Sunday, August 28, 2016

Baptism!!!!!

     Elder Anderson participated in the baptism of  Walter the last day of his mission. 

My Last Letter

July 18, 2016

We had a successful week this last week.  Our investigator Walter was suuuper close to being baptized yesterday.  We had it all planned and everything and he brought extra underwear and we were all ready to go.  So to remind you who Walter is, he is a great Filipino man who we met with the Filipina sisters, but after they left he became our investigator.  We haven't been able to meet the last 2 weeks because he's crazy busy.  He's always been a great investigator but always responded to baptism by saying when he's ready he will knock on our door.  Well, he was thinking about it and opened up his Bible and read Acts 22:16 "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."  He closed his Bible and opened again to Acts 18:8 "And Crisps, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and may of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized."  He finally received his answer and was all set for baptism.  Because of his schedule we were not able to do his interview until Sunday morning, and it turns out that he was involved with an abortion like 20 years ago.  This means he has to meet with Pres. Madsen because of the seriousness of it.  But they are both super busy and Pres. isn't really close to Gwangju.  The only chance we have is for Pres. to come next Sunday.  Hopefully things work out and Walter can be baptized next Sunday if possible because he really wants to.  It's super sad!  He really wants to be baptized but can't and he might have to work every Sunday next month.  He needs a lot of prayers!

As for Park Jongmoon, he passed his baptism interview last week but we haven't ben able to contact him since...weird.  We were meeting our fireman investigator at the park and ended up having a discussion with this random guy there. It stared out ok, but then he went mega Bible bash mode trying to tell us that we will be punished for teaching a different gospel because we have more than just the Bible.  We tried to explain that the BoM is just a way to learn more about and understand the same gospel better, but he didn't want it to be true so he won't be able to know.

It is hard to believe that my last week has begun.  It still does not feel real at all.  I still feel like a newbie and that there is more I need to learn.  I am grateful that the end of a mission is not the end of  Christ-centered life.  I am grateful that missionary opportunities will still come as we seek them.  I know the Lord has a plan for us and that we must be humble and willing to accept his timing.  These last 2 weeks, the sisters in the district and us have come so close to having 3 baptisms, but for reasons outside our control none have pulled through.  It is insanely frustrating seeing us come so close, but I know that He has accepted our efforts and that one day all things will be made right. 

I am looking forward to the best week yet of my mission but feel heartbroken that things are coming to an end.  I love my mission experience and I am so grateful for the lessons I have learned, people I have met, and the changes I have felt within me.  I have been blessed with a difficult mission which has shaped me into someone much better than the kid back home.  I have a long way to go still, I am not yet satisfied with who I am ye, but I am grateful for a mission that has set me on the right path.

Love,
Elder Jace Anderson

A formal investigator.  Oh yeah, I got toe surgery again......hahahaha it's not really healing well either......




Sunday, August 7, 2016

Lots of neat pictures!

July 11, 2016

We started off this week with a super cool hike with some of the other elders.  We saw lots of cool Buddhist stuff and had a great view at the top of all the clouds whirling around us.  It was a great start to a fast week.  We met Pres. and Sis. Madsen and they are amazing!  They are so strong and dedicated.  I know this mission will continue to do great things with them.  I had a wonderful interview with him and he talked about how we don’t know the influence we have had until a long ways down the road.  We teared up several times together in our quick interview.  Haha he is a wonderful man.

In news with Park Jongmoon he came out to church yesterday!  He was a little shy though.  But it went well and he also passed his baptismal interview with my good friend Elder Skouson.  He said that he will choose between the 17th or 24th for his baptism!  He wants to do it before I leave, which makes me a little worried that he’s doing it mainly for us, so we’ll talk with him about it.  Hopefully he doesn’t stop moving forward and is serious about making the commitment to follow the Savior.  He is a great guy and I want the best for him.

We had 1 other lesson this week and you probably can’t guess who it was with.  An Iraqi fighter pilot!  His name is Faddi and he’s here in Korea getting military training.  He’s a pretty devout Muslim and we learned a lot about Islam.  It’s definitely not what I thought.  They pretty much believe everything we do except for a few variations concerning Christ.  But they accept Him as a prophet, believe in the Bible, and believe He will come again.  It was kind of hard to teach him because he like already knew it all plus a little bit more from his Muslim stuff.  Pretty interesting. 

