Lost in translation--April 5, 2015

"Seafood Stir Fried Rice Drugs: 6,900 won" -Among a nearby restaurant's "top menu" items

When you can learn to find joy in the little things in life, every day is a marvelous adventure. I hope that all are doing well and that you have enjoyed this past week. The flowers are out and very, very beautiful here. We've had ups and downs in weather, with balmy days and torrential downpours, and we've been loving every minute. It is always a pleasure, our favorite thing, to be able to get out and proselyte in the most fun places in Korea. Insa Dong brings fascinating characters in a multitude of languages every time that keep us on our toes, Buam Dong brings quaint cafes bursting with dating couples, and Gwanghwamun lots of opportunities to take pictures for Chinese nationals and talk with some of the most successful businessmen in Korea.

Due to working on the college reapplication process, I will be fairly brief today {he keeps saying that, and keeps writing long emails! :-}}, but I am just so grateful for this time in my life. I'm growing everyday, and as I try to stay uncomfortable in a good way and make this the hardest thing that I've ever done, I'm just discovering more parts of the world, of life, and certainly of the Gospel than I ever have previously.

Another transfer {of missionaries around the mission, which he is partially responsible for making happen} is over, people are with their new companions, and the battle is won. This next transfer will be a challenge, with lots of missionaries going home, a mission tour by the Area President, and President and Sister Christensen going to Tokyo for a while, but it will be fun. We picked up new missionaries from the airport again this week, had a couple of training meetings, and finished up with a couple people coming to church and a baptismal service this past week.

This past week, as always, we had some fun stories. I will share a couple and then get to work!

One brother we talked to was a non-attending Catholic, but said that because of his religion he didn't want to talk with us. He brushed us off, but we kept talking, and it turned out that he was about to travel to China and spoke Chinese. Suddenly he was all for a lively conversation, and his wife came out of the store they were going to a couple times to gesture him in. After a few of these unsuccessful willing interruptions to our conversation, she came out again and briskly dragged her husband forcefully into the shop.

As we were proselyting in Insa Dong there was a violin player playing just beautiful in the light rain a rendition of Arirang. As the rain intensified, we found ourselves in another place, and ran across this Ukrainian violin player, with whom we should meet this week.

An investigator showed up to our 11am appointment at the office at 9, and said that he would just study until 11. He did, and we gave him some music for his dad, who loves the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

I translated for the office couple at church this past week, and when you translate, it's just in and out, with not a lot of time to think. I found myself telling some very strange stories, and really doubted my accuracy, but I checked with the Korean elders afterward, and it turned out that I was somehow almost exactly on for stories during fast and testimony meetings such as the following:

-A gentleman in the days of King Sejong who visited a commoner to help him heal his hurt shoulder, and in the process shows love to the family in spite of class difference

-A missionary who fasted for just one meal at a time on his mission {instead of the usual 3, once per month} because the work was hard, but still received lots of blessings

-A grandmother's grandson's life's story, including his struggles and successes at school and his eventual attainment of a scholarship to an engineering college

We decided that the meaning of the stories just got lost in translation, but frankly, the Korean members looked just as confused as we were.

Coming back from church I also gave hard-boiled eggs  to a shouting passenger who had jumped on our bus, and the resulting silence led the master of meditation in traditional Korean robes who was sitting close by to give me a blueberry fig bar. Adventures every day.

We will watch General Conference this week, and are looking forward to it very much. Thanks to dad for sending the following beautiful quote from Elder Holland:

"Today we celebrate the gift of victory over every fall we have ever experienced, every sorrow we have ever known, every discouragement we have ever had, every fear we have ever faced—to say nothing of our resurrection from death and forgiveness for our sins. That victory is available to us because of events that transpired on a weekend like this more than two millennia ago in Jerusalem."

Easter is my favorite holiday, and always has been, because it just comes with so much hope for the future. A happy post-Easter to all, and all love until next week,

Elder South