[ WARM WEEK HERE IN SEOUL ]

Hi family :)

Things still continue to be going so good. I know I don't really go into depth about how but really things are just good. :) Yesterday, Sunday, was Brother Hong's confirmation day. He gave me a bit of a scare because he was an hour late and didn't answer his phone, but he made it and it went really good. He looked really happy. After church he met with the bishop for an interview to get the priesthood and should be getting it next week. :)

Brother Hong has been an UNBELIEVABLE missionary already! This week he referred two people to us. He called me one day and asked "So I talked to my cousin about church and he said he wants to meet you guys. Is that ok?" How cool is that! Then another day he calls and says "Hey I want to bring a friend to our meeting is that ok?" He just is so great. When we were teaching the principle of baptism to these two and how it's something we need to do and the blessings that come from it I asked Brother Hong to share how he felt from his baptism. He described it as holy and pure. I wish he didn't have to go into the military this August. As you know that is a requirement of all men here in Korea. That is why they were one of the few countries that had permission to do missionary work at 18 before the change as a whole church. We got to continue to build his testimony so he can make it though that tough time. There are lots of people who lose their way during that time.

Oh something else about Jeen Han. I had some beef jerky that I carry around in my backpack and I offered a piece to him. (He LOVES anything American, like my starbursts, chocolates...) and anyways he just loved that jerky and I thought it was so funny.

The weather here has been unreal! It feels great out. In fact yesterday I didn't even go out with a winter coat or gloves or anything, just a suit. I hope it stays like this cuz I'm not too big a fan of the cold haha. I lived in Hawaii for a reason haha.

We set a baptismal date yesterday also with a 12 year old kid name Nam Hoon. He is suchhh a little punk hahah. So his friend brought him to church for the first time about a month and a half ago and has been coming basically ever since but all he does is run around the church and stuff. Exactly what any other 12 year old would do hahah. But he's friends with everyone so that's good. We were FINALLY able to meet him for 10 min after church and he said he wants to get baptized so we set a date for the 2nd of Feb. Now we just gotta figure out how to teach a 12 year old everything ahha.

Well I had one pretty crazy experience this week. So Elder Fonnesbeck met a somewhat crazy guy on the street and wanted to meet with us again so we agreed to meet. A few days later we met up with him at the subway and he took us to his house. But his house was no normal house to say the least. He opens the front door and there was no floor, no walls, no ceiling. Well there was, but it was all dirt. It definitely caught me off guard to say the least. No lighting inside. I wish I could have taken a picture of the place. I'll just have to always have that image in my mind. Anyways, he has a few mental problems and if we meet with him again we will need a member with us.

Things are great here. Keep doin your thing over there and be happy doin it :) I love you guys. Talk to you next week.

--
Love,

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Elder Messick

P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA! I CANT BELIEVE YOU ARE NOW WHAT 36? ;) I LOVE YOU :)

[ The outside view of our house. Top floor | I thought you'd like to see a squatter ;) ]

[ HI GUYS :) ]

Well I must say this week had to of been one of the best weeks of my mission, if not my life. Things are just going sooo good. I am so happy.

Sorry but this email is going to be short I chatted a lot with you cuz I just couldn't wait to tell you.

Yesterday, Brother Hong was baptized and it was quite the special event. We had the privilege of President being there and everything. I was asked to speak in sacrament meeting about missionary work and how I have a testimony of such. It was a great way to lead into the baptismal service. I was able to baptize him and it went perfect. He got a bit nervous right before about messing up but it was perfect. His parents weren't able to make it, but he said they might make it for his confirmation next Sunday. 

[ Dinner with Brother Hong before his baptism.  We got Sam-Kyub-Sar. ]

[ Jeen Han's Baptism ]

Also, our wonderful investigator Sister Kim and her children were at church and saw the baptism. They are progressing very well and we just need to get them to commit to a date!!! Everyone in the ward keeps asking me if we have baptism plans and I just have to always explain how we are trying but she just won't commit to a date yet. We committed her to fully quit coffee this week. She has come from 3 a day to 1 every two or three days to 1 a week. And now we committed her to stop all together.

Also this week I got a new suit!!! Scored a sweet deal on it. I love Korean suits they are so sick. This one was 90 bucks and I really like it. I want to get another haha.

I wanted to say thank you Mom and Dad for the awesome package you sent me. It was everything I needed and more. Seriously I was really grateful so thank you.

The last thing I can think of is I got my temple recommend renewed so I am good for another 2 years. WOO :)

Keep havin' the time of your lives. I love you all. Keep all of our investigators in your prayers please as I keep you guys in mine. Have a great week. Love you all. :)

--
Love,

메시크 장로
Elder Messick

[ Outback Steakhouse with Sister Kim, her kids, and her sister she referred to us! ]

[ Elder Doman went home!! ]

[ Some new investigators, Sang Yong and his friend Choi. ]

[ MY 50 FAVORITE SCRIPTURES OF 2012 ]

At the beginning of the year I felt like it would be a good idea to make a collection of some of my favorite scriptures. I know that I don't know the scriptures that well still and I probably missed some really good scriptures but these are just some of my most favorites.

