TEN DAYS LEFT

Yes, its true only ten days left! It is such a odd feeling. Doesn't feel real yet. Makes me nervous thinking about it. For the past 1 1/2 years I have lived a missionary life, oblivious to my family and friend's life, world news, etc. Just today I read my Aunt Sarah is having a baby in October. I had no IDEA she was pregnant. I've had two of my best friends get married, and another friend expecting a baby next month. Again, I didn't even know she was pregnant. My family has moved twice since I've been gone. My mom had braces and graduated college. Aah! So much more has happened. These are just the things I know about so far.

As a missionary you are stuck in your own world and don't realize time goes on without you back home. So it should be interesting going back and learning about what is happening in people's lives and the world.

This past week has been rather difficult. We had two typhoons, nothing bad happened, but wind and rain really do slow down missionary work. So does being sick. I got a cold! Boo! Its my last week as a missionary! :( But its not bad enough to prevent me from working, I just have low energy and am temporarily deaf, so it makes proselyting difficult.

But quick cool story before I go. Yesterday during street contacting. I  at the crosswalk waiting for someone to come that I could talk to, when a woman in a truck motions to me. She wanted to pamphlet. So I went out in the street and gave it to her. All I could say was our church name then the light turned green. It was cool. Normally people don't take a pamphlet, but this lady asked for one!Yeah!

 

ON THE LORD'S ERRAND

This past week we had Combined Zone Conference. Its tradition that all the returning missionaries give a 5-10 minute talk, sharing what they have learned on their mission and sharing advice and tips on how to do missionary work. I was nervous about doing it and didn't even know what I should talk about.

Preparing for it caused a lot of reflection on what has happened this past year and an half. I have had times of high success; baptism, finding lots of new people. But I have also had hard times, especially these past 6 months, where I haven't been able pick up a single investigator and every baptism falls through. But despite the ups and downs looking through all my journal entries, almost everyday I wrote the word "blessing" or "miracle." So for my last talk to the mission, I just bore my testimony about how this is the Lord's work.

I see blessings and miracles that occur so often, it can't be coincidence. It has to be a heavenly intervention. President Thomas S. Monson said "Remember this work is not yours and mines alone...It is the Lord's work. And when you on the Lord's errand, you are entitled to the Lord's help."

God really has helped me to be able to do this work. Missionary work is not easy. It test and tries your faith. I never expected that. But if you continue to work hard and ask for His help, you'll be able to have success in the work. And He will bless you. I really have seen that on my mission and have a great appreciation for this work. Its so important. We are helping others come unto Christ and make covenants that will lead them back to Heavenly Father and to be able to live with their families forever.

Sad but exciting to be going home soon. Sad because I will no longer be able to focus so much on doing the Lord's work. Once I get home I will be distracted with finding a job, trying to get married, etc. I am excited though to be able to see my family again and watch a movies :).

Serving a mission really is a special time we have to devote all our time and energy in doing the Lord's work. But despite that when I get home I hope to be dedicated in all my callings, to reach out to others who need help, to help the missionaries and among friends and acquaintances be able to share this gospel. Even though I won't be "set-apart" as a missionary, I plan to still be a hardworking servant God can rely on.

 *힐 자매*

Sister Hill

GETTING MORE BUSY

The area I have been serving in for the past 6 months has been struggling. In the past month I have only found five investigators, some which have already dropped. The four Elders haven't had much success either. Really depressing to work so hard and then not see any significant results.

But Saturday the Lord really did bless us. First we had a lesson with Lee Jane at 12:15, then at 12:30 we taught English class. That was hectic. Then after English class we talked with Darmia and Jameal.

Jamael is a former investigator who just got back a month ago from visiting her native country. We met with her before this transfer started and she told us that she doesn't know if she has time right now to meet regularly, because her Father-in-law has cancer and is usually the one to watch her baby girl.

Then about two weeks ago, during our English class break, our member Darima called and asked when it started up again and asked us to invite Jamael. I said "sure". So glad Darmia told me to do that, because that invitation was the whole reason she came to English class this past Saturday. And then after English class she told us she wanted to start meeting one on one again for gospel and English. I am so excited. She was one of our most progressing investigators before she had left. I really like her.

So now every Saturday we have three back-to-back lessons: Lee Jane, English Class, Jamael. So exciting. I haven't been this busy since my last area.

Ward Activity. The men cooked for the ward.

FOUR WEEKS LEFT

Me an my new companion Lee NaRae are getting along get well. Nothing much has happened in this past week. Just working hard and trying to find new investigators. Its kind of depressing. I keep on being told this should be the most effective time on my mission, but honestly its been the most difficult time. I  work hard and pray hard and have faith, but nothing is happening. I don't know why. Its really frustrating.

But I recently read a talk by President Uchdorf from the last Liahona issue. Really helped me to not get disappointed and frustrated about not finding investigators or having baptisms. He talked about how even after our "missions" we are still planting seeds and sharing the gospel. He is right. Even after this I will still have the duty to share the gospel, it will just be done in a different way. So I am just going to continue to work hard, show my faith, pray for help and blessings, even though nothing big may happen before I go back home. I am okay with that now.

