This week we have been continuing our focus on our relationship with members. On Tuesday went to a sister's house for lunch, and afterward went with her to visit one of her relatives. Her relative is our age, but has been pretty depressed lately and our member, LJJ, felt it would be a good opportunity for us to befriend her, help her, and teach her about the gospel. When we visited it took her a while to answer the bell, and when she finally did we could tell she was very uncomfortable socially and was kind of afraid of us. We just left her some gifts and snacks, and agreed with the member that we would visit her again later in the week. When we went again she didn't even answer the door. We will just keep trying! We are super grateful that our member was willing to refer her to us though!
There has been another less-active that we have been trying to visit a lot lately, but who is never at home. She is extremely busy, and for a little bit seemed like she didn't want contact with the missionaries. We have kept visiting and leaving notes and message cards though. On Friday when we visited again, she was at home and answered the door! We asked how she was and gave her some cookies that we made and then asked if she had a time that she would be able to meet soon. Surprisingly she did! She told us that later in the month her son is performing in an orchestra concert and she really wants some friends to come and support him. She invited us to come for dinner that night and then to all go together to the concert. Uhh, YES. In the Korea missions missionaries are allowed to go and support members in things like that; THANK GOODNESS. It is a great opportunity. I think she took pity on us too (it was raining a lot that day and our skirts were soaked after proselyting for a while) and she offered to drive us home. As we talked with her more we realized that because she is so busy she doesn't have any time to be with friends and is kind of lonely. We are definitely going to work with Bishop and the ward members to change that. Super good experience. We had just happened to catch her right when she got to the house and was about to leave again! Is that the Spirit or what?
We also visited our normal less-active in her new house this week, and another that has been kind of sick and needs a lot of help, but came to church this Sunday! It has been a good week for less-active work!
The cherry blossoms are starting to come out! Already the mountains are dotted with white trees. This next week they should be really nice. Every spring in this area they have a cherry blossom festival that is really famous. Pretty excited!
KML is so awesome. She is doing SO well! She just started high school this week, and was so nervous going in. However, when we called her the first night she answered with the happiest "Anyoung haseYO!" I have ever heard from her. She is reading the Book of Mormon and praying everyday, and really seems HAPPY now. I love it so much! We are still working towards the 20th for baptism. Please bless. The Jinju Elders just committed a person to be baptized on the 20th too! It would be pretty sweet to have a double baptism with them. We have seen so many miracles in our district.
With the cherry blossoms coming out, I have found myself searching the mountains and the scenery to find the pretty white trees scattered throughout as we travel. Next week they should be everywhere. Blue has always been my favorite color, but white really beats it. It is the color of peace, of cleanliness, the color of God. When I see white now, I think of the temple and the potential that we have to live with our families forever and become like God. Especially lately, I often imagine KML in white, sitting and waiting and listening to prelude music in front of the baptismal font. I also dream of our less-active in white and surrounded by white in the temple, making covenants with God and keeping them for the rest of her life. Really everything that I hope for in the future is full of white. Wow. Super sappy. I am grateful for this gospel and for our Savior Jesus Christ, that one day we will all be dressed in white, surrounded by it, and bathed in the light of our Savior and Heavenly Father as we stand in their presence. With my family.
I love you!!!
Sister Stapley