Hi. Sister Mecham here. Love to hear from all of you! Thank you.
Happy Birthday to Ladi and Bob this week!
I wasn't able to write on Monday because it was Lunar New Year (22-24)
and everything was closed. Lunar New Year is akin to Christmas around
here. It and Chuseok are the two big holidays. Everyone goes to their
hometown, and for once, everything really seems to stop.
It was a dangerous move to knock doors on these days, but we did some
of it. We had a few more, for a lack of a better term, exciting
encounters than we wish we did, but people were home. Ha. We've
actually yet to be let into a house via knocking doors. But, that's
okay. We just follow our feelings and hope our work is planting seeds
or at least tilling the soil for future encounters.
The most significant day of Lunar New Year was Monday (P-day), so our
zone met together in Teong Yeong and had an activity. It was really
quite fun and nice to be with everyone.
As for my birthday (yesterday), it was essentially just another day,
but I was fine with it that way. Thank you for whatever you have sent,
but we haven't been able to go to the post office as it's been closed
for the holiday. Our zone leaders blew up 50 balloons at district
meeting, which was a nice gesture anyway. We also ate pizza afterward,
so my birthday was complete. We also had pizza for dinner, so my
birthday was doubly complete...ha. The only thing missing was the
paddle wheel. That probably would have meant a quick trip on a plane
home, so we resisted the temptation.
We were able to have a couple really neat experiences this week that
taught me a lot about missionary work. We have really been trying to
focus on less active members. The ideal situation is visiting these
people with other ward members. One of the sisters in our ward, who is
probably in her 50s, is really great about working with us and wanting
to help any of our efforts. She agreed to go along to meet Sister C.
with us.
To be honest, most less active members have been a little fiercer than
those who have no idea what we're doing on their doorstep. Usually our
encounter has ended in a door slam or a denial of being the person
we're looking for. We randomly visited Sister C. one night and she
opened the door, came out, and with a smile and light in her eyes,
told us to call before we came next time and that she would meet with
us.
We set up a time and headed over there with Sister Bak and Sister Kim,
two relief society sisters who know Sister C. a lot better than we
do.
I have noticed it is always a little awkward no matter what, but
Sister Bak and Sister Kim helped relieve any of that initial
awkwardness with their laughter and good nature. We decided that we
wanted to share Helaman 5:12 with Sister C. and just invite her back
to church. We asked her to read Helaman 5:12, and just a few words in,
she got choked up, and with tears streaming down her face, couldn't
finish the verse. Sister Yeon read the rest of it and explained her
family situation is very similar to Sister C's, and that she knows
how hard it is, but that she and her family need the gospel of Jesus
Christ. It was a really beautiful testimony that seemed to resound
with Sister C. She didn't come to church this week because of the
holiday, but we are meeting with her this week and hope little by
little she can make that change in her life. We learned a lot about
the importance of members and the way the scriptures can bring the
spirit so quickly. We are really hopeful about Sister C.
We were also given a referral from mission headquarters last week for
a man named Brother B. (34 years old). We had initially heard this
man was interested in English more than anything, so we anticipated
that he was very much a potential investigator, but lacked gospel
interest.
Things were just not lining up to meet with him, but at the last
minute, a sister who just recently became active in the church again,
Sister C., agreed that she could meet him with us. She really doesn't
have a lot of gospel knowledge, so we were worried she would feel
insecure about helping us, but she was willing.
We met with him at a restaurant with a fellow female ward member. He
bought us dinner, and it became obvious he was much more interested in
the gospel than we had even anticipated. Just as the conversation
became spiritual, a drunk man in the other room of the restaurant
flipped a table over and started swearing and making a lot of
noise--this lasted for about 10 minutes. Interesting how the
adversary is dead set on disrupting a change of heart.
In spite of this, the conversation continued on. Brother B. has had
several exchanges with missionaries before. Once he lost his wallet
and missionaries found it and returned it to him. He has met other
missionaries on the subway and in his travels on several occassions,
and consequently, has felt like these situations were special, not
coincidental. We talked a lot about our beliefs and taught him about
God and his love and gave him a Book of Mormon. He took this all in,
but later had a lot of questions for our member, Sister C.
All she could do was bear a simple testimony, but it was what he
needed. She told him she feel this church is true and that's what
keeps her there. Brother B. told us he wants to come to church on
Jan. 29th.
When it seems like nothing is working out (i.e. bad location,
inexperienced church member come along with us, perhaps this person is
only interested in English, limited time frame, lack of Korean
skills), they really are working out. Those who are sensitive to the
spirit will feel it. Brother B. sent us a text message later that day
expressing that he felt something different and that he was grateful
that we could help him feel that different spirit he has felt
every time he has met missionaries and that he was excited to come to
church on the 29th. Wha?! It was humbling.
It was also another testament to me of planting seeds without the need
to see the miracle--3 or 4 sets of missionaries have come in contact
with this man and treated him in such a way that he felt the spirit.
Even though their "success" wasn't immediate, these missionaries
remembered the "why" of their missions and focused so charitably on
their purpose that years later a man is considering coming to Christ.
And, really, their success was immediate, as it states in PMG, that
our success as missionaries is measured by our COMMITMENT to find,
teach, baptize, etc. Plant seeds and let God take care of the harvest.
I learn that every single day.
We are excited about Brother B. and ever grateful for the
missionaries that met him before we did.
Anyway, the church is true. I learn that differently every day, but I
know it every day also.
