Dear Family and Friends,
Well it sounded like quite the week for my family back home. First, I want to start off by telling my big sister HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Thanks for being the best big sister in the world and for teaching me how to work hard and be diligent! Mallory I love you and through your example I have learned that when you want something, go and get it because our dreams can come true if we want them too! I have seen you work so hard in all things and accomplish great things! You truly are the perfect example of doing your very best in all things that you put your mind to and I know that will only continue to do so! You are amazing I am so lucky to have the best big sister in the world!
Secondly, Hailey!!! I think most of you know but she participated in Junior Miss this last weekend and all weekend I couldn't help but wonder how she did. Well the second I got on the computer I opened up my mom’s email and tears fell down my eyes as I saw my sweet little sister as a gorgeous glowing young woman. All I can say is there is one proud sister over here in South Korea crying because her little sister isn't so little anymore! She truly glows and I know it's because of her faithfulness and desire to do right by following the Savior. In fact that is why we glow. We glow because of our hope in Christ and knowledge that we are God's children. Which brings me to our new investigator that we found this week!
This week we met with 전헤윤 a new investigator that was a referral from the mission office. She is interested in English and is diligently attending another church. We met with her and she told us that the minute she saw us she knew we were the missionaries not because we are the only foreigners around haha but because of our glow. She said people who believe in God and have that hope, look different. Their faces are light and they are simply at peace. She told of an experience she had with her employees who were all Buddhist and didn't believe in God. She said that each Tuesday they eat as a company and for 7 months she would pray over her food alone and they would wonder why and observe but didn't care too much. She continued praying for them outside of work that they would be touched by her example. Well 7 months later when she ate dinner with them after she said her prayer she opened her eyes and found 3 of her Buddhist employees also praying. She said that is God's way through time and patience and example we see the fruits of our labors. All I could do was nod and agree. We will be meeting with her every Tuesday. Sister Matamata and I are really looking forward to meeting with her and teaching her.
We also had Zone training this week which was the most powerful zone training I have had my entire mission. Last transfer I don't know if you remember but our zone was lacking and we weren't finding very many investigators to teach so we set the standard that we had to find 1 new investigator weekly and if we didn't our Zone leaders or Sister Training leaders would come and help us and make sure we did the next week. Well it woke everyone up. In one transfer we went from the lowest finding zone to the highest! What changed? All that changed was our faith and attitude about the work! We believed in ourselves and we believed in God. Now that we have all these wonderful people to teach in the zone we are now focusing on doing all we can to have them enter in to the waters of baptism. We of course do not determine how many people are baptized but we do determine the invitations we make so now we are to find a new investigator and make an invitation weekly. This in other missions around the world may not be a big deal but it's definitely a challenge here that is going to only continue to strengthen our faith.
Sister Matamata and I actually have one investigator that is well on her way to setting that commitment with the Lord. Our 15 year old investigator 김지헤 is progressing so well! We went to the Young Women Leader's house this week and made microwave brownies with her because she has never ever baked in her whole life! Koreans don't really do the handmade goodies so we taught her! It was so fun and she was able to build a good relationship with the leader 강소진. She was able to come to conference with our members on Sunday too! Our only worry is her parents but we received a text last night that her parents want us over for dinner sometime! YAY! Her mother is Buddhist and her dad is Christian which is where she learned to believe in God. Hopefully this will continue to be an upward process as the Lord had provided with her so many opportunities to come to church, pray, meet new friends and of course meet with us! Every time she prays and we talk I can't help but feel the strength of her faith in God. I love her so much and we are truly making so much progress with her as we watch her faith grow and learn from her example.
Wasn't Conference great though! We finally were able to watch it this weekend and I have made plans and goals already to be better. I loved all the missionary stories that were shared as I was able to relate to every single one of them in my own way. I think the line that hit me the most was that everyone is truly trying in their own way. The talk by Elder Redlund really touched me as I noticed a few of my weaknesses while being a missionary especially a trainer. I am going to be really honest here so don't judge me and my weaknesses because I also am trying in my own way. But I have noticed a little in myself that I have been to focused on why others aren't doing something that I think they should be doing rather then looking at what they are doing and being grateful for that. For example this week one morning Sister Matamata and I went outside to exercise. She personally I could tell didn't want to but I knew that if we didn't go outside she would just fall back to sleep so as I ran she walked and I caught myself thinking "why isn't she exercising? Why isn't she running with me?" I was letting frustration take over me but then I stopped. I realized my fault turned in gratitude and just thought "wow isn't it great that she came outside with me and that she got up at 6:30 in the morning!" That isn't easy but as I have changed my thought and attitude and heard that counsel I was instantly happier. I know that each person is striving to do their best and as the Lord gives patience to me I to must must give patience, love and mercy to others. How grateful I am to be learning all this and always being given the chance to change, become better, and become more like our Savior each and everyday because of His atonement.
I love this work. I know that it has truly laid the most solid foundation for the rest of my life. I know that this is the Lord's work and that I have truly been give the wonderful opportunity to help assist Him. How humbled I have for this experience each day. I love being a missionary. I love my Savior. I love this gospel. I know this is true and I have all the hope in the world on the message I share each day. Thank you for all your love encourage support, and prayers! I love and miss each of you! Have a great week! Remember everyone is trying in their own way!
Love,
드리스콜자매
Sister Ciarra Jean Driscoll
Heart Mind and Seoul Korea
I am 19 years old and called to serve in the Korea Seoul South Mission as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I would like to thank all who have shown their love and support throughout this life changing journey of mine.
Friday, April 17, 2015
Letter - 4/5/15
Dear Family and Friends,
HAPPY EASTER! I am sure you have all had a wonderful Easter Weekend! Here in Korea we also celebrate Easter and the Resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. As I have been going through this week our mission as been participating in the Because He Live foundation that the church has created and if you haven't seen the video I invite you to do so NOW! Go to HeLives.mormon.org and watch it! I have only seen it in Korean but how powerful the video is and I know it brings the Spirit into my heart because I know that my Redeemer lives. I Know without a shadow of a doubt. I have felt His comfort, peace and strength throughout my life that I will never be able to deny.
This week was full of fun times and memories as every week is. How grateful I am to be a missionary sharing the good news of the gospel which is, Jesus is the Christ, He lives today and because of that we can always have hope for a better world.
Monday Sister Matamata and I were able to visit our favorite little friend 기백. He is a little boy in the ward that I like to box with if you remember the photo I sent of me and him with our fists up. He is just full of so much love. He and his mom haven't been able to come to church since Sister Matamata's first Sunday but they came yesterday so that was so good. The minute he saw us he ran up to us and gave us the biggest hug. Oh the joy it is to be able to love these people here in Korea and invite them to come closer to their Savior, Jesus Christ.
