a real novel this time

Family!!

 

I love you. Thank you for your letters, as always. In my opinion, they are the highlight of p-day. I appreciate your stories and wisdom. I need them, in a lot of ways, so thank you again.

 

This week has been a pretty good one. We (I, especially) am working on getting back on the fired up finding boat. When I let my insecurity bind me I really am hurt by the pain of regret much more deeply than the pain of rejection or hard work. So, every morning is kind of like the bus ride to a basketball game, except this time I'm listening to hymns and praying really hard and trying to remember new Korean phrases that might spark interest in the gospel message. This week I have vowed to not sit down on the bus so I can walk around and talk to everyone. I find that when I sit down, it's over. Maybe I can talk to that one person, but it seems I never get around to anyone else if that conversation dies. Unfortunately, as sister missionaries, in our mission we are no longer allowed to contact men because it gets so complicated to meet with them again. In some ways it is really hard to be restricted like that, but in some ways it shows me exactly who I need to talk to.

 

Anyway, we were able to teach some lessons this week. Most of them went pretty well. I pitch in my simple sentences every now and then, along with my simple testimony. I am working to bring more convincing power to those words, no matter how simple they may be. The spirit is the real teacher. The sincerity and piercing affects of it really bring people around (including me) quickly. When I'm worried about stumbling, I absolutely stumble. When I am worried about other people I have seen much more success. I love the verse in Alma 34 that says that as soon as we repent, whether it be of selfishness, or negative thoughts, the plan of redemption immediately comes into effect. I have felt that over and over.

 

This week we had seven investigators at church. It was really great! Many of them seemed to like church more than they expected to. There were four 14 year old girls there, a 15 year old girl whose friend is a church member, and two 18 year old boys. With all these young people we doubled the youth Sunday School class. Sister Lee is a master multi-tasker and kept everyone comfortable and happy. As I've mentioned before, everyone in Korea is very very busy. Students go to school all day, then they have Hagweon just an hour or two after school and then they study more. They get home around 10 or so and probably study a little more. Most adults work 12 hour days. Koreans value their families very much, but with the way the culture is, they really don't get to spend too much time together. Sundays and Saturdays are usually the only two days people can meet, so we are very busy on those days. The hardest thing with the youth is obtaining their parents' permission to be baptized. We will see.

 

Speaking of culture, the other day as we were saying hello to everyone we pass, I began saying hello to this grandpa. I got as far as "Anyeonghasay--" Oh. Right as I said, "oh," I realized he was just urinating right there on the street. I guess that's as good a place as any. It broke the routine, anyway. It has also been raining here quite a bit. People will still ride their bikes in the rain, but they also carry an umbrella in one hand. This makes for some pretty precarious situations and hydroplaning. Koreans hate the sun, so they carry parasoles. Koreans also hate the rain because they think the acid rain will make you go bald. So, if I come back bald because I played the part of a skeptical American, please love me anyway.

 

We have a baptisimal service on Friday. It is the baptism of the grandaughter of a member of our ward. Her mom is not a member, but she is a sweet little tomboy girl who reminds me of myself a little bit. We have one more lesson to teach her this week. She is so smart and sweet. We're hoping some of our investigators will come.

 

One of the 14 year old girls, Bo Hee, is obsessed with Waygookeens (foreigners). We really can't have much of a conversation, but she just stares at me and says how pretty I am. I guess just being different than the norm is enough to deem you pretty around here. Other girls in the ward said I look like Emma Smith from the Joseph Smith movie. Thank you. I have also been told I look like Hermione, from Harry Potter. I wish. Ha.

 

Anyway, yesterday after church we talked with Bo Hee and her friend Yae Bin about baptism. We have only taught them the first lesson and only briefly talked about baptism. We showed them the picture of Christ being baptized by John the Baptist. We also showed her the baptisimal font. Bo Hee said she wants to be baptized. When we asked why, she said she wants to say sorry to Christ and Heavenly Father. I asked her why she was sorry and she said just that she has made a lot of mistakes.

 

It is interesting how innocent and pure many of the Korean youth are. I feel like none of my 14 year old peers thought the sweet, child like way that so many of those I have met think. Maybe they are too busy to get into much trouble. I am impressed, anyway.

 

I have realized that my lack of language is extremely limiting to how effectively I can help people. So, this week, I am rededicating myself to language study and prayers for the gift of tongues. It's not just going to come. I have to put in the labor. I'm looking forward to it. The other night I spent the better part of the night swatting at a mosquito who thought it might be fun to drink deeply from every pore in my face. This is a nightly occurance, by the way. I thought about all that time I racked up focusing on something that really wasn't all that important and how it caused me to lose an entire night of sleep. I really don't want my mission to be that way--whether it's my own weaknesses/fears, a companion I don't quite understand, lack of language ability--if I spend my time, my conversations, my energy focusing on those things I will never be the missionary Heavenly Father needs me to be.

 

I have been comforted by a Neil A Maxwell quote:

 

"God does not begin by asking us about our ability, but only about our availability. And if we then prove our dependability He will increase our capability."

 

So here's to showing Heavenly Father I believe His promises through being dependable. It will be a good week!

 

Mom and Dad-- Wow! Work in Micronesia sounds incredible. I am so happy to be united in this great work with you and love hearing how fired up you are about it. We have to be. I am learning much from your examples of faith. Go break those records!

 

Nick- Thank you for your letter! I loved hearing your stories. Glad business as usual (parties, Mac stories, and ESPN) press forward. Thanks for your insight. Glad I won't miss an NBA season. Ha.

 

Megan-- Hope work and fresh baked french bread are still happening. I have made a conscious effort to put my rain coat where it belongs in people's houses after your story...ha

 

Charlotte-- thank you for the updates. I hope hosting goes well. You always were a party animal and never let anything stop you. If there's a will there's a way, and it seems that with you, there is always a will.

 

Matt-- Hope you are still the new sherriff in town. Keep at it.

 

Laura-- Minnie must be keeping you busy. I hope she is being good. Remember your nightly duty of endearing her to me. Hope HTML is not working you over too much. Missed you this week!

 

Robert-- Hope school/work are still going okay. Can't wait to see what you've done with the house. Ha.

 

Grandma-- Thank you for your letter last week. I have included you on the email list. I love hearing from you. You have a wonderful way of commentating the present and the past all at the same time. I love you and Grandpa!

 

Ah. At the end of the day I know who I am. I know I am a daughter of God and that He loves me and He loves all His children. I am happy to be in Korea, in spite of my weakness. It is good to be weak. It keeps me humble. Very very humble. Ha. This is God's work. I know it.

 

Love,

Julia