Seoul Chaser: Sokcho Week 5 Christmas Week

Dear Family and Friends,

Well this week was quite crazy. Starting on Monday, it was almost constant preparation for the party on Tuesday. We made some really cool decorations in my opinion. Then, before we started cooking, we had a super awesome lesson with Brother Jeon. We talked about the Gospel of Jesus Christ some more, especially 2 Nephi 31, and showed him the small but cool baptismal font in the church. He really liked it, and asked when he could get baptized. We also talked a little bit about proxy baptisms for those who have died. Elder Elwood shared 1 Corinthians 29:15 and explained it well. Brother Jeon said he had been trying to figure out the meaning of that verse for 15 years, He was super grateful for the explanation and was already excited to get baptized for his father. He is also really interested in Family History, but both of his parents escaped from North Korea so most of his lineage is sealed up in North Korea or lost. He doesn't even know the names of his grand-parents. Oh, and one more thing, we haven't taught him the Word of Wisdom yet, but he told us that he has already stopped smoking and threw out all his alcohol. He is making some really cool changes in his life already. It's super cool to be apart of it!

After the super cool lesson, we started to cook for the party. We made waffles (along with homemade syrup), some awesome cream soup that you pour over rice, and of course rice. The members also bought some tasty chicken. It doesn't sound like the best combination, but it worked out well. We made a lot of food in hopes that the members would bring their friends, but only about 15 people were there (including us). Not the best turnout but it was still really fun. We first went out caroling and then came back in to eat. After everyone had sufficiently finished eating, I dressed up as Santa and handed out the White Elephant presents. It was so much fun to hand out the presents and be a Korean Santa. Lastly, we played the White Elephant game, and I ended up with a cool piggy bank at the end of it.

On Christmas Day, we happily opened the presents we had been sent and then headed right into to studies. There's really not such thing as a holiday as a missionary, but it was still an awesome Christmas. We got to head down to the Nursing home and sing some fun Christmas songs to all the women who live there. Lets just say, it was a blast. Then to end our Christmas, we made cookies and wrapped Book of Mormons for everyone in our building. Surprisingly, it turned out really well and a lot of people opened their doors to us. It definitely gave them a better view point on foreigner missionaries.

The days following Christmas were quite interesting. For starters, a couple days ago, an old drunk man kissed my hand....I tried to pull away but he just went for it. Probably one of the weirdest proselyting experiences so far. Then on Friday, for youth night, we played the card game "Scum" and Spot it." It was enjoyable and satisfying to see that my card playing skills hadn't left me yet. On Sunday, we had a less active member of the branch come to church. It was really cool to see him there. Following the meal after church, Brother Jeon told me that his ex-wife was coming from Seoul the next day so he would be busy for the next couple of weeks. However, he did promise to still come to church on Sunday.

Thanks for all the support this wonderful Christmas Season. Hope everyone has an awesome New Year!

Your Favorite Missionary,

Elder Wheeler