Ola.

Hellllo!!!!!!!!

 

I am still in Korea. It is pretty crazy. This week there is one event that sticks out in terms of fun. Hahaha.

 

So, there is a little park by one of the subway stations we spend a lot of time at. And for some reason lots of Old people gather there. I usually avoid lingering old people because they will talk to you for a really long time about nothing. AND I usually just end up thinking about the massive amounts of kimchi they have collectively eaten in their lifespan. Anyways. There was a Grandma. And she was Albino! Her skin was really light and she had blonde hair. I have only seen a few albinos here in Korea. Anyways! She started talking to me and said I was beautiful and stuff. The usual Korean grandma talk. She obviously had been sippin on some booze. They make it stronger and cheaper here in Korea. Then she grabbed me and tried to hug me. I was like no! No! Sorry can't do that. Her response was that she has been single since she was twenty and just wants a hug. So she kept trying. Basically she hugged me a few times and I didn't really hug back. And I faked receivnig a phone call to run away. Hahaha.

 

What else did I do this week? Walk around everywhere. I went to a Korean funeral. My feet haven't felt so sore. All we do is walk. And talk! Hahaha. My companion is Korean. He talks to people for a really long time. Haha.

 

What else? Next week I am going to the other mission boundaries with our ward to eat endless strawberries!!! Apparently this ward goes every year to pick strawberries! It will be lots of fun. Hahaha. I am seriously really excited to eat all of the strawberries!

 

I speak Korean all day. And it is great. And hard. My brain definitely hurts from speaking in a language that is backwards alllllll the time. But I am definitely learning!

 

Lately I have been learning about the Atonement. Specifically the Healing properties of it. I don't know what to write! There is too much! Hahaha. But I have realized more and more recently that my understanding of the atonement extends into all aspects of my life. Not just Churchy stuff. It really is what makes me complete sometimes and the lack of which makes me incomplete sometimes.

 

I love you all! The time flew by today without me knowing!

Gotta go soon! 

Keep up the prayers, I need them. 

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Ola!

Mi nombre 렌프로 장로.

 

Ich bin 선교사.

 

Sorry I didn't get to write last week. It was pretty busy and we didn't get to come back to email. But here I am. Don't worry.

 

So I will tell you about my new world!

 

I live in a place called Jungnang. I am training for the third time. And this time around they are Korean! It is great! Hahaha. But it really is magical. There are 6 elders and 4 sisters in this ward. We live alone in a 2 man house, which is also a great thing. Haha. The ward seems really great. This is a completely different world than where I was serving before. 3 hours of church! And loud babies. One of which literally just screams during sacrament in the hall on Sunday. I said hi to him after and he looked all cute and happy, but he punched me in the face. It didn't hurt because he was a baby. But he tried really hard! Anyways.

 

I wwwas sick for like a week! I think I got 2 colds at once. The cough is almost gone. So maybe I will sound like a normal human being.

 

It is so different serving here. In Seoul, apparently no one likes to give you their phone number. Ever! Ha. It was much easier to get phone numbers in Donghae! But we will keep trying! And serving with a Korean! So different! I just speak Korean all day. I love it!

 

What have a learned recently??? You might ask such a question! Haha. ㅎㅎㅎ

 

Well. I really have been feeling the spirit lately. And I like it. It is interesting how personal and deeply the spirit can melt part of our hearts. It can change us and give us strength. Things that seems impossible can be melted away by the spirit of the Lord. That is the way it feels to me. There is a hardness. But it can be taken away through the application of prayer and a recognition of our weaknesses.

 

I love you all! I gotta go to costco! Bye bye!!!

 

<33333333333 

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Hello! Melted snow!

I think this week was actually pretty interesting! Hahaha. I took off my giant coat and watched some snow melt. But it is still pretty cold.

 

I talked to a man for about 7 minutes without him saying a single word for like 7 minutes. He only did hand gestures and smiled and stuff. He was doing it on purpose. Ha. I would ask him a question that required more than a yes or no answer and then he would stare at me like "You think you got me, eh," and them he would figure out some way to answer with a hand gesture. It was kind of silly and weird. And interesting. But hey. I gotta talk to everyone! He left and I gave him a card. Ha. I guess you had to be there.... Haha.

 

Guess what! The investigator we thought was going to leave --- He didn't! So, we are probably going to baptize him this week. Wooo! He's great! Woo! But I was a little sad that we had to give another investigator to another area because they are moving. But! The missionaries we gave him to gave us an investigator in return.

