Week 76: Working with the ward

So we are planning a lot of things to happen in the Geumjeong ward, and are trying to figure out a lot of the details. 

Today, I don't have a ton of time, but I would like to tell you that I love being here in this area and doing the Lord's work! I love being able to serve the Korean people and getting to meet people and come closer to my Savior, as I do missionary work. This week was kind of long, but quick at the same time and a little bit of adjustment time, but I've got everything worked out and things look like they will be good!

This week I was able to learn a lot from the Apostle, Jeffrey R. Holland, coming to Korea and speaking to the Koreans. It was fantastic learning from him and about one of my favorite stories in the Book of Acts. To be specific Acts 3 and 4, where it talks about how the work of God and of Jesus Christ will always progress. That you cannot deny the evidence that is presented when it is 100% true. I know that this gospel is true and that the Book of Mormon is the word of God!

On Monday, we cleaned up the house and then sent Elder Stein and Elder Kim's companion to the mission home. We went and took pictures with people there and then came back to Geumjeong with Elder Kim and waited for our companions. We also went bowling and then I got to meet my new companion Elder Jang. So then after that we went outside and then talked to a ton of people.

Tuesday, we went outside and shared the gospel and then came back to do studies and then went back outside and talked to people about the gospel. Then I made dinner (actually I make about every meal) and then
we went outside one more time and then talked to people and were able to find really great people!

Wednesday, we went outside like usual and then we got to talk to other people. It was a really great day even though it rained the entire day... So our clothes and shoes and socks got wet, but that means that we were outside working and talking to others!

On Thursday, we went outside for a little bit and then went to the church and got some office work down. Then after that we went to Busan National University and did a sticker board activity to talk to people about the gospel. Then we came home and ate dinner and then went to our English class. After English class, we talked to one of our investigators named Daut and gave him a baptismal date!

On Friday, we went outside and had a few appointments and talked to a couple people and then we talked to people on the street and then ate dinner. Afterwards, we went to the church and then watched a broadcast with Elder Holland.  Daut came and we were able to have some great spiritual moment, and a lot of us were able to progress.

On Saturday, we went and talked to other people and then we were able to have our district meeting. After district meeting, we went home and ate lunch and then went outside and talked to a few people and then we had English class and then we had another broadcast that we watched.

On Sunday, we went to church and translated for a bunch of people. Then we had a bunch of meetings after church which was fun. Then we went outside and talked to others about the gospel and then we ate dinner.  For the rest of the day, we talked to people about the gospel, and the joy that it brings.

I love this gospel with all my heart and there is certainly no time to waste! It is great being out here and although it is busy, I really do love my Savior!

Love Always,

Elder Joshua Wilson

Week 75: Got a call for Transfers... Elder Stein got sent where??

So this week was a great week! We got a lot done and Elder Stein and I were able to have a lot of fun doing so. It was great that we were able to do all the things we needed to do and more and meet with great people. Our investigator 정민화 (Minhwa jeong) is getting closer to being baptized every day and we just need him to understand a few more things and come closer unto Christ. It will definitely be good for sure! We got a call Saturday night, not expecting a transfer call
because trainees and trainers usually stay together for 2 transfers, and we got one saying that Elder Stein would be going to the middle of no where. (울진, beautiful place, the church has 2 members there)! So that was really unexpected, but we were really busy this week and had
a good time together. I got a new companion and his name is Elder 장경진!  So it will be a good time for sure!!

This week I have really been able to focus on the atonement of Jesus Christ. Through the atonement, I know that anyone can change. Everyone can change and everyone can come closer unto God! It is a great privilege that we have to partake of these thing.

This last week on Monday we went to the beach in the morning again. So instead of going to Gwangan beach, we went to Haeundai beach and hung out and ate food and went on a hike and took pictures and explored! It was great!! Then came back and shopped and emailed and then came home
and then went and got our hair cut! It was a great p-day. Then for the rest of the day, we went outside and talked to a bunch of people and that was our day!

On Tuesday, we went on exchanges with the other team in Geumjeong and I went with an Elder named Elder Hubble! Elder Hubble is awesome and comes from Texas and it was super fun to talk with him and learn from him and be able to connect. We were able to talk a bunch for sure and get to meet good people! So we went outside and talked with others and then we had to go to a meeting with other missionaries later in the night, where we switched up more companionship's and went to share the gospel with others in a really small area!


