Hey!
This was a busier, more productive week! We are finally starting to really meet with people. We got three new investigators, and a TON of potential investigators. Fillin' up the pool. And one of the new investigators....accepted a baptismal date! Another one accepted the baptismal invitation, but not a date yet.
On Tuesday we went to Busan for Zone Conference, which turned into a 4 hour hike. It was SO GOOD. It was a pretty tall mountain, covered in trees. So most of the time we were hiking we were climbing up rocks and roots of trees. As we went we would stop at a clearing every once in a while and President Barrow or someone would teach. It was all themed around Lehi's dream and giving invitations. The Spirit was so strong. It was incredible to feel that Spirit, look around at the old bent trees covered in moss, and the sunshine streaming through the cracks between the leaves. It felt like a sanctuary from the world. No wonder Jesus Christ went to the mountain tops so often. Sister Han and I were asked to teach for a little bit as the Sister Training Leaders, and when it was our turn we stopped at a wider cropping of rocks next to a little cliff looking over the city. It was beautiful. We talked about the path and the rod in Lehi's dream. It was all such a good experience.
We started exchanges this week! I went to Kyongju (a really old country town filled with a lot of old buildings and tombs and things from the Shilla dynasty) with a Korean sister who is halfway through her training. It was so much fun! We went to an investigator's birthday party (or FEAST) and taught one of her friends about the Plan of Salvation. She invited us to come to her house sometime. We then did some less active finding, and after getting lost a couple times found an old grandma and grandpa that let us into their house. They were both very old and the grandma was in a wheelchair. As we spoke to them and asked if they wanted to hear about our message, the grandma told us, "I am not happy. Life is dark and hard." They both wanted to learn more. It was so sad. We asked if we could just serve them and the grandma asked us that if could come and push her around outside every once in a while. I wanted to help her so much. Anyway, it was a wonderful exchange and we were able to do a lot.
Recently we went to Costco to get stuff for English class and I was finally able to use Tristan's Costco card to get in! MADE MY DAY. (Some other Elders had given her his card when she arrived in South Korea. It is expired but she really wanted to use it once.) Check that off the bucket list. Sad thing was, to actually buy the stuff I had to get a new card. I'll just have to go back and keep using it!
We had several appointments planned for this week, and while some of them fell through we had some REALLY good ones. One girl that we met last week from Book of Mormon sticker boarding met with us at the church. As we talked with her she told us how she has been attending another church, but wants to really know that God exists and wants to be able to talk about these things with someone. As we talked with her, she seemed SO prepared. We asked if she would prepare to be baptized, and she said yes! She agreed to a date in July. I think we will move it up closer, though. Another woman that we met seemed less ready, but told us she would like to learn more and would be willing to prepare for baptism. The Lord is blessing us.
During the hike for Zone Conference, after we got to the summit and President and Sister Barrow spoke to us, we started making our way back down. Some groups went down faster than others, and Sister Han and I found ourselves hiking down with President Barrow. We were able to ask him a lot of questions about our area, and also how we could personally do better or help more. The thing that struck me the most from when I talked with him, was not just his love for me and Sister Han, but also his love for the Savior and His willingness to sacrifice anything for this work. He has given so much for this. I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve in this mission and give all of my time to the Lord. I am finding more and more joy in that every day. I know that Christ lives and that He is closely involved with this work, but also our lives. He loves us. I love Him!
You are awesome! I love you all!
Sister Stapley
P.S. I just got an email from Sister Lee Won Ji (her trainee from her last area). KML was baptized and LEK is going to be baptized soon! Whoo hoo!!! Made me SO happy I cried!
This was a busier, more productive week! We are finally starting to really meet with people. We got three new investigators, and a TON of potential investigators. Fillin' up the pool. And one of the new investigators....accepted a baptismal date! Another one accepted the baptismal invitation, but not a date yet.
On Tuesday we went to Busan for Zone Conference, which turned into a 4 hour hike. It was SO GOOD. It was a pretty tall mountain, covered in trees. So most of the time we were hiking we were climbing up rocks and roots of trees. As we went we would stop at a clearing every once in a while and President Barrow or someone would teach. It was all themed around Lehi's dream and giving invitations. The Spirit was so strong. It was incredible to feel that Spirit, look around at the old bent trees covered in moss, and the sunshine streaming through the cracks between the leaves. It felt like a sanctuary from the world. No wonder Jesus Christ went to the mountain tops so often. Sister Han and I were asked to teach for a little bit as the Sister Training Leaders, and when it was our turn we stopped at a wider cropping of rocks next to a little cliff looking over the city. It was beautiful. We talked about the path and the rod in Lehi's dream. It was all such a good experience.
We started exchanges this week! I went to Kyongju (a really old country town filled with a lot of old buildings and tombs and things from the Shilla dynasty) with a Korean sister who is halfway through her training. It was so much fun! We went to an investigator's birthday party (or FEAST) and taught one of her friends about the Plan of Salvation. She invited us to come to her house sometime. We then did some less active finding, and after getting lost a couple times found an old grandma and grandpa that let us into their house. They were both very old and the grandma was in a wheelchair. As we spoke to them and asked if they wanted to hear about our message, the grandma told us, "I am not happy. Life is dark and hard." They both wanted to learn more. It was so sad. We asked if we could just serve them and the grandma asked us that if could come and push her around outside every once in a while. I wanted to help her so much. Anyway, it was a wonderful exchange and we were able to do a lot.
Recently we went to Costco to get stuff for English class and I was finally able to use Tristan's Costco card to get in! MADE MY DAY. (Some other Elders had given her his card when she arrived in South Korea. It is expired but she really wanted to use it once.) Check that off the bucket list. Sad thing was, to actually buy the stuff I had to get a new card. I'll just have to go back and keep using it!
We had several appointments planned for this week, and while some of them fell through we had some REALLY good ones. One girl that we met last week from Book of Mormon sticker boarding met with us at the church. As we talked with her she told us how she has been attending another church, but wants to really know that God exists and wants to be able to talk about these things with someone. As we talked with her, she seemed SO prepared. We asked if she would prepare to be baptized, and she said yes! She agreed to a date in July. I think we will move it up closer, though. Another woman that we met seemed less ready, but told us she would like to learn more and would be willing to prepare for baptism. The Lord is blessing us.
During the hike for Zone Conference, after we got to the summit and President and Sister Barrow spoke to us, we started making our way back down. Some groups went down faster than others, and Sister Han and I found ourselves hiking down with President Barrow. We were able to ask him a lot of questions about our area, and also how we could personally do better or help more. The thing that struck me the most from when I talked with him, was not just his love for me and Sister Han, but also his love for the Savior and His willingness to sacrifice anything for this work. He has given so much for this. I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve in this mission and give all of my time to the Lord. I am finding more and more joy in that every day. I know that Christ lives and that He is closely involved with this work, but also our lives. He loves us. I love Him!
You are awesome! I love you all!
Sister Stapley
P.S. I just got an email from Sister Lee Won Ji (her trainee from her last area). KML was baptized and LEK is going to be baptized soon! Whoo hoo!!! Made me SO happy I cried!