 

Is that how you spell investigator? It kinda looks like a detective alligator. Anyways.

 

So, we have these people that work in the bus stop we frequently attend. The grandma loves us! She gave us some candy the other day. Now.... This lady is very Korean. And probably grew up in the days when there was no sugar in Korea.... Who knows... The name of this candy, which she assured us was in fact candy is Doshima. It ended up being a piece of dried kelp! It was.... terrible. I didn't finish it. Hahaha. If you don't like seafood, try one of these. Ugh..

 

The Sisters in my area have a very special investigator. She is 22 in Korean age and just... is really special.... Haha. She talks like a doll. It is one of the weirder things I have heard in my life. I don't know how she does it! But she is in love with me. And texted me the other day. I am obviously under strict orders not to respond!!! But she asked the Sisters when I go home to know when she can marry me. Wooo!

 

Something I learned this week!

 

Hope. Trust. So hard. But so valuable. Trust has seemed really interesting to me this week. Because if we really did trust God with all of our hearts and minds... What would we do? We would have no fear. We would have plenty of hope. We would be so happy. So, I think it is something I should work on. He has all of the characteristics that enable us, as His children to trust Him without reservation, we simply have to know that, and feel it. And do some other things to get ourselves out of the way. Make ourselves not become a road block to that.

 

I gotta go soon! I love you all so much! Keep me in your prayers!!!

 

Love, 

Elder Renfroe

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Howdy

Hello!

 

Life this week was pretty good. We had interviews with our mission president and a member of the Seventy came to speak to all of the branches out where I am. He is Korean, of course. Haha. It was actually really good. I learned a lot. I think it was the most I have ever learned from the spirit in Korean. Haha.

 

Our investigator that was supposed to get baptized this week moved back home suddenly.... And he may not come back. I was really sad at first. But then I learned who his missionaries would be at home and all of those feelings disappeared. It is a missionary I really love and he goes home in 3 weeks. If he gets to see a baptism right before he goes home, what a tender mercy of the Lord, or how it is translated in Korean - a kind mercy of the lord. I learned some lessons on love when all this happened. I am willing to do so much more for those that I love, and even sacrifice my own blessings. How much more is the Lord willing to bless and help those whom He loves more than I have ever loved. My love is definitely puny compared to His. The investigator might come back. He might not. But I trust the Lord, and don't mind what happens either way.

 

I am pretty tired today. Haha... So. I probably won't write much. Not that much exciting stuff happened this week anyway. Sorry!

 

This week I have been thinking about a lot of things! Like always!

 

Gratitude. When it boils down to it, we all have enough reasons to be filled with gratitude in every waking moment, no matter the circumstance. We all have had spiritual experiences, and blessings, and struggles and trials. But despite the trials and difficulties we face in this life, the blessings are enough. With eternal perspective, we can't help but be grateful.

 

I love you all! Keep me in your prayers! I need them. I am about halfway through! Ahhh! I can feel the tiredness coming on. Haha

 

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Africa Strikes Back

This week was a good one!

 

First off, we had a baptism! Haha. Well it was actually sorta 2 baptisms. One of our investigators is a member's 19 year old son and he got baptized, as well as the less active who I found and reactivated... His son got baptized. He is 8 years old. So. I baptized the 8 year old. It was really good for the members. They haven't seen a baptism in a while.

 

Yay! And guess what happened the day of the baptism! Hahaha. Africa came back. Yes, by Africa, I mean crazy maroon English lady. This obviously proves you shouldn't go to A&M. Just saying. Haha. Except this time, she was sporting a new color of make up. She had white lips and white eye brows drawn on! She looked so creepy. Haha. But the best part. One of our members confronted her to try to figure our exactly how crazy she is and stuff. It was great. Also! Another member apparently went to school with her. SO we know a little of her back story now. She used to be really smart and a prosecutor but then went crazy and follows American missionaries around because we said we would help her get a driver's license.

 

But here is the best part. The member that confronted her told her to leave... Hahah. Africa. The crazy lady told her that she put the make up on for me. That is is polite. And that our member was being rude for not wearing makeup like her. Hahaha. That she doesn't understand us Elders. Yeah... Oh and that she looks ugly without the makeup. She must have planned the whole day to see us! Ha. Yay!

 

Other than that, this week was pretty quiet. It kept snowing! Even after the storm was supposed to end. So, yeah. Not a lot happened. But it was good. Just getting ready for the next week. Haha.

