Hey Everyone!
I have to apologize for the email I am about to write. We just got back from going to a Buddhist temple, and I have less than 30 minutes to write. I am so sorry! There is SO much that I want to tell you, and it has been the most incredible week. AHH, darn it. Darn 30 minutes.
First off, the Buddhist temple was incredible. It is at least 1,200 years old, and is one of the most important temples in Korea. It holds a library of blocks of carved wood that are scripture to them and that they consider sacred. It is in the mountains and I think was one of the most beautiful sights that I have ever seen. I thought of Tristan a lot walking around, and some of the pictures that he had at another temple.
This week we had a member of the Seventy come and do a mission tour. It was a wonderful meeting, and really changed my perspective about my mission. I was also able to play the violin for him at that meeting, which was SUPER fun. They talked a lot about opening your mouth and talking to people, which is definitely something I needed to work on. I had been having a hard time getting myself to talk, and then I wouldn't know what to say or couldn't understand them. However, after that meeting, my perspective totally changed. I walked out and on the bus back talked to a few people and had some really good conversations. I am still not perfect but I talk to everyone that I can now. It is so much more fulfilling and I come back home really feeling like I did everything I could each day. Also, as I pray for help, I see the gift of tongues all the time in my life now.
The other day, I sat down next to a woman on the bus and tried to talk to her. She wasn't really responding at first, but eventually started talking more. When she realized I was a missionary and a Mormon, she really started. She asked many questions about the Book of Mormon and about what we think about the Bible. As I tried to explain, she kept repeating that she didn't think that Mormons actually read the Bible. I told her how much I love the Bible, and she was adamant that I didn't know what I was talking about. Seriously? I am going to study the New Testament for my major. As she talked about the Book of Mormon, I opened the copy I had to the intro and asked her to read it, and she refused, saying that she would just look it up on the internet. All I could do was bear my testimony, but she didn't listen, and talked about that because I am so young, I don't have experience and have been brainwashed to believe what my parents taught me. After that day, while I was a little crushed, I felt strangely stronger. I can feel myself changing. It is easier for me to talk to others, but I am also more confident. I am so weak, but as I depend on the Lord, I can do anything. Each day I feel am crushed in the dirt a little, but then I am more confident after.
I am completely out of time. Darn it! Ahhh well. I will tell you all more next week. Just know that I am doing so well, and I feel am finally starting to really dig into the work. I love you so much!!!
Sister Stapley
Tristan: the bug I ate was the bondaeggi thing. Yup. It tasted like dirt.
I have to apologize for the email I am about to write. We just got back from going to a Buddhist temple, and I have less than 30 minutes to write. I am so sorry! There is SO much that I want to tell you, and it has been the most incredible week. AHH, darn it. Darn 30 minutes.
First off, the Buddhist temple was incredible. It is at least 1,200 years old, and is one of the most important temples in Korea. It holds a library of blocks of carved wood that are scripture to them and that they consider sacred. It is in the mountains and I think was one of the most beautiful sights that I have ever seen. I thought of Tristan a lot walking around, and some of the pictures that he had at another temple.
This week we had a member of the Seventy come and do a mission tour. It was a wonderful meeting, and really changed my perspective about my mission. I was also able to play the violin for him at that meeting, which was SUPER fun. They talked a lot about opening your mouth and talking to people, which is definitely something I needed to work on. I had been having a hard time getting myself to talk, and then I wouldn't know what to say or couldn't understand them. However, after that meeting, my perspective totally changed. I walked out and on the bus back talked to a few people and had some really good conversations. I am still not perfect but I talk to everyone that I can now. It is so much more fulfilling and I come back home really feeling like I did everything I could each day. Also, as I pray for help, I see the gift of tongues all the time in my life now.
The other day, I sat down next to a woman on the bus and tried to talk to her. She wasn't really responding at first, but eventually started talking more. When she realized I was a missionary and a Mormon, she really started. She asked many questions about the Book of Mormon and about what we think about the Bible. As I tried to explain, she kept repeating that she didn't think that Mormons actually read the Bible. I told her how much I love the Bible, and she was adamant that I didn't know what I was talking about. Seriously? I am going to study the New Testament for my major. As she talked about the Book of Mormon, I opened the copy I had to the intro and asked her to read it, and she refused, saying that she would just look it up on the internet. All I could do was bear my testimony, but she didn't listen, and talked about that because I am so young, I don't have experience and have been brainwashed to believe what my parents taught me. After that day, while I was a little crushed, I felt strangely stronger. I can feel myself changing. It is easier for me to talk to others, but I am also more confident. I am so weak, but as I depend on the Lord, I can do anything. Each day I feel am crushed in the dirt a little, but then I am more confident after.
I am completely out of time. Darn it! Ahhh well. I will tell you all more next week. Just know that I am doing so well, and I feel am finally starting to really dig into the work. I love you so much!!!
Sister Stapley
Tristan: the bug I ate was the bondaeggi thing. Yup. It tasted like dirt.