Week 72

February 25, 2018

Well this week was SUPER!

On Monday we played some volleyball! There is a new sister who played college ball and she was killer good! Then after we played knockout (the basketball game) and I refused to leave until I won. I finally won after losing 20 ish times! haha

Then right after pday we met with a man who is awesome! We had taught him the restoration and given him a pamphlet and he really loved it! He brought the pamphlet back super marked and he loved the Book of Mormon doctrine and how our church believes you need to pray and know for yourself that our church is true, not have someone tell you!

Sometimes I find myself trying to convince people our church is true. But it never works. Though it makes perfect sense that God would continue to speak to his children today through living Prophets and it makes sense that he wouldn’t just give us the Bible and nothing else. No matter how convincing I am it never works. It has never worked. Because I can’t convince you that something is true or false. Though it seems that all too much, people easily let others convince them that something is false, and almost never let others convince them that something is true; I don’t need to convince you the Mormon Church is true. No one needs to convince you. All you need to do is pray. All you need to do is Ask God. And if you ask sincerely and with faith you WILL get an answer.... but sometimes it is hard to convince people to take 5 seconds to sincerely pray. I invite everyone who reads this email, member, nonmember, return missionary, or less active to take the time today to pray and ask God if the Book of Mormon is true and if God had restored his church. I promise you will get an answer that will strengthen your faith if you already have it, or change your life if you don’t.

Tuesday we had 2 appointments around lunch time! They both went really well. Then we spent the rest of our time out on the streets and we met some really kind nice people! Then we did some studies and played basketball. I’ll say it as simple as possible. My and my companion "destroyed"

Wednesday we had district meeting and it was about being a good person! Our Mission President’s wife is amazing! Every zone conference we always get training on missionary work, but only Sister Turner trains on being a better person. I usually enjoy her training most because in 8 months for me, 24 or 18 months for others, we won’t be missionaries anymore. It won’t matter who taught the most, or was best at Korean, or baptized the most people, or had the best stats. We will just be people, and then it will matter if we are good people.

Then Thursday we had a district lunch and did weekly planning. I was super super super super super tired this whole week so I almost fell asleep like 20 times during weekly planning. Then we taught our gospel English class and I love that class. I really love talking about religion and my belief when someone isn’t looking to fight or prove me wrong!

Then Friday we had some proselyting activities and a few really good lessons! We taught an amazing investigator! He was in the Korean CIA and he is fluent in English and really really wants to learn about the gospel. We talked about the priesthood for 30 minutes, because he was so interested and truly wanted to understand!

Saturday we were so busy with meeting and lessons and English class and a district proselyting activity! We couldn’t even do language or companion ship study because we were so busy!

Sunday was a good Sunday and we went on a nice walk home from church and met some amazing people from Denmark and then some just really nice Koreans!

I promise a lot happened this week... but I don’t have much time. I’ll try to be a little more detailed in the future!

I love you all and I am having a really great time in Korea!

Elder Goon

Week 71 Happy NEW year!!!!

February 18, 2018

This week was awesome! It was Lunar New Years which is a huge deal in Korea!!!! like really really really really really really huge! Everyone goes to their hometown and visits their parents! Which made missionary work nearly impossible! We couldn't meet with investigators and there were literally no one on the streets! The street by our house usually has thousands of people and we counted 6 people... it was pretty crazy! But none the less we were still able to get 2 new investigators and have some fun experiences! 

1. Monday was not Pday... but we had to deep clean our house and still email. And we spent a lot of time outside proselyting! 

2. I'm sure I have told you but there is a professional basketball player who is meeting with our zone leaders and he also gives private lessons to people. So me and my comp challenged him to a 2 v 1 and winner gets free pizza. Well Elder Tippetts thought he had a hernia so didn't play so we did a 3 v 1 with his students. He won. 14-12. I was super super super mad. But he agreed that the two little 15 year old Koreans were not the same as my 6'2 collegiate athlete companion. So we have a rematch scheduled for tomorrow. 

3. We had to go to the hospital Wednesday to get Elder Tippetts checked out. Turns out it wasn't a hernia at all, just a mental issue. 

haha his dad and brother had hernias so he psyched himself out and thought a pulled groin was a hernia! haha 

4. We had pday Thursday and went to the Korean Folk village again! I love that place and it is so cool!!! Then that night we had dinner with my favorite member in Gangnam! 

5. We did a lot of planning and preparing! because...

6. Saturday we threw a New Years party for our ward! We had games and a musical performance and it was a really good time! We had water pong, eating a bread with no hands off a string, dizzy golf, a chopstick competition, ping pong juggling and a badminton game! We also played a traditional Korean game that is similar to sorry! 

