Miracles

hey hey hey. wow wow wow what a week.  unfortunately idk if i will be able to write letters this week and i only wrote 1 last week so im sorry today we are going to a tourist attraction with our 'korean grandma' a 70 year old investigator so we will be busy.  but what an amazing amazing week. mom my feet are doing good i wear crocs in the house (korean custom to wear sandals inside)

 

miracle #1 our investigator oh-yoong- you  got in his motorcycle accident going to a bad church he attends. we hadnt seen him in a month cuz of his new job but he took us to dinner and he wants to meet again soon!

 

miracle #2  paul-a korean man we met on the street my first week here has started to meet with us he is so so so sweet and has accepted a sft baptismal commitment. he is reading the book of mormon and so far knows that it is a good book

 

miracle #3 a russian investigator we haven't met with for a few weeks has been really sick. we saw him out walking the other day and we set up a time to meet. but this time it was at his house which is a miracle because he hasn't let anyone at his house.  fortunately he has met with missionaries before and heard all the discussions. unfortunately the (pardon my language)  STUPID missionaries did not treat him right. elder arveseth got rid of the record we had on him because they weren't nice things so i have no idea hat was wrong. all i know is that he does not trust the missionaries.  so instead of me teaching the gospel i have to mend old wounds.  it is so hard.  but i love this investigator so much and i feel that when we can get the trust back he will be baptized. 

 

on saturday we met a referral of a guy also named paul.  on the phone he sounded like a very sincere man.  we met at a coffee shop and as soon as we sat down everything he told us about him turned out to be a lie.  he is a very high up person in a church here in korea.  soon 2 more of his slightly lower people showed up.  they believed a lot of the things we do dispensations etc but they only believe the bible and their prophet is from korea.  when they realized i didn't speak good korean they taught elder arveseth as i taught one of the jun-do-saws the first lesson and about the book of mormon.  they offered elder arveseth to be one of the 144000 that will be saved if he came and jun-doed for them.  it was tough.  after 1 hour we said we had to go but they were very rude.  i was so close mom and dad to throwing a fist. so so so hard not too. if i had a temper then being on a mission has helped my temper a lot. ok but anyway, we shared a testimony they took a book of mormon and said we would not have the chance for their 'offer' again.  but in good news for them theywill have the opportunity to give the offer again because guess what?  they took elder arveseths bible. we meet them again tomorrow to get it back.  the work here in korea is hard because koreans associate us, kind young happy missionaries with people like them. i love these men that took time to meet with us and am thankful for the experience but ever since then i have been seeing what koreans think i am like.

 

MIRACLE #4 GRANDPA THIS ONE IS FOR YOU!!!!! we were out trying to street contact on thursday. we picked a bad place to do it but we were gonna try it anyway.  the wind was so cold and i had been out there already for 1 1/2 hours with 1 more left to go. i wouldn't say i was sad etc but i was kind of tired of being cold, being rejected etc.  as i was looking for someone to talk to a little 5 foot korean lady walked past me. as she walked past me she said 'chang-no-neem' aka elder 'whiting'  which is like some korean word for'yay' or 'keep going' yunwoo can explain. followed by a little fist pump.  THAT IS THE MIRACLE I AM ASKING EACH ONE TO  BE!!!!! just smile at someone! 2 words, a smile and a fist pump made my day.  we can do it!

 

crazy to think how lucky we really are. the kids are still ready for baptism and we showed them the outside of the temple yesterday.  i am studying in 1 nephi and also studying elder bednar's segment in the liahona this month i encourage everyone to go and read it and read the scriptures it is way amazing to see how the lord gives people the strength to get through challenges he does not change them.  i really am liking that. keep studying everyone. be someone miracle today. WHITING!
--'
Elder Hunter

Elder Hunter would LOVE to hear from you.  Feel free to send him a letter at the address listed on the right.  

