Week 66: Chinese is getting a little easier

This week was freezing cold and with 100% humidity, it makes it a different cold than could've been expected! But this week was surely a blast with other people talking to us and us being able to prepare for our ward Christmas party and also being able to go outside and talk with others and share the light of Christ!!  Also this week, I was able to study Chinese, not in a class setting or anything, but I just studied it on my own looking at pamphlets that the Church uses and we were able to teach our Chinese friend named Suzepong -- he is fantastic!!! He understood the lesson and we were able to talk and it was great for sure!!

This week, I wanted to make my message kind of short. I just wanted to focus on the questions, "Why do we celebrate Christmas?" "Why does everyone celebrate it around the world?" and "What can I do to make Christmas more meaningful and special".  When I thought about these things, all my thoughts turned to the Savior and how much he loves us. He is the light of the world and he love s us. This Christmas Season as we remember him, give him thanks and think about how you can make this Christmas unforgettable by following his example!

This last week on Monday, we went to a Buddhist temple and took pictures, and were able to go out and eat afterwards. After that we came home and emailed and shopped. Then after we got done, we went outside for the rest of the day and talked with others about the Savior and Christmas.

On Tuesday, we went to our service project: our service project is great because there are many foreigners and Koreans that work together! According to all the old ladies that work there, this week, I became their official translator for the project. It was a pleasure to serve with them. After that, we went on Exchanges with the Sujeong Elders and I was able to go with an Elder named Elder Stewart!
We had a great time talking with others about the Savior and
Christmas! Then after that we  had to help some other missionaries with their English class!

On Wednesday, we went on another exchange and I was able to go with a Korean Elder named Elder Gwon gyeongjoon and he is great! We had a great time and we were able to talk to a bunch of people on the street!
Then we went to English class and were able to teach English! After which we went outside and talked to some more people and it was extremely cold for sure.

On Thursday, we had a meeting in the morning and so my companion and I had to set that up and then had our Zone training meeting! That went well.  Then we went with some more elders on exchange! I got to go with Elder Lee Hanggyeol and that was a fun time being able to be with him and serve with him!

Then on Friday, we got to get back and I got to be with Elder Royce. We went outside and talked to some people and then went to do some meetings with other missionaries, and had practice for some of our performances, and that was our day.

On Saturday, we were able to go outside and talk to others and met with others. We met with Jang Daeyoon and that was a good time -- we were able to talk a little more about the gospel!! Then at the end of the day, we went outside and tried to meet and talk with others but there weren't many people wanted to talk to us at first.  Eventually people's hearts warmed up and we were able to have great conversations!

Then on Sunday, we went to church and set up all the Christmas decorations inside the church. After that, we met with our Chinese investigator, Suzepong and taught him through writing Chinese characters and learning about Chinese.  He understands and likes our message!  After that, we went home and made dinner and ate with everyone
at the church and then did some stuff for our Christmas party and that was our day!

I love Korea and I love the people here! I love being able to serve others and to help others come closer unto Christ! this Christmas season is amazing and I hope we can find more happiness all around as we remember the Savior during this season!

Merry Christmas, everyone!!

Love Always,

Elder Joshua Wilson

Week 65: Meeting New People

This week has been so great and I love being able to be here in Korea and to serve with others! I especially love it being Christmas time and being able to help others learn about their Savior, Jesus Christ and come unto Him! 
It has gotten a little colder, but for the most part, it has been amazing this past week and really time does go by quickly!!

So this week, I quickly wanted to share a message about making every second count. I believe as human beings that we are so accustomed to receiving second chances. And that is not a false at all. But what we must remember is that as we try our best to do our duty to God and try to come closer unto Christ, that we really can make every second count and we can understand the preciousness of every second in our lives!


On Monday, we had P-day and went to a place called Nampo-dong, and were able to go shopping and eat with our District.  It was a great time.  We came back and sent emails and shopped and it was a pretty relaxed day! Then afterwards, we went outside and talked to others.  A family that we are teaching, who are learning about Jesus Christ's gospel stopped us and bought us dinner! So it was a great
day!

