[ HAPPY HALLOWEEN! ]

Dear Family and Friends!

Hello! How was your week!? Mine has been pretty eventful, as always. As a missionary, not a day goes by without something out of the ordinary happening. I love it!

This last week on Wednesday I went on splits with our zone leader. I headed over to his area which is about a 40 minute subway ride and 20 minute bus ride from my area. For the day, we headed out to a part of his area that he had never been before because it's what is called the (She-gore) which just means like countryside. It was like i was in another country there. It really made me think of Elder Roche and what his mission is like because this area was poor and and not very populated, like some of his areas have been, but just not as bad. Anyways while we were there, we saw this cemetery. Korean cemeteries are interesting when they are for wealthy people. The wealthier or more famous you are, the higher mound of dirt you get put on top of your burial spot. Anyways, there was this one mound that was huge. As we were leaving, a guy who was working there called us over. We weren't quite sure why, but he said that because we are Americans he wanted to show us something. He took us in his house and started to talk all about his family history. Apparently, that one mound was his 12th great grandfather who was the Father in Law of the King in Korea. Pretty intense i guess. He showed us a drawing of him that was from 1680 with the king's hand writing on it. Anyways, I thought of this as a miracle because he was just so interested in family history work. I feel as though when he learns of our message, if his hard is open, he will receive it with great joy. I'm sad he is not in my area because he was a very nice old man.

On Saturday, we had a combined ward halloween party. It went soo well. We played games and ate candy and had a good time. It was honestly one of the most successful LDS events I've been to I think. Everyone was saying how much fun it was. Even all the parents were playing the games and getting really into it. I have some pictures for you, but this computer won't let me put them on so maybe next week I'll send them. The little kids are soo adorable.

Last night we had to literally run to the sisters house. The sister missionary in our ward, Sister Bae (korean) has been sick for the last few days. She was in a lot of pain last night and called us to give her a blessing. It was probably pretty funny looking, this white guy and korean guy running through the crowded streets in suits and ties. Oh well, we made it there and she is slowing improving. It was a pretty powerful experience as we blessed her. It is SUCH a special privilage to be a priesthood holder. I am so grateful to have the keys of the priesthood restored and never to be lost again.

We had our regular interviews with president Lee this last week and he told me to make sure I bore my testimony to you often so I just want you to know that this truly is God's church on this Earth. I have such a firm knowledge of that. The more I learn and study the gospel, the stronger my testimony becomes. My testimony's foundation is the Book of Mormon. I know that it is the word of God. Because it is, everything else must be true. It's like what Elder Holland's grandfather said, (not quoted directly) "no bad person could write this book, and no good person would write it, unless he was called by God to do so." I know that as we read the book of mormon every day, we will strengthen our testimony, feel the spirit, and feel God's love for us. I love each of you so very much. I hope that you guys are having so much fun back in America. I think of you and pray for you often. HAVE AN EPIC WEEK!

Love,
Elder Messick
메시크 장로 (May-She-Kuh - Chang-No)


The last one is a little present that Thao gave to me :)

[ BEAUTIFUL FALL PICTURES! ]

Hey everyone! How was your week! From what I heard, super busy!! Well, me too, but that's always the life of a missionary and I love it.

You mentioned last week that you were curious about what a typical day for me is like. So here it is. We wake up at 6:30 on the dot the work out for a half hour(except sundays). Then from 7-8 is preparation for the day and breakfast. From 8-9 we have personal study, 9-10 is companionship study, then 10-11 is language study. After the 3 hours of study we get an hour lunch break. At 12 o'clock we head out to do missionary work. Some of the things are streetboarding, teach investigators, visiting less actives, going through old records, regular street contacting, or just visting members to show our love to them. At around 5 we eat dinner. After dinner is when most of the lessons are taught to investigators. If we don't have a lesson set up, my companion really loves to visit members so we will do that. We have to be in our house by 9 pm if we don't have a lesson and 9:30 if we are teaching someone. From 9-:30 is planning for the next day and setting goals. From 9:30-10 is calling investigators and things like that. 10-:30 is ready for bed/joural writing. then 10:30 is lights out. And that's the typical day of a missionary in the Seoul mission.

