2014.02.23 email

It begins again!

 

Transfer calls, and with it comes the end of my time in 풍향. I'll miss it so much. Last night we expected this was coming. Spent a lot of it visiting members and saying goodbye. It was hard. After serving here for almost 7 months, this has become another home to me. Two particular families we visited were especially amazing. One of them was a family who we were able to help give service for when I first got here. We helped them with building their house, and I can still remember how good it felt to be giving that kind of service again. Hard to find that in Korea. But ever since then, we've been very close. Yesterday we had dinner with them, they made a fire in their frontyard (also hard to find in Korea), we got to play with their dog and their kids for a while, and we shared a scripture that reminded me of them. They're so amazing. They are always sharing the Gospel, always happy, and always looking for ways to serve others. I did really well for the first part, but the prayer at the end was hard. When the father and son gave us hugs goodbye, I completely lost it. Earlier they asked me what "가정은 지상의 천국" meant (a common motto for the church here), "Home/Family is Heaven on Earth." I couldn't get the thought out of my mind. I've talked about families so special that if all I could do here was meet them, it would be an honor. They were definitely one of them. The second was too. Our Stake President. He was a convert. For the longest time he snuck out pretending to play soccer so he could come to church. He's had so much love for the Young Men, and for everyone in his stake. You can feel it. He gets to know everyone. No matter who you are, you feel important when he talks to you. You stand a little straighter. He's always looking for ways to strengthen those in this area. One of the things I'm grateful for is that I'm still in his Stake. Just a different city.

 

I love this work. It's been an incredible time here in 풍향, it'll be hard to leave, but I'm excited to start again in 목포 (Mokpo), my new area. I've kept up my tradition so far. I've been slowly making my way south. I started at the very top, and have moved down little by little ever since. Now I'm at the very southern tip of Korea. I get there Thursday, and my new companion is Elder Williams. Looking forward to it. From what I hear, he's a hard worker, and a top notch missionary. As for the future, I have no idea. I won't be DL this transfer, so I'll be able to focus a lot of working with the Members. Definitely looking forward to that.

 

Anyway, I love you all! Lots of things to do, so I have to go, but it was a great week! Thank you for all of your love!

 

~Elder Robarts

2014.02.16 email

Not much time for writing now. Lot's came up. First, this morning we got to help do some farming at a member's place, and then the bus back to 광주 was too full so we didn't get back until an hour later. But, I still love you guys!

This week was fun. Lots of exploring new areas. A couple of our investigators couldn't meet, so we had a little extra time. But we got to find a couple cool people, and visited some members. We've been looking for some new ways to help them here. One thing that came to mind recently was that in order to help encourage them, experiences seem to help the most. Simple times that have helped us, or things that we did as members when we tried to do these things too. We're not perfect, but God helps our efforts. So we've been really focusing more on that, and it's helped a lot. Shared about FHE and showed a simple get to know you game they can use as an activity. Simple things, but I'm a strong believer in Alma 37:6-7. (that should be the right verse...)

Anyway, good times. I've also learned that I like memorizing scriptures in Korean. They are good wells of strength during the day, and it feels a little more powerful when you hear it in your head in two languages. I memorized this one yesterday. Props to anyone who can find it. 보라, 나는 하나님의 아들 예수 그리스도의 제자라. 나는 그의 백성 가운데 그의 말씀을 선포하여, 그들로 영생을 얻게 하기 위하여 그에게 부름을 받았느니라.

Found out about this a while back. Turns out every sister companionship in the mission recites Our purpose, James 1:5 and the First vision in Korean before companionship study every morning. None of the Elders knew about it, and I've only done it with a couple companions. But we started doing it together, as well as one additional scripture we want to memorize that week. Got me on the memorizing bug. I've also made a goal to finish the Book of Mormon in Korean before going home. I wish I'd made the goal earlier, but there were always more pressing things to study, and the language in the BoM and other scriptures isn't common (not perfect language study by itself...). That said, since starting, I've noticed a huge help with the language. When I first came out, everyone told me not to use a lot of time on it, but it's been a great tool. I just like reading in Korean.

Good week though. Elder Keyser is awesome, and we've been seeing a lot of cool miracles. One investigator that has hated religion most of his life was finally able to pray with his daughter this week. He's been praying in his heart for a while now, but vocal prayers are hard for him outside of us meeting. And his daughter still doesn't like church, so it was a great thing to hear that they were able to do it together. Hearts are opening.^^ I love this place. The people make any mission worth living. Seeing the love God has for them changes you. All in a good way.

Out of time, but I love you guys! Have a great week!

~Elder Robarts

2014.02.09 email

Dear Home,

This week was pretty nice. The holidays are over, people are coming out of the woodwork again, and we saw a lot of miracles this week.

