Goejeong: 72 hour kits

Ok well this week I am sorry I am not feeling like writing a ton! There is not a ton to talk about just doing the same old same old! AND LOVING IT!! 

On Wednesday we got a call saying grab your 72 hour kits, clothes and passport and come to head quarters as soon as you can. So we packed up and left. When we got there the whole mission was there. It was only a drill ( we are having these drills all the time!) But we ended up doing our mission conference there and after there was cake and ice cream to say good bye to president Barrow!  President Barrow leaves this week, so next week we get a new mission president! Its kind of sad! President Barrow is one of the most Christlike people that i know! He has been such an awesome president! 

I just want to bare my testimony to end! When Elder Bednar came and spoke to our mission way back in my 1st week he said something that has stuck with me for my whole mission! This can apply to anything! He said "A meaningful prayer starts when you say Amen."  I want to talk about 2 things that have to do with this. The first is about receiving personal revelation. Elder Bednar again explains this perfectly in this video called Patterns of light. (https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-01-012-patterns-of-light-spirit-of-revelation?lang=eng&_r=1) He explains that there are 3 ways of receiving answers. The 1st is like a light switch being turned on, everything just instantly gets illuminated. He said this happens occasionally but not very common. The 2nd is a little more common but still not super common. This is compared to a sunrise, the sun slowly comes over the horizon and it slowly lights up everything. The last one, is the one he says is the most common and is almost always the way he receives revelation. He compares it to a foggy day where there is just enough light to see 2-3 feet ahead of you. You need to trust and use all the light that you have to keep on walking. I love that analogy! We are sent to this earth for a test. And as part of that plan we need faith! Elder Bednar describes faith as action. When we receive a little bit of revelation, we need to follow that and trust in God and we will keep receiving just the amount we need until we reach the end. The problem is lots of people wont do anything until God throws it on there lap, smacks them awake and yells at them to do it, but even then they would probably very reluctantly and slowly do it. The thing is, God very rarely will be that obvious about it because that gets rid of the whole faith part. So when we pray we need to start doing action to find the answer and God will slowly lead us one bread crumb at a time till we find our way back home. 

Something I do on the street when people say that they cant see God so he is not real. I take my ring off and ask them if they can see it. Then I put it in my hand and close my hand. I ask them do you believe that the ring is in my hand. They say yes because they saw me put it there. I then tell them that they are lying because they dont believe, they know it is there. I then put my hands behind my back and put it in my hand and ask them again if the believe it is there. This time it requires faith, they can ask my if its there or sometimes they will ask my companion to look in my hand and tell them. My companion is like the holy ghost we can ask through prayer and receive a witness of things but very rarely are we able to see the "ring" instead we need to trust in God and his witnesses. 

The second thing that I want to relate this to is member missionary work. This is super important! In a perfect world with perfect people the missionaries should never have to spend time finding people. They should spend all their time teaching people that the members give to them. When we receive referrals it has a 70% more success rate than other people that we find (at least in our mission). I understand you guys are not set apart to do missionary work, you are busy, its honestly scary talking to people about it sometimes! I understand, its not super easy for me to talk to random people about religion. But something my dad told me is to look at everyone through the eyes of christ, they are all my brothers and sisters and they need this message. When I look at people that way the small things of it being awkward or weird are not significant at all! The best way for members to do missionary work in my opinion is first start  by getting on your knees and asking heavenly father to give you opportunities! Ok good, most of you probably do that! But this is where lots of people stop, but the next part is the most important part. We need to do what Elder Bednar teaches and ACT!!! After our prayer we need to always be looking for opportunities to serve and spread Christ's light. If you are going to ask God for opportunities then when you see them you better respond and show that you trust him and he can trust you. Then he will slowly start giving you more and more. 

My amazing mother is an awesome example of this. Before my mission we would have family goals of praying for missionary or service opportunities and at least for me i would pray about it and then never think about it again. But every night when we would share what we did that day my mother would have these amazing stories about how she fed some homeless person, or someone at Walmart forgot their card and she bought their groceries for them, or right now she is volunteering her time helping refugees get adjusted! She is such an amazing example for me and for everyone else!! I was able to tell that she acted after she said amen! I love my mother's example! I know there are lots of other good examples also!

I just want to testify that as you pray and ask for help, trusting God and using all the light you have, that you will keep getting more until you see miracles! Everyone of you can spread your light of Christ to others! And whether that results in a baptism or just helping someone's day that doesn't matter just do your best and you will see God helping you!!

I love you all so much! I love this work so much! I am always smiling and happy! People are always asking me why I am so happy? Isn't this hard they ask? It's hot why are you smiling? haha but I can just tell them that I get to talk to people about our Savior, and how their lives can be so much better!! Why would I not be happy? How lucky am I? I get to be outside when its hot. I GET to go through hard things for Christ! There is a scripture in the new testament that talks about the apostles, and they just got yelled at and beat up by the pharisees, and it says they rejoiced in being counted worthy for being persecuted in Christ's name! How cool is that?? I want to be yelled at, spit at, hit (all have happened to me) and after be smiling more than ever because how lucky am I to be worthy to be persecuted for Christ??  