The missionaries in our ward (6 of us) had to sing in sacrament meeting which was a little embarrassing, but ok.  We had a solid week and I am grateful for the time I have to serve the Lord and share this great message.  This work is His work, and this church is His church.  I know it and I am grateful to have been blessed with this time to strengthen my faith and relationship with our Father in Heaven.

Love,
Elder Jace Anderson














Monday, July 4, 2016

Time is going by fast!

July 4, 2016

Happy 4th of July!  We’ll have to have a late BBQ once I get back.  This last week went by pretty quick.  It was almost super good.  We met with Park Jongmoon and he said he’d come out to church on Sunday and get baptized on the 10th.  It was all looking perfect but he ended up not coming and we haven’t been able to get a hold of him.  It’s super sad and disappointing.  We’re trying to do all we can to help our investigators, but no one pulls through!  He still has potential though, I just really hope we can meet him again and help him out.

As for our other investigators, honestly they don’t really have much potential.  We were considering dropping 2 of them last week but ended up not.  They are both English learning investigators.  1 just doesn’t really have gospel interest, and 1 of them is 23 and wants to pick up a religion once he’s settled down on his own because his dad doesn’t like religion.  He’s a sweet guy, just really lonely so he needs us. 

In other news, President Shin is now in America and we now have President Madsen here!  WE haven’t met him yet but we have talked on the phone a couple of times.  He seems like a great guy.  He used to be in the military and he seems like a very straight edge kind of man.  I am excited to meet him this Wednesday when he comes down to Gwangju.  Also, the 3 Filipina sisters leave today, so now our district is down to just 6 people.  It’s still bigger than my district of 4 in Iksan!  It has been fun working with them and their investigators and experiencing a little bit of Filipino culture.

Yeah, that’s about it for this week.  It was super rainy and we spent a lot of time just out in the rain but time is still going by fast.  Thank you for all the prayers and support!

           Love,

          Elder Jace Anderson
Elder Park!

Saying goodbye to the Filipinas
 
 

I realized something new

June 27, 2016

We had an interesting last week.  Mostly because Elder Groves got pretty sick so we spent a lot of time either at home or on splits so I could still work during my last transfer.  He eventually went to the hospital and got some help so he is doing better and can work now.  He’s done very well of not complaining and doing what he can.  President Shin goes home this week so we had a goodbye meeting with him.  He has worked very hard and has left some big shoes for Pres. Madsen to fill.  He has been a wonderful role model and I feel very blessed to have been able to serve with him.

Elder Park and I met Park Jongmoon now that he’s back in Korea.  He’s such a great guy, and I think we’ve decided on him getting baptized the next time he comes out to church.  Hopefully that happens before I go home.  We were able to meet 2 other people, buy they’re what we call “English sucks” here.  The fireman guy just won’t stop asking English questions during the gospel portion, and our new investigator, Kwak Duhyoung, could have potential but he’s mostly English interest and just got busy because he just got a job.  Darn.  But it’s ok, if things work out with Park Jongmoon it will all be worth it.

I realized something new the other day.  Since my time is running short, I have been praying to be able to baptize before I leave.  But as I was doing so, I realized that baptism is not something for me.  Giving baptism is not what’s important, but receiving baptism is.  I think I have spent too much time worrying about baptizing rather than what I can do to help others receive baptism.  Of course, they are related, but the driving force behind it is different.  I am going to do my best to make love for others and for God and the gospel be my reason for serving rather than doing it for my own personal reasons or satisfaction.  Thank you all for your prayers on my behalf.  Please pray especially for Park Jongmoon so that he will strengthen his desire to follow Christ and be able to come out to church.  I feel so blessed to have all of you back home cheering me on.  Thank you for always supporting me and helping me on this journey.  I have definitely learned that we cannot know how great of an impact we have had through our efforts, so I am grateful that you have all continued to support and strengthen me.  I love you all and hope you have an enjoyable week and spend some time in the service of others.

          Love,

          Elder Jace Anderson
Some of my group that will leave this transfer. 

Some people from my mtc group!

A cool pond park place

 

Share Personal Experiences


June 20, 2016

The ghettoish part of our area.  At least it's pretty!



Some of my favorite people ever!  This is Jobert, he's super cool.  Just like all Filipinos.  Haha


The new Filipinas and Walter.  He came to stake conference yesterday!

Happy birthday Sister McQueen!

Our new fireman investigator

Bowling!  I got a 185.  Are you impressed?

