The time is fast approaching, yoraboon

Hello hello!

 

Guess what, everyone? I'm going to Korea in six days. We got our travel plans this last Friday. We leave Aug. 29th (Monday) from the MTC at 10:00 am. Our flight leaves from SLC at 2:00 pm. I think it is the same flight that we took to Tokyo. From Tokyo we will jump on another plane and go to Busan. Dad, I concur. It feels like I have been here for an eternity. Sister Brady and I often inadvertantly say "on our missions______will happen." Oh yeah, we're already on our missions. Although I have been here for a long time ( about an eighth of my mission, to be exact), I have enjoyed my time. In some ways I feel like my mission is over and I will just be going back to SLC. Au contraire.

 

I have taken a lot of heart in the fact that this is not my work. If I rely on Heavenly Father I won't be afraid to talk to anyone. On page one of Preach My Gospel it talks about our missionary purpose and how we pass a lot of people on the streets. I am realizing that it is not my choice who has the ever so sought after privilege of talking to me, but rather it is my responsibility to share the message I have with as many people as possible. I am excited about that. Even in my stumbling Korean, I am excited. At the MTC Relief Society meeting last week, Sister Sharon Eubank spoke and quoted her friend who said that: "Every person I meet holds vast potential and undeniable identity--I don't dare dismiss them." Me neither.

 

I am sad to see Sister Brady go, since we have become friends and we work well together. In a lot of ways switching companions makes sense. Heavenly Father is big on fresh starts. All those weaknesses I had with Sister Brady, any of the habits I got into that I wish I hadn't, those can be overcome as I seek to serve with someone else. Granted, they may also be further exploited, but the optimist in me is doing her best. I highly doubt I will have another companion who likes basketball...so for this reason among so many others, I am sad to see her go. I'm happy we're in the same mission though.

 

I've actually gotten back in to basketball here more than I have for the past five years. It has been really fun. Yesterday I spent our gym time trying to break the MTC female free throw record--45 in a row. I didn't know the rules of record breaking, but surprisingly I eventually got 62 in a row. Who knew that 5 years off would improve my free throw ability so much? Mani mani songshin (much much spirit), I guess. Unfortunately I learned that a member of the gym staff has to be watching and that you can only try to break the record once per gym period. With a staff member watching I missed after 12. Go figure. Sister Brady mentioned that it was funny that we're given a companion and instructed to stay with them partially so they can testify for us in a court of law, but at the MTC gym, a companion's word is not good enough. Oh well. Fun anyway. Two more days to give the ol' record a run for its money.

 

I guess that's really it. I'm really excited to go! Thank you for your support! I know I'm in the right place--what a blessing to know that and to feel the truth of the gospel resound in my heart each day.

 

Dad: I can't believe I didn't give you a shout out last week. So sorry. Your consistency is as the waves of the sea...leave it to me to leave you out. Rude. Thank you, as always, for your words of encouragement. I'm glad you feel like I've been here a long time too. Somehow that is twistedly comforting. Ha. I love your advice and stories. It sounds like the work progresses in the Micronesia area. Glad to hear your sitting on the floor every now and then. I'm also glad Mom will be back with you this week!

 

Mom: Thank you for your detailed account of the goings on this last week--it's certainly the most clued in I've been. I loved every second of it. Safe travels back to Guam, if you hadn't made it back already. It's apparent you were a great blessing to Laura this last week.

 

Nick: From all accounts it sounds like you did a great job at Michael's funeral. Is this your correct email? If not, shout out to the Nick I accidentally sent this to...

 

Megan: Thank you for your e-mail. So nice to hear from you and your hilarious side comments in written form. I love them and you! Leave it to you and your family to come forth in shuch a display of caring, knowing the right people and performing the simple services that really helped bring Michael's funeral together. I wouldn't expect anything less.

 

Charlotte: I will send back the temple names this week. We weren't able to do two of the male names because a Korean sister has a lot of family names and our zone has been helping her out.  When do you move? Also, does Elder Hansen ring a bell? He said he served in Ulsan when you guys moved. We taught him at TRC last week. It was actually pretty fun. His Korean is quite good, as far as I can tell. He says hello.

 

Matt: I hope you are doing well and there is not a lot of new job/pre-move anxiety.  I'm sure you'll do well, as always.

 

Laura: Thank you for your letter in spite of being busy and tired. Your side of the whole giving birth experience was quite enertaining. Thank you for that. I'm glad you and Minnie are recovering well.  Remember your promise to whisper to her every night: "Julia is your favorite aunt." Let's endear her early, shall we?

 

Robert: You are a busy man these days, no? I'm sure you are doing great. How is school/fatherhood? All in a week's work, I guess.

