Monday, P-day 4/22
Had a good day. Picked up my foreigner card and bought a bag! Super dope. We had an investigator skip a lesson. :( Talked to lots of people. We got told we were handsome a bunch. Now we're switching all of the Zone Leader's stuff to the other one's desk. They're in Ansan tonight. Super good! Love you!
4/23 Wednesday...Awkward. Tuesday.
So we had a pretty adventurous day today. In personal study today I tried to break down Mark 4. The parable of the sower. I came to the conclusion that what it all means is that for a plant to grow it must at first be protected by others and nourished with all the [?] a plant needs, sun, nutrients, water, etc. Then it must be placed in the right place to let it grow strong until it bears fruit. Also I think it's interesting that plants don't bear fruit until the final stage of growth. Coincidence...? I'll let you puzzle that out. :)
We visited a less-active today and taught English during which I learned that the [korean characters] part of [Mumford in Korean] means GRAPES! So I got called Mum-grapes for the rest of that ordeal. And I quote, "You be quiet, mum-grapes!" My companion is still having spasmodic convulsions of unrestrained mirth.
The funny story for today: We are carefully weaving our way to the subway to go to visit a less active member. The rain sprinkles lightly. The scene is much like a dreary October day in Bellingham, except Korea has been enlightened by the umbrella. Not Underarmour yet, though. Sorry Dad. Anyway, as we briskly walk on, we are accosted by a 4 year old Korean man who the Zone Leaders had talked to the day before. He points at my companion and yells, "Tom Cruise!"
My companion, unfazed, says, "Yeah! We're missionaries!" He then offers to buy us pizza and though we protest he drags us into a nearby pizza school We are excited to have a gospel discussion via free pizza, but it soon becomes clear that the man is less than sober. Korea and English flow uninhibited from his lips as he professes his deep love for Mormons, us, Elder Witt, black women, Israel, pizza, and Catholics. Then he expresses deep doubt of Mormons, black women, and Catholics. Also Israel, I think.
He then orders us a coke and gives us the bottle. We slowly get up and trick him into leaving, thanking him and saying goodbye. As we walk away, I casually mention to my companion that there are likely few times in this life when a drunk man will spontaneously buy us pizza. He nods in agreement and we set off, plodding through the grey scene dotted with bright umbrellas, crusading on in the best two years of our lives.
That's all I got. Love you!
[written sideways in the margins: Oh sorry, but our water didn't work today. We shaved at the church. :)]
4/24 Wednesday
Elder Witt just finished his PB&J rice. He says it's pretty good. We had a good district meeting today and talked to everyone! I read in 2 Nephi 30 super amazing. So faith promoting. We just talked to a few people and went to English class. We taught K--- afterward. He is having his test right now so we shared Matt 11:28-30. Super good comfort. Every day is an adventure! My testimony grows daily. I am coming to a sure knowledge that this is the true church. And I'm learning lots.
Love you!
PS Elder Witt jumped on his knees.
4/25 Thursday
So I got kissed by a drunk guy today. On the hand but still, pretty sloppy. It took a while to escape from that one. Today we contacted for 6 hours. Kind of a rough day, but as we work it gets happier. Our search for Happiness is a rad book. We visited L---- and we talked about faith and action. We are going to try to get him to church. Love you!
4/26 Friday
Had an adventure today. So after weekly planning I tried to pass off, which is where you teach the Zone Leaders and they see if you can teach in Korean, and if you're getting ready to be senior companion. I didn't totally make it but I'm getting close.
Also there was this huge explosion and Elder Woodford thought North Korea was attaching. Turns out it was a power transformer. But we're ok. Also we taught a good lesson to a guy who made me hold his hand and take a picture. And we met a member in English. We were super awkward. Already getting used to Korea. I love you lots!
4/27 Saturday
Had a fun day today. We didn't have any appointments so we tracted for 7 hours. We probably walked about 10 - 15 miles. And talked to tons of people! We were talking to a couple of students and this one guy walked past. He said "**KOREAN**" which means "satan's house" and pointed to a buddhist school. He waled past and then we finished talking to the students and I felt like we should really talk to him. It had been 5 mintues so we had to chase him down for a quarter mile or so. We finally caught up to him and then talked for 70 minutes about how there are lots of religions and how sometimes people are hypocritical. We [???] and answered his questions, but then he said he couldn't meet with us and left. Wouldn't even give us his phone number :(. Super cool though. Then we walked around this neighborhood and met a really giggly drunk man. Super fun!
I love being a missionary. I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ can help people more than anything else. It's true! Test it out!
4/28 Sunday
We had a good/crazy day today. Our investigator came to church, Brother K---. Super cool! He came for sacrament meeting, met a bunch of members, ate, then we taught him the restoration. he has real potential. He's about 50 years old and we started teaching him a couple of weeks ago. We talked about the plan of salvation for an hour and a half. he really wonders where we came from and has sincere desires to learn. he buys us ice cream too. Miracle of the day!
So we came back from visiting a member tonight and only had 90 minutes. We couldn't decide what to do next so we prayed. Then I felt like we needed to be at Anyang subway station. We went there and couldn't find anyone to talk to. Then Elder Clawson made me talk to a man on a bench. He was sitting there with his headphones in looking disconnected. We talked to him and he was super stoked to meet! We are meeting him next sunday. We received totally straight revelation. it was a killer night. The gospel is true! I love you all!
4/29 Missionary Morning Update!