We have one investigator right now whose name is Lee Ha One - 이하원. He is 15 years old. He really doesn't have a stong desire in the gospel right now, but loves meeting with us because he thinks we are fun. He likes to play basketball with us and things like that. However, after we play, we are able to sit for 15 minutes or so and talk about the gospel. He seems to be progressing, but just a little slower. My companion gave him a "soft" baptismal date for the 19th of november but we have a lot of work to get to that right now. I think he just needs to take it a little more seriously. Tonight, we will be meeting with him at our church and teach him about faith and repenting. I think that after tonight we will have a good idea of where he is at.

So last P-Day I went to this HUGE street market in Seoul to get some presents. Anyways, I mentioned to you that I wanted to get a fake rolex while i was there. Well, when I asked one of the watch guys there if he had any he just got so serious. I didn't realize that it was such an intense thing. He like had to take me any my companion to this secret room to show me. Because it was so sketchy i decided that as a missionary I probably shouldn't buy it. Anyways, it was just way nuts! haha.

On wednesday this last week, my companion had to leave to go to a training for the Army haha! I don't know if i already told you about this but in korea the Army is manditory for every male. They all have to serve in it for 2 years. Some missionaries choose to do it before there missions and others do it after; my companion did it before. Anyways, since he already did it, they has to go back every year for a 4 day training. However, my companion tore his ACL about 4 months ago. Because of this, he didn't have to do the 4 days and just had to check up with them. It was pretty weird though not having my companion with me.

So do you guys have any special plans this year for halloween? In korea, this holiday isn't really popular and they think its like a really like bad holiday and not happy and fun. But, in our ward we are going to have a party on the 29th. They won't let us call it a halloween party though, pretty funny. Anyways, we will just be playing some games and eating together. Should be fun!

Kind of random, but koreans love to joke about me being Mexican because they think my name is so simular to mexico. It's so funny because I think a good 15 people have said something like that to me now. It's pretty funny.

Lastly, I just wanted to thank the Masters so much for the Winter jacket that they sent me. It is going to be awesome. I'll do my best to advertise Oakley here! haha.

I love you all so much. Have a great week.

Love,
Elder Messick

[ Hello from 금천!! ]

Well if you didn't figure it out from the subject of my email, I have been transferred! The name of my new area is Geum-Chun. I am living in a 4 person apartment now. This area has 6 missionaries! There is Geum-Chun 1 and 2 and then there are also sister missionaries that go to both of the wards. Pretty cool. 

The area that I am serving in now is just outside Seoul. It is more south, but is still very city though. My companion is a Native! He is from the West side of south Korea. His name is Elder Yu, first name is Jun Sang. He is 25 years old (korean age). He is pretty good at English and is studying it diligently because he wants to go to BYU-H! I really like him and we get along so well. All day long on the streets we just teach each other korean and english. It's going to be a GREAT transfer!

This transfer is a bit different than my last area because this area was just opened up last transfer, therefore we have 0 investigators. It is definitely going to be a lot of work, but I am excited for this challenge. I want to help turn this area into one of the best in the mission. With hard work and the help of the lord, I know Elder Yu and I can do it.

Brother Lee from my last area was baptized on Sunday! I heard that everything went soo well and that he was just so prepared. I was a little bummed I couldn't attend the baptism because i had to give an introduction about myself in our sacrament meeting, but that's ok. As long as i know that he went though with it, I am happy.

You would never believe what i ate this week! I had dog soup! Yup, I did it. It tasted just like beef, but much more fatty. I ate every bite. I have pictures of the whole thing. :) Also, this week i had spicy octopus for the first time. That was pretty interesting too.

I am so grateful to be a missionary. It is such a blessing and one. This is a once in a lifetime experience. It is 2 years of my life that is completely dedicated to the Lord. I love Him and His work. Thank you for raising me is such a way that has given me this opportunity. I will be forever grateful. I love you all so much. Have an EPIC week!

Love,
Elder Messick

The last picture is my desk :)

[ LAST WEEK OF TRANSFER #2 ]

Hey!! Another transfer has come. It's crazy how fast time is going. We will be getting a transfer call tonight to find out what is going. Chances are Elder Christensen will be transfered since he has been in his area for 4 transfers now.

We were able to watch General Conference on Saturday and Sunday this week! I don't think I have ever looked forward to conference that much before. It was really great. My two favorite talks were President Uchtdorf and Elder Holland's in priesthood session. For the sunday morning session, there were some technical problems so we had to watch the first half in Korean! I wasn't able to really get any key points out of them, but I understood the theme and topics beind discussed, so basically I'll definitely have to read those ones. Haha.

