Prayer: "Please help me to learn more and to know how I can better follow Jesus Christ's example."

9/30-10/6
Monday was a fun PDAY. Sister Hunt is transferring so she invited all the sisters to the Shingal house for lunch. We ordered chicken and hung out for a few hours. It didn't take long for us to all get pretty antsy about wanting to email home, so we all traveled together to the local library. After emailing was just a bunch of errands with no time for my much needed PDAY nap. After we ate dinner we met at the church for the weekly YSA FHE.We had a ping pong tournament. I was on a team with Elder Breckwoldt, we were fourth place out of five teams... Oh well, at least we had fun. Speaking of ping pong- the paddles that they use here are genius! I am so accustom to them now that when I use a normal American paddle, I look like I've never seen a ping pong in my life. I'll bring some home to teach everyone the RIGHT way to play ping pong.

Tuesday was long! We only had one appointment scheduled and the rest of the day to fill. Recently, Sister Han and I have been updating less-active members addresses so today we decided to confirm a few in 금곡동. We spent over six hours tracting door to door and trying to find less-actives. Like I said, it was a looong day! When it came time to make our way to the members house for our appointment, she called us and asked us to meet her at a bus stop. After a short wait, she arrived. She then lead us to this cute, hole-in-the-wall restaurant where we ate dinner together. The member, 강운숙S (Sister Kang) ordered 내면 (a Japanese cold noodle soup...there are literally ice cubes in the soup..) for me. Anyway, despite the initial thought of it, I ended up really enjoying it. After we ate, she walked us back to her house where we had dessert (fruit) and shared a spiritually uplifting message. I was grateful to have ended our day on a good note.

Wednesday was yet again, an uneventful day. The young women leaders' birthday was today so we went to leave a bunch or notes and hearts on her door -we call it a heart attack. On our way home we did some more door to door contacting. It proved to be ineffective once again. Before English class, Sister Han and I came home for dinner and undated a bunch of member records.

English first seemed to be another bust when no kids showed up for mine and Sister Han'a class. About 30 minutes into class, to our surprise, two mothers with three kids walked into the building. We quickly grabbed our things and ushered them to our classroom. We were a little all over the place because we were expecting new students. It all worked out though and the mother is excited to come back next week! Booyah!

Thursday was a day dedicated to planning. Our stake has assigned all the missionaries to organize the ward Halloween parties. I happen to be in a ward with only two sister missionaries- me and Sister Han. And here in Korea, Halloween is not typically celebrated. With that said, that means it is up to me to take charge and plan this whole thing. I don't mind but it took most of the day to begin coordinating a majority of the details. When most details where set in place and activities were assigned to different auxiliaries of the ward, I called both sets of elders to ask them to meet at the church. Once there, I had intended to have a collaboration meeting to hear their thoughts and opinions... but you know boys- they didn't care to change anything. So I ended up talking the whole time and delegating most of the responsibility. Hijole! Long day! When all that was said and done, Sister Han and I spent the rest of the evening trying to visit less-active members of the ward. That activity has turned more into a confirming address activity as opposed to sit-down-visits. It's exhausting being on our feet all day, but it is a plus when it comes time for bed because both me and my companion never have a problem falling asleep ha.

Friday was already time for another weekly planning session! I am always amazed how fast our weeks go by- speaking of which I have already reached my sixth month mark! I only have one more year left to live and serve here in Korea. CRAZY! Anyway, planning went really well. We set some big goals but I think they are attainable! I am excited for this upcoming week! When planning ended we heart attacked another members front door for her birthday then went to a members shop to create a flyer for the Halloween party.

The last thing on our schedule for the day was an appointment with a potential investigator who punked us last week. We had a good feeling about today so we prepared for a lesson! We started getting discouraged when it was 30 minutes past our scheduled appointment time and she still had not arrived. BUT don't worry because she called us frantic and lost. We hurried to meet and guide her to the church. The lesson went really well! When she first arrived she asked if we could refer her to sister missionaries closer to her work place. I was bummed but after our brief introduction and lesson, she changed her mind and decided to stick with us! We invited her to set a goal for baptism AND SHE DID! Blessings! I am excited to teach her next week. Oh by the way her name is 신숙희S (Sister Shin).