I love you all!! I  am sorry you guys cant be serving missions but you can still do your part at home!! Read the Book of Mormon everyday and pray in time of trials, and with those two tools nothing can stand in your way!

-Elder Stagg

To Infiniti and beyond

Living in the hood

Birds of a feather

Look what I learned from Mr. Miagi

Korean necktie

Don't ask

Korean balancing act

Sister in our district

Double nightmare

The devil made me eat it

Po boys

Justa happy family

Still happy

Modern art

Ancient Korean Wheel of Torture

Baywatch

Goejeong Pong

Goejeong: Week-O-Miracles

So this week has been a week of MIRACLES!

So my companion and I  we decided we were going to basically drop all of our investigators . None of them were progressing and they didn't have much gospel interest . We really wanted to spend our attention on finding new people. Especially PREPARED people. God IS preparing people for this message and we just need to find them.... or they can find us! :) That meant more time for JUNDO!!! (proselyting) and the first half of the week was HARD ---  we did not experience any success or leads. On Tuesday we were talking with the sisters in our area and we decided to do an area fast, to help us find more investigators to teach. I will admit I am not a huge fan of fasting, especially as a missionary because when you spend the whole day outside walking around in the hot humid sun ...it really gets to a growing boy!. But we decided that we should try it. And we did a full 24 hour fast, we started Wednesday morning and finished Thursday around lunch time (after our district meeting).

*Here come the Miracles!! :) *

On Thursday morning we were outside proselyting and we got a call from a random number. When we answered it, a man tells us that he had received a pamphlet from a foreigner about a week ago and he read it and wanted to meet with us in 20 minutes! We met with him at our church and answered his questions from the pamphlet and then taught him a lesson! Super cool!

*But it doesnt end there*

About 3 weeks ago, I met a man while proselyting who was Korean but was going to school in New York, and is fluent in English!!! He is soooo good!! Anyways Thursday around 3 we had an appointment fall through so we were at the church and he called us randomly and said he was in the area and wanted to know if we were close by---so we were able to meet with him 30 minutes later!! Again, HE CALLED US!

*Nope not yet*

About 30 minutes after that meeting we got ANOTHER random call from a random number who said he had met the missionaries about 10 years ago. He is a professional singer and needed our help to translate a presentation into English. He was going to Dubai and no one there will speak Korean. So we met with him he gave me the presentation and I said I would send it back to him before he leaves ​​​​​​​​tomorrow. In his car we were able to talk to him about the Book of Mormon and introduce our message. He wants to hear more!

*Not yet?? I know its crazy right?*

The Next day we were at a grocery store buying some juice when we hear someone say "are you the Mormons? We turn around and a guy tells us that his best friend is a member of our church but he hasn't been able to find him for the past 20 years. He told us what Ward he lived in last and asked if we could help him find his friend.  We got his number told him we would try our best. We were able to talk to him a little about religion and said we would call him again later to meet

*Almost done*

On our way to English class we got ANOTHER call from random number. A lady asked us where our English class was. She said she had  received a flyer about a month ago and decided to try it out this week. So after we met her and took her to the chapel, we walked in the church and there was a 23 year old man sitting there waiting for us!  Apparently we had invited him a couple months to English class and he decided to come today. We met with the 23 year old kid after English and shared with for about an hour and a half. He is a Super cool kid!

*I promise I am not lying about all of these*

The last major one was on sunday. We were in Sunday school, helping teach some of the kids, when a lady in our ward came in and told us to hurry upstairs because an investigator was up there. We were really confused because all of our investigators said they couldn't come. We walked up stairs and there was this complete stranger waiting for us! We talked with him and it turns out that he works in LA and Korea and flys back and forth a lot. Apparently lots of his friends are LDS and he decided to attend our Sacrament meeting one time to see what he thought. But he mistook the time so he showed up for Priesthood. We got his number and he said he would show up next week on time for Sacrament because he wants to try it out! Super cool!

The Lord is good!! He is guiding this work! There are miracles everywhere! We just need to see them! Some are big, some our small--- but if we are grateful and recognize them he is going to be more willing to keep sending them (line upon line principle).  This week really strengthened my testimony on fasting!! The new prepared investigators that we received this week was insane!! I am hoping that they are all willing to progress and move forward.

I have no doubt in my mind that God exists!! I know he is our Heavenly Father and he loves each and everyone of us more then we can possibly imagine. I know that through Christ all of our pains, afflictions, concerns, and issues can be healed. I know that when we follow the Gospel of Jesus Christ it will bless our lives. Through following Christ's example, we can get help in all our relationships, trials,  work, etc. This gospel is such a blessing....and I get to share it with all of Korea!!​​ HOW LUCKY AM ? I love my mission and I STRONGLY encourage everyone that can to get ready and serve one!! You will not regret it!!

Love you all!!

-Elder Stagg

Two for the price of one.

Two for the price of two

German engineering in Korea

Garden's of peace and love

Sunset of peace and love

Sand sculpture day at the beach

Sand sculptures and brotherly love

Lehi's vision

The large and spacious building

My Korean Family

Goejeong: Costco Pizza

Hello family and friends!!! 

