Tired, but Never Too Tired for Fun

Sometimes we get really tired. Sister LaBlanc and I at our home, during two different meal times.

Elder Bybee was getting transferred, so we were sad.

The mission conference!

Say hello to my district. This picture pretty much sums everything up.

Sister Evans!!

Another day of p-day bowling!

Shalynne, does she look familiar?? Yes, this is the missionary who first hosted Shalynne at the MTC!! :)

It's 추석!!

Wow this has been such a good week! Where to even begin?? Well, first off I am now serving with the beautiful Sister Evans!! She is adorable! She's from Mesa, Arizona, 19 years old, and ready to work hard. She's already so focused on what she came here to do, and when we talk to people on the street the spirit is always there. She is a very special missionary. We get along great, and I am so excited to work together! She's fun and funny, and likes to eat and exercise so basically this will be an amazing transfer! This week is 추석 which is similar to Thanksgiving. It's a 3-day celebration where everyone gathers with their extended families, eats A LOT OF FOOD, and play a lot of traditional games. It's great, except missionary work is very difficult since there are literally no people on the streets, and knocking on doors during this time is incredibly rude. SO.. We had a mission conference on Saturday which was incredible! Our focus this month is about receiving revelation through prayer. We watched a video, 'The Hope of God's Light, the true story of Todd Sylvester". Oh my goodness, SO GOOD! I recommend it to everyone! It is an inspirational story about a man coming to know God when all hope seemed lost. It also talks about acting on promptings as soon as they are received, and we never know the impact our actions can have on other people. Let me know what you think! Our whole mission (202 missionaries) are really trying to focus on making our prayers specific and direct, and most importantly a two-way communication with Heavenly Father. Already, we have felt the spirit more fully guiding us in this work. It's so incredible.

 

This week I also decided to read about following up, and it led me to the talk from last conference, "Following Up" by M. Russell Ballard. In it he gives three commitments, and they are very specific. I found it interesting, because most talks give very good counsel and direction. But he gave direct 'every member do this' statements that really stood out. First, he reminded all members to refer to us as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, not the mormon church or lds church. He said using those names may be appropriate in certain situations, but only as long as it is followed by the full name of the church. Second, he challenged every single member of the church to pray to find someone once every quarter, 4 times a year, that they can invite to meet with the full-time missionaries. I was very interested that it wasn't a suggestion, or a thought. He very directly told every member to pray for this opportunity. And that means it came from God. Which means if we are all willing to do this, God will help us to find those who are prepared. That doesn't mean they will all say yes or choose to be baptized. But we are promised by an apostle of God that we will be led to the right person as we seek for them through prayer and action. Just think of the difference our family alone could make in building the kingdom of God if we take this challenge to heart!? Third, he told every member despite their level of activity in the church, to obtain a copy of Preach My Gospel and make it a part of their study. It's widely available online and paper copies are pretty inexpensive. He asked families of missionaries to write to missionaries and let them know what they are studying. He said doing this will unite families more fully and create more opportunities to share the gospel. Basically it was an amazing talk! And I want to encourage all of you to take his challanges, and I want to hear how it goes!!

 

You are all amazing and I love you so much! Thank you for all that you do. This is the most amazing work in the world. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be here, and I am so grateful for all of your examples as well. The church is true!

 

-Sister Shanelle Seegmiller

Hooray for New Friends and New Talents

An adorable recent convert, Jin Hyun Sook, who is adorable and also just took a bite.

 My district at the temple!

I sort of did some scrapbooking! Go team!

It's already September!!

So this week has been another great one! We had a musical fireside for our ward, which is a pretty rare thing here in Korea. The Bishop asked us to really make it special, and much of the week has been preparing for that. We had a lot of ideas, and nothing seemed to work and then magically the day of everything came together and it was INCREDIBLE! Sister LaBlanc and I sang a duet called "I Will Shine" by Janice Kapp Perry that was prepared the day before when a member lost her voice from practicing too much and couldn't sing. It's a really pretty song, and went pretty well. The program was based on one's journey to gain a testimony. We played on that theme, and had covered wagons and stars to make it really like a journey and 'fireside". It ended with a slideshow of pictures from the ward throughout the past 10 years or so. We also have been filming 30 second testimonies from all the members, and they made it into a very powerful video with every member bearing testimony. Many people were crying, and the spirit was so strong! The next day, bishop continued the theme and we all watched Legacy in sunday school, and ended it by having all 10 missionaries come up and sing "The Spirit of God". If people didn't cry the night before, they sure did then. The spirit was so strong, and it was incredible. Many of them hadn't seen Legacy before, and the sacrifice of those pioneers really hit them. As for me, I was watching that thinking "wow, sometimes days are hard and I complain that I am tired. while I sit in an air-conditioned home, eating ice cream..." Yeah, it definitely put things into perspective. They did all of that so that I would have the opportunity to be here in Korea today, sharing the gospel they gave up everything for. Incredible.

