Hey President!!
This week has been really good. Really busy, but really good all the same. Our investigator did indeed get baptized and he seems to be getting in line with things. I am worried that he may become offended at something someone says at some point in the future because regrettable he is a very presumptuous person. He was talking to Elder Hale about his shoes (adidas) at church yesterday and Elder Hale mentioned wearing nice clothes to church, just to keep reverence. About 3 hours later, the guy thought Elder Hale compared his shoes to Nazis... He should be fine though, Just kind of a fun fact, but we will work with him on it.
We're doing great over here, as I had mentioned in interviews, the only thing lacking in Elder Hale's preparation was Korean, and he's getting better and better every day. Thanks again so much for this oportunity to serve the people in 강남, it's an awesome area, and I love it more and more everyday.
I'll make more of a concerted effort to keep my emails short, especially with the increase in missionaries. I'm excited for what the future brings!!
Elder Clawson
Hey everyone that lives not in Korea! Well potentially not living in Korea. I think Murphy still reads this and he is in Korea. Hey Murphy! shout out! I haven't eaten any 닭갈비 since I moved here. I miss it. Untangent, yeah! So how's everyone doing!?!? I hope all is still good. 모든 것 잘 되세요? I hope so! This week has been pretty solid for us!
Like I said last week, last monday was not our pday after all, but it was a solid day nonetheless. We got around to a whole bunch of different places, and talked to lots of people! Always super fun! We walked by this place where this guy we've talked to before works and talked to him again. Last time we gave him a Book of Mormon and he said he would read it. We asked him about it, and he seemed like either he didn't actually read it and was just telling us that he did read it, or he has very little interest in religion. Nice guy though. Can't say I was too stoked that he didn't express too much interest in the Book of Mormon though. We'll walk by again at some points in the future, and hopefully he can acquire some interest.
That night we taught our investigator with our ward mission leader. The investigator later told us that he didn't really like it too much because he doesn't know the ward mission leader, but I think it was necessary because, if we hadn't done that there was legitimately no way that he would have focused enough for us to teach him effectively. He has this problem where he is obsessed with talking about Germany, WWII, cars, America and what's wrong with it. All sorts of stuff. Also he's afraid of large corporations. A lot. Good person though! You don't have to be normal to be a member of the church. Well we are indeed a peculiar people. teehee.
Oh, important news! Our good buddy Elder Brewer, the one who was injured, is now almost in tip top shape! He had sprained both of his ankles, and couldn't walk or really do much of anything, but now, he can get almost anywhere, and is back on top of his area! Woohoo for Elder Brewer! And all of us really because now we can both more effectively focus on our areas!
Tuesday was cool, we met with a couple of our recent converts. We ended up getting dinner with one, and then just meeting with the other. The first, I was initially having trouble liking him, because he corrects my Korean all the time, which bugs a ton. I learned Korean in Seoul, and he's from this other place called 졸라도 I think. it's basically the equivalent of having someone from Scotland, come to LA and tell you your English is wrong. provided it's your second language. Anyways, I like him now! Or at least am trying to more and more every day!!!
The second guy, he is kind of struggling. There was no one that really fellowshipped him very well. Not for lack of effort mind you! He had a couple people try to, but he kind of pushed them away, and is now just kind of attached to the missionaries. He's getting better though! Whenever we meet with him, we just kind of let him talk it out and he basically ends up figuring out his own problems every single time. I guess it's just the situation and people to talk to that he needs or something.
Wednesday was pretty awesome. We went to a 돈까스 buffet for lunch. 돈까스 is deep fried pork in this really good sauce. It's good when it's not all you can eat, but add that to it and it's basically the best meal ever! So awesome, and it was pretty cheap too. I don't know if I told you this or not, but buffets are a big thing here in Korea. All different kinds of them.
District meeting was good. I'm getting better at being just a member of the district instead of being the district leader. It's kind of an awkward switch, but I think it's good. Our district leader is a way better leader than I ever was! Guy is super fun too. Also we have poetry slam jam every week before district meeting. Still somewhat unsure about that though. I'm not the poetic type as I'm sure you are aware, but there's always fun to be had right?
Thursday we had temple day which was legit! We went to the temple which is always fun. Temple days are always super awesome. It was also pday, so we went and had lunch at costco which a member paid for. There were ten missionaries there, and this member, not even from our stake, offers to pay for us. He bought us like 5 pizzas. Guy was so awesome. The beginning of a series of miracles of food this week!
After lunch we went to a bath house which was fun. I didn't always like bath houses, but it was very relaxing this time. I thoroughly enjoyed it. After which, we went to this underground market to try and find some stuff for some people in the realm of clothes, more particularly winter clothes. Apparently I'm the authority on these things now... Don't know how that happened. People keep asking me what's good and stuff. I just go by the "if you can endure blistering coldness better as a result of this clothing item and it's cheap then buy it" mindset sometimes. Mostly I just go by the "I already endured one winter, what's one more?" mindset nowadays.
That night we met our investigator and prepared him for the baptismal interview, or rather confirmed with him that he is prepared. Dude was so ready. All the things that would normally be difficult for an investigator, he brought up on his own will and pointed out that they were bad like drinking and smoking and doing things that don't help you focus on Christ on the sabbath. Guy was so golden!
Friday was also good. We had a meal with a member at this restaurant called VIPS, which is a steak and buffet restaurant. Guy spent so much stinking money on us, but I guess that's what happens here... Anyways, I don't remember if I've said this before, but in Korea, if you don't eat a ton of food, it's kind of disrespectful. If you eat a ton of food on the other hand, it's good for making relationships. I was dead set on having a good relationship with this guy though! The baseline for satisfying people who buy you food is like 5 plates, and I think I had 8 or 9. Not bragging. That was uncomfortable, but it was worth it. The guy likes us now! So much so that the same night, when we were at the church for our investigators interview, he heard that we were going to go get food before the interview, and told us not to and ordered pizza. Guys a boss! Our investigator passed the interview and was ready more or less for baptism!
The next day was his baptism and it all went super well! After that and English class, the investigator/new member tweener person took us out to another buffet! That's 3 in one week! How crazy is that? It wasn't as good as VIPS unfortunately though. Still good though!
Sunday was awesome. Our investigator was confirmed and is now a member of the church! He's probably the person I have played the most active role in preparing to be baptized since I got to Korea! So awesome the guy was so ready. I just hope the members show him the love that he needs!
This week was super busy like I said, but it has been so awesome. I'm super tired today as a result of all the business, but I wouldn't have it any other way! I know that this is 100% where I'm supposed to be right now. Keep being awesome and do your best wherever you are. Whatever you do. Whomever you are. That's all the Lord asks of us!
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