Week 3

before i forget i haven't head from snacker or sam h in awhile.

the family was baptised!! oh my goodness it was so so so amazing.  we have the #1 ward in korea and they did such an amazing job making them feel so welcomed into the ward. the young adults (who some of them are converts) made a video saying welcome to the ward and talked about the blessings they have received.  then 2 young ins got up and played a song with the clarinet and violin and it was so amazing. then the father baptized them!! it is so amazing i could not stop smiling!  the joy they had was so so so crazy and the feeling was so great! the father makes me so so so happy. 

then!!! before the service started we had 2 investigators we had been teaching show up  who said they wouldn't be able to make it. one is a 70 year old lady who is so so so cute and the other a 39 year old tall korean business man.  they both showed up to see!!!!  i hope they felt the spirit! i sure did!! i think if we work really hard at helping them gain faith we could get them baptised this month or next.  

also! a convert in our ward has been working hard at being a missionary.  she has brought 1 friend to have lessons and brought another friend yesterday to the baptismal service!!  he already wants to be baptized!!  it is so amazing!!  we work with an investigator who has a hard time seeing the joy in this life.  we meet every week and discuss a topic that he assigns us. 2 weeks ago it was 'how do we enrich our lives' and last week it was 'what do you do if you feel you or other people have multiple personalities' it then turned into a discussion of loving other people.  he already has a testimony about our church but because he works until 5 in the morning he has a hard time coming to church thus why he cant be baptized. its great for me to help teach him because it is in all english and i am able to really connect with him.  

as of right now we have 11 progressing investigators so, im hoping we can start setting some more baptismal dates. we teach an english class on saturdays and obviously there are some non members and people that are not interested in our church that come, which is great!!  at the end of class we teach a 30 minutes gospel thought.  i had a different missionary companion with me as i was teaching (elder arveseth was with the family for their baptismal interview)  1 of the guys started saying christianity is 'bs'  and that he knows people who are christians but only have 2 children and it says in genisis to have lots of children.  boy, was i fired up! so so so fired up, but i was suprised when it was my turn to talk i was able to pull our conversation back into topic and share doctorine and covenants 137:9 where it says we will be judged on our works and desires.  i stayed calm surprisingly, (as most of you know i usually have a temper) and was shocked to see how well the other 4 people were still listening to what i had to say. if i would have tried to argue with him i would not have been fulfilling my purpose!! my purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ not to force them or just tell them.  

its so amazing to see how i can have a horrible week (in my mind) yet everyday i can go write in my journal and see how inadequate or small i feel here in the heart of seoul with millions of people, but to look back and read and really see how i am blessed each and everyday through trying my best and turning all my problems towards the atonement. that i see true happiness and see the hand of the Lord in my life.  i am thankful for this opportunity to be here and see how much potential i have along as everyone here in korea and in the world.  

remember blessings come through obedience to his commandments.   i know that happiness comes through only keeping the commandments!! please!!  if you are unhappy first pray. second study. third pray.  fourth serve.  repeat steps 1 and 2.  president uchtdorf said it is often times we find answers to our prayers through serving others.  well, there is your answer serve others.  remember we all have a potential to live up to.  find out each day how you can live up to your potential. 

last night we went to another part member families home. the mom and 1 daughter are members the father and another daughter are not.  the way they talk to us, it seems like they have some contention in their mom.  the mom says she is always nagging her children. 1 daughter is worried about the big end of school test and the other daughter (not a member) is kind of just in the background.  last night while we were at their house i remembered some things president monson, sister stucki,  and bishop baxter said; this is kind of all their words mixed into one thing.  people like to hear 2 things.  1-thank you 2-their own name.  so we sat their and went around giving each other compliments for about 15 minutes.  then i made little papers to put around their home to remind them to give each other compliments. i challenge everyone to give AT LEAST 1 COMPLIMENT to everyone they have close association with. 

lastly this week in my personal study i have been studying in alma.  alma 2:34 i found it interesting. as read alma 2 they are in the battle and they keep praying in order to conquer their 'trials'  but in verse 34 once they are done they don't sit around for another trial or the next thing in life to come. they move the 'trials' out of the way and start to go take on another one.  the rest then in 15:18 after alma and amulek have worked so hard they go to back to get better but their trials didn't stop! alma 17:29  ammon turns what people saw as the end of their lives into an opportunity! trail into opportunity! then after ammon has just done something amazing what does he do?  18:9 he keeps serving!! he didn't stop!!!  the things i learned this week are  turn trails into opportunities.  be patient in all things understand that their is an ETERNAL plan.  serve others!! 

just say thank you or tell someone they did a good job brushing their teeth it doesn't matter just say something nice!! not only will they like it but, like i said last week you will see the good in life and not the bad!!  take your trials head on!! pray! study! 

i love you guys!! i am still very homesick but i am trying each day to work harder and harder!!  pray study serve be a miracle today and keep smiling!
--
Elder Hunter