We have investigators? But we're serving in KOREA?!

February 17, 2014

Dear everyone!

I hope you all had a great week and are staying warm wherever you are. :) Sister Park and I are staying warm cause fortunately the weather's been getting better around here. It snowed a couple times last week, and it's raining today, but the wind's died down which makes working outside a LOT more pleasant. Also, we actually have serious PROGRESSING investigatorS.

In the last few weeks, Sister Park and I have seen SO many miracles. We've been able to find, and these people are progressing, and not just progressing, but progressing towards BAPTISM. Sister Park and I can hardly believe we're serving in Korea. NOBODY has success like this on a regular basis. It's the hand of the Lord in Gumi.

Two miracles from this week:

1. Two weeks ago, our district leader felt prompted to have our district meeting in a different area then usual AND do a Book of Mormon proselyting thing as a district. All of us had copies of the Book of Mormon and talked to everyone we could asking them to fill out a short survey that told them a little about who we were and what we're doing in Korea. (Almost everyone assumes we're English teachers..) As we talked to people, Sister Park and I ended up talking to a lady, Sister Lee, who is VERY pregnant. She's due on the 28th, and she was on her way to the hospital for an appointment. We talked to her and shared 1 Nephi 11:17 and I testified that God loved her. She got this look on her face and said, "Really? God feels that way about me?" We got her number and met her a few days later. We shared more from the Book of Mormon, and made a second appointment. At that next appointment, we invited her to be baptized and she accepted. She will be baptized on April 5th after she has her baby and recovers. (Koreans spend about 2-3 weeks in the hospital after having their babies..)

2. A WONDERFUL sister in our ward gave us a referral for her friend. Originally, her friend, Sister Park (NOT my companion) had English interest and wanted us to teach her 6-yr old daughter. When we met at the church building, her daughter was asleep and refused to wake up. She just slept in her mom's lap for a while, and we finally suggested that we introduce a little about our church. As soon as we started talking about the gospel, Sister Park recognized a new feeling, a "warm feeling in my chest". We testified that she was feeling the Spirit, which testifies of truth, and began to teach. Sister Park hadn't even known her member friend had a religion, and was interested in why we also read the Book of Mormon in addition to the Bible. We explained that we can learn more and have many questions answered when we have two witnesses of Christ instead of just one. We explained that we need both the Book of Mormon AND the Bible to fully understand Christ's gospel. We used the word 증거, which means "witness" and "evidence". After we explained, Sister Park started to cry. She told us about some very difficult trials that had recently happened in her life concerning false legal accusations against her husband where there had not been a witness to prove her husband innocent, and their family suffered some huge losses. She understood what we had taught with the clarity only the Spirit can bring, and she was delighted when we gave her a Book of Mormon. She promised to read it and pray about its truthfulness. As soon as the lesson ended, her daughter woke up, and happily joined in our closing prayer. We're meeting with them tomorrow, and we couldn't be more grateful for the opportunity to teach such special children of God.

As I've thought about these experiences, my testimony that God knows His children perfectly has grown so much. Like our parents on earth, He loves us, as we are His children. He is perfect, and so He loves us perfectly and knows us perfectly. He knows exactly where we are and when we need His help. He always hears our prayers, even if we only offer them in our hearts.

I love you all so much!!

Love,

Sister Bonney

Laughing Problem...

February 9, 2014

Dear everyone!

This week's been pretty eventful! Sister Park and I are working hard and we've experienced a few HUGE miracles along the way!

A few weeks ago, Sister Park and I met a girl on a bus. She's a high school student, Sister Kim. (I think I emailed about her before...) Anyways, we met her once and she expressed interest in being baptized! We were pretty excited. She and her boyfriend, Brother Choi, started attending almost every ward activity EXCEPT church on Sunday. Well, we met them both with the elders last night. We had planned to teach about the restoration of the gospel and then read from the Book of Mormon together. One of the elders asked if we could read 3 Nephi 11, when Christ visits the Americas and teaches about baptism. We all agreed that that was a fantastic idea.

As we taught, both Brother Choi and Sister Kim were really focused, and the Spirit was strong. When we got to the Book of Mormon chapter, we began taking turns reading. We read verses 7-28, and then 31-41 testifying and clarifying and asking questions as we went. However, there was one little hiccup. Verse 34. It was one of the elder's turns and he read the verse in Korean. I was following along in my English scriptures as we read, and then I just about died. Verse 34: "And whoso believeth not in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned."

