2nd Week in Korea

Hello Mother and Family!!!

So, another week has gone by, and here the days seem like weeks and the weeks seem like days. This past week Korea experience what they Bool-go, which pretty much translates to "extreme heat". Yep, it's been pretty hot. One of the members said that it has been the hottest it's been in 18 years! For a taste, on Thursday it was 102 degrees Fahrenheit with 80-90% humidity...which is pretty hot. Luckily, I haven't been bothered by it, there is Gospel waiting to be shared!

This week I was able to meet with the rest of our investigators and get to know them better and to work with them. I did not have a chance to meet with Richard because we usually meet with him during the English class, but my companion wanted me to experience the English class, so he taught with another Elder. The guy that stopped us on the moped we called, he told us he was busy, and so we are going to call him again. Oh, so the city that I am currently serving in is Gwangju. Pretty much right smackdab in the downtown area which is where our church is. Gwangju is south of Taejon.

As I went throughout this week I have been able to understand more Korean! When certain people speak I can understand about 60-70%. Basically I can understand the subject, but not the intent, which is difficult a lot of the time, but hey, line upon line and precept upon precept. 

This week we had a special experience with an investigator couple that we have. Background: They own a restaurant and they have a daughter who is a member and who is now at the MTC going to serve her mission in Seoul, Korea. They haven't had any interest in the church until lately when their daughter went to the MTC. They have started to investigate the church with a little more intent as of recently. When we visited them, we went to their restaurant and start by helping with the dishes. Then, we sat down and they fed us (food is a big part of Korean culture). We had some sort of soybean paste noodles which was actually very good. We talked with them on an off while we ate about things that were happening, who I was, etc. The wife came out with pictures of her daughter that she had taken over the years. She was so proud of the fact that in every single one of the pictures that she received from her daughter at the MTC she was smiling in every single one of them. When she showed us the other pictures, she only smiled about 50% of the time. Her mother was so happy!

After the meal we started to talk to them about church and especially introduce the Book of Mormon so that they could start reading it and gaining a testimony of it. We explained about the book and had him read Moroni 10:3-5 which explains that anyone who reads the Book of Mormon and prays with faith in Jesus Christ, a sincere heart, and real intent, can know of its truthfulness through the power of the Holy Ghost. We read this with him and then bore our testimonies. My companion was explaining, so he bore his, and then I felt to bear mine, which I did in a very simple way in Korean. After we bore our testimonies we knew that he had felt the Spirit. I was looking him straight in the eyes when I declared my witness that I knew for myself that the Book of Mormon was true, and after that he looked like he felt something different in his eyes, and then kind of rolled them a little bit as if he was in a little bit of shock of realization. (I don't think I can explain the Holy Ghost touching a soul's heart in a way that could do any sort of justice). Anyways, after that moment, he said he would read the Book of Mormon every day and he committed to come to church every single week for the month (except for the most recent Sunday because he had many people coming over for a meal). We graciously helped clean up, very thankful for the provided meal, and then went to leave; but he then even offered to drive us home. It was such a great experience! I am so excited for this couple as they progress towards coming closer to Jesus Christ. 

There was another miracle on Thursday when we gave out all of our proselyting material (3 BOMs, many pamphlets and myonghams (handout cards)) which my companion had never before had happen to him. 

Yep, great things are happening here in Korea. The Lord has prepared many people to receive the Gospel and the blessings there in.

Another great story happened to us this week as we met with 김용춘 (Brother Kim Yong Choon) who is a 75 year old man that we met last week. He was interested in English, but then as we taught him about the Gospel, he opened up a lot more toward the Gospel than toward learning English. So, we planned to teach him the next visit. When we went over the second time, we taught him, but he decided in his brain that because we were white and had made a few mistakes speaking Korean, that he could not understand us. Period. Something turned in his brain where he would not understand us, at all. So, my companion and I, a little frustrated after 30 minutes of communication failure, finally got through to him that we would bring a member along to help with the translation/the teaching. So, the next time we did and he was taught and received everything pretty well. He also committed and had been reading the Book of Mormon every day, which was very exciting. He goes on a trip for the rest of August, so the last time that we will be able to meet with him is tomorrow, which will be great.

Our other investigator with potential told us that he is getting to busy for church and to do the things that we asked them which is sad. We plan to explain to him that the way that we are asking him to live is not some separate dimension of his life, but affects everything else. We are also going to challenge him to read the Book of Mormon every day for 10 days straight and to realize the difference that it makes in his life. He is a really great person, so I really hope that he can recognize the value that the Gospel has to him in his whole life--to him as a person.

