Things have changed for me, and that's okay!
This week essentially started soon after email last week. We planned on visiting a museum, and while we were leaving the house, we met a man on the street, who asked us if we could teach English to him.
Can we?
Of course! We set an appointment with him, and went on our way to spend an enjoyable afternoon at the Seoul Grand Park complex. In particular, we wanted to visit the Gwacheon (과천) national science museum... but it was closed. Undettered, we traveled to the nearby museum of contemporary art... which was also closed. We were determined to have a good time, so we at last entered the Seoul zoo. Luckily for us, all of these things are located in the same area. We spent a pleasant afternoon at the zoo, and I was reminded of something: there are lots of white people in the world. There were several foreigner tourist families we saw while we were there, and I think I was pretty close to having a panic attack the first time I heard a few little girls speaking... in English. That was one of the strangest feelings I've had in a long time. I'm not used to regular people speaking English; Korean is the world, for me.
We met that man -- Kim Sung Chor (김성철) -- later that week, and, incredibly, he had us come over to his house to teach English. I've been in investigators' homes two or three times throughout my mission. As we entered his home, we met his three sons, who correspond with Christian, Grace, and Tyler in age, and his wife. We learned that they'd lived in Canada for a few years, and Brother Kim wanted to maintain his sons' English, as well as improve his basic ability.
He was asking us to teach his children, and himself.
When asked, he responded that he did not mind if we shared a brief spiritual message after teaching English.
We had the opportunity to teach a family.
This was a first for me on my mission, and a miracle that a loving Father in Heaven provided to us. This family has the potential to become a huge aid to the ward here, and I can easily see their sons being some of the future leaders and fathers that are so desperately needed in the church in Korea. We've officially met and taught with their family once, and it went well. We're structuring lessons like wedding planners, determined that everything will go off without a hitch, and will interest the oldest to youngest, and, most importantly, provide an opportunity for the Spirit to touch their hearts.
Earlier that first day of teaching, we met a man who sits on a hill all-day, drinking and watching the passer-by. To his credit, I could hardly tell that he'd been imbibing alcohol for who knows how long. Apparently he's seen missionaries almost everyday, as they walk past his hill towards church. We talked with him, gave him a Book of Mormon, and discussed the possibility of church attendance. The man was surprisingly open to the thought; he used to attend a church, but now that his knee's injured, it's no longer possible for him to go. In the middle of our talk, he stood up, walked a few feet away, and urinated off the side of the hill. He returned sat down, and continued his thought.
Just a typical moment for a grandpa in Korea.
I'm short on time this week (lunch with an English class member; a grandpa who always says the funniest things!), so we'll close with that. Thank you to everybody who writes me, it means the world to have the support of those of you at home.
This week essentially started soon after email last week. We planned on visiting a museum, and while we were leaving the house, we met a man on the street, who asked us if we could teach English to him.
Can we?
Of course! We set an appointment with him, and went on our way to spend an enjoyable afternoon at the Seoul Grand Park complex. In particular, we wanted to visit the Gwacheon (과천) national science museum... but it was closed. Undettered, we traveled to the nearby museum of contemporary art... which was also closed. We were determined to have a good time, so we at last entered the Seoul zoo. Luckily for us, all of these things are located in the same area. We spent a pleasant afternoon at the zoo, and I was reminded of something: there are lots of white people in the world. There were several foreigner tourist families we saw while we were there, and I think I was pretty close to having a panic attack the first time I heard a few little girls speaking... in English. That was one of the strangest feelings I've had in a long time. I'm not used to regular people speaking English; Korean is the world, for me.
We met that man -- Kim Sung Chor (김성철) -- later that week, and, incredibly, he had us come over to his house to teach English. I've been in investigators' homes two or three times throughout my mission. As we entered his home, we met his three sons, who correspond with Christian, Grace, and Tyler in age, and his wife. We learned that they'd lived in Canada for a few years, and Brother Kim wanted to maintain his sons' English, as well as improve his basic ability.
He was asking us to teach his children, and himself.
When asked, he responded that he did not mind if we shared a brief spiritual message after teaching English.
We had the opportunity to teach a family.
This was a first for me on my mission, and a miracle that a loving Father in Heaven provided to us. This family has the potential to become a huge aid to the ward here, and I can easily see their sons being some of the future leaders and fathers that are so desperately needed in the church in Korea. We've officially met and taught with their family once, and it went well. We're structuring lessons like wedding planners, determined that everything will go off without a hitch, and will interest the oldest to youngest, and, most importantly, provide an opportunity for the Spirit to touch their hearts.
Earlier that first day of teaching, we met a man who sits on a hill all-day, drinking and watching the passer-by. To his credit, I could hardly tell that he'd been imbibing alcohol for who knows how long. Apparently he's seen missionaries almost everyday, as they walk past his hill towards church. We talked with him, gave him a Book of Mormon, and discussed the possibility of church attendance. The man was surprisingly open to the thought; he used to attend a church, but now that his knee's injured, it's no longer possible for him to go. In the middle of our talk, he stood up, walked a few feet away, and urinated off the side of the hill. He returned sat down, and continued his thought.
Just a typical moment for a grandpa in Korea.
I'm short on time this week (lunch with an English class member; a grandpa who always says the funniest things!), so we'll close with that. Thank you to everybody who writes me, it means the world to have the support of those of you at home.
Best Wishes,
Elder Austin Lynn
Elder Austin Lynn
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