I am again writing from the Dongrae Post
Office in Busan which means it's transfer day. Sister Lee goes to the
Seoul temple/home tomorrow. I will miss her. I have learned so much from
her and I'm looking forward to applying those things. A new transfer
brings stress and peace with the newness of it all. It's funny. Sister
Lee was really sick this week, so we couldn't quite finish off her
mission quite the way we wanted. Her body just gave up on her. Anyway,
she has a great testimony and will be such a great service to her future
ward. We talk about "next transfer," and I've helped her make a few
goals to continue to do missionary work. Luckily we have a lot of model
members who help us realize what kind of member missionaries we want to
be.
This week was good. The man who we met on the bus
whose wife had died about a month ago, but who was too busy to meet with
us---he called us! He wanted to take us to eat something before Sister
Lee went home. We talked with him about the plan of salvation and were
able to testify about the reality of it. He has been reading a little of
the BOM and the pamphlets we gave him. He doesn't have a lot of time,
but I am grateful to both the missionary--Elder Kimball, who he met over
50 years ago--and Sister Lee for talking to him. It's inspiring to see
the effect of small and simple things.
Also, at that meal unknowingly I ate cow blood
clots. Ignorance was bliss. Sister Lee avoided them and left them at the
bottom of the bowl. I should have taken a hint...she usually eats
everything. Anyway, I survived and apparently it is really good for
one's health.
We have also been meeting a less active sister,
Sister Hyeon, at her part time job every weekend. When we first went she
wasn't that happy to see us and it was excruciatingly awkward. It has
steadily progressed since then. She seems to have more light in her face
and interest in seeing us. I really think she has a lot of potential to
come back to church. It is rewarding to see sometimes small and
tremendously large fruits of our labors.
We also met another sister, Sister Kim, who we meet
weekly at her Japanese restaurant. She has been reading the BOM and
trying to pray. We invited her to come back to church and for the first
time she expressed desire for 1) an eternal family and 2). interest in
the lives of our members and a "maybe" instead of a "no" when we invited
her. Her questions have become more focused and deep. She wants to know
God but has so many doubts that she feels overwhelmed. This week we
will go with a member to continue teaching her. Once again, nice to see a
few fruits.
My new companion is Sister Baker. If you recognize
her name it's because I've already lived with her for 3 transfers (18
weeks) in Daegu. She served in Sangin when I served in Daegu. Anyway, it
should be fun. She is a very very diligent person and has desires to be
a good missionary. Of course when I'm bereft of a Korean companion
those Korean language fears creep in, but I know that we will be able to
do God's will if we continue to seek it. We already know each other
really really well, so now it's just for overcoming any potential
difficulties in teaching together. She gets my jokes and laughs with me
and that makes life so much easier. I really believe the most important
thing is your relationship with your companion--it informs every other
interaction so heavily. So, I am committing to have fun and work hard
and I know she is too. She is from West Jordan, UT and went to BYU and
studied Math Education and Dance Education.
Life is good. There is still a great work to do. I
am grateful to hear about all the people whom you are sharing the gospel
with--all of you have such great stories about recent experiences.
Thank you for sharing them with me. We jump on a plane in about 2 hours
so I better get going.
Love you all!
Sister Julia Mecham
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