Many Are Called But Few Are Frozen: My Time In Korea

Monday, November 16, 2015

My Time In Korea

Wow this week has been crazy.

I spent 2 or 3 days in Angarsk but right now I am in Vlad. This is my travels, I took a bus from Angarsk to Irkutsk and then from there jumped on a plane and flew to Kharbarosk. Had a long layover there and actually slept on the bench seats in the airport. After the layover finally ended I flew Vladivostok. Was in Vlad for a very short period of time and from there I flew to Korea. Once I got in Korea I took a bus to the center of the town and ran to the temple. The bus drivers in Korea wear suits. Completely different from Angarsk. After we got off the bus we ran up this hill and couldn't really see anything but all of a sudden the angel Moroni pops out and it is completely stunning. Korea itself is absolutely amazing. It is basically futuretown. Big buildings. Flashy neon lights. I felt like I was on a different planet. Once we arrived in the temple we just immediately did a session. We would have gone and got McDonald's but we just had no time for it. It actually turned out to be quite fine though because when we were just sitting in our rooms (in the temple, it isn't in the actually temple temple but it is connected to it) and one of the workers brings to us pound cake and milk. Korean people are so nice. I love bowing down to everyone because they always do it back. And Korean sounds so cool! Walking the streets of Korea is so cool! It was so warm there. Then after all of that we woke and took a bus to the airport again. I stood in a line in the airport for about 2 hours, then jumped on another plane and now I'm in Vlad. It was so much traveling in just 2 or 3 days. I was so tried and jet lagged. But it was so fun!

I love Vlad! I didn't know if I would like the big city feeling of it but I do. There are always people to talk to on the street and it is not as cold as it is in the west. I was walking the other day with one of the AP's to go check out a hotel for the new elders that are coming in and on our way there we saw a black guy on the street. That alone was pretty surprising because he is the 2nd black person I have seen on my whole mission, so of course we talked to him. He spoke no Russian. We asked him what he was doing in Russia. He told us that he was bringing football to Russia and he coaches a team here. He also told us he played in the NFL. He played for a couple of teams but the only one I can remember is the green bay packers. His name is Bobby Rome. I have never heard of him before but I'm sure if I looked him up I would find him. He pulled his hand out of his pocket and on his hand he had 3 rings that looked like Superbowl rings and a really expensive diamond watch. He isn't very smart walking around in Russia with that on but he could probably fend for himself just fine.

I met a man from North Korea in Vlad. It has been a really fun and exciting week!

I love you all!

Elder Wilding

On Korean bus with Elder Brower

Korean Temple

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Who are you, boy? Poem to Missionaries from Russian Convert, circa 2000

Who are you boy? For a boy you are journeyed to this land of ours, this land where I've endured my days. And felt oppression kill my soul and force me into some tight mold. And teach me that I should not hope unless I care to smell the smoke of dreams that the Red Army tamed. Who are you boy, from this land of plenty, teaching God, if there is any. You have all; we have none. Do you know what that feels like, son? And yet, you ask me to believe in something that I cannot see; some force you say will bring me joy. Do you know what that feels like, boy? Where you're from, faith is free, but it has a price for me. When I have pain, I have my bottle. Hurt dies quick when you down it with Vodka. That's enough to warm my soul. I work, I sleep, the days go by--I'm waiting for the day I die. You don't understand this place. You say believe, obey, have faith, live life well, serve and give. Here in Russia, we just live. Who are you, boy? Why did you come? To save a soul who once was numb. To teach a wretched, hateful, man who cursed your help, refused your hand. I thought that we were worlds apart. So how is it that you knew my heart? A fraction my age, you calmed my rage; mercy paid my generous wage. I should have been left behind. It is hard to love my kind. Hope in your heart, power in your hands, why did you come to this distant land? I know now, it was for me. The Red Curtain fell, but I was not free. Until a boy from nations away brought me my Lord, I bless the day. He led me to weep at my Master's feet, the American boy I met on the street--new and naive, still in his teens, with a message to bring the world to its knees. I thought that the truth would come from another--I did not know this boy was my brother.