4/6/2015

On our last P-Day together, Elder Maris and I decided to go to the local park. There, we met with the other Elders and Murphy, our English-fluent member friend. We played soccer and whiled away the time. It was pretty strange for both of us to realize that this was his last P-Day.
On the next day, we met with Gabriel, and he asked us about the Word of Wisdom, which he'd read about online, in connection with the various standards that we live. We had a discussion about the commandments, and how they not only help us to live better lives, but authorize God to give us various blessings. He's impressed with how we live, and really respects us, but he can't see how he could do it. He still insists that he has his own faith (Catholic) and that he's only meeting us because he feels good when he meets us, but I think he's being converted, from the inside out.
We also had dinner with Sister from the ward, and she took us out to a restaurant. The dinner was so spicy, I was having a hard time eating a lot. I've gotten a lot better with spice since I came, but there are still times where it just gets the better of me.
On Tuesday, Elder Maris and I had a really interesting discussion about movies and books and stories in general. My conclusion was that they enable us to have a virtual experience, helping us to gain knowledge from experiences that we could never actually have. Life is short, and good literature helps us to broaden our horizons, without actually doing it!
Wednesday was the day. We went out to the transfer area, then I left with the rest of the trainers to go to the headquarters, where we met our new companions. My new companion's name is Elder Schilling; he's from California, attended BYU Hawaii, and is a bonafide surfer dude. We're a bit different! Actually, we're a lot of different, but I think that's just a tool for the Lord to use to make a really strong companionship. It took us all day to go through the orientation then get back to our area, but I was already seeing one of the benefits of training: not only are new missionaries generally enthusiastic, but everything in Korea is still new and strange to them. After a while, you stop appreciating and being amused by all of the differences between America and Korea; you just get used to it. But when training, you're able to enjoy all of it over again, while not missing out on the things you've learned.
On Thursday we had our first district meeting with Elder Campbell as district leader. We did an activity that I did while I was with Elder Chow in Gimpo: "cross the line." How it works is that each time a statement that you agree with is made, you cross the line. It's a visual representation of how we're all actually pretty similar, even if we have some differences. It was a good discussion about unity, which is important since each companionship in our area changed this week.
On Friday we met with Lee Gi Won (이기원), and, as always, he talked a ton. But, we were able to talk a little about the restoration of the priesthood, and priesthood blessings. We wanted to offer him one, since he constantly agrees to come to church if his body feel's okay (which... considering him, isn't surprising. He's told us about some of his myriad physical deficiencies), but he wasn't understanding very well, so he told us that we'd talk about it more next time.
Saturday was pretty low key; mostly walking around in the rain looking for people to talk to. We were able to get a few phone numbers though, so it wasn't unproductive.
Sunday was a pretty big day for the ward, and for us. We were able to get Gabriel to come out and support Elder Schilling, since all new missionaries speak on their first day here. He was pretty uncomfortable, but stayed through Fast and Testimony meeting. Hopefully he was touched by the Spirit, because we had some really good testimonies that day, not excluding the five missionaries who bore their testimonies.
Above all, I was grateful this week for the chance to remember the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ's sacrifice for us, from the Garden of Gethsemane, to the dread peak of Calvary, to the glorious empty tomb. He lives, and He's there. We just have to find Him in our lives.

Best Wishes,
Elder Austin Lynn