The Office

The Office - no this is not the TV series with romance, silly bosses, revenge and talking to a camera to tell your story.  The office is where we serve to do the behind-the-scenes work of missionary work.  We hear about the work of the elders and sisters as they proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We try and help and encourage them as they serve The Lord.  This post shares our daily walk to the office, our duties, who we work with, and feelings as we serve.

This is the street outside our apartment  we walk down and then turn left at the corner.  On the left is Ogeum Park.  

 

Macheon-ro is the street that we walk along for about 2 city blocks.  Much of the time it takes us to walk to the office is spent waiting to cross the street.   There was a button on the light pole that we would press thinking it would help change the lights so we could cross sooner.  When pressed a nice lady's voice would speak Korean.  It really didn't seem to effect the cycle of the signals

When the green walk signal came on you could hear it chirping on both sides of the street.  We noticed the people would look at us rather strangely.  Well be figured out that the button is for the visually handicapped--no wonder we got strange looks; we obviously are not blind. 

On the way we pass a traditional Korean dress shop.  They are so pretty and the fabrics are lovely.

Just down the street a little bit is the Eel Restaurant. Sorry I really don't like to look at those creatures swimming around the tanks of water so I took the picture from across the street. 

This is looking down the street to the corner where we turn to the right to head for the church building.

All the trees along the street are Ginko trees.  Below is one entrance to the church. We use this one almost every day. 

Here is the side door to the building.  We have been weeding around the building and planting some hostas.  In the spring we want to plant some begonias and impatents. 

The church building is the meeting place of the Songpa Ward, the mission office, the mission president's residence and an apartment for the Assistants to the President, the Office Elders and a set of proselyting missionaries.  Below is the front entrance.

Behind the building are apartments and a bath house.  On one side is a coffee house and on the other a wine seller.  Across the street is a dress store and office building. 

This sign is outside the office door. Beginning with the words Jesus Christ, the first two lines are the name of the church.  The third line says Seoul South Mission.

This is what you see when you enter the office

Elder Groesbeck has his own office.  He handles the financial maters.  He pays bills, handles the banking which requires some writing in Korean, manages the vehicles, makes sure the missionaries have money on their debit cards & finds new apartments.  Elder Groesbeck keeps us organized and helps us make sure we stay on top of all the tasks to get ready for new missionaries and move into apartments. He also  serves as the executive secretary for the mission presidency.  

The map on the wall is of the Seoul South Mission and shows where apartments and church buildings are located.  

Sister Groesbeck has a desk in the main work area.  This area is shared with the Assistants to the President and the Office Elders.  She gets items ready for new missionaries & keeps a file on each missionary. She prepares reports, agendas for staff meetings, lists of incoming and departing missionaries and general office work. She is the first  person to greet most visitors, even if they prefer to speak in Korean.  The missionaries have discovered her sewing skills, so she frequently gets to exchange mending tasks for a smile and heart-felt gratitude.

 

The Office Elders handle the ordering of supplies, moving missionaries, translating for meetings, taking care of visas and foreigner cards.  Here are Elders Baldwin, Jeong  and Kim.

The Assistants to the President help the president in many ways.  They do training, conduct the weekly staff meeting & work with missionaries when problems arise.  They are always busy and very diligent in their responsibilities.  Elders Witt and Elder Woo are pictured below. 

We also help with the English classes.   English classes are a service we provide the community. There are different class levels.  Some are learning basic grammar & vocabulary.  Others speak the English quite well and want to learn colloquial American, phrases, increase vocabulary and hear a gospel message.  Last Saturday Jackie was talking with a class member about her trip to Africa.  She had gone there on a church mission.  Jackie enjoyed her pictures of the African wildlife.  Jane started talking about seeing nature and the beauty of it throughout the world. She asked if we were able to go outside of Seoul.  "Sure we can!" was the reply, so she said that she would like to show us a lovely place and would like to take us next Saturday.  She then said to Jackie "We can be friends".  That was a special moment to Jackie, that this good person wanted to be friends and all that it implies. 

Serving in the Mission Office is chance to see how revelation and inspiration works to help missionary work go forth to all of the world.  No, we may not be out everyday proclaiming the gospel to the people in the streets but we have the opportunity to share our testimonies with the people we labor with.  In the English classes we often can testify of the blessings of the gospel.  

It has been a wonderful opportunity to learn to recognize opportunities to help others, from helping a lady carry groceries, giving shelter under and umbrella during a rain storm, smiling to the women on our street and just plain enjoying the opportunity a making new friends in a foreign land.  We have also been on the receiving end of service, something we are not used to.  Church members have helped by translating during classes, finding a place for hair cuts, buying groceries, teaching us how to use chopsticks and giving cooking classes.  Jackie was invited to accompany a group of Relief Society sisters as they went to the hospital to visit a sister who is caring for her 80 year old mother. We are blessed as we serve The Lord by loving his children. We hope and pray that they too will embrace His Gospel.