That's the simple rundown of the week; quite a lot is going on. If I had time to write about all of the cultural and other aspects of this work here it would take me all of P-day to do. It's awesome and exciting, and I am learning everyday more about everything.

I hope everything continues to go well in the States, in Minnesota and Oregon! I think it's really funny that the girls changed the GPS to speak in Korean, it made me laugh (and I told my companion who laughed with me). 

As for a spiritual thought, there are two stories in the New Testament. The first is of a young rich ruler who goes to Christ and says that he has been keeping all of the commandments and asks "What lack I yet?" to which the Savior responds to him "Sell all that thou hast and give to the poor". The young rich ruler goes away sorrowing. However, in a parable related by Christ, we learn how we can have the motivation and the ability to give and sell everything. In Matthew 13 (I believe) it Christ tells many parables and one of them says that a person finds a treasure in the field, and for the joy thereof, he goes and sells all that he has and buys the field. 

The lesson is that we should not focus on what we lack, or what we do not do or have. Instead, we should focus our attention on the greatness and value of what we do have. As we begin to understand the profound significance of what we have, we will automatically begin to do the things that we were previously not able to do. The Gospel is what we have; Christ's Atonement at the center. Realize what we have, and the value thereof. All other things will follow. When we truly recognize the value of what we have we will give everything that we have to devote ourselves to it.

This also has a missionary application. Realize the value of what you have--and also that it has the potential to have that same value to every single person that you come in contact with every day. Share it! Something of this great value should be shared with others. Recognize and ponder the value of what you have, sacrifice to preserve and protect the value, and then help others come to realize the same joy that you have! 

Good luck with everything the next week. I will be here in Korea, working for the Lord in gathering His sheep.

Elder William Strahl 

1st Letter from Korea

Hello from 광주 South Korea, at a random library, I think. 

To update you with the traveling, we arrived here on Wednesday of last week, and then from there we spent one day at the mission home for training, and then we met our trainers the next day and from then on we were out in the mission field! My trainer is Elder Evans. He is awesome. He has only been out for 4 transfers, so about 4 months in Korea, so the language is still a little bit of a barrier. In our ward there are three sets of missionaries...and three greenies, so this is going to be a progressing transfer. Oh yeah, they don't actually speak Korean here--at least the Korean I learned. What they say is completely true--I can only understand about 10% of what is going on. Those Koreans that recognize we are Waygookians (means foreigner) enunciate a little bit more, and then I can understand more.

We visited the ward yesterday (yes, right now it is 1:45pm on Monday) and things went really well. A big cultural thing in Korea is building Jong, or a friendship/neighbor/well it's hard to explain in English. It's closest to friendship. I had to give a personal information/testimony at the beginning of the meeting and I switched up a grammar form throughout the entire thing. Luckily it wasn't too bad of a switch and it was understandable. The ward is awesome, although small (except they have 10-12 young men...for about 100 people) and the members are great. Our ward mission leader is really zealous and so awesome. He spends church going around and trying to get us referrals and whatnot from the ward members. That is why Jong is so important--through Jong you gain the trust of the members and then they will trust you with their referrals. Oh, and American Elders are at the bottom of the tier in terms of acquiring Jong (Korean sisters, Waygookian Sisters, Korean Elders, Waygookian Elders). I really like the ward and the people who attend--it is great! 

The conditions here are...different, but they are great! Firstly, it's about 80-90% humidity all day long here. Oh, and they haven't for some reason invented the air conditioner here, so things are a little sticky. But that's ok! In the bathroom I don't even need to use shaving cream to shave because my skin is so moist! This morning we woke up to a huge wind storm; that's the weather pattern here: cloudy until it decides to rain--and then it RAINS. My companion and I were out proselyting when one such storms came and it was very wet. Food here is great. It is spicy, but definitely good. The fruit is so good (but expensive), and they have some weird things. I guess the weirdest thing that I have eaten is either a squid or a full crab. Pretty good. Most of the time you eat, and then ask. Let's see...oh, so the way that Koreans live is extremely different than the way that Americans live. The cities that you see in Korea are concentrated apartments: so 15-20 stories buildings in clusters of 15-20 create the residency for a majority of the people. The people here build up. It's a lot different in that regards. Also, they don't have giant stores. Instead, everything that you need is guaranteed to be close by because there are small shops of goods all over the place--which is very handy. This way, it really is not essential to own a car, and a lot of Koreans don't. 