On Tuesday, we studied in the morning and then we went outside, talked to some people and met with a person and then went to have a meeting with some other missionaries. Then we came back to the Haeundae area, and had to go help some other teams teach English class, so we did that and ended our day.

On Wednesday, we had a meeting in the morning and then we went on exchanges with the Assistants to the mission president. So I went to a place called Onchon, which is the center of Busan, and we were able to talk to many people and learn a lot during the exchange!! I loved it a bunch
and it was so wonderful!

On Thursday, we de-exchanged in the morning, and then had a meeting.  After our meeting, we came back to Haeundae and practiced for a performance that we have coming up. Then we went outside and talked to other people and that was our day.


On Friday, we went to a meeting in the morning.  Then we came back and planned for the upcoming week for a little bit. After that, we went outside for the rest of the day and met with others and got to share about Christmas and the Savior.

Then on Saturday, we were able to meet with a lot of people and got to talk to them about the gospel.  We also met with Jang Daeyoon and ate dinner with him and shared a simple message. After which, we went outside for the rest of the day and were able to keep sharing that Christmas message too.

On Sunday, we had church and then we met with a new person who has interest in learning about the church and about Jesus Christ. He is Chinese and doesn't understand Korean or English very well, so for the words he couldn't understand, I wrote out in Japanese Chinese Characters and he understood it!! It was great!! Then we went outside
and caroled for a little bit and were able to talk to some other
people and then we got to talk to some people on the street and that was our day!

I love being here and it is so great!! I love you all and thank you for all you do!

Love Always,

Elder Joshua Wilson

P-day

In front of the Christmas Tree

Week 64: Mission Tour

This week it has gotten kind of colder! It is staying the 32 to 40 degree range, and it is very cold actually!! I love being here though and being able to help other come just a little closer unto Christ, especially during this Christmas season!!

This week I want to share a thought... Have you ever thought about Christmas and what you can get for someone else? For your kids? For someone special? For your loved ones? Now have you ever thought about it this question.. "What can I give of myself to the Savior, this Christmas?" As human beings we have so many flaws and we have been given so much from God and from our Savior, Jesus Christ. And through Christ, all of us may be made clean. So what do you think? What can you give the Savior for Christmas? I'm currently doing this too, and I wanted to challenge you to try it and see how it works out for you. If you do, I know that you will see such large change in your life!

This week on Monday, we woke up in the morning and packed of Elder Song's things and then sent them through the post office. Then we emailed and then went to the mission home to meet Elder Royce. After meeting Elder Royce, we had a presentation about Korean Culture from a
man named Mark Peterson, who used to be the president of the Busan mission a few years back. Then we came back to Haeundae and ate at the house and then went outside and talked to people and had a great time!

On Tuesday, we studied in the morning and then we went outside and went to our service project. Then after that we came to our house and ate lunch. Then we went otuside and talked to some people for a bit, and met with a recent convert from another area and had dinner with him. Afterwards, we went to a funeral for one of our members' father and it was a very touching experience, especially to be invited to such an event..

Wednesday, we went outside and talked to some people and then had to go to the mission home for a meeting. Elder Scott Whiting came to the mission home for our mission tour, so we had a meeting with all the leaders in the Busan mission about how might we able to help the mission out and what we need to do so better help others. Then we went out to eat and came back to Haeundae for the last part of the day and talked to a whole bunch of other people.

Thursday was pretty cold, but we went outside and talked to some other people and then we went and did choir practice because we were scheduled to sing at the mission tour on Friday.  So, we did that, and went outside and shared the gospel with others.  After that, we had our area meeting and
then had a meeting with our ward mission leader and had our missionary coordination meeting! It was fantastic!!

On Friday, we had our mission tour and that lasted from about 8 in the morning to about 5 in the afternoon! It was great and we were able to learn so many new thing and be able to receive much revelation and learn more about Jesus Christ! It was absolutely amazing! Then after it, we came back to Haeundae and prepared for a meeting on Sunday with the Stake Presidency, so we prepared a lot of documents for the rest of the night.