Our investigator with a baptismal date, 이동선, Sun, is doing so well. He came to 8 hours of conference!! Pretty awesome huh! We were able to take him to see the temple in between one of the sessions and he thought it was so beautiful, of course. :) As we were walking away, he kept looking back and smiling. He says that he is praying and reading his sciptures every day, but still isn't sure if it's true, but he is definitely making progress. He used to be this shy, awkward guys but he has just opened up so much to us. He really is just the most sincere guy. He still plans to be baptized but the date is now the 16th. Keep praying for him!

Our recent convert Choi Sung Taek has had a hard week. His brother passed away unexpectedly. Because of this, we wasn't able to come to conference or see the temple. I hope that this ddoesn't bring him down, but rather causes him to be lifted up and trust in the plan of salvation and temple work even more. Please pray for him.

On Friday night, we got to go bowling with Sun! I included a picture for you :)

Sorry I don't have a whole lot to update you on. Just know that I am safe here and am learning and growing each and every day. I have never put so much trust and reliance on the Lord in my life. But as I do, my testimony of Him becomes firmer and firmer. I know He is there and that He cares. I love you guys so much. Have an awesome week!

--
love,
Elder Messick

[ TRANSFER #3 JUST AROUND THE CORNER! ]

Hey guys! I can't believe that I've almost finished my second transfer already. I still feel like a greenie! We will be getting a phone call in 6 days to find out about the transfers. I really hope I get to stay in my area for one more transfer. I am really starting to feel comfortable here. I love our ward, especially our ward mission leader. But, we'll see.

Well as you know, last week was a bit of a tougher week. However because of what happened with that, I was able to have one of the most powerful personal experiences I have ever had in my life. I would like to share it with you.

The night that I returned to my house, I literally just felt so low. I didn't know what to do. I felt like this situation was impossible to be fixed. At this point, I decided that there was no way this situation was going to be fixed without the help of Heavenly Father. I decided to get on my knees and propose a plan to God. I have never prayed with so much faith in my life. I just knew that God would answer. I can promise you that this experience is real. I told God that I was going to open my scriptures to a chapter and I asked that He would guide me to an answer on that page. Well, I have never seen God answer a prayer so personally and directly as I did because of this. I closed my eyes, and opened my scriptures. When I looked to see where I was, I was a bit disappointed at first to see that I was in the topical guide, not even a chapter in the scriptures. But then I saw a word and it stood out to me like it was just glowing. PATIENCE. That was the answer that God gave me to solve this situation. After this experience, I promised that I would do all that I could to study out this topic and apply it as best as possible.

After about 3 days, the situation was still the same. I wasn't sure what else to do. But, God always fulfills his promises. That night at about 1:30 I was woken up to the best thing I've heard in a long time. Elder Christensen wanted to apologize to me. It was just incredible to me. God does listen to our prayers. He does care what we are going through and he WILL help.

As for investigators this week, we have an AWESOME one who's name is (Lee Dong Sun) but he likes to just be called Sun from Americans. He is 23 years old. We met him on the streets about 2 months ago and ran into him again like 4 times since. He always told us that he wanted to meet but was just too busy. One day after running into him, he told us that he would come to church on Sunday. Well, he came and we were able to meet with him after. We met again on Wednesday, which led to him coming to church again this last Sunday! On Sunday, he accepted a baptismal commitment to be baptized on 10/15/2011! I am thrilled about it. He doesn't have a whole lot of religious background, so the progression is slower, but he is so sincere about it. We teach him half in English and half in Korean. He is an awesome guy. In another email I attached a photo of him and I together. :)

I am so excited to watch General conference this coming Saturday and Sunday. I don't think i have ever looked forward to it this much. I am hoping Elder Holland has a good one :)

On Wednesday this last week I passed off lesson 3, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I only have lesson 4 left, the commandments then I just have to do everything with the Zone Leaders and APs. It is definitely a lot of work, but a good way to keep myself progressing in the language. I feel like I am improving in the language lately. I can follow simple conversations and contacts now. Once it gets to a tough topic or someone who speaks fast, I'm totally lost still haha.

On Saturday morning I was able to finish the best book ever, the Book of Mormon of course! Over these last few months my appreciation for the Book Of Mormon has grown so much. It is something that I used to take for granted. If you read this months ensign, it talks a lot about how sacred the book is and to never take it lightly. It's truly God's word and I will forever be grateful for it!

I love you all so much. I am so grateful to be serving a mission. There is no better place for me to be. I love this work and I love our Savior. Have a great week everyone!

--
love,
Elder Messick