All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go,
I'm standing here outside the door
I hate to wake you but you're my c'mpanion
But the dawn is breakin' its early morn
The subways leavin', it's blowin its horn
Already I miss kimchi, I could cry
So gimme a hug and shake my hand,
We'll meet back in the promised land
Teach and Preach and Baptise til you go
Cuz I'm leaving on a jet plane!
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh HanGuk, I hate to go
I threw this song together in the past five minutes, please be nice as you read it. ^^
My feelings right now are quite confusing. My body is telling me that this is just another day, another day of conversing with people on the street about the gospel, another day filled with the gentle inspirations of the Holy Ghost, the bitter smell of cigarette smoke, the frustration of another hand in my face as I speak, the thrill of speaking with someone who would like to learn more, the satisfaction of coming home with sore feet and worn out shoes. Physically, this day will not be any different from any other.
Mentally, I'm not allowing myself to dwell on the idea of going home, those thoughts still have no place in my mind, they will wait until the airplane ride this week to begin.
Emotionally, I'm fine also. Yesterday was of course a different story, but there weren't many tears shed. As I said goodbye to many of these members, there were the initial pangs of sadness, but it was strange that I remembered that I can still easily stay in contact with many of these people and the time proven cliche "this is not the end, only the beginning" ran through my head more than once. It was a conforting gentle reminder that many of these friends made will indeed last.
I say this now, because yesterday I had also known that there was going to be a farewell party for us later tonight, so this story may change drastically to free falling tears later, but for now, these are my thoughts.
There are too many thoughts going through my mind right now, though there is not the space nor the time nor the need to express them here.
I look forward to seeing many of you again soon this week, and many more of you in the coming days.
I love you, and I miss you.
For the last time from Korea,
Good Luck, God Bless, and God Speed,
Elder Jeremy Annen
Monday, December 16, 2013
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Asking for Direction
Tarzan! No!
Oh ho, we're TOO LATE! If you would have just STOPPED and asked for directions!
We didn't even get to say goodbye...
Well, everyone I believe I had left off with one more story to tell.
This was quite a touching one for me at the time though the story is now a few weeks old. I would still like to share it. This was one of the most complicated situations I was in. I was on exchanges in a place here called BongCheon, and we planned on switching back in about three hours, because our Halloween party was that night. While we're working we get a call from another of the areas and it turns out that they had doublebooked their schedule, so there needed to be another exchange, they couldn't find members on such short notice in their area. So, after taking the jam packed subway, we get off at the right stop, and realize two things. One, neither of us had actually visited that particular church building before, and we had heard that it was a good twenty five minnute walk from the subway station. Two, the companion I was with had... well accidentally locked our phone so we couldn't ask anyone how to get there, and the battery was about to die. Now this is Korea mind you, downtown Seoul. There are so many alleyways and roads. Getting lost could mean that you are just one street over and you have no idea where you are. We prayed and were luckily able to track it down. Made the switch, and then I found myself with another companion trying to find a place in his area on a bus he had never ridden, to a place he had never visited to meet someone whose number we didn't have. This is a regular occurance in my mission. Long travel story wrapped up, we arrive at his house. We exchanged pleasantries, and talked with him and his son. The son then pulls out the Book of Mormon and begins talking about it. We learned their story. The son has had kidney disease for several years, and he told us of how he had found out about it and his subsequent reactions, with this final one turning to religion. But he didn't feel much in it, he told us. He had visited neigh on fifty to sixty churches he informed, and to use his words they felt hollow. They didn't FILL him. His dad, then, as he was away at his work, to his surprise meets some missionaries on the subway, who loan him a copy of the Book of Mormon. And his son studied it. And I mean studied it. When we had gotten there, he had diligently read the first book of Nephi three times. The first time he was curious about it. The second time he felt it to be true. The third time he was feasting. He told us that he *knew* it to be true. As we explained about the Book fo Mormon to his father, the son would finish everything. It was humbling for me to see this. It is indeed incredible, to see someone like this man. Hungry, as he put it. It is a common word used to describe how converts felt before they find the gospel. Thinking back to fast Sundays, I can't imagine surviving with that 'hunger' existing for longer than a few days, yet there are people across the globe with it. It is humbling.
On a sadder note as well, I was talking with the Sign Language People and they requested that I stay until I leave Korea, they tell me that there are just a whole bunch of people that they want me to teach, but that there is a whole new culture to learn, the language to master, and to actually meet the people. It was honestly with tears that I told them that this was my last transfer, that I would only be there for a little longer. I wish more than anything to extend right now, but I realized that too many wheels are turning. I wish, hope beyond hope that I had this chance. It was a testimony to me, realizing that of course missions end, but never did I realize what that means for me, to have a mission end. This work is the Lord's, I am forever in his debt for it. Those people prepared among the KSL using people will still be there, even if I won't be.
I love you all as well,
Good Luck, God Bless and God Speed,
Elder Annen
Oh ho, we're TOO LATE! If you would have just STOPPED and asked for directions!
We didn't even get to say goodbye...
Well, everyone I believe I had left off with one more story to tell.
This was quite a touching one for me at the time though the story is now a few weeks old. I would still like to share it. This was one of the most complicated situations I was in. I was on exchanges in a place here called BongCheon, and we planned on switching back in about three hours, because our Halloween party was that night. While we're working we get a call from another of the areas and it turns out that they had doublebooked their schedule, so there needed to be another exchange, they couldn't find members on such short notice in their area. So, after taking the jam packed subway, we get off at the right stop, and realize two things. One, neither of us had actually visited that particular church building before, and we had heard that it was a good twenty five minnute walk from the subway station. Two, the companion I was with had... well accidentally locked our phone so we couldn't ask anyone how to get there, and the battery was about to die. Now this is Korea mind you, downtown Seoul. There are so many alleyways and roads. Getting lost could mean that you are just one street over and you have no idea where you are. We prayed and were luckily able to track it down. Made the switch, and then I found myself with another companion trying to find a place in his area on a bus he had never ridden, to a place he had never visited to meet someone whose number we didn't have. This is a regular occurance in my mission. Long travel story wrapped up, we arrive at his house. We exchanged pleasantries, and talked with him and his son. The son then pulls out the Book of Mormon and begins talking about it. We learned their story. The son has had kidney disease for several years, and he told us of how he had found out about it and his subsequent reactions, with this final one turning to religion. But he didn't feel much in it, he told us. He had visited neigh on fifty to sixty churches he informed, and to use his words they felt hollow. They didn't FILL him. His dad, then, as he was away at his work, to his surprise meets some missionaries on the subway, who loan him a copy of the Book of Mormon. And his son studied it. And I mean studied it. When we had gotten there, he had diligently read the first book of Nephi three times. The first time he was curious about it. The second time he felt it to be true. The third time he was feasting. He told us that he *knew* it to be true. As we explained about the Book fo Mormon to his father, the son would finish everything. It was humbling for me to see this. It is indeed incredible, to see someone like this man. Hungry, as he put it. It is a common word used to describe how converts felt before they find the gospel. Thinking back to fast Sundays, I can't imagine surviving with that 'hunger' existing for longer than a few days, yet there are people across the globe with it. It is humbling.
On a sadder note as well, I was talking with the Sign Language People and they requested that I stay until I leave Korea, they tell me that there are just a whole bunch of people that they want me to teach, but that there is a whole new culture to learn, the language to master, and to actually meet the people. It was honestly with tears that I told them that this was my last transfer, that I would only be there for a little longer. I wish more than anything to extend right now, but I realized that too many wheels are turning. I wish, hope beyond hope that I had this chance. It was a testimony to me, realizing that of course missions end, but never did I realize what that means for me, to have a mission end. This work is the Lord's, I am forever in his debt for it. Those people prepared among the KSL using people will still be there, even if I won't be.
I love you all as well,
Good Luck, God Bless and God Speed,
Elder Annen
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Blitz!
Coach they're calling a holding penalty on me everytime...
Did I ask for your excuses?! You want to act like a star, you better give me a star effort, you hear me?
...
Forget about him! Alan! you're up!
Now, I don't want them to gain, *another yard*
You BLITZ ALL NIGHT! If they cross the line of scrimmage I swear I'll take every last one of you out!
And you make sure, that they remember, FOREVER! the night they played the Titans!
Love that one ^^ No connection I'm afraid.
Alrighty everybody! Hello! How are you? I'm fine thank you and you?