Hope

mom dad! everybody! what up! how is the pack family doing?  donnie and amy and morg?  bryce and brad?  kevin and ashley!  sawyer gabe joe kayla! how is the fox family doing?  how is my sister doing?  i hope all is well.  i hope ali pitts had fun at the hunger games release.

this week has had so many ups and downs.  good news - i have completely passed my kidney stones. other good news there is this thing called 'pass off' where you have to pass off a lot of vocabulary words and teach the first lesson completely by yourself and memorize scriptures, for the first 4 lessons that we teach. most people don't completely finish until maybe 7 months in the country. i wish i could tell you i am all done but i am not. i can teach the first lesson all the way but i cant remember all the vocab.  so last week i passed some things off which is good. i also have the first vision memorized which is even better. 

the bad news, one of our investigators dropped us.  pretty tough for me.  the investigator (i think) had feelings for my companion and when she realized we were only about teaching the gospel she didn't want to meet. she said she had read and prayed about the book of mormon but i didn't believe her. i did my best so ts time to move on. the english investigator we met last week was ok.  i was thinking i would get to teach a lot since my english is better than my companions. however i sat there like other lessons.  we taught him the 2nd lesson aka the plan of salvation later in the week and it didn't work out so well.  he is all about theology and wants proof of things.  we can testify all we want but he hasn't read the book of mormon like we asked him too so idk what to do.  one of our investigators that we haven't met with for a few weeks because he is so busy, got in a minor accident yesterday on his motorcycle so we are going to go visit him tonight.  the kids baptism is still scheduled and they have a friend also talking with us so if he comes to church and gets approval from his parents then he can and will be baptized!  

the other day we went and did street contacting which the way we did it i really enjoy doing-just setting up street boards and talking.  i talked to 24 people! i was so happy because 1 the people were nice. 2 i talked to a lot of people were ready to hear the message 3 i worked super super hard. please don't think i am boasting.  i learned that by setting goals is so important.  i first set my goal at 15 people. by the time i reached my goal i had already given out a bom and got 2 numbers. i then said ok... 5 more and got it! finally with 10 minutes left i set a goal for 4 and got that too!  with a number!! if we pray and set goals and work hard Heavenly Father will help! 

conference was amazing!!  enough said.  uchtdorfs talk of stop it was great! each one was great!  hollands words i think hit me hard too' Gods favorite thing about being God is being merciful'  i loved that!  also, they focused a lot on families! kinda stresses me out as a young missionary. my perspective has changed from being a son to a father and ya that's too far ahead, but it was still an amazing conference. yes i did see david archulleta.  also. was the mo tab amazing singing 'count thou fount of every blessing? ' so so good. i hope everyone is doing good. i love you all i cant wait to see you in two years!  just a little side note how did everyone know about gpa pyrahs promise to me?  i love you!

Week 7 here in Seoul

hello family!! how are things?  hope conference was fun. we wont be able to see conference until this coming weekend when we go to the english branch but i sure am excited. the work here in korea is still going.  the 2 kids have accepted a baptismal commitment for april 22 which is so so so so amazing.  im so excited.  we also have picked up an investigator from america we are meeting him tonight so it will be good to see my teaching skills in straight english. pray for me. as far as interesting things that have happened this week for me the one that stands out in my mind is ...

i called a kid cuz it said he spoke a lot of english. when i called he just started laughing and said i was about the 5-6th missionary that had called him.  he said he was rather irritated by it.  i kept apologizing just saying wow im so sorry.  but i decided to keep talking to him. i was able to talk to him about when he met the missionaries  2008 and asked him if he had any feelings while he met with them. he said he remembers when he was praying with the missionaries he felt a 'cleansing dfeeling'  me over him.  i told him in our church that's called the holy ghost but he said he acquainted that with that that he was going through a hard time in his life and he just felt the love by the missionaries. it was crazy to see how he still remembered that feeling. i was shocked.  other then that nothing really miraculous happened but i was able to get to know him. make him think that we are more than just robots.  he took our number down which probably means he is going to block our number now bu its ok.  someone planted a seed 4 years ago. i hope for the next missionary that meets him he will be able to see what we have!

