The Heater Works again!

February 17, 2013
Heya family, friends, and other members of my own personal fan club!

This last week has been really good.  Our heater works.  Again.  Like it should be doing.  The consequence:  I've been sleeping a full 8 hours every night (a vast improvement from the 2 solid hours and 6 really perturbed sleep.  Just saying).  And, I'm way less tired and able to focus more in lessons (shocker, I know).  It's been nice.

Mom and dad... BTW, thanks for the updates and everything.  I feel significantly better about the 핵실험 going on up north.  It's true, however it plays out, it plays out.  The only thing I can do is just roll with whatever Heavenly Father sees fit and take the opportunity to learn and grow from it.  And that's one of the great things I've learned from serving thus far.  Just learn and grow from your circumstances, regardless of how difficult or impossible they may seem.  It's been nice just buckling up and learning how to learn.  I think UO v 2.0 will be much more productive than round 1.  PS, I know it's a little early to be thinking about it, but I really do want to do a double major.  Linguistics has crossed my mind, and so has computer science (but this idea will be explored more in-depth in about a year and a few months). 

Apart from the heater, I redesigned how I do studies.  And I think it's for the best (how can it not be.  It's the inspiration that came at church - which ironically had nothing to do with the talks or topics at church).  Basically, the thought came into my mind about how to make my studies last the entire day and not just for the two-and-a-half hours in the morning.  I've already got a system for language study (which, is being modified... language study v X.0 will be a vast improvement on v (X-1).0 - Elder Harvery, don't be afraid to modify and change up how you study every so often.  Chapter 7 in PMG is a gold mine for this), but I want a system that will help me think about what I studied in the morning.

Let me clarify real fast:

Studying roots in Korean has really helped me think about vocab and Korean throughout the day.  It's helped me pay more attention to what people are saying and to make connections to other words.  The key is to review, connect, take notes, and ask questions.  And it happens after logging in a good effort to have enough to do so.  I want to apply the same principles to my personal gospel study... throughout the day, I want to review what I studied, connect it to other things I've studied, to take notes as I make connections, and to be able to have a deep and abiding curiosity to ask questions that will help me learn or to solidify understanding.

What I've come up with... utilize the scripture bag for all it's worth and to bring along a travel size notebook for impressions and notes throughout the day.  During the course of the day, I want to review my notes, and ultimately, be able to present and organize my thoughts in a study journal.  Yeah, I realize it may not be the most in-depth plan, but, it takes time to develop.

That's another really important thing I've learned: to not be afraid to experiment.  Very rarely have I come up with a plan that was perfect at first.  It takes time, evaluation, and revision to develop a system that works for studying.  I'm starting to like having a scratch pad on hand to put all my thoughts down and organize them a little later.  In a few months, things may change.  I'll see how I like what I'm doing, figure out what I want to change, and then to change it.  And then after a little bit, evaluate, revise, and change again.  It's exciting.  I'm super stoked to see how it develops.  I'm hoping by doing this and focusing my thoughts, I'll be able to consecrate myself just a little more to missionary work.

I love every minute in South Korea.  It's a blast.  The people are super nice, the food is good, and the work is hard (I wouldn't have it any other way.  I like nice people, good food, and a challenge.  That's my idea of a good Friday night).  Yeah, there are some days where I'm super discouraged (some people aren't nearly as pleasant, and rather than say it, they show it by shunning you hard.  I had a man turn his head away from me - a full 180 degrees from my face - as he walked by me.  It seemed super uncomfortable to walk that way.  His choice, though), but then there are some days when you investigator just gets it and you can see it in their countenance.

I love you all, and I love hearing from you.  Mom, I will try to be more diligent in my picture taking.  It's something I would like to do for myself (is it bad that I have some selfish desire to do that?  I don't think so... but if it is, I'll change).  And I'd love to get the SD card in the birthday package.  I'm working on the 32 gig right now, so whenever won't be too late.  Glad to hear you got the letters though.  I hope you enjoyed them as much as I did.  And the terribly out-of-date info on them. Makes me appreciate email so much more.

