This transfer has been a completely brand-new experience. Having a Korean companion is a totally different challenge, but I'm doing my best to meet it.My listening skills are improving, I'm learning more than ever how to take the lead on the street, and, I think most importantly, I'm learning how to communicate better with my companion. For instance, there was a moment yesterday that really stung me, until we talked about it, and I learned what he meant by his words. My companion said that at church that day, I'd seemed a bit prideful. I was really, really brought low with that. I'm so terrified of being prideful. I want to be a confident speaker, but not prideful. I sat there at my desk, discouraged and crushed, for a few minutes, thinking about what I did wrong. I figured it must've been my greeting at church, and trying to participate in the classes. I thought that I'd done a good job of expressing excitement for working together with the ward, and being here, but maybe it'd come out wrong. I stewed in my thoughts for a little while, and then I asked Elder 이상범 how I can improve. He told me that when everybody else laughs, I need to laugh.
Laughing?!
I'd taken things the completely opposite direction. To confirm, I asked him about the things I had been worrying about, like my greeting, and he said those were great. My problem was that I wasn't making enough of an effort to smile and laugh when everybody else is, even though I don't understand what's going on. I committed to be more diligent in that, and I felt so relieved. That's something I can do! I can laugh when everybody else is! That's not a major personal problem. It's just something I need to be mindful of and adjust.
There definitely is a language barrier. Elder (이상범) doesn't speak English, and I can't speak Korean. On the bright side, my language is improving, and I'm learning a lot about Korean behavior.
Gimpo (김포) as a whole is vastly different from Yeonsu (연수). Because of the multitude of resteraunts and motels in our area, a ton of the people walking around are young couples that we can't talk too. I've found it really difficult to talk to the same number of people as back in Yeonsu (연수). Because I've found that I'm having a difficult time reaching the same numbers as in a different area, I've had to step back and evealuate everything. It's true that the area is different, and that accounts for part of it, but I refuse to let that be an excuse. I've resolved to do my best here, especially with our contact goals.
One neat thing is that Gimpo (김포) has an international airport, and it's pretty close to where we live. There's constantly airplanes flying overhead. Everytime I hear one, I look up! It's really cool to see them so close, and it's something I've grown to love very quickly.
There's four Elders in Gimpo House, which is on the 18th floor of an apartment building! It's crazy being up so high. It's also a lot more spacious than Yeonsu House, and nowhere near as sweltering 24/7, so that's been an appreciated change. There's a greenie being trained in the other companionship, and they've reminded me a ton of when I was a greenie (a scant week ago), and especially when I first got to country (a whole 13 weeks ago). It's interesting to see how I've grown in that short time.
As a side note, today is my 5 month mark! I find that incredible. I've already moved through a fifth of my mission! This time is so valuable. I need to be able to speak the language already!
Something I thought I'd explain today about Korean and English is the name "Lee." There's not actually an "L" in Korean. So how is Lee such a common name? The answer lies in translation: the common name, 이 pronounced "eeeee" like, "leak" would be written as I, as I've been writing it in my letters. However, when translating to English, it seems that I always becomes Lee. Very interesting.
I want to share something I learned about joy, and my relationship with Heavenly Father.
In response to last week's letter to President Morrisee, he said this: "I wish you could have been at the stake president meeting yesterday to hear yourself talked about in such glowing terms. I'm so pleased and proud of you -- like a son."
I don't send this to toot my own horn, but I just want to express to everybody that when he expressed that -- his pride in me, like a son -- it really hit me hard. It helped me recommit to work harder. It's extremely meaningful to me. If that's how my mission president feels, how does my Heavenly Father feel? How should I feel about that? I think I'm starting to experience the kind of joy described in D&C 18. I want to make my Heavenly Father proud of me, because I am His son. Doing the will of the Father really is a path to eternal joy.
Related to that, though things haven't been as crazy in Gimpo (김포), and I feel I've done less than my best on a few occasions ("have not we all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God?"), the Lord really does bless us when we keep trying, even when we've already messed up. The most important thing is the direction we're headed, not how far along we are. We were teaching a lesson, our first of the day, and the day was nearly over. Our goal had been 2, so it looked like we were going to fall short. Near the end of the lesson, a random man walked over (we were teaching a convenience store owner) and he started asking about what we were teaching! It was a true miracle, and we managed to hit our lesson goal, with mere minutes left in the day! God really does know when you do your best, which is something my companion's said to me several times.
If you have any questions about anything, please ask, whether directly or through my parents!
Once again, thank you so much for you letters! I love hearing from home. Your support means so much to me!
Love,
Elder Austin Lynn
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