This week went by and we met some great people out on the street. I also taught my first lesson...ironically in English to a man with an American name of Richard. English is everywhere here. Literally everywhere; however most people only know a few words. Anyways, so Richard was interested in English, he is a member and so we were teaching him English through the Book of Mormon. He told us that he had a really cool experience where he read and felt this "power" that allowed him to keep reading and to continue to study, and to want to apply what he was learning to his life (he read Mosiah 4). We explained to him that he was feeling the Spirit. It was a great opportunity to point out the Spirit to this man. We have also have many "random" encounters with people on the street such as a person who was taught by some Elders while he was on a trip during break (or so we suspect) and then saw us and pulled over his moped and then called the Elders that he had met with and let my companion talk to them because my companion said that he knew them (Koreans are so funny). We hope to teach him as we set up a return appointment. 

Last a cool thing is happening in Korea. Our mission president says "the Spirit is brewing in Korea", and has received specific goals for this mission from Heavenly Father. The amazing thing is that the Stake President of the stake that I am serving in took us in yesterday and told us that he had prayed and before talking to each other, they had come up with the exact same specific number for the goal of the area. God is doing His work, and it is a work of revelation.

If you want to write to Korea, then write the mission office address. From there they distribute the letters. I think you should have the address somewhere. I love you all! Continue to be awesome. And remember 1 important message from the Book of Mormon. Go to Alma 19, read the account, and then ponder how important member missionary work is. Abish worked hard, and although things did not turn out exactly as she had expected, in the long run God used her to help the work along. I cannot tell you how important member missionary work is.

Love you all! Elder Strahl

Last MTC Letter - Off to Korea!!

Hey Mom/family!

 

Yep, these are the last few days that I will be in the Promised land for awhile. Tomorrow, Sunday, and then 2:30am on Monday I will be on my way.

This has been a great last week at the MTC. The language is coming very well. Yesterday my companion and I had about 5-10 minutes to prepare for a lesson with an investigator (we had in-field orientation from 8am-5:30pm, so no preparation time). Anyways, we then taught a 50 minute lesson completely in Korean about what happens after death (spirit world, resurrection, judgment, kingdoms of glory) which is one of the harder parts of the doctrine to teach. Fortunately we answered all of his questions (which were very goo questions) and got him to a leveled understanding of the doctrine--all in Korean!! Finally, the language has stopped being the barrier (not all the way, but a lot) that prevents us from really explaining the doctrine well and powerfully. And of course, as soon as you start to feel comfortable, it is time to move on to big and better things...aka, real Korean with real investigators, and real speed of speech and real...everything.

 

Looking back at the MTC, things have gone very well here. It is like a giant school of spiritual and linguistic learning. There is so much trust and unparalleled obedience from 18-26 year old elders and 19-25 year old sisters. The cafeteria is an all you can eat style, with many options. They have a field and a gym as well as a personal workout room for exercise as well as a fairly large campus (to run around). The experience with everything was great. The teachers are 21-24 year olds who have served in the missions that we are going to, it is a wonderful place to be! Overall, my experience at the MTC was fantastic. I learned so much in a very short period of time--about language, people, and the Gospel. I have thoroughly enjoyed the people that I have met and the friendships that I have made while I am here. I think that I will miss my companion very much as I go to Korea. He will stop being my companion as soon as we get to Korea. That makes me very sad. We know each other like brothers now, and have been able to teach really well together! I have also enjoyed running and the indoor track, which has allowed me to stay in moderate shape while at the MTC. (I ran 3 miles in 18 minutes the other day...which is pretty good shape for the MTC). I have enjoyed the district experience, receiving all the support and letters from everyone, and the lessons that I have learned here from God, which are many.

 

This past week in particular has gone just as fast as all the previous few weeks. As I mentioned, yesterday I went to an in-field orientation for a majority of the day which was a great experience and last dose of instruction before entering the field. Our group had about 550 missionaries in it--many going to places all around the world. It was amazing to reflect and to think that soon, the impressive gathering of elders and sisters that we had would, in less than a week, be out in the field, out in the Lord's vineyard doing His work--all over the World! It was very instructive and I learned a lot.

