We had a bunch of good finding opportunities this week. An American sister in our ward that had been teaching English here for a while was going back to the states, but stopped by to say goodbye in between some vacationing. She needed a temple recommend interview before she left, so Sister Lee and I went in to help translate. I have a fun time translating. While it is always kind of stressful, it is satisfying. Anyway, this sister also invited us to come to her goodbye party. It was SUCH a good opportunity. There were a ton of foreigners there, including those that we already know from our Korean class. We were able to talk with a lot of people and tell them about who we were, and ate some DELICIOUS Iranian barbecue one of the foreigners made. We hope that next time we meet them walking around in Jinju we will be able to really connect with them and start meeting with them more.
We also met with a Buddhist woman that we had met on a bus a while ago. She had been really excited to meet, and at first had asked for OUR contact. Super nice. When we met up with her, she took us to a sort of business hall thing, where it looked like people with small businesses temporarily ran their gig. She sat us down at a table and went to get something for us to drink, and I admit- I was nervous. I still had the recent crazy church lady experience in my mind, and was worried about episode two happening, but it turned out real well. She and another girl our age came and sat down, and we just talked. It was interesting, because another man that worked there came over and said, "Hello sisters!" We were kind of surprised, and as we talked with him more, we realized that he was a member. He isn't attending church right now, but was so nice. As we were talking with the Buddhist woman and the girl our age, he was helping us explain things about the church! He kept saying quietly to us things like, "Show them a picture of the temple." and "Give her a Book of Mormon.". It was so good. We developed a really good relationship with them. While the Buddhist woman doesn't seem to have much gospel interest (only foreigner interest-we saw our number in her phone is named "미국" (America)), the girl our age was pretty interested. She also told us that she really likes piano, so we were thinking we would ask her to perform with us in our Jinju ward activity coming up. Good opportunity. :)
GSY is doing really well, and we finally met with KML again this week! When we met with her on Saturday, she told us that she has been excited lately to pray and talk with Heavenly Father. That sure made me excited. :) We gave her the Book of Mormon Stories picture book to help her want to read and understand the Book of Mormon better.
Biggest guilt of my mission: This week when we did Book of Mormon sticker boarding with the Jinju elders, I talked with a college student that was SO prepared. She had a light about her, and really was excited to meet with us. I got her number and name and put them in our phone, but then accidentally closed it and DELETED IT. Just about crushed my soul. I felt horrible. I guess the good thing is, our church is right next to the college she attends, so we might be able to find her again. Please pray for us to find her!
By far, the best day of the week was Sunday. Because of a BAPTISM. A brother that had been attending Sacheon branch with his wife was baptized! The other brother that was baptized last transfer had to be baptized again (we realized later that the Elder had raised his left arm instead of the right) so it turned into a double baptism. One of the coolest experiences of my mission. In fact, the brother asked to be baptized in the ocean. So that is what we did. IT WAS AMAZING. After church we all packed into cars and drove to a little hidden beach surrounded by rocks, and held a baptismal service. The Spirit was super strong. For the musical number, Sister Lee played hayegeum and the Sacheon Elders and I sang "I Know Heavenly Father Loves Me" from the children's hymnbook. Right next to the ocean. It was a beautiful experience. Another cool thing has been seeing the brother that was baptized twice progress. He is awesome. He is only twenty, but is doing SO well. Today in church he gave a talk, was later baptized again, and then that night came and sticker board proselyted with us in Jinju. It was fun to hear him tell people, "We are missionaries!" Proud moment.
One thing that meant a lot to me at the baptism in the ocean connects back to something I wrote about in the MTC. I remember writing about standing with hundreds of missionaries and singing the song that my brother had once sung in a missionary broadcast with a missionary choir, "Hark All Ye Nations". It meant a lot to me to think of Tristan and I serving together, and bringing the truth to the world. After the baptism on Sunday, our branch president asked that we sing a hymn. It was "Hark All Ye Nations." This time, as I stood next to the ocean singing in Korean, I thought back to almost a year ago and remembered, "Hark, all ye nations! Hear heaven's voice. Thru every land that all may rejoice...Truth is restored again!" I know that this is the truth. I am so grateful to stand with my brother in this great work and to take it to these people that I love.
I love you!!!
Sister Stapley