Elder Wedam

Clean, Cold, Concerned, Comforted and Consecrated

When the sun went down and the moon came up on Sunday evening with no e-mail from Elder Wedam, the monster inside me began to stir. Turns out Lunar New Year celebrations delayed the letter by just one day. So breathe easy, Folks, and enjoy his letter!  Meanwhile, I'll gather a little more cold weather gear and other surprises for Elliott's birthday package. Have a Happy Valentine's Day! M

2/11/2013
Hey family, friends, and other people who may be finding these Korean Chronicles a worthy read,

I apologize, I should have mentioned that my P-Day was moved this week in honor of 선랄 (my spelling may be off due to an unfortunate sound-change with the pronunciation... in any event...), or Lunar New Year.  It's the equivalent to the Korean's Christmas.  Naturally, EVERYTHING shut down.  And the streets were fairly empty... President had us (meaning the entire mission) do some deep cleaning over the weekend.  I'm pretty sure that the Korean chemicals used for cleaning may pack a stronger punch than their American counterparts.... my skin is super dried out and stuff.  But it was TOTALLY WORTH IT.  Our apartment has the "Recently Cleaned" apartment smell.  It's like new car smell, but way more worthwhile.  Why?  Because I didn't have to drop 36+ grand to get it... I only had to log 14 hours of hard work.  But yeah, it took a lot out of me.  I have never been so tired after a cleaning spell in my life (it may also have to do with the fact that our heater goes out on a regular basis... our record cold was 12 degrees Celsius.  That made for a long night of little sleep.  Never fear, we've got a system figured out.  The long underwear you sent at Christmas may be saving my life right now).  But I digress, other things to talk about ^^

So, we've heard rumors in the mission field about some things brewing in the country up north (relative to my position), and I've heard 핵실험 muttered a couple of times (Erm, nuclear testing... btw, the only reason I know this is because it shares a root with another word that means center, as in the nucleus or kernel...).  Just to put some uneasiness at ease, could somebody give me a happier spin than "war"?  I'd settle for "things will be all right," or even "don't worry, you'll probably stay in South Korea for the next year and a half."  I'm really just curious for some details.  But if worse comes to worse, Mason and I may wind up serving in Anahiem (terrible joke).  Anywho... that was the last tangent.  Okay, lie.  This is.  Mom, please email me Mason's (Elder Harvey's) emails.  I enjoyed reading them a lot.  Super cool that he met Elder Cook of the quorum of the twelve.  I must say, I'm slightly jealous.  BECAUSE THAT'S SO COOL!!!  And, Aunt Christine, if you would like to, and he would like it, please, please, please forward him my emails (or snail mail.  Whichever he prefers)

Terry and Whitney, the couch looks great, and the callings in Teacher's quorum and relief society sound absolutely awesome (I wanted to type this sentence in Courier...)!  And I'm super glad to hear that Grandpa's A-OKAY.  And that Elder Harvey's leg is doing better - that's a pretty hefty stress lifted.  Super stoked and super happy to hear all that.  PS, mom and dad, while you still try some Asian cuisine, I would recommend some Kimchi Jjiggae (김치찌깨... the spelling may be slightly off.  I still can't hear the double consonants super well yet).  It's super good when done right.  You may have to try it up in Eugene (with Aunt Jerri and Peg, maybe Cafe Seoul or Noodle Bowl or Korea House).  Maybe March 8th?  Hahahahaha, I kill me.

Switching gears, small talk, over.  This last week was super cool.  One of our investigators, 남송현 (the one with a Buddhist background), is so awesome!  He literally has no Christian background, but he understands more and more about Christianity whenever we meet him.  I was on a split with Elder Schofield (he came to my area), and we taught perhaps the single best lesson I ever have been in.  We were teaching the plan of salvation, specifically, Life's Purpose (PMG fanatics will recognize this as agency, our life on our Earth, and the Atonement).  After sharing a few scriptures and expounding a little (Moses 1:39 - God's work and His Glory is bringing to pass our immortality and eternal life; Alma 34:32 - This life is a time to prepare to meet God; 2nd Nephi 2:25 - God wants us to be happy; 2nd Nephi 2:27 - Agency; Mosiah 14:1-6 - The Atonement of Jesus Christ was for us), and clarifying some points (namely, words and pronouns that were really unfamiliar to him), he asked perhaps the single most profound question ever... "This is why it's important to believe in God, isn't it?"

The answer to that question is absolutely yes.  The Plan of Salvation does explain why it's important to believe in God.  He wants us to return to Him, and He wants us to live with Him again.  He's provided a way through His Son, Jesus Christ, and by believing in God and having faith in Jesus Christ, we start our journey back to our heavenly home.