Tuesday we met with our investigator family 임진아. Lately we have been struggling with how to help her progress. She has met with the missionaries for a long time and loves the gospel and I know has felt the Spirit but she just doesn't act. Because we had been inviting her to act but she wasn't keeping commitments we decided that morning during companionship study that we needed to drop her so that was our plan. As we continued on our day about 30 minutes before our appointment with her Sister Matamata and I prayed on whether or not this was the right thing to do and that the spirit would guide us and that her two little girls would be quiet during the lesson. Well God answers prayers. It was such a powerful lesson. we changed our plans and instead of dropping her we decided to invite her to be baptized one last time. She didn't decline but she did say she had fears and her main fear was not understanding the material specifically the Book of Mormon because it truly is so difficult in Korean. So because she doesn't understand, the desire isn't there which I could relate with Korean! When I didn't understand Korean it was hard to have a desire to learn it but once it started clicking then all I wanted to do was learn more. She doesn't have any religious background so to help her we bought the Book of Mormon storybook for kids so that she can read it with her kids. We are praying that will help and we will be focusing alot on that. It was really such a powerful experience. I truly didn't know what I was going to say and neither did Sister Matamata but the Spirit put words into our mouths and the Spirit was present. NOt only that but the kids were quiet which allowed the Spirit to work within our hearts. I know that God, through His Spirit gives us the the words He needs us to speak and the gift of tongues is real. At the end of the lesson Sister Matamata bore her testimony and as she started she went to say one line of her testimony that she had been struggling with but she didn't struggle one bit, she said it perfectly because she said it with the power of the spirit. I am just so grateful to witness the miracles of God everyday and of His work. How I love to be a representative of our Savior Jesus Christ teaching His gospel.
Since that teaching appointment our lessons have just improved so much because I believe together we learned how to recognize, listen and follow the Spirit. That is something that kind of changes with each companionship so that we can teach in unity and under God's spirit. I have been feeling the Spirit more consistently as we teach and as I speak the words that I know to be true. Oh the feeling of the Spirit is so powerful in my heart and it only continues to increase as my testimony strengthens. This weekend we met with two of our investigators. 김지혜 who actually ended up coming to church on Sunday! YAY! It was her first time but luckily one of the Young Women is her friend so they came together. It was great! She is so sweet and just ready to do anything. This coming week we have a plan to bake brownies at the Young Woman leaders house so that should be super great! Sister Matamata and I are so excited because she is progressing super well and hearing her humble prayers each week truly just make my day. I think that has been one of my favorite parts of missionary work! Listening to the Korean people pray for the first time and watching them come to know there is someone they can always turn to at anytime in any place. What a blessing it is to know that and know that I have a Heavenly Father who is hearing and answering my prayers all the time. I know that He does for I have witnessed it so many times throughout my life. Not huge answers but little ones that I am able to recognize and be grateful for.
As we have gone out on the streets this week we have been really focusing on the Because He Lives video and cards they have given to us. While handing them out I have thought a lot about what it personally means to me that "He lives". Because He lives I just have so much hope. Hope for a better world. Hope to be a better me. Hope in this gospel and Hope to become like Him. I think of the beautiful lyrics "Oh sweet the joy this sentence gives, I know that my Redeemer lives." I know that Jesus is the Christ. I know that He came to this earth to fulfill His Father's will. I know He voluntarily gave up His life for you and for me. He bore the burdens of each of us. Our wounds are His wounds. He bore them all. He did it all. He kept His work and performed the infinite atonement that we can rely upon each day to become better. "He made it possible for every person of every age to overcome every obstacle, every weakness, every sin and every tinge of guilt." He did this for each of us one by one because He is our personal, loving and caring Friend. What the Savior did for me I cannot comprehend but I know with all my heart the He did suffer in Gethsemane for my sins, my weaknesses, my frustrations, my everything. He has already bore it all. I know He carried His cross to Calvary and gave up His life voluntarily for me and for you. I know He was layed in the Tomb of Arimathea and on the third day He was not found there for He had risen. He was resurrected conquering physical death and overcoming the world. I know that because He lives, we will too. All that I am and ever will be I owe to Him, my Savior, Redeemer, Advocate, Mediator, Friend, and Brother. I know that He lives.
Thank you for all your love and prayers. I love each of you and miss you! I hope you have a good week and invite you to think about what it means to you that Jesus Christ lives. Remember that He does live and He is beckoning you to come to Him and rely on the gift He has offered us! Have a great week!
Love,
드리스콜자매.
Sister Ciarra Jean Driscoll
HAPPY EASTER! I am sure you have all had a wonderful Easter Weekend! Here in Korea we also celebrate Easter and the Resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. As I have been going through this week our mission as been participating in the Because He Live foundation that the church has created and if you haven't seen the video I invite you to do so NOW! Go to HeLives.mormon.org and watch it! I have only seen it in Korean but how powerful the video is and I know it brings the Spirit into my heart because I know that my Redeemer lives. I Know without a shadow of a doubt. I have felt His comfort, peace and strength throughout my life that I will never be able to deny.
This week was full of fun times and memories as every week is. How grateful I am to be a missionary sharing the good news of the gospel which is, Jesus is the Christ, He lives today and because of that we can always have hope for a better world.
Monday Sister Matamata and I were able to visit our favorite little friend 기백. He is a little boy in the ward that I like to box with if you remember the photo I sent of me and him with our fists up. He is just full of so much love. He and his mom haven't been able to come to church since Sister Matamata's first Sunday but they came yesterday so that was so good. The minute he saw us he ran up to us and gave us the biggest hug. Oh the joy it is to be able to love these people here in Korea and invite them to come closer to their Savior, Jesus Christ.
Tuesday we met with our investigator family 임진아. Lately we have been struggling with how to help her progress. She has met with the missionaries for a long time and loves the gospel and I know has felt the Spirit but she just doesn't act. Because we had been inviting her to act but she wasn't keeping commitments we decided that morning during companionship study that we needed to drop her so that was our plan. As we continued on our day about 30 minutes before our appointment with her Sister Matamata and I prayed on whether or not this was the right thing to do and that the spirit would guide us and that her two little girls would be quiet during the lesson. Well God answers prayers. It was such a powerful lesson. we changed our plans and instead of dropping her we decided to invite her to be baptized one last time. She didn't decline but she did say she had fears and her main fear was not understanding the material specifically the Book of Mormon because it truly is so difficult in Korean. So because she doesn't understand, the desire isn't there which I could relate with Korean! When I didn't understand Korean it was hard to have a desire to learn it but once it started clicking then all I wanted to do was learn more. She doesn't have any religious background so to help her we bought the Book of Mormon storybook for kids so that she can read it with her kids. We are praying that will help and we will be focusing alot on that. It was really such a powerful experience. I truly didn't know what I was going to say and neither did Sister Matamata but the Spirit put words into our mouths and the Spirit was present. NOt only that but the kids were quiet which allowed the Spirit to work within our hearts. I know that God, through His Spirit gives us the the words He needs us to speak and the gift of tongues is real. At the end of the lesson Sister Matamata bore her testimony and as she started she went to say one line of her testimony that she had been struggling with but she didn't struggle one bit, she said it perfectly because she said it with the power of the spirit. I am just so grateful to witness the miracles of God everyday and of His work. How I love to be a representative of our Savior Jesus Christ teaching His gospel.