I love this work. This week we met a guy who said straight up that he's been looking for the Book of Mormon for a long time because he wants to know what it is. When we talked to him, almost everything we shared he had been thinking before himself. The importance of prophets, the fact that God wouldn't stop speaking to us, the knowledge that we can know truth through prayer and the spirit. Awesome guy, and super tall. 192cm. That's taller than me. And the first time he met us, he introduced a friend. He's cool too. Recently got back from a homestay in Utah, where he got into a YSA branch and loved it a lot. He was only there a couple weeks, but it left a good impression. He has no religious background, but liked the feeling of our Church and the people. Super excited to meet them more.

Also met an old investigator we haven't seen in over a month. He's doing well, just busy, but we arranged to start meeting again. Taught a lot of cool people on the street, and had a good meeting at ward council. We're merging wards soon, moving into a new building, so they're taking a lot of time trying to preserve and rescue some of our less active members. So many have struggled to come out, and they voiced the concern that once we move, the ward will be a lot bigger and it might become a lot harder to notice when someone is missing. Plus, this building is farther away, so it'll be a bigger sacrifice to make it out. Lot's of less active work ahead. Needs a lot of coordinating. I love less active work. It's harder sometimes, but it's so fulfilling to help people recognize and remember experiences they had when they were converted.

It's a beautiful work, that's for sure.

Been a little busy, so there were three letters sitting unopened on my desk for about a week. (Really sorry about that by the way...) But I have some things to respond to, so I should keep this short today. I love you all. Thank you so much for all you do. It's hard to believe I only have six months left. One of the letters asked about preparations... I don't have any details about that, but it got me thinking. Over the course of my mission, I've made a Babylon List, or a list of things that I want to look up or do back home. Good way to stay focused. Write it down and forget about it. But it's a little messy, so I took one of our blank planners and started putting information in for my first transfer back home. Mostly a to-do list of my first week. Things to research, work on, get information for. School, work, etc. Spent a couple minutes there earlier this morning. I might make a section for foods I miss. Lasagna... 

Luckily I've still got six months before I need that planner. And the planners I've got now have some many incredible things in them to think about. Souls that need saving. Love you all, take care! Until next week!

~Elder Robarts

PS:

I didn't know it was the olympics until we noticed it on TV at a restaurant once. And then only once. Not as big here apparently. Go team Korea!

2014.02.02 email

Happy Lunar New Year!

That was a great week. Started with a split with one of the missionaries in my District, and we got to talk a lot about the things that give us strength in missionary work. There are something that we do because they build us up, and for each of us, those things can be different. For this particular missionary, it's talking to people. He understands so well the call to talk with everyone, and to open your mouth to share the Gospel. For me, it's recognizing God's love for His children. Just how much we does for each of us as individuals. That brings me strength the most I think. I talk to someone, and as I listen to who they are, I feel like I can really recognize God in their lives. That love. It makes it so much easier for me to feel that love for them as well.

We talked to so many people that day, and we saw a lot of miracles. But one thing that stood out to me was something from PMG. It talks about "finding those who will accept you". As we worked, we talked a lot about that. How do we find those who are searching for Truth? Still thinking about that, but the best answer I've felt is to make sure we're doing our best to carry that spirit with us so that they will be drawn to it.

This week, we had a good opportunity for that. With the holidays, Korea was shut down. We ended up spending time as a zone doing a teaching practice. As we did it, the spirit was so strong. I remember one particular lesson where the other missionaries described an investigator that was Buddhist, and had a lot of trials in their life that made it hard for them to find peace. As we talked, there were so many times the spirit led us in what to say. Helping them see how God is important. Because of Him, even hard times are made meaningful. And through Him, we can gain strength and peace, even in the midst of those times. I learned something as we taught that investigator. While I am not one to like Roleplaying, I've felt the spirit so much through it. It's never really felt fake to me. Even in the MTC, the spirit was so strong as we taught. I wondered why that was. But the answer was simple. This Gospel is all about love. No one says you have to be able to see the person you're teaching to love them. As we were teaching, I could really feel love for that investigator, to the point where to this moment, I find myself wanting to know how they are doing.

It makes me wonder how much love God feels for each of us. Must be incredible...

A couple members invited us to eat with them for 설날, so we had lunch with our Bishop and dinner with our Ward Mission Leader. Every year there is a food called 떡국  that they eat on new years. They say that in order to become a year older, you have to eat it. So we had some... and then some more. I think I'm roughly 27 now. Tastes delicious.^^

Other than that, it was a quiet new years. Had Zone Conference this weekend, and learned a lot there, especially about Love, and gaining revelation through our studies. Also talked a lot about how to help investigators come to church, and how to have effective member lessons. I've had some good talks about that with the Zone Leaders this week. Lots of ideas, but still working on application. 

I hope California is doing okay. I've heard that there are droughts, that the ice age is happening again, all sorts of things. Here things are fine. A warmer winter than average. But I hope you guys are okay. You're in my prayers! I love you all, I hope you had a good new years! Until next time!