7. Yesterday was a good Sunday and we had a fun time at church and a good meal with a Very nice member! We all got to share a message and it was super good! We shared a message on the atonement!

4 Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

I truley know that Christ suffered for us! I know that we all make mistakes in this life and that we all fall short. But through HIS stripes we are healed. What are his striped? The blood coming from every pore in the garden of Gethsemane where he suffered for all our sins, pains, sorrows. The beating he took from the Pharisees. The whip on his back. The crown of thorns on his head. The nails in his hands. The nails in his wrists. The spear in his side. Christ suffered so much for us. So that we can be healed and happy.

Elder Goon 

Week 70 The Olympics Have Begun!

February 11, 2018

haha don't worry I can't watch the Olympics at all! and I rarely know anything about them, but they started in case you guys with access to the internet didn't know haha

This week was great. First off we got transfer calls and me and my companion stay! also a Korean comes to live with us! I haven't had much Korean companions... but I sure have lived with a lot! 

Another huge highlight was Alex Boye! We went to a concert this week and it was so awesome! and me and my companion got called up on stage! I was really mad, and had attention, but it was pretty fun! I'll send some pics and try to send a video! 

Other than that this week was very busy! We have been meeting a lot of people and meeting a lot of new people! We counted it up and we mat 17 new people this transfer! which is a lot.. especially for our mission.. so we have a lot of potential and that makes for lots of planning, calling, and meetings! So this week we got two new investigators and met with 4 people that can become new investigators! It is interesting meeting people for the first time. they really are so interesting and kind and I can honestly say I am interested in every person I meet with! The love I have for Korean people is indescribable! 

We had a super cool experience on Tuesday! I was super super super super sick... but I wanted to go outside. Even though I was dying we got on a Subway and Elder Tippetts was able to get 3 numbers and I was able to get 1. We also had many other meaningful contacts and miracles! I may not have been able to do much... but by me getting out, Elder Tippetts was able to work and see great miracles! 

Sometimes we are not the center of attention, but what we do allows others to be the center and see miracles! 

Elder Goon

Week 68 19 pounds in 4 days?!?!?!?!?!

January 28, 2018

Well this week was a very PHYSICALLY tough week... probably the hardest week of my life. On Monday I woke up in complete pain. I had a terribly pinched nerve right between my shoulder blades. I could barely walk, move turn bend or breath! Then when I woke up Tuesday it was worse! I couldn't move my neck more than an inch. It hurt SO bad. Then Wednesday I got really sick and started to have some really bad stomach issues and had to use the bathroom many times a day. By today I got down to 141 pounds... I lost 19 pounds. My companion also rolled his ankle and we were just hurt! 

But with the knew technology we will still able to work from inside! We were able to do some work on Facebook and with our new applications and because of that we saw some miracles! We got 3 appointments and some awesome people were contacted! 

We met 2 people this week that were really nice and one of them came to church! We had other lessons with investigators that went so well and we had some amazing member visits~ we helped some less actives come back home and we touched some peoples life!

This week we worked as hard as we could! We didn't work as hard as last week, but our circumstances were different. We worked as hard as we could given the situation we were in and we were blessed. God understands us. He knows our circumstance and he understands what we go through. We need to not compare ourselves to anyone! not even our self because everyone has different trails and situations and God understands! When we do our best with what God has given us, we will be blessed! 

Elder Goon

Week 67 don't worry I STILL HATE SOCIAL MEDIA

January 21, 2018

haha this week we got Facebook on our phones and have been trained on how to use it! I have quickly remembered in just one week why I hated social media... and that I will definitely not use it after my mission! but I am sorta excited for this new tool in missionary work! 

I don't have much time... but I want to talk about an experience I had at church this week. The teacher asked us "what is one good thing and one bad thing that happened this week?" she said sometimes we only focus on the bad... and we forget the good! 

Well at that time I was focusing on the bad... just one few hours earlier our investigator came to church... because of the language barrier or maybe just denial I didn't realize that when he said this would be our last meeting that this would be our last meeting.... 

We walked in and it was about an hour before church started. We did some small talk and I was so happy to see him because I hadn't seen him in 2 weeks because he got really sick. Then I realized that this was not a happy meeting and he wasn't coming to church today.

He went on to explain that this really would be the last time we could ever see each other and that we could never speak again. He told me that his wife hates religion and banned him from coming to church and meeting with us. He told me that she doesn't even want him to speak to us because we could have a religious influence on him. I then realized this truly was the last time I would ever see him. 

Some of you may not know but the love that we feel for the people we serve is super strong. And this was the first person I have taught on my mission that REALLY was taking the steps and making the changes for baptism. He was so sincere and so kind and really wanted to know the truth. Over our 6 meetings and weeks of calls and texting, I had grown to love him so much and truly desire his eternal salvation. 