BRIEF CLARIFICATION: Now in our church, when we read that scripture, we understand it to mean that those who are not baptized cannot enter the kingdom of God. They don't go to hell. They just can't enter the kingdom of God. There's more than just heaven and hell. There are kingdoms with different degrees of glory. The kingdom you get to enter is decided by Heavenly Father based on the choices you make in this life. To us, hell isn't so much a place as a condition of knowing what you could have had but turned away from. Nevertheless, most other religions believe in the fire and brimstone idea...

ANYWAYS, one of our American elders read that scripture in Korean so it took him a second to realize what he had just read. He looked up with a look of shock and horror, and I started to laugh. And it wasn't just, a "hehe-oops" kind of laugh. I just lost it. We had to stop reading, wait to for to get a grip, and then explain that "I'm so sorry! I have a personal laughing problem..." Oh goodness. It happened in the MTC. Never thought it'd happen in the field... Good grief.

Fortunately, "damned" doesn't really translate clearly into Korean, so that didn't end up being a problem.

Well, we finished reading the chapter, and asked them how they felt. They both said that they felt good and wanted to be baptized. So we invited them, and they accepted. Laughing, damnation, and all. They're date is March 8, and we're praying that they'll be able to receive permission from their parents to continue preparing for that day. Miracles!!!!

I'm so grateful to be on a mission. Being able to serve these people and share with them the gospel that has blessed my life so much is such a privilege and a blessing. I'm so grateful to be a missionary, and for everything that Heavenly Father has given me and continues to give me. This gospel is gospel of blessings and joy! Every single thing Heavenly Father has given us through this gospel provides for our happiness. That is His deepest desire: our happiness. I know that that is true, because as I have tried to not just follow the gospel, but really live it, I am happier than I've ever been before. We really do share a happy message. I'm so grateful to be a missionary!

I love you all so much!

Love,

Sister Bonney

새해복많이받으세요!!! Happy Lunar New Year!

February 2, 2014

Dear everyone!

Remember Brother Kim from last week? The studly little kid? Well, he's not just a studly little kid. He's a studly little MISSIONARY! This week, he came to church again, and he brought his 9-year-old sister. The primary children were the best fellowshippers I've ever seen. They immediately accepted Brother Kim and his little sister as they're new friends, and they even sat together in sacrament meeting. I'm so grateful for their example of what it truly means to love unconditionally.

Interesting experience-- I tried bondegghi recently. What is bondegghi? It's silkworm. Actually, it's the silkworm chrysalis boiled in its own bodily fluids. YUM. Actually, it was the nastiest thing I've yet tried EVER, and I will NOT be doing that again.

There are more drunk people in Gumi than anywhere else I've seen in my life. In Korea, public intoxication is not illegal or questioned or anything. People just wander around absolutely wasted and everyone around them tolerates them extremely kindly. The Korean people serve without a second thought; it's a powerful example to watch. But it also has led to a few interesting experiences.. I can also know recognize when someone has recently drunk alcohol! I couldn't do that before my mission... The things you learn when in the service of God.

This week, we met with a man named .... Brother Kim. (a different one...) The elders originally had an appointment with him for English, but one of the elders was really sick and the other is fairly new in the field, so Sister Park and I said we'd go with them to help them out.

Now Koreans for some reason think that foreigners are really attractive. Usually it's just the old grandmas talking to American sisters saying things like, "You're so pretty! Why aren't you married yet?" But occasionally, you just meet a creeper. I've run into several with my companions. The man we met was a creeper. I've never felt so uncomfortable in my life as I did during that appointment.

When we first met him, he wanted to take us out to eat (fairly normal in Korean culture). He took us to Lotteria, a Korean knock-off of McDonalds. The elders were trying to good-naturedly start a conversation with him, but he had issues. I'm still not quite sure what they are... Sister Park has worked in a bar, so she seriously knows how to handle people. I'm SUPER grateful for that. And so are the elders... After we ate together, Brother Kim wanted to spend another two hours learning English, but all four of us missionaries had decided that we just needed to part ways. But Brother Kim still wanted to go to the church and learn English. So Sister Park took over. We took him to a cafe and she bought him a drink, which in Korean culture made him obligated to us. He recognized what she had done, and he told us to share our 말씀, our talk, what we usually shared with people. Sister Park brought out the Book of Mormon and shared Jacob 6:12, "O be wise, what can I say more?" As soon as Brother Kim read that verse, his entire countenance changed. There was a new light in his eyes, and I believe it was the first time in his life he's ever felt the Spirit. Together, all four of us testified of the Book of Mormon and shared that this was the center of our message. His entire attitude had changed 180 degrees by the time he left that cafe to catch his train. It was one of the most powerful moments on my mission.

