Hey!
Things are heating up here in Jinju! Of course, right when I was starting to think "Ah, crud. We can't find ANYONE." the flood gates opened. Another of our members gave us a referral, we actually FOUND people while knocking on doors, rediscovered the area book, and suddenly people actually want to talk with us while we are proselyting. Can't you just hear the Hallelujah Chorus in the earth right now? I'm certainly belting it.
We were finally able to meet with GSY again! I just can't describe how AWESOME she is. Seriously the nicest, coolest person I have ever met. Once again, when we met her in the cafe I started pulling out my planner and things for English, but she pulled out her Book of Mormon. She didn't even want to talk about English. There's Handel's Messiah in the air again. We went to Moroni 10:3-5 this time and read it together. She has always really liked the Book of Mormon, but this one really hit home for her. We shared our testimonies about the Book of Mormon and how we can really know that these things are true and pray sincerely about them, and suddenly I could see a change in her eyes. The Spirit was teaching her. She told us, "I REALLY like this scripture. There is something different about really praying sincerely and asking if things are true. I want to do it." I love her. She will get an answer. Super cool experience. Afterwards she took us out for lunch to a fancy, famous restaurant, and then bought us bread and gave us snacks because she thought we were "too thin". She is the nicest.
We had the best week with proselyting and knocking on doors. The other day we decided to walk to visit a member on the far other side of town and proselyte as we went. We met so many good people just in that walk! We were even able to get a woman's contact info. Another woman that we met lived in the States for most of her life but was born in Jinju. She is super nice, but as we talked more we could tell there was something a little different. She eventually told me that she had lost her hearing about five years ago, and so came back to Korea to live in her hometown. She is having a really hard time right now and can't find a job, and just needs help. She really needs the gospel. We didn't get her contact, but did give her a card with our number. We are praying that she texts us!
We also found two people while knocking on doors. The first one is a middle school student, who, when we knocked and asked if we could share a message, said YES. She not only listened, but when we showed her the Book of Mormon and asked if she would like to read it, was SUPER excited and gave us her number to meet again. The other person we found is a grandmother. She is ADORABLE. When we knocked on her door, she said, "You are service missionaries? In the church over by the college?" She told us that years ago the missionaries came to her house often and taught her daughter. While the daughter was never baptized, they still love the missionaries. The grandmother attends another church now, but had us come in so she could talk with us. She was so sweet. She gave us barley tea and strawberries, showed us pictures of her family, and asked a lot about the church and what we do. I felt like I was with my grandma. Before we left we gave her the Plan of Salvation pamphlet and talked a little bit about it, got her number, and asked if we could come and visit again. She was so happy! She told us she would read the pamphlet. I love her so darn much. We will make cookies and visit her soon.
On Saturday we met with a high school student that one of our members referred to us. We are going to be teaching her the 30/30 minute English program. It was a lot of fun, and while she seemed a little unsure about the gospel part of it at first, she really liked meeting with us. We are excited! Our Bishop's wife also told us yesterday that she had another referral for us. She said her goal is to give us ten. :) SHE ROCKS. Thank goodness for these members.
We were not able to meet with KML this week, but she told us that she is reading her scriptures and praying, and is working on talking with her mom for permission to get baptized. We are just praying that she really prays sincerely about these things and comes to know that they are true.
WE FOUND A BURRITO SHOP. I about did a flip. Thing is, they aren't real burritos. They are Korean burritos. Darn.
Our other recent rediscovery was the area book. I admit when I came to Jinju and Sacheon I was pretty scared of the thick area books with pages and pages of past investigators. It looks like no one has really gone through it recently other than just sticking in new records. So we started looking through and calling people this week. We haven't gotten very far, but it looks like there are some promising people! It is just good to get it all updated too.
I also got your package and a package from Mariah and Drew this week! They mean SO MUCH to me. Thank you so much! Can I just say that Mariah is the cutest? I aspire to be that cute when I get back from my mission.
In my Personal study this week I was studying Elder Eyring's talk from the Priesthood session of the last General Conference. It is called "You Are Not Alone in the Work". SUPER GOOD. Lately I have often felt that while I am working hard, progressing, seeing miracles and feeling the Spirit, I am never reaching up to what Heavenly Father and the Savior expect of me. I want to make Them proud, but because I am not perfect I unconsciously put myself down. It is kind of funny recognizing it, because every day I teach others that they can be good enough, that if they just try their hardest the Lord is happy and pleased with their efforts, all the while unknowingly thinking that I am the exception. I know, I can hear you thinking, "Well, that's dumb. Don't do that." As I read this talk this week I recognized He really is happy with me. If we try and work, and then use the atonement when we fall short and try to do better, He is pleased. He wants us to try to be better, but also to be content that the atonement is working as we use it in our lives. I love this gospel. I love my Savior.
I love you all so much!
