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!