Monday, May 27, 2013

JUNE 3!!

Well I finally have a date--JUNE 3!!!!  I could not be more excited, and relieved to know when I am leaving!  Now I have a busy week ahead of me really working on Korean and brushing up on the Preach My Gospel lessons.  It will be nice as I pack this week to be able to go through what I had at the MTC, and see what I really want to take to Korea.  Of course, I'm also excited to eat all of the food I know I will miss for the next 16 months...Cafe Rio, Hires, Diet Coke, Slurpees, etc.  

It has been really fun to be home with my family and spend time with them doing different things.  I have also had a hard time because I've been a little in no man's land--I've tried to follow my missionary habits, while being released and still doing other things.  Overall, however, has been a great experience for me.  I have loved skyping Sister Park, one of the teachers at the MTC, who has helped me SO MUCH!  I know I still have lots to learn though, and can't wait to totally immerse myself in the Korean language and culture NEXT WEEK!!!!!!!

Monday, May 20, 2013

Another Monday

So I guess that as it is Monday--the day most missionaries write home and have a new post on their blog--I should add a little something.

I went and saw my good friend Dr. Hill again today and he said everything looked pretty good and that I would be good to travel on Thursday or Friday!!!  Aahhhh!!  Mini panic attack!!!  I'm not ready for things to change that soon again--I already had to deal with that once!  Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on how I'm feeling at the moment), the people I talked to at the MTC said I would be home for 3 weeks-the extra week to make sure I really am good to go!  So I texted my stake president and he said he left a message with Missionary Medical and would follow up with them tomorrow.  So no definite plans yet...which I am still a little bit anxious about of course.  Now that I am feeling better, however, I am finding all sorts of ways to entertain myself. (Don't worry...nothing crazy) I am super excited to go to the temple again with my mom tomorrow.  That has definitely been a highlight of being home.  While at the MTC, every time I got to go to the temple, I thought of how excited I was to go again with my mom when I got home.  I definitely didn't think it would be this soon, but I am grateful for the opportunity, especially because there is not a temple in my mission, and I will probably not get to go while in Korea.  I am so grateful there are so many temples around my home that I am able to easily attend!

I have also been skype-ing a teacher, 박유라 자매, who has been helping me in all things Korean, as well as some scripture and Preach My Gospel study.  It has been so wonderful to meet with her and continue to learn Korean, and more about the gospel and my testimony!

Well that's all for now I guess...short and sweet!!  I will post for updates on when I am heading out to Korea!!

Em

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Tonsils=없어요

Well everyone the tonsils are officially 없어요 (Op-soy-oh, meaning non-existant!)  We (my parents and I) went up to Primary Children's Hospital at 10:30 this morning.  Because I am only 19, they are able to do the surgery there!  And Dr. Hill, my ENT, said that they have better slushees post-op.  I think my parents were glad I could take care of signing my own papers.  So responsible here!  Haha

A nurse took my vitals, gave me an IV in my left hand, I changed into the hospital pants and gown, and we were off to the waiting room!  When we got there, there was a nurse who also went to Busan on her mission in the 1980s!!!  So we talked about it for a few minutes which was very fun!  Everyone kept asking me, "Are you a student?" No... "Well are you working?" No... Then I got to explain the whole situation a few time.  It was interesting to hear different people's reactions.

So we waited there for a few minutes, the child-life specialist came, showed me pictures of the doctor and operating room, and gave me a doll to color.  How presh.  Haha I ended up making her look as Korean as my limited creative skills would allow.  I think the child-life specialist was only like a year or two older than me which was kind of funny.

Then Dr. Hill and the anesthesiologist (can't remember her name) came and talked to us, and I went back!  It was a little intimidating walking into the room with a bunch of nurses asking me questions, explaining what would happen, etc.  I guess this procedure is a little more legit than I thought!  I was expecting a little more like wisdom teeth or something--since its the only thing i remotely have to compare to.  The last thing I remember is one of the drugs going into my IV stinking really badly, and then waking up in the post-op room uncomfortable and crying.  No surprise there!

They brought my mom back, and she has video.  If you're lucky, maybe you can see it.  I accept ice cream as collateral :) I'll post some super attractive pictures with this.  Don't judge.