All I can say is... I'm going to be so weird..er. I'm going to be so incredibly weirder when I get home. I will explain. So, for those of you who can remember, I just got transferred to the area with the English branch included in it. Now, I can be a funny guy. I have no problems whatsoever going up to complete and utter strangers, speak to them in Korean, carry on a conversation, get a appointment and the like... I have no problems with that! Absolutely none! I don't think that I seriously look at myself anymore and really realize that that's what I 'm doing, but yeah! So, I've been thinking as people constantly and consistently remind me that I'm going home and not to get trunky, that I'm actually not going to be that weird when I get home. I honestly was thinking along those lines when I got the transfer call. Then last Sunday came around...
Do you know what reverse culture shock is?
I didn't either... But ooohhhhhhhhhh boy......... Heh... Yep...
So... We're waiting at the subway station for someone we invited to church. All of a sudden, a foreigner comes out of the subway, nicely dressed, comes right up to me, and says "Hey Elder how are you?" And do you want to know what I said?! I just looked at him for a second.. then another.. and then responded, "I'm fine thank you and you?" ... now that might not be that bad, it's an acceptable answer. But considering the fact that I had said it in a KOREAN ACCENT, made it ten times more awkward. If it was on purpose it would have been funny. If the foreigner had been there for several months he probably would have gotten a good chuckle... Instead, he just kind of looked at me funny, sadi he was fine too... and then walked away... You could have cut the awkwardness with a butter knife. Man... I kind of shook it off then went to the English sacrament meeting. I have never seen so much blonde hair in one place in my life. Ok I probably have, but... WOW. What followed was a day full of people coming up and talking to me and my responses full of blank stares trying to understand what language these people were speaking to me in ^^ Needless to emphasize further... I will be weird..er when I get back home ^^ So, please cut me some slack ^^
But this weekend was full of incredibly wonderful moments. We were able to watch General Conference, as well as two baptisms. They are such wonderful people, I know I felt the Spirit incredibly strongly in that baptismal room. One of the Brothers that was baptised was the husband of a convert, baptised about twenty years or so ago. That wonderful wife of his bore a tender testimony at that service, speaking first of the love that she had for this son of God, her husband. She had led her life, filled with love for both him and for the gospel, and was blessed to see her husband baptised for the remission of sins. She spoke often of patience and being blessed with the ability to wait. What captured my attention the most though was her words for how much she loved her husband.
This spoke deep to me, and the words mentioning that 'charity never failieth' entered into my mind. I continued to ponder that. Why is it that charity never faileth? Why not patience? Why not faith? And who could forget humility and diligence? Why charity?
Perhaps the Lord's example points to a solution. Those who have felt to 'sing the song of redeeming love' know that the greatest feeling, comes from knowing that someone loves you unconditionally. Regardless of what you've done, knowing that someone will never ever voluntarily turn away from you, gives the greatest everlasting hope. To start again. To keep going. To not only survive and get through something, but to discover, to create, to excell!
The possessor receives blessings just as sweet, though maybe more difficult to express through words to those who have never felt it. I cannot yet express it. I have not yet felt pure charity, I do not yet know what giving such charity feels like.
However, I do know how it feels to receive charity, and to give only an imperfect amount of it.
I love you all,
Make this a great week,
Loves and misses,
Elder Annen
Did I ask for your excuses?! You want to act like a star, you better give me a star effort, you hear me?
...
Forget about him! Alan! you're up!
Now, I don't want them to gain, *another yard*
You BLITZ ALL NIGHT! If they cross the line of scrimmage I swear I'll take every last one of you out!
And you make sure, that they remember, FOREVER! the night they played the Titans!
Love that one ^^ No connection I'm afraid.
Alrighty everybody! Hello! How are you? I'm fine thank you and you?
All I can say is... I'm going to be so weird..er. I'm going to be so incredibly weirder when I get home. I will explain. So, for those of you who can remember, I just got transferred to the area with the English branch included in it. Now, I can be a funny guy. I have no problems whatsoever going up to complete and utter strangers, speak to them in Korean, carry on a conversation, get a appointment and the like... I have no problems with that! Absolutely none! I don't think that I seriously look at myself anymore and really realize that that's what I 'm doing, but yeah! So, I've been thinking as people constantly and consistently remind me that I'm going home and not to get trunky, that I'm actually not going to be that weird when I get home. I honestly was thinking along those lines when I got the transfer call. Then last Sunday came around...
Do you know what reverse culture shock is?
I didn't either... But ooohhhhhhhhhh boy......... Heh... Yep...
So... We're waiting at the subway station for someone we invited to church. All of a sudden, a foreigner comes out of the subway, nicely dressed, comes right up to me, and says "Hey Elder how are you?" And do you want to know what I said?! I just looked at him for a second.. then another.. and then responded, "I'm fine thank you and you?" ... now that might not be that bad, it's an acceptable answer. But considering the fact that I had said it in a KOREAN ACCENT, made it ten times more awkward. If it was on purpose it would have been funny. If the foreigner had been there for several months he probably would have gotten a good chuckle... Instead, he just kind of looked at me funny, sadi he was fine too... and then walked away... You could have cut the awkwardness with a butter knife. Man... I kind of shook it off then went to the English sacrament meeting. I have never seen so much blonde hair in one place in my life. Ok I probably have, but... WOW. What followed was a day full of people coming up and talking to me and my responses full of blank stares trying to understand what language these people were speaking to me in ^^ Needless to emphasize further... I will be weird..er when I get back home ^^ So, please cut me some slack ^^
But this weekend was full of incredibly wonderful moments. We were able to watch General Conference, as well as two baptisms. They are such wonderful people, I know I felt the Spirit incredibly strongly in that baptismal room. One of the Brothers that was baptised was the husband of a convert, baptised about twenty years or so ago. That wonderful wife of his bore a tender testimony at that service, speaking first of the love that she had for this son of God, her husband. She had led her life, filled with love for both him and for the gospel, and was blessed to see her husband baptised for the remission of sins. She spoke often of patience and being blessed with the ability to wait. What captured my attention the most though was her words for how much she loved her husband.
This spoke deep to me, and the words mentioning that 'charity never failieth' entered into my mind. I continued to ponder that. Why is it that charity never faileth? Why not patience? Why not faith? And who could forget humility and diligence? Why charity?
Perhaps the Lord's example points to a solution. Those who have felt to 'sing the song of redeeming love' know that the greatest feeling, comes from knowing that someone loves you unconditionally. Regardless of what you've done, knowing that someone will never ever voluntarily turn away from you, gives the greatest everlasting hope. To start again. To keep going. To not only survive and get through something, but to discover, to create, to excell!
The possessor receives blessings just as sweet, though maybe more difficult to express through words to those who have never felt it. I cannot yet express it. I have not yet felt pure charity, I do not yet know what giving such charity feels like.
However, I do know how it feels to receive charity, and to give only an imperfect amount of it.
I love you all,
Make this a great week,
Loves and misses,
Elder Annen
Monday, October 7, 2013
D-Day date 받았네!!!!!!!!
D-Day, December 17th is the last day of missionary work for me, and I should be getting my travel itinerary soon that'll tell me when I'm going back to America! ^^
Transfers!
Normal? What do *you* know about normal? What does *anyone* in this family know about normal?!
Now wait a minute young lady
We ACT normal Mom! I want to be normal! The only normal one is Jack Jack!! And he's not even toilet trained!
...
...
Lucky... Oh, I meant about being normal!
Speaking of which I really have no idea what on earth normal on a mission is supposed to be... I'm not sure wif this is supposed to be what happens all the times in other missions around the world, but all I know is is that I haven't really met anyone who has had to move as often as I have had to. It's been nice this last little bit, didn't move for five months, but here we go again ^^ Packing! Love it ^^
You guessed it, transfer calls. I'm not one really for statistics, but most of the people that I know end their missions with four to five areas. I still have a little bit to go and I am on to my seventh area, and my twelvth companion! ^^ Am I excited or what?!
I unfortunately don't have enough time to really share a spiritual thought, but I thought I would give an update on the mission on goings for once ^^
Please pray for us!^^
Sincerely,
Elder Annen
Now wait a minute young lady
We ACT normal Mom! I want to be normal! The only normal one is Jack Jack!! And he's not even toilet trained!
...
...
Lucky... Oh, I meant about being normal!
Speaking of which I really have no idea what on earth normal on a mission is supposed to be... I'm not sure wif this is supposed to be what happens all the times in other missions around the world, but all I know is is that I haven't really met anyone who has had to move as often as I have had to. It's been nice this last little bit, didn't move for five months, but here we go again ^^ Packing! Love it ^^
You guessed it, transfer calls. I'm not one really for statistics, but most of the people that I know end their missions with four to five areas. I still have a little bit to go and I am on to my seventh area, and my twelvth companion! ^^ Am I excited or what?!
I unfortunately don't have enough time to really share a spiritual thought, but I thought I would give an update on the mission on goings for once ^^
Please pray for us!^^
Sincerely,
Elder Annen
Now....Where Was I?
