[ MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR ]

Dear Family and Friends,

Merry Christmas. It was so wonderful to talk you on the phone this morning. I wish it could have been longer. As for my weekly update, I need to be short since we have to fill out this survey for the mission work and stuff.

This week was awesome. I was able to witness a little miracle as I was on the bus this week. I was contacting an old man and all the sudden he started yelling at me and just telling me that there is no way The Book of Mormon could be true. It was hard because my companion was talking to another person so there wasn't much I could do other than just smile at him and take it. I finally was aable to just get a word in and just bore testimony of the truthfulness of the book. He just ignored me and got off the bus. Here's the miracle. Because of the conversation a mom of 3 came up to me and was asking about what we do as missionaries. She was telling me how we are doing great work. She found out about our English class and wants to come. It was such a miracle to me of how God just puts us in the right situations to lead to things we have no idea are going to happen. I am so grateful to be in the service of our Savior. I love him and am grateful for the Atonement and the plan of salvation. I know our family is eternal. I love you all so very much. Merry Christmas to you!


Love,
Elder Messick

ps. sorry for the typos. no time and my fingers are freezing.

[ 6 DAYS 'TIL CHRISTMAS ]

안영하세요!!
Well the day is almost here! It's almost Christmas!!!! I will be calling home in just 7 days! WOO!!!!

Anyways, we have had another busy week here in 금천 but it's been good. This morning we had to take superrrr cold showers because our hot water boiler wasn't working. Maybe it was just to help wake me up this morning. haha.

This week has been full of Less-Active visits. Our bishop has given us a huge project of visiting all the less-actives in the ward. A few weeks ago was stake conference and it was a broadcast from SLC with President Monson. He was really stressing the importance of bringing back the less-actives, hence this project. Anyways we have been walking all over our area trying to find these houses. Most people have either moved or their house doesn't exsist (knocked down and built apartment complexes.) However, we have been able to contact a few that are really nice people. Right now, there is one lady who wants to come to church, but her husband doesn't like our church and won't let her go. It's sad, but she is a really nice lady and maybe one day her husband will come around.

This Thursday we will be having a big Christmas Conference with all of the missionaries from the Seoul Mission. It should be really fun. I'm doing the opening prayer though, I'm a little nervous. Becuase of this conference, we will be having p-day after from 3-9! sweettt.

I don't know if you guys heard, but the President of North Korea died! Kind of crazy!!!! I am not sure what exactly will happen, but I hope that South Korea/U.S. trys to do something to keep his son from taking over.

Sort of weird, but there is this one girl in 금천 2 ward who is now here for winter break from BYU and guess what. I taught her one time at TRC in the MTC. It was way weird seeing her again, but actually being able to speak to her and understand. I thought it was pretty random.

Our investigator 김미량 (Kim - Me - Ryang) is not progressing too much right now. She is having a tough time recognizing that she is feeling the Spirit. She isn't quite sure what a "good feeling" is. We have a lesson set up with her for tomorrow and we are going to have a newly married couple from our ward come with us. I really hope that it helps re-spark her interest. I think we will be watching the DVD Finding Faith in Christ.

We have been working hard to find new investigators, but we haven't quite found the prepared yet. We have met with a couple of new people, but they just aren't interested yet. They have Book of Mormons, which is good, but they don't want to meet again as of now.

Last night was awesomeeee!! I got to go to the year end music event for Seoul with our recent convert 이동구. My favorite part was of course the chirstmas music. It made me feel right at home. I was LOVIN it. haha. There was a very special spirit in the room.

Well, Merry Christmas to all of you. I am so grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ. I am grateful to be in the service of Him. I love Him and His work so very much. I testify to you that He lives. This is His church. The truth is on the Earth today.

I love you guys sooo much. I hope that you are spreading the Christmas cheer to everyone. ^^ Have an EPIC Christmas week. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

--
Love,
Elder Messick

A map of Elder Messick's area

[ 2 WEEKS AND COUNTING... ]

Hey everyone!

Wow, it's hard to believe that Christmas is just around the corner. The weather is starting to get chilly, but I hear it's nothing compared to what's ahead. We had snow twice this week, but none of it lasted.

This week was just incredible. Our investigator, 이동구, Lee Dong Gu, was baptized and confirmed this week. Our Stake President did both the baptism and the confirmation. I was able to stand in on the confirmation. It was definitely a special experience. As he was entering into the water a feeling of just PURE joy entered my heart. It was such a good feeling it's hard to describe. I could feel the love of Chirst and I knew that I was helping Him in accomplishing His work. I am so grateful to be involved in the work of the Lord.

I was able to finish Zone-Leader pass off this week and will be moving on to the final pass-off with the AP's on the 30th of this month. Wish me luck!

HOLY COW! I just looked at my watch and I had no idea that we were chatting back and forth for this long. I am so sorry but I'm almost out of time. I will try to cram some stuff in here so it's going to be a little scattered.