So the fruit-punch slushees began there (they only had root beer and fruit punch.  Lame!!)  I would drink for a minute, then would just want to sleep.  They gave me some more drugs (bring it on) and then wheeled me into the recovery room.  I watched some solid American Pickers (ok well more listened to it to block the sounds of screaming children around me while I "rested my eyes")  I was scared to fall asleep because come machine would stop beeping as soon as I did so I kinda just laid there for a while.  You have to stay an hour after they give you the last narcotic.  My dad then went and got the car, I made it to the bathroom (with a lot of help) and then they wheeled me out to the car with another slushee and puke bucket in hand.  Fortunately, the puke bucket hasn't been needed yet.

I have felt a little out of it today, but it has been a lot better than I was expecting!  I've eaten lots of soup and ice cream, along with drinking loads of water.  Mary doesn't quite understand why she has to keep helping me to the bathroom, but everyone at home has been great!

I hope and pray things will continue to go smoothly, as it has so far.  I CAN'T WAIT to get to Korea!  My heart is definitely already there with my district.  I know that I will make it there eventually, and just have to trust that the Lord has a plan for me with all of this!!

I love you all and thanks for your love and support!

사랑 해요!!

Em

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Last letter from the MTC

May 3, 2013

Hello everyone!!

This will be my last email at the MTC.  I have loved the last week!  It has been so fun to have some time in class with our teachers where we can talk about the Korean culture and a little of what to expect, since we don't have as much of the language to learn.  It’s been a little frustrating since a lot of my district is starting to check out mentally and are just ready to get there, but we are still all trying our best!

Last night we had the best activity ever!!  So there are a bunch of native Koreans who are going to serve their missions in Korea here again.  There is not an MTC in Asia, so they come here for the two-week MTC stay that is similar to the English speakers.  So last night, we got to practice proselyting (Jun-do in Korean) to them.  They pretended to be people on the streets, and we were missionaries--just like what we will all be doing over the next few weeks.  Sister Scott and I actually did pretty good!  Our routine was first to compliment their dress, tie, shoes, etc. then ask them where they were going, or something like that, and introduce ourselves as missionaries.  We then asked them if they have ever heard of our church or the Book of Mormon, or if they believed in God, then went from there.  Keep in mind this was all in Korean!!!!!  Some of it was a little slow, but for the most part we did pretty well!!  When we were talking to the Korean Elders, we asked them their names, and one said "Brad Pitt" and the other "Jim Carrey".  Then we asked them if we could have their phone numbers to call them again and they said, "no sorry we have girlfriends".  Haha we were laughing so hard and didn't know quite how to react.   I love the Korean missionaries so much!  There are like 15 sisters and 5 elders here right now.  They like to practice their English with us, and we do our best practicing Korean with them, and it all works out!  It’s crazy to see how much we have learned over the last 9 weeks.

So if any of you have talked to my mom you know that I have been sick here and previous to being in the MTC. The doctor has suggested that I come home for 3 weeks and get my tonsils out before going to Korea.  So I will be leaving the MTC probably Sunday night, and then get surgery this week, take a few to recover, and fly straight to Korea after I have recovered.  I am super bummed, of course, but have to apply what I have learned over and over throughout my time at the MTC.  Heavenly Father has a plan for my mission and me.  He called me to Korea at this time for a reason, and even though we may not understand why I have to go home for this, I will eventually.  And if not, I know there is still a reason and I can make the most of this time home!  Get ready to hear some Korean!!  (Ok maybe I'm a little more confident until I actually start speaking.)  Love you all and thank you for your support!!! 

I'm trying to think of some of the great things we have learned from our teachers about Korea!  Oh I guess it is fairly inexpensive to send things from Korea to the US--especially compared to US-Korea rates.  So once I get there, you can look forward to some Korean awesomeness.  They all wear shiny ties, so I'll find some good ones for Josh and Dad.  I'm actually super excited about the food.  Even if I don't love it at first, I know I will learn to.  We'll have to go to the Korean market again on Tuesday or something and maybe I'll be a little more adventurous this time haha.  My teacher has a Korean-English dictionary that is electronic and looks exactly like a Nintendo DS with a keyboard so it will be fun to get one of those.  I'm excited to hear from my district once they get there and get more specifics on what they are surprised about and such.  So exciting!!!!

I think that's about it for now--not too much to report.  I'm sure I'll have lots of stories to tell once I get home!!

Love you all SOOO MUCH!!!

Em