growing up awfully fast

Hello!!

 

Well, I am writing to you much later than usual because...as Mom and Dad already know, I am training!! Wha????! I was schocked. Floored, quite literally. President Gilbert asked if I was sitting down. This is not necessarily due to any skill or virtue of my own, but really, they had no other choice. Typically they try not to have someone "white wash" (move to a new area they don't know well/doesn't have good records) and train at the same time. My companion, Sister Lee Ga Hee, has been in Jin Hae/Pung Ho since she came to Korea in June. So, it was time for her to go, but she is not training in her new area. There are a lot of sisters getting called to our mission and not all that many sisters in our mission. So, as it were, it's me, I guess. Apparently it's some sort of mission record to have a foreigner train after just two transfers. So, here I am. Guinea pig. I am nervous in a lot of ways, but excited in a lot of ways too.

 

President Gilbert asked if I was sitting down when he called, which is always the line to open a can of worms. When he told me I was training I kind of fell to my knees on the kitchen floor and my stomach flipped over once or twice. I think that's how I will best serve my new companion---if I stay on my knees and pray. I told President that I was a little overwhelmed, but that I would get over it. I then said, I'm over it. Ha. Fake it til you make it, as the saying goes. I understand that Mom and Dad were actually in the Gilbert's hotel room in Seoul when they called to tell me the news. Ha. I'm glad you didn't say anything, ha, but in some way it's nice to know you were there. I feel like you're always here with me, especially as we're united in purpose. The Gilberts are great.

 

Anyway, I'm in Busan for a few days on exchanges. Today was exchange day so we brought Lee Ga Hee to Busan to meet her new companion and go to her new area. I will stay with Sister Min Bo Ram and Sister Oaks in Busan until Wednesday/Thursday when we have training day at the mission home. I am excited because I feel it will be fun to be with a brand new missionary. I remember having a huuuuggee sense of urgency. I remember being inside and hearing cars honk and thinking I really needed to be outside preaching the gospel. The honking cars were a reminder that there are souls behind those steering wheels and I really want to help them. In some ways, "old" mission culture has extinguished some of that fire out of me and my mission hasn't quite been what I want it to be. I'm grateful Heavenly Father gives me so many opportunities to start over and grow. It's incredible when I think about it.

 

There are 4 American sisters and one Korean sister coming. I'm hoping for the Korean. We'll see.

 

On Saturday, we had two baptisms---Lee Yeon Jeong and Eu Hae En. They are 14 year old friends. Eu Hae En chose the oldest grandpa in the ward to baptize her. He is a little confused sometimes, so he had to baptize her twice because it didn't go quite right the first time. She was gasping when she came out of the water the second time, because he held her in for so long. When she got in the bathroom she said just loud enough for everyone to hear... "I didn't know baptism would entail someone trying to kill me." Truly the start of a new life, in more ways than one. Ha. They were sweet and shy and a little overwhelmed at all the attention. They will be confirmed on the 27th since Sunday was Stake Conference.

 

I am nervous about our investigators because so many of them are close to Lee Ga Hee and I sometimes wonder if their interest is a gospel interest. But, I know that Heavenly Father is over all, so I will do my best to fill any holes in the right way. With Him I am whole, not a hole. He knows them perfectly. I'm looking forward to the opportunity. If you haven't been praying for me, please, get on your knees. Ha.

 

Charlotte, I saw your friend Ben at Stake Conference. he was nice enough to say hello. He was kind.

 

That's about it. This work is God's work! I'm grateful for Him and for the restored gospel. Wish me luck. Or better yet, pray.

 

Love you all.

Time is up.

 

Julia