Saturday was a packed day as well. So we studied in the morning and then came to the church and finished the documents. Then we went outside and talked to people. Afterwards, we met with Brother Jang Daeyoon and then we went outside and talked to more people, and had dinner and that was our Saturday.


On Sunday, we went to church and as soon as church got down, we had to go to our meeting and so we went and talked to the stake presidency.  After that, we came back to Haeundae and ate dinner. After dinner we went outside and did some sticker boarding with the sisters and that was our week!

It is wonderful being here and I love it getting close to Christmas! I know that everyone is blasting Christmas music and I miss it, but serving the mission is such a great way to remember Christ and his birth!

Love you guys and miss you!

Love Always,

Elder Joshua Wilson

At Our House

Get Ready for the Day!

Our Investigator

Our Newest Member!!

Week 63: Going 3 transfers in Haeundae

So this week was a very eventful week. We learned that my companion, Elder Song is getting transferred to another area meaning that I am staying in Haeundae for the next 6 weeks at least and I get to spend Christmas here.  I will be getting an American companion named Elder Royce, and I will be meeting him later today!!  It is amazing to think that I am already in my 10th transfer as a missionary.. As a foreign missionary, we only have a total of 16 transfers, so the concept of time is really getting to me right now!  I love being here in Haeundae. It has started getting pretty cold lately. Every day seems to be around 37 degrees and chilly though it is nice so we can go outside and talk to other people.

Well to start off this week's message, I want to share a message about Christmas and give you guys a link to view. https://www.mormon.org/christmas/light-the-world . Have you every thought about why we light our houses for Christmas, or light the tree for Christmas?  As I have been able to spend at least 1 Christmas in Korea as a missionary and I get to spend another one this year, I have really been thinking about Thanksgiving due to last week and Christmas based on the upcoming season. When I thought about lighting our houses, I thought of that Christ came into our lives to be our light and that he really is the light of the world. So, to represent him we hang up lights and celebrate his birth.  I love Christmas time because I feel like this is where the entire world comes together and gives their true 100% to celebrate something that is special to them. The only reason why there is a Christmas, is because of Christ's birth and as he lights up our life, let us yield his prompting and really become "the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14)

So this last week on Monday, we were planning on going to a Buddhist temple, but it looked cloudy so we went to the biggest department store in the world and went eye shopping.  After that, we emailed and went outside, talked to people and then went out for dinner with some members!

On Tuesday, we went to a service project, went outside and talked to people, and then I went to the mission home on exchanges. I was with the Assistants to the President; we were able to talk to some great people while Elder Song was in Haeundae.

On Wednesday, I was on Exchanges with Elder Haskell in Haeundae and we had a great time being outside and then went to English class.  At the end of the day, we were able to meet some great people!

On Thursday, just like last year.. I was in Yeongdo for Thanksgiving on Exchanges.  So, I got to go to the same house and the same church that I ate at a year ago for thanksgiving. On That day, we were able to go outside and talk to others and had a few appointments.  At one of the lessons, the person didn't come to meet us to discuss but to really speak his mind... It was great :) 

Then at the end of the day we went outside some more and talked to others.

On Friday,  I came back to Haeundae and cleaned our house. Then we went outside for the rest of the day and talked with others. Also that night, we had our thanksgiving feast in the Haeundae house.  So I made Chicken Pesto Pasta because we don't have turkey, and we had mashed potatoes, salad, stuffing and pumpkin bread!  Super great!

Then on Saturday, we went and played basketball with some members; that was awesome and we had a great time. Then, we came back to Haeundae and met with Brother Jang Daeyoon, and then we went outside and talked to others. After that, we went home and waited for a transfer call. Exactly at 9 o'clock, we got one and we were told that Elder Song would be going up to Daegu and I would be staying in Haeundae and it was kind of sad to be honest. I love Elder Song a bunch!!

On Sunday, we went to church and then visited Brother Bae. After which, we came back to the church and created plans for missionaries to transfer.  Then we went to our house. While Elder Song packed, I planned for the upcoming week!

