tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622909255576810342024-02-20T08:37:20.397-08:00Sister Chalene Wells-LongshoreCalled to Served in Busan, KoreaGwendelynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106663461540181996noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862290925557681034.post-56740691748385524612013-08-01T14:06:00.000-07:002013-08-01T14:06:34.160-07:00WELCOME HOME!We welcomed home Chalene last night! After 24 hours since leaving Korea, we shared hugs and tears and stories!<br />
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Here are some pictures of how the night went!<br />
<i>Enjoy!</i><br />
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<i><br /></i>Gwendelynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106663461540181996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862290925557681034.post-21311246099387588422013-07-22T16:13:00.002-07:002013-07-22T16:13:35.792-07:0018 Months of Miracles<br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Darling Family!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Everyone seems well, thanks for all the emails this past week. I love you all dearly! It's fun to say that I'm writing y’all from my beloved ShinJeong. For my last p-day I get to go visit an old area. Oh I love it here and its fun to see some of the people that are truly like my family!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This past week was full of some really neat miracles. My favorite day by far had to be this past Sunday! We started off the Sabbath day by teaching the last lesson to our 12 year old investigator who will be getting baptized next Sunday - my last Sunday in Korea. What a wonderful moment that will be. What I love even more is her father will be the one baptizing her!! This family, who has been Less-Active for several years, is once again united in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After that we headed over to our other ward. For the last couple of weeks we lost contact with a progressing investigator. She was doing great, she was living the commandments and had made plans for her baptismal date, but then all of a sudden... nothing... no answer to calls or messages or anything. It was heart wrenching. But we would still send messages and let her know of our love. In preparation for my last week, we sent her a message telling her that we wanted to see her one more time. A miracle happened= SHE REPLIED!! Not only that, she said she would be at church. Seeing her at church was amazing. It was a tender moment too when she decided to give us a little fashion show. In our last lesson with her, we talked about modesty and it's importance. Usually when she would come to church, her skirt was a little short and her shirt cut a little low. But this Sunday, with a grin, she explains all the alterations that she made to make sure that dress was to her knees and everything else was covered. She remembered. She may not be ready yet to get baptized, but her heart is changing and she is remembering. It was awesome to see that!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This next week is already jammed packed full of visits with investigators, LA and members. I'm excited for the hard work that is ahead.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For this last part of my email, I want to share with y’all some of the things I had to write for my "exit papers". Not all the words in the world can express the things that I have learned and have felt and experienced since I have been on a mission, but here is a small taste.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Q. What have you learned from your mission so far that has most affected your life?</i> Stairs. The ascending stairs of knowledge, understanding and intelligence are foundational guides for gospel learning and application. As we ascend the stairs, we experience the miracle of the gospel. With Christ as our center, He is also the catalyst that raises us to each new level. He allows us to repent, change and lighten our load as we continue to move forward acting in doctrines understood, the things that will bring us home.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Q. What was your most memorable experience?</i> </span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My most memorable experiences happened on several occasions with several different people. For me, the knowledge that I am a beloved daughter of God and I am granted opportunities to commune with Him is most precious. So to see and hear someone else, maybe even for the first time, calling upon their Father in prayer is sacred. To see someone recognize that God IS there and he WANTS to speak with them and then see them offer up their first prayer is truly a memorable and life-changing experience.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Q. What did you gain most from your mission?</span></i></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I gained understanding. I now more fully understand who I am and I can more clearly see who Christ is and needs to be in my life. I understand a little more of the Kingdom of God and the privileged role I get to play in its development. I understand that love truly is everything. I understand that I want to have my life constantly governed by intelligent actions.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And now, a small part from my testimony that I wrote...</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After receiving my call letter in the mail, yet before opening it up, I knelt in prayer to ask for comfort and again the confirmation to know if I really was meant to go on a mission at that time. Upon closing my prayer, the words of a scripture trickled into my mind. "Lovest thou me?" inquired the Savior of Peter in John 21:17. Peter's reply "Yea Lord, thou knowest that I love thee." Then come to me the same admonition that Christ gave to Peter, "Feed My Sheep".