President Boyd K. Packer said, "The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than talking about behavior will improve behavior." On my mission, I have witnessed that that is true. But why? Because of the power of the Atonement. As we feel the Spirit and as we become worthy to have its influence in our lives, we become partakers of the blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The Atonement has a healing power, a transforming power that transcends what we are capable of as human beings. Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can one day become like our Father in Heaven and experience all the joy and blessings that He desires for us. I know that Heavenly Father lives, and that we will one day be able to not only live with Him, but be like Him. It's a powerful destiny, and it's all possibly because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

I love you all so much!

Love,

Sister Bonney

"Time doesn't matter..."

January 27, 2014

Dear everyone!

Not much time left today, but all's well in Gumi! Sister Park and I are getting along well and doing our best to find people willing to hear the gospel message! This week, we found two!

Jihae Kim. Sister Kim is a high school student we met on a bus. We talked and I asked if we could meet again. She said yes, we exchanged numbers, and we met last week. She is already reading the Book of Mormon. She has interest about baptism, although we haven't invited her yet, and she came to our ward party with her friend! She's so kind and eager to learn. We're so grateful to have found her.

Taehoon Kim! Brother Kim is 11 years old. We met him during a district caroling activity, and he said he wanted to come to our church. He came to our ward Christmas party, but although we contacted him later, he never responded. All of a sudden, he showed up to our English class on Saturday. Some of the young men in the ward also came and helped him have a really fun experience. He said he wanted to come to church on Sunday so we told him when. He came. And he stayed for almost 7 hours. We had choir practice after church for a special event and he stayed through that playing with member children. When we asked him when he needed to go home, he said, "Time doesn't matter. I'm just going to stay." He's coming to our children's English class on Wednesday. Wow. What a studly kid!

Other than that, not too much going on here! Oh! I bowed and collected money from members this week too, but that's another story. ^^ Happy Lunar New Year!!!

I love you all!!!!

Love,

Sister Bonney

January 20, 2014

Dear everyone!

Not too much exciting stuff on this end! Sister Park and I are trucking along in Gumi! The weather's cold, but our hearts are warm, and that just sounds cheesy, but it's true!

Brother Choi update! Bro. Choi got the Aaronic priesthood last Sunday! We are so happy for him. Jiwon and a little boy in primary like each other. ;) He brings her yogurt drinks which they share during our children's English class. SO cute. Bro. Choi and Jiwon are such amazing members already! I can't imagine Gumi ward without them.

Since the baptism, Sister Park and I haven't had any investigators. Sounds familiar.... But that gives us the opportunity to find! Which I'm actually growing to love and appreciate more and more as time goes by. We've seen SO many miracles as we've looked for those ready to hear the gospel. We've been able to find old investigators who met with missionaries 2-3 years ago and make appointments with them! People who just talked to missionaries on the street years ago said they'd be willing to meet with us now! Today, a woman walked up to us in Daegu, NOT EVEN OUR AREA, and said she lived in Gumi and she was trying to contact us, but she gave up a few months ago because we never answered our phone. Well, we got her number, and we're going to work with her again! This week, we also did a lot of street boarding with the elders. We talked to everyone we could, and together, we found 68 potential investigators. We DEFINITELY said a grateful prayer after counting those. We are SO grateful for how much Heavenly Father has been helping us in our efforts to find those people ready and willing to hear the message of the restored gospel.

I'm so grateful to be on a mission and to be able to serve as a missionary! Heavenly Father is so mindful of all His children, and I can't even begin to express how grateful I am for that truth. I know He lives! I know He loves and understands us perfectly. I know that when we pray, He hears us. He is our father and we are His children.

I love you all so much!

Love,

Sister Bonney

There are NO gummy bears in Gumi. But there is rice!

January 13, 2014

Dear everyone!

I'm officially in my fifth transfer!!! By the end of the month I will have been in Korea for 6 months. That's crazy. I feel like I just finished training a week ago, but ever onward!

Sister Park and I are still together in Gumi, and things are going well! Brother Choi and Jiwon are still active, and Brother Choi will receive the priesthood on Saturday. We're so excited for him, and he's still valiantly keeping the Word of Wisdom. It's still a struggle for him, but he's doing so well. We're so proud and grateful for the changes he's made in his life to be worthy to receive the blessings of the gospel.