I love being here in Haeundae!  It is sad to see Elder Song go, but I will see him soon and it is awesome that we were able to serve together!  I'm super thankful for all things and all that my Savior does for me and that God makes these companionships for reasons!  I love being here!

Love and miss you guys!

Love Always,

Elder Joshua Wilson 

Trying on some clothes at a store

Fun P-Day

Making Fish-shaped Bread 붕어빵 (Bungeoppang)

Our Thanksgiving Feast

Week 62: 1 year mark in Korea

This week has been a very fast and amazing week!  We have been able to meet a lot of people, and Elder Song and I have been able to have a great week together! I love being here in Haeundai and we were able to meet with some great people this week on the street.  It has been kind of rainy this week and a little cloudy, but today it looks beautiful and we have some good plans for today.  This last week was my 1 year mark of being in Korea and I thought that was very
interesting and pretty stunning that I have been in Korea for this long, but it is such a great thing!  I really do love it here so much and love the members and all the people that we are able to meet with!

I really do love it here and as I thought about it I can’t believe
that this week is already Thanksgiving.  In thinking about what I am thankful for, I want to say that I am thankful for my family who always supports me and loves me no matter what, and I am thankful for my Savior’s atoning sacrifice and his abounding love for humankind.
Because of him, all of us can come nearer to Heavenly Father.  I am also thankful for our Loving Heavenly Father and all that He has given us.  I am also thankful for my friends.  Also, the thing that I am most thankful for is the plan that our Heavenly Father has made for all of us ---- the plan of Salvation, also known as the plan of "Happiness."  Because of this plan, I am able to live my family for eternity; I am able to follow Christ’s example; I have my sins cleansed and all my burdens lifted; and I am able to find eternal joy and happiness. In this season of Thanksgiving, please take the time to talk your parents, your friend, and please offer your Heavenly Father thanks for all He has given you. I know that if we do these things, the benefits that will come from this are insurmountable. I love this gospel and I know that only through following the gospel of Jesus Christ and living it, can all of our hopes be attained and that we may have happiness and life forever.

This past Monday, we went to the mission home to have an interview and then came back to Haeundai where we went bowling and it was a super fun time. Then because we only have one computer at the church, we came to the church and emailed and that was our P-day!  Then we went outside and talked to some people because we didn’t have any particular appointments.

On Tuesday, we had our house inspected, had a service project, went outside and talked to some people. Then we had an appointment with Brother Jang Daeyoon; that went really well.  After that, we ate dinner and then went outside again and talked to others about the gospel and the great joy it brings.

This last Wednesday was my 1 year mark in Korea, and that was a shocker; I didn’t notice it until 7 o'clock at night. So, Wednesday, we studied in the morning and then went to visit some people. However, they were either not home or they were fast asleep. So, we went outside and talked to others, and then had a meeting and English class, and then went outside again and talked to some other people.

On Thursday, we were kind of busy actually.  We studied in the morning, had to go interview someone in another area for them to get baptized, and then went to go do a group teaching activity with other missionaries; that turned out well! Afterwards, we went out to eat, and then came home.  On Thursday, we were really able to find some people; they were really ready to hear the gospel.

On Friday, we had to wake up early and go to the mission home for a meeting.  After the meeting, we came home and ate dinner and then for the last parts of the day, we went outside to talk with others.

On Saturday, we studied in the morning and then we planned for the upcoming week!  Then we went to the church and helped out with a young men’s activity.  It was a fun time filled with games and laughing and playing ping pong and just all around, a great time.  Then we met with Brother Jang Dae Yoon, and then went outside to talk with others for the rest of the day.

Sunday was filled with some great times! We were able to go to church and then went to see Elder Bae Yeongcheon, and then we had lunch. After lunch, we went outside and were able to talk with others outside. It was fantastic because while we were outside talking with others, we were able to find a lot of people that want to meet and want to talk to us about the gospel later!

I am thankful for my Savior, and I am thankful for all that he has done for me. I am thankful for Heavenly Father and the plan of Happiness he has provided us. I love you guys and I wish I could spend Thanksgiving with you at home, but the Lord’s work calls and just always know, that I am always home in Spirit no matter what. I love you guys, and my gratitude for you guys is indescribable!! 

