Less-Active Miracles!!

Nov 16

This week has been so cool! Let's start with some less-active stories. One LA we have been working with hasn't been able to meet for about a week now, so we wanted to visit. We went to her apartment, and were immediately able to get inside (I talk about this all the time, but it is truly a miracle getting into those apartments. Let alone, every single one. SO incredible!) We left her some candy on her door just to let her know we care. Another LA's mother really dislikes us. Every time we have tried to visit, the mother answers the door, sees us, and slams it shut. So we stick something on the door or in the mailbox. So we went to visit this week, knocked on the door, and the mom answered. And she stood there, with a smile on her face as we introduced ourselves. We talked for a little while, gave her the cookies for her daughter, and walked away in slight shock. The Lord is truly softening the hearts of those around us, and persistence pays off. We met with our adorable 91 year old Kim Myung Oak this week. She was so sweet, and we spent most of the time teaching her how to properly end a prayer, at her request. "예수 그리스도의 이름으로 기도드립니다, 아멘." She is making so much progress, and is focusing more on the joy of the gospel rather than the pains in her aging body. Then we went to find  a LA who we have been visiting for the past 3 months, but never have been able to meet. We knocked, no one was home, started writing a note, when the elevator opened and a very shocked woman stood inside. We asked if her name was Eeh Kyung Awe, and it was!!! We were FINALLY able to meet her and her two sons, after months of unsuccessful visits. Then we found another LA home of a family whose daughter we met on the street a few weeks ago. The mom answered and started out a little closed off, but by the end we were able to read Ether 12:4 together, and she gave us big hugs when we left. She told us we didn't need to come back, but we just looked at her and said, "We are missionaries, and we love you. You know we will be back." She laughed, knowing we weren't going to leave her alone now that she was found again. It was really special, and we are excited to work with their family.

 

Also, to all those who wonder, the power of fasting is real! We decided to fast on Saturday in order to meet with an awesome woman we met on the street who is really busy with work. Well, the day came for us to meet, and she had to cancel. What?? But we decided to go find someone who would meet. About 15 seconds after leaving the church, we met an older woman who needed help with groceries. We walked her home, only to realize she lived in the same home as a woman we had met the week before, and had accepted a Book of Mormon! Then we met a mother and daughter on the street, and talked about the Book of Mormon. The mom took the book from us, started reading, and then asked about proper baptism because she has been wonderfing about that lately!! And then another woman gave us her number and the number of her friend, because she was hoping we could teach them both about the Book of Mormon. Oh my goodness. SO many miracles.

 

 We are so so blessed, even if it's not in the way we had originally hoped. God always knows best. The church is true, and God is real. It's so simple and so happy and so incredible!! I love all of you, and hope you all have a great week!

 

-Sister Shanelle Seegmiller :)

Big and Fat

Cool shopping area on P-day with Sister Evans!

Delicious dinner!

Our district in full costume (with the sweet investigator who helped us out!)

The Congratulations cake and lunch, provided by bishop!

In accordance with my last email (fat American missionaries) we found this on a wall. Graffiti is pretty rare here, so we had to snap a pic!

Only in Korea.. (this is at a shopping center, similar to Wal-Mart)

Hakuna Matata takes the cake!

Nov 10

This week has been awesome as always. We were able to go to the temple on Tuesday which is always such a blessing! We passed some missionaries from the Busan mission, who were going to attend for their first and last time before returning home. It made me realize just how lucky I am to be here in Seoul where we attend every transfer. What a blessing it is to have the house of the Lord so close!!

 

We were passing by this cool shopping area, and saw a mini soccer field set up. They asked us to shoot, and if we scored a goal money would go to charity. I was super excited, my companion not quite as excited. I went first, scored, we cheered. Woo! Then my dear companion went. She shot the ball far over the net, with her shoe going with it down the street. The goalie sprinted off to save both items, and they got it all on film. Such a fun moment. I think the companies name on facebook was "facebook.com/shoot4love". They filmed the whole thing so it may be on there, but we aren't sure.

 

So our investigator who came to church last week, Ee Me Kyung, wanted to meet this week as well. But when we called her, her number no longer existed. We were super bummed because that was the only way we had to contact her. But we prayed that we could somehow meet again. Then on Saturday, she showed up to English class, gave us her new number, and said she wants to attend church and feel God's love. It was a miracle! She stayed for English class and then came with us to the stake music night|! It's really interesting how different it is here. Each ward in the stake (6 wards) had their choir perform a song, and then had the missionaries in each ward also perform one. The missionaries are so much a part of everything the wards do, it's pretty cool. Our ward had been practicing for months, and us missionaries have been practicing for about a month now on our Hakuna Matata performance. We were the only ward not doing a spiritual song, so we figured it would be a hit, or they would despise our lack of spiritual perfomance. Well, we got there and they had judges and prizes and everything. When we sang, it was amazing!! Our ward had never done that well before. It was extremely powerful and the spirit was there with us. Then it was the missionaries turn. We wore animal ears and performed our song, dance moves and all. And it was a hit! Thank goodness, everyone loved it! We had so much fun! (It's all filmed on my camera, but we can't send videos so you will have to wait.) At the end, it came down to our ward and another ward for first place. And we won! Woohoo! Our bishop is super competitive and had the BIGGEST smile. He was so proud of our ward, and he brought a Costco cake to church the next day saying "Congratulations" for everyone. SO much fun.

