Hello!
There has been a short break in the most recent typhoon so we got a
call from our leaders about 45 minutes ago telling us to go email and
get home again by 1. Moses parted the Red Sea so I guess, if email is
important enough, a typhoon can be stopped for a few hours. We're
grateful. I'm especially grateful to get out of the house. Although my
past habits may cause you to think otherwise, I tend to go a little
crazy being cooped up all day.
We are safe and although there are supposedly winds at 60km/h on the
way, so far so good. Apparently this typhoon is going to have the
power to flip cars over. Usually it hits the southern part of the
island (Seoguipo) more than it hits us.
Anyway, this week was good. Sister Lee is in her last transfer and not
about to give up. I love her for it. I may or may not have mentioned
that she has two younger siblings also on missions in the Korea
Daejeon Mission. While all three of them were on their missions their
dad suddenly passed away last December. It has been understandably
really hard on their family, but all three of them decided to stay on
missions. It is experiences like this that make my concerns about the
future or past seem really minute. I'm grateful for Sister Lee's
example. Sister Lee was in her last area for just over 8 months. That
kind of a duration can slow one down sometimes and she admits it was
difficult for her. She is grateful to be in a new area and willingly
loving, talking to, and jumping into every assignment we've been
given. It really is awesome to have a companion who is more "senior"
than I am. I have learned a lot about planning and fearlessness from
her. We really believe we can find and teach a family this transfer
and are putting our effort in to do so.
Honestly, this week, the numbers weren't great, but the attitude and
feeling was so different that it felt like success to me. We acted in
faith on our goals and when they weren't met we knew we had done all
we could do. Of course, there is room for improvement, but I am
grateful for a companion who wants to be here and wants to serve. She
too is surprised at her desire this point in her mission, and I know
it is a miracle that both of us needed at the time we were called to
serve together.
We have already had our fair share of funny moments. We have been
eating frozen bananas for dessert lately and after receiving a box
from the 27th E. Ward Young Women (THANK YOU!), I thought it would be
delicious to melt some of the chocolate and dip the bananas in it.
Sister Lee was in charge of the chocolate melting in the microwave.
Well, about a minute later smoke was pouring out of the microwave. The
chocolate was burned and our house was billowing with smoke. It was,
of course, quite pungent and disappointing, but the truly funny moment
was when Sister Lee pulled a bonified Ghostbusters on us. She got out
our vaccuum, plugged it in, pulled it up off the ground and tried to
suck the smoke into it. I haven't laughed that hard for a long time. I
told her about Ghostbusters and have been singing it to her every now
and then. She doesn't appreciate it, but it keeps things light.
Yesterday, after church, one of the elder's investigators, Brother
Kim, was baptized. He is about 30 years old and is the boyfriend of
one of our members. I have never seen an investigator more involved in
his own baptism. He and his girlfriend made all the refreshments for
afterward and they sang a duet of "I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus." They
had requested that I sing something, so I sang a version of "Teach Me
To Walk In The Light" I arranged and accompanied on guitar. Although
those we invited did not come to the service, it was just a really
clean, moving feeling to see a baptism again. It's been a while, and
to witness someone really change and want to change is a beautiful
thing. We were grateful to have the opportunity to be there. Sister
Lee and I have talked about how seeing and hearing, while they promote
faith, are not faith. Faith is in the feet and it is evident that
Brother Kim's faith is sincere.
Anyway, we're not sure what this week holds, but I hope we can meet
some people with willing feet and hearts. It takes one to meet one, I
guess, so we're working to exercise more faith ourselves.
Admittedly I'm excited for Dec. 2012, but so grateful for this time I
have to be consecrated to the Lord here in Korea. It's not easy and I
think I would be a lot less grateful and less apt to call miracles
miracles if it were easy. I think that's part of why Heavenly Father
sent me here. I received an email from President Gilbert today about
making this the most productive time of my mission and that's what I
intend to do. As Elder Holland has said, we look to the past to claim
the embers, not the ashes, but faith is pointed toward the future. The
best is yet to come!! I know that is true for all of us. We can
improve in whatever our endeavors are.
I love you all and know this is God's work. He is beside me as often
as I invite Him to be and that is an empowering knowledge. Thank you
for your faith and prayers.
Love,
Julia
Dad-- I appreciate that you are a bigger picture kind of guy. I think
Mom fills in any of the gaps nicely. It's really fun to hear your
accounts of the same events. Thank you for your consistent letters and
encouragement. It's fun to be about the same work!
Mom-- thank you for the updates. Sounds like you've had fun with your
missionaries and travel lately. Your missionaries sound like they're
working hard and helping people progress. It's always fun to get new
ideas from them. Thank you!
Nick-- hope you're doing well! I don't know a lot about your job, but
I am sure you're doing well at it. Thanks for the letter the other
week!
Meg-- thanks for the update and I will never complain about length,
ever! So, one sentence or two is welcome. I know you will do great at
your new job. The learning curve is never fun, but it is fun to look
back later and see how far you've come. You are great. Thank you!
Char-- I got your letter/pictures yesterday. Thank you! The boys are
looking handsome. I loved the pictures and was thinking how great of a
photographer you've become until you told me someone else had taken
the photos. Take it as a compliment that I could readily believe you
were the mastermind behind the photos. It's hard for me to believe
there is another little boy in your family! I hope you're recovering
well. It was also fun to read/see your missionary pictures etc. You
were a champion and I actually got some good ideas about how to
increase in faith from your letters. Thank you!
Matt-- hope you're doing well! Hope work on site isn't draining you
too much and you'll be able to be back with the newest Adsero soon.
Ladi-- thanks for the update and the picture. I can't imagine Minnie
is real, but the stories about her bring her to life so thank you.
Isn't it fun that she has her own personality? If she "pat pat pats"
me when I first meet her I will be royally offended. You should warn
her now. Travel to SLC safely!
Bob-- I assume you are holding down the SLC fort well. I hope school
is going well. I know the rest of the Collard clan is looking forward
to hanging out with you again upon their return from Canada.
Ah. We're out of time. 밥 먹헌? 아니, 지금 가야되...사랑해!!
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