November 5, 2012

Subject line: Super cool week!!

Hey all!

So this week was really, really cool. On about Tuesday of this week, 6 days ago, we started coordinating with some people in China who wanted to come to Korea to get baptized. After a lot of calls and emails, we were able to settle on a date, and two Chinese guys named Richie and Kick (in English^^) came to Korea on Saturday! They ended up coming out of the wrong gate, so it was hard to find them, but we finally got them and came back with them on the subway. They were both like late 20s and one was married. Their story is super cool. Richie decided that he wanted to have religion, so he started searching on the internet. Then he found our church, and tried to contact a member in China. But in China religion is so restricted that it was super hard, and he'd get in contact but then it would end up not working, off and on. Then, after a really long time of no contact, someone called him, and he and his friend were able to finally come to Korea. They got all the missionary lessons on Saturday and were both baptized, and it went really well. I baptized Richie in Chinese!!! I recorded them saying the prayer in Chinese and then practiced for forever. :D It was a really cool experience. I've been praying most days this transfer for a baptism, and even though they didn't come the normal way of us finding them on a street or anything, it still happened! I'm so happy for Richie and Kick, they've spent so much time and money to get here and get baptized. That was the only reason they came, which I think is really cool. They leave tomorrow morning, but me and Elder Yoon have to give training at Zone Leader Council, so the office elders are taking them back to the airport. I was really sad to say goodbye tonight; I've only known them for three days but we're already way good friends. Richie said that after he was baptized and confirmed, he felt like a new person. Clean. And Kick said something that I thought was cool: "Even in your darkest hour, don't give up hope." He was talking about how they had to wait so long with no contact with church members before they finally got here. It was such a cool experience and such a great miracle to see. God really answers our prayers. I hope that all your prayers are answered as well; I know this church is true, more than ever before. Love you all!

Elder Matt Dean