Elder Groves and I did some goal finding this last week.  We are meeting this guy from Nepal named Nirp.  He’s pretty cool and seems really open to learning more.  He likes Christianity because it actually has evidence unlike other religions which are more like superstitions.  Hopefully we keep meeting and he progresses!  Our other new investigator is Sun Jichul, a local fireman.  We met him on the street and he had interest in learning English.  He’s about 50 years old and is just a super nice guy.  We’ve only met him once, but he’s showing interest in learning more.  We are also meeting a new investigator tonight and probably one on Wednesday as well.  Hopefully one progresses really fast so they can get baptized before I leave.

The group above me went home and I met 3 of their families this last week as they’ve been traveling around.  President also goes home in like 2 weeks I think.  Things are definitely starting to feel more real that the end is close.  But I am very grateful that I still have the time that I do, and will give it my best effort to the end.
 
As far as our other investigators, Park Jongmoon should be back from his honeymoon now so hopefully we can meet and he progresses.  The other 2 are pretty much the same.

Sadly, Sister Orongan left us last week, she was replaced by 2 more Filipinas.  One of them is Sister Paller, who Marissa met in the Philippines!  It has been fun hearing from her about how great a missionary Marissa was and how hard she worked.  The 3 Filipinas will just be here for 2 or 3 more weeks and then will be heading home.  And then we get their awesome investigators!  Haha.

Hmm.  What else…ahh our somewhat cynical investigator told us to share more personal experiences and teach through them.  It has been really good for me to search for those experiences I have had.  It has helped me recognize and remember them, and I am grateful for his suggestion.  We may start to question or even forget things we once felt, but as we use our past to propel us forward continually striving to have faith building experiences we will be able to continue on the path that leads us to the brightest future.  I am grateful for the experiences I have had on my mission and for a God and Redeemer who do not give up on us.  This last week I was struggling a bit thinking that it seems like God has forgotten about me.  I work hard and pray to baptize, but after 22 months there still has been nothing.  But I know that God has seen my efforts, heard my prayers, and will consecrate all my experiences for my good.

          Love,

          Elder Jace Anderson

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Last Transfer - But I'm staying

June 13, 2016

          We had a pretty good week here in Gwangju.  One fun thing we did was we went to Park Jongmoon’s wedding!  It was fun being there and meeting his friends and wife briefly.  He’s such a great guy.  He’ll get baptized eventually.  Hopefully sooner rather than later.  If he could just come to church it would all be fine.

          We met 2 new people last week but only 1 became an investigator.  He’s a former investigator we called who has English interest.  He’s a bit cynical when it comes to gospel stuff.  He asked if I’ve ever had a prayer answered and I told of when I asked if the BoM is true once when I was in Ikson.  He said that doesn’t count and asked if I’ve ever had a prayer answered in my real life.  I was a little offended but told him that I don’t separate my life by religious and nonreligious parts, but then told him about when we prayed as a family in Yellowstone after Dad hurt his back.  Man, people are pretty tough sometimes!  The other guy lived in America for a long time but has epilepsy and had to come back to Korea.  He’s alone and has a tough life, but he’s not willing to even learn about our message either.  It’s super sad because he could really use it.  Why won’t anyone just give it a chance??

          Hmm what else?  Oh yeah!  We met that guy who tried to teach us the Bible last time with the Chungjang ward elders because he’s in their area and he brought a friend.  We’re pretty sure they’re from this crazy Korean church.  The 6 of us talked about the BoM, Adam and Eve, Joseph Smith, seeing God, and other stuff.  I don’t know if they’re willing to change their thoughts but it was kind of fun. 

          We’ve been helping out the Filipinas a lot and meeting with them and their investigators.  I am yet to meet a lame Filipino!  2 of them came to church and it was really great.  Except I had to translate for a bunch of people and the speaker was quoting these nuns and it was pretty hard.  Haha.

          We got our transfer calls today!  I will be here for my last transfer (that makes 6 here) and Elder Groves is staying as well making 4 transfers together!  That’s pretty crazy!  It’s going to be good though and I’m happy to have such a hard worker with me.  This last Sunday one of the speakers quoted the scripture about having great joy in simply helping one soul come unto Him.  I felt a lot of comfort as I read it.  This transfer’s my last chance, and it’s going to be great!

          Love,
Elder Jace Anderson
Eating chicken with Park Jongmoon

Park Jongmoon's wedding