Good morning everyone!
So, to clear things up, the standing Buddha we were able to see
last week was luckily 33 meters tall instead of 3 meters tall. That was
quite the relief. It was really incredible to see and we were grateful
we went. To give you a little taste of Sister Wallace's personality,
this is the prayer she offered that night verbatim: "Dear Heavenly
Father, thank you for letting us see the giant Buddha today. It was
really really awesome, even though it is idolatrous and an abomination
to you." Ha. Today we are actually going to an amusement park (WooBang
land). I know I know, we seem like party missionaries. I am of the
belief that we have to take the opportunities given us. Hopefully we
will have fun.
Thank you for writing. Sounds like SLC was fun this last week and
that the Guam folk got to hold down the fort a little bit. Also, Grandma
and Grandpa, thank you for writing to me! Grandpa, it was especially
nice to hear about some of your mission experiences and to partake of
your good will and encouragement. I so appreciate your love and support.
Hope everyone's travels this next month go smoothly.
As for Sister Lee's baptism....a few days before her dad said that
he wanted her to learn more and to know more for herself about the
church before she got baptized. So, it hasn't happened yet. Her grandma
is actually the person in opposition. The good news is they haven't
opposed it indefinitely. The door is still open to continue teaching her
and Sister Lee was really disappointed it wasn't happening like she
thought it would be. We have a few ideas about how to help her sooner. I
think we often expect people to have a perfect understanding of the
church before they get baptized and in so doing we diminish their
righteous desire and, albeit new, maturing faith. I hope we will be able
to find solutions this week or at least in the next few weeks. It was
hard news to take in, but we'll wait with patience and pray with fervor.
Sister Lee had to cancel our appointment just an hour or two
before, which was also disappointing, so we did some contacting in front
of Keimyeong Dae Hakkyo (a neighboring university). It was fun. We had,
as always, a lot of abrupt and awkward introductions and conversations,
but we were able to meet some really cool people who may have interest.
They are all very busy, but I think early 20s is a good time to find
people--they can make their own decisions, they are thinking a lot about
the future and what they want from life, and they will listen to us
because we are around their age. I think we will spend more time there
this week. Yesterday we also spent time at a giant park (Duryoo
Park) right across from WooBang Land. On Sunday afternoons it is like a
walking conveyer belt of people. I think it will be a fun place to talk
to people as well.
Sister Wallace is putting herself out there in Korean, which is a
great way to learn, but it also yields some fun/funny results sometimes.
On the subway the other day she asked someone if she had ever seen Sam
Gyeob Sar (three layer flesh/fat ((a Korean traditional meat)) instead
of Seongyosa (missionary) like us before. It was the cause of some
laughter. Also, at a restaurant she was trying to tell the owner that
because she ate all the food she would become fat (Doong Doong Ha Da),
but instead she said that she would become (Dong Dong Ha Da). That
second word just happens to be poop. So, we've laughed a little this
week.
Good news yesterday. Sister Yang, a sister who served at the Temple
Square mission 10 or 15 years ago but has become less active in the
church, came to church with her whole family! Her husband is not a
church member and this is the first time that many of the members have
ever met him. We were able to share a message with her about the temple
and eternal families about a week and a half ago at her home. I can't
tell you how happy we were to see her come through the door. I hope we
will be able to continue to strengthen her.
Anyway, things are going along. I will be able to call you, Mom,
for Mother's Day. I will do my best to find out if it's possible to call
on Sunday the 13th instead. I'm excited to talk to you!
Mom and Dad-- safe travels coming up! Love you and I will talk to you (real live voices) soon!
Nick and Meg--hope you're well. Miss you. Scoping out all the
Korean babies and planning to send you one soon. Really. Somehow they
are infinitely cuter than any other infant.
Char and Matt-- safe travels. I'm glad to hear you had fun! Hope the trip is going well. Love you. Thanks for the one liner!
Ladi and Bob-- you are on the move! Hope it goes well. I will keep you in my prayers. Have fun in CA and in Hershey.
Love,
Julia
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