Time is Flying

Time really is flying by!  I have been here two months in just a couple more days crazy!!

First news of the day.  Today was transfers and I got two new companions!  We're all pretty new here!  I am super excited to work with them!  We will have to study the language a lot, and will have lots of adventures trying to communicate with people.  I am very scared to be the one that has to get us places and know all the members, and investigators, and all that good stuff but I know there's something Heavenly Father wants me to learn from this!  I can't wait to see what it is!!

A brief overview of my week for you:
Monday, we went to gyoungju world--an amusement park an hour or so away from is!  It was super fun--about the size of lagoon.  We went on this one ride where you all sit in a circle and the thing you are sitting in raises up and bounces around. You're not belted in or anything.  My comp couldn't hold herself down and her legs flew in my face a few times.  I have a nasty bruise from where I hit my arm a few times trying to hold on.  So that was kind of awful but the roller coasters were fun.  Definitely took a Tylenol PM before going to bed though because I was so dizzy!!

Tuesday, we visited a referral from one of the members.  We taught her once before, and she now is thinking she wants to be Buddhist.  We are going to keep visiting her though.  We then had dinner with a bunch of the moms who bring their kids to our english class which was fun.  They are all super nice! 

Wednesday, we went to this old lady's house for dinner.  She is a less active member.  We ate rice and food I think had been sitting out for a few days, then she fed us this juice that was tomato and melon, but I'm pretty sure it was super super old and fermented because it was basically carbonated.  Discusting.   I thought I was going to die.  Good thing my stomach has learned to be nice and strong!

Thursday, we had dinner with a new American family that moved into our ward.  The dad is working here for one of the oil companies as an engineer.  They have 5 little kids who are crazy, but so fun.  She wants to have us over for dinner every week so that will be super fun!

Friday, we went to lunch with some members, and then my comp packed and explained the area to me.  Nothing too exciting.

Sunday, we had church (of course).  Our crazy ward mission leader was watching the Dodgers baseball game while teaching gospel principles.  Don't worry. 

Today, we went to Busan for transfers and I got my new companions!!!

So another fun week!!!!  I am a little frustrated because we don't have any solid investigators right now, but we are going to work really hard and try to contact lots of people this week!!!

This week, I have been trying to focus on putting off the natural man and become more like the Savior.  I love studying in the Book of Mormon about all the prophets examples, especially Nephi.  He had so many chances to give up and be like his brothers, but he stayed strong and did what the Lord asked of him!!!!  It really is so amazing!!!

Seriously the last 6 weeks have flown by, but so much has happened!  I didn't really understand how people said their missions went by fast, and I still don't really understand how it happens, but its happening!!!  I go to bed physically and mentally exhausted every night, and wake up still tired but so excited for all I get to learn and teach the next day!  

So weekly report quick:

Monday, we went and visited one of our former investigators who dropped us, but we're still visiting.  She owns a restaurant (korean fast food--aka rice, spam, eggs, dumplings, etc.  I'm learning to tolerate eggs.  And spam.  Weird.)  and then taught her about repentance and forgiving yourself.   She doesn't believe in Christ, but knows that the gospel can help her family.  Her daughter was baptized like 3 years ago, but isn't active.  Obviously there's lots of work to be done there so we're just trying to do as much as we can and leave the rest up to the Lord!

Tuesday, it was SO HOT!  Imagine like how hot it is at home, then add humidity.  Actually, you've probably been checking the weather here.  I sweat all the time. Its disgusting.  But everyone else does do and who do I have to impress anyway?!   We had lunch with a member, then visited one of the less active members who we visit each week (I've told you about her before--the one who speaks English) and talked about Christ appearing to the Nephites.  I just pray we are helping her faith grow, even if it is just a little bit at a time.   Then we had English class with the crazy little kids.  I always have so much fun, even it if takes the end of the energy I have for the day haha

Wednesday, we had district meeting!  I didn't have to teach at all which was nice.  Just got to listen. We talked about families which is one of my favorite topics of course!  I'm convinced I have the best family in the entire world.  I'm sure you would agree!

