MIssiles and Planes and Boats, Oh My!

Here are pictures! We were able to go to an incredible war memorial, with giant missiles, planes, boats, and everything else. These are the Ulvestads, who are a couple missionary on the army base and we love so much! There's the man who got baptized yesterday, Brother Kinsley Godsend, and whatever else I send. Love you!

Hello everyone!

This week has been really good. Sandy is doing great! We watched the Restoration DVD with her, and afterwards we asked her how she felt. She said it made her think even more that 'mormon' is the true church, and joining would be a good idea. She still wants time to think about it, because she wants to be totally committed before making that decision. But it was amazing and we are so grateful for her. We also met with a new family, a grandmother and her granddaughter and grandson. We taught a little English, and then we talked about the Book of Mormon. They were very interested. The grandmother said she goes to church, but doesn't get the feeling that she wants. We asked her to say the closing prayer, and she said she didn't know how to pray but really wanted to learn. As we were leaving, we asked what she would do that night. She told us she wanted to go read more of 'that book'. They are wonderful and we will meet them again this week. We were able to meet with Sister Wen (the recent convert) and she's the best. We talked about the temple, and the blessings of sealing our families forever. They sang families can be together forever in church that day, and it got her thinking a lot. I was able to share a little about Grandpa Bennett, and how much easier his passing is because I know we will be together again. It was really powerful and she wants to go do baptisms as soon as possible. There was also a baptism on Sunday for a man from Nigeria. It was very special, and we were able to sing (in English) which was a little weird and really fun. We also started working with a less active a few weeks ago named Ha Hee Eun. She was baptized about 20 years, but hasn't come for a really long time. We invited her last week, she said yes, so we went to meet her at the bus stop and she really came!! We were so happy, and the ward members recognized her and made her feel really special. After sacrament meeting ended, she turned to us and said "I'll see you again next week!" and left. It was a miracle. It's amazing how powerful a simple invitation can be.

 

Sometimes, the Lord gives us little reminders that we are doing what he wants and are where we are suppose to be. This week, we got a call asking us to visit a woman from the English branch. Her husband is very 'lost' right now, and has made some very poor choices. She has three young children, and isn't sure what the future will be for her family. She was understandably struggling a great deal, and asked if we could come help her clean and just help her by not being alone. She is an incredible woman. She has every reason to resent her husband and his decisions. Many people would understand if she was bitter, angry, and blamed heaven for her problems. But she doesn't. She has realized that strength to overcome can only be found through Christ and she is holding fast to that knowledge. She was listening to Conference talks, talking about the temple, and telling us happy stories from the past. During study that morning, I came across Mosiah 5:15 "steadfast and immovable" and my companion found a quote and scripture from President Monson's talk in the Oct. conference. We felt like they would be good to share. When I showed her the scripture, she immediately started to cry because it was exactly what she needed to hear. Then we showed her the quote, and it turns out that it was the exact scripture from her husband's mission plaque. It was a confirmation to her and I  that Heavenly Father knew her perfectly, and was able to guide us-who have never met her before- to share the exact things that would touch her heart. And it was a confirmation to me that we were where he needed us, and that he is proud of what we are doing.

 

I am so grateful to be a part of this amazing work. Oh my goodness. I cannot express how incredible each and every day is here. Miracles are happening all around us, and those are only the ones we notice. The Lord has his hand in this work in a very real way, and he is truly guiding each of us as we do our part. And it doesn't take a nametag to receive that guidance. I would again encourage all of you to read The Power of Everyday Missionary. It is INCREDIBLE and can truly change your life, and missionary work forever. I love this gospel with all my heart. There is no doubt in my mind that it is true. I love the Lord and am grateful for this opportunity to serve. I love you all and hope you have a great week!

 

-Sister Seegmiller

The District

Happy Mother's Day!!

Well this has been another amazing week. A few random highlights, we were able to go hiking with Trisha Perkins and her kids. It was a BEAUTIFUL area that I didn't know existed, and we had a lot of fun. I forgot what it's like traveling with small children, and it was fun to have that adventure again. We randomly met a member on the street named Kent Jacobsen. He is from Utah and is just visiting. He invited us and several other missionaries to dinner, we invited a less active, and had a really fun time. It's such a small world. And another really fun adventure (I already told some of you on the phone) about how amazing people are here in Korea. It also applies the 'ask and ye shall receive' principle. We were trying to find a home yesterday of a less active member. We could not find it on the map outside, and a man came over to help. He couldn't find it either, but was determined to help us. So he led us to the police station. There, about 8 officers immediately dropped everything and spent about 20 minutes trying to locate this home on the map and computer. They decided to call the less active's phone number to see if they would explain (we panicked about that a little, we didn't really want their first contact with the church to be police officers tracking them down) but the number didn't work. Finally they found it, and offered us a ride in their car. We said no thank you and left. The man who originally helped us said that he heard about our church years ago while he was in the army. He gave us his business card and invited to have dinner with his family this week. Then he gave us his umbrella (it was raining- this is the 3rd umbrella that very kind people on the street have given us) and went home. We set out to find the home and saw flashing lights behind us. The police officers, concerned we wouldn't be able to find the right home, followed us in their patrol car and guided us until we were at the right home. It was amazing how willing everyone was to help us out, and we were very grateful. When we got home, I showed the business card to the Korean sisters who live with us. They started freaking out, because apparently the man who orignally helped us is the Director of Security at the Blue House (remember- this is similar to the White House, and is where the Korean President lives). So he's kind of a big deal, and if he does decide to accept the gospel, it could affect some of those who are very high up here in Korea. We were pretty excited.

