Today was a very strange week... lots of random things happened! (Crazy bus drivers, spontaneous rain storms, our refrigerator dying, shopping with our investigators for church clothing, running into a grandma and her grandkids on the bus, then shopping with her at LotteMart, her buying us a ton of food and making us eat it all... not even the tip of the iceberg. haha) But a special week nonetheless! Yesterday two of our investigators were baptized--Song Ye Rim and Park Seo Ra! It was a great day, filled with love and joy. Song Ye Rim was baptized by her older brother (he was baptized back in May, soon after I arrived in Cheomdan). At the service he bore his testimony, and expressed his gratitude toward his sister for deciding to attend church, meet with the missionaries, and be baptized! It was one of the most tender things I have ever heard him say... (we've met with the two of them often, and their relationship is typical of siblings... hahaha)
One of the coolest things was realizing, while meeting with both of them during this last week, the changes that have occurred in both of them during the time we were teaching them. The gospel of Jesus Christ and knowledge of the truth really does change the lives of those who embrace it. This is the greatest reward as a missionary, is recognizing the richness of the blessings that comes when a person comes closure to Christ! Words can't even describe this feeling!
Also, yesterday another of our investigators attended church for the first time--Wang Ji Hyun, from China! She was referred to us by a family in the ward, who has been diligently involved in helping us teach her and inviting her to activities. Despite having little religious background, she has a crazy amount of faith! This last week we taught her part of the Gospel of Christ, and showed her the video Finding Faith in Christ. (I love that video! It's hard to watch it and not feel the spirit testifying of the divinity of Jesus and also His special sacrifice as Savior of the World.) Super special lesson!
Anywho, this morning both Sister Ha and I studied the same scripture during our personal study! It's found in Alma 58:10-11 and testifies of hope. I'm realizing that hope isn't something that we can muster up on our own--it is something that comes from God! In order to have hope, we must also have faith in something--not just any "something," but a true thing. God is the source of all truth! As we pray to God and ask for strength, He will help increase our faith, bring peace, and help us increase in hope. As evidenced by my random experiences this week, life is full of surprises. Their are twists and turns that we simply cannot anticipate. The only source of truth, of stability, and of hope, is through Jesus Christ! I know this to be true. :)
Love you all! Have a wonderful week!
Sister Marissa Hatch
One of the coolest things was realizing, while meeting with both of them during this last week, the changes that have occurred in both of them during the time we were teaching them. The gospel of Jesus Christ and knowledge of the truth really does change the lives of those who embrace it. This is the greatest reward as a missionary, is recognizing the richness of the blessings that comes when a person comes closure to Christ! Words can't even describe this feeling!
Also, yesterday another of our investigators attended church for the first time--Wang Ji Hyun, from China! She was referred to us by a family in the ward, who has been diligently involved in helping us teach her and inviting her to activities. Despite having little religious background, she has a crazy amount of faith! This last week we taught her part of the Gospel of Christ, and showed her the video Finding Faith in Christ. (I love that video! It's hard to watch it and not feel the spirit testifying of the divinity of Jesus and also His special sacrifice as Savior of the World.) Super special lesson!
Anywho, this morning both Sister Ha and I studied the same scripture during our personal study! It's found in Alma 58:10-11 and testifies of hope. I'm realizing that hope isn't something that we can muster up on our own--it is something that comes from God! In order to have hope, we must also have faith in something--not just any "something," but a true thing. God is the source of all truth! As we pray to God and ask for strength, He will help increase our faith, bring peace, and help us increase in hope. As evidenced by my random experiences this week, life is full of surprises. Their are twists and turns that we simply cannot anticipate. The only source of truth, of stability, and of hope, is through Jesus Christ! I know this to be true. :)
Love you all! Have a wonderful week!
Sister Marissa Hatch