Since that teaching appointment our lessons have just improved so much because I believe together we learned how to recognize, listen and follow the Spirit. That is something that kind of changes with each companionship so that we can teach in unity and under God's spirit. I have been feeling the Spirit more consistently as we teach and as I speak the words that I know to be true. Oh the feeling of the Spirit is so powerful in my heart and it only continues to increase as my testimony strengthens. This weekend we met with two of our investigators. 김지혜 who actually ended up coming to church on Sunday! YAY! It was her first time but luckily one of the Young Women is her friend so they came together. It was great! She is so sweet and just ready to do anything. This coming week we have a plan to bake brownies at the Young Woman leaders house so that should be super great! Sister Matamata and I are so excited because she is progressing super well and hearing her humble prayers each week truly just make my day. I think that has been one of my favorite parts of missionary work! Listening to the Korean people pray for the first time and watching them come to know there is someone they can always turn to at anytime in any place. What a blessing it is to know that and know that I have a Heavenly Father who is hearing and answering my prayers all the time. I know that He does for I have witnessed it so many times throughout my life. Not huge answers but little ones that I am able to recognize and be grateful for.
As we have gone out on the streets this week we have been really focusing on the Because He Lives video and cards they have given to us. While handing them out I have thought a lot about what it personally means to me that "He lives". Because He lives I just have so much hope. Hope for a better world. Hope to be a better me. Hope in this gospel and Hope to become like Him. I think of the beautiful lyrics "Oh sweet the joy this sentence gives, I know that my Redeemer lives." I know that Jesus is the Christ. I know that He came to this earth to fulfill His Father's will. I know He voluntarily gave up His life for you and for me. He bore the burdens of each of us. Our wounds are His wounds. He bore them all. He did it all. He kept His work and performed the infinite atonement that we can rely upon each day to become better. "He made it possible for every person of every age to overcome every obstacle, every weakness, every sin and every tinge of guilt." He did this for each of us one by one because He is our personal, loving and caring Friend. What the Savior did for me I cannot comprehend but I know with all my heart the He did suffer in Gethsemane for my sins, my weaknesses, my frustrations, my everything. He has already bore it all. I know He carried His cross to Calvary and gave up His life voluntarily for me and for you. I know He was layed in the Tomb of Arimathea and on the third day He was not found there for He had risen. He was resurrected conquering physical death and overcoming the world. I know that because He lives, we will too. All that I am and ever will be I owe to Him, my Savior, Redeemer, Advocate, Mediator, Friend, and Brother. I know that He lives.
Thank you for all your love and prayers. I love each of you and miss you! I hope you have a good week and invite you to think about what it means to you that Jesus Christ lives. Remember that He does live and He is beckoning you to come to Him and rely on the gift He has offered us! Have a great week!
Love,
드리스콜자매.
Sister Ciarra Jean Driscoll
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Letter - 3/29/15
Dear Family and Friends,
Spring has officially come as we saw the first bloomings of the beautiful cherry blossoms here in Korea. Spring time in Korea is just the best and so beautiful! I am continually telling my companion how excited I am for this weather because it truly is the best time of the year. This week flew by just like all the others. We were busy and had lots time to strengthen others as well as ourselves.
Saturday we had a ward activity which was so fun! It was a 떡볶이 cook-off! Which I know you don't know what that food is but it's a Korean specialty with rice cakes, cabbage, vegetables, and red pepper sauce. Not really sure how to explain it but it was so fun! We had so many members come as well as our investigators! We even had a group of our students who we teach english to come and participate! It was just a good time to cook, eat, talk, and play games with everyone. I especially enjoyed when we decided to have a water balloon toss in the church parking lot and well turned into more of a water balloon fight. Luckily we didn't fill up too many water balloons though or we would have all been soaked!
While preparing for the Cook-Off we visited members, less actives, and investiagtors to invite them to the party. We were able to visit 장미정 and seeing her again was an answer to my prayers as well as hers. She has been so busy that we haven't been able to meet but when we visited her she was home and she said that having us come over was like receiving a present from Heaven. It was so sweet to hear that. We were able to follow up on lots of things and her sister from my last area has been sending her the monthly Liahona which has been great. Sadly she wasn't able to attend the Cook-Off but she did come to church this week with her boys and Sister Matamata and I have some great plans as far as helping her to continue to progress and be ready to make these amazing changes in her life. I still consider her one of the greatest miracles of my mission and everyday I think about her I realize how aware the Lord is of each and everyone of us and how perfect His timing truly is.
Sister Matamata and I visited quite a few members this week which time with them was just a tender mercy. One specific member, not super active but not completely less active, we meet with every Friday. Her name is 홍수희 and everytime I meet with her I can't help but fill so happy, filled with the spirit and ready to improve going forth with faith. She is so humble and has so much hope in the Gospel of Jesus Christ for her family. Her husband is not a member but I can see that she feels confident in the Lord's timing that he will become one. We were able to have a great lesson on faith which then led to the Atonement of Jesus Christ and she bore her strong testimony of the knowledge she has of the atonement and how real it is. She truly understands Heavenly Father's love for her and is continually willing to change and find new ways for the gospel to bless her and her family's life even more.
Another member we met with was 김원경. Now this Relief Society sister in our ward is as solid as they come. We had dinner with her and as we shared our message on recognizing answers to prayers she shared a tender story dear to her heart about an experience she had. Last year her husband and her were having a really hard time with health issues and her son had just left on his mission. She talked about how praying during that time was the only thing that got her through and then her answers always seemed to come through her sons emails when he would email her weekly. She realized that Heavenly Father often answers our prayers through other people and that's when she was able to receive the strength to carry on. Heavenly Father truly answers our prayers one prayer at a time and listens to us one person at a time. As she talked it remeinded me of Sister Jean A. Stevens talk "Fear Not I am With Thee" one quote she says by C.S Lewis says "I pray because I can't help myself, I pray because the need flows our of me all the time waking and sleeping. It doesn't change God, it changes me." I know that through this missionary experience I have never prayed so much in my life and I have prayed hard. It has been a life changing experience and humbling to see how we can truly communicate with our Heavenly Father and He will communicate back through so many different ways but just by speaking peace to our soul.
All week though I spent a lot of time preparing to teach the Young Women for Sunday and this month the topic was all about the Atonement specifically how it helps us during our trials. How grateful I am for the Atonement and for the knowlegde I have that I am never alone. Having the knowledge of the Atonement give me this hope that I just can't explaing but is gives me strength everyday to carry on.
While studying I read Elder Bednar's talk "Bear Up the Burdens with Ease" and what a powerful talk. My favorite part is well all of it but specifically "There is no physical pain, no spiritual wound, no anguish of soul or heartache, no infirmity or weakness you or I ever confront in mortality that the Savior did not experience first. In a moment of weakness we may cry out, “No one knows what it is like. No one understands.” But the Son of God perfectly knows and understands, for He has felt and borne our individual burdens. And because of His infinite and eternal sacrifice, He has perfect empathy and can extend to us His arm of mercy. He can reach out, touch, succor, heal, and strengthen us to be more than we could ever be and help us to do that which we could never do relying only upon our own power." Often we wonder why we have to bear such trials but we see countlessly in the scriptures the blessings that come after a trial. Often the Lord brings us to our lowest points only to lift us higher. He gives us trials because He trusts us that we will learn and grow from them. He knows that we are ready to learn and grow so He allows us to. While teaching the young woman on Sunday I was prompted to share my dad's story with battling his illness. All I could think about is how now as I talk to my father he says "Lyme's disease has been my greatest blessing and teacher." That's how we can look at all our trials and hardships because it is then where we are lifted with the Savior and realize He is always there beside us. " We are not and never need be alone. We can press forward in our daily lives with heavenly help. Through the Savior’s Atonement we can receive capacity and “strength beyond [our] own” I know this is true for I have experienced it. I know that my Savior lives and He truly knows each of us perfectly if we will just trust in Him and let Him take the load that He has already paid we will partake of the wonderful gift of the Atonement.
