"What should we do?"... "Pray!"

This week was incredible! God let me see so many miracles!

Some funny things that happened:

We met with our new investigator, 윤인자, this week. We taught her a little lesson and gave her a Book of Mormon. She loves it. ...we were about to leave when she told us to hold on for a second--always a bad sign. She brought out some unidentified, grayish meat wrapped in plastic wrap. Sister King asked what it was. She said "고기" and pointed at her foot--pig feet! Yikes! She sat there and watched us eat it. It was really gross! Haha. And it was cold. She left the room for a second and I asked Sister King, "what should we do?" She said, "Pray!" then took a bite haha. We survived, but felt a little sick afterward. :)

Yesterday we ate at a member's house and had 떡볶이...There was a mysterious purple/gray meat in the dish...I found out later it was pig intestines! I ate pig feet and pig intestines this week! I was also served seaweed soup and mushed-up red beans. And I ate it all. It was quite a feat. I'm getting better at just eating whatever is put in front of me. haha.

So...now for the MIRACLES!

We met with 신문정 for the first time in a month this week! She loves English and really likes the Book of Mormon, but doesn't know if she completely believes in God. We have had a really hard time getting her to pray at the end of our lessons, but she prayed! I told her at the beginning that we were going to ask her to pray at the end of the lesson and she got super nervous. We talked about how it's very simple and how we just tell God how we're feeling. Sister King demonstrated how to pray and she took notes. :) When the end of the lesson came, after a lot of encouraging, she said the most simple, but the sweetest prayer I have ever heard. Afterwards she said, "I did it!" It was an absolute miracle. I was so happy. 

One night we were planning on visiting a member, but when we got to her door, Sister King and I both felt like we shouldn't knock for some reason. We prayed about it, then decided not to visit. Instead, we took a bus to visit a lady we met in a convenient store a couple days earlier. She was working and we got an appointment for Saturday! Awesome! We taught her Saturday and she wants to meet three times a week--almost unheard of in Korea! This is truly the Lord's work.

Ana, our American investigator has tons of questions and is reading the Book of Mormon! She even said she'll get baptized when she comes to know this church is true! :) She's awesome!

I'm learning more and more everyday that I need to totally rely on the Lord. As we do our best to do so, the God lets us find people to teach. Whenever I feel discouraged, He is there. I love being able to devote all my time to the Lord. I love the gospel and just want to share it with everyone! I know the Book of Mormon is true. If you don't, read it and pray about it. Ask God. He is real. He will answer you.

Love all of you! Keep reading the scriptures and praying. 

Sister Naatjes :)

"ELF!"

This week was a miracle week! 

First, a few funny things:

A man named "Richard" (his american name) came to English class this week and he was hilarious! He loves speaking his broken enlish really loudly and with a lot of energy! We played Christmas catch-phrase and he stood up for his turn. He said, "A big sheep...with BIG horns!" ...Someone then yelled, "ELF!" ...they were right--HA! All of us missionaries laughed for a long time. 

We ran into the same grandpa two nights in a row this week (which never happens because we're in such a huge city). He loves practicing his english. He came up to me and said, "You are very beautiful. I especially like your hairstyle!" It was super funny. He gave us his address and wants us to come by. We're excited because he's hilarious! 

We had a dinner at an old grandma's house last night and it was soooo hard! There was a soup with big fish cakes in it and I have a hard time with them, so I tried to eat them first to get them over with--big mistake! ...she insisted on giving me more haha. I'm still learning. 

Now for the miracles! 

We had no appointments and the former investigators we tried weren't home, so we 가가호호-ed an apartment complex and the manager stopped us! We taught him about the Book of Mormon and was reading it super intently when we left. He told us to stop by anytime! We also found another interested girl from 가가호호-ing! (tracting) People usually don't open the door when we knock, so it was a miracle! We set up an appointment for this week! 

Sister King had to re-charge her bus card this week, so we went into a little store and the worker was super interested and talked to us for like 30 minutes! It was so great!

We're are now teaching 3 new people! We got to meet with Ana, the American girl we met on the street this week and it was so awesome! She had tons of questions we were able to answer and is really interested! She's reading the Book of Mormon! It was such a cool experience to be able to answer questions she has had for a long time. 

이지영 came to church this week! Yay! She seemed to really like it, so we're excited! 

I love this gospel! I love being a missionary, even though it's hard a lot of the time. I feel so blessed to be able to share what means the most to me with others. I am blessed each and every day from my knowledge of the gospel. I know my purpose. I know my God. I know that He loves me and that I can pray to Him anytime. It's amazing. I am blessed by the Book of Mormon daily. I just want to share it with the world! ...I guess I get to start with Korea :) 

The Lord is strengthening me everyday. As I pray for strength, the Lord makes up for my MANY inadequacies. My Korean, my teaching skills, my faith...and so many other things are lacking, but through the Savior I become good enough. 