This past Thursday we had a wonderful lesson with Kim SuGin on Chasity. After we read the definition, she said, kind of defensively, "I've never thought about cheating on my husband." That was an unexpected reaction. But I was given the words on what to say and explained we never thought that and how I've been taught it since I was young. Talked about how breaking this commandment can destroy families. She agreed. Then I bore testimony about how grateful I am for my parents and their loyalty to each other and specifically how my Father loves my mom so much. I cried through the whole thing. And Kim SuGin too got teared eyed and told me how she liked it. She shared, that since meeting with us she has recognized how important family is in our church. And that seems to really resonate with her.

The Spirit was there throughout the lesson as we continued to talk about families and Temples. I really want her to get baptized. And to be honest I think one day she will. Sadly, in a couple weeks she might be moving! That would bring us down to two investigators. But she wants to continue to meet missionaries even if she moves. So that's great!

SIX WEEKS LEFT

I have only 52 days left on my mission! Its so surreal. This Thursday I am helping my Mission President's wife cook for 35 people, the returning missionaries and their families. So it will be weird to see missionaries meeting their families for the first time in two years.

Aah. I get nervous thinking about returning home. The other day when I was talking to people on the street, I thought "Whoa, soon I will be one of those normal people." It was a weird moment.

This past week we picked up a new investigator! So that was super awesome. Then Saturday night our old investigator who went to Kieristan for three months, called us and wanted to see us. So we met her Sunday, she brought us back some souvenirs! It was fun to catch back up with her. We hope to continue to meet her and help her progress towards baptism. Before she left she was our most progressing investigator. Yeah!

Also, Wednesday we had a special zone testimony meeting. Everyone bore their testimony about the Savior. It was really cool to hear every one's testimony. Then Thursday, we had a special District meeting. We made Navajo tacos. It was so Delicious, and played Phase 10 while we watched the Testaments. Our District leader also shared a spiritual thought. It was so fun.  Sorry, I don't have much to write. Can't remember the details of this past weeks. Its just gone by so quickly.

Me and Sister Christensen making food for all the returning missionaries and their families.

Sister Cho on the bus with all her stuff on transfer day.

SIX WEEKS LEFT

I have only 52 days left on my mission! Its so surreal. This Thursday I am helping my Mission President's wife cook for 35 people; the returning missionaries and their families. So it will be weird to see missionaries meeting their families for the first time in two years.
 

Aah. I get nervous thinking about returning home. The other day when I was talking to people on the street, I thought "Whoa, soon I will be one of those normal people." It was a weird moment.

This past week we picked up a new investigator! So that was super awesome. Then Saturday night our old investigator who went to Kieristan for three months, called us and wanted to see us. So we met her Sunday, she brought us back some souvenirs! It was fun to catch back up with her. We hope to continue to meet her and help her progress towards baptism. Before she left she was our most progressing investigator. Yeah!

Also, Wednesday we had a special Zone testimony meeting. Everyone bore their testimony about the Savior. It was really cool to hear every one's testimony. Then Thursday, we had a special District meeting. We made Navajo tacos. It was so Delicious, and played Phase 10 while we watched the Testaments. Our District leader also shared a spiritual thought. It was so fun.  Sorry, I don't have much to write. Can't remember the details of this past weeks. Its just gone by so quickly.

50 CENT MIRACLE

Thursday we went street boarding at a cross-walk near a market. The sidewalks are really small on either side of the street, but there is always pedestrian traffic. So its a perfect place to contact people. Thursday we both felt impressed to go there. As we proselyted I carried a lime-green "MORMON.ORG" sign. Normally when we proselyte there I stand up against a bread shop wall with the sign, but that day the sun was so intense I had to cross to the other side after 10 minutes. The sun was scorching my skin and burning my eyes. The other side of the street was shaded but is more crowded. Therefore, more difficult to hold our board without being in the way of people. There are two fruit stands, and a Lady selling yogurt already there on the narrow sidewalk. But I manage to nestle myself against the wall and out of people's way.

Shortly after standing there Sister Cho comes over to me and tells me "I think I am going to go to the other side.

"Why?" I responded

"Well, I tried to make small conversation with the yogurt lady and she didn't respond to my question and just gave me a mean look."

About two months before there was a lady who called us a cult and told the yogurt lady all about it. So we think that's the reason for the mean face. But I told Sister Cho, who cares about what the woman thinks. Who cares if she is bothered by us being there, its too hot to be on the other side. So we continued as normal.

Then a grandma who had just bought yogurt from the yogurt lady comes over to me and says with a huge smile on her face "Korea is fun, isn't it." "Yes" I responded. She then gives me one of her drinkable yogurts. 30 seconds later Sister Cho comes over from across the street and the yogurt lady seeing that I was the only one to receive a yogurt, felt bad that Sister Cho didn't get one. So she then unexpectedly gives Sister Cho a yogurt.

So after contacting people for an hour we decided to get ice cream close by. Sister Cho ask "Should we buy the yogurt lady some ice cream?" "Yes!" I responded, having had the same impression. Outside we gave her ice cream then waited behind her for the light to change.

During that time she came over and started talking to us. She asked us how our church started. We answered her question and explained to her we are not paid and serve for 18 months. It was a good conversation. And amazing to see her perception of us change within one hour. Who knew it would only take 50 cents.

 *힐 자매*

Sister Hill