Alrighty everyone, sorry to have left you hanging there with that last story.
Now where was I? ... Oh yes... The older Brother in our ward. His name is Brother Hong, and he is one of the most awesome people that I know. He is incredibly fluent in English... and when I say English I really mean like Old English. He has memorized the greater part of the Bible IN ENGLISH, and just loves to quote it along with other things... Gettsyburg address for example ^^ Naturally, we hit it off quite well from the start. One of the things that has happened these past few weeks has really been seeing the progress that this incredible man is making. He was baptized several months before I arrived in this area, and I've heard several reasons for why he joined this church. The beginning ones were interesting. He told us that the only reason that he "joined this church is because of" us missionaries. He loves having people, especially foreigners, to talk English to (not 'with', mind you, 'to' ^^) But that's all he would tell us!! Everytime we met with him he would tell us this. I could list so many other complaints that he would tell us about our church, from the hymns that we pick to sing to the fact that some of the children are too noisy, he told us all of them. However, slowly but surely, he has changed. We had heard him tell one of his teachers that "the only reason he comes to this church is because of the way that the teacher 'lectures' and teaches him about the gospel. A few weeks ago, after a lecture about fast offerings, he immediately went and paid his tithing and fast offerings right then and there. Without a moment of hesitation. Most recently, after telling us that the songs we sing aren't hymns, they're just serenades, they are too quiet, etc etc, he mentioned to my companion yesterday of the fact that he loves the music in this church, it helps him feel peace and calm, helping him to relax after his week. It has been such an incredible blessing to be with this man and see his progress in the gospel. It reminds me frequently of how many times I feel I had gone to church thinking thoughts like the only reason I go is because my parents tell me too. The only reason I go is to see my friends. The only reason I go is cuz of my youth leaders. They usually bring donuts this week. Regardless of how many times those thoughts and reasons have crossed my path, I am eternally grateful for them, for they have helped me change as well. They have helped me experience all of the blessings promised to us. They have helped me to see, that taking a full day off of worldly things to exclusively focus on spiritual progress, both personal and others, is one of the greatest checks you can give yourself. It helped me see the blessing of the sacrament, to truly start over with a determination to do much better this week.
I stand right by this 92-year old Brother from my ward. The only reasons I come to church are often not the right answer. But, looking back has confirmed that as the promised blessings continue to be experienced, our very natures are changed. As we continually strive to be obedient, God helps our tendencies to come closer to His own.
The "Look Back Principle" is this: If you can look back on your life and say to yourself, I would have done that better, then you are progressing.
I love you all!
Receive Many Korean Thanksgiving Blessings Please!
Elder Annen
Now where was I? ... Oh yes... The older Brother in our ward. His name is Brother Hong, and he is one of the most awesome people that I know. He is incredibly fluent in English... and when I say English I really mean like Old English. He has memorized the greater part of the Bible IN ENGLISH, and just loves to quote it along with other things... Gettsyburg address for example ^^ Naturally, we hit it off quite well from the start. One of the things that has happened these past few weeks has really been seeing the progress that this incredible man is making. He was baptized several months before I arrived in this area, and I've heard several reasons for why he joined this church. The beginning ones were interesting. He told us that the only reason that he "joined this church is because of" us missionaries. He loves having people, especially foreigners, to talk English to (not 'with', mind you, 'to' ^^) But that's all he would tell us!! Everytime we met with him he would tell us this. I could list so many other complaints that he would tell us about our church, from the hymns that we pick to sing to the fact that some of the children are too noisy, he told us all of them. However, slowly but surely, he has changed. We had heard him tell one of his teachers that "the only reason he comes to this church is because of the way that the teacher 'lectures' and teaches him about the gospel. A few weeks ago, after a lecture about fast offerings, he immediately went and paid his tithing and fast offerings right then and there. Without a moment of hesitation. Most recently, after telling us that the songs we sing aren't hymns, they're just serenades, they are too quiet, etc etc, he mentioned to my companion yesterday of the fact that he loves the music in this church, it helps him feel peace and calm, helping him to relax after his week. It has been such an incredible blessing to be with this man and see his progress in the gospel. It reminds me frequently of how many times I feel I had gone to church thinking thoughts like the only reason I go is because my parents tell me too. The only reason I go is to see my friends. The only reason I go is cuz of my youth leaders. They usually bring donuts this week. Regardless of how many times those thoughts and reasons have crossed my path, I am eternally grateful for them, for they have helped me change as well. They have helped me experience all of the blessings promised to us. They have helped me to see, that taking a full day off of worldly things to exclusively focus on spiritual progress, both personal and others, is one of the greatest checks you can give yourself. It helped me see the blessing of the sacrament, to truly start over with a determination to do much better this week.
I stand right by this 92-year old Brother from my ward. The only reasons I come to church are often not the right answer. But, looking back has confirmed that as the promised blessings continue to be experienced, our very natures are changed. As we continually strive to be obedient, God helps our tendencies to come closer to His own.
The "Look Back Principle" is this: If you can look back on your life and say to yourself, I would have done that better, then you are progressing.
I love you all!
Receive Many Korean Thanksgiving Blessings Please!
Elder Annen
Monday, September 9, 2013
Spiritual Experiences
So I feel like everytime that I email I am always coming back from a nice long break and I need to sincerely apologize to everyone for the long time I've taken to write and then make a whole bunch of promises that involve me saying I'll do better next time and I'll write more but that I never actually intend to keep... So, skipping that 老馆利牢introduction...
Would you take a look at that? Pretty pathetic huh? Well you'll never believe this but that llama you're looking at was once a human being. and not just any human being, that guy was an emperor, a rich powerful ball of charisma. Oh Yeah!... ... This is his story. .. Well, actually my story. That's right, I'm that llama. The name is Cuzco. Emperor Cuzco. I was the world's nicest guy and they ruined my life for no reason! Oh is that hard to believe? Alrtight tell you what you go back aways, you know, before I was a llama? And it'll all make sense...
Ok see now that's a little too far back... Oho, look at me! Thats me as a baby! ... Ahem, now let's move ahead
So, short email for today. We had some absolutely incredible experiences this week. Small, but incredible. I was really impressed with two different styles of teaching this past week. One of them was with an investigator that we picked up early on when I first came to this area. We have been teaching him for awhile, and our mission has really been stressing asking questions to find out needs etc etc. We tried a lot of that, but it didn't get us anywhere whatsoever. As we went to teach him, I realized that I just wanted to just get started. Regardless of him only having English interest, not caring about religion, I decided that I just wanted to start teaching. Why not? I really remember that prompting, because we started talking, just about what he believes about God. What followed was one of the greatest spiritual experience discussions I have ever had. It never ceases to amaze me, how often, regardless of the previous background, how often everyone feels the need to talk to God. And then, as the hymn movingly portrays, I always stand all amazed at the love Christ and Father in Heaven offers us, at how much they care to reach out to every person, regardless of action or belief. It is a beautiful thing to see and feel such love. I cannot wait to meet him next week and see how our conversations go.
The other moment was with an older Brother in our ward right now. I will have to wait until next week to do this story justice ^^
Good Luck God Bless and God Speed Everyone!
Loves and Misses,
Elder Jeremy Annen
Would you take a look at that? Pretty pathetic huh? Well you'll never believe this but that llama you're looking at was once a human being. and not just any human being, that guy was an emperor, a rich powerful ball of charisma. Oh Yeah!... ... This is his story. .. Well, actually my story. That's right, I'm that llama. The name is Cuzco. Emperor Cuzco. I was the world's nicest guy and they ruined my life for no reason! Oh is that hard to believe? Alrtight tell you what you go back aways, you know, before I was a llama? And it'll all make sense...
Ok see now that's a little too far back... Oho, look at me! Thats me as a baby! ... Ahem, now let's move ahead
So, short email for today. We had some absolutely incredible experiences this week. Small, but incredible. I was really impressed with two different styles of teaching this past week. One of them was with an investigator that we picked up early on when I first came to this area. We have been teaching him for awhile, and our mission has really been stressing asking questions to find out needs etc etc. We tried a lot of that, but it didn't get us anywhere whatsoever. As we went to teach him, I realized that I just wanted to just get started. Regardless of him only having English interest, not caring about religion, I decided that I just wanted to start teaching. Why not? I really remember that prompting, because we started talking, just about what he believes about God. What followed was one of the greatest spiritual experience discussions I have ever had. It never ceases to amaze me, how often, regardless of the previous background, how often everyone feels the need to talk to God. And then, as the hymn movingly portrays, I always stand all amazed at the love Christ and Father in Heaven offers us, at how much they care to reach out to every person, regardless of action or belief. It is a beautiful thing to see and feel such love. I cannot wait to meet him next week and see how our conversations go.