</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For the past 16 months, I have sought to fulfill the command that come to feed the sheep of the Korea Busan Mission. It has been a labor of love and devotion. I have struggled and wept and I have experienced joy and successes. But most of all, I have sought to maintain the integrity of my love for the Savior in the divinely appointed calls to go forth and Feed His Sheep.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Savior Lives. He Loves Us.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you to everyone and anyone who has every prayed for or supported the missionaries. We cannot do this work without y’all. Thank you for your love and support.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love y’all!!!</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">See you soon!!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(side notes: Monday - last day in Busan with a birthday party.</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tuesday - 8 am from Gupo, we take a KTX to Seoul and get to go to the temple and play! </span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wednesday at 1:30, I get on my plane to Tokyo on.... but I'll give all those details to y’all when I see you.)</span></span><br />
Gwendelynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106663461540181996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862290925557681034.post-6584988918452215422013-07-20T13:32:00.001-07:002013-07-20T13:32:40.618-07:00Bring on the Heat!<br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">FAMILY!! 안녕하세요!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, it certainly feels like summer here!!!! There have been some HOT days! It has always been rewarding (and slightly disgusting) as you come home at the end of the day quite literally drenched in sweat.. Wait girls don't sweat... umm.. how about glistening like a bedazzled vampire! Yeah, that... Haha</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This week has been a wonderful week in the beautiful Land of the Morning Calm. Last Sunday was packed (actually it's like a normal Sunday for us now) as we went between both of our wards. The Sabbath begins with a lesson before church begins. We are teaching the sweetest 12 year old girl. Her parents had been Less-Active for a couple of years, and so their daughter didn't have the opportunity to be baptized, but now that they are coming back to church, we have the blessing of teaching her. With her mom with us in the lessons, I think that the things that we teach are really needed for both of them. The mom's testimony is still weak from inactivity, so to see mother and daughter growing together in the Gospel is awesome.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After the lesson, we head up to Sacrament Meeting, and as soon as that is done it's down to the subway to head over to Haeundae ward. By the time we get there, it's the start of the 3rd hour. We enjoy RS with those wonderful sisters and then we teach our investigator right after church ends. She is so amazing. We've been talking a lot about showing our faith and following God's plan. She is heading to BYU the same time that I'm coming home, and so we are already making plans to been up there. I know she will one day make those special covenants with her Father in Heaven and I look forward to being the member present/ translator at all her lessons in the states. The work surely goes on.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This week we did some fun proscelyting on the Haeundae beach. We watched a mormon message about what things you are grateful for, and so we decided to do our own little version! On the beach we like to take boards and stickers. The boards ask the question: "in this world, what is most precious to you?" and we have categories of family, health, friends, education, money and English. We have people put their stickers under what one they would choose and from there we can ask them why they chose that, and then offer them something more. We offer them some eternal truths that could make those things most precious to them even more so. I love being able to offer the things that are most precious to me as well.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">According to our "numbers," it may not look like we had a good week this week, but it was a wonderful week full of going out and talking with people and searching out the 'lost sheep'. I love just being on the streets of Korea!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This week it was again my privilege to go on exchanges. This time was fun as we put Sister Scott with Sister Yokam...they came to Korea at the same time! But Sister Gilbert and I had absolutely NO worries! (and they did great). But then I got to go with Sister Beh, who is my first trainees, trainee...This exchange was going good, nothing too exciting or anything, just missionary work...but I felt that there was something that needed to be learned, as there always is. The night we were together I was praying and one word just came to mind 잠재력 which means potential. </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The next morning after a normal personal and companion study, we were about to start language study when I felt again that we needed to take some more time to just learn from each other, and see if we could remember our true potential. The Spirit was so sweet as it prompted us to share with each other what our greatest wish or desire was as we continue on in our missions. Sister Beh's was to be an successful missionary, and mine was to finish off with no regrets. It was a really neat moment as we turn to each other and asked for help. We took the next hour of study time studying for each other. Finding places in PMG or in the scriptures that would lead us to know how we can fulfill our greatest desire. As we turned away from the thing WE wanted most and turned to helping someone else, the Spirit that was in the room was very special. We were in tender tears by the end of the experience as we shared with each other exactly what the other person needed to hear. Originally we had both been trying to find the answer for ourselves, but it wasn't until we put someone else before us that we found, at least the beginning of, what we were searching for.