Anyonghasayo!

Anyonghasayo! (Direct translation: Are you at peace?)

I hope you are all doing well. Thank you to those who wrote me this week, and those of you who didn't, repent and write next week. Ha.

It sounds like the beat goes on around home and Guam and such. It does here as well. We had a bit of a frustrating week with appointments and are still trying to learn how to spend our time well, but when we expect miracles and ask for the eyes to see them, we start seeing them, regardless of how small they might be. I really loved the talk that was given in general conference about the guy who after a really long day at work just really wanted a piece of chicken before he went home to be with his family again, but didn't have the money. He did the searching and he had the faith and his prayer was answered. It was a simple prayer. It was a simple answer. Heavenly Father cares about what we care about, especially when it's His work we're trying to do.

Our less active search has not been exactly fruitful quite yet, but we continue anyway. We are especially trying to focus on those who have been through the temple and been on missions. We were actually able to eat dinner last Monday with a less active couple who have recently decided they want to come back to church of their own volition. The brother has been a member for quite some time, but his wife just joined the church a few years ago and has been in and out of activity. They are humble people and give me hope that there are others like them. We will teach the wife the new member lessons because she never received them.

We also have been trying to teach the father of a recent 12 year old convert. Her father is a little wild. He generally drinks a bowl of alcohol while we're there and offers us some each time. He is 61 and kind of a hardened guy, but let Kim Do Ah be baptized because he saw that the missionaries really care about her and that the teachings of the church are generally good. He has progressed a lot since the missionaries first met his daughter, but it usually turns into more of a heated discussion than a spiritual lesson. He thinks Mormon thinks he is Jesus Christ. I generally understand maybe 10 -15% of what he says because he speaks with a very thick southern accent (Satorri). Even Sister Yeon has a hard time understanding him. Anyway, yesterday we went to their house with a member and talked to him about The Book of Mormon and invited him to read it. The war of words approach just isn't going to work, but we're hopeful that he'll actually read it. He has cancer and does not have a job. It seems like he's had a hard life, but he is welcoming to missionaries. That is the first step.

We had zone conference on Wednesday in Busan. The Gilberts have given us the 5 S's: strict obedience, sincere prayer, scripture study, service, and submission. They also talked about Christ's disciples and how they left their nets straightway and followed Him. They talked about anything that might be our "nets," things that seem harmless but could get us tangled up pretty badly after a while. They asked us to write down anything and everything that is keeping us from focusing on the work or opening our mouths. We then put those things in the trash and burned them. It was kind of Girl's Camp-esque, but in a kitschy way it felt good to write down those things and see the physical manifestation of their demise. We are still having to work to really let those things go, but I really enjoyed zone conference and am always impressed by The Gilberts.

I don't know if I've mentioned this, but because there are two wards in our area (Jinhae/Pungho) we work with Elders here also. On Saturday the Elders had two baptisms. Lee and Yoon are 16 year old friends of a member in the Pungho ward. They are really good girls. The Gilberts actually came to see the baptism and spend some of the day with us. It was nice to have them here. They are wise and their energy pervades every place they pass through. Even though Sister Gilbert can't speak a lick of Korean everyone loves her. She is a good example to me.

Lee Hae is a very imaginative artist who always accidentally says in her testimony that she can BECOME Jesus Christ. Besides this minor doctrinal fauxpaux she understands the gospel quite well and has a sincere testimony. I think she will do well. She is fun and funny and spacey. I like her a lot.

Yoon H. is half Philipino. She has been investigating the church for a few months now. She wanted to be baptized long ago, but her parents opposed. Eventually she was somehow able to get permission. She has real faith. It is impressive to me. When she was reading The Book of Mormon she cried when Nephi died because she liked him so well. She also wants to teach her friends the gospel because it has helped her so much. She is sweet and I am really convinced she will continue to grow in faith and diligence.

Sister Yeon and I were able to sing "I Stand All Amazed" in harmony with the guitar at the baptism. It was really fun. Sister Yeon initially studied opera/music at school in Seoul, so she has what I consider to be a good balance of a trained voice and the ability to blend well with others. It is nice to sing with someone who really knows how.

Christmas is coming fast. We will have a combined ward Christmas party on the 24th. We will also have a mission wide party on the 18th, which will be nice. I am looking forward to Christmas on a mission. Every single day I am trying to focus on helping people come unto Jesus Christ so Christmas takes on even greater significance now.

As for the Christmas phone call we have been asked to call in the morning around 8 or 9 on the 26th, Monday, since that will be Christmas in the states. If that doesn't work for you, Mom and Dad, I'm sure we can work out another time actually on Christmas. I don't know the time difference between here and Guam, but let me know what works. I will probably call from the church via a calling card. If you can give me the number to call and what time works that would be great. If we can link up with everyone else in the US/Canada that would be fun, but if not, we've been instructed to primarily call our parents, so...my deepest regards to those I love in the US/Canada.

A special Christmas request to the family:

I don't need much, but I would really love if in your next email to me you would share your favorite scripture and why you like it/what it means to you. Thank you for your faith and prayers. I think about your examples all the time. I'm praying for you too. Love you all. Merry Christmas so soon! 

Love,

Julia