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;

All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know

His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

And from C.S. Lewis, on consecration:

"Give me all. I don't want so much of your time, so much of your talents and money. I want you. All of you. I have not come to torment or frustrate the natural man, but to kill it. No half measures will do. I don't want to only prune a branch here and another there; rather, I want the whole tree out. Hand it all over to me, the whole outfit, all of your desires, all of your wants wishes and dreams. Turn them all over to me, give yourself to me and I will make of you a new self in my image. Give me yourself and I will give you Myself. My will shall become your will. My heart shall become your heart." 

All my love,

Elder 南

American Slang and a Korean Missionary. June 15, 2014

Good... night? We're emailing late today, partly because we get to go to the temple tomorrow, for which we're excited. It's a good life.

What a change it's been this week. I can't even believe it. I'll go through as much as I can- I wish that I was recording things better. I want to be, but the, well, always, tends to be busy. Writing is all right, but the sheer volume of what I want to write renders me, possibly illogically, just not writing any, and instead usually texting or calling or studying 등등. I'm thinking about experimenting with audio recording, as years from now, I'm sure I'll want to look back. I've always just kind of lived life as it comes, and if today is more exciting than yesterday, then wait until tomorrow, but when I'm old and senile I'm sure I will appreciate any degree of foresight that I can muster. It's always dangerous when the stream-of-consciousness card comes out.

Last Monday we did go to a meat buffet as a district, and it was a lot of fun. We had a great time, and I'll miss beloved Imun for sure! We then took a couple of suitcases, sans clothes/several other necessities (see above thoughts on foresight^) to Sanggye so we didn't have to ship them. The stop next to where we live is 노원, which is pronounced NO ONE, so I was pretty worried, and although it's definitely not a quaint little college town anymore, there are plenty of people here that can be blessed through giving their burdens to Christ. That evening we went to get 불닭 (fire chicken) with a member, which I had wanted to try for a while. It was good, it was hot, and it was also at that location only chicken feet, which, like my triple berry말고 red bean milkshake in China, was not entirely expected but 생각보다 좋다, better than I thought.

On Tuesday we went to brother O Xueyi's house and made some fantastic Chinese food. Well, I skewered meat (which we had more of in those two days than the past three transfers) and other, more proficient hands crafted the more delicate dishes. The sisters came, as did Sa Gae and Sister Po. It was a great time, and a wonderful way to see Imun off. Rain only lightly came in spite of the threat, and it was good to be with friends. Because several lessons came up that night, we were unable to send my other boxes, which has meant only two ties to wear for the past week, and two of everything else. And you know what? It's worked out just fine, which makes me wonder if I shouldn't just leave my other boxes in Imun and live the Spartan life.

Wednesday was transfers day, and I had to ride over with the assistants to trainers' training, which was very fun to have with such a small group. I have been and will be serving With Elder Ahn Gwangyoung, who is just incredible. Seriously the best. He's from Annyang, in the Seoul South mission, We're getting along famously and having a great time. We're a new companionship in a new area, and are definitely still figuring out where everything is, but it's really been the best. Sanggye is probably like ten times the size of Imun. We tried to walk to a subway station that we heard was good to street contact there today, and we got there-도착하기는 했는데-after about an hour and a half, and some great conversations along the way. We're living alone and working as hard as we can! There's a lot of Korean that I don't know. A very lot of Korean.

Wednesday we met our ward mission leader {the local coordinator for the missionaries and local members}, who is fantastic, and got right into it. Thursday we were out and saw miracles. The first thing that everyone said when I was going to Sanggye was regarding the relative numbers- none- of Chinese citizens. The zone leaders met a woman a couple days ago, though, from China, who wants us to teach her son when he gets back from China, and on Thursday we met a guy from Beijing who we are really hoping to meet with this week. Several ward members speak Chinese well, and I may have spoken more Chinese than Korean at church on Sunday. There is a certain point, though, where I'll need to learn Korean. Chinese still feels like home, though. Every language really has a personality, and we learn new things from each. Seeing the deeper meaning, that orb of truth, but trying to express it in different ways, and some are more familiar than others. After more than eight months here, I'm still honestly not sure whether I have more proficiency in Chinese or Korean, and neither, sadly, is all that good. Why that's the case I don't know (<--although that grammar form is very Korean), whether it be that to me, Korean is just tougher, or what, but it's all right- it's not the spoken language that matters. French, embarrassingly, has turned into Chinese. Is that a thing? Whenever I speak French about half of the words are Chinese. Anyway.