The other moment was with an older Brother in our ward right now. I will have to wait until next week to do this story justice ^^
Good Luck God Bless and God Speed Everyone!
Loves and Misses,
Elder Jeremy Annen
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Pink Dragons
Rules indeed! HA She only wants rules so she can break em!
I'll take care of you later, featherbrain! Now, rule number one, no vegetable, or mineral, only animal. Rule two no make believe things like, uh, pink dragons and stuff... Rule three, no disappearing!
Cough cough, rule four, no cheating!
Don't ask, it was just one of the first movies that came into my head. Sword in the Stone ^^
Well hello and how are all of you wonderful people out there?
It has really been a while. A long long long time. Like I don't think I've written in at least six or seven weeks now, and that might be an understatement! So, terribly sorry, I do hope you will all forgive me for that. If not... Well, feel free to let me know in the coming months^^
SO! What on earth can I tell you that will bring all of you up to speed? Sad thing is I don't even know where to start, so I'll start at the very beginning. They tell me that's a very good place to start. :)
First off, I am out of the 시골! ㅠㅠ I am out of the countryside and back to the land where there are people everywhere. And remember, we're in the orient here, when I say everywhere, you know I'm telling the truth. The mission has split and I was recently introduced to both my son and my new misison president! This is my third Mission President, and the second mission that I have been called to serve in. My son is from Vancouver Washington (use google maps or something, he tells me its a real city^^) His name, which we've been getting nonstop jokes about it since he has arrived here, his name is Elder Gamble ^^ People just love his name out here. Hope it doesn't distract too much about the message we share. Awesome cultural fact here, names are very important, and often people will tell you what their names mean and occasionally why they are named that way, etc. etc. So, naturally when they hear my companions name they automatically assume that there must be some reason behind it... It's fun.
Training though! Man, it is definitely different. I am loving it, but the pressure has of course increased... That sounded awkward... The pressure's gone up? I think that's how you say it... Regardless of my English, y'alls have hopefully gotten the point.
I love my Saviour. I would never have known Him this well had I not come on a misison and experienced what I have. All of these blessings though, are not because of anything that I have done. These blessings that I have received, and the blessings that may have come from me, was because the Savior was acting through me. That has been the greatest blessing to see. The Lord never fails. He knows His Plan. We do too. I love Him, and I love all of you.
Be not afraid, only believe. That is where true peace and joy come from.
Elder Annen
Friday, July 5, 2013
Welcome to the Korea Seoul South Mission!
Welcome to the Korea Seoul South Mission!
We are thrilled to serve in Korea with your missionary. The work here is moving forward as our elders and sisters diligently serve the Lord. Thank you for your support and prayers in their behalf. We have attached a picture taken yesterday at our Meet the President event. Elder Kim, the Area Seventy for our mission, was present as we introduced ourselves.
We have a love for the Korean people and desire the word of the Lord to go forth throughout the land. As our missionaries study, pray, and follow the mission standards, the work will progress, many lives will be changed, and the gospel of Jesus Christ will be spread far and wide. What a wonderful time it is to be serving in Korea!
Sincerely,
President and Sister Morrise
Korea Seoul South Mission
Letters and packages may be sent to this address:
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Korea Seoul South Mission
24-1 Ogeum-dong,
Songpa –gu
Seoul, Korea 138-855
Saturday, June 15, 2013
This is the Stuff Memories are Made of!
Hi everyone! Long time no see and all that ^^ This one was from a old
movie, but I gotta say, I love it. Those of you who've seen it will
see a parallel in this story of mine. ^^ Hope you enjoy it.
So, it's Preparation Day. Lunch time comes around and I remember I
need to get a haircut. Funny thing about barber shops, by the way. I
actually really enjoy them, it can be really good time to let your
mind ponder stuff that's going on, catch a few winks or of course talk
to the hairdresser about the gospel. And that is all really fine and
dandy. However, some of those general principles, particularly the
first two, are not the greatest idea when you happen to be the one
cutting your own hair. ^^ (Yep, one of those stories.) So I start on
the front, have the size all selected out, razor is cutting
fine,moving to the center, and at this point my mind's already on
something else, I don't remember what it was anymore, but when I go
for the next cut, the measuring hair clip goes shooting off the razor.
This was not the first time this has happened to me though, in fact I
usually catch myself at that point, and everything's all fine and
dandy. This time, I'm preoccupied, the hair clip went flying I don't
notice it until I all of a sudden feel a little nudge right above my
forehead. Wide awake and panicking at this point now, I realize, with
utter shock, that the lock of hair falling down in front of me is MUCH
longer than the previous ones. So, long story short, I will now need a
LOT of hair wax to mess with the front of my head, and I may or may
not need permission for a little more of an extreme hair cut to take
care of the 3cm by 3cm almost bald part in the front and center of my
hair. ^^ I suppose I could tell people that I recently had an
operation...
So these next few weeks just got a lot more entertaining ^^
I'm sorry, I must make this one short, but just to add a little note.
I'm sorry to all of you who I've written to and I have not yet written
back to. The pace has really picked up in this mission, and with my
time winding down, there is a lot of stuff that I need to do to help
everyone else here out. The rules, at least for my mission, have
changed and I am now able to email friends. If you have written me
recently and have not gotten a letter from me, please write me, tell
me your name too ^^ I'm terrible at guessing who people are from
random emails addresses^^ My email: jeremyannen@myldsmail.net
Loves and misses ^^
God Bless, and God Speed,
Elder Annen
Monday, April 22, 2013
North Korea
Why do I always worry, year after year that something is going to go wrong? It never does!
Hello everyone! This one was really short and to the point I think. This however, does not reference the Boston marathon nor any of the other accidents that have occured recently, I was really sad to hear about all of those events. This quote in many ways is referring to the situation that South and North Korea currently find themselves in. Today I wish to just release my own, for lack of a better word, my own statement on this situation.
Before I do, I want to say thank you to everyone who has expressed concern and worry for me. I'm really grateful for those and for the prayers that have been said for the missionaries here and around the world.
In reference to the quote however, area few situations I would like to bring up, for convenience, let me try two: the swine flu, and for those of you who lived in Utah a couple of years ago, 'Snowmaggedon.' We all remember what had happened. The news media all of a sudden gets the wind of a possible big story, and within a couple of days, they have already reported all the necessary facts, stretching them to their limit, trying to get the story to be seen, to be read, to be watched. The amount of coverage on one subject has those who read it believing that the problems are so much more severe than they actually are.
The Korean people are not worried. I talk to them everyday, lots of them. This is not the only time that North Korea has bought a new sword and rattled it and waved it in the air for everyone to see. He has done this consistently every year for many many years. There were times when the misionaries came here after the war, when the original dictator would often say that he would "celebrate his birthday(April 15) in Seoul," and he never did. This past week, you notice that date has passed as well. This has happened countless times to the Korean people, and though Kim Jong Un has been bolder than before, he has done so knowing that the more attention he gets the better it is for him. As many a spoiled child knows, if you want to get the candy, you sometimes have to throw the tantrum.
Thank you so much for your concern, it means the world to us. We are not yet worried. Nor is the Lord worried. The greatly increased number of missionaries in South Korea in many respects is also what should be expected. As missionaries, we are set apart from the world, we are indeed set apart not only away from the lifestyles and the evils of the world, but also set apart towards a greater number of blessings and greater amount of protection. As missionaries, we are granted an enormous amount of protection, for more than we will ever truly realize in this life. The more protected missionaries that are sent into the field of South Korea to labor, the more protected the country of South Korea will become. If North Korea still decides to continue with his plans, I say so be it. So be it. The Lord has sent hundreds of missionaries, young people who have dedicated, consecrated, two years of their lives to the service of their fellow men, and why, if not to come forth at this time to be a blessing to those who may need the help of the Army of God? Why? The Lord protects and watches over us, the influence and the Spirit that we as missionaries feel at all times and in all places cannot be described in the simple words that our tongue can express. The power of the Spirit at your fingertips, is awe inspiring. We are not worried. We have never fought, yet we do not fear death. If we are called this day to fight to protect our fellow man, so be it. It will be with the arm of God.
What will we do with all these missionaries? We will do what Elder Nelson said we will do. We "will bless the children of Almighty God."
God Bless, and God Speed
Elder Annen
Hello everyone! This one was really short and to the point I think. This however, does not reference the Boston marathon nor any of the other accidents that have occured recently, I was really sad to hear about all of those events. This quote in many ways is referring to the situation that South and North Korea currently find themselves in. Today I wish to just release my own, for lack of a better word, my own statement on this situation.
