Don’t give up when the pressure mounts

So first of all I need to tell you about my experience in Seoul! It takes 3 hours to get there by train, so we left at 5 in the morning, went to a member of our church's office so that my companion could get training for her visa interview, and then went to the interview. When we got to the door my companion showed her I.D...etc...and then I showed mine and they said I couldn't come in! I was time for her interview, so there was nothing we could do! I was told the interview would take about an hour. She went in and there I was, alone in Seoul! I freaked out! As missionaries it's a rule that we should never be without our companion...wahh! So I called my mission president and his wife and they didn't answer! So I called the AP and he had no idea what to do, so there I was! haha...a while later President and Sister Shin called back and laughed and said not to worry. I ended up going back to the member's office and studying until my companion finished her interview. It was quite the experience!!

This week lots of miracles happened! And a lot of funny things too!

This week several times as I tried to talk to people on the street--especially at stop lights, they run away from me~! The light turns green and they bolt away! haha...But there are also people who listen and have some interest!

This week we have met with a lot of people having a really hard time, especially our recent converts. Life is hard! 

A quote that stood out to me this week was one by Elder Holland

“Opposition turns up almost any place something good has happened. It can happen when you are trying to get an education. It can hit you after your first month in your new mission field. …

“With any major decision there are cautions and considerations to make, but once there has been illumination, beware the temptation to retreat from a good thing. If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted it and lived for it, it is right now. Don’t give up when the pressure mounts.”

Especially our investigators, recent converts, and less-actives seem to experience many hard things as they begin to know about or start coming back to church. I know that through these things they will become stronger and be able to have stronger testimonies. I also know that the Lord is with them, especially now.

My heart felt super heavy because of all of the hard things I saw, but I felt again God's love and gentle assurance that everything is in His hands. He loves us so much and is always ready to help us anytime.

A miracle happened this week! A few weeks ago I met an inactive member from the U.S. who was visiting her family in Korea on the street and got her sister's number so we could contact her. She told us she was having a really hard time and I invited her to conference then. But we kept not being able to get ahold of her, so I figured she went back to the US. 

This week we ran into her randomly on the street again! She immediately came up to me with tears in her eyes and told me about how hard things are for her right now. I was able to give her a Book of Mormon and invite her to church. On Sunday morning we called and she came! She cried many times and said that she felt like she got needed strength from church and will come again next week. What a miracle! God loves her so much and is aware of her. 

This week we randomly got tons of new investigators, which is a huge blessing!

Our investigators, 조은정 and 김연주 set a baptismal date for 11.30! We're excited for them! 

 I know that this is God's work. I'm grateful to be His weak servant. I know that He loves His children. I know that this gospel is true. I love the Book of Mormon and the Bible and know they are true and from God. I receive guidance and light through them daily and see my investigators do the same. 

I love you all!

Have a wonderful week!

Sister Naatjes :)

I love being a missionary!

Hey Everybody!

What a crazy week it's been! 

Right now I'm emailing from a cafe in Seoul and have very little time, so this will be short! My companion has to get a visa because her mom moved to America during her mission. The mission president said I needed to come too, so here I am! haha…

Last week we got transfer calls and I'm staying here with my same companion, Sister Lee--this will be out 3rd transfer together.

This Monday (p-day) we went ice-skating as a missionary activity with all of the sister missionaries in Gwangju which was fun! I got to see Sister Scott again!!

Our investigator, 김민선 received the gift of the Holy Ghost yesterday! 

기연주, kim yun ju is really progressing and wants to get baptized! We think she will get baptized on the 24 of this month! She's so pure and wants to do good! She's 22 years old and her mom has been an investigator for 3 years, so we met her through her mom and we think she may be baptized before her mom, but we hope they will be baptized together on the same day!

We had a lesson with her at a member's house this week and it was super powerful! My companion told her story about coming to know the Book of Mormon is true and that this church is true and we were both in tears. I was able to bear my testimony and the spirit was so strong. I love being a missionary!

our recent convert, shin deoung hyun was assigned to give a talk in Stake conference.