Sister Stapley
Things are heating up here in Jinju! Of course, right when I was starting to think "Ah, crud. We can't find ANYONE." the flood gates opened. Another of our members gave us a referral, we actually FOUND people while knocking on doors, rediscovered the area book, and suddenly people actually want to talk with us while we are proselyting. Can't you just hear the Hallelujah Chorus in the earth right now? I'm certainly belting it.
We were finally able to meet with GSY again! I just can't describe how AWESOME she is. Seriously the nicest, coolest person I have ever met. Once again, when we met her in the cafe I started pulling out my planner and things for English, but she pulled out her Book of Mormon. She didn't even want to talk about English. There's Handel's Messiah in the air again. We went to Moroni 10:3-5 this time and read it together. She has always really liked the Book of Mormon, but this one really hit home for her. We shared our testimonies about the Book of Mormon and how we can really know that these things are true and pray sincerely about them, and suddenly I could see a change in her eyes. The Spirit was teaching her. She told us, "I REALLY like this scripture. There is something different about really praying sincerely and asking if things are true. I want to do it." I love her. She will get an answer. Super cool experience. Afterwards she took us out for lunch to a fancy, famous restaurant, and then bought us bread and gave us snacks because she thought we were "too thin". She is the nicest.
We had the best week with proselyting and knocking on doors. The other day we decided to walk to visit a member on the far other side of town and proselyte as we went. We met so many good people just in that walk! We were even able to get a woman's contact info. Another woman that we met lived in the States for most of her life but was born in Jinju. She is super nice, but as we talked more we could tell there was something a little different. She eventually told me that she had lost her hearing about five years ago, and so came back to Korea to live in her hometown. She is having a really hard time right now and can't find a job, and just needs help. She really needs the gospel. We didn't get her contact, but did give her a card with our number. We are praying that she texts us!
We also found two people while knocking on doors. The first one is a middle school student, who, when we knocked and asked if we could share a message, said YES. She not only listened, but when we showed her the Book of Mormon and asked if she would like to read it, was SUPER excited and gave us her number to meet again. The other person we found is a grandmother. She is ADORABLE. When we knocked on her door, she said, "You are service missionaries? In the church over by the college?" She told us that years ago the missionaries came to her house often and taught her daughter. While the daughter was never baptized, they still love the missionaries. The grandmother attends another church now, but had us come in so she could talk with us. She was so sweet. She gave us barley tea and strawberries, showed us pictures of her family, and asked a lot about the church and what we do. I felt like I was with my grandma. Before we left we gave her the Plan of Salvation pamphlet and talked a little bit about it, got her number, and asked if we could come and visit again. She was so happy! She told us she would read the pamphlet. I love her so darn much. We will make cookies and visit her soon.
On Saturday we met with a high school student that one of our members referred to us. We are going to be teaching her the 30/30 minute English program. It was a lot of fun, and while she seemed a little unsure about the gospel part of it at first, she really liked meeting with us. We are excited! Our Bishop's wife also told us yesterday that she had another referral for us. She said her goal is to give us ten. :) SHE ROCKS. Thank goodness for these members.
We were not able to meet with KML this week, but she told us that she is reading her scriptures and praying, and is working on talking with her mom for permission to get baptized. We are just praying that she really prays sincerely about these things and comes to know that they are true.
WE FOUND A BURRITO SHOP. I about did a flip. Thing is, they aren't real burritos. They are Korean burritos. Darn.
Our other recent rediscovery was the area book. I admit when I came to Jinju and Sacheon I was pretty scared of the thick area books with pages and pages of past investigators. It looks like no one has really gone through it recently other than just sticking in new records. So we started looking through and calling people this week. We haven't gotten very far, but it looks like there are some promising people! It is just good to get it all updated too.
I also got your package and a package from Mariah and Drew this week! They mean SO MUCH to me. Thank you so much! Can I just say that Mariah is the cutest? I aspire to be that cute when I get back from my mission.
In my Personal study this week I was studying Elder Eyring's talk from the Priesthood session of the last General Conference. It is called "You Are Not Alone in the Work". SUPER GOOD. Lately I have often felt that while I am working hard, progressing, seeing miracles and feeling the Spirit, I am never reaching up to what Heavenly Father and the Savior expect of me. I want to make Them proud, but because I am not perfect I unconsciously put myself down. It is kind of funny recognizing it, because every day I teach others that they can be good enough, that if they just try their hardest the Lord is happy and pleased with their efforts, all the while unknowingly thinking that I am the exception. I know, I can hear you thinking, "Well, that's dumb. Don't do that." As I read this talk this week I recognized He really is happy with me. If we try and work, and then use the atonement when we fall short and try to do better, He is pleased. He wants us to try to be better, but also to be content that the atonement is working as we use it in our lives. I love this gospel. I love my Savior.
I love you all so much!
Sister Stapley