Week 3-안양하세요!

안양하세요!

This week a has been good. I ate some dog soup with a member and our investigator. I'll be straight up honest it tasted pretty dang good. Our investigator said he'll be baptized we just need to come up with a date. So he pulled out his pack of cigs in front of us and said, "see these? I want to stop smoking." It was amazing because we haven't even taught the word of wisdom. He is an amazing guy. He is super honest and hard working. I love him so much.

Also there has been earth quakes happening. One night at family home evening were we in a members apartment on the 7th floor and the whole building started shaking so hard it was insane. Then like 30 mins later it happened again. Later a member said that first earth quake was a 5.8. Pretty spooky right? There are rumors that theres going to be 8.0 today but I doubt it will happen. But if it does I know it whats supposed to happen so if my mission turns into a service mission I'll be ok with it.

So a little info on the culture. Korea has a very 90s feeling its awesome. Korea is a mix of 1st world and 3rd world country.

​Finally dog soup! 

For example, there are huge advanced cities but then you go up into the mountain (we have one right next to our apartment that we hike every morning for exercise) its like a bunch of shakes with a bunch of gardens in the middle of the forest. The people who live their have these cages with these mean scetchy looking dogs (you can probably guess whats going to happen to them). For guys it is totally normal to hold your friends hand in public and everything won't look gay or anything. In fact I get my hand held all the time. Its normal to call a middle age man or older you're dad. I always say 안야하세요 아보님! which hi dad! haha super awesome.

Pictures

​mountain dew. not mine haha the way they pronounce it is ma oon tun dyou

Week 2 in Korea 안영하사요!

안영하사요!

This week has been awesome!I I really love our members they are so supportive and loving. So we haven't had any investigators so we have been praying really hard for someone and we received that someone on Saturday. His name is 김왕일 (sounds like Kim Wong ear). So on Saturday we were riding on the bus to go to our English class and we started talking to this old guy and he said that he can see something different about us. We told him we are missionaries.

The man in the white is our new investigator (super swagy right?).
And those are two members that are in our ward. This at church yesterday.

Then he said we have good hearts because we have faith in god. So we invited him to come to English class and he told us to come to his house because he needed to get changed. So we got to his house and talked to him about his family. His son is getting married in China and his wife is their too. He is Korean but he grew up in China all of his life so he speak Mandarin and Cantonese. So we talked a little more then he just suddenly drops his pants and starts getting changed right in front of us hahaha. Anyway we got to the church and he was the only person who showed up to English class because it was 처석 (Korean thanksgiving) so we ended up teaching him the restoration. He was really excepting and he said he was like Joseph Smith trying to find a true church. We also asked him if he would be baptized and he said yes! The next day (Sunday/yesterday) he came to church. The members fellow shipped him and got his number and got to talk to him a lot it was awesome. The members have been really wanting to get involved in missionary work so we are going to bring them to our lessons with this guy.

I want to promise everyone that specific prayers bring specific answers. Don't be afraid in you're prays to ask for something specific or a miracle that's why we have prayer. Our Heavenly Father wants to see us succeed in the right things.

Also this week as a mission on 처석 (Korean thanksgiving) we did a 5k race together. It was really fun. Well not the running part but just seeing new missionaries and also seeing my MTC friends.

​This about half our mission. This was taken right before we ran.

It was really good to see them I miss them a lot. The funny thing is we had hamburgers and hot dogs for lunch. (none of that is Korean food and especially not 처석 food) Also on Sunday all the members we feeling my biceps. I guess Koreans love muscles. So I got rubbed a lot Sunday haha.

Elders Schimbeck and Lunt

​This is my main Elder.... Elder Wong hes the one from Hong Kong. I ran with him for a little while in the 5k.
As you can see I'm dying. 9 weeks in the MTC doing nothing but studying really gets you out of shape.

​For Elder Lunts year mark we made pancakes, bacon, and eggs.
He wanted a little taste of Murica!

Letter and Photo's Sent by the Mission Office

Dear Brother and Sister Schimbeck,

Elder Joshua James Schimbeck arrived in the Korea Busan Mission on 6 September 2016.  Sister Barrow and I had the choice opportunity of greeting your son at the airport and welcoming him to Busan.  Even after a lengthy flight, he is in good health and spirits and we look forward to serving with him.  He is a fine young missionary and will be an asset to the mission.  We have been anticipating his arrival and it was wonderful to finally meet him.  We will care for him as we would for one of our own as he labors in the mission field.  We understand the concerns, hopes and prayers of priesthood leaders and loved ones.  We want each of the missionaries in the Korea Busan Mission to have a rich, growing and successful experience.  Be assured that should a time of special concern arise, I will notify you immediately.

Enclosed are three photographs: (1) a photograph of your son with Sister Barrow and me that was taken the day after he arrived, (2) a photograph of your son with his first companion, Elder Scott Kencaid Lunt from Ferron, Utah, and (3) a photo of all of us.  I have also included two photos from our traditional 5K 10K race, which took place a few days after Elder Schimbeck arrived. Your son has a good attitude and a desire to serve the Lord.  We spent time together and had an opportunity to visit privately in the Mission Home.  We are grateful for his worthiness and for his willingness to serve, and we pray that the Lord will bless and strengthen your family through his service.

