The Worth of Seoul: Week 25

Dear loved ones..

안녕하세요 from an amazing week in good ol' 한국! (Han-gook.. the Korean word for Korea)

This week a week of miracles.. We worked so hard.. We talked to so many people, gave tons of book of mormons and got lots of phone numbers.. and as a result, saw the fruits of our labors!! We got 4 new investigators this week!! WOOHOO! MIRACLES!

The first one is a lady named Kwan Hyo Shim. We met her a few weeks on the street and gave her a Book of Mormon. We called her and she wanted to meet up. The meeting was different than we expected.. she gave us back the Book of Mormon because she says having it in her house right now is too much of a burden because she doesn't even read the Bible.. weird excuse I know.. we couldn't reason with her to keep it, but she wants us to keep meeting with her and teaching her! Hopefully she takes it back as soon as she realizes it is TRUE dangit.. Anways haha she is super nice and she has the cutest little daughter named Kate that never smiles.. but she's so cute! The next one is a lady named Yoon Cum Sook. She is a lady we met a couple weeks ago when we were handing out english flyers one day! She has come to our english class a few times and she called us this week wanting to do the 30/30 program with us! So right now she's mostly English interest, but she has a lot of potential.. she says she wants to develop faith in her life. Well sista, we got you covered. :) The last 2 came yesterday.. In the middle of church we get a call from an unknown number, I answer and the person on the other side says "Hi! Is this mormon?" haha I was like why yes, yes it is! Yes we are mormon! It was a chinese girl names Pyojin who was interested in learning about our english program. I told her about english class and also about the 30/30 program. She said "Oh okay! can we meet today at 1:30?" Why yes, yes we can! After church we met her and her brother Poe, and brought them to the church to teach them. they are both in their late 20s and they are the nicest people ever! Their english is really good, they mostly just want conversation practice. I was a little worried about how introducing the gospel would be, but it was actually so awesome. Poe had to leave early so he didn't hear it. Pyojin started by telling us that she had no religious background at all but she wanted to know how our message could benefit her life. The lesson went really well.. So there is a lot of potential :) It was a fasting miracle. I am so excited to see what happens with all these new people :) YAY

Update on Shin Song Hee... Still not committed to a baptism date :( And she didn't come to church this week because she was out of Seoul, visiting her sister. We were disappointed.. but aren't losing hope. She has progressed so much and the fact that she is finally really considering baptism is a miracle in and of itself. I just want to help her see that as soon as she exercises her faith and commits to a date.. everything will fall into place. I know it!! Pray for her!

This week I read a talk given a while ago by a newly called mission president (whose name has currently escaped me) called 'The 4th Missionary' this week. It talks about the 4 different kinds of missionaries there are. The first missionary is disobedient, does what he/she wants and essentially gets sent home or even goes home on his own free will. The second missionary is disobedient, but stays his whole mission, wasting his time and the Lord's time for 2 years of his life. So obviously there are very few of these kinds of missionaries. But then there is the 3rd missionary.. This missionary is obedient and hard working. This missionary feels the spirit and does much good. But this missionary withholds his heart. He does things because it is what is expected of him as a missionary, not because it is what he wants to do. He does everything that is asked and expected of him, but he wants to do what he wants to do, always hoping and wishing for a better time... next transfer, next area, next companion, when he's home from his mission.. and because of this, he isn't changed by his mission, like he could've been. And then theres the 4th missionary. Obedient and hardworking, just like the third. The difference is that he does what he does because he knows that it is the only intelligent thing to do. Why would I be here if I wasn't going to give my all to the Lord? Why would I waste my time, and the Lord's time? Sometimes I am the 3rd missionary in ways without even realizing it. Sometimes I find myself measuring sucess the wrong way.. the 4th missionary measures success from within! From the peace that comes into the heart every once in a while that says, you are exactly where you need to be right now, doing what the Lord wants you to be doing. It was such an eye-opener for me and such a good reminder of why I'm here :)

Scripture of the week.. Luke 22:32 "When thou art converted, strengthen thy bretheren." I am converted to this gospel, and becoming more and more every day. I love being a missionary :)

Hope you all have a week happier than the life of the homeless cat with a broken leg that I see everywhere (I named him skippy).

Until Next week! 사랑해요!

홈스 자매

Sister Holmes

Spring time pics at the temple!