On Wednesday, we went outside in the morning and talked to others and then came home and studied for a bit and then we went to a meeting at the mission home for trainers and trainees. After which, we came back to Geumjeong and then took off to a member appointment. They live 1 hour and 30 minutes away from the church by bus, but it was well worth
going out and meeting with them!


On Thursday, we went outside and talked to as many people that we could and then came back inside and did deep cleaning. After deep cleaning, we went outside and talked to others and then went to the church and taught English class! Then after English class, we were able to meet with a few people and teach about the gospel.


On Friday, we went outside and talked to other people and it was a really good and productive day. I loved it so much and we were able to help many people come closer unto Christ! We also had a dinner appointment with another member and then we met some great people out where we were at, and then to end the day, we met with our investigators.


On Saturday, Elder Stein wasn't feeling well, so after we studied, I went outside with Elder Kim and talked to others and then got some things that we needed to do done. Then we went to English class and did english and then cleaned the church and Elder Kim and I got some office work done as our companions were outside and talking to people and then we ran home. Elder Hubble got a call and he was going
elsewhere and right after, we got a call. It was for Elder Stein and he got transferred after one transfer.. So it was a bunch of mixed emotions...


On Sunday, we went to church and taught a bunch of people and we had a good day taking pictures with others. It was super good being able to talk to members and help others come closer unto Christ. We also had dinner together and everything was great for sure!

I love it here in Geumjeong and we will figure out the details later!

Love Always,

Elder Joshua Wilson

Week 74: A lot of Proselyting!

So this week, we didn't have as many meetings with investigators as we wanted to, but it was a great week and we had the opportunity to go outside and talk to a lot of other people! It is great being out here and I love being able to share the gospel with others! There is no better feeling in the world than to be able to share something that has changed your life with others and having others accept it. Even if
they reject it, it feels great that we are able to give them the
opportunity of accepting! I love it here and it is great for sure.

This week I was reading through a book called "Our Search for Happiness" and I thought about what is really the meaning of our search for happiness. Why do people yearn or crave happiness and for what reasons do they want it for? Also, what is the meaning of life too? As I thought about these things and read this book and the Book of Mormon, my testimony was strengthened yet again that our search for
happiness is natural. Everyone wants to be happy because our loving Heavenly Father set us up to be happy, and not to fail. That the meaning of life is to find true happiness within the home and to prepare at this time to meet God, so we can have all the blessings He has promised in this life. We must not procrastinate, but rather seek His abundant love and His true way of happiness for us. This is why I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is because if we act by its principles, then are we enabled to receive all of Heavenly Father's promised blessings.

This last week on Monday, we went to an area called Gwangan and went to the beach and played beach volleyball and soccer for a little bit and then we went to Costco to go buy some great food! It was heavenly for sure! So we went to Costco and then came to the mission home to email and then went shopping and then came home. Then we went outside and talked to other people for the rest of the night!

On Tuesday, we went outside in the morning, talked to people, came inside, studied and then we went to our new service activity. The activity is that we go to a nursing home
and get to talk to the elderly for an hour. They are about 75 to
95 and it was so fun to talk to them. They are extremely cute though!
Then we came home, studied, went outside again and talked to some people on the street! After talking to some people, we went out to eat with Noel, who is a recent convert.  Then we were outside for the rest of the day and taught the gospel to others.

On Wednesday, we went outside and talked to some people. Then we went to a missionary training meeting, came home and ate, studied and then went outside again and were able to talk to many people despite it being cold outside.

On Thursday, we planned in the morning, and then helped a family tear down a bunch of furniture in their house and then throw it away! It was great!! 
Then we came home,studied, went outside again and got to share more about the gospel with people on the streets.
Then we met with our investigator who is planning on getting baptized (his named is Minhwa Jeong) and then we ate dinner with him and taught him with the bishop.  After that, we had English class and then for the rest of the day we went outside!

On Friday, we went outside in the morning and then came back in and studied and planned out for our next week.  Then we went outside again and tried to talk to a bunch of people, but there was no one outside at all. So we tried to find people by doing a whole bunch of things, but unfortunately, it didn't turn out as we hoped. But it was great that we could do our best!!

Saturday was going outside and then studying and then going outside again to talk to others and then coming to the church and doing English class and then having our investigator meet with us! Then going home, eating and then finishing up our day by going outside and talking to people.

On Sunday, we studied and then went to church. After church we had several meetings. After the meetings we went outside for the rest of the day and were able to find some great people who wanted to meet and who want to hear about the gospel of Jesus Christ! It was wonderful!!

It is such a blast being here and I love being able to live in Korea and be blessed by the Korean People!

