Start with heartbreaking-- one of our investigators who was going to be baptized on Sunday (yesterday) had some different private challenges and difficulties come up, and he asked us not to text him anymore, so we can't even meet him anymore. Super sad. We love him and fasted for him and his family.
The good and awesome news, which happened the day we were supposed to have a baptismal interview for the other man:
We met L_ and family! We had met them twice last week. The first time, we shared "Because of Him" and taught a little about the plan of salvation. We hadn't taught all the principles yet, L_ and his family are a bit new to religion so we kept it really simple, plus the atmosphere was a little... rowdy? So we didn't feel comfortable trying to talk about things that were too deep.
The second time, we were doing weekly planning the day before, and Elder A_ wanted to share the video "The Hope of God's Light", a video Andy shared with our family a few years ago, about the man who got into drugs and alcohol, was suicidal, then decided to fast. Nothing came of it except that he wasn't suicidal anymore, but then a month later his friend (who he hadn't seen in years) called him and asked to meet. When they met, they caught up on life, then his friend said, "Yesterday I had the strangest impression. It was from God, and it was that I need to contact you, and to tell you that He loves you, and He needs you on His side" The man was overcome with emotion, and then after years of work and struggling and repenting he brought his life into harmony with the Gospel.
See the video Here: https://www.lds.org/
Well we decided to show the video to L_ and his family. They were audibly stunned as they viewed it, and after we watched it they just told us how amazing it was-- they said that this story was so remarkably similar to their own lives, and that is why they were shocked and touched I doubt they were mixed up in the same things as Todd, the guy in the video, but they opened up to us a little about their lives. One day they had all decided they need to make changes, spend their time better, and improve their lives. They wanted to study English better. They also wanted to start exercising together, so they left their apartment and started walking to a nearby school. At that time, they happened to meet us almost immediately. They said they will never forget when we first said hello to them.
The next day after we had first met, we met again, and just had fun, practicing English. They found their motivation to study English hard in meeting us, and we also introduced a little about God to them. Then the rest followed as I told you.
In Korea, churches have poor reputations of just being... business. So many people become preachers and start their own churches, other people are just very forceful and aggressive in the way they try to share the Gospel. L_ and his family told us they would have never listened to Christians or churches if it hadn't been us, but now they love to learn more. We taught the 3rd missionary lesson, "The Gospel of Jesus Christ" to them, about faith, leading to repentance, which prepares us for baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, a very precious gift that helps us to endure to the end.
They love and recognize the Spirit each time we come. It is amazingly strong when we meet them. In Korean, "Holy Ghost" is 성신, or sungshin. To put it in their words, as T_ H_, nicknamed "Joey", said as we left, "I want to feel the sungshin!"
I have learned so much while meeting with this family! They are all willing to be baptized it seems. But they are moving to Seoul soon-- so they might have to be baptized there. Going forward, we need to teach the commandments, which may be really difficult-- it can be so different and new and difficult for those who haven't known the commandments to start living them. Please pray that they will accept them and that their hearts will be prepared.
Time for me to go! Love you all! Have a great week!! Talk to you next time!
Elder B
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