 

other then that family it has been a rough week for me. seeing the 2 kids accept baptismal commitments and how much they love each other really reminds me of my own sister. i also saw a guy throwing a bullpen the other day and i really miss baseball too.  last week i did try octopus though!  it was in a really hot sauce but i liked it.  if anyone is looking for some good food that we have a lot here in korea call up yoonwoo and have her find a don-kas-suh or sam-geep-sar and take you there i think my family could eat it. 

 

as far as things back home i ear a lot about my cousins moving or my amazing grandpa or my friends that maybe are having a hard time being themselves or standing up for whats right.  my advice to you all. be happy!  know that every time you are obedient and stand for what you believe you will be blessed. and if you wont then someone will see your example. remember the story i think last conference president monson told about him saying he was Mormon in his military camp? stand tall. last thing with this and its something that i am having a hard time with being myself.  everyone loved the missionary that was in the ward before me. that's all they talk about.  how do i measure up to be like him?  i have been thinking about that so much. but honestly.  i just need to be myself. why would i change who i am to be a duplicate?> a missionary duplicate.  its hard.  i have had a rough week mentally.  i hope things are going well for everyone. i am doing better with korean and memorizing more words a day but i still am very b at korean. i had higher expectations for myself i thought i would learn it faster but i really do realize that i am not going to be able to do this myself.  friends family anyone who is going through a hard time. pray out loud, be yourself, and serve others. 

damian kolby addi i don't have time i think to write you guys today but keep trying.  this move will be the best thing for you.  don't worry about the bad see the good. and most importantly be thankful.  here in korea you go to school from 8 in the morning to 9 at night.  you live in an apartment both your parents work you ride the subway and the only free time you have is on sunday.  i love my family so much! we all have a work to do! be someone miracle everyday and make sure to be prepared! i love you!

-- 
Elder Hunter

Week 6 in Korea

so much is going on and it sounds like so much has happened back home so i will try and talk as much as i can although i don't have much time.  Grandpa pyrah..i don't know what to say he was truly always my friend in my time and need.  i waited for every time i could see him out walking or walking to church and him just saying 'how are you doing macay'  he loved me so much and i loved him. i hope his family is doing ok.  i hope reva is doing ok he LOVES her so much.  the only scripture that i feel i can provide for that family right now is the only scripture that got me out of the dumps when grandma died.  doctrine and covenants 128:22 courage!  reva and pyrah family i promise he loves you so much! 

next. damian how are you doing buddy? a lot is going on? all my cousins! haven't heard much from you guys but i hope it is going well! how is grandpa doing? glad to hear chemo is done for now..but i sure hope he is maintaining that good positive attitude whenever i get sad here in korea i think what crazy joke or remark would grandpa say right now to make me feel better? keep fighting grandpa!! i thought about grandma pierce a lot this week and how she used to always sing to me! i haven't had much time to write any of my family but know i love you guys! grandma thanks for singing to me when i was little! big derrick has been working hard and look at where he is! CONGRATS!! such a great example to me of hard work! so pumped for you!

 

fam i heard things are going well dad keep working hard ya and be the best coach you can you can learn a lot from the coaches hahaha sorry but ya keep working!!! heard parker split his head open..i knew that family was hard headed... magen heard you gave a bomb testimony the other day keep working hard i don't have time to write you an email today but keep fighting. mom dad how are you guys doing? the personal study and everything?

 

i just have a couple stories real fast. first we were out street contacting and talking to a kid when a guy walks up and starts yelling at us in korean (remember i don't know what anyone says) but i knew it wasn't good.  this was my first real experience with opposition and i sure was so so so mad. but somehow i stayed calm and when the guy left i shared a simple testimony about the book of mormon it was so cool to see how the kid could see our message was important and we found it to be very special and that he could see a difference in us. after my simple testimony he gave us his number! so so so neat!

