Find joy in living the gospel!
This week was focused on helping find joy in the gospel, both members
and non-members. On Tuesday evening we met with our good friend Kim
Chan Oo (김찬우), a member who's going to leave for his mission in March
(a few days after I return home!). Elder Lowe and I practiced teaching
about the Gift of the Holy Ghost, one of the most prized gifts of our
Heavenly Father. We taught simply and effectively, and we all had a
good time. At one point, my companion Elder Lowe was sharing a story
about reading the scriptures, and said that when he's unhappy he reads
the scriptures. It was silent for a moment, and then Chan Oo said,
"Most people do." He said that in English, out of the blue, while
Elder Lowe was sharing an experience, so it was hilarious.
During the afternoon that day, we went back to our mission
headquarters so that all of the trainers and new missionaries could
meet with the mission leadership once more. The meeting was terrific,
and inspired everyone to "try a little harder to be a little better."
It felt good to be able to teach immediately after that meeting.
On Wednesday we had district meeting and focused on teaching
simply, especially by using the scriptures. The district members
taught well, and then afterwards we had an evaluation with our zone
leaders to evaluate how Elder Lowe is coming along with his ability to
teach the missionary lessons in Korean. He's doing great! As to be
expected.
That evening, we went out to Shihung to visit a member and his
son. Unfortunately, we rode the bus wrong on the way there, and ended
up driving to a different city. On the bright side, we got to see the
ocean while it was snowing. It looked pretty neat! We were able to
return to Shihung pretty quickly, and made our appointment. We shared
a message about joy, and had a terrific dinner together.
On Thursday we had a great day. We met with our recent convert
friend Y (윤여준) and read Helaman 5 together. Afterwards we
visited a member and shared a brief message about joy drawn from
Romans chapter 8. They were happy to see us, however brief our visit
was. That evening we met a man called T, who's our newest
investigator. He's a professor at Seoul University, one of (if not
the) biggest universities in Korea. He's interested in joining our
church, so we're excited to go forward with the discussions.
Friday we planned and began exchanges with our zone leaders.
During the exchange, I worked with Elder Steel and had the chance to
teach the exact same investigator that I met with him a month or two
ago! Sadly, the investigator was still in the same condition:
intellectually questioning God, unwilling to pray, but wanting to
believe without hypocrisy. We talked and after some great questions
from Elder Steel I was inspired to share a two-scripture formula for
gaining faith. The first was Romans 10:17:
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
That explains our role as missionaries: to share the word of God. Then
comes the second step, from Jesus Himself:
17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine,
whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. (John 7:17)
While sharing the second scripture, all of the power in the church
went off, so we were sitting in a room illuminated by streetlight
coming through the window as he read the second scripture. His only
comment was, "I'll have to think about this principle more." I then
shared my experience as a teenager, gaining a testimony of God's love
and existence, which culminated in reading D&C 18:10, which I shared
with him last of all. At the end of it all, we sat there for a few
moments in this dark room, and that man finally understood: everybody
started where he is, not knowing. But, we can know, if we desire to,
and experiment on the word.
Saturday was our transfer calls -- unsurprisingly, Elder Lowe and
I are staying together, as is the other team we live with. Next
transfer call and I go home! Sunday was a very compact day: we went to
ward council, through which I'm always reminded of how hard our
leaders work, and how wonderful our ward is. We also went home
teaching with a member, and got to set up several member appointments
for the coming week.
This last transfer's going to be the best of all!
This week was focused on helping find joy in the gospel, both members
and non-members. On Tuesday evening we met with our good friend Kim
Chan Oo (김찬우), a member who's going to leave for his mission in March
(a few days after I return home!). Elder Lowe and I practiced teaching
about the Gift of the Holy Ghost, one of the most prized gifts of our
Heavenly Father. We taught simply and effectively, and we all had a
good time. At one point, my companion Elder Lowe was sharing a story
about reading the scriptures, and said that when he's unhappy he reads
the scriptures. It was silent for a moment, and then Chan Oo said,
"Most people do." He said that in English, out of the blue, while
Elder Lowe was sharing an experience, so it was hilarious.
During the afternoon that day, we went back to our mission
headquarters so that all of the trainers and new missionaries could
meet with the mission leadership once more. The meeting was terrific,
and inspired everyone to "try a little harder to be a little better."
It felt good to be able to teach immediately after that meeting.
On Wednesday we had district meeting and focused on teaching
simply, especially by using the scriptures. The district members
taught well, and then afterwards we had an evaluation with our zone
leaders to evaluate how Elder Lowe is coming along with his ability to
teach the missionary lessons in Korean. He's doing great! As to be
expected.
That evening, we went out to Shihung to visit a member and his
son. Unfortunately, we rode the bus wrong on the way there, and ended
up driving to a different city. On the bright side, we got to see the
ocean while it was snowing. It looked pretty neat! We were able to
return to Shihung pretty quickly, and made our appointment. We shared
a message about joy, and had a terrific dinner together.
On Thursday we had a great day. We met with our recent convert
friend Y (윤여준) and read Helaman 5 together. Afterwards we
visited a member and shared a brief message about joy drawn from
Romans chapter 8. They were happy to see us, however brief our visit
was. That evening we met a man called T, who's our newest
investigator. He's a professor at Seoul University, one of (if not
the) biggest universities in Korea. He's interested in joining our
church, so we're excited to go forward with the discussions.
Friday we planned and began exchanges with our zone leaders.
During the exchange, I worked with Elder Steel and had the chance to
teach the exact same investigator that I met with him a month or two
ago! Sadly, the investigator was still in the same condition:
intellectually questioning God, unwilling to pray, but wanting to
believe without hypocrisy. We talked and after some great questions
from Elder Steel I was inspired to share a two-scripture formula for
gaining faith. The first was Romans 10:17:
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
That explains our role as missionaries: to share the word of God. Then
comes the second step, from Jesus Himself:
17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine,
whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. (John 7:17)
While sharing the second scripture, all of the power in the church
went off, so we were sitting in a room illuminated by streetlight
coming through the window as he read the second scripture. His only
comment was, "I'll have to think about this principle more." I then
shared my experience as a teenager, gaining a testimony of God's love
and existence, which culminated in reading D&C 18:10, which I shared
with him last of all. At the end of it all, we sat there for a few
moments in this dark room, and that man finally understood: everybody
started where he is, not knowing. But, we can know, if we desire to,
and experiment on the word.
Saturday was our transfer calls -- unsurprisingly, Elder Lowe and
I are staying together, as is the other team we live with. Next
transfer call and I go home! Sunday was a very compact day: we went to
ward council, through which I'm always reminded of how hard our
leaders work, and how wonderful our ward is. We also went home
teaching with a member, and got to set up several member appointments
for the coming week.
This last transfer's going to be the best of all!
Love,
Elder Austin M. Lynn
Elder Austin M. Lynn
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