Hello to all!
This week has been an interesting one--a little more variety than I'm used to here at the MTC. The first big surprise is the TRC (Teaching Resource Center) experience we had. Usually on Saturdays, volunteers (who speak Korean in our case) come and act like people who may be interested in the church and allow us to practice teaching them. Usually these volunteers are LDS, usually BYU students or Koreans living in the area. When we walked in the room we saw a Korean guy in his 20s--nothing atypical. Initially we had to do our TASK, which this time was to teach someone in Korean how to pray and why we pray. As we taught, although we didn't understand everything, we could tell that this guy was much more intent on knowing why we believed these things than a "fake" investigator might be. Actually, I couldn't really tell (ha), but Sister Brady, in her discerning way, was piecing things together. He wanted to know how we knew that and why he hadn't received answers to some of his prayers. When the TASK is over, we're given about ten minutes to prepare a lesson based on the needs that we assessed from the TASK. In that time, Sister Brady asserted that he might not actually be Mormon. When we went back in to teach the lesson, we expected him to play the role given to him by the TRC--a Catholic, not really interested in the message of the restoration. Luckily we could talk in English during the lesson. We discovered he is from Korea, that he is studying at the English Learning Center that is somehow associated with the BYU campus. We found out that his dad passed away not too long ago. We also found out that he served a mission for a year, but had a really hard time with his companions and felt like he was lying to people when he told them the church was true. I guess he had this breaking point where he prayed for over an hour and felt absolutely nothing. It was about then that he decided to go home. His name is Tao Ni (sp?). He will be in Utah for about two more weeks. Instead of playing his normal role, ('initially he said, 'I think I'm supposed to be Catholic?'), we told him he could be himself. He said, "Okay, then I'm Jack Mormon." A first for us and a rarity for the MTC. We told him about our experiences with prayer, why we as individuals pray and how that helps us. He said he doesn't think feelings are a reliable source of knowledge, but let us share our thoughts openly. He says that everyone has feelings about the religion they're attached to. When I asked him what he thought the purpose of life was, he said happiness...in my head I later thought, "Isn't happiness a state of being based on the long term feelings and emotions it sustains? How can we find truth/happiness if we are not willing to trust feelings?" We asked him to pray this week. He said he would try. It was not a contentious lesson, though it could have been if we had taken a different approach. I am not really into contention, as many of you know. We asked him to come back this week, he said maybe. We're hoping that's not the polite maybe, but that he receives an answer he can trust enough so we can talk to him again. It was really quite cool. I have a hard time role playing and felt the spirit more strongly because it was a "real" situation. TRC in a few days. Hopefully Tao Ni will be there.
It is hard not to compare yourself around here. I have promised myself I would avoid it, but the temptation to do so inevitably creeps in every now and then. One of our teachers at zone conference had us read 1 Cor. 12 (read it!), that talks about the gifts of the spirit and how they cannot be compared because they are all needed. Sometimes I can be a little insecure about what I have to say or how I can help, but I love verses 19-22:
"But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, muhc more those members of the body which seem to be more feeble, are necessary."
Comparison is not possible when we are united in purpose and love. It was reassuring for me. It is helping me rejoice in the success of others and see my own success more readily and gratefully.
The older districts left to go to Korea/Vancouver yesterday. It made this entire experience more real. The Koreans that were here for three weeks were so funny about it. They said that their love for the MTC was greater than their love for kimchi--quite the feat. It is interesting how my perception of age and time are so skewed here, that people seem older because they have more experience/knowledge, even if it's just 6 weeks more than I have. Once the elders put on gym shorts they look 19 again, which is bizarre. It was sad to see them go and to realize that we are now the older district....in fact, the only district. Currently there are just 8 of us going Korean speaking who are here. Missions are a string of hellos and goodbyes, for us, for those we teach. We have to say hello and goodbye to people, weaknesses, trust, familiarity, etc. over and over. But it is good. I like the cyclical nature of it thus far.
After church this Sunday, I accompanied the older districts, including the native Koreans as they sang a native Korean folk song called "Ari Rang." It is beautiful and pentatonic, as you might expect. Koreans sing with reckless abandon. It is not pretty in the conventional sense of the word, but it is pretty because they are so convicted and committed to the songs. I love that they don't care how they sound. It makes singing with them really fun. I have missed that abandon that comes with singing in a large unabashed group. I think it is indicative of the way they live. Simply and convicted.
This week we heard from a few interesting speakers who told us that a good missionary is a tired missionary, and that we need to continue to serve with unwearyingness. Oooph. I do miss my naps, but my faith has been strengthened by the way I have been sustained in my tiredness.
We went to the doctor with one of the sisters that had to stay back this week. Her name is Sister Richardson. She will be our companion this week. I feel badly that she had to stay behind. Hopefully she will get to go by Monday.
Dad and Mom-
Thank you for your letters. Mom, thanks for the watch! I love it. I forgot to tell you. I'm glad you are doing well and gaining many National Geographic experiences...
Char and Matt-
Hope you are well. Thank you for your notes along the way. Keep me updated on the boyzzzz
Nick-
Thank you for your letter! I will do my best to write you back today. Sounds like you are doing well. Glad you have a little more time to study for the bar.
Meg-
Hope going under the knife went okay. I forgot to thank you for doing my errands (watch, shower sandals etc.) You are a gem.
Ladi-
Baby time! Thank you for your notes always!
Bob-
Sounds like you're still holding down the fort. You are great.
Love you all!
Julia
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