 

This past week we had the wonderful opportunity to watch a taped devotional of Elder Bednar (one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ) who spoke at a Christmas devotional about the Character of Christ. It was amazing. So good. Seriously, if there was a hallmark devotional or talk during the 9 weeks that I have been at the MTC, it was this one. Elder Bednar explores a few of the characteristics of Christ and teaches about some other topics that he thinks are important in a wonderful and inspiring way. The main attribute of Christ that Elder Bednar talked about was His characteristic of turning outwards when you or I, and the natural man, would want us to turn inwards. Countless times when Christ has suffered more than any of us could, instead of turning in; instead of taking anything for Himself; instead of feeling justified in doing something for Himself, or drawing attention to Him, to what He has done, to who He is, etc., He turns outwards. The hallmark example is the soldier in the garden. After Christ had experienced Gethsemane (suffering the pains, anguish, sins for every person), been disappointed in His most faithful Apostles (who could not stay awake for a brief period), who knew what was about to happen to Him at Calvary, who had just been betrayed by one of His Apostles--one of His special witnesses--after feeling all this, when Peter draws his sword and smites the soldiers ear off, the Savior heals it. The wound was not a fatal wound; it was not extremely serious; however, Christ, amidst the incomprehensible things that He was going through, at a point where you or I would have either collapsed under the burden, or thought that we deserved some sort of special attention or relief, at this point, Christ reaches out and helps one of His Father's children; not only one of His Father's children, but one of His Father's children who is taking Him captive to kill Him. That is just one example of the character of Christ. Remember that example as you go out your week. When things get hard and you feel tempted to turn inward, to be selfish, or to focus on yourself. Instead, focus outward; help others, because after all, that's what Jesus would do.

 

Matthew 16:25-26 "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." As Elder Bednar cleverly commented, you find your life by losing it in Christ, but only if you aren't looking for it--you must lose yourself--your efforts, heart, might, mind, and strength in first God, and then others. 

 

I wish everyone the best of weeks as I head to Korea in a few short days. Thank you for everyone that has given support and letter to me during my time at the MTC. I honestly, have zero regrets of my time here, and have had the greatest possible experience that I could have. The thoughts and support help more than you know.

 

With love,

(Elder) William Strahl

6th MTC Letter

Dear All -
This week was wonderful!!! As usual.

Last week, as I mentioned, we had the opportunity to Skype Koreans in Korea. My companion and I taught a man in Seoul for over 40 minutes, which was a wonderful experience and makes me very excited to get out into the field! This week has been filled with learning, spiritual as well as linguistic, and has been just very good! Today when we plan I will have to start another Missionary daily planner, which is a very interesting experience. I feel like a veteran/astounded that so much time has passed so quickly. I cannot believe it is July 12th already. That means that I have 18 days left in the MTC! This is crazy. I have really enjoyed the MTC and all the experiences that it has to offer.

Today I want to talk a little bit about my district which is the best. I love our district (for those who do not know, your district includes Sisters and Elders that you are in class with (we are in the classroom/outside for 3 hours for personal study, and in the class room 6 hours for instructional teaching.) Every district has the same schedule, so you do basically everything together, from laundry, to going to the temple, to service (although for some activities they understandably have the sisters and elders go to different places). In my district there is me, Elder Lomiga, a polynesian by origin who came from LA (6'2"). If he was a movie character, he would be Sully from Monsters Inc. For sure. Then there's Elder Oehler, who is currently serving as our district leader. He is from the Las Vegas area and he enjoys pretty much everything. He's a great leader. There's Elder Flint, who grew up and comes from Utah. He doesn't talk much. Which is really funny, because the other day we were having personal exercise, and we kept hearing a thump in the grass. We turn around and he is doing backflips....go figure. Elder Flint in one of the three 18 year olds in our district. He graduated high school in May and reported the 29th. Next is Elder Jensen, from Preston, Idaho. He grew up on a dairy farm and has spent all his days going to school and working on the farm. He is a great Elder. Although he is struggling a little bit with the language, what he lacks in linguistic ability is made up in faith. He always surprises the district with some comment that rings with truth. Last of the Elders is my companion, Elder Brady. He is from Chandler, Arizona, and is such a cool guy. He works really hard and absolutely loves volleyball. I have to say that the time between class and gym time is probably the fastest that I ever see him get ready to go! He is great, and has taught me SO much as my companion.

We have a threesome of sisters in our district. They liven up the district with their comments and presence. They are great. Two of the them had minored in College in spanish before they were called on a mission. They have picked up the language very quickly! They always lobby for the district picnics on P-day with games and fun, and today we are going to have a birthday party for Elder Jensen because it is his birthday. They are great and a good example to everyone.

I like my district. I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing who God has brought together into our district. All different backgrounds, all different interests, all with one common goal. We live together, eat together, and do pretty much everything together. I feel very privileged to be in the district that I am in. They are wonderful.

