Blueberry Heaven / 공주 gabby / there go the pants

It was a pretty eventful week. We started off with some service back at the blueberry farm. When we got there they said it was too hot to do the original plan outside, so instead we just went inside and sorted the frozen blueberries into good and bad piles and picked off the little stems. While we were picking them we kept eating a bunch too cause they're actually the most delicious tasting blueberries I've ever had and probably ever will have. We did that for most of the day and then that night some other ward members came to the farm and we had a nice little barbecue. 

Apparently, 김현우, the one with the farm, is famous for his 삼겹살, which is just meat, and it was true. That was also the most delicious meat I've had in korea. It was such a satisfying experience on the farm that I mentioned maybe I should consider doing it myself someday. 김현우 said absolutely not, and it was the worst decision he's ever made haha

Farm work / sorting blueberries 

Last week we got a new student at our friday English free talking group, and she didn't have an English name. But when I saw her I knew. The first thing that came to my mind: gabby. She's probably in her 70's, walks around with a crutch, has a British accent when she speaks English, and is full of attitude. So I named her gabby and she's gone by that ever since lol. And this week at English class, we carpooled with her and another student that picked us both up. The student that picked us up has a tesla, which gabby didn't know how to open, so I opened it for her. And then on the way home, she couldn't open it so she called "Jensen!" with a certain "I can't wait all day" tone behind her words. Everyone in the English class was there as well to see us off, and as I opened the door, I said "공주 gabby" (princess gabby). Everyone in the English class thought it was the funniest thing they'd ever heard. I don't have any pictures of gabby yet but I'm planning to take some next week

I'm sure you've all been wondering about the last section of this email title. Well, it all started on our hike with Mr Jin. Mr Jin is an older guy, and we decided to go hike seorak mountain with him. We just did one of the little hiking trails that leads to a little waterfall. Once we got to the destination, he led us away from the trail a bit to a cool area with some big rocks you could sit on and it was right next to a bunch of little pockets of water. We all got our snacks out to eat and I thought "this will be a perfect spot to teach our lesson!" We planned to share a little scripture with him and then invite him to church. But before the lesson he took off his hat. And then his shirt. And then his undershirt. And finally his pants. After that, 100% naked Mr Jin took a nice dip in the water. We sat there still wondering what just happened. There was also a bridge in plain sight not even that far away with people on it. So if anyone decided to look our way they would have gotten the same view of Mr Jin that we got. Anyway, after that he came back and put on his underwear, and we taught him what we had planned. So at least he was wearing underwear for that. Then we all layed down on the rock looking up at the sky and admiring nature. And then he said "jensen?" And I responded "yeah?" And he said "tell me another scripture". (keep in mind we're all still laying down looking up at the sky). I quoted 3 nephi 5:13, cause that's the only scripture I have memorized in korean. Mr Jin let out a sigh of content after I finished. Also while we were hiking back he asked us what latter day saints means, so we ended up teaching the entire first lesson, so that was good too.

Random flower patch we found 

Spiritual Thought:

 

1 Nephi 1:3 And I know that the record which I make is true; and I make it with mine own hand; and I make it according to my knowledge.

I recently restarted the Book of Mormon, and something I noticed in the 3rd verse is that nephi is already, before even beginning to write the history, emphasizing the truthfulness of the book. I'm planning to see this time I read it, how many times it said that the book is true within the book. Because I think it says it quite a bit. I know the book of mormon is true and it can change our lives! 

젠슨 장로

초복

The heat of the summer is officially here! At least that's what I've been hearing, I feel like it's not even that bad

Highlights:

One highlight was we had 6 people come to our English class! It was the most we've had so we were pretty excited haha

Another highlight was we were able to meet someone named sabin from Nepal and play ping pong and teach him about God. He has a lot of religious background and has explored a lot of religions. It was actually kind of a miracle how we met him. We were on a bus to a neighboring city that's about an hour away, and he was on the bus, we saw him and stuff but didn't really talk the first time. But later that day, we were on the way back home, which is not super common to just go back and forth like that from cities in that short of time, but he was on the exact same bus! So we talked and got his number and were able to meet this week. He's super cool but also really busy, so hopefully we'll be able to meet him again (I forgot to take a picture together)

Another highlight was we got to eat 쌀국수. Wow this stuff is amazing. And sokcho has one of the best 쌀국수 restaurants I've EVER had (it's the only one I've ever been to)

Spiritual Thought: Earlier i remembered the general conference talk about stillness~~ 

"I pray the Holy Ghost will enlighten each of us as we consider a higher and holier dimension of stillness in our lives—an inner spiritual stillness of the soul that enables us to know and remember that God is our Heavenly Father, we are His children, and Jesus Christ is our Savior. This remarkable blessing is available to all Church members who are striving faithfully to become “covenant people of the Lord.”"