 

Grandma: Thank you for your e-mails! I love hearing from you@ Will you send me your address? I misplaced it. Love you!

 

Oh yoraboon (you guys), the next time you hear from me I will be in Hanguk (Korea)!

 

Sarangheyo,

Julia

of life and death and newness in all things

Hello family!

I don't have much time left because I spent some time reading your emails. Thanks, Charlotte for the update on everyone's life--especially Michael's funeral and the big news of Minnie Isabella Collard! Congratulations to you, Ladi and Bob! You will make incredible parents. I'll be honest, the computer screen is a little blurry because Charlotte's notes about Michael and attached pictures of Laura holding the baby have reduced me to tears. My companion probably won't know quite how to comfort me when this is over, although she is learning to just let me be until I work it out myself...ha.

Well, it sounds like there was a lot more to talk about at home than there has been here at the MTC. This week we got one native Korean sister and four native Korean elders. I haven't gotten to know the elders all that well, but Sister Kim is staying in our room, and like the other Korean sisters I've met (no surprise) is really fun and cute. I just don't think it's going to be possible for me to be as cute as these Koreans. The good news is I will just be myself and hope for the best. That's all I can do.

While playing frisbee with Sister Kim, she told me that in Korea, frisbee is only for dogs. She kills me. Comments like this all the time. She also said that big dogs are for eating and small dogs are for pets. Ok. Perfect. I'm surprised Lucy didn't go missing in Korea. Sister Kim is going to Seoul and is from an area in the Busan mission. Today at the temple she got curious and walked up to one of the flowers inside and pinched the petal--she had to know if it was real. It was too cute.

Sister Brady is great. She is really eager to learn the language and not afraid to make mistakes. I have learned a lot about her in that regard. As some of you who are closest to me know, I can be a little bit worried about making mistakes. It turns out that being afraid of what might happen when we make simple mistakes, like butchering how to say something in Korean, really puts a damper on the happiness we can have. In the end, the more willing you are to make mistakes, especially in the language, the quicker you learn. Sister Brady is the best at this. We had made Sister Kim's bed before she got here. When she arrived, she asked Sister Brady whose bed it was. Sister Brady had thought she had asked who had made the bed. She confidently responded that moden saram (everyone/all of us) had made the bed. Sister Kim's face was priceless. It may have been the best two seconds of my life. Complete shock...is this some weird American tradition? Ha, once it was cleared up we all laughed and laughed. I pretended to say goodnight and crawl into her bed.

So I'm out of here in just under two weeks. I'm grateful, but I'm beginning to realize the spiritual feast that is had here at the MTC. I won't have much of that, at least not in the same passive way I've had, out in the mission field. We hear from general authorities weekly, and sometimes bi-weekly. We are surrounded by others who are focused on what they've come to know is true and we're buoyed up by one another. We have experienced teachers who know what the spirit is and how to feel it and let it teach us. I am excited to serve the Korean people, but I've come to love the MTC as well. To every thing there is a season, right? I know that in two weeks time (and occasionally even now) I will be ready to go, to see, experience, and share what I've learned in the great big world.

I'm glad to hear Michael's funeral went well. He is/was the best. There is some sort of relief when you realize that those around you have come to that knowledge too. I love him and I'm glad so much of the family was able to be there.

Ladi and Bob---I couldn't be happier for you! So glad Minnie has arrived. She and I can reminisce about our births someday---c-sections....wow. Laura, I don't know how you did it. I hope they drugged you up enough so you weren't worried about it. Such an amazing experience, I'm sure. Keep me updated when you feel well enough.

Mom-- I'm glad you were able to be there. I meant to send you a letter, but now it will not get there in time. Will you send me the address of the mission home in Guam?

Nick--So sorry I forgot the paper with your e-mail address on it so you will once again have to read this by other means. I won't forget next week. Thank you for the letter! I'm sure you did great at Michael's funeral--according to Dad's and Charlotte's accounts you really did. Love you.

Megan- Hope things are going well! Miss you so much.

Charlotte-- Thank you for the email! I have some of the temple names and will send them ASAP. Good luck with the move!

Matt-- Hope work is good and the move isn't too stressful!

Love you all!
Sarangheyo!
Sis. Julia Mecham

less than 3 weeks now...

Hello dearest family!

Thank you for your letters this week. I am sad to hear about Uncle Michael, but glad that he was able to have Greg with him when he left this life. It's hard to imagine. I haven't really processed it yet. The closest I get to doing so is reading your expressions of sadness, your memories and faith. I'll be honest--that letter I wrote him when I received word he wasn't doing well was one of the hardest things I've ever had to write. How do you bid farewell to someone who has been in your life so consistently? That said, I am grateful for the impression he has had on my life and that I was allowed to associate with such a good man. He will be missed. I will send my Michael memories before the funeral. Mom, I'm so glad you received permission to go to the funeral/help with Laura's baby. Travel safe if you're not there yet.