 

This week. I have thought about a lot. Just like always! Haha. We always have to keep going. The main problem in this life is simply finding motivation. Motivation is the root of everything. It defines us and shapes us. If we really had our eyes open to see things as they are, the darkest time and the happiest times would turn us to God in humility.

 

I'll do better next week! That is my motto. Where we have been plays no role in where our heart is now.

 

I love you all! Keep me in your prayers!

 

Love,

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Snow Storm

Hello, Lovelies.

 

Last night I fell on my butt real hard. Real hard. I fell down stairs while shoveling some snow at a member's house. Right as we were about to leave, too! It hurt so bad! My poor booty! But I am ok now. Just don't touch my butt.

 

So yeah. Snow!!! So. Much. Snow. 4 Day snow storm so far. And it is supposed to continue until tomorrow. Probably like a meter of snow or so. I don't know how they measure snow! It all compacts!

 

This week was a good week. Despite all of the snow.... Hahaha. We have a Baptism scheduled this Sunday! Actually two. One is an investigator who is one of our member's son. We have been working with him a lot. He is a good kid. I hope it all goes through! Also, at the same service, the less-active man I found on the street and has been coming to church ever since, his son is getting baptized. He is eight years old and half-Korean/half-Japanese! Hopefully I'll have some pictures to send next week. My camera is broken, but I'll make other missionaries take some. Hahaha.

 

So, I realized something really clearly in the scriptures this last week. I have started reading the New Testament more. Which is great. We have really been focusing on the Book of Mormon in our mission lately, but the Bible gets me fired up too! Haha. I just mean that as I read the Bible, I am reminded so deeply of how our doctrine is not something new, but one found within the Bible. Other people may not see it because of a limited scope and a lack of illumination through the Holy Ghost.

 

But anyways... I was reading the Bible... So in the King James version of the Bible, there is a tricky thing about Old English that makes some of the meaning lost if you read it under the lens of modern English. I will. to will. If thou wilt. This does not mean to do in the future. It doesn't even mean to intend to do. But it means to want. I had thought about this before because the German word for to want is "willen" And I thought there might be a connection. But as I was reading in Korean, it was very clear. This is powerful because it shows the desire of the Savior as you read His words in some very special instances. I don't remember exactly where it was. Because it was in Korean. But I will paraphrase and you can probably find it easily.

 

But basically it is a story of someone who comes up to the Lord and says "If thou wilt, though can heal me." To which he responds with "I wilt." Now reread that with the word to want. It is a lot more powerful and a much greater testament of the Savior's love for us.

 

Things are going well! I love you all. Hopefully I have some good pictures to send next week!

Hola.

We had transfer calls this last week. I am going to Panama City!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Woooooo! I'll be more fluent at Spanish in 3 months than I currently am at Korean! Hahaha

 

Just kidding. I am staying in Donghae once again. This will probably be my last transfer here for sure. For sure! Haha. But I think we will baptize some people this transfer!!!! Woooo. We shall see what happens. 알겠죠?

 

This week was a good one. We cleaned our whole apartment because it is the Lunar New Year here. Big Korean holiday! Soo, we had a P-day on it. I love cleaning. Not...

 

I also ate a lot of food. The members invited us over for 2 huge meals. One on Friday and one on Saturday. I nearly died from the deliciousness thereof. 2nd Renfroe 15:46

 

Anyways. This week I met a really adorable person. Apparently I have a really good eye for finding sensitive souls. There was a girl working at a convenient store who just seemed special, and I can't really talk to her because I am a foreign male missionary, but I told the Sisters to go talk to her. She is an investigator now! Wooo! And I met a guy on the bus who I instantly loved. He has a leg handicap. He said he could meet this week. And I called and set up the whole appointment and stuff. It's gonna happen! Haha. 

 

Things are going well. I am trying to speak Korean all the time. It is really hard because my companion doesn't understand anything! Wooo! But I am trying. It is better than both of us.

 

A few weeks ago, we had a conference and a training on the parable of the talents. I thought of something I had thought of before during the training. It talks about doubling your talents and being magnified by the Lord. But what I thought about this last time is how with all of the growth the servants experienced, the doubling of their talents was based on the principle of Trading. It got me thinking. What am I willing to trade. We were speaking in terms of Korean. Like what am I willing to trade to grow. It is usually comfort. Am I willing to trade comforts, to take risks, in order to grow. In order to become who the Lord would have me be. Do I have that sort of Faith?

 

Anyways! I love you all! Keep me in your prayers!

 

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