A Little Catch Ball and a Game of Frogger

This week was so awesome. We saw so many cool things happen, and finally got to see some more fruits of our labors! We also had a lot of fun moments this week which are always necessary in this work! On the bad side, it is humid as crap out here!!!!! I am dying, but Koreans make sick nasty popsicles and tasty ice cream. Bitter sweet (haha).

In the early part of the week, we had some really fun and atypical things happen to us. On Monday we went ham at the local sports complex with like 35 missionaries and had some games of soccer, foot volleyball, and we even got to play some "catch ball" as the Koreans call it (Baseball Catch). It was awesome! Also that night we got really lost trying to find a restaurant to meet one of our wards' recent converts, and while doing so we illegally walked through a highway tunnel and played a legit game of frogger. Scary! Yikes!

On Wednesday, there was a sick annual combined Zone Conference at this big mountain in our area. As we hiked up the treacherous slope, we would stop along the way and receive training from the Turners as well as the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders. We were told to carry rocks in our backpacks, symbolizing something that was slowing us down or holding us back in our missionary work, and it was powerful! Elder Malo and I didn't mess around; we packed flipping boulders! It really was way heavy and the best feeling when finally at the peak of our ascension we got to throw them away and leave them behind. Quite the moving object lesson for me. That is totally what the Atonement is about; giving Christ the load and actually letting him take it. The weight literally disappears! Pretty cool.

During the week , we were also able to find some new investigators--one being a suuuper huge miracle! He had met with the missionaries in 2007, but then lost contact because of military and college and things like that. About a year ago, he was able to get a hold of missionaries once again, but was busy and couldn't find time to meet. Now a year later, he has time and major interest. Yesterday at church, he introduced himself in Elders Quorum and said in his introduction,that he feels like there was no coincidence in him meeting us again, and that he feels like God is basically telling him, "now is the time and now is the opportunity." How sick!!! Also, he is a HUGE baseball fan, and loves to play as well. When we first met him and he found out Elder Malo and I also once played baseball, he about lost it! He literally was sooo hyped, and requested not only that we teach him the Gospel, but also that we help him improve his velocity on his fastball! Of course, I am down. Oh man it was so funny! At the end of the first lesson, Elder Malo very sincerely and seriously and also quite obviously referring to the lesson asked him, "Do you have any last questions, or things you are curious about?" SuHyeon comes back with a super earnest and stern look, he paused for a few seconds (seeming to be collecting thoughts and/ or quite possibly just trying to take in the feelings he had), and then he said, "Yeah... How can I put more umph on my fourseamer?" hahahaha Pretty cool investigator.

Anway, we tore up Bundang this week. I love it baby! 

I hope you all have a most dope week. Until next!

Elder Jenkins

Oh My, SHAKE SHACK!!!

This week was quite the fun one. I have really been enjoying myself recently. I have started to think that it is hard not to be happy when you are working for the Lord. I am having the greatest flipping two year experience that there ever was! Last week was just another addition to the party!

Monday: We went balling and I crashed into the wall once going after a loose ball. Korean churches do not have padded walls, so I came away with a nasty bruise (I've had a lot of those before).

Tuesday: We met this homeboy named Mr. An, and we had a very in-depth conversation with him about the church. It really was a lot of fun, and at the start of the meeting I had the thought that this guy was sprinkled in gold. However, as time passed I realized it was much more of the opposite. He did have interest, but only in studying the Bible. We can of course help with that, but he told us that would rather "stay on his path." Then he told us he was already too deep into the church he goes to now, and that learning about another church would hurt his public image.  Needless to say, I don't think we will be meeting with him in the future.

Wednesday-Saturday: This is when the title will make more sense! For some reason, we were fed like kings the latter part of the week. It started with the Bishop taking all of the missionaries out to a burger place called Shake Shack, and it was the most legit burger I have had since my mission started. Hands down! Oh man it was so sick. I will be honest, though, my stomach was not ready for full blown American food, but that didn't stop Elder Malo and I going back there the next day and eating it again!

On Saturday night, we went and played our weekly riverside court basketball game with some investigators! It was lots of fun and some new friends made. After doing so, we ate my favorite: Chicken!!!! 

And to close the delicious week, we went out to the Military Base and ate with a less active family from Texas, and they gave us legit tacos (with sour cream, cheese, hot sauce, and even guacamole--all of which are not Korean typicals). Yes, I was jumping up and down like a little middle schooler. It was so awesome. But besides the great food, it actually ended up being one of the more spiritual nights of my mission. In Korea there are a lot of less active members of the church, and when I say a lot, I mean the majority. All of them have different backgrounds and different reasons for leaving (or not stayin). This family in particular has some big barriers in the way, and it is a really sensitive and kind of a tough problem. Well last night as we were talking, I felt a really overwhelming feeling that the most important thing that we can do as members of the church, no matter the circumstance or the difference between us, is to love the other person and to be there for that person. I felt like I should tell them that, and that whether or not they were in or out of the church right now, it would not stop me from trying to become closer with them and trying to show my love to them. They were actually really touched, and honestly so was I! I didn't think I had those words in me, but I am happy they came out. My understanding of the church that I attend and my  understanding of the Savior seemed to really grow. I am awfully thankful for learning through experiencing. It is hard to forget when it happens like it did to me yesterday. 