But more important than the question he asked was what it means for him personally.  He's starting to see that the message of the restored gospel is relevant to him; that we aren't just people from our church trying to bring somebody into our congregation, but that we're inviting him to take the steps necessary to return to live with God and enjoy eternal life.  That moment of "Ah-ha" made the ENTIRE week worth it.  It goes to show that even missionaries who don't have the best handle on the language (I've said that "Yeah, I'm tasty" a couple of times instead of "Yeah, I'm cool" a few times... there's danger in going off of context alone.  But hey, progress is progress is progress) can still do something.  It's like in Alma 37:5-6 (I think, thereabouts at least).... by small and simple things, great things come to pass.  It's true.  I acknowledge that in the grand scheme of things, In the grand scheme of things, I really am small and simple.  I'm young, not super competent in speaking (a foreign language.... or English for that matter.  I joke that I speak 3/4 of a language when you add up how much Korean and English I can speak), and I have trouble understanding some of the most basic of sentences (see the "I'm tasty" insert...).  But all that aside, I've got desire and trust that God will grant unto me what He sees fit that I have, as long as I do what I can to learn.  I'm beginning to understand that I won't be able to do this without His help... learn a language, teach, and be a consecrated missionary.  I'm working hard to change my attitude about a lot of things.  Yes, I'm not perfect.  But I'm learning a lot as I go.  Yes, there are some days that I could do more, but I recognize that I'm doing my best with what I've been given and understand a few things that I can change to improve.  This becoming a consecrated missionary, consecrated servant, is a process.  It won't happen overnight.  I've learned so much already, and I've much still to learn.  It's not overwhelming, but rather exciting.  I'm excited and thrilled that I have so much I need to improve on!

I love you all so much!  Take care, and please, stay safe and healthy.

Best of weeks,

Elder Elliott Wedam

Week 3, Transfer 3, Heartbreaks and Pick-Me-Ups

 Here are a few photos for you to enjoy.  I will post a few more next week. M.  

August 7, 2012 visiting a few sites with family
members just before reporting to the MTC

P-day in Gwanju  

December 2012, Baby it's cold outside

February 4, 2013

Well, this week should prove a much better letter than last week. Really, having two grumpy old Korean men telling you to hurry up really ups the pressure on writing quickly.  Like 10-fold.  But, first things first...

This last week was a little rough.  First in-field drop.  Yesterday. Heartbreaking, really.  It makes it really hard when you really started to like somebody after the first meeting and they reject the message, hard... especially when you know that the message is an integral part of your identity.  It was a blow... a real blow.

But, there were some other really neat things this last week.  이청용 is awesome.  Last week, he said that he can already feel a difference in his life after meeting with us - his relationship with his mom is better than it was and he describes his feeling as he reads the Book of Mormon as "interesting," and saying that reading it is becoming easier and easier.  He's so good, and so nice.  I think the thing that makes me the happiest is that he's giving us a chance to explain the doctrines of the Restored Gospel.  And he's giving it a fair shot; he reads the Book of Mormon and asks questions.  He's so cool - a miracle in every sense of the word.  Side note, he met with missionaries 6 years ago, but he wasn't interested then.  The missionaries he met 6 years ago started a miracle, and I'm happy to continue it for them.  That in itself helped with the heartbreak yesterday - maybe Elder Miller and I started something that another companionship can finish.

Other difficult things - as always, the language, but hey, it'll come with time.  There are some days that I can't understand a word, and other days where I understand exactly what I need and then some. Learning this language has been probably one of the most instructive ordeals of my life.  It's not just another language I'm learning, it's really a crash course in learning how to learn and grow.  It's been a test in trusting in the Lord and that He didn't send me to South Korea to fail (the most discouraging thing I've heard this last week is that the Church in South Korea is coming to a bit of a standstill).  I'm convinced that there's somebody here who is waiting to be found, though.  I'm absolutely sure of it.  There's just some weeks I'm more sure of it than others.

Other observations... I hate alley cats.  They give all cats a bad name.  I'm pretty sure they use them for zombie sounds in movies. I've woken up early in the morning to the sound of Baron's displeased kindred being obnoxiously loud.  Boo.

I love you all so much!  Take care, be safe.  Study diligently, and I'll get back to you in a week ).  I'm also happy to field any questions people may have too!

-Love, Elder Wedam

WOO HOO! Finally, Some pictures should be arriving!

