Syd's camera has scratches on the lens, so she didn't send any pictures again this week. She received our Valentine's package and shared her root beer barrels and ring pops with the Koreans. It's still winter here in Pittsburgh but it looks like Spring is coming to Korea.
The sky is almost blue today!
Usually the Gongju sky is blanked in a solid white haze of pollution, but today the sun is winning the battle with the smog! Yes!
This week we had an interesting experience while 가가호호ing (the Korean word for "knocking on doors"). Normally when we knock, the person inside just yells through the door, "Yeah?" or "Who is it?" and then we say, "It's the sister missionaries!" and then they say, "What?!" and then we say, "We're teaching free English!" and then they say, "It does not become!" which is a Korean phrase frequently used to mean a myriad of things, but in this particular situation it means, "Go away. We don't want to talk to you."
But this week, someone not only opened their door, but they expectantly stood there, waiting for us to say something more than, "We're the sister missionaries." And I literally had no idea what to say. Usually, when we talk to people on the street, we walk beside them and have a normal conversation, gradually building up to our purpose as missionaries. But there is there is nothing normal about 가가호호ing except that it happens in Korea all the time because of how many different religions there are, so what do I say?! Really, I'm sincerely asking. And if you're wondering what happened with the lady who actually opened her door, it went a little something like this:
Lady: Hi. How can I help you?
Us: We're the sister missionaries.
*long awkward pause*
Companion: Do you have a special religion?
Lady: No.
*second long awkward pause*
Companion: Well, we teach English. Here's a flyer. Okay, bye.
And then we ran away.
Fail.
In other news, our investigator ShinHyoJeong dropped us this week. I haven't emailed about her yet, so don't worry that you don't know who I'm talking about. Why I bring her up now is that it was honestly the best, most well-ended drop both my companion and I had ever experienced on our missions.
She was an English investigator and dropped us only because she had to go back to university. Her interest in the gospel was limited (she was Buddhist, but only because she liked the smell of incense) and her belief in God was pretty much non-existent. However, as we said goodbye to ShinHyoJeong on Friday, after being her English teachers and missionaries for only six short weeks, I again felt the love Heavenly Father has for all of HIs children, regardless of their belief in Him. I knew without a doubt that ShinHyoJeong had felt the power of the Spirit in our lessons and I hoped more than anything that some part of our message touched her and prepared her for future missionaries. And even though it was sad to see her go, sad that she didn't gain the interest or belief in God that we wanted for her, I was comforted by the fact that even though she wasn't certain of God's love, at least she was certain of our love. I know she felt our love not only in our missionary discussions, but in our careful preparation for her English lessons and the interest we showed in her everyday life. And hopefully, one day, ShinHyoJeong will remember the love we had for her and finally connect the undeniable dots, leading her to the knowledge of the love God has for her. Because surely it is the love of God that is "most joyous to the soul." (1 Nephi 11:23)
Love,
Sister Abba
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