I was reading in The Book of Mormon this week Jacob 5 (my old least favorite, but now I love it) and well I loved verses 61-62, 71, 72, and 75. We are nearing the end of the times and now is the time to find, teach, and baptize. This is one of the few things that God has asked us to do. If we do it with a willing heart, we will be blessed for our efforts.

I know that our Savior lives. Through Him, we can find true joy. He is our Brother and our Redeemer. As we search the scriptures, pray often, and keep the commandments, we can feel His love in our lives always.

I love you guys so much and am PUMPED to call in just 2 weeks. I hope you have an awesome week. I got lots and lots of pictures for ya!

Love,
Elder Messick

"heart attacking 김미량"

"our zone"

"my area"

[ FAST SUNDAY #7 ]

Dear Family and Friends:

안녕하세요! Hey everyone :) I hope you all had a great week. Of course mine was awesome, as always.

This week we recieved a referral from our Stake President's wife (they are in our ward). His name is 이동구 (Lee-Dong-Gu). He is the same age as me, 20 in korea and 19 American age. His mom is a less active of our church, well she is baptized into our church but attends another. This kid is so awesome though. He came to our church about 10 years ago, but just got busy with school and everything. However, he is now meeting with us 3 or 4 times a week, enjoys coming to church, and actually is getting baptized this Saturday! We have received permission to baptize him before attending church 3 times(he has come twice) because he used to attend. Brother Lee actually wants to go to BYU-H so we talk about that too. He is truly a blessing and miracle from the Lord. Elder Yoo and I have been working so hard and the Lord has helped guide us (well the Stake President's wife) to the prepared. So it's true. REFERRAL DO WORK! If you ever have anyone who comes to your mind about wanting to share the Gospel with them, talk to the missionaries about it. :)

Our investigator 김미량 (Kim- Mee- Ryang) had a bit of a rough week. I gave her the commitment to be baptized on christmas eve and she told us she wasn't sure if she wants to be baptized. It really made me sad when she said this, but I have realized that that is a good thing that she said this. Now, WHEN she gets baptized it won't be for us or just to do it, but she will be baptized because she felt the Spirit testify to her that it is the right thing to do. She isn't sure what the Spirit feels like right now so our goal this week is to help her recognize the good feelings that she is having is the Spirit.

On Thursday I was able to participate in a huge service activity in an event that the city does every year. They make 5000 pounds of Kim-Chee for the homeless or less fortunate people for during the winter season. It was really cool and fun. I was pretty bad a actually making the kim-chee so they just put me on box duty haha. Still was great though.

I have been able to bond a lot this week with the ward. My Korean confidence has really grown this week and I have been talking with the ward members. I have been playing with their kids, which they really like. I bore my testimony on Sunday and I felt like the ward is really starting to trust Elder Yoo and I.

The day for calling home is just around the corner. I am so excited to talk to you about everything and hear your awesome korean.

I love you guys so much. I hope you have a great week. Be safe :)

--
Love,
Elder Messick

[ TRANSFER #4 ]

Hey! :)

Well this last week was transfer calls and both my companion and I are still here in 금천. However, one of my house members was transferred, so now Elder Seo has a new companion, Elder Gardiner. He is really a good missionary and a nice guy. Also, the sister missionaries in our area were white washed so we just got 2 new ones. They are awesome.

This week was sooo awesome! Guess what!? 김미량 (kim me ryang) came to church yesterday!! I was so happy. She was super nervous about coming, I'm not sure why, but eventually she committed to come and kept her promise. The best part about it was it was the primary program yesterday. The kids were all so adorable and I think she really liked it. We had a lesson with her last Thursday where I gave her the soft baptismal commitment, and she accepted! My companion plan to give her the commitment this week of being baptized on December 17th. Please keep her in your prayers.

I was able to finish the New testament this week and it was incredible. I LOVED reading Revelation ch 21 about the Celestial Kingdom. It was such a good description and it just makes me want to work that much harder help other's come unto Christ and achieve the Celestial kingdom.

I am sorry that this letter is so short but I'm short on time. I am sending lots and lots of pictures. i hope it makes up for it. I am sorry!

I love you guys so much and hope thanksgiving was wonderful. Talk to you next week.

--
love,
Elder Messick

Thanksgiving Day family dinner!

P.S. These are the old sister missionaries that left, Elder Seo's b-day, and also this is a pic of the big Han river through Seoul.

[ HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL OF YOU! ]

Hey fam and friends!

Well happy thanksgiving to all of you. I can't believe that it's already the end of November. Wow how time is flying. We as missionaries are actually going to be able to have a thanksgiving. All of the missionaries will be going to the American marine bases to eat with different member families. I am super excited about it.

This last P-Day we were able to go to the temple. It was, as always, a great experience. I always feel at peace there and it gives me more strength to keep going. I was lucky enough to be the first one into the Celestial room. It was only for a few seconds, but wow there is just power in that room. It really is a house of the Lord.