I like this invitation from David A Bednar to find stillness. I think without moments to be still, it can be very difficult to feel the spirit. But when we take a moment to listen to what the spirit is trying to teach us, it can become easier to notice 

젠슨 장로

할아버지 through and through

As you probably know by know I've been serving in the country side of Korea. It's been over 5 months since I came out here, and there's pretty much only old people here. And I think I'm becoming one or them. All the grandpas out here wear these vests over their shirts, with like a bunch of pockets and stuff like that. And I decided to buy one. It was the best decision I've ever made. Now as I go proselyting, I can have my name cards in one pocket, wallet in another, and anything else I need in the other pockets. I've never felt more proud to be one of the Sokcho grandpas.

I spoke in church again this week. It was the third week in a row haha. I hope the ward doesn't become too dependent cause I won't be here for long. Someone was sick and couldn't come though so they asked me. I hadn't prepared anything, so I just shared a testimony and then sang "Come Lord Jesus" and they loved it haha 

Pictures: 

Spiritual Thought: 

"To Love Like Thee" 

1. Father, I pray that I might be The answer to someone’s prayer today. Help me, dear Lord, to love like Thee;  Grant me charity, I pray. 

 2. None is so small, no soul so lost  That I should withhold my charity.  When I have served the least of these, I have done it unto Thee.

 3. Bless me, O Lord, to truly see  In each soul I meet Thy child divine. And let the image of Thy Son In my countenance so shine.

 4. Lord, I am filled with gratitude  For blessings unmeasured, grace so deep.  Help me to freely share Thy love; Help me, Lord, to feed Thy sheep.

I listened to this song this week and really loved it. God loves us, and he wants us to help gather his sheep. So when you have time, listen to this song and think about the lyrics, and pray to know how you can help someone come unto Christ! 

젠슨 장로

Keep Us Strong With Unwavering Heart

 The title of this email comes from a little poem that one of our teaching friends wrote for me...

Actually idk if it's supposed to be a poem but it was very thoughtful for Mr Jin to send it. This is Mr Jin. It was our third time meeting him including the first time on the street, and we taught him a little bit about God and being children of God. Turns out he had some Bible knowledge and so we had a good talk and invited him to church. He said he'll come if he has time.

This is 이지완. This was our third time meeting with him as well, none of them being planned meetings lol. We've asked for his phone number 3 times and he's given us a number that's not his phone number every single time haha 

MTC Trio Reunion 

English class 

One good experience I had this week was we got to meet with 김성완 to teach English and Gospel. He's been coming to our ping pong club for a while and finally decided to start meeting outside of that. So we went to his house and taught him about the restoration and sang for him. He said we liked it and even listens to the tabernacle choir at temple Square sometimes because it makes him happy! I really hope we can continue to meet with him. I don't have a picture but if you check the photo album he's the one who helps us with our ping pong form. 

Spiritual Thought: another experience I had this week happened when we were about to get on a bus to travel to a different city. There were some people from another church proselyting outside the bus station and they gave me a flyer. After we got on the bus I read the flyer and it said "join us in prayer and worship and become a child of God. Those who chose not to worship will suffer eternal damnation in hell." 

After reading that I starting wondering what the requirement is for being a child of God and I thought of Patrick Kearons talk at this last General conference: "You may be wondering, “What do I have to do to receive this gift from God?” Well, actually, nothing. It is a gift from the Giver. It is simply a fact. Just let it in. You are His child. You are beloved of Him." The idea that we are children of God is nothing more than a fact. It doesn't need to be earned, and it can't be taken away. Even when we mess up, we are still children of God, and He loves all of us.

젠슨 장로 

More pictures: