May 20, 2012

Annyeong, everybody!

So, this week was filled with some of the worst things that have happened to me so far on my mission and some of the best things. Kind of a weird week; I don't really know what to think yet. I'll get the worst stuff out of the way, I guess: We have been teaching a man named Hong Chun Ho, who is 29 international age. We met him going door to door about 7 weeks ago, or a little more, and we found out that he had met the missionaries the same way last year too. He lives with his parents because he has a slight mental handicap.. Actually we never figured out what is was; he talked really slow and was extremely awkward with everybody, and it just always felt like he wasn't all there, maybe just 90%. But he was our friend. The branch president said he could get baptized in a year if he made progress over that time; we thought that was pretty reasonable based on how we felt around Hong Chun Ho. The branch has had some problems in the past with mentally handicapped people, so they are really careful about them now. Anyway, we figured we'd get Hong Chun Ho started on the path to baptism, and help him get some peace because he also had depression a little bit. When I was around him, I always felt so good. He is one of the few people I have known in my life that I can say really had a heart of gold. He would never hurt anybody, and I could see and feel a lot of light and good in him. He was one of those people that easily fade to the background of a social gathering, but they are so kind and so good. I can't say enough about how good he was. Well, last Sunday, he showed up to church with these really bad burns on his hands. They were circular and looked infected; I asked him what had happened, and he said that it was a "bad joke." So I asked who did it, and he said, "Me." He had taken his cigarrettes and burned his hands, similar to people cutting themselves. We took him downstairs and got him a little bandaged up, and told him to go to the hospital, because I was worried it would end in a massive bacterial infection. He did, and we met him the following Thursday. His wounds looked a little better then. His mom was there, and she said his health wasn't good and that it might be better if we didn't come anymore, but he stood up for us and said he likes us and the church, and then invited her to go to church in a couple days with him. You see how good he was. She conceded and let us stay and talk with him. The lesson went well, and we said we'd see him at church on Sunday. Well, he didn't come. He didn't answer our text messages either. And then when we were visiting a really, really old member of the branch, we got a call from his phone. It was his mom, and as she cried a little she told us that he died on Saturday. I couldn't believe it. They had the funeral on Sunday, so we couldn't even go.

This is the first time anybody I've known really well has died. It was really hard yesterday. It was hard to believe that he could just be gone like that out of my life, just instantly. We don't know whether it was suicide or if it was his health problems (he'd been going to the hospital biweekly when we first met him). We didn't want to pry. I'm just so sad when I think about it. But I know that I will see him again. I keep hoping that for some crazy reason his mom lied to us because she didn't want us visiting him anymore, and that we'll see him on the street like we sometimes do. But even if we don't, I know that he will have the chance to accept the gospel in the spirit world, and I will see him again in the Celestial Kingdom. That's my dream. And I'll continue to honor his memory by reaching out to all the people in the background, all the quiet hearts, the people who need a friend because the world doesn't care about them. And for anyone who reads this, please, please do all you can with the time you have with the people you love. You never know when something could happen. Obviously I hope and pray that that never happens to anybody; I hope that you can pray once for my friend, Hong Chun Ho.

Sorry for the downer, but that's what's up with my life right now. :D I'm doing ok with everything, considering. But now for the good stuff. We had Hwang Gi Seok get confirmed on Sunday, and he's doing so good. It's a little nerve-wracking, having the baptism and confirmation spaced out over a week, but he made it, and now he's got the Holy Ghost. I'm so happy about that. That's about the best thing that can happen on your mission--helping someone get to the waters of baptism and get the Holy Ghost.

I had probably one of the best lessons of my mission this week too. We picked up two high schoolers, and we played basketball with them on Saturday. They are so solid! Some people meet us, and they obviously dont have church interest. But these two like hanging out with us, and they have a lot of interest in the church too. When we were done playing basketball, we sat down with some Gatorade and just talked, and it flowed really naturally into the lesson. They listened really well, and they agreed to read the book of Mormon and pray about it. And then it just ended really naturally too. I just felt so good as we were talking; the Spirit was really strong. As we taught, I thought, "yes. This is what I came on my mission to do." It was one of the best times of my life so far sitting alone with them on the ground at that basketball court in Jumunjin, a shigol-ish place (country) with a really peaceful atmosphere. Not even exaggerating there.

So, those are the highlights of the week. If I had two hours I could explain all that happened, all the miracles, but I don't have the time. But what I do have is an amazing family. Thank you all so much for being there for me, and for the great influence you've had on my life. I love you all so much, and I can't wait to see you again. have a good week!

Elder Matt Dean