We spent three days this week participating in "Family Discovery Day." It was a really enjoyable activity that everybody in our stake pulled together to put on, focusing on family history, it's importance in our lives, and how we can participate in it. My team was in a room where we directly worked with people on the "Family Search" website. We helped people make accounts and find their ancestors! There were times when there was nobody for me to help, so I did my own personal family history. I was able to find some of my own direct ancestors, and, just as importantly, find many of my ancestors' children. As I did family history, I found myself becoming more and more interested in the work. In the church, we talk of "the Spirit of Elias," which is, simply the Holy Ghost, testifying to us of family history work. I know that I felt it in strong measure as I did this sanctifying work. I think I found around 20 of my ancestors during the three days we did this, and I found a desire to do it in the future as well.
On Friday evening, our investigator So J----(서정환) was baptized by his member grandfather. Because we weren't originally intending to hold a baptism that evening, we ended up pulling everything together at the last minute. His non-member father came, and had a good experience. Both the missionaries here and the local primary sang at his baptismal service. It was exciting to have a baptismal service again -- and we plan on holding many more in the future. Our entire district is excited and ready to baptize. And with increased faith, comes increased power: such as the power to find those who are ready to follow Jesus Christ.
Monday, as usual, was our preparation day. We ate lunch with some of the other missionaries in this city, then my companion sent his luggage to his new home, while I sent a box of things I no longer need in the mission field home. That evening, we ate dinner with our ward mission leader, at his home. It was a wonderful dinner, in part thanks to the strong relationships between the missionaries and the ward mission leader. After one team shared a spiritual message about the power of hymns in our daily lives, we decided to sing a closing hymn before we left for our home. As we decided to what to sing, I suggested "God Be With You 'Till We Meet Again." Our Ward Mission Leader loved that suggestion, looked at me and said, "Elder Lynn, go home here. You're entered my heart now." I laughed at that, seeing that I've known him since the beginning of my mission, but it was a happy moment, even if the song we were singing was all about goodbye's.
I recently learned that the word goodbye actually comes from "God be with you." I found that extremely interesting, that when we would part in past times, we would hope that God would be with the other person.
On Tuesday Elder Ryu and I met with members a few times before he left the city. They were really nice, and I was happy that they talked to me as well as Elder Ryu. One sister was really surprised when she asked me if Korean was difficult. I told her it was easy, but just took time. Her jaw dropped, and she kept saying that was the first time anybody had ever said Korean was easy.
On Wednesday we had transfers, and I met my new companion: Elder Dent. I've known him for the past few transfers, so he's not really a new companion, but now we're working together. Our first (almost) week together has been good so far; we've met a few less-active members and one investigator. We didn't have a lot of time this week because of the stake activity, but we're ready to go hard this week.
On Friday evening, our investigator So J----(서정환) was baptized by his member grandfather. Because we weren't originally intending to hold a baptism that evening, we ended up pulling everything together at the last minute. His non-member father came, and had a good experience. Both the missionaries here and the local primary sang at his baptismal service. It was exciting to have a baptismal service again -- and we plan on holding many more in the future. Our entire district is excited and ready to baptize. And with increased faith, comes increased power: such as the power to find those who are ready to follow Jesus Christ.
Monday, as usual, was our preparation day. We ate lunch with some of the other missionaries in this city, then my companion sent his luggage to his new home, while I sent a box of things I no longer need in the mission field home. That evening, we ate dinner with our ward mission leader, at his home. It was a wonderful dinner, in part thanks to the strong relationships between the missionaries and the ward mission leader. After one team shared a spiritual message about the power of hymns in our daily lives, we decided to sing a closing hymn before we left for our home. As we decided to what to sing, I suggested "God Be With You 'Till We Meet Again." Our Ward Mission Leader loved that suggestion, looked at me and said, "Elder Lynn, go home here. You're entered my heart now." I laughed at that, seeing that I've known him since the beginning of my mission, but it was a happy moment, even if the song we were singing was all about goodbye's.
I recently learned that the word goodbye actually comes from "God be with you." I found that extremely interesting, that when we would part in past times, we would hope that God would be with the other person.
On Tuesday Elder Ryu and I met with members a few times before he left the city. They were really nice, and I was happy that they talked to me as well as Elder Ryu. One sister was really surprised when she asked me if Korean was difficult. I told her it was easy, but just took time. Her jaw dropped, and she kept saying that was the first time anybody had ever said Korean was easy.
On Wednesday we had transfers, and I met my new companion: Elder Dent. I've known him for the past few transfers, so he's not really a new companion, but now we're working together. Our first (almost) week together has been good so far; we've met a few less-active members and one investigator. We didn't have a lot of time this week because of the stake activity, but we're ready to go hard this week.
Best Wishes,
Elder Austin
Elder Austin
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