I wonder if Elliott realizes how impatiently I am waiting for the promised photos AND a couple handwritten letters he promised to send!  Send him some love if you have any time.  Valentine's Day is right around the corner and his birthday is early in March.  I know he would love to hear from you! In the meantime I will figure out how to add photos to his blog. Love to you. Elliott's Mom

January 28, 2013

Heya family, friends, devoted fans, and unknown stalkers,

 

This past week has been most elightening.  Sorry to hear about the sickness, Alisa (a scene from The Invasion comes to mind with your description of your sickness this last week), and Terry and Whitney, high five on internet this week!  It's always exciting to receive emails and hear about life down in good ol' Arizona (...and yes, I regret not being a more diligent letter writer while you were serving =/)

I CAN'T BELIEVE MASON LEAVES THIS WEEK.

 

Aight, so I need to hurry up... we have two super impatient Korean men waiting to use the computer (I realize how judgemental that sounds, I don't mean for it too... they keep telling us to hurry up)...

 

 

This past week, we managed to find one new investigator.  His name is 양호진.  Super cool guy - he's 27 (Korean age... so born in 87), and just an all-around super nice person.  He went to Australlia when he was 15, and ever since then, he's always been super nice to foreigners.  He speaks SUPER good English.  I really hope he has some gospel interest/chooses to be baptized at some point.  He made this entire last week worth it.

 

I'm learning so much.  This morning was super good - I love Alma chapter 1 and DC 1:19-24,28.  Really good advice on how to be humble and why we need to be humble.  Without taking a lot of time to sugar coat (see insert about impatient Korean men), I'll just lay it all out on the table.  This morning, I realized just how weak I am.  There is no way I'd be able to learn this language as fast as I need to without some divine help.  Example, yesterday I prayed for help to understand just enough to seek enlightenment from church.  What resulted was a lesson on how to seek knowledge (I don't have enough time to explain the entire thing.  If worse comes to worse, I hope you can see it after 2 years in my example), and understanding some really crucial parts of the sacrament hymn.  All in all, it was a good meeting.

 

I love you all.  Before I forget, mom, your photo album arrived last Monday.   Thank you so much =D.  And I'll pray for Grandpa and Mason.  I'm really seeing the power of prayer and the promise that Christ offers in 3 Nephi 18.  Verses escape me.

 

I wish I could explain more, but alas, this will suffice.  PS.  Mom, I sent pictures home in a letter... memory card.  Let me know when you get it/how you like the letters that come with =)

 

I LOVE YOU!

 

-Elder Wedam

START OF 3RD TRANSFER IN KOREA

"Dropped baptismal dates and such.  But the work goes on" reports Elder Wedam after 12 weeks in the field.  I love the work he is accomplishing and the insights he receives as he strives to live and serve as a consecrated missionary. I am very proud of him, happy for him!   Monica

January 21, 2013

This last week was rather crazy.  Our one baptismal date dropped us... 최상섭 dropped us.  Sort of.  I'll quickly explain - he met with a preacher from another church, and what transpired was a drop.  But, he still likes us and isn't opposed to us dropping by once in a while.  It's not over, though.  As disappointed as I am in dropping the baptismal date, I really just hope the the other church's preacher has his interests at heart (meaning sincerely wants to help him overcome his addiction to alcohol), and not just trying to get another member to her congregation to earn a bit more cash.

But, in other news, we have two progressing investigators.  Both of which are primarily English interest (at least initially.  I get the feeling that it's developing more into gospel interest though).  These two people, 남성현 and 이청용, are super cool.  성현 comes from a Buddhist family, but he's not opposed to learning about the gospel, and 청용 has a Christian background, and is really good at English (not fluent by any means, but he's one of the few I can keep a natural, albeit slow, flow when I speak.  But he can pick out when we English speakers slur sounds together.  In other words, mom and dad, I think you would feel fairly comfortable speaking to him if you used simplified vocabulary and what not - the need for translation wouldn't exist)  Anyways, they're really neat, and they also make missionary work in Suwon super enjoyable.  They both read from the Book of Mormon and take care to try to understand what it says.  It's been a good experience =D