 

next. a less active man has recently been coming to church regularly which in and of itself is amazing.  but recently he has brought his two kids which are 12 and 13 aka remind me of magen and i.  they are so close. anyway they came last week and again this week and this week their father bought them both copies of the book of mormon they came walking into church so happy!!!! so proud!! and they don't even know what it is yet!  we begin teaching them on wednesday!! its so crazy to see how the lord prepares people and puts them in your path.  this gospel, if you live its simple principles, brings such happiness. 

 

everyone go read president uchtdorfs talk from last conference 'waiting on the road to damascus'  such a great talk. remember faith is a gift given to us by heavenly father through our hard work, desire, charity, and hope.  also i was reading in mormon 1:15 and mormon 2:1  how old was he? 15-16!  the leader of an army and trusted with the records!!  what can we learn??  the time to prepare to be a leader is now! and, we all can gain spiritual revelation!!  and how much the lord prepares us!  i can see how even 10 years ago the lord has prepared me for days here in korea! 

 

the work is hard here in korea.  i dont understand this language at all.  i just got my first haircut today, have you ever tried to tell someone how to cut your hair not using words?  try that sometime! made me so thankful for shantel and my mom ahhaha!  this life is difficult!  this mission is difficult!! ahhhh reva!!!! i love you!!! please everyone study everyday, pray out loud!!!!  i love you all!!! be someones miracle today!


Elder Hunter

elder arveseth is second to the right standing up in a suit. 

my 2 zone leaders are on the bottom kneeling down. 

elder westarp and elder madsen are my housemates. 

elder westarp has up peace signs and elder madsen has his arms around him

Week 5 I think?

what up fam!! first a few things, mom dad magen thanks for the package it was much needed!  i got letters from yunwoo and my family so it was great to hear from you. a much needed boosters.  finally my little buddy sam heninger sent me a letter, its about time.  first, dad congrats on the first big win!! 1 down 1000000 to go! mom dad sign me up for as many vacations as you want in 2 years as long as im with all of you, im cool! happy bday to any one who celebrated yesterday wish i could have been there. gpa how you doin?  i hope good.  i go to bed everynight exhausted but i can never forget about praying for my grandpa.  im so thankful for the plan of salvation holy cow!!

this week has been good.  its hard because we have so many investigators that are not progressing. they have so many good questions  that would be solved if they only asked for themselves and had FAITH!! we are teaching a 39 year old guy oh-yoon-gyoo who works for samsung, but he is always working and doesn't understand how only one guy (jesus) can take care of everyones sins and also if he can why didn't he show himself to the korean people and others around the world.  

another investigator kim-me-hee only trusts random pastors and us. but she trusts them more because 'when she asks 1 question they already can answer her other 10'  they went to school to learn the bible!!!  our members and us as missionaries learn by ourself and we can show you how to learn by yourself also! she has read the whole bible and book of mormon but korean is so hard to read in korean that she just read it without thinking or anything kinda like you would read a korean book just look at it and not study! 

we are teaching 2 people that are married 1 is a major violinist here in korea and her husband works for a business. he is buddhist and she is catholic. she wants him to become christian so we are teaching them both.  they are so great, one of my favorites. a member took us out to a way nice steak dinner last week so we didn't get to really give a lesson to them. i made the dad a sign that says 'do not disturb i am thinking about my daughter'  their daughter is studying violin in germany and he misses her so so so much. so ya, i have been trying to do little crafts and things for our investigators and members. koreans like that stuff i guess and i need to gain a lot of trust from everyone especially because i don't speak korean.  

we have an old grandma ee-young-sook who is 70 years old. the cutest thing ever i promise. she has these little korean eyes that just shine. i love it but she is wiling to do everything and anything we ask her too.  except baptism.  she didn't even have a problem with the word of wisdom. we asked her to stop drinking coffee and she said ok i will try! like ah! but she wont be baptized. elder arveseth thinks she will be the type at wont be baptized here but in the next life which is upsetting but also a bit relieving, i guess. 

