Hey all! Every week in the mission thus far has been filled with all kinds of new experiences!! There are always ups and downs, but through each of them I have come to learn so much!
Yesterday was 왕지현's baptism! I am always surprised by how unique and special each of the baptism services are. The spirit yesterday was incredibly strong! And as she bore her testimony, it brought tears to her eyes, as well as to me and my companion's. I am so grateful for the privilege to teach her about this gospel! She has incredible determination and faith, which has been an inspiration for me as well! Also, being able to witness the joy that the experience has brought to the close family friends who referred her has been touching. Man, I love being a missionary!
Also, I'm realizing more and more that my life as a missionary is not my own... meaning that we frequently get asked last minute to do things at church! Like yesterday we were asked the hour before to teach a youth class. Also, yesterday the Relief Society asked me to play the piano for a special musical number at the baptism... hahaha. I'm learning a lot about patience, love, service, and what it means to truly be a fulltime missionary--100%! Just a few of the things I'm learning! (Another random thing I learned today... is that in the Korean bible, the porridge that Esau sells his birthright for is in fact... 밭죽!! Which is this red bean porridge that I've come to love here in Korea. It's super delicious, but I'm not sure it's worth giving up a birthright for... hahaha)
This week we were able to meet with a potential investigator named Ceta, who has actually had a lot of miraculous interactions with the missionaries. We ran into her a week and a half ago at a coffee shop... a bit of a crazy miracle!! She had previously talked with other missionaries in our district on the phone, but never met in person prior to that. She came from Africa and is living in Korea with her son. We met her yesterday along with the Filipina Sister Missionaries, since technically Ceta lives outside of our area. It was amazing being able to meet with her yesterday and teach about Christ, His teachings and His restored church! She is a strong Christian and actually has a cousin who is a member of our church in Liberia. Yesterday in meeting with her we shared scriptures that brought her peace, and also taught part of the restoration. It was an interesting experience being able to teach in English, the language of my heart. It was so much different from any lesson I've taught before... I felt the spirit touch my heart so strongly as a testified of truth. I do not doubt my calling to preach the gospel in Korean; I honestly have come to prefer teaching in Korean, yet I am thankful for the experience yesterday. She desires to continue to meet with us this week, and we're focusing now on transitioning her to the Filipina's team to teach.
I've continued to study this week about Christ's Atonement and the Plan of Salvation... I just cannot get enough of it lately! There is so much to learn! Also, I'm realizing that the more I learn about it, the more I don't really know... and can't possibly understand. "And he shall come into the world to redeem his people; and he shall take upon him the transgressions of those who believe on his name; and these are they that shall have eternal life, and salvation cometh to none else." (Alma 11:40) We've been sharing Jeffrey R. Holland's recent conference talk "How Great the Wisdom and the Love" with a few members this week... that conference talk has been one of my favorites! It struck me pretty hard when I first listened to it, and helped me understand just a little better the situation we are in on this earth. There is no other way nor means we can return to live with God except through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. I know that Christ is our Redeemer! That through following Him and His teachings, we can be forgiven of our sins and change into more perfect creatures. I have experienced this sweet change in my own life... a change for the better. Also, I know that through Christ, after this life is over, we will have the opportunity to live with God-- joyfully, eternally, and with our beloved family. Again, I am so grateful for this time I am able to spend as a missionary, teaching the people of Korea about the good news. :)
Anywho, have a wonderful week!!
Sister Hatch
Yesterday was 왕지현's baptism! I am always surprised by how unique and special each of the baptism services are. The spirit yesterday was incredibly strong! And as she bore her testimony, it brought tears to her eyes, as well as to me and my companion's. I am so grateful for the privilege to teach her about this gospel! She has incredible determination and faith, which has been an inspiration for me as well! Also, being able to witness the joy that the experience has brought to the close family friends who referred her has been touching. Man, I love being a missionary!
Also, I'm realizing more and more that my life as a missionary is not my own... meaning that we frequently get asked last minute to do things at church! Like yesterday we were asked the hour before to teach a youth class. Also, yesterday the Relief Society asked me to play the piano for a special musical number at the baptism... hahaha. I'm learning a lot about patience, love, service, and what it means to truly be a fulltime missionary--100%! Just a few of the things I'm learning! (Another random thing I learned today... is that in the Korean bible, the porridge that Esau sells his birthright for is in fact... 밭죽!! Which is this red bean porridge that I've come to love here in Korea. It's super delicious, but I'm not sure it's worth giving up a birthright for... hahaha)
This week we were able to meet with a potential investigator named Ceta, who has actually had a lot of miraculous interactions with the missionaries. We ran into her a week and a half ago at a coffee shop... a bit of a crazy miracle!! She had previously talked with other missionaries in our district on the phone, but never met in person prior to that. She came from Africa and is living in Korea with her son. We met her yesterday along with the Filipina Sister Missionaries, since technically Ceta lives outside of our area. It was amazing being able to meet with her yesterday and teach about Christ, His teachings and His restored church! She is a strong Christian and actually has a cousin who is a member of our church in Liberia. Yesterday in meeting with her we shared scriptures that brought her peace, and also taught part of the restoration. It was an interesting experience being able to teach in English, the language of my heart. It was so much different from any lesson I've taught before... I felt the spirit touch my heart so strongly as a testified of truth. I do not doubt my calling to preach the gospel in Korean; I honestly have come to prefer teaching in Korean, yet I am thankful for the experience yesterday. She desires to continue to meet with us this week, and we're focusing now on transitioning her to the Filipina's team to teach.
I've continued to study this week about Christ's Atonement and the Plan of Salvation... I just cannot get enough of it lately! There is so much to learn! Also, I'm realizing that the more I learn about it, the more I don't really know... and can't possibly understand. "And he shall come into the world to redeem his people; and he shall take upon him the transgressions of those who believe on his name; and these are they that shall have eternal life, and salvation cometh to none else." (Alma 11:40) We've been sharing Jeffrey R. Holland's recent conference talk "How Great the Wisdom and the Love" with a few members this week... that conference talk has been one of my favorites! It struck me pretty hard when I first listened to it, and helped me understand just a little better the situation we are in on this earth. There is no other way nor means we can return to live with God except through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. I know that Christ is our Redeemer! That through following Him and His teachings, we can be forgiven of our sins and change into more perfect creatures. I have experienced this sweet change in my own life... a change for the better. Also, I know that through Christ, after this life is over, we will have the opportunity to live with God-- joyfully, eternally, and with our beloved family. Again, I am so grateful for this time I am able to spend as a missionary, teaching the people of Korea about the good news. :)
Anywho, have a wonderful week!!
Sister Hatch