Thursday we had a really great service opportunity that seems like a weekly thing to help out at a center for the severely mentally handicapped in our area. It was very special, and we're looking forward to being back. I am, unfortunately, short-ish in time, but the rest of the week consisted of French toast, Elder Ahn being just OUT from jet lag in the evening, finding that our previous thoughts were correct and Imun really just does have the most expensive food in Korea, a very warm welcome to church, a talk there, questions from Elder Ahn, especially when he reads the progress record from Elder Mumford {who was the missionary in the area previously}, who uses some massive English slang: "What is leg-it?", study, and lots of talking with people.

Happy Father's day! <3 Go Korea, Fighting! in the world cup. Everyone here's favorite team is Korea, but then they have another favorite team, that's not Korea. I don't know why, Korea's for sure going all the way.

Elder South 

On the Move. June 8, 2014

Dad mentioned this week that I might be moving around pretty soon. Transfer calls were, indeed, this week.

 

I'M LEAVING IMUN. Pretty tragic. Away from home and family and friends and colleges and Chinese friends and recent converts... to a new home, which I am sure will be great, though I will definitely miss this place! It will be a very different feel, and I will need to learn and grow in new ways. I do know that there is where I need to be. "There" is Sanggye (상계), the extreme Northeastern part of soul, to which both Elder Mumford and Sister Kang also transferred from Imun, funnily enough. There has been a lot of good missionary work done there recently, and I'm pretty excited.

 

I thought that my training days {training new missionaries} were over for a while, at least, with such a decrease in missionaries coming to our mission over the past few transfers. In the group of missionaries that arrives this week, there are 4 sisters and... 1 elder. I'll be with him, and we're going to have a fabulous time! It's a good chance for me to go through and make sure that we are doing all the fundamentals right, and have all of our priorities in the right place. We'll be living alone in an apartment, so we'll have a great time, I'm sure! ^^ More, of course, next week- I'm pretty tempted just to call someone and ask who's coming, but things will play out soon enough. We will be pretty close to some of the most famous mountains in Seoul to hike, so that should prove to be some fun times.

 

We were reading earlier this week in {the book} Jesus the Christ, concerning parables, and particularly enjoyed {author James} Elder Talmage's explication of the seeds falling on different patches of ground.  We have a duty to spread as much as we can possibly do, and then a little bit more, which we are quite looking forward to in the coming weeks. We also read in the Book of Mormon in Alma chapter 8 how Alma and Amulek had power given to them because of their faithfulness. That same power is available to us, if we're willing to work for it.

We will continue to do as a district everything that we can do to hit those mission standards of excellence, and as we do, I really believe that we will see miracles. We talked a lot concerning goals this week, both setting and reaching. Our "perfect" day of missionary service was this past week, and was beneficial in that it helped us to see the discrepancy between where we absolutely want to be every day and some specific situations wherein we can improve to reach that. We saw several miracles, especially as we did jeondo {street contacting}, and will continue to strive for perfection every day.

 

We've been living essentially vegetarian for the last few months, but we'll be going to a meat buffet as a district today to... celebrate? my departure, I suppose, which should be fun. It's been a very valuable time to me, in Imun, and we've had a great district and really seen the hand of the Lord here.

 

Much of the latter part of this week was spent preparing for a baptism yesterday, which went beautifully, or at least as well as someone 93 years old being baptized can. Sister Ahn, who everyone just calls "Grandma" (Halmeoni!) is the same that I mentioned previously coming to church a few weeks ago. She really has been a miracle. Her memory is spotty at best, and is very hard of hearing, but she always remembered the date for which she was scheduled for baptism, and was very, very excited for that. Her testimony is simple and powerful. At the service the Spirit was incredibly powerful, and I knew that all of this was true. That feeling is what it's all about. She was confirmed at the service as well.

 

Everyone else in the district is staying, although Sister Gu and Sister Deng are splitting up, which means we get two new sisters. Sister Gu, in her last transfer before ending her mission, will be training a new missionary, and Sister Deng will have a new companion. Pretty crazy, and so exciting. When I came to Imun we had 4 missionaries, and it has been so much fun to see the growth and the excitement build over the last few months.

 

It's been quite a crazy week, although I do certainly live a relatively simple life for sure. My hopes are that all is well elsewhere. Congratulations to Lisa and family on a quick and successful move, and I wish you all the best for the future. Congratulations to Juliana and Mizo, and all!  

 

Enjoy the summer, and trek {pioneer reenactment}, for those who are so doing.

 

I love this life and this work. It's a 믿을 수 없는 short amount of time, and as we serve in Sanggye we'll serve with our all and then some more. Thank you as always for your support and your love. All of my love to you~

 

Elder South