Also, I finished up the initial part of the mission language program this past week, known as Pass-Off.  This translates to that I'm fairly free now to study Korean how I want to as long as I keep teaching the lessons in Chapter 3 of Preach My Gospel in mind.  The new plan, reading the church pamphlets in Korean (which, I'm able to do now, and pick out words I don't know/guess meanings based on context and remember the gist of the English pamphlets).  All in all, I'm super excited.  It'll be fun.  I'm really banking on as I continue to read to myself and aloud that listening and speaking will come a little more quickly.  And, 청용 offered to help me with Korean - if I have a question on how to say something in Korean, he's more than happy to help/he has no problem introducing us to his friends who speak Korean (and telling them to speak Korean to me.  One of the few times I've been super grateful for just how important of a role age plays in Korean culture).  So, the language will come =)  Slowly, but surely.  As long as I've got a plan, I've got a reason to hope (used here in the same sense as Mormon uses it in Moroni 7 or how Preach My Gospel uses it in Chapter 6).

These last two days, I've read this most amazing talk, "Becoming a Consecrated Missionary" By President Tad McCallister.  I hope that's the right spelling, and I hope that it's on lds.org.  If not, a half summary will have to suffice.  The talk outlines things that missionaries need to do in order to become a consecrated missionary - that is, a missionary who puts all of his or her soul into the work, holding nothing back, and is ALWAYS thinking of the work, how to improve, etc.  And it talks about the things we need to sacrifice as missionaries: our fears, romantic passions, weaknesses, and disobedience.  It puts things into perspective.  The commandment we have to talk with everyone doesn't come our district leader, zone leader, mission president, Preach My Gospel, or the Brethren, but it comes from the Lord Himself (it also cites specific parts in the Doctrine and Covenants).  And because the Lord commands it, He will provide a way (see 1 Nephi 3:7).  But it then explains (and this is the part I really liked), "there is no magic pill, no amount of time we can wait, or memorized approach that will embolden us," but sometimes we have to just buck up and do it, to just do the work.  And it's true, there's no instant solution to gain courage or substitution for work, and as we work and fulfill the Lord's commands, He will bless us.

The talk then concludes by stating: "I don't think that the Lord expects us to be perfect immediately, but He does expect immediate progression."  And it's true.  Therein lies the secret of being a consecrated missionary, working towards becoming the missionary the Lord has called.  And it extends out beyond the missionary experience.  The secret to living a life consecrated to the service of God is simply striving to become the person that Heavenly Father knows we can be, to work towards our full potential.

There was one more line I loved.  "I don't think there is one missionary who's weaknesses outweigh his strengths because we are all children of God; His divine potential is woven into the very fibers of our being."  What does it mean to be a child of God?  I don't understand the weight of the answer of this question completely, but I know that because God is my Heavenly Father, I can accomplish great things with His help.

I love you all!  Take care!  Until next week!

-Elder Elliott Wedam

Super crazy, exciting, awesome progress and perspective!

I just snagged a few words from Elliott's e-mail to create this title.  It's a good read!  Have a great day!  M

January 14, 2013

Quite a bit to talk about in this email.  This last week has been crazy.  And I mean that in the super good way ^^

First off, sorry that this is coming a little later - we have two missionaries going back home this transfer (they fought a good fight and are returning with honor), and today is the day we were getting transfer calls.  Thought I'd give you all more up-to-date information.  Considerate, right?  Anyways, I'll be in Suwon for the next six weeks at least (I'm feeling fairly confident about this too - remember how I said there were 7 elders coming at the end of the transfer?  Yep, there's another three-some in the country, and I probably won't have an emergency transfer in three weeks).  I'm now sitting at a nice 3 different comps in field and starting my 3rd transfer.  I'm still averaging a new comp a transfer, but at least it's a nice ratio, right?  Elder Miller and I are still together, and he's a district leader now... Elder Campbell is going home (he's one of the two aforementioned missionaries... and he was the our District Leader), and we have a native, Elder Kim Il-Soo, coming in to take his spot (fun fact, Elder Kim was the assistant zone leader.  He's good at English, and he loves to help missionaries with Korean.  I'm pretty happy about that ^^).  So, to summarize, our house goes as follows:  Elder Miller, me, Elder Paskett, Elder Kim.  Yeah, that's the super exciting stuff about transfers.

Secondly, great stories.  I've seen some super awesome miracles this past week.  We found 4 new investigators who we can meet regularly, we managed to get 2 of them progressing, and we walked away with 1 baptismal date.  I'd be lying if I said the first half of the week wasn't miserable, cold, and just plain hard.  The second half, however, really picked up.  Quick story about our baptismal date... we were heading to church yesterday morning, and we saw this man (who incidentally looks like Uncle Jack... sort of.  Except Korean), and he looked like he wanted to talk to us.  We started talking with him, and the conversation went sort of like this:

"Are you going to (I can't remember the name of the church)?"