Before I do, I want to say thank you to everyone who has expressed concern and worry for me. I'm really grateful for those and for the prayers that have been said for the missionaries here and around the world.
In reference to the quote however, area few situations I would like to bring up, for convenience, let me try two: the swine flu, and for those of you who lived in Utah a couple of years ago, 'Snowmaggedon.' We all remember what had happened. The news media all of a sudden gets the wind of a possible big story, and within a couple of days, they have already reported all the necessary facts, stretching them to their limit, trying to get the story to be seen, to be read, to be watched. The amount of coverage on one subject has those who read it believing that the problems are so much more severe than they actually are.
The Korean people are not worried. I talk to them everyday, lots of them. This is not the only time that North Korea has bought a new sword and rattled it and waved it in the air for everyone to see. He has done this consistently every year for many many years. There were times when the misionaries came here after the war, when the original dictator would often say that he would "celebrate his birthday(April 15) in Seoul," and he never did. This past week, you notice that date has passed as well. This has happened countless times to the Korean people, and though Kim Jong Un has been bolder than before, he has done so knowing that the more attention he gets the better it is for him. As many a spoiled child knows, if you want to get the candy, you sometimes have to throw the tantrum.
Thank you so much for your concern, it means the world to us. We are not yet worried. Nor is the Lord worried. The greatly increased number of missionaries in South Korea in many respects is also what should be expected. As missionaries, we are set apart from the world, we are indeed set apart not only away from the lifestyles and the evils of the world, but also set apart towards a greater number of blessings and greater amount of protection. As missionaries, we are granted an enormous amount of protection, for more than we will ever truly realize in this life. The more protected missionaries that are sent into the field of South Korea to labor, the more protected the country of South Korea will become. If North Korea still decides to continue with his plans, I say so be it. So be it. The Lord has sent hundreds of missionaries, young people who have dedicated, consecrated, two years of their lives to the service of their fellow men, and why, if not to come forth at this time to be a blessing to those who may need the help of the Army of God? Why? The Lord protects and watches over us, the influence and the Spirit that we as missionaries feel at all times and in all places cannot be described in the simple words that our tongue can express. The power of the Spirit at your fingertips, is awe inspiring. We are not worried. We have never fought, yet we do not fear death. If we are called this day to fight to protect our fellow man, so be it. It will be with the arm of God.
What will we do with all these missionaries? We will do what Elder Nelson said we will do. We "will bless the children of Almighty God."
God Bless, and God Speed
Elder Annen
Thursday, April 11, 2013
A Security Message for U.S. Citizens
A Security Message for U.S. Citizens
The U.S. Embassy informs U.S. citizens that despite current political tensions with North Korea there is no specific information to suggest there are imminent threats to U.S. citizens or facilities in the Republic of Korea (ROK). The Embassy has not changed its security posture and we have not recommended that U.S. citizens who reside in, or plan to visit, the Republic of Korea take special security precautions at this time. The U.S. Embassy takes as its highest priority the welfare of American citizens in Korea. Should the security situation change, the Embassy will issue updated information.
We urge U.S. citizens to keep in regular contact with family and friends. For further information on specific countries, U.S. citizens should consult the Country Specific Information pages, Travel Alerts, and Travel Warnings at http://travel.state.gov/ as well as the Worldwide Caution.
The U.S. Embassy informs U.S. citizens that despite current political tensions with North Korea there is no specific information to suggest there are imminent threats to U.S. citizens or facilities in the Republic of Korea (ROK). The Embassy has not changed its security posture and we have not recommended that U.S. citizens who reside in, or plan to visit, the Republic of Korea take special security precautions at this time. The U.S. Embassy takes as its highest priority the welfare of American citizens in Korea. Should the security situation change, the Embassy will issue updated information.
We urge U.S. citizens to keep in regular contact with family and friends. For further information on specific countries, U.S. citizens should consult the Country Specific Information pages, Travel Alerts, and Travel Warnings at http://travel.state.gov/ as well as the Worldwide Caution.
Honesty? Honestly!
Me I’m dishonest! And a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest! Honestly! It’s the honest ones you have to look out for! Because you can never predict, when they’re going to do something incredibly... stupid.
Hello everybody! How are things going over there? I hope just fine and dandy and that everyone is happy and healthy ^^ Things are going quite well over here! At least, as far as the missionaries here. We’re not entirely sure as to how the relationships between the North and the South are going exactly, but! So far it seems that he just likes to be breathing threats and not much else yet^^ So we will see how this goes!
These past two weeks have unfortunately been pretty uneventful. We’ve been doing a lot of advertising for our English class, we’re trying to start one up, and that is also the only way that we can actually get them to even open the door to talk to us. Imagine! Here, we don’t get too many doors slammed in our faces, because people just like to yell through the door “Who is it?” and as soon as they here that we’re missionaries, we are greeted with either silence or lots of yelling saying “YOU’RE DONE!” and then silence ^^ But! When we advertise for English, the people are much nicer about it. Seems to work a little bit. I can honestly say that I am surprised with how much work it takes to put an English class together! It is something else! If you look on the blog or whatever, I think Mom’s posted the picture that we use for our advertisements^^ I love that one, it just kills me! People get a good laugh out of it too. Which reminds me, Mom, I’m just fine if you put a copy of that on the fridge ^^ It’ll give everyone a nice chuckle when they see it. Maybe we should make it more professional looking... Oh well, wanted something that’ll catch people’s eye.
Recently, there has been a fascinating subject on my mind. The subject of honesty. Hence the quote ^^ However, the feeling of this quote is not quite the one that I wanted to convey. The quote that had actually brought this thought to mind, was a quote by the prophet Joseph Smith, which I think you will find fascinating. “No one can ever enter the celestial kingdom, unless he is strictly honest.” I was listening to a man by the name of Truman G. Madsen, and he mentioned in his talk that to the question, are you honest in your dealings with your fellow men, the answer that is universally given is, I try. Eventually we must do more than that. But what truly is honesty? Might I suggest that honesty is a crucial difference, it is the line that separates many fascinating subjects. The spark for this spiritual thought was a run in that we had here with an American apostate. Fascinating fellow, in the sense that he blamed the church for every failure, every problem in his life. One of the interesting things that he told me was, “Oh yeah, you get really good at tricking people here when you are out here on your missions.” Might I suggest to you that what this man did not understand was the principle of honesty. The difference is crucial. Honesty. Honesty is the difference between, for example, flattery and compliments. Honesty is the difference between manipulation and friendship. Honesty is the difference between perjury and testimony. It is truly honesty that makes the largest difference in our lives. Imagine, for example, the amazing change in the world if everyone was honest. Perfectly and completely honest. The change would, I imagine, solve innumerable problems that occur in our daily lives. Remember that in the thirteenth article of faith, it starts out with, what was it? “We believe in being honest...” We believe in being honest. Why would that be so? Why is it, that the beginning of the list of virtues that is so ingrained in every primary child’s memory, is honesty? The answer is already on some of your minds as you read. Maybe because this virtue is the virtue that underlies all others. If we are honest with others, we are honest with ourselves, if that is so, then that will very soon lead to honesty with God. So, one of the challenges I make to you now is to step up. You know how much this virtue means to God, you even know as to how this virtue will change your lives for the better. But you still hold back. We always seem to hold back. STOP! Stop thinking that, well, he doesn’t understand the situation I’m in, he doesn’t understand that if I hadn’t lied in that situation, that it would have caused more problems... Just stop. We all know the excuses, we’ve given them to ourselves countless times. Try it. See how you feel afterward, then keep trying to do better. I know that these things are true with all of my heart. I hope you believe me. But, if you don’t, in complete and utter honesty, it doesn’t matter to me. I hold myself accountable to God, and He, knowing all of my weaknesses and shortcomings, will be the one to render judgment.
Love you all tons, and miss you too,
Good Luck, God Bless, and God Speed,
Elder Annen
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Can Ye Feel So Now?
Wait! Stop! Turn around! turnaround and go south!
South? but that'll take you past Isengard...
Yes. -insert part I can't remember- The closer we are to danger, the farther we are from harm. It's the last thing he'll expect.
Hmmmm... That doesn't make any sense to me. But then, you are very small...