 Almost through tears he thanked me for everything and told me he didnt have a testimony of the truth yet,but that he had started to feel God and that I changed his life... he told me he really wanted to keep meeting and really loves our church... but he has to chose his wife. I told him I understood and that I would pray for him. I tried to get him to remember the feelings he had had with us and when he prayed. He did... but he said he can't lose his wife and children... 

Then we said one last prayer together. He prayed for our success and for him to live a happy life. He thanked God for sending us to him and he prayed for his wife's heart to open and that we could one day meet again. 

I was not doing a good job of holding back my tears... and as I watched him walk out the door I let the sobs out and wept. I stood there for 20 minutes crying... then church was going to start so I cleaned up, put on a fake smile and started to greet members and act like nothing happened. 

So when this question was posed just an hour or so later I was still focusing on that and I made the mistake of telling myself this week was awful because of just one thing. But as I thought about her question and really thought about my week I realized SO MUCH GOOD happened. My mission President told me that he was tremendously proud of my work and that he doesn't think another missionary is working harder right now. We taught three investigators and they all really progressed! I got to visit my favorite member and so so much more! 

I encourage you all to not focus and let one or two sad moments. Don't let one thing bring you down! Just because we all have some sad experiences doesn't mean life is sad and terrible and miserable! There is always good and always happy moments... and even when you think you will never be happy again, I promise you will! That's the nature of Gods plan of HAPPINESS! 

I love you all and have a good week!

Elder Goon

Week 66 Mental Breakdowns and Headlocks

January 14, 2018

I'm sorry I've been so boring, I think I'll start giving the week a title! 

Well the reason for the title is because me and my comp both had some breakdowns this week! haha just kidding! but I was super stressed on Saturday and we had so much to do and I was freaking out and not really handling it well. haha I was like screaming and laughing and talking to myself, mostly for a joke, but I was freaking out a bit. Then last night I wanted to teach my companion how to get out of a headlock. Well apparently he has a phobia of things around his neck. So he had sort of a mental break down too! haha except his was real, and now he knows how to escape a headlock! 

So Monday we played volleyball! super fun and there was some good games and laughs, hits and digs! In the end of February we are getting the team captain from the BYU Hawaii women's volleyball team so I am super super pumped! haha it should be fun! Then that night we went with our friend to an English class and met some really cool! They were so interested in us and our service and had so many questions! It was an awesome missionary experience and the most joy I found was when the member we went with proudly said "I am a Mormon and these are missionaries from my church!" He also the whole night talked about why he believes and shared his testimony! That is amazing! That is hard to do in America, let alone in Korea when everyone thinks we are the biggest cult and people hate Mormons! it was a great example of being  fearless and as President Monson said "dare to be a Mormon!"

Tuesday was SO SO COLD!!!!!!! like 7 degrees and crazy wind so it felt like -12. I was not happy. So we took lots of "warm up breaks" and went into the Adidas, Nike, and Under Armour outlets. THEY WERE SO DOPE! haha then we met an investigator for lunch and he has been meeting with missionaries since last April! I was the first one to find him and it was in my first area. Well I just asked why he hasn't joined our church and he said he never had time with work and school but he is not working anymore and would like to join our church starting in March! It was awesome to hear! 

That night an investigator came to our basketball night and it was super fun and we created a really close relationship with him! 

Wednesday we had some training on family history work and how to use it in missionary work along with a meeting with an investigator. He has been meeting the missionaries for 17 years, and he has not read a page of The Book of Mormon. So we met with him last week and said "you have to read and if not we won't meet you anymore." so Wednesday we met and read The Book of Mormon for 90 minutes. He had so many questions and started to be more open and there was an immediate change in him. We read the introduction and that alone made him more open, accepting and interested! It was a great testimony builder, but more about that experience later! 

Thursday we had a day of planning. We did weekly planning and rearranged our house. Previously we had shared a study room so it was tough to focus and we weren't very productive. So we moved out and changed the house around! Then that night we met a guy for the first time. When we first met I said we are missionaries and he immediately gave me his business card. Then when we met he said seeing us reminded us of a Mormon friend he had that moved 40 years ago and he hasn't been in contact with since. WOW! do you guys know how big of an impact we can have on people!? 40 years later he still remembers his Mormon friend. 

Friday we also planned for the ward some activities and some member visits. We also had some time to go outside and proselyte. 

Saturday we had the really busy day and so many members were asking us to do so many different things and we had so many meeting and so little time! super busy, but in the afternoon we got to go to a meat buffet and we picked up a new investigator so overall great day! 

