Elder Gavin Metcalf's Adventures in Korea: I did it. I ate dog.

And it was good.

But I'll get to that later... It was a good week! I don't think there was anything super crazy outside of that really. Let's find out~

So Elder Geddes and I have officially become P-day companions. Both of our companions have to go to Busan every P-day now to practice for the newly formed Korea Busan Mission Choir. But since Elder Geddes and I aren't apart of it, we have the permission to just go on exchanges every P-day that they practice now. Which is kinda of nice because it sounds like a hassle to go back and fort between Ulsan and Busan every Monday. Not to mention how hard that would make email or shopping either. But anywho, we spent our first P-day going over to 방어진 (Bangeojin) hanging out with the missionaries over there and going over to 대왕암 (Daewangam - Great King Rock thing? I'm not sure how to translate it...) and got some real good views of some ocean and rocks. Kinda reminded me of Monterey, CA too so that was some nice nostalgia. And today Elder Geddes and I continue our P-day exchange adventures. I think we're going to head down to the big city part of our area and see what we can do. Update you all next week...

And then later that week we had MCM, where I ate dog. Not much too say honestly. It's just fun to say that I've eaten dog now. It was pretty tasty; kinda have a beef taste to it but just a little more soft in texture. No regrets.

This week I got to go on exchanges with District Leader, Elder Kirkham and it was a super fun time. mostly because it was just nice to catch up with him and shoot some good breeze with the man. It's hard to believe that the last time I served with him I was a completely brand new missionary, having no idea what I'm doing, what to say, or what will happen. And now he's about to go home in a transfer or two and I'm going to be hitting my half mark in a transfer or two. TIME BLAST. Aside from the having a good time with Elder Kirkham. We were actually bale to get some good missionary work done at the same time. Despite our area not being the most popping area for finding people, we were able to exceed our goal and get four contacts that day. We also gave a Book of Mormon away to a DJ. I really hope we can meet with that guy later. We also had an aweome lesson with one of our investigators. When Elder Minson and I whitewashed into this area, there were two remaining investigators. One of them is a major goober that is extremely hard to actually meet with. The other is Arthur. A sixty year old father that teaches English at a nearby high school. His English is PERFECT. It's so refreshing to talk to and teach this man can he can understand everything that I'm saying and I can understand everything he's saying...

Anyways lately we've been trying hard to relate God and the gospel to him personally and we've managed to pique his interest with how God is his Father just like he is his son's father. He seems to really resonate with how God relates to him and tries to communicate with him. But we can't get him to pray. So while planning for what to teach him, we thought it would be good to at least see if he's be willing to commit to reading the Book of Mormon. We started chatting with him as we always do for the first chunk of the lesson and then after we prayed and i started introducing what we're going to be talking about today. He was a lot less than enthusiastic. And instead of listening to the things that were running through my head at that moment; things like "Maybe we should just chat with him and let him know my temporary companion a little better" or "Maybe we should just teach something else instead" I focused on the thoughts running in my heart. I told him that this book isn't just something that we tell people to read just because. It's a book that we read because it opens the window for God to talk to us on a personal level. I share my own experience with how it has really helped me in coming closer to God, and how it's not just a homework assignment that missionaries give but a real spiritual opportunity. After I had said my peace and bore my testimony, he said, "You know what Elder Metcalf? When we're just chatting you seem like a good, nice guy. But when you just told me about that book right there I saw sparkles in your eyes. You appear differently when you talk about this." That's probably one of the more gratifying words I've heard in my entire life. I'm really thankful I was willing to listen the the spirit in that situation and be the means for that man to feel it as well through my testimony and through the Book of Mormon. And of course he accepted it (score), but still refuses to pray (maybe next time), but I gained a good testimony on not teaching what comes to your head but listening to the spirit in your heart. Awesome experience.

Other than that we're still just trying really hard to find some new investigators here with our new "rule". We've been getting a lot of potentials lately so I think that might come true here soon. Ahhh, and 주관 came to church this Sunday. I think next time we meet him we're going to invite baptism. He's ready. Now I gotta go. thanks for reading and writing! Buh bye~

-Elder Metcalf

1-4) Pics from the walk to 대왕암