Love you all!
Julia
Happy Birthday to Ladi and Bob this week!
I wasn't able to write on Monday because it was Lunar New Year (22-24)
and everything was closed. Lunar New Year is akin to Christmas around
here. It and Chuseok are the two big holidays. Everyone goes to their
hometown, and for once, everything really seems to stop.
It was a dangerous move to knock doors on these days, but we did some
of it. We had a few more, for a lack of a better term, exciting
encounters than we wish we did, but people were home. Ha. We've
actually yet to be let into a house via knocking doors. But, that's
okay. We just follow our feelings and hope our work is planting seeds
or at least tilling the soil for future encounters.
The most significant day of Lunar New Year was Monday (P-day), so our
zone met together in Teong Yeong and had an activity. It was really
quite fun and nice to be with everyone.
As for my birthday (yesterday), it was essentially just another day,
but I was fine with it that way. Thank you for whatever you have sent,
but we haven't been able to go to the post office as it's been closed
for the holiday. Our zone leaders blew up 50 balloons at district
meeting, which was a nice gesture anyway. We also ate pizza afterward,
so my birthday was complete. We also had pizza for dinner, so my
birthday was doubly complete...ha. The only thing missing was the
paddle wheel. That probably would have meant a quick trip on a plane
home, so we resisted the temptation.
We were able to have a couple really neat experiences this week that
taught me a lot about missionary work. We have really been trying to
focus on less active members. The ideal situation is visiting these
people with other ward members. One of the sisters in our ward, who is
probably in her 50s, is really great about working with us and wanting
to help any of our efforts. She agreed to go along to meet Sister C.
with us.
To be honest, most less active members have been a little fiercer than
those who have no idea what we're doing on their doorstep. Usually our
encounter has ended in a door slam or a denial of being the person
we're looking for. We randomly visited Sister C. one night and she
opened the door, came out, and with a smile and light in her eyes,
told us to call before we came next time and that she would meet with
us.
We set up a time and headed over there with Sister Bak and Sister Kim,
two relief society sisters who know Sister C. a lot better than we
do.
I have noticed it is always a little awkward no matter what, but
Sister Bak and Sister Kim helped relieve any of that initial
awkwardness with their laughter and good nature. We decided that we
wanted to share Helaman 5:12 with Sister C. and just invite her back
to church. We asked her to read Helaman 5:12, and just a few words in,
she got choked up, and with tears streaming down her face, couldn't
finish the verse. Sister Yeon read the rest of it and explained her
family situation is very similar to Sister C's, and that she knows
how hard it is, but that she and her family need the gospel of Jesus
Christ. It was a really beautiful testimony that seemed to resound
with Sister C. She didn't come to church this week because of the
holiday, but we are meeting with her this week and hope little by
little she can make that change in her life. We learned a lot about
the importance of members and the way the scriptures can bring the
spirit so quickly. We are really hopeful about Sister C.
We were also given a referral from mission headquarters last week for
a man named Brother B. (34 years old). We had initially heard this
man was interested in English more than anything, so we anticipated
that he was very much a potential investigator, but lacked gospel
interest.
Things were just not lining up to meet with him, but at the last
minute, a sister who just recently became active in the church again,
Sister C., agreed that she could meet him with us. She really doesn't
have a lot of gospel knowledge, so we were worried she would feel
insecure about helping us, but she was willing.
We met with him at a restaurant with a fellow female ward member. He
bought us dinner, and it became obvious he was much more interested in
the gospel than we had even anticipated. Just as the conversation
became spiritual, a drunk man in the other room of the restaurant
flipped a table over and started swearing and making a lot of
noise--this lasted for about 10 minutes. Interesting how the
adversary is dead set on disrupting a change of heart.
In spite of this, the conversation continued on. Brother B. has had
several exchanges with missionaries before. Once he lost his wallet
and missionaries found it and returned it to him. He has met other
missionaries on the subway and in his travels on several occassions,
and consequently, has felt like these situations were special, not
coincidental. We talked a lot about our beliefs and taught him about
God and his love and gave him a Book of Mormon. He took this all in,
but later had a lot of questions for our member, Sister C.
All she could do was bear a simple testimony, but it was what he
needed. She told him she feel this church is true and that's what
keeps her there. Brother B. told us he wants to come to church on
Jan. 29th.
When it seems like nothing is working out (i.e. bad location,
inexperienced church member come along with us, perhaps this person is
only interested in English, limited time frame, lack of Korean
skills), they really are working out. Those who are sensitive to the
spirit will feel it. Brother B. sent us a text message later that day
expressing that he felt something different and that he was grateful
that we could help him feel that different spirit he has felt
every time he has met missionaries and that he was excited to come to
church on the 29th. Wha?! It was humbling.
It was also another testament to me of planting seeds without the need
to see the miracle--3 or 4 sets of missionaries have come in contact
with this man and treated him in such a way that he felt the spirit.
Even though their "success" wasn't immediate, these missionaries
remembered the "why" of their missions and focused so charitably on
their purpose that years later a man is considering coming to Christ.
And, really, their success was immediate, as it states in PMG, that
our success as missionaries is measured by our COMMITMENT to find,
teach, baptize, etc. Plant seeds and let God take care of the harvest.
I learn that every single day.
We are excited about Brother B. and ever grateful for the
missionaries that met him before we did.
Anyway, the church is true. I learn that differently every day, but I
know it every day also.
Love you all!
Julia
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