"No, we're missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints."

"Oh, I met missionaries like you before.  When's your worship service?"

"Right now.  Do you want to come?"

"No, that's okay.  I just want to drink right now."

"Alright then.  Can we call you once to see if you have interest in our message."

"No, that's okay."

"Then can we give you are number, and if you have interest, will you call us?"

"Sure."

So we give him our name card, 명험, and we don't think anything of it.  Nobody ever calls off of them (so the rumors go - I've had quite a few calls off of them.  True story).  Then, Elder Miller got two phone calls from this random number during Sacrament meeting... he doesn't answer but calls back before Gospel Principles, and it's this guy we met.  But there wasn't a ton of talk about anything super serious - just fielding a few questions.  Then come Priesthood.  We get a call with like 20 minutes left in Elders' Quorum... it's the same guy (his name is Choi Sang Seop... 최상섭), and he wants to meet.  ASAP.  He told us he'd be at the church in 10 minutes... so we go and meet him in front of the Church, bring him inside, and Elder Miller explains that our meetings our still in session, but if he wants to see the chapel, we could go and be in the last part of High Priests' Group.  Choi Sang Seop wants to, and long story short (here, this means "what transpired isn't mine to tell over email," on grounds that it was most definitely his spiritual experience), we wind up at his house, teaching him about the Book of Mormon, inviting him to be baptized on February 24, and promising that through Christ's Atonement, he can overcome his vices and get his life back on track.  I must say, I wasn't expecting that to happen so quickly... but it was a great end to an amazing week (or, a good start for an awesome week).

Then, our other investigators are pretty aight.  We've got one who's 27 (Korean Age), and wants to learn English.  And I think he has gospel interest - he sometimes speaks English to us in lessons, but I don't think it's for extra practice, but because he wants me to understand what he's saying (because the things he's said in English were super important... and still not mine to tell), but it's helped me see just how much the gospel can help anyone: both the sin-sick soul and the son who may be seeking the answers to where we came from, why we're here, and where are we going.  It's also helped me remember that everyone -  Americans, Koreans... anybody and everybody - has had experiences that have prepared them.  Experiences that have softened their hearts enough to want to listen to our message.  It's been a real faith-building experience - a prayer to find somebody who is prepared to hear the gospel goes a long way, or a plea to help me learn the language becomes an opportunity to speak to somebody on the street who knows enough English that I can, with some effort, communicate.  It's been nice, and it's been helping me realize that missionary work in South Korea isn't just possible, but it's fun.

I'm starting to learn the value of having a good attitude and putting things into perspective.  I may not be fluent, or even halfway decent, at Korean, but I can catch the gist of what's being said (when people don't talk to me directly), and can teach (with a ton of preparation) in Korean.  And with a little warm-up, I can communicate and share some simple experiences with natives.  And this is at the end of my second transfer (Elder Campbell had a pretty sick analogy... missionaries who were at the MTC for 12 weeks have 16 transfers in-field... and there are 16 hours in the missionary's day.  So, each transfer is like an hour, and each week is 10 minutes.  Right now, I'm halfway through personal study).  So, compared to where I was when I first arrived, I'm making progress... it's like what mom told me - if you take two steps forward and take one step back, you're still 1 step farther than you were.  Progress is indeed progress.  And little by little is how we improve.

I've decided that if I spend the next 2 years fighting tooth and nail to learn this language, I'm totally fine with that.  Last week, I realized that a lot of things have come easy to me in the past, but learning a new language isn't one of those things.  It's hard, but you know, it's rewarding.  It's helping me build an empathy that I didn't have before, or at least one that wasn't super well developed.  It extends deeper than, "be nice to people learning your native language;"  it's more of, "be patient with other people as they strive to overcome their own difficulties and challenges, whether they be physical, mental, or spiritual."  It's been a blast - relying on grace to help me accomplish the work the Lord needs me to accomplish, and knowing that it won't come easily always, but it will mold me into something better than I was.  It's not just working towards meeting goals, but working to become the person that Heavenly Father knows we can become - in other words, it's about living up to your full-potential.