I love and miss each of you so much! I am so grateful for all your support, love, and prayers. Thank you! I hope you are all doing well! Enjoy this wonderful spring weather and remember to always smile and know that you are loved, by Me:)
Love,
드리스콜자매
Sister Ciarra Jean Driscoll
Spring has officially come as we saw the first bloomings of the beautiful cherry blossoms here in Korea. Spring time in Korea is just the best and so beautiful! I am continually telling my companion how excited I am for this weather because it truly is the best time of the year. This week flew by just like all the others. We were busy and had lots time to strengthen others as well as ourselves.
Saturday we had a ward activity which was so fun! It was a 떡볶이 cook-off! Which I know you don't know what that food is but it's a Korean specialty with rice cakes, cabbage, vegetables, and red pepper sauce. Not really sure how to explain it but it was so fun! We had so many members come as well as our investigators! We even had a group of our students who we teach english to come and participate! It was just a good time to cook, eat, talk, and play games with everyone. I especially enjoyed when we decided to have a water balloon toss in the church parking lot and well turned into more of a water balloon fight. Luckily we didn't fill up too many water balloons though or we would have all been soaked!
While preparing for the Cook-Off we visited members, less actives, and investiagtors to invite them to the party. We were able to visit 장미정 and seeing her again was an answer to my prayers as well as hers. She has been so busy that we haven't been able to meet but when we visited her she was home and she said that having us come over was like receiving a present from Heaven. It was so sweet to hear that. We were able to follow up on lots of things and her sister from my last area has been sending her the monthly Liahona which has been great. Sadly she wasn't able to attend the Cook-Off but she did come to church this week with her boys and Sister Matamata and I have some great plans as far as helping her to continue to progress and be ready to make these amazing changes in her life. I still consider her one of the greatest miracles of my mission and everyday I think about her I realize how aware the Lord is of each and everyone of us and how perfect His timing truly is.
Sister Matamata and I visited quite a few members this week which time with them was just a tender mercy. One specific member, not super active but not completely less active, we meet with every Friday. Her name is 홍수희 and everytime I meet with her I can't help but fill so happy, filled with the spirit and ready to improve going forth with faith. She is so humble and has so much hope in the Gospel of Jesus Christ for her family. Her husband is not a member but I can see that she feels confident in the Lord's timing that he will become one. We were able to have a great lesson on faith which then led to the Atonement of Jesus Christ and she bore her strong testimony of the knowledge she has of the atonement and how real it is. She truly understands Heavenly Father's love for her and is continually willing to change and find new ways for the gospel to bless her and her family's life even more.
Another member we met with was 김원경. Now this Relief Society sister in our ward is as solid as they come. We had dinner with her and as we shared our message on recognizing answers to prayers she shared a tender story dear to her heart about an experience she had. Last year her husband and her were having a really hard time with health issues and her son had just left on his mission. She talked about how praying during that time was the only thing that got her through and then her answers always seemed to come through her sons emails when he would email her weekly. She realized that Heavenly Father often answers our prayers through other people and that's when she was able to receive the strength to carry on. Heavenly Father truly answers our prayers one prayer at a time and listens to us one person at a time. As she talked it remeinded me of Sister Jean A. Stevens talk "Fear Not I am With Thee" one quote she says by C.S Lewis says "I pray because I can't help myself, I pray because the need flows our of me all the time waking and sleeping. It doesn't change God, it changes me." I know that through this missionary experience I have never prayed so much in my life and I have prayed hard. It has been a life changing experience and humbling to see how we can truly communicate with our Heavenly Father and He will communicate back through so many different ways but just by speaking peace to our soul.
All week though I spent a lot of time preparing to teach the Young Women for Sunday and this month the topic was all about the Atonement specifically how it helps us during our trials. How grateful I am for the Atonement and for the knowlegde I have that I am never alone. Having the knowledge of the Atonement give me this hope that I just can't explaing but is gives me strength everyday to carry on.
While studying I read Elder Bednar's talk "Bear Up the Burdens with Ease" and what a powerful talk. My favorite part is well all of it but specifically "There is no physical pain, no spiritual wound, no anguish of soul or heartache, no infirmity or weakness you or I ever confront in mortality that the Savior did not experience first. In a moment of weakness we may cry out, “No one knows what it is like. No one understands.” But the Son of God perfectly knows and understands, for He has felt and borne our individual burdens. And because of His infinite and eternal sacrifice, He has perfect empathy and can extend to us His arm of mercy. He can reach out, touch, succor, heal, and strengthen us to be more than we could ever be and help us to do that which we could never do relying only upon our own power." Often we wonder why we have to bear such trials but we see countlessly in the scriptures the blessings that come after a trial. Often the Lord brings us to our lowest points only to lift us higher. He gives us trials because He trusts us that we will learn and grow from them. He knows that we are ready to learn and grow so He allows us to. While teaching the young woman on Sunday I was prompted to share my dad's story with battling his illness. All I could think about is how now as I talk to my father he says "Lyme's disease has been my greatest blessing and teacher." That's how we can look at all our trials and hardships because it is then where we are lifted with the Savior and realize He is always there beside us. " We are not and never need be alone. We can press forward in our daily lives with heavenly help. Through the Savior’s Atonement we can receive capacity and “strength beyond [our] own” I know this is true for I have experienced it. I know that my Savior lives and He truly knows each of us perfectly if we will just trust in Him and let Him take the load that He has already paid we will partake of the wonderful gift of the Atonement.
I love and miss each of you so much! I am so grateful for all your support, love, and prayers. Thank you! I hope you are all doing well! Enjoy this wonderful spring weather and remember to always smile and know that you are loved, by Me:)
Love,
드리스콜자매
Sister Ciarra Jean Driscoll
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Letter - 3/22/15
This morning as I looked at the calender I realized that the month of March is coming to an end which was shocking! But more excitingly is that this week is my sweet mother's birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! I figured it would be better to wish you a happy birthday early rather then late! I was reading in the Liahona today a passage from all these different young men and women around the world writing about all the things they learned from their parents. How grateful I am for a mother who has taught me how to support my family, rely on the Lord, live in a Christ centered home, and always being there for those you love, putting them first even when she had so many other things she needed to be doing. I can't count how many times I called my mom in desperate help and she was always there! How grateful I am for her wonderful example and that I have the opportunity to strive to follow in her footsteps. Happy Birthday Mom! I hope you have a wonderful day and know just how much I love you!