 

This week we also received transfer calls! My dear companion will be transferring to a new area, and I will be training one of the 2 new sisters coming in. I'm incredibly excited to meet her on Monday. There's a lot of emotions thinking about getting a new missionary fresh from the MTC. Nervous, because I want to help her so much and feel far underqualified. But SO excited, because she has the drive of a new missionary. And we will take in this little part of Korea together! Oh man I am so excited. Pictures to come next week. I love you all, this church is true and life is SO good! Have a great week!

 

-Love, Sister Shanelle Seegmiller! :)

 

Quotes/Conversations of the week:

(I will leave off names, but sometimes missionaries are just fun)

 

Elder: "Sister Seegmiller, I measured my thigh today. It's bigger than my companions head." Me: "Um. okay."

Elder: "Oh wow!!" Me: "what is it?" Elder: "smell my fingers!" me: (after some hesitation) "They smell like oreos.." Elder: "Yeah isn't it the greatest! Man, I'm so hungry right now.

MEAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Meat buffet!

Shawn!! Does she look familiar?? That's Susan, the woman Shawn met just one week before while at the Grand Canyon! What a small world!

We performed at a music night for another ward, and found these super cute TINY chairs. It's hard to tell just how small they are, but they are small.

This is Kang Ho Jung! She's adorable.

"..fill in your favorite subject line here.."

This week has been so good. We have met with so many good people, and lessons have been great. Unfortunately, Pak Jee Hyun cannot meet for awhile, but will try to meet again when she has time. :( She is in our prayers. This week we taught Jang Ho Jung about the Holy Ghost. We set up an obstacle course and had her attempt it blindfolded. I'm sure most of you have seen this before. We didn't help at all, and it was really hard for her. The next time she just had to follow my voice, and she made it through really quickly. It was to demonstrate how much easier life is when we seek out and listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost! And it finally dawned on me, that life really can be like that. Yes, of course I know that the spirit can always be with us. But do we really understand what that means? We literally have a spiritual guide, who can tell us exactly where to take our next step. And if we take a wrong turn, He is there to help us back. We are literally never alone, ever. A sweet young girl who was baptized last week, Kim Seh Young, received the Holy Ghost on Sunday. Sometimes those things happen so often that they seem almost routine, but it was very powerful. She was literally receiving that ability to always have heaven as her guide. How cool is that?? And we have that ability every moment of our lives! I love the quote-

"When God answers your prayers, He is increasing your faith.

 When he delays, He is increasing your patience.

 And when he doesn't, He has faith in your abilities."

Sometimes, since we have had the Holy Ghost since we were 8 years old, we take it for granted or feel like maybe it's not always so strong in our lives. But the Holy Ghost isn't always about the burning bosom and seeing visions. Elder Bednar has a series of Mormon Messages called "Patterns of Light". There are 3 parts, and I really recommend them. He explains it far better than I can. But we are just so lucky. God loves us so much.

 

Also, I was reading a talk by Elder Holland titled "The Miracle of a Mission". He gives wonderful advice and insight to missionaries and how we can better succeed at the Lord's work, by simply relying on Him and letting Him truly be our guide. But he said something else that struck me more than usual. He said, 'no young man could have been more affected by a mission that I was'. He has said that many times before, and often tells how a mission is the reason for everything good in his life. But it really got me thinking. And I had new a determination that, while maybe no young man has ever been as affected, this young woman would be. I want to stand before Elder Holland one day and let him know that serving the Lord's mission has turned me into His literal, lifelong servant. And that will never change. This is truly the greatest work in the world. The Lord is guiding us every step of the way, if we let Him. There are people out there yearning for what we have, and we are finding them everyday. I know that this is the true gospel of Jesus Christ. This is His church. And families can be together forever! I love you all, have a great week!

 

-Sister Shanelle Seegmiller

I Don't Always Bowl, or Play A Giant Piano, But When I Do, I Win!

Pictures! Bowling with the district! Our team won :)

Wow, look how heavy these balls are! Or maybe they were just lost..

Sometimes there are giant pianos on the ground that just need to be used. And construction workers to entertain.

And sometimes, people use couches at bus stops, when they don't want to build a bench. Why not?

