Of new investigators, new companion, and flamethrowers.

Hi everyone!

Yep, still alive. This past week has been pretty great. I'm pretty sure I've been talking more Korean to our investigators, members, and less actives than I have pretty much since I've been out here. With Elder Hess, I feel like there's a lot more responsibility for me (which is good). I get to improve my Korean a lot quicker now - and I'm getting a lot more adjusted to asking everyone for help. Last night we had English class - it turned more into "Teach Elder Webster Korean" class. I learned a couple really cool phrases - "kill two birds with one stone" and "dragon head, snake tail". It's pretty awesome learning Korean that way - it's even better when there're really good English speakers to help you out.

So the coolest thing this past week was meeting with Mia. She's the lady that we've been meeting with for about a month or two now - she has been reading the Book of Mormon really diligently (she's on about chapter 25 of 2nd Nephi), but still has some problems with faith. But yesterday, we got the chance to meet with her and her friend. She invited her friend to come over because she was wanting to learn about our church, as well. Her name is Leah and we got a return appointment with her on Saturday. But during that appointment, Mia was talking about how she is able to introduce her friend to us missionaries because we aren't pushy, and didn't do anything that would make her not want to. Therefore, she feels confident enough to introduce us. I explained that it's a really wonderful thing when people that we teach introduce us to other people to teach, and that it's a very big responsibility for us that we take on. So, we assured Mia that we would treat her friend no differently.

There's was also a very interesting comment made. Elder Hess mentioned to Leah how she appears to be a very sincere person - when we were explaining a little bit about our church, Leah was listening very well. She had a few misconstrued ideas (such as thinking we lived a lifestyle like the Amish), so we cleared those up. But when Elder Hess made that comment - I added that since I've been in Korea for a little while now, I've been able to tell a little bit easier the nature or feeling of people. Such as, "that person is really sincere, or very light-hearted, or that person really doesn't care what I'm saying". I don't really know entirely why, but Mia really took that as a very big compliment. After I said that, she said "Thank you a lot. I really appreciate that".

It was just a really neat experience. I think I've been given a little bit of a keener sense toward people since I've been out here - it's been much easier to talk to people and start conversations.

I also got the opportunity to help out a member pretty well, too. She was having a bad day - and for some reason she gave me a call. Because Elder Lemons left (I think he was her favorite), she wanted to talk to me next. She has been going through a rough time, and was one day just thinking about some random stuff. She wants to teach English, but doesn't feel like she's prepared. So, she gave me a call and I talked to her a lot. She said because I'm a missionary I'm only allowed to say nice things - so I told her honestly what I thought and tried to help her out a little bit. A couple of days later I saw her again - she was having another bad day (she got splashed by a taxi!), but after the English class, she talked to me a little bit more. She thanked me for the help that I gave and that it built up her confidence a little bit.

It really built up my confidence a little bit! I really like this member a lot - she's probably one of the best in Wonju - but she's just been going through a hard time. I don't think I could've done that for her if I'm not where I am now. It was just a really great experience for me I think - it reaffirmed a little more the authority that I carry with this calling.

But anyway - moving along. Elder Hess has been really awesome to serve with - this week went by really slow anyway though. He's pretty good at Korean (especially for being two transfers older than me!), so I haven't had to worry too much. I've still been talking a lot, and I found out last night that I mumble in Korean and English now! So, I've gotta work on that...

Also, last night Elder Cameron took a blow torch to a spider web. It was a gross spider that had made a home just outside of our window. So he got a lighter and some WD40... Needless to say the spider should've taken on some fire insurance *bah-duhm chh*.

Anyway! I think that's pretty much... Nothing else too exciting. So! 'till next week! Still alive, stay happy, and stay healthy! :D 짱!!

Love,
Elder Webster

Ohhh, whatcha gonna do with a drunkin' sailor?

Hi!

This weeks subject has nothing to do with anything! Yippy!

How's everyone? I'm doing quite peachy meself. I've gotten myself a new companion - his name is Elder Hess. He's from somewhere in America, and his family has five people. That's actually all I know about him right now... We just switched today, so I've only been with him for about five hours. :D He seems like a really great guy, though. He's been in the country for two more transfers than I have, so this Korean speaking thing will definately be interesting. He sounds like he's pretty solid at it already, though. Besides, my mission president trusts him enough to be senior now, so all I've gotta do is just have a little faith!

I don't really know what to update on - not a whole lot has happened. Elder Lemons is dead from Wonju, and a tear was shed for those lost. We got to meet with the old ladies that we've been meeting with - they're doing really well. I think they're getting really close to baptism, and they seem pretty solid. We talked to them about the Holy Ghost, and what that does for us, and how to recognize it. They don't really understand why when they meet with us they always think "Yeah, these're all really good words. Yeah, I need to read and pray and that other stuff..." but when they get home they have no desire to do as such. So, we explained to them about the difference between the gift of the Holy Ghost, and just feeling it - they understood really well and I think we made a pretty excellent breakthrough with them. I'll be fun to teach them with Elder Hess now.

Other than that... we got to meet with some less-actives recently. Those were all really excellent lessons, too. Elder Lemons told them all about what his final wish was for them before he left - they all seemed to really take it to heart. So, we'll see the turn out this Sunday. I think it'll be ok.

This new transfer with Elder Hess is going to be exciting, I think. I'll definately get the opportunity to learn more Korean. Because Elder Lemons was so good, sometimes I didn't get the chance to speak that much. But now... we kind of have to rely a lot more on each other. So! It'll be a new adventure. Plus, it's kinda freaky being the junior companion that has to introduce the senior into the area. I kinda thought of it as like a brace system to a tree of some kind. I leaned pretty heavily on Elder Lemons for help and stuff - I'd usually get him to translate stuff for me, ask what people said, give him the phone when people would call, and other things like that. But now, I've been cut down a little bit and I have to stand a little more on my own. It'll be an interesting ride!

But anyway, it was good to talk to you family on Mother's Day! I really enjoyed that - it gave me a lot of strength to push forward a little bit harder recently. I think it'll get me through the summer. :D

So I hope all is going well back home! Things are still great here in Korea. Still working on that picture thing - I need to go get myself a SD Card reader I think. Has anyone been able to figure out how much 8GB USB sticks are? Still wondering about that.

또한, 리아 (sorry if I spelled your name wrong) 자매. 제 말씀 읽으면, 저에게 전화해주세요! 아니면, 편지를 쓰십시오!

Anyway! Stay happy everyone! And stay healthy!

Love,
Elder Webster