February 4, 2009

Just a note: Our ward places missionary experiences on the back of the bulletin once a month. I told T'Jae to think of an experience to share. It looks like that is all the news we get this time. :( But, it is wonderful. It just makes anticipating the next letter that much sweeter. Enjoy this sweet testimony.

Wasssssssuuuuuup!

It's been pretty foggy/muggy here lately too... not too bad but just not sunny and blue, today is cloudy again. We're in a hurry to get through our preperation chores for the day so Elder Boyce can take a nap. It's been his goal since we have started working together. We are always so busy doing shoping, eating, cleaning... etc.

Well I better do this before I forget and run out of time.

MISSION EXPERIENCE
I've been so blessed in my mission to see so many miracles! I've been asked to choose just one though... so here I go!
My favorite experience is one I had in my first area, CheungJu. I was in my third transfer at the time and we were meeting with a really cool guy my age named Jeong Cheong Soung. He has quite the story of his own. He is from North Korea. Not the best place in the world... and about two years earlier he escaped. Risking his life, he ran across a frozen river into the boardering country of China. He hid there for about a year, until he found someone there that helped him get back down to South Korea. Not soon after he was there, he saw one of our Free English Class advertisements and decided to see why a bunch of people from America were teaching for free.
Eventually, he became an investigator, and a golden one at that! Every principle he accepted with enthusiasm. When he found out that there was a prophet on the earth today he about fell off his chair! When he recieved the Book of Mormon, he handled it with care- like the precious thing it really is.
After we gave him the Book of Mormon he had an accident in the factory he was working in and broke his finger. They sent him to the hospital... for a few weeks (they do things differently here) and it cut our contact with him. We visited him twice while he was there. When he was finally released we asked him if he had the chance to read the Book of Mormon. He did, and we were really excited. We asked where he got to and he said he read the whole thing! As you can guess we were stoked!
Then, we were really saddened by the news that he was going to move to Seoul before we could baptize him. So, on our last meeting we decided to speak about the temple and baptisms for the dead. When he heard the wonderful message that he would be able to do the work for his family who has passed away his eyes filled up with tears. He told us about his parents who were still in North Korea. His father was in jail for rebelling against the government and his mother was very sick. He hadn't been able to contact them because of his escape and was starting to worry that he'd never see them again. The knowledge that he could see them again, even if he couldn't see them in this life filled him with peace. He looked up at us and said, "This gospel is the best thing in the entire world."
The experience helped me see just how important the gospel really is. How much I had taken it for granted. This gospel really IS the best thing in the entire world. I know it's true. That experience has been a motivation for me through my mission and will continue to be! And, it's being added upon as I go.

END

Well, now I am out of time. We need to go.
Love you all, CTR, read your scriptures and say your prayers.

Much love- Elder Thorkelson.