as a new missionary i still don't understand it. we went to our part member family like we do every sunday night. (the ones who have tears written on the wall) saturday was their moms birthday, but we didn't know.  we went over on sunday and started talking to them and i asked if they made or got a card for their mom. flat out they said we cant afford it.  cant afford a card!  broke my heart. i was shocked. here this family is giving us all their food, yes it may be leftovers but still giving you all this food, strawberries, cake, rice, etc and they cant afford a birthday card for their mom.  

everyone listen! i know i am no one to talk about gratitude and all that because i am not good at that at all but please look at how blessed you are! if you can afford a birthday card consider yourself lucky!

transfers are coming up but elder arveseth trains me for 12 weeks so we have at least 1 more transfer together.  

we are working hard and are picking up new investigators up a lot! unfortunately not everyone is like they make it seem on the church videos. like they have all this desire to be baptized, but its ok this work is hard.  the holy ghost can and has changed people  and it will continue to do so. 

i love everyone.  elder arveseth asked me how much i look up to my dad and it finally hit me what a great great great example my dad has been to me.  i don't know why but i promise that through prayer we can overcome all!! moroni 733 this work is Jesus Christ's work and we can do all things in Him!!!  ether 12;27 i am being shown weaknesses everyday but its ok!! we can do it! i love you!! don't stop progressing! study and pray everyday! be someones miracle!

--
Elder Hunter

Week 4

dad and mom thanks for the pictures and news paper stuff i loved them, mom i am doing ok.  this is so hard and everyday i wake up knowing i cant go on but i jut keep trying.  if grandpa can keep a good attitude so can i right? im trying. we have a lot of investigators but not many are really wanting baptism so we have to drop them. baseball was fun but i couldn't do it for long I started envisioning playing with dad and i just missed it so much. our ward is bomb we have a tab at 2 nice restaurants and they are so helpful.  elder arveseth is the dark haired one in that video u found mom. yes, anyone can email me but i can only reply  my family. i would say maybe 70-100 in our ward. church building is about as long as our driveway but it has 3 floors. my area is like right outside seoul so it very big town with lots and lots of rich and poor people, this are is like new york if you have an apartment here you know they are rich. area is just a bunch of buildings and a few hills that people 'hike' weather right now is still cold but it is getting warm a little bit of rain but no snow.  best food is probably just like sam-gip-sar its like just pork or i had korean bbq yesterday. weirdest food i would say is just like straight wet sea weed or some funky noodles.  breakfast and lunch is usually a banana and toast or grilled cheese or some korean noodles with rice cake and rice.  just a lot of starch and veggies.  elder arveseth is a good cook so we eat well in the afternoons.  dinner appointments maybe 1-2 a week it just depends on the person.  food is huge in the culture so we usually go to someones house and they give us snacks every time we meet. my clothes are working out great. shoes are great feet are hanging in there! my whole body is getting very skinny especially my legs but its good i guess. i am in good health.  cold meds i think i am just about over my cold but maybe next winter send me some more ya? i will take pics of my apartment and send them home in my package. you don't talk to your neighbours here. our mission office is about 1 hour away by subway and bus. there are 8 of us in our district and i love my district leader, he is great! he is from slc 2 others are from utah 1 is from korea and the other sister is from orem.  one elder from arizona.  district leader is elder deean.  zone leader is elder reyes who is way cool but i cant remember the other ones name. we have district meeting every wednesday. zone conference every month. pdays so far have just been resting or shopping for elder arveseth. our service is a 2 hour english class every saturday. we have 7 investigators but like i said we will have to drop some.

i talk about 'being someones miracle' ya?  food for thought.  how can you be a lifesaver if you are dressed up like everyone else on the beach? be prepared be ready and be in tune with the spirit aka study and pray. know that i am doing my best to work hard to learn to grow and to help others.  think about how happy we will be in 2 years when WE can say that WE did it.  pray for me and i will pray for you too.  i love you guys!