We met a man while we were exercising one morning and the next day he brought his whole family to our English class--wife, son, and daughter--and then came to a ward activity the next day! He wants us to come to his house this week! Yay! It's important to open our mouths everywhere we go! God prepares miracles always!

I love my Savior with all of my heart and am learning more and more about Him each day. I am so weak and make mistakes everyday, but He loves me and helps me to overcome my weaknesses and become good enough.

I love you all!

Have an amazing week!!

Sister Naatjes

God's plan is so cool!

Wow! What a week! It was among the hardest weeks of my mission, but the best at the same time.

On Tuesday we had a few appointments lined up and thought we were going to have a pretty busy day, but in the morning during our district meeting all of the people cancelled...we were a little bummed, but went back home to finish our studies and eat lunch when our recent convert 신동현 shin deong hyun called us crying and told us she was at the church. We went to meet her and she was having a really hard time. She had just gotten back from her really close friend's funeral who had passed away the day before and didn't know where else to go, so she came to the church. We talked with her and cried with her. It was really hard, but I was so amazed by how great her faith was. She knew that her friend was not gone forever and that she could see her again. She knew the Plan of Salvation and bore testimony to us about it. One of the first things she said to us when we came to meet her was, "when can I go to the temple?" We had just talked about it the Sunday before and she wanted to go and be baptized for her friend. I was so amazed at her faith.

I was so grateful that our appointments cancelled--God had another plan for us--to help shin deong hyun. He was aware of His hurting daughter and made a way for us to be able to meet her. God's plan is so perfect.

This week our investigator 김민선 kim min sun got baptized! She's 18 and just about to start college--Kendall's age! She started coming to church with her friend about 3 months ago. At first she didn't want to meet with missionaries, but after we kept talking with her at church and she got to know us a little better--especially my companion--she decided to meet with us. She wanted to get baptized, so we set a date and it all went great!

She is really cute and pure and accepted and believed the gospel easily. After we set a baptismal date we found out that her mother is an inactive member and her aunt and uncle are really active members in another city--super cool! We think that through her conversion her family will be able to come back to church again! God's plan is so cool!

Her baptismal service was beautiful--shin deong hyun talked about baptism and bore her testimony of the gospel. She's a recent convert of just over a month, but her words were so strong and I felt so proud of her. She talked about the death of her friend and how she is constantly receiving strength through this gospel and how she's excited to learn and grow together with kim min sun. Then one of our new Elders sang "Consider the Lilies.."--in English because he just got to Korea this transfer and I'm not sure that they have that song in Korean, but it was so good--almost everyone in the room was in tears even though they couldn't understand the lyrics. the spirit was super strong. 

I feel so blessed to be a missionary. God is always with us and gives us needed strength, even when things are hard. 

A scripture that really stood out to me this week:

Isaiah 40:28-31:
28 ¶Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

I know that as we rely on the Lord we are always given strength to do what we need to do--especially during the hard times. I know that this gospel is true with all of my heart and I'm grateful to be able to share it everyday with these wonderful Korean people who I love so much!

Love you all! Have an amazing week!

Sister Naatjes

Time is starting to fly by faster and faster

Hey Everyone~! It's been another amazing week as a missionary! Time is starting to fly by faster and faster--I can't believe it's almost November! Wahh! 

This week we saw so many miracles! 

We visited one of our members houses this week in the evening--she's preparing to go on a mission to Temple Square next month, her mother is less-active, and her father is not a member of our church. We had never met her dad before, but when we went they were all at home and we were super excited! They showed us all of their old family pictures, gave us fruit (persimmon) and sweet potatoes (that's what members usually give us when we visit), and then we got to share a message. We shared the Plan of Salvation and the spirit was strong. After we taught, the mother told us about a friend of hers she wanted us to pray for who is very sick. She also requested a priesthood blessing for her friend. When we left I got to say the closing prayer and prayed for her sick friend and the spirit was so strong--it felt almost tangible. I was so grateful to share that experience with them and to see that mother's little act of faith. I know God loves that family so much and is mindful of them and the mother's sick friend. 