Things here are both slow and fast. We got a new sister from Korea today and four elders from Korea. It is always fun to be around the real deal, if you will. We are now teaching "progressing investigators" in Korean two times a day. I completely endorse this new curriculum. I have probably learned more about Korean, the spirit, and teaching to needs in this last week than my entire time at the MTC. It is incredible. I still get frustrated sometimes and doubt my abilities, but it's coming. Of course I still want to be good at it immediately, but when I'm humble Heavenly Father shows me my progress in simple ways--ways I've come to treasure. I'm looking forward to going to Korea.

Thought you might enjoy this. As promised, here is the English translation of the way the first vision is structured in Korean:

I my head directly above sun compared to even more bright light pillar saw and that light pillar gradually came down rested and me to enveloped. That light me above stayed when I wirtten words with express cannot brightness and glory having two people me above air middle in standing thing saw.  That middle one person my name called as me to spoke (spoken semicolon): "This my loving son is since His word listen" said.

Pretty twisted.

I have been studying the New Testament, particularly the way that Christ teaches. In so doing I reread the story of Christ walking on the water and then, Peter asking to be able to do so as well. I began to wonder what the water that we're walking on might be. After a closer reading, I decided that the water that we're invited to walk upon might be our doubts, fears, and weaknesses. These things we normally feel we're swimming in can become a surface to be elevated upon when we focus on Christ. It is interesting that as Peter begins to sink it is because he is paying attention to everything around him, instead of Jesus Christ: "But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.  And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and cuahgt him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" When we begin looking down at our feet, we watch our step, we see our weakness, and when we see who we are without Jesus Christ, without that focus of helping others and helping Him, is it any wonder we begin to sink? I love Peter because he is such a hopeful type of ourselves. Even though he sometimes doubts and even denies Christ, Christ is still incredibly merciful and allows him to see and experience marvelous things. Christ is transfigured before Peter and even entrusts Peter with the keys of the kingdom on earth. Ultimately it is his faith in Jesus Christ that prevails. He is certainly someone to learn from.

In other news, I discovered that I have met one of my MTC teachers before...when he was a missionary IN KOREA! Which means all of us who made the trip to Korea met him. Charlotte, I took those business cards to class that you sent me because I remembered that one of my teachers had served in Busan and wondered if he had served with the elders whose cards you gave me. I showed them to him and he asked where I got them. I told him about you and how you had lived in Ulsan. He asked what your last name was. I told him and he said, "Charlotte and Matt?! They're the best!" Does Elder Wells ring a bell? We then figured out that when we ate dinner on your Relief Society President's roof it was his last day in the mission and he had received special permission to come say goodbye to some of the leaders in the Ulsan area. I was recounting that it was someone's last day...and then we put it together. It was YOUR last day, Brother Wells. I remember meeting him in the dark on the way down some shady stairs as we were leaving the dinner. What a small world. He said you were the greatest. He talked about how much he loved Lincoln. You and me both, brother. He also said that Matt would take them to get really good Korean food--that sounds just like Matt to wine and dine 'em. He also said that a minor miracle occurred with you guys. One Fast Sunday he was really craving broccoli chicken cheese casserole. When he went to your house...BOOM...broccoli chicken cheese casserole. You are so in tune with the spirit. He says hello. I like him a lot and am shocked to realize that we had met briefly before.

Dad: I hope you hold up the Guam fort well while Mom is gone. My love to you. I love hearing from you. Your little pearls of wisdom are often enclosed in bits of humor and I really appreciate it.

Mom: So glad you can come home for a minute. Love you. Thanks for your letters and thoughtfulness. It is really inspiring to hear the stories of your missionaries and experiences. It reaffirms the desire I have to serve.

Charlotte: Can't believe you're still alive!! Thank you for that package. It was a dream come true. I was dying both of fear and laughter reading that note. Lucy is so ignorant to the great sacrifices you make for her.

Laura: Where is the baby? Glad you could go to Mikey's wedding. Love you, thanks for your letters always.

Megan and Nick: much love to both of you. It sounds like you were a great source of support in Michael's last few days.

Bob and Matt: hello!

Sarangheyo!

Julia

27 days to go...

Hello all ye who read this word,

 

First off, a big thanks to those of you who help me set the district record for most DearElders received in one day. (8 yesterday). It was quite the feat.

 

Oh my goodness. We are in the actual month of my departure. I think I'm going to throw up. In actuality I'm both very nervous and very excited--much as I was to come to the MTC. I'm sure it will be great. Somedays won't, but it will be a good experience. We had someone come speak to us a few weeks ago who told us that a mission is the most wonderful awful thing you can do. I had previously been calling it the worst best, but I guess his saying trumps mine. Our branch president, President Shin, has some really great parables about life sometimes. He told us that we'll always be greenies. As soon as we get comfortable here in the MTC, we get sent off to a foreign country and realize our own smallness once again. My favorite line from this analogy was: "President Hinckley: big dog here, when he pass away, greenie again." President Shin is incredibly humble and hilarious. He also admitted a mission is hard and difficult. He described two experiences to which we compare our mission. It is up to us. As a parent of teenagers we can get frustrated they are not home on time, we wait up, we are upset with them, things aren't going the way we would like them to. Or, as a parent of a baby who keeps you up all night, crying, in need of the basic functions of life, we are admittedly tired, but when the baby smiles for those 15 or so seconds at 2 in the morning, it makes the rest of our missions worth it. Our joy will outweigh our frustration. I hope I can see it that way. Laura, you'll have to let me know how accurate his description is as Baby Collard makes her grand debut.

 

We have six new elders and six new sisters this week. One elder and one sister are going to Busan. They all look fresh and young and inexperienced. They are inspiring though because they have such a desire to be here and a vivacity as a result of the gospel.  One sister from Mongolia, Sister Gumparev, received her endowment today in Mongolian at the Provo temple. It was cool. The Book of Mormon was translated into Mongolian just ten years ago.

 

 6 weeks is 6 years here, I swear. Well, at least the first 6 weeks. The next four are going to fly by, I know it. Next Wednesday, the Korean elders and sisters, who will fly to Korea with us, arrive at the MTC. This is getting hauntingly real, but I'm looking forward to it.

 

Turns out Korean is still difficult, but it is coming. The hard thing about Korean (and perhaps other Asian languages?) is that there are three to four "forms" you can speak in, depending on the amount of honor you wish to bestow upon the recepient of your words. We are only taught high form, here in the MTC. Essentially, it's like talking to everyone like they're you're grandpa (Love you, Grandpa!), even when they are your same age. When we talk with Koreans our age or the investigators we have here at the MTC, they speak to us almost completely in middle form. The best way I can think to describe it is like learning Pig Latin just as you are learning to form sentences in English. It really does make it a very different sounding language. It will take some getting used to.

 

This week we memorized The First Vision in Korean. I wish I would have brought the direct English translation, so you could get a better understanding of just how different the grammar structure is between English and Korean. The verb doesn't come until the very end of the sentence. It makes for a much more climactic interaction. "I...interest...your church....very....strongly...(YES!)..........NOT HAVE." I have been surprised, though, at the power I feel even when relating The First Vision in a language I don't really understand. I didn't have it completely memorized for our lesson last Saturday and spent much of it trying to remember. Paul Cha Mai Nim, another sister in my district, had been working extremely diligently at it this past week and had an overwhelmingly spiritual experience with it. Both she and her investigator were brought to tears. It was a testament to me of the importance of the message of the restoration, and the ability to look someone in the eye and mean it even when you don't quite know what you're saying.

 

As of August 1st, we are on a new program here at the MTC. We teach two times a day in Korean to our "progressing investigators." This means less structured class time for things like Korean. It requires greater personal accountability, which is a good prep for the mission field. That said, I haven't always been a great goal setter. Somehow I managed to graduate from college without this essential skill. I have learned a lot about how to focus my time and efforts more productively here. Overall, I think the change is a good one for the MTC. I am excited about it.

 

I don't understand how I learn so much here, and more than that, how I really don't have words for what I've learned. One scripture that I've been particularly impressed by is Helaman 3:35:

 

"Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, een to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God."

 

I love the idea of growing stronger and stronger in humility, through humility--something that takes submission of all things, admission of our need for help, to the depths of what some may call weakness. But I know it is not.

 

Ah, things are good and time is short, as per usual.

 

Nick and Megan--will you send me your address? Glad you got to move back into your house!

 

Chucky--new address soon? Have fun in UT. I loved your pictures and the letter(s). Tell Lincoln to hold down the fort on "Posion" till I come home. Also, great date night story!

 

Ladi- gracias for everything again. The pics were a real hit. People cannot believe that's me.

 

Mom and Dad- keep up the National Geographic adventures, can't wait to hear more. Sounds like things are going well! Thanks for your consistency.

 

Kacie B! Congrats!!! England is lucky!

 

Saranghayo, yoraboon!

 

Julia