A few days ago my companion had to go take an english test for getting into BYU-H along with a few other people. While he was taking the test, us american companionships met up and did a contacting activity. Guess who I was paired up with, my MTC companion, Elder Porter! It was way cool seeing him and how far he has come in korean. Since we were both new missionaries it was tough to try to answer people's questions, however it really was a testimony builder to me of the power of the Gift of Tongues. I noticed that if i really just always had a prayer in my heart and was listening intently, God was able to help me in understanding them. Of course, my responses weren't perfect, but I was able to communicate. That is truly such a little miracle to me.

Our investigator 김미량, is doing well. She kept the commitment of reading the intro to the Book of Mormon and we are meeting again tonight. When she read, she told me she had a good feeling of peace. It is definitely going to be a slower process, but i am excited to watch her testimony grow.

The weather is officially entering into winter. It's not super cold yet, but the wind is just SO cold it like stings. I am scared because people say this is just the beginning. I feel like such a wimp when i think it's cold though because i think of what Aubrey went though and how miserably cold that must have been. The weather is definitely making the missionary work a little different. Yesterday, we tried to streetboard for 2 hours, but people just didn't want to talk to us at all because it was cold. Our contacts were maybe 1/4 of what they usually would be with that amount of time.

My companion is just the best. We are getting along so well still. Tonight is transfer calls and I really hope we both stay. He actually told me the other day that I am his favorite companion yet. It really meant a lot to me. He really is such a stud.

Sorry this email is scattered and kind of short, but there was a lot of back and forth emailing today.

I want to end with just a little urge for each of you to do missionary work. During our District meeting this week. I just got thinking and really was realizing how important this work is right now. We have been told several times that these are the last days! God trusts us to do His work. We need to do all we can to help Him in fulfilling His work and His glory "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."

I am grateful to be a missionary is Seoul, Korea. I have been sent here with a purpose. I am to find, teach, and baptize. I am working my hardest every day to do what He wants done.

I love you all and hope you have a great week! Eat some cream corn for me Kenzie!

--
Love,
Elder Messick
메시크 장로

P.S. Happy B-day to Matt and Mark this week. I love you bros!

P.P.S. One of the picutes is of me and my companion and the other is of our AP Elder Bailey who just went home last week.

[ COMING UP ON TRANSFER #4 IN A WEEK! ]

Hey everyone!

I had such a good week her in 금천. I am really loving this area, especially as I am getting to watch it grow and progress. There were, as always, many miracles that happened this week. As a missionary, I get to witness miracles every day. It's just incredible.

Right now we have two investigators, 안기천 (An-Key-Chun) and 김미량 (Kim-Me-Ryang). Brother An is 14 years old and he is just so awesome. His father wanted us to start teaching the 30-30 program with him. Since he is still young, the progression is slow, but he is keeping his commitments. He is reading from The Book of Mormon stories book (like a simple explanation of The Book of Mormon) and he is praying. He hasn't come to church yet, but maybe next week. Sister Kim is 26 years old and right now is really interested in learning English. We have only met once but she was already asking questions about the word of wisdom so she definitely is curious. We have another lesson with her tomorrow evening so hopefully we can begin the testimony building process with her then.

There has been a bunch of teenagers that have been coming to our church parking lot after school for the past couple of months to smoke cigarettes and they have been trashing the parking lot. The other day, my companion and I saw them so we went and talked to them. I was really frustrated with the kids and was just mad at what they were doing. However, my companion had his head on strait and handled the situation really well. He was really friendly and even invited them into our church to play some ping pong. They accepted and we hung out for a half hour. I think this was a really good learning experience for me of how i need to love everyone. We were able to leave a good impression of our church with those kids, rather than an impression of us just being jerks.

Tomorrow is temple day, which i am soo exited about. I feel like i haven't gone in forever since it was in the beginning of my last transfer and at the end of this transfer. It is always so peaceful and stress relieving there. So, because it's temple day tomorrow that means p-day is tomorrow too, which means I'm going streetboarding today! haha.

I have really been able to see some miracles as i tested my faith this week in giving bold commitments. In our weekly planning session every week we make some personal goals and mine was to work on my commitment giving during contacts. I felt like i was treating a contact too much like a routine instead of taking each one personally and really having the the faith that each person i talk to could be baptized. Well, because i made this mindset, i was able to do something i have never done before. I got 6 street lessons and 9 phone numbers. I have never done that, ever! Normally, my companion had to ask for the return appointments because i was just shy, but as i exercised my faith, the Lord really blessed me.

It is incredible the joy that comes with doing missionary work. It is something so special, being able to invite souls to come unto Christ. I am so grateful that I am able to wear Christ's name over my heart each and every day. I am forever grateful for Him and is infinite sacrifice for us.

I love you guys so much. Have a great week. Talk to you then!! 사랑합니다!
--
Love
Elder Messick