This week was another busy week! Sister Matamata and I just continue to grow closer and I see her improvement since our first day together. It is so neat to see the growth in a new missionary as they begin to understand the meaning of missionary work within themselves and they begin to love the people they serve. She had the opportunity to give a talk in sacrament meeting on Sunday and well it was all in Korean and what a miracle that is to see as the Lord works through us to accomplish His purposes. I still am amazed every time I speak and understand Korean. I know that this would not be possible without the Lord's divine gifts and His divine assistance. How humbled I am to experience such a gift as the gift of tongues and gift of interpretation of tongues.I am so grateful I have had this opportunity to struggle with learning a language and put all my trust in the Lord to help Him fulfill His purposes.
The weather has finally gotten warm enough to go outside and exercise so this week Sister Matamata and I bought a basketball and have been going to the park that is close by our apartment. It has been really great and as we play basketball together we just have fun and enjoy the beauties of the earth so early in the morning. It is also driving Sister Matamata to get up :-) so that's a good thing! We are becoming more united through that!
Eveyday this week we went out and talked to so many people and it was neat to see how the Lord put certain people in our path. One lady specifically that I sat next to on the subway was just glowing and I was just drawn to her so I started talking to her. She explained to me that she had never spoken to a foreigner before and this was the happiest day for her. We continued talking and come to find out she lives in our area and wants to meet with us so we were able to get her number and will be meeting with her this week. I have noticed as a missionary how important it is to really open your mouths to everyone but also be smart about it because the Lord will guide us so instead of being caught up by talking to everyone possible I have learned to pause and wait to be drawn to someone that I need to talk to and want to talk to. As I have done this I have found my conversation with people more valuable and fruitful. I know that the Lord is the head of this work and He is guiding each of us to His prepared children. I mean sure not everyone has a stamp on their forehead saying I am prepared talk to me but each step of faith we take the Lord uses to accomplish His great and marvelous work. I am so grateful to witness it everyday and to be right in the middle of it in Korea.
Sunday was a great day as the 8 year old we were teaching was baptized! It was so neat to see her glowing and so excitied to follow the Savior's example. She actually asked me to speak at her baptism service so that was a great opportunity for me to reflect on my baptism and why I chose to be baptized and why I live the gospel. I know that being 8 years old I didn't know hardly anything about the gospel but what I did know is I wanted to follow Jesus Christ's example and that's what continues to motivate me today. How grateful I am for the gospel. I know that the gospel can bring so much joy to our lives. I think of it like baking a cake. As we bake our favorite cake we need specific ingredients in order to make the cake all that we know it to be. The same is with the gospel. In order to experience all the joys of the gospel you need all the ingredients such as being obedient to the commandments, attending church, reading the scriptures daily and praying daily and then making those necessary covenants to receive all the promissed blessings of the gospel. If we leave out an ingredient of a cake or the gospel it's just not as delicious so use all of the ingredients that the Lord has provided for us and experince the true joy of not only living the gospel but becoming it.
I just want to thank each of you for all your love support and prayers! I know that each day I am given strength and how grateful I am for the strength that the Lord gives me. I think of Nephi and the strength he was given in all the difficult circumstance he faced. Like Nephi as we pray to our Heavenly Father we can be strengthened. I know that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can receive that strength and act upon it with the Savior on our Side. I love this work. I love being a missionary and I love serving the people of Korea. I know that God' loves each of you and is watching out for each of you. He knows you and loves you. I love you and miss you all! Have a great week! Remember to have all the ingredients!
Love,
드리스콜자매
Sister Ciarra Jean Driscoll
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Letter - 3/16/15
Dear Family and Friends,
What a week! I don't really know where to start but it was a week of learning, improving. loving and doing! I truly cannot express to you enough how grateful I am for this opportunity to serve as a missionary and represent my Savior Jesus Christ. Everyday I put my name tag on I just see His name engraving a little deeper into my heart because after all I know this black name tag I wear will soon be removed but His name will forever remain on my heart.
This week Sister Matamata and I really bonded. I just keep learning more and more about people as I continue to be a missionary and strive to become more like Christ. I studied a lot on love this week and read a talk given to me by my mother which really just helped me so much. "The Power of God's Love" by Elder Groberg. One line that hit me the hardest was "trying to find love without helping or sacrificing for others is like trying to live without eating. We cannot fake love. It must become a part of us." That is what builds that charity, pure love of Christ that we all are seeking for. We must be willing to sacrifice for others and help them in all that they need, as we do so our love for them will automatically increase. I have noticed as a missionary that the more I serve the people of Korea the more I love them. That's how it works. The more we forget ourselves and focus on others the more we are able to feel of God's love and recognize it. We must go out each day looking for the evidence of God's love in our lives. I promise that as you do so you will grow in gratitude, love, and happiness. This week that is one of my goals. Each night Sister Matamata and I record a blessing that we saw that day but now I am going to begin recording evidences of God's love, big or small, they are everywhere and He loves you me and all of His children.
Missionary work in Korea is still going. Our investigators right now are not progressing as quickly as we hope but I do know that the Lord has a time and season for everything so this is when patience comes and trust in the Lord. I have studied all about the stripling warriors this week and I just truly admire their trust in the Lord. They truly were taught to never doubt in the Lord and I know because of the faith they had in the Lord they were able to overcome the strongest Lamanite armies and see miraculous results of their dedicated service and the same goes for us. As we continue to show our faith in the Lord by counseling with Him, obeying with exactness and surrendering our will to His we will experience our own miracles. I think my favorite verse is found in Alma 56:47. It says that the stripling warriors did not fear death because they were thinking of their family, liberty and religion. They were motivated by love and as we know perfect love casts out all fear. Because of their love, reliance on the Lord and trust they had no fear in their hearts. All things are possible when you are filled with God's love and trusting completely in Him.
I gave a talk in sacrament meeting on Sunday on the Atonement of Jesus Christ which then just continued my study on God's love for us as well as the Savior's love for us and our Father in Heaven. I remember being a newer missionary and how speaking was terrifying but now through time it has just become a part of who I am and I truly love speaking in Korean especially when I know that what I say is true and it helps others understand the love God has for them. I am so grateful for the atonement and know it is the greatest expression of love. I know that as we rely on it we can continue to improve, change and become better reaching the potential that God sees in us.
As for our recent converts though! 김영숙 and 이근배 have truly been changed through thegospel. We haven't been able to meet with them as regularly as we had hoped but we met with them this Saturday and just had a wonderful time. They are showing so much more happiness and light in their countenance. I just wonder why I was so lucky to experience such a miracle. When we met with them we talked about missionary work. I asked 김영숙how her daughter and son-in-law first started sharing the gospel with her and she said it was through their example of always praying and going to church and strengthening each other in the gospel. It was perfect to hear that said because it flowed with the scripture I was wanting to share which was Alma 17:11"... show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls." As I share that scripture she just lit up and said that's what I am trying to do" I think that is important for all of us to think about. Last week Mallory sent me her testimony and said "People are always watching us. They might never believe what we believe but it is our duty and our calling to treat them as sons and daughters of God regardless. We cannot hide our light under a bushel, everyone sees our light." That statement is true and I know that as we let our light shine it will grow brighter and brighter in Christ. Each of us have a role to play and let our light in somebody's life even if we don't know it. We must let our light shine and realize that as we live the gospel joyfully we are allowing Christ's light to shine through us and people can see that and receive guidance without us even knowing. I know that our light is never hidden. Each of us shine bright and we can always shine brighter as we live this gospel striving to become like our Savior by following His commandments and doing the little things of everyday that invite Him into our lives.