The Book of Mormon:
20) 1 Nephi 4:6-7 " Led by the Spirit"
19) Ether 12:27 " weak things become strong"
18) 1 Nephi 17: 49-51 "commanded to 'build a ship'"
17) Alma 57:21 "obey with exactness"
16) Alma 26:12 " boast not of myself"
15) Moroni 10: 3-7 "how can I know?"
14) 1 Nephi 3:7 "go and do"
13) Alma 32: 42-43 "reap blessings of faith and diligence"
12) Helaman 5:12 "Christ is our ROCK"
11) Alma 48:17 " Be as Moroni"
10) 2 Nephi 2:27-28 "CHOOSE eternal life"
9) 2 Nephi 25:26 "Rejoice in Christ"
8) Alma 5:48 "I know He will come"
7) 2 Nephi 31:20 "Endure to the End"
6) Moroni 10:32-33 "Be perfected in Christ"
5) Alma 37:6-7 " By small things great things come to pass"
4) Alma 29:9 "This is my joy"
3) Jacob 5: 71-75 "Labor with the Lord in His vineyard"
2) Moroni 7: 27,35, 37 "Have miracles ceased?"
1) Mosiah 2:41 "Never ending happiness"

Doctrine and Covenants:
10) Section 88: 119 "get your priorities in order"
9) Section 121:34-46 "Priesthood connects to heaven"
8) Section 130:20-21 "1st law of heaven"
7) Section 76: 22-23 "He lives"
6) Section 103: 27-28 "Lay down life"
5) Section 84:77 "be friends with God"
4) Section 103: 36 "All glory comes through diligence and faith"
3) Section 121: 7-10 "peace be unto you...not yet as Job"
2) Section 4 "The field is white"
1) Section 18: 10, 15-16 "worth of souls"

New Testament:
10) Romans 1:16 "Not ashamed"
9) Luke 2:11 "born a Savior"
8) James 1:5 "Lack wisdom"
7) Matthew 28:19-20 "Go and Baptize"
6) Matthew 7:9-11 " Good gifts"
5) John 3:16-17 " God sent His Son"
4) Luke 18:27 " things are possible with God"
3) Matthew 14:27-31 "IMMEDIATELY stretched forth"
2) Luke 9:62 "Don't look back"
1) Matthew 11:28-30 "take My yoke"

Old Testament/The Pearl of Great Price:
10) Moses 1:39 "Work and Glory"
9) Joshua 24:15 "choose who to serve"
8) Proverbs 23:7 "as a man thinketh, so is he"
7) 2 Samuel 22:33 "God is my strength"
6) Exodus 4:12 "I will be thy mouth"
5) Psalms 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God"
4) Proverbs 3:5 "trust in the Lord"
3) Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage"
2) Joshua 2:5 "Sanctify yourselves"
1) Isaiah 29:14 "A marvelous work and wonder"

Hope you like these too!!! I love you

--
Love,

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Elder Messick

[ WELCOME 2013 :) ]

Hi everyone :) I just have a short update for you this week. But boy are things going good here. For starters we will be having a baptism this Sunday for Jeen Han!! He is soo excited to be baptized. He is reading The Book of Mormon everyday. He made it to 1 Nephi 15 or so but decided he wanted to read it in English so now he started over in English. We talked to him about inviting his parents to his baptism and he said it sounds like they are wanting to come so there is even more potential there. Things with Brother Hong have never been better!!

As you know he was a referral from his friend Dong Oo, but he didn't come to church on Sunday and wont be able to be baptized this Sunday, but we haven't lost faith in him yet. Maybe his baptism will just be a few weeks later.

I know you are also curious about Sister Kim. Things with her are also great. We still are at the point of baptism before I go home, why my return date has anything to do with it I have no idea, but she will be baptized nontheless. She has been reading The Book of Mormon and Gospel Principles book. This week we actually ended up going to the US Embassy to help her (long story) but ya I was on US soil!!! Haha. While we were in there we met a really cool couple. They started talking to us and the wife told us how she went to our church as a kid. The husband then says "We've been married 18 years and today I found out my wife is a Mormon and she didn't tell me she told YOU" hahah. It was pretty funny. They really liked us and want to take us out to dinner next week.

The last thing I can think of is I FINALLY got a Korean name!!! Haha. Sister Lee in our district made it mor me. It's Kang-Sung-Meen and it means like strong heavenly well rounded attitude. I donno I like it and it used my initials SM. In korean it looks like 강성민.
Well I hope you all have a great week. I am doing so great out here. I AM SOOO HAPPY. I love you guys.

--
Love,

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Elder Messick

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLAIR :)