We spent three days with the soldiers at Camp Boniface doing
our best to help them complete their preparations for their promotion exam. The
determination each soldier had to raise their score was evident in their
commitment to focus in class and do homework between classes. We could share
concepts and ideas, but how much effort they exerted to make that knowledge
their own was a personal choice.
We had snow one day and the Korean
soldiers came to sweep the snow from the walkways and the slush and water from
the road. They were excited to take a break and pose for us to take their
picture. We thought the Korean approach to snow removal a contrast to the one
we see in Utah. We noted a direct correlation between the efforts with the
brooms and the proximity of their sergeant.
As we finished our teaching
Lt. Col. Farmer, the commander on post and CSM Joyce, senior enlisted officer
on post insisted on making a formal presentation of certificates of
appreciation.
The picture of the
entrance sign reads, “United Nations Command Security Battalion: In Front of
them All” the motto of the JSA.
We had a short turn around Friday
evening before boarding an early train Saturday morning to Seoul for a special conference
with Elder Jeffery R. Holland, his wife, and the area presidency. It was fun to
see other missionaries and the senior couples, but the most fun was to see the
joy in the young missionaries as they mixed with the missionaries from their
own mission and from the Seoul South Mission.
Many were in the MTC together and there are a couple of sets of twins in the
separate missions. We finally met the senior couple who are in the eastern edge
of the mission. They had a three-hour drive into the meeting. The couple from
Humphrey got on the first train at 0600 and had two transfers. Sister Anderson
in the office has broken her foot and is in a wheelchair. We have dedicated
senior missionaries.
Elder Holland asked to shake
hands with all the missionaries so he did that before the meeting began. He was
looking in our eyes to interview us. Elder Holland talked of his love for the
Korean people and for the country. He said there would be two lines at the
Pearly Gates: one long line with a lengthy wait and another that will look more
like priority boarding. The fast line will have one question at the gate, “Were
you a Korean missionary?” He did a bit of teaching on how to be an effective
missionary and he bore his firm witness of Jesus Christ and the restoration of
the priesthood. We were both glad to have sat at his feet for a little while
and receive his apostolic blessing for our family. After the meeting, we joined
three other senior couples for lunch at a Japanese restaurant.
Our neighbor came with the
missionaries late Saturday afternoon for her English lesson and spiritual
message. Earlier in the week when she met with the missionaries she bore her
testimony that the Book of Mormon was true and accepted an invitation to be
baptized. When they shifted to the spiritual message, she pulled out her
scriptures. They were amazing! Not only has she read the Bible, Book of Mormon,
and Doctrine and Covenants; but they are all marked with tabs that have her
questions.
As the discussion came to an end, I
noticed that it was past dinner time so I invited Victoria and the missionaries
to join us for a bowl of chili. Elder Holland’s meeting with the Young Single
Adults in Korea was broadcast so we all listened to his closing remarks. He
left a wonderful, apostolic blessing on the people. He asked everyone to
imagine the most wonderful day they had ever had, the most wonderful scene they
had ever seen, the most wonderful music they had ever heard and then try to
understand that what the Lord would bestow upon them because of their
faithfulness would be one-hundred times more wonderful. “All that the Father
hath,” is what has been promised. (D&C 84:38)
Sunday morning Elder Holland’s
message was from 3 Nephi when Christ blessed the children. He spoke of the
importance of the children today and the love that is felt for them. He asked
the children to give to the Lord the ten years from twelve to twenty-two, the
years when their decisions would shape the rest of their lives. He left a
blessing on the children and their children and children’s children and on the
country. He said that he loved his own children and grandchildren so deeply
that he couldn’t imagine heaven without even one of them; then he said he was
certain the Lord felt exactly the same way. I’m thankful there are so many
mansions in the house of the Lord. (John 14:2)
Thank you so much for your wonderful blog. I really appreciate your example of service. Thank you for being my facebook friend! Lisa Powell
ReplyDeleteThank you for being my friend and thank you for your encouragement.
DeleteWhat a great post! Your neighbor sounds amazing, and I bet it was cool to meet Elder Holland.
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