Keep praying and reading the scriptures. Pray to God. He is listening and will draw closer to you as you do so. 

Love,

Sister Naatjes :)

A miracle happened! A blonde-haired girl walked by

This week was awesome!! 

Some funny things from this week:

One morning I was doing my sprints in the morning up the hill by my apartment. At the bottom of the hill I said hi to a couple girls walking by in pajama pants...I sprinted up the hill and looked back. One of the girls was sprinting up behind me and giggling. It was cute. I walked back down the hill with her giggling. So funny.

The other night we got let into a ladies' house (woo! doesn't happen much!) but I started talking and she quickly turned to Sister King and said, "She doesn't speak well." I told her she was right! She was very blunt and funny.

We got fed twice this week. I am getting better at eating the food...mom, you would be impressed. The other day I ate mussels and shrimp and various sea food in a soup...Last night was so hard! We had 떡복기 (rice cakes, fish cakes, egg, and unidentified meat) and they served me a lot. Toward the end I thought I was going to explode, but it's rude to leave food so I got it down. I wasn't a big fan of the fish cakes, but I did it!!

This week we got a new investigator!! Yay! Her name is 이지영 (ee-jee-young). She is in her 40s and super cute! She had seen missionaries before and always said no, but this time something made her say yes. She's really curious. I'm excited to keep teaching her. This week I was really nervous for a lesson because I taught a part I don't have experience teaching. But after lots of praying I did it! Really slowly, but I did it! And she understood me haha. 

I sat next to an older man on the bus last Monday and started talking to him. He was eyeing my Book of Mormon, so I started talking to him about it. He said he knew about it and is an Elder for another church. He said he hates the book. I asked him if he had read it and he said no. I bore my testimony that it is a good book that has blessed my life. It was a cool experience. He was smiling as he got off the bus (probably because my Korean is bad, but I'll take it haha)!

We did a district survey this week (we go into the middle of the big downtown shopping center and advertise free English and get people's numbers on surveys) and it was so fun! You just have to be super bold and walk with people as they pass by. A miracle happened! A blonde-haired girl walked by and I stopped her. Turns out she's from Nebraska, has a good friend who is a member of the church and wants to learn more about the church! I'm so excited! 

I keep getting frustrated at my inability to speak Korean, but I learned a lot about patience and I'm learning everyday.

I really like Romans 5:3-5--read it! 

As we go through hard things, we develop in patience and become better people. 

I wonder sometimes why I got sent to Korea where I can't speak! Why wouldn't I go somewhere English speaking? But I read a cool talk this week: "As Many as I Love I Rebuke and Chasten"--D. Todd Christofferson May 2011.

He tells the story of a currant bush that was cut down by a gardener because it wasn't growing fruit... 

"Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be. I didn't intend for you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree. I want you to be a currant bush, and someday, little currant bush, when you are laden with much fruit, you are going to say, "Thank you Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down.'"

"Thank  you, Mr. Gardener, for cutting me down, for loving me enough to hurt me."

I know that I'm in Korea for a reason. The Lord knows who He needs me to be. I know that as I'm struggling to learn Korean, I'm becoming a better person. I'm becoming who He needs me to be. 

I know that the God has a plan for each of us. He loves us all. I know it! 

Love you all! Have a wonderful week!!

Sister Naatjes :)

할수있에요

This week was a great one! It went by really fast!

Mom--to answer your questions...we eat a lot of ramen, rice, kimchi, eggs, and fruit. When we visit members we usually get fed 고고마 (sweet potatoes), 감 (persimmons), apples, or clementines. Weird foods...yes. I'm getting better at just eating what's in front of me without asking questions! We've only been fed by members a couple times, so mostly we just fend for ourselves other than the fruit and tea the members give us when we visit.

Funny mishaps--always! It seems like every time I have a conversation with someone they laugh because I say words totally wrong! 

Last week I was walking up the stairs from the subway saying hi to everyone as usual...I said hello to a teenage boy who stopped in his tracks and stared at me. He said, "에수?" (Jesus?) I said, yes! I'm a missionary! He then said, "you believe." I responded "yes," of course! He then quickly went in for a hug--haha! Luckily Sister King stopped him before he got too close! It was pretty funny. 

Yesterday it was stormy and wet. I totally fell down the stairs to the subway! It was hilarious! Also, the wind was so strong that my umbrella broke in like 5 places. 

On Wednesday we had a meeting in Daejeon for all the greenies and our trainers. It was fun to see all the people who came to Korea with me. They seem to be just as confused as I am which was comforting!

