This week has been good. We are going to the temple, so today isn't
P-day.
But it does mean we get P-day on thanksgiving. Some members in the
English branch, including the mission president's brother, are feeding our zone
thanksgiving dinner. Then we are going to try to get as many people who can to
come do a turkey bowl. So that will be fun. Our basketball program is getting
more and more people. There is an awesome German guy named Paul in the English
branch who is going to school in Korean and he invited 2 of his friends. One,
Thad is awesome and has come pretty much every week. Even when Paul couldn't
come. Then this inactive in our ward invites a bunch of girls who go to a
basketball club thing to come. So we had like 16 people last time. Then the
Philippianos play basketball on Saturdays so we are getting a lot of people to
the church, and enjoying being with us, we just need to convert some of those
into investigators. We also do soccer once a week. People like it when
American's can play soccer well. Just scoring a few goals really helps people
like you.
I have been thinking/ponderizing
about the scripture (I forgot the reference) that says because of the
exceedingly great length of the war, many were hardened... and many were
softened to humility. Anyway, I love that. I think the promise of the gospel is
not that our lives will be made easier, or that our wars (whatever they be)
will be made shorter, or problems taken away, but that through anything we will
have the ability to choose one of those two things. So that is something I am
trying to and want to do better. See everything as an opportunity to be
softened and be humbled. And then suddenly life becomes a lot more meaningful!
This week was also good. My
highlights: One, we met with No Da Bean. He took us to a coffee shop and bought
us some drinks. He bought a green tea Latte for himself. . . It was funny. But
as we talked a little about the baptismal questions and he talked about
stopping drinking and smoking and stuff, I figured the green tea latte was not
a big deal... or his earrings. :) But he really is pretty awesome. In Korean
the boss with often take his workers out drinking and it is rude to say no. So it’s
awkward for members in the work place or those in military who are kind of
socially forced to drink. I heard, I
don't know the actual stats, that Russians drink twice as much as Americans and
that Koreans drink twice as much as Russians. So that is sad. Especially
because it is so institutionalized. But anyway, he is obviously nervous about
staying clean but is honestly trying. Other than that, no great investigator
moments this week.
We had a solid streak of like 5
or 6 meals that people fed us. So that was awesome. Though one was a pretty
spicy soup full of clams, so you have to remove all the shells into this little
bins they give you. So that wasn't my favorite, but actually wasn't too bad. It
was so spicy you can't really taste to seafood much! Seriously it was actually pretty good, just a
bit spicy. So that was another highlight.
Also the English Branch had
their primary program which is always a highlight. Then in the Korean ward I
gave my first Korean talk. It was only 5 minutes and pretty basic, and probably
slow, but still I did it. After at the meal we have with the ward once a month
one of the sisters came up to me and said I did well but corrected my
pronunciation on one word (like one of the main words I used) Then she asked
how long I had been in Korea. I said two months. And she said no, like I
misunderstood, then slowed down her speech and asked again how long I had been
in Korea. I said yeah 2 months. And she was super surprised at my Korean. Which
feels good! Though everybody says you are really good at Korean even if you
only say hello, or understand something they said. I do feel like I am getting
better. I am understanding more and more. Still not most, but church and simple
conversations are become easier. I had an entire conversation with a guy all by
myself while my companion was on the phone. I understood what he said and he
understood me! It was weird to be talking to somebody by myself for a while.
Often at church I get a bit of a head ache. But that is okay! So yeah that is
my update on the language.
I love you all.
--
Elder Sabey
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