Korea Continues!

We were able to eat with members twice this week. Once was a service project where we helped them cook and package food for some of the less fortunate around the area. It took awhile but was really fun. The people were all super nice (at least I think, still can't tell a word they say) and we had fun. They served us some vegetables that no one could seem to identify and fish with the skin and tail still attached, but it was delicious. However, everything they eat here is so spicy. My tongue is still getting used to that. One lady was watching me eat and started laughing at the tears forming in my eyes. She brought me over steaming hot ginger water which didn't really help much. She and her family are the ones who fed us later that week, and as we sat down she pointed at the food and said "Not spicy". I was very appreciative and the food was sooo good! The father is less active, and I was able to practice teaching Lesson 1 to them. It was really cool, and they all participated. I still have a lot of work to do but it was good practice.

We were able to watch General Conference this week. We got permission for me to watch it in English downstairs with the Elders while the rest of the ward, including my companion, watched it in the chapel in Korean. It was AMAZING!! Holy cow, the most inspiring conference I've ever heard. We were all so sad when it was over. President Uchtdorf's talk on Saturday hit me so hard. I just want to print off a million copies and stick it on every door in Korea! There is a place in this gospel for everyone, if they would just give it a chance! I cannot wait until the printed ensign comes out so I can study the talks further. Shalynne and Stuart- The talk by Bonnie L. Oscarson was so good, it made me think of you! A huge theme this year was MEMBER MISSIONARY WORK! Being on a mission has given me so much more perspective on this, but seriously, this work cannot progress in the Lord's way without members and missionaries working together. We are opening this area so we literally have almost no information about anyone or anything. Our only resource is the ward members and trying to meet people on the street. Member referrals is WAY more effective. We are trying hard to get things going here in Korea. But please please please to all you can to help the missionaries in your area. They NEED your help! I can't remember which talk it was, but they asked every member to pray about someone receiving the gospel by Christmas. And if everyone does that, what a wonderful gift that would be to our Savior. I encourage you to take this challenge to heart and really pray and look for missionary opportunities no matter where you are. The Lord will help guide you to who you can help if we just ask. "Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you". You will be able to help accomplish miracles! I love all of you and know you will be great instruments in the hands of the Lord.

We were trying to do street contacting the other day and we met two high school aged students. We gave one a BOM but didn't have an extra for her friend. So we made a return appointment. The day we were suppose to meet she texted us and asked if she could move back our meeting by a few hours. We prayed and asked the Lord to soften her heart and have her really show up to meet us. (It is very common for street contacts to give wrong numbers or never show) We went to the meeting area and we were SOO happy to see her standing there. It was raining so I shared my umbrella with her while we gave her the Book of Mormon and walked her to her bus stop. She is so sweet and we have really high hopes for her. It is midterms right now and Korean schools are crazy hard! But we plan to meet with her again in a few weeks.

The ward members are all super sweet. My companion and I are able to communicate in English which is wonderful, because everywhere else I am so confused. Because I know how to say some phrases, people will come talk to me all the time. It's great and I love them, and usually a smile and nod keep the conversation going. But when they pause for a response or ask a question, they quickly realize I have no clue what is going on. Thankfully they are really understanding, and use lots of actions so I can get a better idea. They also have given us rice, 라 면, kimche, and some kind of melon. They laugh at my attempts to use chopsticks, and my other American quirks (often I don't know what I did that was so "American", I just turn to see people laughing.) But I am happy to make them happy and we have a lot of fun. We have been trying to heart attack ward members doors and build relationships. We accidentally did the wrong door and almost gave the poor lady a heart attack when she walked outside to see us hiding behind her door. It didn't help that I was holding scissors like a crazy killer. We quickly apologized, removed the decorations, and found the right house. We accidentally decorated another wrong door, but didn't realize until we were out of the elevator. We went back to correct our mistake, but we decided it was fate and left our phone number and a BOM by their door instead. We will see if anything comes from it.

Funny story. On Sunday, we met with the ward mission leader. He left to pick up his family and bring them back to church. When he came back he apologized to me for lying. I was confused and asked what he had lied about. He said that he went home and his son was still in bed. So he told him that there was an American model at the church, and his son got ready much quicker and they weren't late for church. It was so funny and I was happy to help out the family... I think.

Life is so good here. The work is hard. There are SOO many churches here in Korea. We are trying hard to help people realize in the 20 seconds we have to speak with them that we are different. It is definitely a process, but we are learning and are working hard to push the work forward. My companion is great and helps me so much. When we talk to people on the street, she is able to actually understand and respond when the anwer my questions. She understands the culture and is teaching me a lot. I have given her a few heart attacks when I forget to take off my shoes inside, but things are going really well. I love this work and cannot wait to see what this week has in store. I love all of you! This church is true!

-Sister Seegmiller