This Gospel truly is complete and it is true. It is also freaking fun to me! I get hyped just thinking about the stuff that has happened to me because of it. I hope you all feel the same! 

I sure love you all! Keep it real!

Elder Jenkins

Sleepless in Seoul

This last week was a fun one for sure! My new companion Elder Malo is a mad man; we are definitely going to be having a happy time together.

The first few days of the week was an absolute ball with Elder Goon and I visiting all of the members before he kicked out (transferred). We also went and played volleyball for our Pday. That is the first time I have played volleyball since I tore up the courts out at SVU! I will sure miss Elder Goon and the time we had together. 

Also I don't know why this became a theme of the week, but I saw a freaking ton of people sleeping in weird places in public this week. And, surprisingly I'm sure, none of them were homeless. Yep, you can bet your bottom dollar I took pictures!

Another random thing from this week was the unexpected arrival of the Monsoon Season, which brought a ton of rain.

On Wednesday, Elder Malo and I combined to make the most insane companionship of the mission! We started working right away and the week was filled with laughs and a lot of really great work. We set some high expectations for the transfer and instantly started working towards that by picking up two new investigators at the end of the week. Our great start was highlighted by a dinner with a less active family of 5. I had actually met this family last summer when I was in Seongnam on an exchange, and I really felt like they had a great chance and were at a near perfect time to come back to church. Although they weren't even members of the ward I was serving in, I felt a lot love for them and wished to be able to visit them once more. After learning I would be coming to Bundang, I quickly started trying to contact them to set up an appointment to visit them in their home. It took six weeks, but finally we were able to meet them. We learned that they in about that same time period had started reading the Book of Mormon, praying, and even watching Mormon messages and things like that once again! "The timing was perfect for you to call and visit us, what a coincidence!" I don't think so!!! There are no coincidences in this work baby!!! God truly does seem to prepare us individually for things ahead, even and especially when we can't see very far in front of us. 

I learned so much this week. I smiled a lot. I laughed a lot. I was also discouraged at times too, but I really do know how worth it all of this is. I love it!

I hope you all have a splendid week!

Elder Jenkins

 

What in the World Happened ??

Holy smokes!! I cannot believe it, but today begins my last transfer as a missionary. I really didn't even think about it until yesterday in church when some other missionaries were giving their little farewell talks in Sacrament, and I realized that I would be doing that in just six short weeks. Not just to another area, though, try a few hours away: 14. What in the world happened!?!?! I am a dead man.

BBQ

This week really was a good one! We finally picked up some new investigators with great potential, we played some streetball, and we had a BBQ! For the first time on my mission, I had roasted marshmallows!!!!!!! What an experience. Oh jeez, I almost forgot: we also had root beer floats (another barbecue). I should just change the heading to "Merica Week!" It has been so long that it really did feel like I was trying those foods for the first time in my life. 

So on Thursday and Friday, I was on exchanges in the Zone Leaders area, which is like one of the richest areas in our mission. The timing happened to be perfect in that we had a dinner appointment with one of the more wealthy members that night. I am not complaining. Anything is better than our usual Ramen and Seaweed at the apartment! The weird thing was, though, when we looked on the map to find his house, it was like cleaaar out into the countryside--which usually means he is either living in some weird old shack or nice brand new apartment. Well we get out there and were looking around for his apartment, and when we get to the address, all we saw is a house. In truth, we were confused because in Korea like literally NO ONE lives in a house. Luckily, the guy stepped outside and said, "Elders! Head around to the back yard! We will be right there with the food!" Wait. Slow down... BACK YARD!?!?! I literally have never seen a house with a back yard my entire mission. And, even better, when we got back there, he had a flipping GRILL! I was losing it. I had totally forgotten those were even a thing. Needless to say, we ate really well that night, and the absolute most bat-crazy part was that right before we left, he pulled out a portable fire place thing and a bag of marshmallows and said "Dessert!" We did use chopsticks to roast the marshmallows. This may have been the happiest and coolest member meal I have experienced. 

On Saturday, for an Elders Quorum party, we had a BBQ! We had root beer floats and even no-bake cookies! Hahaha, what in the heck happened this week? Right after the BBQ, we ran to meet one of our new investigators at a nearby station and when we got there he said, "Elders you like baseball right?" Uhhh yeah! Then he said, "Well I have a friend who I want to introduce to you guys, and he is the manager of a screen baseball joint, and he wants to play some ball with you." So we went and played screen baseball and ate chicken with an investigator and his friend for free. And they are totally down to keep meeting and they agreed to come to church. Awesome! 

We had a lot of fun this week, but it seems like whenever you seem to reach a high, there is a low that follows and for us that came on Saturday night: Transfer Calls. Elder Goon is getting transferred! So sad. I cannot believe how close the two of us became in just six very short weeks. I hate transfers! But as I have learned many times before, change can be a really good thing.

Anyway, I have taken a lot of time to try and write this so it makes sense today and even with that I am still pretty sure the grammar is not correct, so I will give up now.

I love you all, and I hope you can find joy in the highest of times as well in the lowest of times. Have a good one!

Elder Jenkins

The HOUSE

View from the HOUSE

Marshmellow Roase