Thursday, we had training meeting which was awesome.  President and Sister Gilbert are so amazing!  It was everyone that came to Korea at the same time as me (ok 4 weeks ahead of me...but I just jumped right into where they were!)  and their trainers.  Sister Gilbert taught about intelligence, knowledge, and understanding.  I guess Elder Bednar has a book about it.  One of my favorite things she said was how when it talks about grace in the scriptures, it means the enabling power of the atonement.  The next day, I studied this in my scriptures, and am honestly amazed how much I learned.  I took a picture of what I wrote in my journal and am going to send it to you.  It's too hard to summarize... haha  Then I had an interview with President, and he just asked me how everything is going.  I said awesome of course!  It is so neat to hear how much he loves the missionaries, and would seriously do anything for us!  Don't worry--I'm in excellent hands here!  

Friday, we went to lunch at a member's.  She is in school for English (it's like if mom were to go back to school and major in Spanish, or Korean, or German haha)  and I helped edit one of her papers that she has to give as a speech at one point.  It was really fun for me because I got to bond with her a little bit.  I am starting to really love the members here.  It's hard sometimes because its hard to connect with them, but I do the best I can, and ask Sis Choi to translate some of my questions for them!  

Saturday, we went to lunch at another members house and I ate so much food.  We had meat (which is like 50% fat here and its totally normal.  i try not to think about it) and then these noodles, and then potatoes and i don't even know what else. Delicious, but so much food.  Then we had English class again.  I learned its really hard for Koreans to say the word "pearl".  Sister Choi and I have been working on it hahahaha Then we went to visit a former investigator who the sisters before us taught--she's like 75 and her house is far away, so we hadn't ever gone, and they dropped her (not exactly sure why--all the progress records are in Korean).  So we were going to find her house and this old lady came up to us and asked if we were missionaries! We said yes, and then it happened to be the lady we were going to visit!!!  Just another miracle from Heavenly Father!  He is watching over us! 

Sunday, we taught our investigator who is supposed to get baptized next week!  (She is like 17 and her mom and brother are members...her dad is too but very less active).   We still have a bunch of the commandments to teach her this week, and I'm just praying we can get it all in.  Sis Choi thinks we can though, so I'm just trusting her!  I will update you on that next week!!!  So exciting!!!  Then we went to try to find the house of a referral we got, but it was literally in the middle of nowhere. I will send a picture. It was slightly hilarious. We called her, and she wasn't even home.  So we took the bus back haha.  Then we went to the church on our way home to grab something and we turned on the light and there were like 2 cockroaches in the hallway!!!!!  We both started screaming.  So I grabbed the spray to kill them from the janitors closet and there were a few more in there along with a bunch of little bugs!!!!  I told my comp she was the Senior Companion so she had to kill them (yes we were screaming this entire time) and then they were just really fast and it was really gross and we just grabbed our stuff and left.  We told the elders they have to go kill them.  And that the branch needs to get an exterminator.  Gross.  It's kind of hilarious now though.  Then we came home, and I ate oreos with peanut butter and milk and was happy again haha.  

I got the letter you sent this week with President Uchtdorf's talk about light!  Perfect timing!!!  I got it at training meeting, and it went along really well with what we talked about!!!  So I have studied a little more about light as well, and emulating the light of Christ.  I loved Romans 13:12 that says, "let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light."  So.  We need to get rid of all the darkness in our life (sins, disobedience, etc.) and then be strengthened through Christ.  When we do this, and try to spread his light, we will have literal armor that is strength and power against Satan!!  It is conditional, however, on our obedience, and service to others.  We need to hope and have faith that we can do all things through him!  I love it!!!!  

I love you all so much!!!

Thanks for all you do!!!

Em