First
off, the language is coming along pretty well, but there's so much to
learn that it's hard to keep up. Gotta be diligent in learning this
language, even after you think you've figured things out. Plus, if
you're a foreigner, you basically have to study your entire life to
learn the language completely. It just doesn't come easy.
The
Koreans all tell me I'm doing so well, but a lot of reason for that is
that foreigners, especially Americans, in Korea don't even try to learn
Korean. The fact that we're trying at all is going against the norm.
The
culture in Korea is very different. Talking to people on the street is
extremely weird (obviously, as missionaries, we do it anyway), because
of a whole set of cultural things based on age and respect... It's all
very complicated, but I'll try and sum it up in a few sentences.
If
a person is older than you, or younger than you, you act a different
way to them. People that are younger have to respect the older person,
but can kinda whine and complain about it. If you're older, you have to
set the example- and if a younger person sees you mess up, they can call
you out on it. You also get to buy them food, if you're older.
Another
thing is that people won't let you serve them. You have to let them
serve you first. That's super backwards from the US, and it boggles my
as to why that is.
A couple of other
interesting notes... The police in Korea don't have nearly the respect
that they do in the US. Traffic laws are basically obsolete, and
churches here are based on very different principles than the ones in
America.
As for the rest of it, we have a few
people we've been teaching. One has a baptismal date for the 31st! Super
excited for that! The others all have potential, and though I'm not
supposed to share specifics, I'm really excited for them. It's hard to
realize that some of them won't be baptized... On a mission, you'll
really feel that christlike love towards all people, even the 전도사들
(Street preachers. They're always interesting) that tell you your church
isn't true.
As a last note, I would recommend
everyone to not be afraid to talk about the gospel. Maybe they'll accept
it and bring another person into the fold of God. For those that fear
that their relationship would suffer for it, think to yourself, if a
Muslim friend gave you a ceremonial prayer rug, would you reject it? You
would probably respect it as something very important to them. Such is
the case with the gospel! Share, don't command, and they will respect
you even more for your beliefs. Guarantee it.
Go in peace, 안녕히가세요,
~스키너 장로
Korea Seoul Mission
Gyomun area
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