Love Always,

Elder Joshua WIlson

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This is Our Week!!

Week 61 Getting a little bit more quality

This week went by in a flash! Time seems to start speeding up or it is just that we actually have things to do that makes it seem like time speeds up, but.. Missionary work is amazing and I love every second being out here! Elder Song and I are doing well and we are having some great times together! The weather is definitely getting a little colder, but when it really hits winter… I’m not excited. Though, no matter what, it is amazing being here.

Today I wanted to share 2 Nephi 25:26 with you! 
It reads: "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."
I really love this verse of scripture. We really do talk about Christ and we rejoice in him and all we do is because of him and we do these things because we are all children of God!

So this week went by so quickly! This last Monday, Elder Song and I went to get my foreigner card renewed in the morning and then went to meet with some missionaries and have lunch! After having lunch together, we went to an art culture village and that was pretty exciting! Then we came back to Haeundai and came to the church where we emailed. Because our Wifi was still down, it took a little bit of time to email, but that is alright! After P-day, we went outside and
talked to others about the gospel and we were able to meet some incredible people on the street!!

On Tuesday, we studied in the morning and then went to our service activity! Our service activity is serving free lunch to the elderly, and it was fantastic.  Because this week was 삼계탕 week (Literally, full chicken broth soup), they had over 900 people show up, and it was a blast being able to talk with others and to serve them and to see their joyous faces. Afterwards, we went to go walking to our next appointment and were able to talk to many people on our way to it.
Then we were able to meet a new investigator named 김도영 (Kim Doyeoung) : he is super great! He likes reading the Book of Mormon and really wants to know if God is really there, and if He loves us. It was awesome! Then afterwards, we got to keep talking to other people outside and it was a great day!

On Wednesday, we studied in the morning and then went outside to meet with our friend, but he apparently slept in so we were unable to meet him!! But either way, we went home and ate lunch and were able to go on exchanges! So we went outside and talked to some people.  Unfortunately not many people wanted to talk to us or even accept our greetings, but it was super great to see a lot of people and the people that wanted to listen and to talk, they were great!! Then we came to the church and met with 장대윤 (Jang Daeyoon) and we were able to talk about the gospel, and it turned out really well. Then we got to have a meeting and had English class!! After English, we went outside and
talked to others and that was my Wednesday!

On Thursday, we finished our exchange in the morning and then went to meet our investigator 김지수(Kim Jisu) who slept in on us on Wednesday.
So we met with him and then ate lunch and then we came to the church and prepared for a pretty big meeting that we were going to have on Sunday. Then we went outside and talked to a whole bunch of people: we were able to find some great people that wanted to discuss and listen and come closer unto their Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

On Friday, we had a meeting in the morning and it was great to be able to see a bunch of missionaries and to run the meeting! Then after that we ate lunch and then I went on another exchange!! Our appointments all fell through, so… we went outside and talked to everyone the entire day and no one wanted to listen until the very last minute, where we were able to meet someone who is so wonderful and we were able to talk to him a bunch and he really wants to meet now too!!


On Saturday, we didn’t have soccer, so we studied in the morning and then changed back to original companionships. After that, we came back and contacted people for a little bit and then went outside.  Then we came back to the church and met with Brother Jang Daeyoon.  After we met him, we went outside some more and were able to have good conversations with others.

On Sunday, we went to church and we had a great time! I got to translate for more foreigners who came this week for church!! Then we were able to go to class and learn. Brother Jang Daeyoon seemed to have liked them.  After church, we had to go to Gupo 구포, to have a large meeting! So we went and we got to talk with our Mission President and the Busan Stake Presidency. After the meeting, we returned to Haeundai and did the sticker board with others so we could talk to others!!

I love you all and I miss you guys so much!! Korea is wonderful and time is flying by so quickly… Isn’t it almost thanksgiving?? I love turkey!!

Love Always,

Elder Joshua Wilson

Bowling Time!!