I love you all so much!  I pray for you daily, and I'm grateful for your prayers in behalf of me.  I really appreciate them - there's strength in knowing that you have a fan-base the whole world round determined to see you succeed.

Ciao!  Until next week!

Elder Wedam

His Heart is in South Korea

Happy news from Elder Wedam in Suwon, the walled city just about 20 miles south of Seoul.

January 7, 2013

Greetings family!  And devoted followers!

 

So, I probably should explain what happened a little more with the emergency transfer... so my new companion was training, but his missionary had to go home because of a foot problem.  This missionary was a native Korean... and when he was younger, his foot was run over by a truck, so one foot was fairly flat.  The pain was bad enough that he couldn't stay in the field anymore, so he went home, and I went up north.  Everything is fine... that missionary is going to get surgery, but rumor has it that he won't be coming back out again.  Fun, right?  So, all in all, nothing super concerning (at least as far as my safety and spiritual health goes), but unfortunate for the Elder. 

 

Oh, and Mom, funny story about your letter.  It arrived.  I haven't had a chance to look at it... mostly on account of that it landed in Songjeong.  So, Elder Anderson and Elder Houston are sending them up to me.  I'm convinced the mission office isn't aware that I transfered.  And as for my hand-written letters (I promised you two in the past week...), they're written, I still need to send them.  You may be getting two letters in the near future, possibly even three?

 

This last week has been amazing.  Elder Miller is a great companion for me.  He's really helping me progress as a missionary - he's helped me feel comfortable speaking on the street more, AND he does a really good job of not making me feel a lot of pressure (like the bad type of pressure - the type that nobody really likes).  He's a blast, I like him a lot.  And it's been fun seeing Elder Paskett again after MTC.  He's awesome.  He reminds me of Mason a lot ^^  And Elder Campbell, he was an AP when I arrived (now training Elder Paskett), he goes home at the end of this transfer, but he's been working super hard.  It's been a real treat; all three of them are angels.  You can totally see how Christ-like they really are.  They're committed to the work and render service without guile.  All in all, this transfer, as inconvenient as it was, was good for me.  I've learned quite a bit in the last two weeks - and missionary work has become even more fun because of it.  I even got a phone number on the street yesterday, and I almost taught a street lesson.  It's been so fun and worthwhile!

 

I'm glad to hear that New Year's Day was fun.  Portland is always a blast, and being with the entire fam can only make it better.  Fun fact about South Korea, New Year's is a bigger deal than Christmas.  We went hiking with our ward New Year's morning, and there was a nice little drum beat thing going on.  And we ate some traditional New Year's food for breakfast - we're talking 떡 soup.  It was delicious.  Then, yesterday at Church, we had a nice little "Shake Everybody's Hand in the Ward" event right after sacrament.  It was fun.

 

Yesterday, I read in Alma 31.  Somehow, I got from studying about fasting to Alma's mission to reclaim the apostate Zoramites.  There was a good little twist - the Zoramites were proud; they had the attitude of, "We're better than everyone else because God elected us to be saved, and nobody else will be."  Then, we read Alma's prayer, culminating in Whitney's favorite mission scripture (I'm running off of memory right now)... "Behold, Oh Lord, their souls are precious and many of them are our brethren."  That's the attitude we need to have, both as a missionary and as a child of God.  When we understand that God is our Heavenly Father and that we are all His children, it's easier to keep that attitude of loving everybody.  As members of the Church, we can't afford to be proud... even in Alma 7 (I think, it's early Alma at least), we read that pride was a great stumbling block to the Church.  Now for the personal tie in...

Last week, I said that one of my goals was to develop humility and charity.  My action plan is to simply do missionary work.  To teach the gospel, and as I teach, have the attitude of Alma... that the people of South Korea's souls are precious.  They may not be the apostate Zoramites, but the principle of loving is still the same.  I'm working towards the mindset of share the gospel with everyone, and invite them to learn more about it.  As I do this, I'm hoping that I'll gain a better appreciation for God's work and glory... to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of His childrent (see Moses 1:39).  I'm hoping that as I seek to make His work my work, then I'll be able to emulate Christ better.  What better way to become like Christ than to seek to do the Father's work?  As of now, those are my clear stones =)

 

I love you all.  The homesickness disappears day by day, and even though I miss you and Oregon, my heart is in South Korea right now.  I can feel the beginning of something big about to happen, and I'm excited to see what it is!

 

Until next week!

Elder Elliott Wedam