We got transfer calls this Sunday, and.... I'm staying! Since Elder Maris (my companion) leaves at the end of this transfer, it looks like I'll be in Sanbon for a long time.
Which I'm totally fine with; especially because we just managed to pick up a new investigator! We'll be meeting with him for the sole purpose of discussing the gospel, and religion in general. He's an older gentlemen, and is quite... different from most Koreans. He also likes to talk for a long time, so... Either way, he's a child of God, and we're doing our best to help him find light and truth.
So, what is Valentine's Day like in Korea? Actually, pretty similar to America. Couples go out, there are huge lines outside of the lotto stands... wait, what? Yeah, lottery tickets! Those are hugely popular on Valentine's Day! I guess it's an expression of love towards money! Interesting, eh?
Before anybody asks, yes, yes I did have a date on Valentine's Day. I spent it with Elder Campbell, from the opposite Sanbon Elder team.
What? No! Of course not! No, we did not kiss! Don't be rude.
Sorry if the hypothetical conversation lowered anybody's opinion of me, but it's exactly how I think about Saturday in my head! I did go on exchanges, but it obviously was not a date, anymore than my companion and I are a couple (ack!). It went well; and we made sure to take a goofy selfy together (in the dropbox link at the bottom of this week's letter).
So, what have I been doing? One thing is memorizing the Articles of Faith -- in Korean. What a blast! Of course, the primary children are better than me, but I've only just started, and I'm confident that I'll be able to memorize all of them before too long. Then, the real struggle begins: maintaining them!
I got to put them into action when we had a lesson and meal with a recent convert family on Sunday. They taught us how to do the traditional Korean bowing, and it was lots of fun! On Lunar New Year (the biggest holiday in Korea) when youngsters bow to the older folks, they give them money! It's better than Halloween! (Don't tell anyone, but the ward members gave us money too! We were mortified. But, it's culture! And they're fabulously wealthy).
Somebody at the meal commented that I look like Leonardo DiCaprio! Not sure how, but I'll take it! Now I can compare the fat Australian who did Korean military service and is fluent, with Tom Cruise and Leo DiCaprio for the most common comparisons I get from Koreans. Things are looking up! Maybe I can be an actor!
We shared a spiritual message about scriptures and the Book of Mormon, and at the end one of the brethren commented, tapping the Book of Mormon, "This is a fun book!" (잼있는책이다) He asked if there were movies, or a drama! I committed to work on a Book of Mormon drama when I go to BYU. Personally, I feel it could be pretty succesful. The story of the Book of Mormon itself is vastly interesting, and the people inside of it are real and captivating; just like secular history!
Do you read the Book of Mormon like a novel? Like an essay? Like a history text? It's all of those, and more. We should all exercise the privilege of putting ourselves in the shoes of the writers and participants of the Book of Mormon. For example, you can feel the power, the determination, the strength in the following passage, penned by the final Nephite, a lone survivor named Moroni:
1 ... And I make not myself known to the Lamanites lest they should destroy me.
2 For behold, their wars are exceedingly fierce among themselves; and because of their hatred they put to death every Nephite that will not deny the Christ.
3 And I, Moroni, will not deny the Christ; wherefore I wander whithersoever I can for the safety of mine own life.
I grew up watching animated adventures from the Book of Mormon, and was blessed with a consistent habit of family scripture study. Thanks to that, I have come to love the Book of Mormon for it's various messages, and I am constantly getting to know it's main men better and better. Do you read the Book of Mormon like you read your journal? Do you read it like the latest Harry Potter? Do you study it like you would study a formula for turning lead to gold? Do you value the sacrifice of untold multitudes, who provided this priceless record?
And, before I forget, I feel similar about the Bible. I've spent a lot of time lately reading through the New Testament, and it's teachings have come to permeate my dreams! If you ask how, I woke up the other day, concerned about whether my Jewish converts were still trying to get my gentile converts to keep the Law of Moses. If that's not a sign of reading the Epistles of Paul, nothing is.
Sunday morning, we performed a musical number in sacrament meeting. All 4 Elders sang a men's quartet version of "Come, Thou Font of Every Blessing" in Korean. We were only able to practice for 3 days, so it was a miracle that we pulled it off! It's a good feeling when you walk back to your seat and can tell people have been affected by the Spirit.
One of my favorite songs affirms that, "We all just want to be stronger." In the song, it says that the way we grow stronger is through relationships with others. In the song's phraseology, the "number of people in our heart." I think it's a wonderful concept that the number of people we love, the "[people we] want to see the most" are the things that enable us to reach above our average level of performance, and become something more. Is not motivation what determines performance, nine times out of ten? What better motivation is there, than love? It's the one that pushes our Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ.
(the song quoted is a translation of the song "Newsong" by Tacica)
Wanting to see each and every one of you,
Elder Austin Lynn
This week's pictures:
I got pranked! We stepped out of the house for a few minutes during weekly planning to pick up some delicious ice cream for the house, and when we returned five minutes later, my desk had been moved to the bathroom! I found it rather enjoyable, and, ever a sucker for change, continued to use that arrangement until the other Elders moved it back. 
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