In my first transfer, another sister missionary told me, "Every transfer is for something new. If you only learn one new thing that whole transfer, you can know you did well." Each transfer, I have learned something new: how to love a companion when I don't like them, how to express love when you can't use words, that investigators and this work are in the Lord's hands and His timing, there is power in the scriptures for you and your investigators, obedience opens the windows of heaven, gratitude is the most powerful balm for the soul, and so much more. This past transfer however, I learned more about the enabling power of the Atonement than I ever imagined I could.

Sometimes, I think we misunderstand the power of the Atonement. We know it is SO HUGE and it covers everything, but that doesn't just mean the most horrible sins. It means everything. Every weakness, every shortcoming, every flaw, EVERYTHING. If changing it means you become more like Christ, the Atonement can help you. We don't have to change and repent or improve through our own grit and willpower. We can pray and ask Heavenly Father to help us partake of the enabling power of the Atonement, and we will receive. We can do things beyond our own power, we can have courage that is not ours, discipline beyond what we were born with, and the ability to accomplish things with a grace that is not ours.

I want to share just one way the Atonement has helped me personally this past transfer: I loved my last area so much. I learned how to proselyte there, and I learned how to do missionary work there. The people is Busan are so kind and friendly, and so it was easy to talk to them, and although they usually weren't interested in the gospel, they would talk with you and encourage you. When I came to Gumi, I struggled so much talking to people. It just terrified me. Although the people in Gumi are so kind, they are not as warm or friendly as in Busan. But in my personal study time, I began to study more about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I didn't even think these two things related, because not being able to talk to people isn't exactly sinful. But as I learned more about the Atonement, I began to pray more to be able to use the power from it. And almost overnight, I was able to talk to people without fear. It was the most incredible personal transformation I've experienced yet on my mission.

The Atonement is real. The Atonement covers everything. I know that Jesus Christ performed it for each and every one of us. Each of us can partake of it, and overcome anything because of this priceless expression of love from our Heavenly Father. If it helps you become more like Christ, through the Atonement, you can do it. I know that Jesus Christ lives. He is my best friend. He has been with me every step of my mission, and I'm so inexpressibly grateful. I know that He is with us every step of this mortal journey, and He will always lift us if we only ask. I know that Heavenly Father is my Father in Heaven. I know I am His daughter, and I know that He loves me as a parent loves their child. I know He loves me and I know that He knows me so perfectly. We can talk to Him through prayer, and He always ALWAYS answers. I know He lives. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

I love you all so much!

Love,

Sister Bonney

Baptisms for the New Year!

January 6, 2014

Dear everyone!

Brother Choi and Jiwon got baptized this past Saturday and confirmed yesterday in sacrament meeting. They're already such amazing members. The baptismal service had a spirit words can't describe, and Brother Choi and Jiwon were just as excited for their baptisms as we were. Actually, Brother Choi was so excited for his baptism that he woke up at 4am that morning. :) After they were baptized, we asked them how they felt when they were baptized, and Brother Choi said he couldn't express it in words, it was so wonderful.

It has been such an indescribable blessing to be able to teach them, prepare them for baptism, and then witness their baptism and confirmation. I know Heavenly Father loves them so very much, and He prepared them so perfectly to find and accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. Missionaries didn't find Brother Choi and Jiwon. They found us. They just came to church because they wanted to learn more. They tested the gospel as Alma asks us to do (Alma 32:27) and they learned of its truthfulness. Because they chose to accept it, it will only continue to bless their lives.

Faith building experience from just yesterday: On Sunday afternoon, we had planned to visit two families, but we felt something was missing. Sister Park felt we needed to visit someone, but we didn't know who. We took a look at our less active list and found a name. Sister Hyosun Lee. Sister Park knew her and I had met her sons, but we didn't know her very well. Even still, we felt we needed to visit her. We gave her a call Sunday morning, and asked if we could visit briefly that night. She said sure. Part way through our second appointment, we got a text from her saying she couldn't meet us. We asked her why, and she texted back that she was at the hospital with her youngest son who had just broken his arm. We called and asked if we could visit, and if she would like her son to receive a priesthood blessing. We called the elders and as we were meeting, we ran into two brothers from the ward. We went to the hospital together and the elders and the two brothers from the ward (Brother Moon and Brother Jung) offered a priesthood blessing for her son. When we got home that night, we got a text from Sister Lee's oldest son: "Thank you so much for taking care of us..."

We didn't take care of them. Heavenly Father did. He knew where they were, He knew that they would need help before they needed it, and He knew to put Brother Moon and Brother Jung in a place where they would be needed. It was so incredible to be able to witness how perfectly Heavenly Father knows and cares for His children.

Til next week! I love you all so much!

Love,

Sister Bonney