This week I have learned a lot. Despite having lived 19 years, I still stumble up the stairs (my family understands this...) and I still get lost around the MTC (thank heavens Elder Brady is there to make sure that I get everywhere I need to be...if this place was a mess of deer trails I would be fine, but no, it has to be real building with signs and directions and everything...). I guess there is still more to learn. Besides the heap of Korean that I do not know.

There is however, one thing that I do know. I know that God provides a source through which if we rely on, we will not fail. This week I have been enabled, through capabilities recognizably beyond my own, to learn, to exert effort, to do everything that I need to do to be an effective servant of God. I have trusted in God so much as I try to learn the language, pushing myself and finding myself enabled to do more every day. He is there for me, and He is there for you. Rely on Him, trust in Him, and all things will turn out for your eventual good. I wish everyone the greatest week!

Thanks for all the support!

Elder William Strahl

5th MTC Letter

아머니와 가족: 안녕하세요!  (Hello Mother, and Family!) 

Holy Cow! It amazing to think that life still exists outside of the MTC and all the learning that goes on here. This week was absolutely great! There were many good things that happened, many lessons taught and learned, and progression in the language. Time could not be going faster!

On a sad note, the Provo Temple is closed every July for cleaning (?). It makes me really sad to think that my last visit to the temple for two years happened last Friday. The temple is amazing and I will miss it. 

On another good note, the MTC had a July 4th program for all the missionaries to celebrate the independence of the United States. At the program we had a speaker, and then we had an awesome patriotic musical number that was a flute piano duet (it was very good). Then, we watched the movie "17 miracles" about the Martin and Willie handcart company. It was pretty powerful considering the spirit of the event and the tone setting "They the Builders of the nation" and "Press forward Saints" that we sung right before the movie. Then, we went outside to enjoy an ice cream treat and the 4th of July fireworks. It was a very good day.

Today we get to Skype and teach real Korean members in Korea for our teaching practice!

I have learned a lot this week. And, as usual, the learning that comes to mind first is what impressed me this morning. In Preach My Gospel it states that the Gift of the Holy Ghost brings a host of blessings and is the key to salvation. Don't live under your privileges with this wonderful gift--it is amazing. "Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost, wherefore they speak the words of Christ; wherefore I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ, for behold, the words of Christ will show you all thing what ye should do." This verse has defined the last 3 years of my life. Let the Holy Ghost guide you to greater happiness and enjoyment. He will--if you ask, in faith believing.

 여르분에게 저를 받은 도음을 위해 감사드립니다! (Thanks to everyone for the support that I have received!)

Have a wonderful week and good luck with the adjustment in Minnesota!

Ps. I would love to have a Corvallis Stake directory so that I can write people!

4th MTC Letter

Dear Family,

This Sunday will mark the halfway point of my stay at the MTC. 4 and a half weeks has gone by so quickly, and I have learned so much. I hope you received the written letters that I sent you...I sent them to the house in Oregon, so hopefully you will get them. This past week has been a great week at the MTC. My companion and I have been teaching diligently and learning the language diligently as well. In case you didn't happen to know, there was a semi-kind-of-a-big-deal event that happened on Sunday.--Let's just say that I saw President Monson in person twice at the MTC, along with Elder Holland, Elder Nelson, Elder Ballard, and Elder Packer. Pretty cool. I was not in attendance, but they had some missionaries pass the sacrament at a Mission President Sacrament meeting where all of the 12 and the First Presidency were there (except one of course). The broadcast was a wonderful experience.  It  was a grand experience to hear from the Twelve Apostles and the revelation that they have received considering the progression of missionary work in this age.

On another good note, I had the opportunity to meet my mission president twice while he was here for the mission president seminar. He had all of the Taejon missionaries report to a classroom and we talked and he let us know about himself, about the mission, and about the culture of Korea. He is a great man, a native Taejon Korean (and his wife as well), who may not be impressive in stature, but who is most definitely impressive in spirit and love. He was an electrical engineer working on micro processing chips for Intel in Portland Oregon before he went back to Samsung in Korea. He also has a business degree, and you can tell. His emphasis, besides culture, was working hard (which is really the culture). He told us that we need to work hard and then we can play. He knows Korea very well and is very excited for us to experience the Korean culture. He said that he will try to put us in both urban and rural situations so that we will get more of the Korean experience (although sisters serve mainly in urban areas). He is a great man, and I know I am going to like him a lot!