Tomorrow is temple day/P-day so today i just get to email and tomorrow it will be super awesome. Also next thursday I'm going to see the rest of my MTC buddies at a midpoint training fireside thing. I'm pretty stoked. My comp so far has gotten Tom Cruise, Elvis, Superman, and of course Edward. Last night while we were talking to a super cool guy, we were trying to set an appointment. he asked if he could bring his girlfriend, and we said, yeah! Totally! But then he said he was afraid that his girlfriend would go after Elder Clawson instead of him. So we told him that we can't date during missions anyway. And then in the middle of it, this homeless guy showed up and started stuttering about US gun policy in Korean for a while. The guy we were talking to translated for us and then my comp told the guy that Obama had it under control so he would leave. Then we set up an appointment with the cool guy with the girlfriend and departed. Adventures indeed. Oh! And someone gave us root beer last night. I love you!
4/29 Monday
Today we talked to a guy for an hour about his religion and the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith and the awesomeness therein. He seemed interested. But at the end he wouldn't meet again and wouldn't even take a Book of Mormon. I wanted him so bad to meet again. We could have helped him so much. It took a lot out of me. Then later we tried to talk to some less active member s and met this cool guy who bought us burger and coke and told us to go away. Super nice! Being a white missionary in Korea is kinda hard because lots of people just like you for no reason. It's tough realizing who wants you and who wants the gospel. We were talking about if when people sin they do it knowing or on accident. What do you think? Bed time. Love you.
4/30 Tuesday
My first month as a missionary is over. We had an awesome day going to the temple, seeing people we know, meeting new people, and of course the temple itself. The South Korea temple is gorgeous. We went and bought ties today and hopefully this letter goes out in a box with ties. The pink one is for Alex, the Teddy bear one is for Tim and the blue one is for dad. To accentuate his eyes. I'll wear all of them for a day so they can be authentic Korean missionary ties. We then found out that my size doesn't exist in korean footwear. Then some college kids bought us Hot Cocoa and practiced English. We taught some English and contacted home. It was a nutty day. I'm actually pretty good at cutting hair. I cut all three of the people in my house's hair. And they like it. If only I could cut my own... If I work I'm happy, if I don't I am tired and depressed. So my only option is to work and be happy. I'm glad I figured that one out. I love you!
5/1-5/2 Wednesday Thursday
We had district meeting yesterday. Super fun. Then we taught a Chinese lady! She's way awesome. She has no religion but is super open. She has awesome potential. Taught in really simple english. She is way smart. Speaks English and Chinese and Korean. But English second best. We shall see... We went to training thing. I saw all my old buddies! Super fun. No time. I love you.
5/3 Friday
We had a bit of a crazy day today. We spoke only in Korean for an hour or so and found some cook peeps to talk to! Elder Witt, the Zone leader who I live with got called as AP! He's stoked and nervous. He will be awesome. he's so nice and diligent and faithful and most of all Christ-like. I want to be more like him when I get to be an older missionary. He's the best. We traded ties so we can remember each other. The first transfer approaches! My fate shall be decided! I love you!
Saturday Morning Update!
We climbed a mountain for exercise this morning. Super cool Took some final pics w/ Elder Witt. We're gonna miss him. I finally got MAIL! I was pretty stoked.
Saturday
Had a crazy day. Because Elder Witt got called as AP we had to wait with him and now we're in a threesome with Elder Clawson/Elder Woodland. We did well today. Taught a lesson. Super busy. We were late to meet a recent convert and had another appointment right after so we did splits with the recent convert and me and Elder Woodford ran a half mile to our appt. It went well, but we were super sweaty. I'll write more tomorrow.
Sunday 5/5
It's crazy, my first transfer comes to a close. As I haven't had too many funny things of late (except saying thank you for the trees instead of thank you very much), I will related what happened to the Zone leaders the other day. hem, hem... (Told from the perspective of Elder Woodford)
It was a nice sunny day in Anyang. We were meeting with a nice old Grandma and eating ice cream. As we finished, we asked if we could meet again. She declined. We asked for her phone number and she again declined. Devastated! She then started to leave and we bid goodbye, frantically searching for a way to find her again! She then got on a bus, and a brilliant idea came. Follow her home! So we suavely waked toward the bus just as the doors closed and left. We then decided that the only course of action was to chase the bus down. We ran and the bus looked as if it was going straight, but then a prompting came, go left. So I did! I turned left, and sure enough we barely caught the bus. As I triumphantly began to step on, I cast my eyes round about for my companion and he was nowhere to be found. He then pops his head out of the bus and says, "Yo! You comin?" I hop on and we make our way to the back waiting for the Grandma to press the stop button. She does, and we smoothly get up and get off, high each other. As the bus pulls away, we look for the old Grandma and she smiles at us from the inside of the bus, a twinkle of merriment in her eye. Curses! Foiled again. On to the next yearning soul.
That's all I got. Love you!
Elder Mumford
Tell Bro Jones I love him
OH! I totally scored a beautiful lefty over-the-keeper corner goal at soccer today!
5/6 Monday
Had a nutty week. On Saturday we taught 9 lessons. Super busy, had to go on splits with the ward missionaries. Barely snagged Elder Clawson before 9 and ran home. Super crazy.
I know that missionary work is the most fulfilling of all work. I know Jesus Christ is my Savior. i know that this is His true church. Through the gospel we can gain more joy and lasting peace and happiness than anything else. I testify of it every day. I love you! Stay strong. :)
