SCARED OF CHURCHES

Hello Mother and Family!!!

 Life in Korea is great, last week spring came, so it is not as cold as it used to be. It is amazing how the 21st of March seems to be that magic switch (which is really the earth tilting and completing its revolution around the sun...) that turns winter to spring. 

This last week went well. Our Sri Lankan investigator didn't get baptized because he had work, but one of the people in our ward is a manager where he works, so he is going to check the situation out and get back to us. This past week we were able to meet 7 new investigators, which is always a happy thing. We met with a couple at a shoe store, as well as an english interest investigator, as well as a few others. 

We met one guy who is a little bit scared of churches. He went to church on Sunday because he wanted to start coming to church. The church took him in, forcefully baptized him. Then, he decided after so much force that he didn't want to be a part of the religion, they called and texted him everyday for 3 months. Then, finally, they left him alone. So, he has a bad view of some churches, but at the same time, he has good recollections of our church. We explained to him that baptism is a choice in our church and not forced on anyone. We also told him that in order to get baptized you have to come to church 3 times and receive the missionary discussions. He is really open about learning about the church and so we are excited to teach him the gospel and help him develop his faith in Jesus Christ.

There was another person who we happened to meet this week. He met missionaries a while ago and had played ping pong with them. We played some ping pong with him and then proceeded to teach him a lesson. We talked and he said that he liked videos, about anything, if they were about church...then go for it...and so we showed him the Restoration. After we showed him the video we took some time to talk about what we had watched. As he felt the spirit he opened up and told us that he had felt a lot of the similar feelings that Joseph Smith had. In Korea there are TONS of churches, and Mokpo is a little different than the coastal towns of America. There are the artsy crafts and everything, but Mokpo has sooo many churches it is crazy. Mokpo is a little more laid back than the city, and a lot of people go there for the good air.  Anyways, we continued to talk to him and share our testimony that he could know that the Book Of Mormon is true and that this is God's Restored church. He told us that he would read the Book of Mormon and pray.

we also met another person on Wednesday who was really great as well. He attended the Catholic Church for a year (which you have to in order to get baptized) and did the study program that they have, and then after baptism he attended for another year. Well, he didn't feel any belief emerge...so he quit. He decided to go to church on his own, and he also quit going to church on his own. We met him on the street and told him that he could truly believe in God. He accepted the invitation to meet again, and so we commenced to meet again. He told us that he learned all about science as a boy, and because of that his view of religion was coming from science. So he asked questions about the creation and other scientific things, and we helped him realize that just studying scriptures is not enough, we also need to humble ourselves and ask God. He said that he would read the Book of Mormon.

Last we met our investigator that teaches English at the academy. He had a little bit of time, so we watched the Restoration with him and the "phrase of the day" was "ask and you shall receive". We committed him to ask for something that he needs (he is going to ask for the knowledge of how to have a peaceful life) and then look for the answer. He said he would and we will follow up to help build his faith in the Savior.

This week was pretty busy, and next week is going to be just as busy! We are excited to be working in Mokpo for the Lord. 

This past week in Sunday School, we learned about Christ as the Bread of  Life. Christ told the people that if they partook of the Bread of life they would never hunger, neither would they thirst. How can we continually partake of the bread of life? Yes, through reading our scriptures and praying, but also through partaking of the Sacrament each week. The sacrament is such an important ordinance that helps us to become like the Savior one week at a time as we partake of His Atonement. I know that the Sacrament is a really important part of every person's life and that it is through the Atonement of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ that we can be happiest in this life and eternally happy in the life to come. I know that it is through asking that we receive, searching that we find, and knocking that the door is opened. If we don't ask, we won't receive, if we don't seek, we won't find, if we don't knock, the door will never open. 

I love you all so very much! I hope that you have a wonderful week in all of your endeavors!!! I love you!

Elder William Strahl