Saturdays are always busy days for missionaries! This is the day that most people are home with their family and also when all the groups in church (at least in Korea) have their weekly activities. I'll skip the boring details and get right to the appointment we had with 박순애S (Sister Park). She is the less-active that we visit every week. Last week when we came, her grandson was there and asked to be taught by the missionaries. It was excited but also disappointing because he had to refer him to the elders. BUT today we found out from his grandmother that he was upset that he couldn't be taught by Sisters. Needless to say, he referred himself back to us! To solve the issue concerning the rules about Sisters teaching boys- he asked if he could be taught with his grandmother at our normal Saturday visits. I cannot tell you his perfectly everything worked out! The elders were bummed when they found out but Sister Han and I were stoked!

On our way to another appointment, Sister Han and I had a long bus ride ahead of us. Since bus rides are prime time to have conversation with people, we decided to start sitting separately (because having two missionaries talk to you on the bus feels almost like we are ganging up on people- and that's not what we want haha). I sat in the back, and she sat in the front. I was bummed when a boy sat next to me because as a Sister in Korea, we are not allowed to approach men. But fortunately, the boy kept looking at my planner in my lap which had a picture of the Salt Lake City temple. He eventually typed the work 'Mormon' on his phone, nudged me, and pointed at it for me to read. I said yes and stoked up conversation about the church. He didn't know much and kept using words and grammar forms I have never heard of so it was difficult. Between his broken English and my broken Korean- I learned that he was 24 and a student at a very prestigious college near by. Soon it came time for him to get off and he asked for my number in order to talk more later. I was excited and reported my success to Sister Han as soon as we got off the bus. When he did call, we missed it because we were in the middle of completing an assignment that our bishop gave us. I decided to text back instead. It soon became very apparent that this young man was not interested in our church at all. First, he was asking questions about missionary work and our church but very quickly changed the subject to ask is I would like to goto a movie with him later haha. Sister Han and I tried to explain our purpose of being missionaries but he wasn't getting the hint haha. Immediately we started brainstorming about all the single women in the ward that we could potential set him up through a member lesson! ㅋㅋ (hehe). That was by far the most entertaining part of the day.

Sunday was an awesome day! Before church, as usual, we met with our investigator, Sister Shim...aka Bible ㅋㅋ. Today we finished the lesson about the plan of salvation and touched on the lesson about Jesus Christ's gospel. Again, we brought up baptism. We tried to set a baptismal date goal for her to work towards but she said she would think about it. Again today she said, "Maybe later." Which is fine. However in the closing pray that she offered, she said something along the lines of, "Heavenly Father, today I learned about baptism again. Please help me to learn more and to know how I can better follow Jesus Christ's example." Uhhh... HELLO MIRACLE! l was blown away and very grateful to see her heart opening up to the importance of baptism.

I was on quite a high when we arrived to church. We had some preparation and planning meetings before the actual service began. When it did, it was fast Sunday and just a few members went up to the pulpit to bear their testimonies. I took advantage of the opportunity to share what I had learned in personal study that morning- sharing the verse 1 Nephi 17:13 from the Book of Mormon. I felt good about my delivery until my companion got up after me. She had the whole congregation laughing and listening- jealous! I'll get there someday ha.

After was more meetings. I wanted to die because I was getting pretty hungry. Thankfully we only stayed at church an extra 2 hours -__- I kept trying to convince myself that it could be worse haha. Once home, I ran to the rice cooker to start some rice. I impatiently waited in front of it, starring at the little orange light, waiting for it to change and say DONE! It felt like forever- but in no time Sister Han and I inhaled the food I prepared and had to take a little break before standing back up again haha. Our evening ending trying to visit some members. We failed but it was a good day overall.

Well, that was my week. It was a little boring compared to most but still good. I love you all and miss you more! Have a great week!! ^^ 사랑합니다!

슬론 자매
Sister Sloan

Sister Park.