Missionary work in the Busan Mission is new and exciting, and our missionaries find great rewards in serving the Lord here.  Elder Schimbeck will learn much about himself, our Savior Jesus Christ and His gospel as he serves with all his heart, might, mind and strength in the Lord's work.  He will come to understand his role as a disciple of Christ. (3Ne. 5:13)

We thank you for your support and ask you to write regular encouraging letters and send faith promoting experiences to him. We know that as Elder Schimbeck works with all his heart, might, mind and strength he will have a most amazing missionary experience.  We know you will experience the miracle that is missionary work through your son's fine diligent efforts.

Packages from home are always welcome and most products will arrive safely and not incur any customs fees.  We have also found that sending packages by international mail is generally preferable to using international courier services such as FedEx or DHL.  Courier packages come to the street address of the mission home and there are times when no one is available to sign for them.  Courier packages are also much more likely to be subjected to greater customs scrutiny, delay, storage fees, etc.  US International Priority Mail is fast and provides several fixed-price boxes that do not have specific weight restrictions.  We check with our post office every day, so if you use the post office box address below, your package will be picked up immediately and delivered quickly and safely:

            Elder (First Name and Last Name)

            Korea Busan Mission

            Dongnae PO Box 73

            Busan 47743

            South Korea

Please feel free to call or write at any time if you have questions or concerns.  Our phone number is 82-051-552-7011, the fax number is 82-051-552-6323, and our email address is 2016850@ldschurch.org.

Welcome to Korea

First week in 한국

안영하사요!
This first week has been crazy! Korea is amazing. I love it already! The flight over here was soo long! It was such a long day. It was never dark while I was on the plane because we were following the sun haha. So my first companion is Elder Lunt he is awesome guy! I am really glad I got put with him because he has such interesting ways of talking to people it makes street contacting really interesting.

I can't say very much so its not as fun but I am slowly growing everyday haha. We are kind of like movie stars over here. People ask us if they can take a picture with us. Its really funny. The little kids love white people they always come and give us high fives on the streets.

My first Sunday was awesome I got to meet the members and they are really awesome and interesting. Korean people are very touch so its normal to see guys hold hands sometimes (mostly old people). I had my hand held by so many old men it was funny. They are all so amazed with my name because 심 (Schim) and 백 (beck) means pure soul/white heart. The member started calling me a angel haha it was funny. My name also sounds very Korean so people are very amazed when I tell them what my name is. So in sacrament meeting I had to introduce my self in Korean. And when I did I said that I played football and everyone in the room gasped in amazement. After that my companion told that a bunch of people said I have a nice body. He said, "I know that sounds weird but it's normal in Korea." The people are really touchy I'm not sure if I mentioned that before (JK I know I did) but this guy that just came of his mission (he is Korean) he was talking to me about sports and my life and we were sitting down next to each other and the whole time we were talking he was rubbing my thigh. It was super weird but comforting at the same time haha. Really am loving it so far here. My area is Jinheh (진해) Its really cool here its a smaller town compared to other cities but big compared to Saint

​Elder Lunt and President Barrow and Sister Barrow.

George.

Note to dad:

Korea is amazing! I love it here already. My companion is Elder Lunt. He has been here for a year now. He is from Ogden, Utah. He is awesome I was really glad I got put with him. The first full day we did a proselyting activity before we were assigned our companions. We proselyted with 4 different trainers. And he was my favorite I really like the way he approached people and the way he represented Christ. The food is interesting but still good. I have already started to grow more. I love you and miss you.

This is a city right next our area in our zone called Masan. Its a bigger than Jinheh.

​We went bowling today with the Masan Elders this is on like the 7th story of a building it was awesome.

These two pictures are Jinheh.

Made it!

Hey I'm just letting you know I made it to Korea. Its pretty crazy. The flights were sooo long but were still good. It is so hot and humid here everyone has been sweating way bad. When we got of the plane it looked like were in a cloud thats how humid it is. I just want to let you both know how much I love you, miss you, and how much I appreciate you're support. Love you I'll email you Monday.

Week 8-Last week full week in the MTC

So this week has been kind of exciting just because we are about to leave! 4 more days until Korea! It's kind of hard to focus because all of us are getting so excited but we keep each other in line.

Oh if you didn't already know the BOM is the best book in the entire world! I'm in Mosiah right now and I have never been this into a book in my life. Abinadi is such a beast! The spirit is so strong when I read the book of Mormon, I love it! So we received our flight plans this week and we are flying to Tokyo then to Korea so that is going to be sooo cool! I got my Korean name tag yesterday so I was so pumped for that! I'll be honest I won't miss very many things at the MTC but I will miss the friends I have made and the teachers that have helped me! It is crazy how you can make close friends in such little time! I am so blessed to be in the Korean branch and be in the district I am in.

​This Elder Youngblood he is in my district
 and stays in my room at residence.

The Korean branch is the Celestial branch. That's what our branch president always says and I believe it! I definitely don't feel prepared language wise but I know god will help as long as I keep trying and have faith just like how in Mosiah when the Laminates capture Alma and his people. And because they had faith and kept praying even though they were threatened to be killed if they did.  They were released from their hands.

Largest MTC Branch

​My new name tag. 

​Here is the Elders in my district.
I am going to miss them so much they are all my best friends.
It feels like I have known them my whole life

​So I found out that my name sounds Korean because 벡 (beck) is a last name in Korean.