First week of the transfer was a success! To kick start it, we had a huge mission tour last Friday, where Elder Whiting (of the North Asia area presidency) came to speak with all of us! IT WAS AMAZING! Also, we were able to meet with the entire northern part of the mission, which consequently had nearly all of my MTC 동기 and Sister Sallander!^^ Elder Whiting is an incredible speaker and so hilarious... Half of the meeting was focused specifically on missionary work, but a good portion was focused on the gospel itself. I learned a ton and received a lot of answers to personal questions that I had. It was basically the best day ever!
The biggest miracle this week... we've been meeting with our investigator 김현주s for the last two months. She is an awesome 25 year old girl who is super smart, super sweet, and has been reading the Book of Mormon like crazy! We've talked quite a bit about baptism, but for her attending church is difficult because she travels to Seoul every weekend for work. We've talked quite a bit about her going, and last week she actually did! She looked up a nearby LDS church on her phone and brought her boyfriend with her! Also, when she walked in, she saw one of her best friends from Elementary school who she had lost contact with!! AMAZING!! Sister McQueen and I nearly started crying as she recounted it all to us. Seriously, quite a miracle! And what's even greater is the fact that she talked about how God had led her... and through it all she was able to not only have a great church experience (she said everyone came up to talk to her), but she also found her friend! Crazy, huh? There definitely are no coincidences in life. ^^
As far as other experiences... this last Saturday one of the widows in our ward's son had a wedding! He's actually less active, but the whole ward went! Super ritzy wedding hall... complete with a buffet of expensive food. (I didn't have my camera on me... ㅠㅠ) I tried pig's feet finally, as well as an assortment of other fancy things. Many people involved in the wedding were dressed up in beautiful hanbok. Didn't have a chance to stay for the actual service, as our hour was up and had to head to english class! Also, I'm realizing a majority of my big cultural experiences revolve around food. It's important here in Korea. ^^ haha
These last few weeks, for whatever reason, I have been focused a lot on learning more about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It's the sort of thing where regardless of how much I study and learn, the more I understand, the more I realize that I actually don't understand. At mission tour we had an activity where we had three missionaries stand in a line in the front--representing a bad, average, and excellent missionary. Through the power of the Atonement, they were able to change and progress, each eventually (with some work) becoming their best selves. We talked a bit about the grace of God that allows us the strength, power, and opportunity for this change. I thought a bit about the scripture found in 2 Nephi 25:23, which says that "it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." As we have a desire and put in our effort to change and progress, it's through the Atonement that we receive God's grace and can become better. I'm learning more of the enabling power that the Atonement gives, not just to missionaries nor the people we teach, but to everyone who desires and seeks after it! I know this power is real.
Anywho, love you all! Hope you have a great week!
--
Sister Marissa Hatch
해치 자매
The biggest miracle this week... we've been meeting with our investigator 김현주s for the last two months. She is an awesome 25 year old girl who is super smart, super sweet, and has been reading the Book of Mormon like crazy! We've talked quite a bit about baptism, but for her attending church is difficult because she travels to Seoul every weekend for work. We've talked quite a bit about her going, and last week she actually did! She looked up a nearby LDS church on her phone and brought her boyfriend with her! Also, when she walked in, she saw one of her best friends from Elementary school who she had lost contact with!! AMAZING!! Sister McQueen and I nearly started crying as she recounted it all to us. Seriously, quite a miracle! And what's even greater is the fact that she talked about how God had led her... and through it all she was able to not only have a great church experience (she said everyone came up to talk to her), but she also found her friend! Crazy, huh? There definitely are no coincidences in life. ^^
As far as other experiences... this last Saturday one of the widows in our ward's son had a wedding! He's actually less active, but the whole ward went! Super ritzy wedding hall... complete with a buffet of expensive food. (I didn't have my camera on me... ㅠㅠ) I tried pig's feet finally, as well as an assortment of other fancy things. Many people involved in the wedding were dressed up in beautiful hanbok. Didn't have a chance to stay for the actual service, as our hour was up and had to head to english class! Also, I'm realizing a majority of my big cultural experiences revolve around food. It's important here in Korea. ^^ haha
These last few weeks, for whatever reason, I have been focused a lot on learning more about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It's the sort of thing where regardless of how much I study and learn, the more I understand, the more I realize that I actually don't understand. At mission tour we had an activity where we had three missionaries stand in a line in the front--representing a bad, average, and excellent missionary. Through the power of the Atonement, they were able to change and progress, each eventually (with some work) becoming their best selves. We talked a bit about the grace of God that allows us the strength, power, and opportunity for this change. I thought a bit about the scripture found in 2 Nephi 25:23, which says that "it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." As we have a desire and put in our effort to change and progress, it's through the Atonement that we receive God's grace and can become better. I'm learning more of the enabling power that the Atonement gives, not just to missionaries nor the people we teach, but to everyone who desires and seeks after it! I know this power is real.
Anywho, love you all! Hope you have a great week!
--
Sister Marissa Hatch
해치 자매