Dear Fam,
The weather is finally warming up a little. Its great to take our winter coats off and just wear a sweater and thermals under our suit coats. We are still teaching the web programmer. We taught him the plan of salvation and he loved it. He kept having these “aha” moments. It was great to see how every time we answered his questions things would click for him. The trinity was his first question. With every principle brought a new question followed by an answer that just wowed him. As we read alma 40 together, he saw that it talked about more than one resurrection. However, he’d always been taught there is only one. So we turned to a few scriptures in the new testament that clearly talk of a first and second resurrection (revelations). At the end of the lesson he was super excited and wanted to keep going but be had to go home. We set a baptismal date with him for the 15th of March. One of our other investigators (with a baptismal date) has not drunk for 2 weeks. It’s a miracle. He feels he might get laid-off because of it but he’s holding to his convictions for now. He visits N. Korea once a week doing construction business and said he would bring us something back. The big talk lately has been about N. korea moving missiles into the d.m.z. My companion, in the event of the emergency sirens going off, has to return to his base within 10hrs. We home it doesn’t ever come to that. We try to stay out of politics and news but it is very interesting to live in a country where the enemy lives next door. I’ve learned a lot about N. Korean life style. My Korean is still progressing but it’s always a slow process. One word at a time, but still growing nonetheless. My companion is quite an amazing person. His required military service duty time is full of interesting stories. He recently shared one that should be published in the ensign. As a part of the ceremony when you receive a big promotion, you are required to drink in front of everyone (a toast) . So in front of 200 soldiers his commander handed him a wine class and poured him some liquor and everyone chanted for him to drink – waiting so they could drink their own glasses. He stood their under pressure thinking and 1 nephi 3:7 came to his mind – the lord will provide a way. So he told his commander he was mormon and couldn’t drink. His commander, surprised, took the glass and surprisingly drank it himself. My comp. walked off the stage in shame with everyone silent and watching. His unit leader then followed him out and took him to his office where he beat him. Kicking him in the shins with steel toed boots and slapping him repeatedly. He was punished with toilet cleaning duty for one month during his break time. He also received teasing and beatings from the older soldiers. However, after a few weeks no one asked him to drink or smoke anymore. He never got his promotion. He said it is more important to obey god than man. He told this story to our alcoholic investigator and the investigator has not drunk since. The Koreans saints face tremendous opposition. Living the gospel is no easy thing here. People sacrifice jobs, social lives, money, promotions, and other things to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel is worth paying a price for because the Savior has paid a much greater price for us. We must hold to the rock and remember who we are (Hel. 5:12). We are from divine heritage. I am so grateful to serve with and among these saints who give up so much. The change of a heart is a miraculous and special event. It is a blessing to be able to see. I love you all.Elder Britsch
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