 

We are working hard to find people who are prepared and ready to hear the gospel. We find them everyday. Unfortunately most don't realize it and will need to accept it later, but we are truly seeing miracles everyday. Like the woman we met on the street, who told us that we gave her faith that Christians are good people, and maybe she should rethink her beliefs. Or the less active who wants so desperately to have her non-member family members join her in the Celestial Kingdom. The church is true, God is real, and He is working wonders all around us. I love you all, have a wonderful week!

 

-Sister Shanelle Seegmiller :) 

Falling for Fall

This is what fall looks like!

Slacklining on P-day! So much fun!

A random performance going on in a subway station.

Ice cream with the Sisters on Halloween!

We see this lady a lot. She has four dogs, all different ages, same breed, all purple, always in a baby stroller. We love her!

Happy Halloween!

Nov 3

This week! Oh my goodness! Oh Monday, we were going to have dinner with a recent convert, Choi Seung Eem, and her son at their home. We had just finished eating, when the father came home from work. (this is the same father who wouldn't pray since he is Buddhist, but thanked us for blessing his family.) We asked if we could teach him a lesson, and that he could play the role of investigator and ask questions, correct our Korean, etc. so we could be more prepared when we teach others. He kind of blew it off, but came and sat down as we began to teach.(Miracle #1) His wife and son have been meeting missionaries for months, and he never stays in the room to listen, UNTIL NOW!! :) :) :) We read from the children's Book of Mormon, and he just listened. But by the end, he had grabbed the book from his son and was explaining the story of Ammon to his wife.(miracle #2) He then asked us what was different about the Book of Mormon and the Bible, and read the entire introduction to the Book of Mormon.(Miracle #3) We talked to his wife about something else, but he interrupted asking us about our families. We were able to testify of who God is, and how he has blessed our families, and how God loves him just as much as he loves his son. I then felt impressed to talk about Grandpa Bennett passing away, and bore my testimony about the Plan of Salvation. I began to cry, as well as Sister Evans and Seung Eem. He handed us each a tissue, and as I kept talking, we looked up and saw him wiping tears from his eyes.(Miracle #4,5,6,7,+++++) The spirit was SO strong, and we know he could feel it. It was incredible. He still isn't ready to take the lessons, but said casually "I may need to read the Book of Mormon, just to see what this is all about." Oh my goodness. This gospel is true. The plan of Salvation is real. God's love for this man was so apparent, and he felt it very strong that night. We are going to continue working with him as the spirit continues softening his heart little by little.

 

We have had other really cool experiences. We had a meal with a member who invited all 12 missionaries over to eat! We taught them the Restoration, each companionship teaching a principle. Sister Evans and I were going to teach the Joseph Smith story, and I had Sister Evans say the first vision. As soon as she started, the spirit was so strong and all our testimonies were strengthened even further about the divine calling Joseph Smith received. Kim Myung Oak is still in pain, but is so sweet and loves when we visit. She gave us big hugs as we left, and we love her!! Yesterday, we had a new investigator come to church, Ee Me Kyung. She was a little early, and the members were so wonderful and sat with her the entire time, answering all her questions and making her feel at home. I say this a lot, but I love this ward so much!

 

It's been an incredible week, filled with blessings and miracles both big and small. It's amazing to see just how the Lord is pushing his work forward all over the world. We are each on a mission to spread the gospel no matter where we are. And I am so grateful for all of you and the examples of faith that you are to me. I love you, have a wonderful week!

 

-Sister Shanelle Seegmiller

Patience

I love this city!

 

And amazing quote of the week!

 

 “Without patience, we cannot please God; we cannot become perfect. Indeed, patience is a purifying process that refines understanding, deepens happiness, focuses action, and offers hope for peace. Patience is far more than simply waiting for something to happen—patience requires actively working toward worthwhile goals and not getting discouraged when results don’t appear instantly or without effort.”

Dieter F. Uchtdorf “Continue in Patience “

The Best Two Years

We saw a family traveling around town in this. They let us take a picture with their little boy

This is the dresser we have in our home. Best Two Years anyone?