transfer...

Dear everyone,

Well, I was really disappointed this Thursday when a phone call came...it was President Gilbert calling to tell my companion, Sister Cutler, who is wrapping up her third transfer that she would be training a Korean! That meant one thing: I was being transferred. I really feel like Sister Cutler has helped me be the missionary that I need to be and have really enjoyed seeing some of the miracles that we have experienced together. We have a lot of fun, lots of jokes, and work hard. It's the perfect combination, I think. I was disappointed to not have the opportunity to see the progress of those in our area and most especially disappointed to not have the opportunity to serve with Sister Cutler. She is terrified of training, but I learned so much from her example that I know she'll do well.

But...it looks like they're trying to get me ready for island life early! I am going to Jeju Do--essentially Korea's Hawaii. It is quite the coveted location and has been named one of the 7 wonders of the world. I didn't really care if I ever got transferred there or not and I attribute my going there to that feeling. I am excited though. I heard it is incredibly beautiful and not nearly as hot as Daegu. My companion just finished training and her companion is headed home tomorrow. Her name is Sister Yoon and she is from Incheon. She is very very sweet, smaller and shorter than I am. Right now we are in Busan until we fly out to our area tomorrow morning. I wouldn't be surprised if I serve the rest of my mission on Jeju Do.  When it was announced in church that I was being transferred there an audible sigh of envy and delight spread throughout the congregation. I don't think I can really conceive of what is about to happen.

This last week was a good one. We were able to meet with some people we met on the street, which was a miracle in and of itself. I think good things are in store for Joongri area this transfer. Christine, our Catholic investigator who is a very devout Catholic and owns a clothing store, finished the BOM last Monday. We gave her a triple combination (BOM, Pearl of Great Price and Doctrine and Covenants) then and by Friday she had read Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith History, and the first twenty sections of Doctrine of Covenants. She told us that she just likes reading and isn't really interested in joining our church, but we are working on helping her see what a divine confirmation of the Book of Mormon really means. I am excited that there will be a Korean going to serve with Sister Cutler because I think she'll be able to better explain/understand the things that I don't.

We weren't really able to meet with other investigators this week, but we met with a new 70 year old lady, Sister Kim. She has house plants throughout her home and cactii and big grasses on her back deck. Her house smells like fresh rosemary. She too is Catholic. She told us she gave us her number because she saw us and thought about how she might feel if her children were in a distant land and how much she would want someone to care for them. She described how she feels like people are like the plants on her back deck---all different, but beautiful. She pointed out a tall grass and told us that others throw these away, deeming them weeds, but when she cares for it and waters it and sees it grow she feels like it is really just beautiful. She is very sweet that way. She almost kicked us out for not drinking this coffee that is supposedly very good for your health, but she held off. We taught her just a few points of the first lesson and she would not accept a BOM because she would feel "pressure to read" if we left it. Exactly. That's the point of the book. Ha. I hope they will be able to continue to teach her. I so appreciate her kindness though and in many ways hope I will be willing to take people in like that.

Ah. Who knows what the future holds. I have heard that many people who are in a lot of emotional/difficult times move to Jeju Do in hopes to get out of that funk. I hope we can find them and bring them unto Christ. From this last transfer I have learned that God sees and rewards our hard work in His timing and hardly ever in the way we expected. There is always room to improve, and I'm sad to have to go to a new location to do so, but I know that it is God's will. I am excited to implement some of the things I've been able to learn.

I love you all and hope you're well!

Dad--can't believe you haven't gotten your pilot's license yet with all the fiasco. You are the kind to take things into your own hands. I hope you have been able to sleep, etc.  Thanks for your hard work. I meant to tell you that the Donaho's had come and Sister Donaho had called you "a boy scout." Ha. You just get out there, don't you? Also, a week or two ago I received a text message from some Korean guy with you in it...I'm not sure who he was, but we were treated with your face popping up on our phone. It was nice to see you, anyway. Love you.

Mom-- glad to hear you still see your normal as beautiful. I hope things are going well for you. I hope your back isn't hurting anymore. The flight fiasco seems to have caused the most ruckus so far, but I hope that you got to have some fun with the missionaries, etc. Love you and love hearing from you.

Nick and Meg-- glad to hear that things are going well in SLC. Hope you're having a great summer and that work is going okay. Tell the Jarret's hello! Hard to believe it's been so long. Love you guys.

Char and Matt-- thanks for the pics. The boys look great and it's hard for me to believe they can already talk/walk/BIKE! so much. Tell them hello and keep your sanity. Hope the pregnancy is going okay! Love you.

Ladi and Bob-- your time is winding down in PA, right? Make the most of it. I'm trying to do that here too. Love you guys. Thanks for the letters. It's good to hear from you even if it's "boring"--it's news to me! Love you!!

Love,

Julia