And before I get into this next part, I just want to acknowledge something. Yes. I am fully aware that the challenge I issued to you two weeks ago was worded in the lame format that a lot of people like to put on their FAcebook posts. It was worded that way deliberately. I now ask you, how many of you let that become an excuse not to follow through with that challenge? I am genuinely curious as to how many of you read those words, but did not stop to think about the feeling that I was putting behind them? This is what I think is one of the saddest and most difficult things about maintaining spirituality in this day and age. How desensitized we are to the spiritual. One thing that has impressed me is how often we just say things without contemplating their meanings. To just name a few, "I'd like to bear my testimony..." "I know that..." "I bellieve that..." Have any of us thought of that? Have you thought about the meaning of the word 'testimony'? In a court, for example, the testimony of one individual has great power. One eyewitness to a crime is enough to substantiate a claim. To bear testimony is to, in a sense, put true conviction ib the line. To show to the world that you are putting yourself as a witness to the world of your conviction. 'to know' in my mind means to have no doubt as to something's existence or truth. And to declare that one believes, I think, may be one of the most powerful of them all. I am guilty of thinking to myself before my mission, that if someone says, "I believe..." it meant that their faith was weaker than those who said "I know.." To say that one believes, though, is to act with much greater faith. It is truely to say with great feeling that, "I don't know this, but I have a hope. I have a strong hope 'for a better world' I have a faith strong enough that even though I do not enjoy an assurance of knowledge, I will stand here in fron of you to express this belief, in hopes that one day, I will know." The statement of belief truely seems to me more powerful than many things.
I love you all so much. Please forgive my weaknesses in writing and pay attention to the words that have been whispered to your soul as you read this. For I know you have had words whispered to you. Follow them.
Good Luck, God Bless, and God Speed,
Sincerely Yours,
Elder Annen
Saturday, March 9, 2013
When Spirit Converses With Spirit
You Sailor!
Cotton, sir
Mr. Cotton! Do you have the courage and fortitude to follow orders and stay true in the face of an almost certain death? ... MR COTTON! Answer man!
Ah, he's a mute sir, poor devil had his tongue cut out, so they've trained the parrot to talk for him! ... though no one's yet figured how...
... Mr Cottons parrot... Same question
Ark! Plenty of sails, plenty of sails!
Mostly we figure that means yes..
Of Course it does! Satisfied?
Well you've proved they're mad!
What is up everybody?! I hope everyone's week has been absolutely fine and dandy! We're doing really well over here in Korea, We've just had a really crazy announcement, the mission here is splitting up... I can't believe it, we were all incredibloy shocked and excited. I'm both happy for that and also wuite sad. That means a lot of the missionaries I'm good friends with will be in a different mission in a few months... unbelievable really. This was a fun quote for me, sometimes this is how I feel when I talk to people. I feel like the branch president or someone tells everyone over the pulpit that " Ah, he's a foreigner, poor guy grew up only learning english, but they've trained him to speak a little Korean!" and then after I try to speak they're all thinking "mostly we figure that means yes" I love it though ^^
This one is going to have to be a lot quicker than some of my other ones, terribly sorry. Things are still on the slow side in my area, but we're working hard! It's going to be great!
I heard a general authority speak on the subject of John 20:27-29, where it refers to the story of doubting Thomas. Christ makes an interesting comment there, he says Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yethave believed. He points out that the phrasing of this statement is interesting because it seems to place priority, it seems to place secondhand knowledge above actual experience, as though we were better off not having seen the risen Lord, as though it were better that we just believe someone else than finding out for ourselves. But then he makes his point. He says that later on, when adversity comes along, and mighty winds, shafts in the whilrwind, hails and mighty storms come with it, we will doubt even our very own senses. But then he says that the one power even beyond sight, that can Sear doubt out of us, is the Holy Ghost. The other senses can be fooled, messed with, distorted, twisted, but the simple speaking, the conversation of spirit speaking with spirit is enough to sear any doubt out of us. These are now my words that I add. This is why the testimonies of the witnesses are so powerful. This is why particularly the testimonies of the Three Witnesses are so powerful. Have you looked into the story of the Three Witnesses? Do you realize that all three of them left the church? Do you realize that they all became personally disaffected from Joseph Smith? AND THEN, do you understand that notwithstanding their own apostacies, not ONE of them ever at any time denied that witness of the Book ov Mormon. NOT ONE of them ever claimed that Joseph Smith had deceived them, that they were mistaken, there was no angel, there was no voice of heaven commanding them to bear witness of the plates which they see. NOT ONE of them. Do you understand the power behind such a testimony? Their testimony was not one of sight. Their testimony is not powerful because of what they SAW, nor of what they HEARD. Their testimony has power because their souls conversed with God. The Holy Spirit spoke to their very souls. I challenge anyone here and now, if this is not a witness you have obtained, to do so now. Half of you that read this will say that you don't need it. Half of you that know you need it won't do it. And Maybe even after that there will only be a few that care enough to actually try. I challenge you to do so.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Elder Annen
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Happy New Year!
Waste land? I think you mean WONDERLAND! I mean how about all this fabulous snow, huh? Oh, and wait til you see the local village, cutest thing in the world! I haven't even mentioned all the free yaks milk!
Wait... what did you say?
Uh, the yaks milk! Milk from a yak isnt exactly a picnic, but once you pick the hairs out, it's very nutritious!
Well Happy New Year everybody!! Happy Sonlar and New Years Blessings Many Receive please! That's the literal word for word translation by the way :) And I picked this one because it's kinda cold here in my new area. In fact quite frigid. We traveled to and stayed in Seoul for three days so we could make it to the mission conference/celebration. Which was incredibly fun, we had an absolutley fabulous time and ate deuk-guk. Rice cake soup, traditional for new years.... SOoooo good ^^ But yeah, we travel back, get to our house. Now, we're really high up in our building. And the area's in the mountains. And it is winter time. And it is really cold. And when we got to our house.... The water heater was frozen solid ^^ Happy New Years gift for us... You thing coal is bad to receive for Christmas? Try this one. The house was down to about nine degrees C, and... Well that right there should about cover any and all explanation needed. We finally got it fixed earlier this morning, and man... Don't think I was ever so happy to see the thermostat hit just 15 degrees ^^ Heh. Also fun little thing that happened. Everyone went out of town this week. Almost everyone. So, Saturday, during the conference, I get a call from the branch president. Asks if I can give a talk. I'm thinking of all the travel time we have to get back to our area, and I think, yes, I can do that. Two hours later, he calls again. Do I play the piano? ... I can try the right hand. Great! Here are the four we'd like you to play tomorrow, can you do that? ... My mind is racing, don't know if I'll even have time to get to a piano to practice this stuff once, but yeah, sure I can try. Ah, thanks so much... Hour later, he calls again. I look down at the phone, see who it is, kind of brace myself, and sure enough, ten minutes later I'm also teaching the Elders Quorum... heh ^^ It was quite the fun time. I hesitate to put it this way, but 'luckily' no one was able to make it for Elder's quorum ^^ Too much of a good thing, you know ^^
One of the things that impressed me has been the study of the the book of Alma (in the Book of Mormon) There was one word that stood out to me in the first chapter.Twentyninth verse. It begins, "And now, because of the steadiness ot the church, they became exceedingly [blessed]..." I want to point out to you the word 'steadiness.' I want to first point out what it does NOT say. It did not say righteousness, though that is implied. It did not say perfection, though the fact that they were striving toward that is unquestionable. It says steadiness. This word to me means diligence, it means constant and consistent perserverence. When I one time gave a few words about diligence, I had brought in the story of the tortoise and the hare. I went over the story, then compared the opposing sides of their personalities. Fast, slow. Arrogant, humble. Hair, no hair(yes that actually makes a difference). And we all realized though, that the only attribute that made the difference is truely steadiness, diligence. I think we all can learn this lesson ourselves, to not worry about the speed that we're at and if we're slower or even faster than other people. Choosing to be righteous for one day is fantastic! But if the next day we just go back to where we were before, that effort was wasted. Every day, do a little bit. And then the next day do a little bit more than the little bit you did the day before. It makes a difference.
Love you all!
새해 복 많이 받으세요!
Good Luck, God Bless, and God Speed!
Elder Annen
Sunday, February 3, 2013
The Weather! Very Peculiar!
What was THAT?!? HahahA! The weather! Hm. Very peculiar!
Yeah, it looks like the winds are changing. I know what I have to do. But going back means that I'll have to face my past. I've been running from it for so long...
-THWACK-
OW! What was that for?!
Doesn't matter! It's in the past!
Yeah, but it still hurts...
Oh yes the past can hurt, but the way I see it, you can either run from it! Or learn from it!
-tries to nail him agin, dodges-
Aha! You see? Now! What are you going to do?
Heh Lo Everyone! How is everyone doing?! I hope you are all just fine and dandy! I'm doing pretty well myself. Kinda cold, I'm not going to tell you how cold because I know you don't want to hear it. (guess where that quotes from^^) No! I'm told its getting down to about negative twenty degrees Celcius here sometime soon... No, excited is not quite the word I would use right now. This one was from the Lion King, pretty sure I've quoted this one before, possibly even a year ago... But, it's kinda hard to remember that far back. I like this one because of that incredible transforming moment before this quote.