신동현 shin deong hyun, our recent convert, is sooooo amazing! She teaches with us almost everyday and her testimony has become so strong. I love her so much! After church yesterday my companion and I had to go on a member split because we had to teach two investigators. I taught with 신동현 a lady who has been an investigator on and off for 3 years who has fear of being baptized. 신동현 bore a pure, strong testimony that God is always with us. Although she knows being a member of this church and living the gospel will not be easy and that she will continue to receive a lot of opposition from her family, that God will help her. She's so amazing!

On the weekly conference call that our mission has I found out that a recent convert in Daejeon who I used to visit tons--her husband--got baptized!! I'm so excited! Such a miracle!

One of our investigators who is Kendall's age is getting baptized next week!! She's super cute and just really pure. we're excited for her!

I taught Ursula again this week and it was hard again--English! Haha...but it was good! She has a lot of questions. I really like her and the members are really excited about her.  :)

I feel so blessed to be a part of this work. I feel the Lord's influence everyday and know that it is true with all of my heart! I know that God loves His children so much and that He is aware of each of us. I am grateful to be able to be His instrument in sharing this gospel with others. I am so weak and inadequate, but through Christ I am enough. He makes up for my weaknesses. I love this gospel!

Have an amazing week! I love you all!

Sister Naatjes :)

This is really God's work!

Wow! What a week! so much happened and I learned so much!

This week we had lots of miracles~I'll tell you about a few of them!

So about a month ago on a P-day we went shopping in a store called Art Box and I saw a foreigner, so I talked to her--she said she was from Slovenia and came to Korea to live for a little while. Her name is Ursula. She knew about our church and we talked a lot about religion. She had just gotten to Korea that week, so she didn't have a phone yet, so I didn't get her phone number. She gave me her email address, so I emailed her and she replied once, but then didn't reply to any more after that, so I thought she probably just didn't have interest.

Last Monday we got on the Subway and Ursula was there! She gave us her number and we set up an appointment for Sunday. We met Yesterday and it was a challenge to teach in English again, especially because my companion can't speak English, but it went pretty well. She has a return appointment for next week--I'm really excited!

It was super cool that we ran into her randomly again! Things like that happen all the time as a missionary. I know that it's not just a coincidence. This is really God's work!

This week we met with a young woman in our ward and her friend and taught them. The friend, 김민선 (kim min sun) wants to get baptized! We set a date for the 2nd of November. She has been to church 6+ times with her friend, so she has been pretty well prepared! She's really cute. 

신동현 (shin deong hyun), our recent convert who just got baptized a month ago is doing amazing! This week we met with her and she told us that her job that she was going to start next week (which initially told her she wouldn't have to work on Sundays) changed and said she would have to work 2 Sundays a month in the morning (during church). We were really worried about her because if she accepted the job it would be really hard for her to come out to church and to stay active. So we told her to pray about her decision...Later in the week we scheduled to meet with her again and prepared a lesson about decisions and trusting in God and His commandments and were really concerned. We met and as soon as we started teaching she said, "I decided not to take the job." Wow! She then bore her testimony about the lesson we were about to teach--that God is preparing better things for her and that He would bless her for keeping the Sabbath day holy. She's so amazing and has such strong faith! I'm so blessed to know her and learn from her example!

I know that this work is true with all of my heart. I know that this church is true. I am so grateful everyday to have a knowledge of this gospel and to be able to share it with others everyday! I feel so blessed. 

I love you all! Have an amazing week!! 

Sister Naatjes :)

General Conference was AMAZING! Better than Christmas!

Sorry!! I forgot to hit the send button last week!! This is last week's email! Love you all!

Hi everyone!!

What a crazy week! So many ups and downs and so much learned.

This weekend we got to watch General Conference and it was AMAZING! Better than Christmas! In Korea they have general conference one week delayed so that it can all be translated into Korean. Luckily, all the foreign missionaries get to watch it in English so that we can completely understand it. So much inspiration and needed words! 