Love Always,

Elder Joshua Wilson

Week 73: Baptismal dates! Winner!

This week was a really good week and I was able to learn a
lot about being a missionary and get to go back to the basics. We were able to meet with many people and we have an investigator who is looking to get baptized! It is great being here in Korea and I love being able to serve in Geumjeong!

Today, I want to share a message about family history. 
I have gotten the opportunity lately to talk to people about family history and how great it is! I love family history and I get to talk about many of my ancestors! The best part about being in the church is being able to really learn about your ancestors and help them come closer unto Christ as well. Families really are the center point of our lives and why would we not want to live with our families forever! All of this
is possible because of Jesus Christ and his loving atonement!

So on Monday, we went out in the morning and emailed, went and shopped for a little bit! Then we went bowling and had a good time. Then we went and shopped for groceries and finished. After that, we went home and took a nap, then went outside and talked to people for the rest of the night.

On Tuesday, we went outside and tried to talk to people, studied, and then we went outside again and went to go meet with some investigators! 
So we met with some investigators and everything turned
out really well.  Then went home and ate dinner and then we went outside and talked to more people.

On Wednesday, we went outside and got to talk to some great people and then studied. After that, we tried to meet with some people, but all of our appointments fell through, so we sticker boarded for a little bit, and then ate dinner and walked home, which took the rest of the day.

On Thursday, we were planning on meeting some people, but they were all kind of late, and then we planned for the rest of the week and then went outside and then went to English class and had a blast during the class.

On Friday, we had a mission tour and that was really good though it was a really long meeting. After that we went home and ate and then went outside and talked to different people.

On Saturday, we had multiple lessons: we were really busy but were able to meet with a few investigators and then we had some study time at the end of the day. We went outside at the end of the day and got to share the gospel with other people.

On Sunday, we went to church and I translated. Then we had a meeting. After the meeting, we went home and studied, and ate food and then went outside again at the end of the day and shared the gospel with other people. It was a wonderful week to meet with people and to have people say yes to being baptized! We will see how everything turns out!

I love you all and thank you for everything!

Love Always,

Elder Joshua WIlson

Today at the 부

Week 72 Lunar New Years! 새해 복 많이 받으세요!

This week was the lunar new year in Korea and it was a blast! As soon as it hits Friday, it is like all of Korea shuts down and it becomes a ghost town! It is great to see that there are many people spending time with their families! This week wasn't very cold, although it rained yesterday. But all in all this week has been super great and our schedule for missionaries has officially changed and so we are going through the change process right now!

One thing that has been on my mind this week has been how blessed we are as human beings. That God loves us so much that he sent his only Begotten son and he would do anything for us! I love being able to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others because it helps them see the light which can change their lives. The only way, however is reading the scriptures and partaking of the fullness of the gospel which is written in the Book of Mormon!

This last week, on Monday, we emailed for a little bit and then we went to get my address changed on my foreigner card. Then after that, we went and met a couple investigators and were able to teach them! Then we went shopping and for the rest of the P-day, we took a nap and rested. Then we went outside during the night time and tried talking to others about the gospel!

ON Tuesday, we studied in the morning and then went outside and then met with some investigators! Then afterwards we met with a recent convert and went out to spend time with him and then came home and ate. After that, we went outside and talked to people on the street and that was our day!

On Wednesday, we studied in the morning and then went to get interviewed by the mission president and then we had to do stuff and the mission home and afterwards we went outside and talked to some people and that was our day!


On Thursday, we went outside and then all of our appointments cancelled, so we went outside and talked to a whole bunch of other people and then had our English class to top the day off.


On Friday, it seemed as though everyone in all of Korea was scurrying back to their home town, so we went outside and talked to other people and then visited some members and then we kept being outside and tried visiting even more members!


On Saturday, we had a broadcast for missionaries regarding schedule changes, so we watched that, and then we went to our bishops house and had a meal and then went outside and talked to some people that were out and then we went to another members house for a meal and ate there
and then we walked outside and then went to another members house for another meal! Lunar New Years is huge here and it was great!

On Sunday, we came to church and because there weren't a lot of people at church, they ended early. I wasn't feeling very good that day, so I slept for a little bit and then went outside and tried to talk to people and then came back home!

It was such a great week and I love being here in Korea! It is
wonderful for sure!!

Love Always,

Elder Joshua Wilson

A bit too busy to organize the apartment yet.....

Scrub Scrub -- Always being ready for baptism!

Do you like the contrast on the facial expressions?