My Korean is still pretty awful, but I'm trying to stay positive and just say what I can. Sister King told me that she heard me loudly proclaim in my sleep, "할수있에요" (I can do it!) haha. 

I talked to a lady on the subway this week who happily accepted the Book of Mormon and thanked me--yay! I gave her my number. Hopefully she calls!

On Friday and Saturday I went on a split. I was with 이다슬 자매님. We're both greenies so we were a little bit nervous, but we actually had a lot of success! We taught for over two hours that day--yay! She did pretty much all the talking because she knows Korean haha...but I understood some of it and put in a few words here and there haha. It was really fun!

On Saturday we went to an activity for all the young women in the area. It was "Project Runway." It was really cute. At the end, all the girls sang a song that made me cry. I love these people! 

Yesterday all the missionaries sang "Angels We Have Heard On High" in Sacrament Meeting to kick off the non-existent Christmas spirit in the ward. It was fun--especially because a new, Chinese investigator sang with us. Our Elders met him the night before and invited him to practice with us . He came and sang in Korea--ha! Awesome!

This week I learned a lot. Something I have thought about a lot is the power of prayer--it is so real! In Mosiah 27 the Lord answers the faithful prayers of a worried father, Alma by sending an angel to his son. I love verse 14. The Lords answers faithful prayers. 

So keep praying! God is listening. He will answer our prayers. I know it. He has answered mine. 

I love you all! I love the Lord. I love Korea. I love being a missionary.

Sister Naatjes :)

We had a miracle happen this week!

This week has been great! Korea is so awesome :) I see and experience new things everyday! 

We had a miracle happen this week! We were a little bit down because everyone seemed to be rejecting us and we haven't been getting any new people to teach. So we were knocking on a former investigator's door and she wasn't interested...and then a lady ran up to us excitedly and said, "I'm a member!!" We didn't recognize her because she hasn't come to church in a long time. She ran to the store and bought us a warm drink. We were surprised by how excited she was! We got her number then went back to knocking on doors.

A couple days later we were fasting as part of a mission-wide fast. This same lady showed up at our weekly English class. She talked to us afterward and said that she had only come so that she could talk to us missionaries. She had been going through a hard time and felt like God had forgotten about her. She had been praying and just couldn't believe He still loved her. Just that morning she had said her last prayer and had given God His last chance. And then that night she saw us! She had been wanting to see missionaries for a long time and we were an answer to her prayers. We got to tell her that God loves her so much and that He hears her prayers. We all knelt in prayer with tears in our eyes following that experience.

I know that no matter what we have done in the past or how hard our lives are, God's love is ALWAYS there. always. 

Romans 8:35, 38-39.

God is using Sister King and I. He put us in someone's path who really needed Him. I feel so blessed to have been a part of that experience. 

We had Stake Conference this week and I didn't understand much, but it was amazing. I was sitting by a sweet, old couple and surrounded by faithful people who love God. They are incredible. I was feeling a little bit flustered because I couldn't understand what was going on, but then the choir sang and it was the most beautiful thing I have ever heard. They sang, "I believe in Christ." My heart was full. I love these people!  These are such special people! I'm so grateful I get to serve here. How did I get so lucky?

In Korea, the men all wear really sparkly, crazy ties. It's hilarious. I love coming to church every week and seeing the pink and purple, glittery ties :)

I love being a missionary. I love the Lord. I love the gospel. I am grateful for the chance I have to testify of God's love for people. Every once in a while, God lets me have a little taste of His love for people. I know with all of my heart that He is real. He hears our cries. His arms are always outstretched. I know it. Keep reading scriptures every day and pray all the time!

Love you all! 

Sister Naatjes :)

You can happy time in Chicken

Great week!

I had some interesting experiences this week. First of all, we went to a bath house. I didn't want to go, but I knew my companion really did, so I surrendered haha. It was very different...I'm glad I had the experience, but I can't say I would do it again haha. It was pretty embarrassing. The most embarrassing part was that some of the old ladies in the bath house RECOGNIZED ME. haha. They knew me as the crazy girl who does sprints up the big hill every morning. I was super embarrassed at the extra attention being drawn to me because I didn't want anyone to look at me, but it was really funny. I guess is could get me in some doors later possibly--who says you can't do missionary work in a bath house haha.

I talked to a lady at the subway station and tried to talk about the gospel. She said something quietly kind of under her breath. I asked her what she had said again and heard, 사랑합니다 (I love you). I thought I might have heard it wrong again, but she quietly repeated it a third time haha. I don't think I have ever been told that in the first couple minutes of meeting someone before. 

Sometimes I don't feel so loved though. We tried to talk to a lady on the street and she said, "missionaries" and quickly hid her children behind her. A lady was walking up the street and when she was about 5 feet in front of us, she realized we were missionaries and quickly turned around and made a break for it. haha...

