Time is going by fast!

July 4, 2016

Happy 4^th 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 10^th.  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