While Terri I were waiting for pictures to be printed we found a pet store. They actually had snails for sale with the hamsters, mice, hedgehogs and birds! I didn't take a picture, but I was surprised. That's the pet for me and the sedate life style I prefer...
Here's another occupation that would be fun. This little lady, like others has a motorized cart that putts around the streets selling health drinks, cold coffee, yogurt drinks, etc. With the lack of little neighborhoods for the ice cream man, she takes it to the various business keepers.
We periodically attempt to attend district meetings with 10 or 12 missionaries to get a sense for the training they are doing for each other. It starts in our Missionary Leadership Council, is shared in the zone meetings with all missionaries and there are follow up training discussions in the district meetings. Terri was more interested (rightfully so) in the happiness of the missionaries while I'm always wondering what they are teaching and learning. I'm the stick in the mud. She likes to artfully pose (strategically place as she calls it) the missionaries.
The elders, on the other hand, are more like me, a little more reserved.
They are good sports and they like a little distraction...
We drove to another area to deliver goods to missionaries and had a walk in the town with a few sisters. This little area has some small art sculptures of families in the old days. Sorry it is so dark.
We have a sister from Thailand and a sister from Missouri. They are working so well together! The poor sister from Thailand has never faced temperatures this low and we're still in the 40's most of the time! I hope we have a mild winter for her sake as well as the missionaries from the Philippines!
Wonderful message about setting goals and keeping
them!!! Yesterday is our fast and
testimony Sunday. I am very grateful for that opportunity that I can again ask
Heavenly Father's help to be a better missionary. Before my mission, I have
already set a goal that I will always share my testimony every first Sunday of
the month. One thing I have realized and learned yesterday is that because I
have set a goal it pushes me to do it no matter what. I was so nervous and
scared to get up and share my testimony in Korean. But then, I still did it
because I don't want to break the goal that I have set. I walked up, started
crying (feeling nervous) and shared my testimony about Heavenly Father and His
plan. I also express my love and thanks for all the members in our ward because
I have received warm clothes and accessories and boots from them this week. I
also did lots of practice lessons with the members. I told them that I can feel
Heavenly Father's love for me through them. After sacrament meeting, lots of
members came to me and expressed their love for me. They even told me that I
can always ask them questions to better learn and understand the language. One
mother told me also that all the sisters in our ward are worried for me and are
always praying for me.
We have a few who set goals and don't end their day until they achieve them.Our missionaries face people who are less than subtle in their feelings about their religion and will seek our young missionaries with less than kind words. However, they are very sweet in their responses:
We were standing on a crowded subway, saying hello to people around us. I noticed a man who got up and came to stand closer to us. He saw our name tags and our book of Mormons. Then he tried speaking English to us. He started with, " I Christian. You no." Then he drew an X in the air with his finger. I told him that we were also Christians. Then he proceeded to tell us that we were not. In Korean I politely told him that our beliefs were different. Once I realized we could speak Korean, he switched to some more detailed words in Korean. He continued for a good 15 minutes telling us what was "wrong" with our church, in front of all of the people on the subway. We tried to stay calm and state our beliefs and tell him why we were here. We know this message is true! We know it can bless his life and all the people in Korea. But he would not budge. He was very upset with us and told us some things that could have easily offended us, and our testimonies. But, the amazing thing is that they didn't! No matter how many times he told us to take off our name tags and throw away our Book of Mormons, we felt the spirit strong, testifying that our words were true. We cannot and will not change! No matter what he said. I am so thankful for the spirit testifying to us and for the chance I had to feel the love and strength of God as we testified. It was a moment that I will not forget. I am very thankful. I know this is true! God is mindful of us and our every situation. I also was able to feel the love of God for that man. Although he was not being very kind, or following Christ's example very well, I know that God still loves him and wants what is best for him. I know something good will come from this experience. Maybe someone else on the subway will have felt our testimonies and the Spirit testify.
Today we were able to be at baptism of a young lady who attended an English class taught by our four missionaries in that building. She thought they were so nice so she started asking questions about their purpose in Korea. She basically felt their answers were so filled with love she wanted to know more. She's about 18 years of age. The other 12 or so young women attending that church building took her in and they became fast friends. We had a great time together with her. The young women sang to her, a missionary played his violin, and the spirit in the room was amazing. Afterwards, as they love to do, they had a little get together and he played more music.
this picture reminded her of the book, "Ten Apples Up On Top".