All of our appointments cancelled this week, but we have a couple more people interested in English lessons, so that's exciting! 

Most of the time I feel really lost when people talk to me (especially at church). I get really frustrated because I love these people and want to be able to understand and talk to them, but I can't! I often feel so inadequate, but I am reminded each and every day that the Lord loves me and is helping me. 

When things get hard, I have learned to turn completely to the Lord. I trust him. I know that he is there--for me and for everyone. This is why I'm here! I'm here to bring people to the Lord so that they can feel the same love and comfort I feel every day. When things get hard, turn to him. He will help you. 

Even though we are imperfect, when we turn to Him, he makes us whole. He makes me good enough even when I feel so inadequate.

Two nights ago, a miracle happened. While we were waiting for a bus, I decided to talk to a teenage girl. I had a full conversation (in very broken Korean) with her. I bore my testimony of the Book of Mormon and she accepted it! yay! I really hope she reads it and it brings her as much peace and joy as it brings me. :)

Love you all! 

낫제스 자매 

내, 마시새요!

This week was crazy and awesome. 

To answer your questions:

I am able to work out in the mornings. Our apartment is on a big hill, so my companion stretches outside while I run hills. I love it. 

We got new yohs (floor mats) this week, so now I have my own and it's wonderful! haha.

My companion is super nice and I really like her. The other missionaries in my apartment are awesome too--Sister Rouche and Sister Lee. Sister Lee is from Korea and is hilarious! We have fun. 

I have so many language slip-ups every day. hmm...last night we had family home evening and dinner with a family. Someone asked me if I needed a fork (because I was very obviously struggling with my chopsticks) and I replied, "내, 마시새요!" or "yes, it's delicious." The whole table laughed at me. I refused the fork though and ate fried chicken with chopsticks (not an easy feat!)

Life in Korea is busy, busy, busy! People walk quickly. The kids go to school all day and at night and almost all the adults work--a lot. I'm in a big city, so there are always people everywhere. Pretty much everyone lives in apartments--not much space for houses. People eat a lot of Kimchi haha... We use public transportation a lot and walk a lot. It's pretty fun. 

My talk went surprisingly well! I was super nervous and kept messing up when I was practicing, but I said a prayer before I went up and I hardly messed up! The Lord is helping me! People told me I did a good job. 

...however, later that day they asked me to read a scripture aloud and I was soooo slow! snail speed. The kids giggled a little bit, but I got through it. Korean is hard. 

This week was full of miracles. We are teaching a girl named 조아영 (joh-ah-young). She is a high-school senior and is super cute! We love her. This week she came to church! Yay! She likes to practice her English with me. I'm excited for the day that I know more Korean than she does English haha. 

One day I was feeling especially discouraged because my language skills are so poor, but I prayed for help. I made a goal to give away a Book of Mormon that day and I gave away 3!! God answers prayers!

We were having a hard time finding people to teach and we got 3 referrals for our gospel-english program from a ward member--yay! In the gospel-english program we first teach 30 minutes of english then 30 minutes of the gospel. We have our first lesson tonight and I'm really excited. We made and put up flyers (I'll have to send a pic sometime. They have a picture of my companion and I, so my face is on a bunch of light poles) for free English lessons all over the streets and a girl contacted us last night. woo! 

Some funny things that happened this week:

I make an effort to talk to anyone I can even though I can't say much. I was sitting next to a student girl on the bus and started talking about the Book of Mormon and Jesus Christ. I guess I was talking really loud because when I looked around everyone was looking at me (even more than usual). I thought we were at our stop, so I quickly gave her the Book of Mormon and rushed out of my seat. Turns out, we were stopped at a red light...I forgot both my bus card and an extra copy of the Book of Mormon in my seat, so the girl brought them to me. The whole back of the bus was laughing at me. one of the ladies quietly said, "재미새요" ("funny")...I'm such a foreigner. At least they all heard about the Book of Mormon!

I get laughed at a lot, but I think it's really funny. I have blonde hair, so I get away with doing weird things.

We visited a member and they brought out a whole fried chicken for my companion and I to eat. When Korean people give you food, you have to eat it or it's really rude, so we ate a whole fried chicken. When I thought I would die, they brought out more chicken and rice cakes haha.

God is real. He is listening. I know that he answers prayers--he answers mine everyday. Pray to Him. He loves you! 

Well, I love you all!

Kendall--awesome! Second in State is incredible!! [Kendall's soccer team got 2nd place in the state tournament]

Bells--Sorry you had to spend Halloween doing IRP [Independent Reading Pages] haha 

Mixter--Way to go! First in the all-around?? You're amazing! [Mikki won her gymnastics meet]

I have the best family ever!

Love,

Sister Naatjes :)