The biggest impression that this week left with me was all the potential that Pohang has that I feel is about to start boiling over. If we just break through the little stumbling blocks trying to trip us there will be so much that will change. We had some really good experiences this week, especially with some of our members. I've never been in an area with so many referrals and members and investigators introducing their friends to us. It is awesome.
We did get a really good referral from one of our investigators! The sisters here have been teaching her for a little while, and while she loves talking about God and likes the Book of Mormon, she seems to have more English interest than anything. This last week she called us and told us excitedly about how she "proselyted" to one of her friends for us and told him he needs to come to our church. He actually did. He really likes English but has a lot of gospel interest too. It was a funny moment when as we were teaching our investigator she pulled out her phone, called him, and preached to him on the phone about our church. "You need to go to the Mormon church! It is a very good church. Study the Mormon book with the missionaries. You must go!" It was a little awkward on our side sitting and watching her nod and wink at us while she talked with him. She then told us, "See? He is a very good man. So I introduced him to you. I felt bad about not going to your church, but I found him, so can we just study English now?"
When we visited a family yesterday for family home evening/dinner, the mom said, "We have the two best sister missionaries here now. We have the beautiful one and the one who acts like a Korean!" Yep. Guess which one I am? Not the beautiful one. Only Koreans can so seamlessly insult and compliment you in one sentence. ;)
Actually, when we visited that family we had one of the coolest member-missionary discussions I have ever had on my mission. The oldest daughter is about to graduate high school, and is really wanting to serve a mission. We have been talking with her quite a bit and have become really good friends with her. I guess that she told her mom a lot about us, so when we went to their house last night for dinner her mom was really excited. They were so much fun. We ate and started sharing our message, which transitioned into the parents really encouraging their oldest daughter to refer at least one of her friends to us. I felt a little bad for the daughter who was probably under a lot of pressure, but as we tried to really turn it into a discussion the Spirit was so strong. We talked a lot about goals and preparation, and it was really cool to hear their testimonies about acting on faith and hope and seeing the Lord work miracles. The mom was talking during most of it, but the best part was when the Dad quietly turned to his daughter and told her the story of the Brother of Jared, who did the best that he could with what he had, and then took it to the Lord who did the rest. We made some goals and plans with the family, and we'll be working with them a lot now. We are excited!
Sister Rix and I have been making a lot of goals lately to really buckle down and work harder than we have before. We have a long ways to go, but it has been shocking to see the miracles come as we progress little by little. I love it.
I love you SO much.
Sister Stapley