Good morning!! Johen Achim Im Ni Da.
We are at the Dong Daegu train station because it is the 2nd week of the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival. Our mission has all received permission to go there today. I was always a little disappointed that I spent 3 transfers there and then would miss the event that makes the town famous. I was pretty excited we could go. It will be fun. My companion, Sister Wallace, on the other hand, is elated we can go. She is elated about most things. Enough for the both of us. Ha. I am grateful I have to calm her down about things instead of try to pump her up. The alternative wouldn't be all that great.
This week we taught 14 year old Sister Lee the Plan of Salvation. I mentioned her in my last letter. Her brother is 20-year old Sean, who recently became interested in the church again and speaks near perfect Harry Potter English (that's really how he picked up his accent---he watched Harry Potter so much because he wanted to talk like them). Their mom has also recently begun attending church again and the Elders are going to try to start working with their dad. It really is what seems like an ideal situation. Sister Lee picks up quickly on gospel concepts and remembers well. During our last meeting she committed to be baptized on April 22 last lesson. We will continue teaching her. Our hope is that her brother can receive the priesthood and baptize her at that date. I think that would be a really powerful experience for their whole family. We are really pulling for it. It is incredible to be a part of the change in people's lives. It is so apparent to me that I have absolutely nothing to do with this work except in any willingness to use my agency to share the message and expect those who are ready will respond to it. I have to remember that.
We still don't know our area very well. It is HUGE--especially compared to my last two areas, but that also makes it fun. It also means there are new people to talk to all the time. Yesterday was Easter and we were suprised how much more of a festivity it was than Christmas. Many people wore traditional Korean Hanboks and were giving out hard boiled eggs to any who would partake. We were standing in front of these ladies probably in their 60s yesterday and started talking to them. They told us we were about a good work and gave us some hard boiled eggs and yoghurt drinks. They just whip these things out of their Korean Mary Poppins bags. It's quite the spectacle. That is how you know you are loved and accepted here in Korea---food. That is certainly the way to my heart. Now that I have been here for a while it has started to become such a regular occurance, but when I really think about it, strangers reaching out to us on the street is such a blessing and a rarity. I am so grateful to be serving among the generous Korean people. They aren't always interested in our message but 95% of the time they are deeply interested in our well-being. Such good hearts here. I can think of very few places where I would be so warmly welcomed and taken care of.
Yesterday we were able to watch conference. It was really good, as always. It is both spiritually uplifting and exhausting, but always much-needed. All of the news was old news, but I was grateful to have the opportunity to watch it--especially because we were able to watch it in English. I especially liked Elder Holland's talk, Elder Evans' and Elder Andersen's talk. It is cool how there are specific answers one can really receive if we go with the heart to receive it.
I was really sad to hear that Ralph Evans passed away. He was such a good man. When things happen so suddenly life's impermanance becomes increasingly more apparent. I am not always pleased with life's circumstances, but grateful for the way they breed perspective if we're willing to see. I hope his family is doing okay.
I am grateful to have heard from a few of you this week. Sorry for the premature email. I may be able to check it a little later as well, so if you feel so inclined, I'd love to hear from you.
Happy Easter! It is Sister Wallace's favortie holiday. He is risen. It's true. Because He's risen, we can be risen also--to a higher plane of thought, above sin, above our old selves, eventual in immortal bodies and up to eternal life. I am so grateful for that knowledge and the magnitude of it. Whenever I forget or lose focus it is this knowledge and reality that gets me back on track.
I love you all!
Dad--thanks for the mail. I'm glad you are still pushing along and always pushing your missionaries. It is good. They need and appreciate it. I promise you that. Get some sleep! Take a P-day!
Mom-- sounds like you were up to your usual frantic holiday schedule. Please don't stay up late to write me. Next week would be just fine! I'm sure whatever it was you made was delicious. I was certainly craving a good Easter meal as I ate my Korean ramen last night. Ha. Love you.
Nick--it's been a while. Love you. Hope you're well. Golf season is in full force now, right?
Meg--hope the post-birthday month withdrawls haven't been too bad. Love you. Still haven't sent my package away, so you are officially guiltless for the tardiness of my package. :) <---gross...i know. i had to. Love,
Char-- hope the boys are holding down the fort. that's probably how it feels sometimes, eh? (Canadaism.) Hope you're well. I think of you often. Love.
Matt-- Hope you're happy and well. I really would love to know when your birthday is. Someone has to inform me. Ha.
Ladi-- thanks for the mail. I sure appreciate it. Did you get my letter I sent a few weeks ago? Thanks for updating me about Kacie. She looks gorgeous and happy. Tell her congratulations from me. Wow. Crazy. Ahhhh. Pennsylvania. That will be such a fun experience. Tell Minnie hello.
Robert-- congrats on the Hershey deal and the new internship. Sounds like fun! Also, thank you for the mail last week. While it was unexpected it made it all the more welcome. Thanks! I hope you're doing okay.
Kacie Barnson-- congratulations!!! Such a big event. Love you. Glad you're happy!
Alexa Hall-- send me your address.
Ashlee House-- send me your address.
Heather Fawson-- send me your address.
Brooke Tarbet-- send me your address.
LOVEEEEE
julia
No comments:
Post a Comment