So what has happened this week? Well that is a good question! Not much big things have happened! just the normal day to day stuff!! 

One of our investigators moved to another mission area in Korea, so that was sad. And we dropped almost all of our other investigators because none of them had a lot of interest and we wanted a clean slate so we can find some really good prepared people!! 

I went on exchanges with the zone leaders this week and also with someone in our area ( my companion is District Leader). Always fun! One thing I learned from my zone leader is really cool and i never thought much about it! I asked him if he had any advice as to how we can better follow/ understand the spirit. He said in your prayer you can tell heavenly father that you want to feel it this way and that unless something else happens you are going to by looking for it in that way, and the key is once you feel that way you NEED to act on it to show that you trust him. Now obviously that is within reason and we cant change the will of god, but if we struggle feeling the spirit god understands and like the brother of jared did god wants us to figure out the problem and THEN ask him for help!!! Super interesting thought! I have been trying that out and its really awesome!! 

My companion and I are getting along great! We went to Costco today so great bonus! haha I ate Costco pizza, a Costco hotdog, and mountain dew!! so i am happy!! 

Sorry this weeks letter was kind of lame! If you have any questions please feel free to ask my or my parents!! :) 

Love you all! Stay strong! Constantly be striving to grow you relationship with our savior jesus christ!! and remember "the book of mormon a day keeps the devil away!" 

-Elder Stagg

PS- It is my old man's birthday this week so give him a hollar!! Love you dad! :)

Viva Christianity!

Feast-o-rama

Pure gluttony

Speaking of gluttony...

If you think we look foolish, you may be right.

Just an illusion

Doing the hokey pokey

Hooray for capitalism

Dont ask.

Goejeong: Elder Oaks in Korea

Hello everyone!! I dont have much time this week because I am going to a beach with our investigator and he is waiting for us to go, but just a quick run through of what happened this week!!

We have picked up 3 new investigators, gave on baptism date, and are teaching a lot of other investigators! I have never been so busy in missionary work! Its awesome!! I am hoping we can start getting some baptisms coming along here soon! Keep praying for me and my investigators and I would really appreciate it!

One of our investigators (the one I am going to the beach with) Came to church yesterday for the second time in a row. He was planning on moving out of our mission area this Saturday but last second the person buying his house canceled, so maybe this is god helping him stay here so he can keep learning about church!! Either way I am super stoked!! He is GOLDEN!!

This week Elder Oaks came to Korea and the missionaries had a meeting with him!! It was super awesome, and the spirt confirmed to things to me during the meeting. The first was that Elder Oaks has the same position that the apostles had when christ was on the earth, he has the same responsibility and same role. I had the same confirmation when Elder Bednar came and talked to us. The second inspiration that I felt was the importance of teaching simply. The more simple we teach the easier it is to understand and feel the spirit. If you are to busy thinking and trying to understand the doctrine you might not feel or listen to the spirit, but if I can teach simple enough so that it isn't hard they are in a better place to feel of the spirit.

I just want to end with my testimony on our saviors atonement!! As some of you might now our missionary purpose is to "Teach repentance, Baptize Converts". When Elder Oaks came he told us to in our own lives "Practice repentance, Partake of the sacrament". We have been given the opportunity to be able to partake of the sacrament EVERY WEEK!! And I feel like as Latter day saints who have grown up in the church the sacrament looses its awe and amazingness. We take it every week that sometimes I am afraid it just feels normal to us and we do it with out thinking. But as I have been focusing on the atonement recently and especially the sacrament I look forward to church! Its a chance I have to have a fresh start! Its a chance i have to thank my savior and worship him and think about him. Missionary work is stressful but during sacrament I can forget all that and really feel the peace that comes from the Prince of Peace. We are so lucky to have a father and an older brother who care about us so much that they provided a way for us to overcome our guilt and mistakes in life. As I talk about the atonement with investigators I like to ask them how they overcome stress or guilt in there lives. The most recent answer I heard was last night and he told me through self control, and sports. I then was able to explain to him that those are both good ways to forget about it. But I explained to him that I think that through those means  its just a way to push it back and try and forget about it. But there is only ONE way in the whole universe that we can have those feelings and mistakes be 100% gone, and that is through the amazing sacrifice of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ! Through his atonement we can always be receiving forgiveness and he willingly and lovingly takes upon him those bad feelings or those mistakes and we in turn are clean. HOW GREAT IS THAT?!?! I love it so much!!

I am so grateful to be a part of this church, but more important I am so grateful to have a personal relationship with MY Savior and Lord Jesus Christ! He is not only  my savior but each and everyone of your guys's savior also!! This Sunday when you partake of the sacrament I want you to watch the priests tearing the bread and notice how there is not one piece that is the same. That is because not one of us are the same. But there is our own unique piece of bread for us that the savior has prepared for us because he knows us and what we are going through!!

I love you all so much!!

-Elder Stagg

Hot time, in the old town, tonight.

Sneakin down the alleys

The humidity is killing us.

Seeking out shade where ever we can find it.

Mirror, mirror on the wall.

Who is fairest of them all

Spreading the light