Hello!
An eventful week, family wide--Nick's birthday, Mom and Dad's
anniversary, Minnie's birthday coming up, Ladi and Bob back to SLC, Char
ready/not ready for the baby etc. Thanks for the updates.
We just finished hanging around at the beach near the airport. I
love the ocean. Every time I see it here in Korea, I gasp and
say "ocean" in Korean. I can't help it. It was beautiful as usual. My
camera is having big time battery problems so the memory will live on in
my heart, I guess. There is a big basalt rock formation that is (sort
of) in the shape of a dragon. It's supposed to be good luck to make
wishes there. Call me a cynic, but I feel like everywhere is supposed to
be a good place to make wishes. I guess that's true. I'm grateful for
the opportunity to have aspirations and the faith that they can become a
reality wherever I am--Jeju Do rock formations or in small town Logan,
Utah.
We've been on a less active member search this week. We found
Sister Kim at the Japanese restaurant where she works and, suprisingly,
she warmly invited us to talk. Understandably, she was bewildered at
how, exactly, we had found her. Little does she know that Mormons are
quite good record keepers...ha. In spite of being a little creeped out,
we had a good discussion with her and shared a message about enduring to
the end. She can't come to church because she has to work. She is the
only one who joined the church amongst her family and that makes things
difficult too. She never really understood the Book of Mormon very
well, so without that foundation, I'm not sure she really knows exactly
what the church is about. Anyway, she said we could come back again some
time. It is rare to be responded to that way, so we were pleasantly
surprised, but will be more pleased if we can find a way to help her
come out to church again.
This week, Sister Yoon, shy as she is, got her first contact on her
own. She couldn't believe it. She was smiling the whole day. It came
through knocking doors at an apartment building. It was a teenage boy
whom we wanted to invite to "friendship night" at church. He agreed to
give us his information. Sister Yoon looked like she wanted to cry, she
was so happy. I think the only time missionary work isn't fun is when
we're not working hard, because honestly, nothing happens. I was glad
that Sister Yoon got to see even a small fruit of hard work. When the
"impossible' happens, it brings great hope to one's heart. I want to see
her that happy all the time.
Our ward mission leader's mother in law passed away this week and
it kind of consumed the ward a bit. I went to a sort of Korean funeral
(apparently the language barrier is still in force). It was set up for
people more with Buddhist beliefs, but it was interesting. His mother in
law was not a member of the church, but the stake president came and we
all knelt as he offered a prayer in front of a giant picture of our
ward mission leader's mother in law and a table with candles and a
table with plates of fruit on top of it. 5 minutes in and out. It was
at the hospital and then there was food afterward on the 3rd floor. I
didn't really know what to expect, but it's interesting to eat longer
than celebrate someone's life, but that's what happened.
Finding here is certainly different than Daegu, but it's kind of
fun to try and figure out a new area and what's going to work best. If
we can't find the people who actually live here on the street than we
have to pound the doors of their homes. So, that's what we've been
doing. We have high hopes for a new investigator this week. We taught
Sister Go, but she was deathly afraid of me so I think she said 10 words
the whole time. Still working on that. Maybe I'll pluck my eyebrows
this week and see if that improves matters. They're getting a little
unruly and if I ran into me in a dark alley I might be nervous too.
Anyway, I feel really lucky to be blessed with something beautiful
to see around every corner. Jeju is Korea's best attempt at quaint and I
am certainly an appreciator. It fills up my heart to see the beautiful
things we get to see. I think after long days it's Heavenly Father's way
of telling us He's still there. I know He is. I'm grateful to be here
and grateful for the opportunities, big and small, I have to tell people
what's written in my heart. It's interesting to see how much
differently people respond when you use your heart instead of your head
alone. Something I'm still working on, but I know it's God's way.
Dad-- hope you survive upcoming transfers. I'm sure it's really too
challenging. You are really always on the move, aren't you? Get some
sleep if you can. Your description of your missionaries, those who are
obedient and not, is apt. I've seen it in my own work and in the lives
of others.
Mom-- thanks for the mail and the update. It was fun to read your
stories about driving in the crazy streets etc. Glad you're back to full
health. Hope you have a good week!
Nick-- hope you had a good birthday. Time is flying. We are both getting so old!!
Meg-- hope you had a good week and ate something delicious (I suspect Mexican food..?) for Nick's birthday.
Char-- keep that baby in there until she's ready to come out.
thanks for the mail and the honesty you're well known for. i think it's
hilarious. love!
Matt-- sounds like you are living solo a lot these days. hope the olympics are keeping you company. are they still going on?
Ladi-- good luck with the upcoming drive. sounds like a beast! back to SLC. tell minnie happy birthday from her favorite aunt.
Bob-- glad to hear you're still playing soccer and enjoying your time with the latin people. have a good drive back to UT.
ahhhhh. Love you all. Until next week!
Love,
Julia
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