One of the funniest reactions that I think I get from people is their reaction to just the fact that I'm a foreigner. Seriously, especially where I am right now, they will just be shocked to see a white guy walking down the street. Sometimes they even just yell it out loud, "foreigner!!" just in shock. And I think I've found my favorite way to respond to this. I was at the mart, just looking around, I think it was at the different side dishes to go with rice or something. All of a sudden, I kid you not, this woman across from me had been looking down at the dishes, looked up at me and yelled for the whole mart to hear "AHH! FOREIGN PERSON!" "Whe-Guk-Een!!" Everyone in the entire mart turns and stares. And I immedaitely answer, reacting exactly the same way she did. Surprised jump back, eyes get really wide and I say loudly (I didn't have to yell, people had gotten quiet) but I say "AHH! KOREAN PERSON!!" ... ...I don't think I've ever been the cause for so much laughter in my life! People were busting up, I was busting up, the woman was. It was great.
I also had a wonderful miracle happen yesterday. I just learned that a man I had helped teach in my last area had gotten baptized yesterday! Such a blessing. His story is definitely a keeper. The last email I had written was the afternoon before we met him for the second time, so I haven't been able to really talk about him. But anyway. This brother has been coming to church for actually a few months. His girlfriend is a member and he would always come with her. The missionaries had of course offered to teach him many times, but at first he really wasn't that interested. He was just there because he liked the atmosphere, and because, of course his girlfriend was there. He was also a very busy man. He was the president of his branch of the company, and didn't really have a lot of time to meet even if he wanted to. I arrived in the area around his fourth month of coming to church. We were able to meet him the day before transfer calls at the end of last transfer. So we meet with him and find out that while he has learned a lot from coming out to church so often, everything was just in a jumble. He knew about prophets, but really had no idea where they fit in. He had of course heard of Christ and God but he had no concept of what those things could possibly mean, and so on and so forth. So that evening, while we had planned to teach for about 45 minutes, the lesson stretched to about two and a half hours or so. The beginning was just packed with us answering question, starting with prophets, the Godhead, the Church, Apostles, and also telling him somethings we would just have to teach him later. He also asked a lot about baptism, telling us that his girlfriend really wanted him to be baptized. At this point we see where he is, and we focus the lesson on faith and prayer and of course the First Vision. We wanted to give him the desire and the faith for the actions. We had just enough time to watch the Joseph Smith Restoration video, and it went well. We answered a few of his questions after then we all bowed good night, and went our merry way. This was Friday evening. Sunday, we see him at church, and he is quite friendly to us. HE is the one that strikes up the conversations and is talking to us, before, he was with the bishop and the older members and didn't really talk much with us. This change was unexpected to us, but we were happy. We meet him that Monday evening, after I sent my email. We meet, and we exchange 'pleasantries' and the like, start with a prayer, and ask him if he was able to pray since our last meeting. He said no. We were disappointed, we thought our last lesson had gone so well. We started to talk to him about the importance of prayer, and how it was necessary to receive revelation from God. And he jumped on that. Yes! he said, Revelation! You mentioned it last time. What is Revelation, and how do we receive it?! We take this as a good sign, and we talk about the still small voice and the feeling of peace that most people experience. He waved that aside, and said, What about Joseph Smith? Was that just a feeling of peace? We then explain about the others, visions, angels, and dreams. He gets quiet. He looks at us with a very sober, thoughtful look on his face. He starts out interestingly. He tells us, "I'm a heavy sleeper" ...ok... He continues on, "I don't dream. The last dream I can remember was maybe three or four years ago... Last Friday night, I dreamed. I dreamed my mother came and spoke to me about that movie that you showed me." He went on to describe his dream, and ended with "When can I be baptized?" I've rarely in my life, but more frequently on my mission, rarely ever felt so happy for someone else. The Sprirt was incredible.
Then I transferred.... ^^
Hope you all are happy and healthy.
Good Luck, God Bless, and God Speed,
Elder Annen
Yeah, it looks like the winds are changing. I know what I have to do. But going back means that I'll have to face my past. I've been running from it for so long...
-THWACK-
OW! What was that for?!
Doesn't matter! It's in the past!
Yeah, but it still hurts...
Oh yes the past can hurt, but the way I see it, you can either run from it! Or learn from it!
-tries to nail him agin, dodges-
Aha! You see? Now! What are you going to do?
Heh Lo Everyone! How is everyone doing?! I hope you are all just fine and dandy! I'm doing pretty well myself. Kinda cold, I'm not going to tell you how cold because I know you don't want to hear it. (guess where that quotes from^^) No! I'm told its getting down to about negative twenty degrees Celcius here sometime soon... No, excited is not quite the word I would use right now. This one was from the Lion King, pretty sure I've quoted this one before, possibly even a year ago... But, it's kinda hard to remember that far back. I like this one because of that incredible transforming moment before this quote.One of the funniest reactions that I think I get from people is their reaction to just the fact that I'm a foreigner. Seriously, especially where I am right now, they will just be shocked to see a white guy walking down the street. Sometimes they even just yell it out loud, "foreigner!!" just in shock. And I think I've found my favorite way to respond to this. I was at the mart, just looking around, I think it was at the different side dishes to go with rice or something. All of a sudden, I kid you not, this woman across from me had been looking down at the dishes, looked up at me and yelled for the whole mart to hear "AHH! FOREIGN PERSON!" "Whe-Guk-Een!!" Everyone in the entire mart turns and stares. And I immedaitely answer, reacting exactly the same way she did. Surprised jump back, eyes get really wide and I say loudly (I didn't have to yell, people had gotten quiet) but I say "AHH! KOREAN PERSON!!" ... ...I don't think I've ever been the cause for so much laughter in my life! People were busting up, I was busting up, the woman was. It was great.
I also had a wonderful miracle happen yesterday. I just learned that a man I had helped teach in my last area had gotten baptized yesterday! Such a blessing. His story is definitely a keeper. The last email I had written was the afternoon before we met him for the second time, so I haven't been able to really talk about him. But anyway. This brother has been coming to church for actually a few months. His girlfriend is a member and he would always come with her. The missionaries had of course offered to teach him many times, but at first he really wasn't that interested. He was just there because he liked the atmosphere, and because, of course his girlfriend was there. He was also a very busy man. He was the president of his branch of the company, and didn't really have a lot of time to meet even if he wanted to. I arrived in the area around his fourth month of coming to church. We were able to meet him the day before transfer calls at the end of last transfer. So we meet with him and find out that while he has learned a lot from coming out to church so often, everything was just in a jumble. He knew about prophets, but really had no idea where they fit in. He had of course heard of Christ and God but he had no concept of what those things could possibly mean, and so on and so forth. So that evening, while we had planned to teach for about 45 minutes, the lesson stretched to about two and a half hours or so. The beginning was just packed with us answering question, starting with prophets, the Godhead, the Church, Apostles, and also telling him somethings we would just have to teach him later. He also asked a lot about baptism, telling us that his girlfriend really wanted him to be baptized. At this point we see where he is, and we focus the lesson on faith and prayer and of course the First Vision. We wanted to give him the desire and the faith for the actions. We had just enough time to watch the Joseph Smith Restoration video, and it went well. We answered a few of his questions after then we all bowed good night, and went our merry way. This was Friday evening. Sunday, we see him at church, and he is quite friendly to us. HE is the one that strikes up the conversations and is talking to us, before, he was with the bishop and the older members and didn't really talk much with us. This change was unexpected to us, but we were happy. We meet him that Monday evening, after I sent my email. We meet, and we exchange 'pleasantries' and the like, start with a prayer, and ask him if he was able to pray since our last meeting. He said no. We were disappointed, we thought our last lesson had gone so well. We started to talk to him about the importance of prayer, and how it was necessary to receive revelation from God. And he jumped on that. Yes! he said, Revelation! You mentioned it last time. What is Revelation, and how do we receive it?! We take this as a good sign, and we talk about the still small voice and the feeling of peace that most people experience. He waved that aside, and said, What about Joseph Smith? Was that just a feeling of peace? We then explain about the others, visions, angels, and dreams. He gets quiet. He looks at us with a very sober, thoughtful look on his face. He starts out interestingly. He tells us, "I'm a heavy sleeper" ...ok... He continues on, "I don't dream. The last dream I can remember was maybe three or four years ago... Last Friday night, I dreamed. I dreamed my mother came and spoke to me about that movie that you showed me." He went on to describe his dream, and ended with "When can I be baptized?" I've rarely in my life, but more frequently on my mission, rarely ever felt so happy for someone else. The Sprirt was incredible.
