This week our investigator J iss ready to start on the path of discipleship. I'll baptize him on January 1st, at 9 in the morning -- very possibly the first baptism for this year. It'll be a great start to the year.
The next time we met J, it was Christmas Day. We talked about church callings in the context of the importance of the priesthood, and service. After teaching a brief lesson, we went over to Brother Jason's home, and had a family home evening with our investigator, Brother Jason and his wife, and a returned missionary who rarely comes out to church because of work. We had a great time eating together, then singing Christmas hymns while reading the Nativity story together. After reading and singing, we had a short testimony meeting, and each member present bore a unique, strong testimony of Christ. Jason and his wife provided a fun, game-show-derived game, and we headed home. I feel that J was able to strengthen his testimony greatly through our meeting.
The next time we taught him a lesson was after church on Sunday. We taught him about the Law of the Fast, and finished teaching him about the importance of the priesthood in church organization. He was impressed by how we can fast for specific blessings, and how we help others through fasting.
Other highlights from this week included Christmas Eve, during which was our Ward Christmas Party. Lots of members and groups got together to provide different skits or musical numbers, including the missionaries! We presented a reworked version of a day in the life of a missionary, accompanied by primary songs (it's very similar to the one I performed in earlier this year). It was well received~
We also caroled as a zone on Christmas Day, but I think it was a bit cold for people! That, or the couples were too interested in each other to pay us attention. That's one thing about Christmas in Korea: it is not a family holiday, but a day for couples to do things together (actually, Korea has a holiday for couples every month!).
Another thing about Korean Christmas: it's a time to eat cake! One member owns a bakery, and actually gave us cakes at several different times. We've had around 4-5 cakes this last week! While it doesn't make up for not having a family (outside of my wacky extended Korean ward family, and my close-knit brotherly bond with the Elders, along with our district relationship), it certainly was tasty.
So, Christmas has come and gone, but New Year's is on the way! Our Ward Mission Leader asked the missionaries to each share a thought about this year after our meeting last Sunday, and this is what I shared: often, and I suppose I can only speak for myself, but I assume all missionaries struggle with this: often, we think that if we were a little more diligent, a little more humble, a little more charitable, we could perform mighty miracles, and baptize more people, and so on. One thing I've realized is that God would not mock us, knowing our imperfections and flaws, holding blessings above our heads in a never-ending game. Moreover, it's natural to be rejected and to fail. In particular, I've thought of one scripture, from the Doctrine and Covenants: "The Son of Man hath descended below all things. Art thou greater than He?"
Christ was "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." He was rejected and cast out, and lost many followers (think: investigators). He didn't convert everybody He came into contact with. Am I greater than Christ? Do I believe that if I were more faithful, more persuasive I could convince people to meet that I've failed to reach in the past?
No. I'm clearly not greater than Christ; nobody is. And so, the natural flow of life continues, and I'll continue to search for investigators who are ready to be baptized and follow Jesus Christ, for two more months.
The next time we met J, it was Christmas Day. We talked about church callings in the context of the importance of the priesthood, and service. After teaching a brief lesson, we went over to Brother Jason's home, and had a family home evening with our investigator, Brother Jason and his wife, and a returned missionary who rarely comes out to church because of work. We had a great time eating together, then singing Christmas hymns while reading the Nativity story together. After reading and singing, we had a short testimony meeting, and each member present bore a unique, strong testimony of Christ. Jason and his wife provided a fun, game-show-derived game, and we headed home. I feel that J was able to strengthen his testimony greatly through our meeting.
The next time we taught him a lesson was after church on Sunday. We taught him about the Law of the Fast, and finished teaching him about the importance of the priesthood in church organization. He was impressed by how we can fast for specific blessings, and how we help others through fasting.
Other highlights from this week included Christmas Eve, during which was our Ward Christmas Party. Lots of members and groups got together to provide different skits or musical numbers, including the missionaries! We presented a reworked version of a day in the life of a missionary, accompanied by primary songs (it's very similar to the one I performed in earlier this year). It was well received~
We also caroled as a zone on Christmas Day, but I think it was a bit cold for people! That, or the couples were too interested in each other to pay us attention. That's one thing about Christmas in Korea: it is not a family holiday, but a day for couples to do things together (actually, Korea has a holiday for couples every month!).
Another thing about Korean Christmas: it's a time to eat cake! One member owns a bakery, and actually gave us cakes at several different times. We've had around 4-5 cakes this last week! While it doesn't make up for not having a family (outside of my wacky extended Korean ward family, and my close-knit brotherly bond with the Elders, along with our district relationship), it certainly was tasty.
So, Christmas has come and gone, but New Year's is on the way! Our Ward Mission Leader asked the missionaries to each share a thought about this year after our meeting last Sunday, and this is what I shared: often, and I suppose I can only speak for myself, but I assume all missionaries struggle with this: often, we think that if we were a little more diligent, a little more humble, a little more charitable, we could perform mighty miracles, and baptize more people, and so on. One thing I've realized is that God would not mock us, knowing our imperfections and flaws, holding blessings above our heads in a never-ending game. Moreover, it's natural to be rejected and to fail. In particular, I've thought of one scripture, from the Doctrine and Covenants: "The Son of Man hath descended below all things. Art thou greater than He?"
Christ was "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." He was rejected and cast out, and lost many followers (think: investigators). He didn't convert everybody He came into contact with. Am I greater than Christ? Do I believe that if I were more faithful, more persuasive I could convince people to meet that I've failed to reach in the past?
No. I'm clearly not greater than Christ; nobody is. And so, the natural flow of life continues, and I'll continue to search for investigators who are ready to be baptized and follow Jesus Christ, for two more months.
With love,
Elder Austin Lynn
Elder Austin Lynn
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