Then Sunday we just had church and studies and a meal with a councilor in the Stake Presidency. The Sisters German investigator came and she is awesome!!!!!!!! 

But the highlight was when I got to talk to a member from my first area. He goes to the young single adult ward which is in our area and we just caught up and I really miss Bundang!!!! 

Well that was my week! I promised more about the Wednesday meeting so here it is!

Our investigator was trying to criticize and deny The Book of Mormon all night. And one thing he said really made me "mad", not mad but ya know like how Jesus was when he kicked everyone our of the temple. He said "Joseph Smith must have been pretty good at Ancient Native American." And I snapped right back and said "NO" he could barely even speak English. And I boldly testified of The Book of Mormon and its divine origin. I know it is True. I know that Joseph Smith say God and Jesus Christ and translated the Book of Mormon through the power of God. I know. I will never deny it, and anyone who denies is or walks away from it, would be foolish to do so. For almost 200 years people have attacked the Book of Mormon and no one could prove it wrong. Because the way Joseph Translated the book, has been known all along. I know he did. And because of that, I know God lives. He loves us. And knows us by name. I know that Jesus Christ is his son. I know that he died for us. And that he lives for us. I know Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God and restored the true church to the earth again. I know these things are true, and I promise they are true in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 

Week 65

January 7, 2018

Wow what a week!! it was jam packed with work to do and we saw some great things and had some super awesome experiences! 

First Monday we went and played screen baseball which was a blast! ​​​I led everyone with 3 homers and a 9.3 batting average! haha I basically only got out once! That night we taught Tom and he is progressing well! We taught him the restoration and he told us, "if this message is true, it will change my life and have a huge impact on me! Then he prayed and said God, I really really really really want to know if this is true!" It was an amazing lesson!

Tuesday I got my new companion! His name is Elder Tippetts and he is from Utah and likes lacrosse. He will play for BYU after his mission and is a really fun great happy goofy guy! We did some studies and had an appointment with an investigator then we had basketball that night and it was really fun! There is a really really really really good guy! He is almost professional and he just destroyed everyone and he is awesome! He is a really dope guy and is super good at basketball! 

Wednesday we did some planning and I am super excited!  We have some really high goals and expectations for the transfer! 

Thursday we had district meeting and Korean class and then gospel English class. A really cool experience was in gospel English class we taught about the atonement of Jesus Christ something that is really really important to me. There was a non member that was making fun of it! He was laughing and mocking the atonement of Jesus Christ. The most important thing that has ever happened. The single greatest event in all eternity. The thing that matters most to me. He was mocking and attacking and laughing at it. I felt very angry. a lot of righteous anger. and I let it out on him. I felt like Jesus in the temple or Joseph Smith in liberty jail, as I boldly called this man to repentance and told him to take it seriously and stop talking. The power that filled the room was unspeakable. And the man was quiet and didn't say a word for the rest of the night. Elder Tippetts later told me that the room was almost shaking and that my words were so powerful. 

I realized that missionaries do have power, and when we stand up for what is right, God is with us. 

Friday me and Elder Tippetts rode the train for 5 hours. Talking to people. We both aren't very comfortable with train contacting so we just did it all day and we met some really really cool people and are now more comfortable and confident! 

But one of my favorite members, really the only one of 3 that I love in this ward reached out and asked me for a blessing. He chose me out of all the missionaries (8) and members (200+). I was honored. We got there and visited and the house had a sweet spirit and I just love this family. Then time for the blessing. It was the 3rd time I have done a sealing.... and the first time in Korean. And I was terrified. But the spirit was STRONG and I knew what I needed to say and it was a powerful amazing experience! 

Saturday we played ping pong all day! haha with investigators and English class members! We had dinner with a member and she had some problems with reading the Book of Mormon and going to church. I was pretty mad because everyone but me kept telling her its ok that she doesn't read the Book of Mormon and if is ok if she stops coming to church. (she is a recent convert). I was mad and really wanted to be bold. but no one else would. She was making lame excuses and it really made me mad! but then, thankfully the spirit whispered to me, but look at yourself. Most mornings I fall asleep during personal study. I don't read the Book of Mormon every single day.... look at yourself first. So I made a resolve to be better and to never make excuses and to never judge others! 

Also that morning we met Luis!!!! It was so so so dope! We talked to him and he was awesome! and then we left and got some lunch and he came in and said I wanna eat lunch with you! Then we grabbed another appointment on Tuesday! he was so so so dope!!! 

Sunday we had church and some studies! then at night we went sticker boarding and it was awesome! We talked to a ton of people and it was a blast! haha I really loved it and Elder Tippetts has brought a great light and optimism to our area!!! I love him

Today we play volleyball! Wish me luck! love ya

Elder Goon