I LOVE KOREA!!!!!

This week has been so amazing. So our focus for the month is 'receiving revelation through church attendance'. At zone meeting a few weeks ago, we all wrote down the name of each companionships most progressing investigator, and everynight we pray for each of them by name to be able to attend church. And holy cow! We have been meeting with Pak Jee Hyun. She loves everything we teach, but saw no way to attend church since she is currently attending another church at the same time. Well, we saw her on Saturday and she said she would be able to come to church for the first 30 min!! It was seriously a miracle, and we could not have been more thrilled to see her when she walked in. We also met a sweet 70+ year old woman on the street. Her name is Kim Heng Ja. We've met with her a few times, as well as Yoo Oak Roar. They both came to sacrament meeting yesterday, and stayed to watch a baptism afterwards. It was amazing!! To have one investigator at church is a miracle, but to have three attend in one day was beyond words. We were so grateful, and our testimony of prayer has once again been strengthened. The Lord really does hear and answer our prayers! Whether it be 'please just help this food taste good' 'please help find this toy' or whatever it may be, He hears and He always answers! I know that with all of my heart.

 

Another very fun tender mercy. We were sitting in Relief Society when an American family walks in. Many of the members in Sindang were translators, so missionaries rarely took that role. But in this ward it was clear that no one knew English well enough to help them out, except me. I sat between them, and translated my best. And guess what! It helped me realize that I understood far more than I had been giving myself credit for. I still had to make some stuff up when I only understood a few words, but it was amazing. The difference between last time I translated in church, and this time was incredible. I was grateful to help them out, but it helped me far more to realize the progress that really has been made. Tender mercies are everywhere. I love this gospel with all my heart. There is no where I would rather be. Being a missionary is the best! I love you all and pray for you everyday, and I can feel your prayers. Thank you so much! Have a great week.

 

Love, Sister Shanelle Seegmiller :)

Not Your Mama's Sundae....

The building with the soccer field is an elementary school.

I made it into the Korean Ensign! That is a picture from when we sang at the fireside when Elder Cook spoke.

 I tried Sundae for the first time. It is actually pronounced Soon-day and is made of pig intestines and noodles. 

Monsoon season?

Well this week has been another great week. I cannot believe how fast time is going, Already August and not moving any slower. We were able to do our service activity again these week, and the people are as adorable as ever. They all line up to shake our hands, get our autographs, and then work hard beside us, trying to make sure they are doing it faster than we are. Oh man, I love it. There are service opportunities all around us. We were on our way to Zone meeting, when a woman in front of us fell and hit her head pretty hard on the road. We ran over to help her, and after letting her rest a minute, realized she was incredibly drunk. We couldn't leave her in the road, so I made her get up and helped her into the nearest store, which was a pharmacy. We left her on a bench there (much to the pleasure of the lone pharmacist I'm sure) and left feeling very grateful for the wisdom that comes from keeping the Word of Wisdom. There was also a big gust of wind that blew down many signs and displays of the stores in the market near our home. Wanting to be good citizens, by companion and I went over to help. While lifting a particularly heavy sign, requiring us to use both arms, the large gust of wind came back- lifting our skirts to our eyeballs and there was nothing we could do about it. Oh dear. Service is full of adventures.

 

Yesterday a woman we met on the street decided she wanted to attend sacrament meeting. She stayed to eat lunch with the ward afterwards, and wants to meet again on Wednesday. Miracle! This week we also met with an adorable little girl this week named Kang Ho Jung. She  is doing the 30/30 english program with us. Except instead of English, my companion is teaching her Piano. Super fun. This week we wanted her to understand the importance of prophets, so we made a treasure hunt with clues leading her to the prize. She got really excited as every clue was found, and did a victory yelp when the cookie was located. It was a fun lesson, and far more effective than sitting down explaining why prophets are important. We've decided to try to implement more 'activities' into teaching adults as well, because it's just more fun. And far easier to remember and understand. I admit, our lessons have been slightly boring at times in the past, but we are trying to think of fun ways to keep people engaged and remember what they learn and feel far after we are gone.

 

I love being a missionary here in Korea. Holy Cow. The work is amazing, the people are amazing, and the experiences that we are able to have are incredible. I'm so grateful to be here doing the Lord's work! I am so thankful for Shalynne, for doing this same wonderful work in the MTC and soon in Finland! And I am grateful for all of you for being an example in your families, to friends, coworkers, players, and everyone else. I love you all, have a great week!

 

-Sister Shanelle Seegmiller :)