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The gospel is just great!! Everything seems to come down to Turning Out, emulating the Character of Christ, turning beyond ourselves and just loving. The First 2 Great Commandments are indeed LOVE! I love this work and I love being able to learn from so many different sources! I love being able to feel the love from Heavenly Father, from my Family, from the Koreans, but even more then feeling it, I love trying to give it all away (which is pretty much impossible, but it's fun to try!)</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I know this Gospel is true and it <a href="http://mormon.org/eng" target="_blank">contains all the answers</a>, comfort, love and guidance what we will ever need in our lives. And beyond my personal hopes and desires, I want everyone to be able to accept this Gospel more fully with their hearts!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks to everyone for all the love and support. For the prayers and the sacrifices. For you wonderful examples as Christians who have Christ at the center of your heart.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love y’all! mean it!</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">kiss love hugs!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">PS next week will be the last email I send as a full time missionary, it will also be the last time I check my email (I believe..)</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">LOVE Y’ALL!</span></span><br />
Gwendelynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106663461540181996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862290925557681034.post-22874468840833917992013-07-20T12:40:00.003-07:002013-07-20T12:41:19.405-07:00Happy Independence Day!<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hello!! It was wonderful to get all y’alls emails this week. Sounds like everyone is doing well. Hope you are surviving the heat of summer...I think I am...if you call sweating 24/7 then I think we are surviving. At least the AC in our house makes it feel a little less like girls camp this year, so that is good.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This week was a fun week for sure! Independence Day in Korea was wonderful! We certainly did NOT let anything rain on our parade... quite literally actually. In honor of Liberty's Land, my companion and I spent our dinner in the best way we could imagine. First we headed to the near by Costco and got ourselves the most American pizza you can find in Korea! With our pizza box in hand, we head over to the beach near our house. This is when the rain began to fall. Luckily, there were little tiki umbrellas set out on the beach!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was so much fun sitting on an empty beach in the rain under a tiki-looking umbrella eating a Costco pizza and singing patriotic songs at the top of our lungs!!! haha Definitely going in my top 5 most memorable July 4ths! We were bummed there wasn't any fireworks, but Heavenly Father made up for that with a little bit of lightning. Truthfully it was pretty relaxing sitting on the beach thinking about where we were last year (me in Korea, Sister Scott in Cali) and where we will most likely be next year (Sister Scott in Korea, and according to her, me married!) haha</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This week it was also my privilege to go on another round of exchanges! I was able to head back to my FIRST area and spend 24 hours there. We were able to see a couple of the members, and it was fun to still be known as the tall sporty one that saved the day last year! haha The members are wonderful, and the missionaries there, including the beautiful Sister Taylor, are doing so well. I'm grateful for all their work.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At the end of the exchange I asked the sisters a question: If there were in my position, what advice would they give to the other sisters? I loved Sister Taylor's reply. She said "it all comes down to Christ. You need to build that relationship with Him, and when you do that, that is when missionary work becomes fun, that's when you understand your purpose. Everyday you need to look in the mirror and ask 'Do I love Christ? Do I love Him enough to do what He asks of me?' There is nothing to loose, only love to give"</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As my time is winding down, President and Sister Gilbert have emphasized the dire need to have Christ at the center of our hearts. To have Christ's love fill every chamber. If Christ is not at our center, then we have done our mission in vain. If He is not at our center, then when we go home we will not be able to sufficiently defend ourselves against the world that we have not had to battle for 18 months.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Someone dear to me advised that it's not only proper but necessary to ask in prayer and fasting of what Heavenly Father has thought of my efforts as a missionary. To gain the confirmation that I have done all that I could have done, and I did serve with all of my heart, might, mind, and strength, and that Christ is willing to sanctify the work I have done and put His name to it as well. The prayers I have been able to offer have been sincere, and I'm excited to continue to show the Lord my efforts for these next couple of weeks, and for the rest of my life. Oh how I love missionary work!! I love doing the grand work, and I love being able to do it in the name of Jesus Christ.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks for all of you love and support!</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Have a wonderful week and remember that I love you!</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">kiss love hugs!</span></span><br />
Gwendelynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106663461540181996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862290925557681034.post-63146206703263869752013-07-01T17:41:00.000-07:002013-07-01T17:41:53.505-07:00Hastening the Work<br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">FAMILY!!! 안녕하세요! 잘지내고있죠??</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You know it is going to be a good day when you walk into the world's largest department store as it is opening and having all the workers bow to you, welcoming you in. Yep, it was fantastic!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Anyhow, How is everyone doing? Me, great! Sounds like weather is getting pretty toasty for y’all, and I guess it is for us too. We had a day that was about 91* but other than that it hasn't felt too bad...</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This week we were able to mix some things up a little bit with exchanges! Sister Scott had to finally break her 7 week record of being with the same person 24/7! Never before has that happened. (and it probably never will.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was able to go over to the nearby SuJeong and serve with Sister Redford. That area is beautiful. Over there is what I initially expected all of Korea to look like. Everything built up on the mountains and just a maze of color houses all squished together with no rhyme or reason. It was fun being able to walk those streets as we went out finding Less-Actives.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The neat thing about exchanges is to see that no matter who you are with, you are united under one purpose and the work continues to move forward.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As the Sister Trainer Leader, I was able to see how they were doing and help them set goals. They are whitewashing into an area and figuring out where to even begin is always a killer! But at the end of the exchange, I felt like I learned more, and I am grateful that I get to be with the amazing Sister Scott for these last 2 transfers! If anything I feel like she is not just my friend, but my co-senior companion.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Next mix up of the week is we gathered again with the Zone Leaders and STL in the mission for a training meeting. President and Sister Gilbert already having seen the <a href="http://www.lds.org/training/wwlt/2013/hastening/a-new-vision?cid=HPL1P01W01031&lang=eng" target="_blank">broadcast on missionary work</a>, it was amazing to see their excitements in the hastening of the work, especially where new convert baptisms are concerned and working with the members.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sunday gave us the opportunity to watch the broadcast for ourselves!! ((and thankfully in English!)) It was amazing! Afterwards my companion and I talked about it a lot and these were some of our thoughts:</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We love how they emphasized that the call for member missionary work has never changed or dissipated. It just needs to be remembered. I feel that Heavenly Father is calling us all to remembrance of the covenants we made at baptism to stand as a witness of God at ALL times and in ALL things and in ALL places. I know that I have not kept that covenant as well as I could have in the past, but now the servants of the Lord are asking for a recommitment to that covenant and ordinance of Salvation. We are a covenant people and our Master expects us to fulfill it to the highest. There will be overflowing blessings comparative to the diligence and love we put into this work. We loved that the Church is embracing technology for our benefit and they want all of us to do the same. It can and should be used for so much good. All the things they talked about weren't high lofty goals, they are as easy to achieve as we have the love to serve. Fear is a child of pride. That is what is bringing so many people down. But when conquered through love, lives are changed.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm excited for the internet usage, especially because EVERYONE is plugged in on the subway. And I can't tell you how many people have said they have been to our church, but no one is ever there!! The church tours will be an amazing blessings!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another part that I thought was interesting is when they mentioned that something that might be holding the members back is a lack of understanding. That reminded me of a quote by Elder Bednar. He said. “Miracles= The natural result of the correct application of true principles" So what doctrines and principles do we need to understand and then apply to see the miracle of baptism, and growth in activity in the church?? The broadcast included many!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Oh, I love missionary work!! As a missionary with a tag, and as a member with one printed upon my heart. The work is going forward, and the Lord is leading us on in boldness! I LOVE IT!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">**So funny moment of the week, and especially fitting with Will Hatfield coming home from Russia. There is a lady in our ward that goes to Russian often for her job. So she speaks Russian well. She brought back a song from there for us to sing as a choir. At first glance, with the Korean written under the Russian, it looked like she had just translated the song...NOPE!! The Korean written is the pronunciation of the Russian. haha I am currently learning a Russian song through Korean pronunciation. So Will, if you want to sing together that would be awesome, though I may do it with a Korean accent!!! Hahahah</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love y’all! mean it!</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">kiss love hugs!!</span></span><br />
Gwendelynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106663461540181996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862290925557681034.post-49083621487235339462013-07-01T17:22:00.001-07:002013-07-01T17:42:00.709-07:00YOLO<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1372722858954_8285">
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1372722858954_8465" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">HI!! All is well by the news that trickled in!</span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1372722858954_8467" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This week was one of those weeks that shows me that missionary work is not only the greatest work ever...But it's also FUN TOO! Seriously, Sister Scott and I had way too many chances to giggle this past week. It was a blast.</span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1372722858954_8470" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sister Scott has taken it upon herself to fill me in, occasionally, on some key phrases that I should know when I go home. This past week was "YOLO". (<i id="yui_3_7_2_1_1372722858954_8472">For those of you who don’t know...YOLO means “You Only Live Once”. It’s kinda like Carpe Diem)</i> She said it...I looked at her like she was strange... She said it again... still strange look... and she just shook her head while mumbling "wow, you are old". Haha</span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1372722858954_8474" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some other fun adventures with Sister Scott this past week, took place yesterday. With our busy schedules, we tend to forget to schedule in meal times... and the meal times that we do have are with members and they feed you so much food that it makes you not want to have any other meal for the day! When we go shopping every p-day, we tend to get nothing more than what is needed to survive at breakfast time, and for the past 7 weeks that has been perfect!! Well...Sunday night found us without an appointment... and without any food in the house... Well, no...that's not true. There was food. This is what we had to work with: 2 slices of bread. Eggs. 1 lemon. and a little bit of baking goods. What did we have for dinner, you ask??? We had french toast, pancake like "biscuits" ((we didn't have enough of.. well everything.. so we just kinda winged it!)), and lemonade! It was a dinner for champions! Now we REALLY don't have ANY food in our house! haha Luckily we are going to Costco today! whoot.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fun moment #3. I am convinced we have the worlds coolest Ward Missionary Leader. EVER. He works for the Department of Defense in the US gov. He is the one that signs off on any operations that go on in the military. In his words "things that you never will know about and never should. And things that you will never know about and probably should". That night we were supposed to have MCM, but it turned into a question and answer session! haha Though some of the answers were cut short with "that's classified" or "I can't officially say". Needless to say it was the coolest entertainment we missionaries have had since reading <a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/52?lang=eng" target="_blank">Alma 52</a> this morning! Other highlights of the night were going to the meeting at his home on the 53 floor of the tallest and nice apartments in the area and seeing Haeundae at night! Yeah, I could wake up to those 180 views every morning. This man in his 30's has a pretty interesting life!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On the other facets of missionary work, this week was really neat. We were able to meet with our progressing investigator and had some pretty key lessons on <a href="http://mormon.org/beliefs/commandments" target="_blank">the commandments</a> this past week. The spirit was there as we sat by the beach talking and teaching of the Word of Wisdom and The Law of Chastity. To contrast the eternal laws we were teaching, to the world around us at the time, was powerful. She knew that she too wanted to change and luckily there isn't anything standing in her way for living them from that point on. We might have to push back her date because school and work makes meeting during the week hard, but every time we meet, I am amazed at her pure and humble heart.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This last week was lots of fun, but it wasn't without some tears. This past week we had a zone meeting... it was my last zone meeting as a missionary. There are still zone conferences (2 zones combined) but in this smaller setting the Zone Leader, Elder Gomez, and I gave our 'good bye' testimonies... It gave me a neat time to begin to reflect a little bit about what has happened and what has been learned over the past year and a half. So many things really, it's hard to put into words. But as I was thinking about it, I kept thinking about Stairs. In our mission, with the teachings of Sister Gilbert, we have talked a lot about Stairs. There are the steps of life, the steps of progression, of moving forward and going heavenward. Each step takes our efforts in the pursuit of knowledge, understanding and intelligence, but we can never rise to the next step without the <a href="http://mormon.org/beliefs/jesus-christ" target="_blank">Atonement of Jesus Christ</a>. Then, at the landing of the next step is the refiner’s fire. Think of it as a bucket, sitting there waiting for you to empty out whatever would be there keeping you from going through the same progress and rising again to the next level.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">These steps are in each of our lives, yet we cannot and we are not meant to take them by ourselves. We need our companions, our leaders, our family, and our Savior. These steps have taken me closer to my purpose, closer to my call, closer to my Savior, and closer to who I am. People may ask me how I feel like I have changed while I have been on my mission, and my answer will simply be "I have become more ME". I am different then I was before, but I just feel more like me. The Me that Heavenly Father created me to be.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I still have more steps to climb these last couple weeks and MANY more to climb after this time is over, but I know that with every step we take, we draw closer to Heaven and closer to Home!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love you family!! Thank you for all that you have done!</span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1372722858954_8482" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Be safe, Be good, and Behave!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">kiss love hugs!!!</span></span></div>