I love this gospel and I know that is changes lives and brings light into our lives. I love serving in Korea. I know this is the Lord's work and I am grateful everyday to experience it firsthand even though it is not easy it is worth it. I have learned more in these 18 months then I have the 20 years that I have been alive. I love being a missionary. I am so grateful for all of your support and could not do this without you! Thank you for your love, support, prayers, letters, and emails! I hope you each have a wonderful week and Remember let your light shine and look for the evidence of God's love in your life! Love you and Miss you all!
Love,
드리스콜자매
Sister Ciarra Jean Driscoll
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Letter - 3/9/15
Dear Family and Friends,
Well sorry that I am emailing a little late today! This week we will be going to the temple so our P-day is actually switched to Thursday so we had an appointment after studies today which caused us to email late but we are emailing now so that's what matters! How is everyone? I love hearing updates from my family about all of you! (Jordan & Emily Congratulations, Houston so cool you are going to Tacoma and Permann boys you rock!) Just want you to know how much I love you and appreciate all that you have done for me! I wouldn't be the person I am today without each of your influences so thank you and I thank my Heavenly Father for putting you into my life.
This week was just another great week! I think it was a big week of learning and change. The mission so far has been struggling a little with finding and baptizing since the new year started and in Zone training we got the whip cracked on us a bit but it was great! I took it as the greatest opportunity to turn to the Lord, repent and change to be better. That is what I love most about the gospel of Jesus Christ is that it invites change and through the Savior and His atonement we can change.
Now is the time to change and become better. Just do it! That is Sister Matamata and I's new motto! JUST DO IT! Throughout my mission I have found myself questioning my thoughts or feelings wondering if it was me or the Spirit but I learned as it says in Moroni 10 that if it invites to do good it is of Christ and if it is of Christ then it is not going to hurt anything. So my commitment to myself is to not only trust the Lord but trust myself and JUST DO IT even if nothing comes out of it immediately! I love this new outlook and it has already changed the missionary work I am doing here in Korea. I was reading in my Preach My Gospel the section on successful missionary and D&C 117:13 was written next to the passage. I turned to it and found this "...for his sacrifice shall be more sacred unto me than his increase..." That line hit me so hard and I realized that the Lord sees each and every one of our sacrifices that we put forth and He treasures them so we have to just do it so that we can treasure those sacrifices and see us putting our effort in for Him.
Our appointments were great this week! One specific one was with our investigator named 정주영. She was a member referral from 곡반정 ward and she is just the cutest ever. We meet with her each week at a member’s house and it's been so fun. We always have such a party. She is warming up to the gospel but we are trying to figure out how to get her to want to learn and act. That always seems to be the trick in missionary work but the relationship we have built with her is great. We walked to the bus stop with her and I was just linking arms with her singing away! She taught me Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in Korean and then she sang "Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket and never let it fade away" with me! It was a fun memory and I am just so grateful for her love and for the opportunity the Lord is giving me to love her.
We also met with 장미정 this week. We retaught the restoration and invited her to be baptized but found out that her husband really doesn't like the fact that she is coming to church each week so that's a curve ball that was thrown at us. She is thinking smart though and just says to continue meeting and changing then as time goes on her husband will see the change that is taking place in his family and will desire to learn so our focus now can be just getting her really converted by living the commandments and noticing the blessings that the gospel brings through actually living it. She didn't come to church this week though and just a little worried because she hasn't answered our calls our texts but all we can do is continue to show her love. She is still the biggest miracle of my mission.
I went on exchange with the Sister Training Leader this week and what a party that was. Sister Shin is also from New Zealand and we came to Korea together. We actually were friends on Facebook before the mission too so yeah I just love her. But while out proselyting on Saturday we stopped at a park and played tag with 4 little girls for at least an hour! It was the best ever and a great time to just have fun! The Korean children are just so adorable. They made us promise that we would go back next week and play so hopefully they will be there because I am going back.
Sister Matamata is improving and we are just having fun here in the land of 곡반정. I learned alot about her and I just want to tell you how amazing she truly is. Since being on my mission I have truly come to understand that everyone comes from different backgrounds but yet we are all here united in purpose showing our love to the Lord and experiencing our own journey of conversion. That's what I love about my mission is that it is MINE. No one in the whole world has served my mission and what a blessing it is to say that I am serving a mission representing my Savior Jesus Christ in Korea. I was reading in D&C this morning and found some verses that I loved that stressed how great this experience really is. In D&C 42:11 its says "Again I say unto you, that it shall not be given to anyone to go forth to preach my gospel, or to build up my church..." This opportunity isn't given to everyone and I am just realizing that which then leads me to D&C 36:5 "...embrace this calling and commandment..." I am here as a missionary in Korea embracing and cherishing each moment because as time goes by I am realizing that it isn't going to last forever no matter how bad I want it to. I love being a missionary and I am so grateful to the Lord each and everyday for giving me the calling to represent Him as His servant in Korea.
I hope you all had a wonderful week and continue to have a wonderful week! I love each of you and miss each of you dearly but I know that this is exactly where I am meant to be as I learn and grow each day valuable experiences that are preparing me for the rest of my life. I love being a missionary. I love this gospel. I love my Savior. I love my Heavenly Father. I love Korea. I love you all! Remember to just do it and that your sacrifice is what is sacred to the Lord!
Love,
드리스콜자매
Sister Ciarra Jean Driscoll
Well sorry that I am emailing a little late today! This week we will be going to the temple so our P-day is actually switched to Thursday so we had an appointment after studies today which caused us to email late but we are emailing now so that's what matters! How is everyone? I love hearing updates from my family about all of you! (Jordan & Emily Congratulations, Houston so cool you are going to Tacoma and Permann boys you rock!) Just want you to know how much I love you and appreciate all that you have done for me! I wouldn't be the person I am today without each of your influences so thank you and I thank my Heavenly Father for putting you into my life.
This week was just another great week! I think it was a big week of learning and change. The mission so far has been struggling a little with finding and baptizing since the new year started and in Zone training we got the whip cracked on us a bit but it was great! I took it as the greatest opportunity to turn to the Lord, repent and change to be better. That is what I love most about the gospel of Jesus Christ is that it invites change and through the Savior and His atonement we can change.
Now is the time to change and become better. Just do it! That is Sister Matamata and I's new motto! JUST DO IT! Throughout my mission I have found myself questioning my thoughts or feelings wondering if it was me or the Spirit but I learned as it says in Moroni 10 that if it invites to do good it is of Christ and if it is of Christ then it is not going to hurt anything. So my commitment to myself is to not only trust the Lord but trust myself and JUST DO IT even if nothing comes out of it immediately! I love this new outlook and it has already changed the missionary work I am doing here in Korea. I was reading in my Preach My Gospel the section on successful missionary and D&C 117:13 was written next to the passage. I turned to it and found this "...for his sacrifice shall be more sacred unto me than his increase..." That line hit me so hard and I realized that the Lord sees each and every one of our sacrifices that we put forth and He treasures them so we have to just do it so that we can treasure those sacrifices and see us putting our effort in for Him.