Life continues with great experiences! Tender mercies abound, and the work moves forward! Yesterday my companion and I had a moment of joy after we taught a lesson to one of our {actor portrayed} progressing investigators. We didn't have time to answer all of his questions, but we were able to help him understand a little bit more about the Atonement and how it was important, and he opened up to us what questions he had and where he needed help. The lesson was not anything special, but I have been learning recently a very profound lesson. I have learned of the power of companionship unity and teaching by the Spirit. Companionship unity is HUGE when teaching a lesson, and really affects the environment. I think that this is true of all companionships, whether it is with family, a spouse, the Holy Spirit, etc. When we really trust and love the companion, that is when the two becomes one, and that one has much greater capacity to influence the lives of others than one or the other by him/her self. Companionship unity is very important.

On another note, I just want to mention the great importance of the Book of Mormon. Our mission president told us that Elder Nelson said that without the Book of Mormon, there would be no gathering of Israel in the Latter-days. Besides this, the book is absolutely plain and precious. Specifically regarding the Atonement, the Book of Mormon will teach more about the Atonement, its role in our personal lives here and in eternity, than any other source! I cannot express the invaluable nature of the Book of Mormon and the amazing contents therein. To know that it is the word of God and represents only a fraction of God's dealings with His children is wonderful indeed!

One spiritual message of hope. There is opposition in all things. This thought of inspiration, however, is focused on the Atonement. Remember whenever you are feeling and feeling of pain, disappointment, doubt, despair, etc., that that feeling has an opposite; and that the opposite feeling is available through the power of the Atonement. We must know the bitter to prize the sweet. If you ever have a bad feeling, remember that every bad feeling has an opposite feeling of parallel strength. We can gain the opposite feelings through the Atonement (2 Nephi 2:10).   With Love and Care, Elder Strahl

3rd week MTC Letter!

This week at the MTC has been a week of learning and learning and learning, and teaching and teaching and teaching. It's wonderful. Right now the language is still a moderately significant barrier in teaching; however, it coming along quickly and enjoyably. For only being two weeks into the language I think we are doing very excellently.

The weeks are zooming by now. It is amazing to reflect and know that our group has seen two other groups of new missionaries come in since we have been here. It's also kind of staggering to think that there will be 5 groups of stateside missionaries entering (and leaving) throughout our stay. Life here is one continual round of activities centered on our purpose (which is found on page one of PMG).

Haha! Yes I was in that sea of missionaries going to the Marriott Center. There we had a devotional where I sang in a 2000 person missionary choir (we sang called to serve...of course). The devotional was really great. Most devotionals here are really great. The General Authorities really enjoy talking to the missionaries! I heard through the grapevine (so this is not doctrine, but speculation (haha)) that the MTC is going double in size by the end of August (from what it NOW is)). I am glad I will be gone...haha, the cafeteria is busy as it is. Yep, many are answering the call to serve, and as a prophet and Apostle has promised, the Lord is also preparing the hearts of more people to receive the glad news!

I "found" something in the New Testament that I had never really realized before. In 2nd Peter, Peter is writing in prospect of his death. He knows that he is soon going to die, and the Epistle of Second Peter is what he writes in response to his knowledge that he will soon die. Read it. Ponder it. Study it. It teaches us how we fulfill the command to build on the rock of Redeemer, which when we are founded upon, will not fall (ever). He also gives his personal physical witness of the Savior, followed by a spiritual testimony of the divinity of His Calling. It is so powerful. Peter, the rock, one of Christ's most trusted disciples who was in the Garden at the time of the Atonement, writes what the culmination of his life has taught him in this epistle. And we have it!

On another note, pray. Pray, pray, pray, when you don't want to, pray until you do. He is the source of all truth. What would you give to talk to a prophet of God, or even an Apostle? And yet, we can talk to God Himself. Cherish it, and realize the sacred nature of it.

Well, another week stares me in the face (luckily mine has a smile on it!), and I think my laundry is finished. I wish you the best with all my heart and soul!

Romanized Korean:

Anyounghi Kaseo

Strahl Chongnoneem

Hey, one more thing that I want to tell you.

If you read in John Chapter 15, I'm not sure what verse number it is, but it is in the second column of the left hand page in the middle-ish. Anyways it says something along the effects that as we keep the commandments we will feel of Christ's love, and then He adds, something like "even as I now abide in the love of my Father".

This is a profound promise. Christ is telling us that we can be as close to Him as He was to the Father. Think about it, and then strive for it! Good luck with the move!

Again have a great week with love!

Elder Strahl

 
See this link for the Sea of Missionaries article from KSL

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=25561483