It's strange to relate, but lately we've been spending tons of time
with less-active and recent convert members! We taught six times as
many lessons with less-actives and recent converts than investigators.
Wow!
On Monday we met with Brother Hyun (방승현), who recently
returned to Korea after a few semesters at BYU-Idaho. He's a little
younger than we are, so it's impressive to know how much he's grown
and matured during his time in America. He's yet another living
testament to how much foreign cultures and people can enrich our world
view. He's so cool! Of course he's good at English, but he's also
fun-loving and young. He's brought home a lot of interest in the
church, which he admits he didn't have when he was younger. He asks
lots of good questions and wants to be involved in missionary work
with his friends. I love that kid!
Tuesday was a packed today. We saw so many people! The saddest
meeting was with our friend Kim Chan Oo (김찬우). He's leaving for his
mission next Thursday! He's pretty nervous, but we testified of the
blessings of missionary work and shared how we felt when we left. I
remember the night before leaving for Utah, I was pretty overwhelmed.
I'm young, and about to start a brand new chapter in my life. Even
more, in a sense I would be starting it alone. Looking back, I realize
that I was never alone. Though physically absent, my friends and
family still supported and support me, and more than that, the God of
Israel was on my side. I think the popular hymn, "How Firm A
Foundation" explains this concept quite eloquently:
"Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
. . .
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand."
That day we also met a new investigator, who's been attending
another church for the past 30 years, but met missionaries even
further back than that, and has since been interested in the Book of
Mormon. We tuaght him about the Plan of Salvation, and he understood
and agreed with every single part! He's a nice old man, and we'll be
seeing him again this week.
We also saw Y J (윤여준), a recent convert who wants to
become a Navy SEAL for Korea. He's working hard to reach that goal,
and we're working hard to help him be spiritually independent and
spiritually buff before he leaves. He's such a great kid. He finds joy
in so many things, and is such a nice kid. We talked about his answers
to a few questions we gave him, to help him practice finding answers
to gospel questions on his own.
That night we also drove out (that is, rode a bus) quite a ways
to meet a less-active member. He's been grieving the death of his
mother for quite some time, and has been estranged from his family. He
has no work, no friends, nowhere to turn.
And that's where we come in the picture.
He's in a low place right now, but there's somebody who "descended
below all things." Our mission is to help him come unto Christ, who
can help and strengthen him during trying times and guide him during
the good ones.
We would meet this brother again during the week and exhort him
to read the scriptures and pray. One question he said he had been
repeatedly asking was "Why." I explained that as humans, we can't
always fully understand God, and sometimes He withholds answers for
our benefit. I suggested instead asking questions that God can answer,
answers that he can use in his life, such as: "What do I do next? How
can I continue? What can I learn from my circumstances?"
Other events in this week included meeting with Joon Suk, the boy
I baptized. His family situation isn't the best, so we ended up
reading Ether 12 with him, and discussing hope and good works with
him. I have a personal conviction that if we maintain hope and work
hard to do good, our lives will work out, regardless of where they are
now.
This was a consistent theme throughout the week: have hope. Hope
in yourself, and hope in good things to come. I was talking with my
district this week, and this thought came into my head: "There's no
reason to believe something negative."
Now, obviously there are some senses in which this thought fails, but
I think by and far we don't need to focus on negative things. There is
so much in this world and life that is good and inspiring,
praiseworthy and virtuous that we don't need to intentionally drag
ourselves down and leave ourselves in the dumps. “Pessimists do not
contribute, unbelievers do not create, doubters do not achieve.”
with less-active and recent convert members! We taught six times as
many lessons with less-actives and recent converts than investigators.
Wow!
On Monday we met with Brother Hyun (방승현), who recently
returned to Korea after a few semesters at BYU-Idaho. He's a little
younger than we are, so it's impressive to know how much he's grown
and matured during his time in America. He's yet another living
testament to how much foreign cultures and people can enrich our world
view. He's so cool! Of course he's good at English, but he's also
fun-loving and young. He's brought home a lot of interest in the
church, which he admits he didn't have when he was younger. He asks
lots of good questions and wants to be involved in missionary work
with his friends. I love that kid!
Tuesday was a packed today. We saw so many people! The saddest
meeting was with our friend Kim Chan Oo (김찬우). He's leaving for his
mission next Thursday! He's pretty nervous, but we testified of the
blessings of missionary work and shared how we felt when we left. I
remember the night before leaving for Utah, I was pretty overwhelmed.
I'm young, and about to start a brand new chapter in my life. Even
more, in a sense I would be starting it alone. Looking back, I realize
that I was never alone. Though physically absent, my friends and
family still supported and support me, and more than that, the God of
Israel was on my side. I think the popular hymn, "How Firm A
Foundation" explains this concept quite eloquently:
"Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
. . .
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand."
That day we also met a new investigator, who's been attending
another church for the past 30 years, but met missionaries even
further back than that, and has since been interested in the Book of
Mormon. We tuaght him about the Plan of Salvation, and he understood
and agreed with every single part! He's a nice old man, and we'll be
seeing him again this week.
We also saw Y J (윤여준), a recent convert who wants to
become a Navy SEAL for Korea. He's working hard to reach that goal,
and we're working hard to help him be spiritually independent and
spiritually buff before he leaves. He's such a great kid. He finds joy
in so many things, and is such a nice kid. We talked about his answers
to a few questions we gave him, to help him practice finding answers
to gospel questions on his own.
That night we also drove out (that is, rode a bus) quite a ways
to meet a less-active member. He's been grieving the death of his
mother for quite some time, and has been estranged from his family. He
has no work, no friends, nowhere to turn.
And that's where we come in the picture.
He's in a low place right now, but there's somebody who "descended
below all things." Our mission is to help him come unto Christ, who
can help and strengthen him during trying times and guide him during
the good ones.
We would meet this brother again during the week and exhort him
to read the scriptures and pray. One question he said he had been
repeatedly asking was "Why." I explained that as humans, we can't
always fully understand God, and sometimes He withholds answers for
our benefit. I suggested instead asking questions that God can answer,
answers that he can use in his life, such as: "What do I do next? How
can I continue? What can I learn from my circumstances?"
Other events in this week included meeting with Joon Suk, the boy
I baptized. His family situation isn't the best, so we ended up
reading Ether 12 with him, and discussing hope and good works with
him. I have a personal conviction that if we maintain hope and work
hard to do good, our lives will work out, regardless of where they are
now.
This was a consistent theme throughout the week: have hope. Hope
in yourself, and hope in good things to come. I was talking with my
district this week, and this thought came into my head: "There's no
reason to believe something negative."
Now, obviously there are some senses in which this thought fails, but
I think by and far we don't need to focus on negative things. There is
so much in this world and life that is good and inspiring,
praiseworthy and virtuous that we don't need to intentionally drag
ourselves down and leave ourselves in the dumps. “Pessimists do not
contribute, unbelievers do not create, doubters do not achieve.”
Elder Austin Lynn
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