Our appointments were great this week! One specific one was with our investigator named 정주영. She was a member referral from 곡반정 ward and she is just the cutest ever. We meet with her each week at a member’s house and it's been so fun. We always have such a party. She is warming up to the gospel but we are trying to figure out how to get her to want to learn and act. That always seems to be the trick in missionary work but the relationship we have built with her is great. We walked to the bus stop with her and I was just linking arms with her singing away! She taught me Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in Korean and then she sang "Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket and never let it fade away" with me! It was a fun memory and I am just so grateful for her love and for the opportunity the Lord is giving me to love her.
We also met with 장미정 this week. We retaught the restoration and invited her to be baptized but found out that her husband really doesn't like the fact that she is coming to church each week so that's a curve ball that was thrown at us. She is thinking smart though and just says to continue meeting and changing then as time goes on her husband will see the change that is taking place in his family and will desire to learn so our focus now can be just getting her really converted by living the commandments and noticing the blessings that the gospel brings through actually living it. She didn't come to church this week though and just a little worried because she hasn't answered our calls our texts but all we can do is continue to show her love. She is still the biggest miracle of my mission.
I went on exchange with the Sister Training Leader this week and what a party that was. Sister Shin is also from New Zealand and we came to Korea together. We actually were friends on Facebook before the mission too so yeah I just love her. But while out proselyting on Saturday we stopped at a park and played tag with 4 little girls for at least an hour! It was the best ever and a great time to just have fun! The Korean children are just so adorable. They made us promise that we would go back next week and play so hopefully they will be there because I am going back.
Sister Matamata is improving and we are just having fun here in the land of 곡반정. I learned alot about her and I just want to tell you how amazing she truly is. Since being on my mission I have truly come to understand that everyone comes from different backgrounds but yet we are all here united in purpose showing our love to the Lord and experiencing our own journey of conversion. That's what I love about my mission is that it is MINE. No one in the whole world has served my mission and what a blessing it is to say that I am serving a mission representing my Savior Jesus Christ in Korea. I was reading in D&C this morning and found some verses that I loved that stressed how great this experience really is. In D&C 42:11 its says "Again I say unto you, that it shall not be given to anyone to go forth to preach my gospel, or to build up my church..." This opportunity isn't given to everyone and I am just realizing that which then leads me to D&C 36:5 "...embrace this calling and commandment..." I am here as a missionary in Korea embracing and cherishing each moment because as time goes by I am realizing that it isn't going to last forever no matter how bad I want it to. I love being a missionary and I am so grateful to the Lord each and everyday for giving me the calling to represent Him as His servant in Korea.
I hope you all had a wonderful week and continue to have a wonderful week! I love each of you and miss each of you dearly but I know that this is exactly where I am meant to be as I learn and grow each day valuable experiences that are preparing me for the rest of my life. I love being a missionary. I love this gospel. I love my Savior. I love my Heavenly Father. I love Korea. I love you all! Remember to just do it and that your sacrifice is what is sacred to the Lord!
Love,
드리스콜자매
Sister Ciarra Jean Driscoll
Monday, March 2, 2015
Letter - 3/1/15
Dear Family and Friends,
Well it's March and here in Korea the weather is becoming warmer, the sky is becoming bluer and the sun is just shining away. I am so excited for the spring this cold weather is getting old! So this past week has been great and I just love being a missionary.
I have recently been reading back on my old journals from my missionary experience and it is so crazy to see the growth that has happened in this time that I have spent serving my Savior. One year ago I was writing about how I was struggling with not being the missionary I thought I needed to be. How I wasn't "perfect" and I was beating up on myself and not taking the advice that my dad has always given me "be kind to yourself." Well since that time I have really worked on that and learned to have faith that everything I am doing truly is the Lord's will for me. I can say now a year later that I have learned that the Lord doesn't expect me or you to be perfect but He does expect us to be clean and worthy and to do our best and to have faith in Him. As I realized that, I knew that was something I could do! I can't be perfect but I can be worthy! I can do my best! I can be me! I can have faith in my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ! It's amazing to see that growth now as I read and notice the change that has happened within myself. Because now I can see that change and feel it within my heart. I would and will recommend this experience to anyone and everyone. Being on a mission has truly been the greatest decision that I have ever made and because of the things that I have learned, the testimony that I have gained and the relationship I have built with my Heavenly Father and Savior all the things that come along with missionary work and life in general have been and will continue to be worth it!
This week Sister Matamata and I were planning on being very busy but ended up with quite a few cancelled appointments but we made our time effective and continued going forth with our best effort. Sister Matamata is just amazing! I am continually learning from her and her example. We are both so different and have different backgrounds but we are here in Korea in unity as we strive to bring others closer to Christ. She is so great and full of so much love and no fear. We were going about proselyting this week and I was helping her practice what to say and finally I decided that she had enough practice and saw the perfect opportunity for her to start a conversation so I encouraged her to take it. Well without any hesitation she said hello and stumbled through her Korean script but did amazing! I was there of course to help her out but she truly amazing me with her willing heart. She is working so hard with the language. I love serving with her.
During one of our times that we needed to change plans due to a cancellation and turned the planning over to Sister Matamata for that time and asked her what we should do, where we should go and who we should talk to. She stood at the map and after about 5 minutes said "let's go here" pointing to an area on the map. I said "Okay! Let's go!" So there we go out the door searching for guidance from the Spirit. I let her lead the way and she says "lets stop at each corner and see how we feel and then determine which way to turn." I loved the idea! She is amazing so there we went walking in the area seeking the direction from the Spirit. As we walked we talked to people and served people then our last turn we took we found not a new investigator but a member of our ward and the minute she saw us was just jumping for joy. She immediately took us in for ice cream and we were able to have a wonderful time with her. I loved seeing it because like I said although we weren't guided to some golden investigator we were guided by the Spirit to meet up with that member and have a joyous time with her. It was great with Sister Matamata to build that relationship not only with the member but the Spirit also.
Right after our ice cream fest we had an appointment with 장미정 and it was so great! We showed up at her house and sitting on her table was a Liahona, Primary Children's Book and a triple combination of the scriptures! What? Yeah her sister 장옥순 from my last area gave it to her! So amazing! We taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ and were planning on giving the invitation to be baptized but as we prepared and planned I continually had the thought of praying about the Restoration. As we met she asked us what she had to do to prepare and if she had to meet with anyone to I guess you could say qualify. Well that immediately turned me to the baptismal interview and the questions involved in there. I turned to my planner and Sister Matamata and I explained each question. She said that all of them are good but the second regarding the Restoration and Joseph Smith seems to be hard. Right then and there I knew that is what our commitment needed to be. I asked her to free her from that concern to pray to our Father in Heaven about that question so that she could understand more about the restoration. She agreed. Sister Matamata then testified in her broken Korean that she knew she would receive an answer if she truly wanted to know. At the end of the lesson I realized that I had invited her to pray but I had never heard her pray outloud so I kindly invited 장미정 to say the closing prayer. She was hesitant but after some pondering and thinking she called upon her Heavenly Father in the most humble prayer. During her prayer I felt the spirit so strongly and when she closed I know that she felt it too. It was beautiful and I cannot thank my Heavenly Father enough for allowing me to have those opportunities to see His children kneel humbly before Him and speak with Him.
