Baptism!

This week was  both the weirdest and best week of my entire mission thus far! Actually, it was the absolute worst week of my mission, until yesterday when it became the best: Byeun SoYun got baptized and she asked me to baptize her.

This was the first chance I have had to see someone through the entire process:  from when the first time they were found all the way to the font. It was the coolest, most spiritually humbling experience in the world to be in the water with her. I feel so so lucky to  have been able to do that.

About 3 months ago, we met her at English class. At that time, I remember feeling like I had never seen such a sad and hurting person, a person who truly was in need of help. So I started talking to her and we became friends. One day after class, I invited her to go with us to get something to eat (which is the common way to talk with someone in Korea). She agreed, and so my companion and I met with her and it was the most spiritual night of my mission. She told us all about her life and the hardships that have come with it, and she admitted that because of those times, she had decided that God wasn't there for her and so she came to hate God. It was the saddest thing to hear! But my companion and I did the best we could to explain and to mostly just testify of the reality of God, and His role in our lives. And she changed. Right there, on the spot. And she kept changing!

We met her a few more times, taught her a little bit, gave her the Book of Mormon in the middle of April, referred her to the sisters, and prayed for the best! And only 6 weeks later, she believes in God, she loves God, she is all the way into Mosiah in the Book of Mormon, she knows it's true, and she was baptized! Oh my gosh!!!!! The coolest thing in the world. And I was so lucky to see the whole thing.

If there is one thing that I know, or at least that I have come to know very well, it is that this Gospel changes peoples lives. And it changes it for the best. I know that it is true. I love it so dang much. And I love getting to see it work in the lives of these Korean people.

I guess I mentioned it was a bad week and so I should explain: we had 11 cancelled appointments this week. That is my mission record.  I guess that is missionary work for you: 11 cancelled appointments and a baptism all in the same week! This work is really something?

Anyways, I love you all! Have a sick week! 

Elder Jenkins