3 of our investigators and a former investigator came to watch and it and they all had a good experience--they especially liked Elder Bednar's talk. One of them told my companion that she wants to get baptized--조은정. (jo-un-jeoung)

Lots of little miracles, as always! One day we were walking to our apartment and saying hi 안녕하세요 to people as we walked. One lady said, in English, "hi." We stopped and talked to her and it turned out that she lived in america for 20+ years, was a member of our church, got married in the temple, but had a lot of hard things happen in her life and doesn't go to church anymore. We talked for a while on the street and then got her phone number. It was a miracle that we were able to meet her. Unfortunately, she hasn't been taking our calls, but we'll keep trying. We have experiences all that time that remind me that this is truly the Lord's work and that He puts people in our paths. 

We met with our recent convert, 신동현 a few times this week and she is doing so great! She has such a pure testimony and a desire to do and be good. Conference was a little hard for her because it's long--haha, but after conference I had a talk with her where she asked really good questions and bore testimony to me. It was special. She said that this week a friend asked her about the church this week and she started telling her about it...when suddenly a strange feeling came, she said. She wanted to share everything with her. She wanted to share this joy with her friend and realized how much she really does love this church. She's doing so great!

We had a ward picnic this week and the day before we didn't think we would have any investigators there, so we were a little sad, but the night before and the morning of 3 investigators and our recent convert told us that they were coming! It was great! Lots of fun they got to meet a lot of members.

I feel so blessed to be a part of this work. It's truly the most important and rewarding work on the Earth and therefore, maybe the hardest. I'm so blessed to be able to learn and grow and become better each and everyday. I know that God is real. I know that Jesus Christ lives. I know that they want us to be happy and through the Savior's Atonement I know that we can be so. I know that the power of the Atonement is real. 

I love you all!

Have an incredible week!

Sister Naatjes

"If you sing too much, you look stupid."

It was another crazy, amazing week being a missionary!

We had some funnies and lots of miracles, as always!

This week as we were walking to our apartment to do language study and eat dinner we saw a grandma standing in the parking lot, so talked to her. She greeted me in pretty good English and said she was 94-years-old! I couldn't believe it! She was in great health. She invited us to come to her apartment with her, so we did :) She lives alone and had a stack of japanese books on her table. She also speaks fluent japanese! She was hilarious and showed us all her old pictures. She talked about feeling lonely sometimes and we talked to her about how God is always with her and loves her so much. Then we asked her if we could sing a hymn for her before we left and she said we shouldn't sing. We were surprised! She said, "only sing when you really need to. If you sing too much, you look stupid." My companion and I laughed really hard. I could feel how much God loves that little grandma.

On our way to the church for an appointment one day I was greeting everyone along the way and one guy suddenly stopped which happens really rarely. We talked to him for a while and he said he wanted to come to our church, so we told him he could come with us right then. As we started walking with him I turned and saw a little lady with a BYU shirt--woah! Something you never see in Korea! She approached me and said that she was on a trip here and was praying to find someone to show her where the church was! And then she saw the sister missionaries! How cool! God answers prayers! We all walked to the church together and were able to introduce the man we met to the Elders :)

On Sunday 신동현 got the gift of the holy ghost at church--she was so cute. She sat by me in the front and was super excited. After she was confirmed, she sat by me, smiling, and said, "I'm officially a member!" The spirit was strong and she was blessed with amazing things!

We had 4 investigators come to church this week which was exciting! It was a great meeting.

On Sunday after church we met with a girl from the middle-east because she was interested in learning about Korean culture and wanted help adjusting to living here. So we met and talked and then taught a lesson. My companion doesn't like to speak English, so I taught most of it (luckily there's a foreigner in our ward named Chloe that could help me a little bit!). It was cool to hear about her culture and beliefs. She believes in both Jesus and Mohammad. I was amazed how hard it was for me to speak English! After the lesson Chloe said she could tell English was hard for me--haha...I can't speak English or Korean fluently anymore!

I felt blessed again this week to be a missionary and to be doing this work. There are miracles everyday and I'm so grateful to be a part of it. I love these Korean people and the culture and am just grateful. God is so good to me. I love the gospel. I love my Heavenly Father. I love my Savior. I know that through Him I can do all things. I love you all and hope you have an amazing week!

Sister Naatjes :)