This week I ended up actually doing a lot of study on prayer. I know with all my heart that our Heavenly Father hears our prayers. Do you want to know why? Well I feel President Uchtdorf says it best "God cares about you. He will listen and He will answer your personal questions. The answers to your prayers will come in His own way and His own time and therefore you need to learn to listen to His voice." Heavenly Father loves us and is waiting for us to call upon Him so He can answers our prayers. He requires us to take that first step of faith though and then once we have done that He expects us to get on our feet and go to work. The power of our prayer depends on us and our prayers for guidance will only be as effective and our efforts. When this type of prayer take place both parties speak and both parties listen. It truly become a conversation. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have had to learn from a very young age to call upon my Father in Heaven in prayer and trust that truly whatever is important to me is important to Him.
I want to thank each of you for your love, support and prayers in my behalf. I truly know that the growth that has taken place within myself wouldn't have happened without your prayers, love and support. I am truly grateful. I love and miss each of you so much but time is going by fast and cherishing the moment is my focus at the time. I just want you to know that I know this church is true. That Heavenly Father loves each of us and has restored Christ's gospel to the earth today through the prophet Joseph Smith. I know that Christ lives and is by our side at all times as long as we invite Him there. I love this work. I love being a missionary and I love serving in Korea! Have a wonderful week! Remember that God hears your prayers and answers them one by one!
LOVE YOU!
Love,
드리스콜자매
Sister Ciarra Jean Driscoll
Well it's March and here in Korea the weather is becoming warmer, the sky is becoming bluer and the sun is just shining away. I am so excited for the spring this cold weather is getting old! So this past week has been great and I just love being a missionary.
I have recently been reading back on my old journals from my missionary experience and it is so crazy to see the growth that has happened in this time that I have spent serving my Savior. One year ago I was writing about how I was struggling with not being the missionary I thought I needed to be. How I wasn't "perfect" and I was beating up on myself and not taking the advice that my dad has always given me "be kind to yourself." Well since that time I have really worked on that and learned to have faith that everything I am doing truly is the Lord's will for me. I can say now a year later that I have learned that the Lord doesn't expect me or you to be perfect but He does expect us to be clean and worthy and to do our best and to have faith in Him. As I realized that, I knew that was something I could do! I can't be perfect but I can be worthy! I can do my best! I can be me! I can have faith in my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ! It's amazing to see that growth now as I read and notice the change that has happened within myself. Because now I can see that change and feel it within my heart. I would and will recommend this experience to anyone and everyone. Being on a mission has truly been the greatest decision that I have ever made and because of the things that I have learned, the testimony that I have gained and the relationship I have built with my Heavenly Father and Savior all the things that come along with missionary work and life in general have been and will continue to be worth it!
This week Sister Matamata and I were planning on being very busy but ended up with quite a few cancelled appointments but we made our time effective and continued going forth with our best effort. Sister Matamata is just amazing! I am continually learning from her and her example. We are both so different and have different backgrounds but we are here in Korea in unity as we strive to bring others closer to Christ. She is so great and full of so much love and no fear. We were going about proselyting this week and I was helping her practice what to say and finally I decided that she had enough practice and saw the perfect opportunity for her to start a conversation so I encouraged her to take it. Well without any hesitation she said hello and stumbled through her Korean script but did amazing! I was there of course to help her out but she truly amazing me with her willing heart. She is working so hard with the language. I love serving with her.
During one of our times that we needed to change plans due to a cancellation and turned the planning over to Sister Matamata for that time and asked her what we should do, where we should go and who we should talk to. She stood at the map and after about 5 minutes said "let's go here" pointing to an area on the map. I said "Okay! Let's go!" So there we go out the door searching for guidance from the Spirit. I let her lead the way and she says "lets stop at each corner and see how we feel and then determine which way to turn." I loved the idea! She is amazing so there we went walking in the area seeking the direction from the Spirit. As we walked we talked to people and served people then our last turn we took we found not a new investigator but a member of our ward and the minute she saw us was just jumping for joy. She immediately took us in for ice cream and we were able to have a wonderful time with her. I loved seeing it because like I said although we weren't guided to some golden investigator we were guided by the Spirit to meet up with that member and have a joyous time with her. It was great with Sister Matamata to build that relationship not only with the member but the Spirit also.
Right after our ice cream fest we had an appointment with 장미정 and it was so great! We showed up at her house and sitting on her table was a Liahona, Primary Children's Book and a triple combination of the scriptures! What? Yeah her sister 장옥순 from my last area gave it to her! So amazing! We taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ and were planning on giving the invitation to be baptized but as we prepared and planned I continually had the thought of praying about the Restoration. As we met she asked us what she had to do to prepare and if she had to meet with anyone to I guess you could say qualify. Well that immediately turned me to the baptismal interview and the questions involved in there. I turned to my planner and Sister Matamata and I explained each question. She said that all of them are good but the second regarding the Restoration and Joseph Smith seems to be hard. Right then and there I knew that is what our commitment needed to be. I asked her to free her from that concern to pray to our Father in Heaven about that question so that she could understand more about the restoration. She agreed. Sister Matamata then testified in her broken Korean that she knew she would receive an answer if she truly wanted to know. At the end of the lesson I realized that I had invited her to pray but I had never heard her pray outloud so I kindly invited 장미정 to say the closing prayer. She was hesitant but after some pondering and thinking she called upon her Heavenly Father in the most humble prayer. During her prayer I felt the spirit so strongly and when she closed I know that she felt it too. It was beautiful and I cannot thank my Heavenly Father enough for allowing me to have those opportunities to see His children kneel humbly before Him and speak with Him.
This week I ended up actually doing a lot of study on prayer. I know with all my heart that our Heavenly Father hears our prayers. Do you want to know why? Well I feel President Uchtdorf says it best "God cares about you. He will listen and He will answer your personal questions. The answers to your prayers will come in His own way and His own time and therefore you need to learn to listen to His voice." Heavenly Father loves us and is waiting for us to call upon Him so He can answers our prayers. He requires us to take that first step of faith though and then once we have done that He expects us to get on our feet and go to work. The power of our prayer depends on us and our prayers for guidance will only be as effective and our efforts. When this type of prayer take place both parties speak and both parties listen. It truly become a conversation. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have had to learn from a very young age to call upon my Father in Heaven in prayer and trust that truly whatever is important to me is important to Him.
I want to thank each of you for your love, support and prayers in my behalf. I truly know that the growth that has taken place within myself wouldn't have happened without your prayers, love and support. I am truly grateful. I love and miss each of you so much but time is going by fast and cherishing the moment is my focus at the time. I just want you to know that I know this church is true. That Heavenly Father loves each of us and has restored Christ's gospel to the earth today through the prophet Joseph Smith. I know that Christ lives and is by our side at all times as long as we invite Him there. I love this work. I love being a missionary and I love serving in Korea! Have a wonderful week! Remember that God hears your prayers and answers them one by one!
LOVE YOU!
Love,
드리스콜자매
Sister Ciarra Jean Driscoll
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