 

This week we started teaching Sandy, who has attended English class for years but has now decided to do the Family English Program. She is very sweet and opened minded, and has heard a lot through the messages we give at the end of English class each time. She wants guidance in her life, and said she would like to talk to our prophet and ask him some questions about her life. We talked about personal revelation and she was very intrigued. Yesterday she came to church for the first time, and we will be meeting her again tonight. We are SO excited and love her so much! We also started teaching a recent convert named Wen. She is Chinese, but was baptized in America and is now here serving with the American Military. She is so sweet and has a very strong testimony. We are excited to work with her. While waiting for her, we had a man come over and introduce himself. He was about to leave the next day, but gave us two names of families who may be ready to hear the gospel. They don't live in our area, but we have high hopes for them and the missionaries who will serve them.

 

Well, there are way too many things to share them all. This work is just so amazing, and I am so grateful to be a part of it. We are seeing miracles everyday. They are usually small, sometimes they involve the president and police, but when we take time to pause and look around, the Lord's hand is guiding us every step of the way. Korea is the greatest place on earth. This area is amazing, this gospel is even better. I love all of you, and hope you have a wonderful, spirit-filled week!

 

-Sister Seegmiller

Even Companions Photobomb You Sometimes

AAAH HALFWAY!

HOLY COW! I cannot believe that I have been a missionary for 9 months. It isn't real. Where in the world has the time gone?? I feel like I woke up one day and was in Korea and everything has been a dream. It's incredible how time works here. Sometimes days are incredibly long, but weeks seem to fly by. It doesn't make sense, but I have realized how much I still want to accomplish and have gained an even stronger desire to work hard and share the gospel with EVERYONE! They always say that we need to open our mouths and talk to everyone. And we have been, but this transfer we decided to step it up and literally talk to every single person within the nearby vicinity. It's amazing how many people we actually see throughout the day, even if we are just going to the store or the subway station. And as we have stepped up our efforts, the Lord has blessed us so much in guiding even more where to go, what to do, and what to say. This is the greatest work in the world.

 

This week, we decided to try and find some less-actives from old records from as far as 20 years ago. We had several days that primarily consisted of finding and finding and more finding. And it's been incredible. We found one woman who was baptized about 5 years ago. She was very active, had missionaries over often, and attended the temple many times to do baptisms. But she hasn't been back for over a year. The home is pretty far from where we live, but we wanted to find her. The name of her apartment was written in Chinese, but some people on the street helped us find it. We prayed before going in, and she was shocked when she answered the door and saw missionaries looking for her. She invited us in, and we talked about the Book of Mormon. It was an awesome visit, and she gave us her number so we can text her a scripture everyday. She told us her friends name in the ward, so we will work together in helping her come back. The member was shocked that we found her home. Apparently it is very difficult, and few people find it the first time. She went on to tell us more reasons why she couldn't believe we had even found out about her. We hadn't realized all of that, but it made us realize just how much the Lord has his hand in this work. We find her home without any problem, which was apparently a miracle. And it strengthened the members testimony about miracles and missionary work. We found another woman who stopped going about 10 years ago. She started by saying it wasn't her, but little by little as we talked on her doorstep, she opened up her heart. By the end, she gave us her number and asked if we could text her the ward schedule and address. It was very special to see the spirit soften her heart right before our eyes.

 

Everyone and everything else is going great. I love this area SOO much, and our bishop is working hard to get more member missionary work going in the area. My companion is awesome, we had a woman at English class ask if she can start meeting with us to learn more and we will meet her tonight, and in this incredibly small world, I saw Trisha Perkins at our Korean class on the base. After I finish writing this, we are going to go meet her so we can all go on a hike together. I will send pictures this week. I am so grateful to be a part of this work. The Lord is blessing us in so many ways. Sometimes we don't even realize it, but through him, many testimonies are beginning or growing, both members and investigators alike. I love this gospel. It is truly the way to find true happiness in this life. I love you all, and keep being amazing! 

 

-Sister Seegmiller

 

Awesome Quote:

 

One certain way each can demonstrate genuine love for mother is to live the truths mother so patiently taught.
May each of us treasure this truth; one cannot forget mother and remember God. One cannot remember mother and forget God. Why? Because these two sacred persons, God and mother, partners in creation, in love, in sacrifice, in service, are as one.
“The love of a true mother comes nearer [to] being like the love of God than any other kind of love”   ... President Joseph F. Smith