Sept. 30, 2008

Joshua's letter was dedicated personally to his father this week; thus, no blog post today.

However, he did inquire about the college football rankings (BYU is currently ranked 7th or 8th, depending on the poll). GO BYU COUGARS!!!

Joshua also recommended a talk given by Elder M. Russell Ballard entitled "The Miracle of the Bible". http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=e4a1b5658af22110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1

We will keep you updated in the coming weeks, as he receives his flight plans to depart for Korea on Oct. 13.

(By the way, postage for a first class letter to Korea is 93 cents. ^^ )

Updated Address for Korea

Thank you all for writing such fabulous letters and emails to Joshua while he's been in the MTC! Every missionary lives for mail time!

Elder Bocchino will leave the MTC for Korea on 10-13-08. After that, letters and/or packages should be sent to the mission home in Busan, Korea:

Elder Joshua Bocchino
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints
Korea Busan Mission
Dongnae PO Box 73, Busan-Shi
607-600, South Korea

The Post Office has flat rate boxes for mailing to Korea. We just mailed one yesterday and will see how long it takes to get there (we anticipate weeks but who knows?).

Thank you for the support you've given to Joshua while he has been in the MTC. He continually expresses his appreciation for your sustaining influences and encouragement in his weekly emails.

The Bocchino's

Getting Closer To "Irene!"

To everyone:

Hello! It's week..........8 or 9 here at the MTC (or "empty sea" ^^) That's a Korean smiley face: ^^. Only 2 weeks and 6 days until our departure for Han-gook! One thing I've noticed since coming here is that all of the Koreans I've met have been very nice, funny and intelligent people. I'm so excited to touch down in Korea and spend two years among such a delightful people. The young men are so rowdy and hilarious! The Koreans are a very honest and direct people who, thus far, have been a pleasure to work with.

I've had the great opportunity to teach Koreans here about the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their native tongue. It's been wonderful to begin fulfilling the Lord's commandment for us to take the gospel to all men, that they may hear it preached in their native tongues. Amazing.

I constantly strive to live worthy of the Lord's Spirit so that I can receive the Lord's help in obtaining His word and this language. I love you all and am ALWAYS thankful for your love and support.

Elder Bocchino

WEEK 8 IN THE MTC !!!

Hey everyone!

I'm on "week 8" here in the MTC!!!! The new missionaries are settling in and starting the process of pretending to learn Korean! (just kidding) It makes me feel smart when they come to me with problems. Little do they know that I know almost nothing about this amazing Asian language.I've had two opportunities to teach gospel lessons in Korean so far.

Through these difficult exercises I've gained a testimony of the power of God in this work. I've felt His influence and divine help as I struggled to bear testimony in Korean. I know that as long as I continue to seek out His Spirit I will be able to learn that which is necessary for success.

I'm thankful for your continued support. I love your letters, emails and packages! I keep you in my thoughts and prayers. I know that we are engaged in a noble work which is directed by Jesus Christ. I know that there are people that Heavenly Father has prepared in Korea waiting to hear the glad message of Christ's Gospel. I am so excited to be here and cannot wait to get to the "Land of the Morning Calm" and seek out those who are hungry for the gospel.

Thank you all again. Love, Elder Bocchino

Past Hump Day!

Hello everyone! Greetings from the MTC! I'm now on the downhill slide, as I passed my "hump day" (midway point) last week! New Elders and Sisters assigned to Korea will enter the MTC tomorrow, and I will be expected to help mentor them through their first 5 weeks of learning Han-gu-marr (I'm woefully unprepared!). The weather here is cooling, the leaves are changing, and it serves as a reminder to all of us that we only have 5 weeks before we touch down in Seoul and begin preaching Christ's message to our Korean brothers and sisters. How exciting!

I hope all of you are doing well! I've enjoyed the letters and emails I get from you. Your support and love helps sustain me out here. I'm just sorry that I can't write more. It seems like I'm ALWAYS BUSY!

Thank you all again for your support!

Elder Joshua Bocchino

Week 5 at the MTC!!

(posted late due to some tech probs)

To All:

Hey everyone! Anyeong haw-shoo-mika yourooboon! (Are you all at peace/hello?).

I'm still at the MTC here in Utah. (6-ish more weeks to go). We're all getting excited as each day goes by. The older koo-yokes (districts) of missionaries just left for Korea and the new missionaries are coming in next week. Pretty soon I'll be expected to set examples for and teach the new missionaries.

Last week at Zone Conference, I had the opportunity to give a talk on faith........in Korean. :) It was hard but I was amazed at how the Lord strengthened me enough to bear simple testimony of the power of faith.

To be honest, the most important language we learn here at the MTC is the language of the Holy Ghost. Whether I'm fluent in Korean or only know how to bear testimony of simple truths, the only thing that matters is if the people I'm talking to, my brothers and sisters, feel the Lord's Spirit. If they do, then I know I've proven a useful instrument in the hands of my Father.

I love you all! Thanks for your continued encouragement and support!

Elder Joshua Bocchino