Then I transferred.... ^^Hope you all are happy and healthy.
Good Luck, God Bless, and God Speed,
Elder Annen
Sunday, January 13, 2013
-insert creative title-
YeeeeeHAAAAAAAAAAAAA! It's you it's you it's you! It's REEEAAALLY You!
Uhh...
Whee!! -throws him and pulls the string-
'There's a snake in my boot
HA! It IS you!
Please stop saying that...
Prospecter said this day would come! ... GASP! Sweet mother of Abraham Lincoln! The Prospector! He'll wanna meet ya!
-Bullseye pops the box out of ... the other box-
Say Hello to the Prospector!
It.... It's a box...
He's mint in the box! Never been opened!
Turn me around Bullseye, so I can see... My the prodigal son has returned!
YeeHA! It's you its you its you!
Ok... I'm officially freaked out now!
So! I have a really great story, but it requires some background information. So, awhile ago I had told the story about those other church's missionaries, preachers, ministers, whatever the right word for them is. Here we call them JeonDoSa-s. Now, the missionaries in Korea are quite different than us. Quite different. I could go on about stories about run ins that we've had with them, the meetings they have, and yatta yatta yatta, but today I'll just give a little background on their missionary work. These people are the Bible bashers. These are the people that will seriously target people on the street. They'll walk toward them, then pass them, turn around, an then overtake them, corner them with three or so people, and immediately whip out their little argument books, and go to town, most of the time yelling and arguing until the people just take off. Now, that has been my experience when I see that happen to others. So!! That's the background.
More background, although I've been learning Korean for a year now, Listening is incredibly hard!! Incredibly! Still working on it... So! We get an invitation to a ShikSa. Ameal appointment, at a restaurant. Yeah, restaurant. We were excited. It was a buffet, and you know me. I love food. So, we go to the restaurant, and we wait outside it until it's fifteen minutes past the appointment time. And we're right outside, talking to people, and I look at the text again, and realize that she had said meet IN the restaurant. So we panic, oh no! and rush in. We're talking to the hostess and trying to explain our situation. We stated the name of the person we were meeting. I'm pretty sure that I explained everything as simply as I could. I thought I did a good job. But, because we were foreigners, they had kind of ignored what I had said and were talking to themselves debating what was going on.
They finally came and talked to me, but they talked really really fast. I could only make out the word "GyoHwe" she said it two or three times. That means church by the way. GyoHwe, church. So I jumped on that. Yes! Church! We are missionaries! SeonGyoSa! We are missionaries! They all then said, Ahhhh~~, then they said come this way. So we follow them. I'm here thinking, ah, good our member told them we'd be coming, thank goodness. Now this restaurant has lots of dining rooms, they open them up when it gets busy and it was quite busy! So she lead us to a particular one, almost all the tables are ful except for a couple in the center, and she seats us down and she walks away. Now we're really confused, our member wasn't there, but we just sat down and just thought she had made a reservation for us. Now, when we came into the room, it had been full of talk and laughter and just restaurant noises. That kind of changed. As soon as she left, and the other people in the room saw us take our coats off, it went quiet. I mean dead quiet. I'm looking around at everyone and see they all have just a dead serious look on. Death glares. Glaring at us. One lady put her hands up in an X and just started shaking her head.
All of a sudden a whole bunch of memories come flooding back, mostly the part where the hostess kept asking us Church? Are you church? Two LDS missionaries in a room full of JeonDoSas... Heh. We immediatley grabbed our coats and just booked it out of there. Scared me half to death at the time, but five minutes later we were with our member retelling the story and we were just busting up laughing. It was fantastic :)
Wow, really long story. It was funny though, believe me :) I'll just close with this scripture, one of my favorites. Mormon 9:18-21
18 And who shall say that Jesus Christ did not do many mighty miracles? And there were many mighty miracles wrought by the hands of the apostles.
19 And if there were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he changeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles.
20 And the reason why he ceaseth to do miracles among the children of men is because that they dwindle in unbelief, and depart from the right way, and know not the God in whom they should trust.
21 Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth.I know this is true with every fiber of my being. I know that previously I had thought that miracles were those incredible manifestations of God's power, manifestations that would shock and leave people in awe of the power of God, and they are! But some of the most incredible miracles are not those that move mountains, but those that move hearts. The true miracles in this life are the ones that heal souls and mend heart. The true miracles are those that affect us for the eternities. Repentance of past wrongs, forgiveness for the prodigal sons, love for the sinners, understanding of shortcomings. These are the miracles that we all should strive for with all our hearts. As we look at the world around us, how many miracles has this world seen? Countless ones. And yet, they are forgotten. They are ignored. They are swept under the rug by those impetuous ones whose hearts are sown with doubt and unbelief. Search and strive for those miracles that change eternity's course. These are those that matter most. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Good Luck, God Bless, and God Speed,
Elder Annen
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Lilo and Stitch!
You shouldn't play with guns!
Oh, OK.. -hands it over-
-gun starts beeping- Oh! I forgot! It's your birthday! Happy Birthday!
-gives it back-
Nuh nuh! Nuh nuh! Merry Christmas! -throws it to him-
Theres no Christmas! -right back-
Happy Hannukah! -starts their whole toss back and forth game-
-change scene-
Shouldn't we get Stitch?
Trust me! This isn't going to end well!
-change back-
One potato!
Two potato!
Three potato more!
Four potato!
Five potato!
My..
...mother..
...said...
...that...
...you...
...are...
...it. ...
HA! I win! .... -BOOM-
Well Hey howdy hey! A late Merry Christmas to y'all and an early Happy
New Year!! I wasn't sure which movie to put for this one as there were
a lot of movies that came to my mind when thinking about Christmas.
Really wish I could have quoted "It's a Wonderful Life" but I'm afraid
that was one I just can't remember well enough... So sorry... But! I
thought I'd both wish y'all Merry Christmas and give a shoutout to my
Sister in Hawaii all in one shot... Yes it did take me the better part
of three sleepless nights to figure that out, but hey... Small price
to pay ^^ Fun fact about the new year though... New Years here is not
that big of a deal. As in the day that everyone else celebrates the
New Year is not really a big deal. The BIG New Year here is actually
based off the lunar calendar. So, this year, the lunar New Year is in
February. Some thing I though was funny. The name of the LUNAR new
year is 설날 "solnar" which is actually pronounced "sollar"... It made
me chuckle a little ^^
Anyway! things are going well here, in Kangdong. Definitely cold...
Freezing might be a better word for it... Yes! Freezing! We've
actually come out with a new form of proselyting here. (PS the word in
Korean for 'proselyte' is Jeon-doh so I'll use that word, much more
natural to me) Yes, we do what's now called Choom Jeondoh. Dance
Jeondo. You go up to the person on the street and while you jeondo to
him you're hopping from one foot to the other, bouncing around, doing
the worm and busting out a few dance moves Gangnam Style. This way,
you hold their attention, you are able to deliver your message, you
stay warm, and you get some fantastic videos to put on YouTube after
you get home ;) It's a blast.
We have found an absolutely wonderful talk... Talk? Spiel? Words?
Anyway, something that Elder Jeffrey R Holland spoke... Wrote...
Whatever! My English grammar is down the drain so I'll just type like
I talk right now to get my point across. Elder Holland said words like
this in the Jan 2010 Liahona: "As a new year begins and we try to
benefit from a proper view of what has gone before, I plead with you
not to dwell on days now gone nor to yearn vainly for yesterdays,
however good those yesterdays may have been. The past is to be learned
from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing
experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need
to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced,
then we look ahead and remember that faith is always pointed toward
the future. Faith always has to do with blessings and truths and
events that will yet be efficacious in our lives.... Faith is for the
future. Faith builds on the past but never longs to stay there. Faith
trusts that God has great things in store for each of us and that
Christ truly is the “high priest of good things to come” (Hebrews
9:11). Keep your eyes on your dreams, however distant and far away.
Live to see the miracles of repentance and forgiveness, of trust and
divine love that will transform your life today, tomorrow, and
forever. That is a New Year’s resolution I ask you to keep."
I love the way that he spoke this. I will only add my personal
conviction and wholehearted agreement of what he said. Of course the
past is important. Of course we must learn from mistakes made and
successes achieved. But we must move on as well. We must for forever
and always look to the future. Look for the miracles yet to be. Look
for service opportunities yet to be performed. Learn, Look, Laugh,
Love. Do it once. Then keep doing it. Look forward with faith toward
those wonders that the Lord will yet perform among the children of
men.
Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Smile! Laugh! Love! Help Someone! Be
Happy! Stay Warm!
Good Luck, God Bless, and God Speed,
All my love,
Elder Annen
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