<br />Gwendelynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106663461540181996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862290925557681034.post-35038096937407237072013-07-01T17:15:00.000-07:002013-07-01T17:42:05.987-07:0012th Transfer, Day 1<br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Family!! HELLO!!</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How is everyone doing this week?? (Don't worry I'm making sure my email is saving so i don't lose it like I did last week...again, sorry about that one...)</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">FIRST HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!! Daddy, I love you!! Thanks for being the best daddy in the whole world!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This week was so amazing! I LOVE MISSIONARY WORK!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We had a fun P-day with all the missionaries last week at the Haeundae Sandcastle Festival. It was fun to go again this year. I love getting to see all the other missionaries.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, last week I didn't get to tell y’all much, but we have been continuing to work with our investigator who has a baptismal date for next month on the 7th. She is so amazing!! This past week as we taught about prophets and Christ’s ministry, we talked about the <a href="http://mormon.org/beliefs/commandments" target="_blank">10 commandments</a>. After going over them and discussing them a little bit, we asked her what commandment would be difficult to keep. Her answer "thou shalt not murder"... slight awkward silence... and then we asked her to explain. She said that even killing a bug, a creature of God, could be considered as bad. And then thinking ill of someone, or wishing bad upon someone, could be considered breaking the commandment as well. The discussion that followed that, about keeping the commandments in our actions and hearts was really neat. I'm grateful for the bubbly, humble, and faithful heart of this investigator. It's neat to see her progression. ((She even sent us some scriptures the other night of where she was reading in the Book of Mormon))</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I think the really learning points this past week was the exchanges I got to go on Friday. The missions have added a new calling for sisters. Called Sister Trainer Leaders. And I have the privilege of helping 6 companionships in my zone and the one neighboring it. As a part of the call, I get to go out on exchanges with the sisters. This past weekend Sister Scott and I went to Daeshin and GuPo. </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have to say that we have the best sister missionaries EVER in our mission! The sisters are so amazing. I learned some pretty neat things with them. At the end of both exchanges, I asked the sisters to share with me some words of advice they would share with other sisters if they were in my position.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here are some of their replies: </span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One companionship, who are both newer missionaries, was worried about whether or not they were doing the work "right". At the end of the exchange one sister said that she was most grateful to see that even though we are all different people with slightly different styles, that each of us are doing the work through our purpose and the Spirit. There may be doubts of "am I doing it right?" And "Is there another, better way?" but to see that everyone else was figuring it out too, that there was no one set way, but each was going forth relying on the Lord, was a relief to see.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another sister talked about sharing God's Love. We constantly strive to tell investigators and members and people we see on the street that God loves them, but we also need to constantly be telling our companion those things as well.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the other set of exchanges with the sisters, a discussion we had led to some really neat insights. We discussed that what people need most to understand is the importance of personal revelation and relying on the Spirit. We cannot do this work by ourselves, that is why we have a companion. The relationship between you and the Spirit, and then you and your companion is very similar. Just like you rely on the Spirit for guidance, support, comfort and peace, you need to rely on your companion for the same things. If you companionship is weak, then your relationship with the Spirit cannot have the strength that it needs. Unity in the companionship begins with your efforts to be united with the Spirit. ((I'm sure these things are easily applied to other things outside of missionary work))</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Again, thoughIi went on those exchanges to help, I felt like I left with much more.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have had a special feeling in my heart these past couple of weeks. I feel Heavenly Father's love filling my heart. It's comforting and wonderful, and if I focus too much on it, it makes me want to cry. I love it here. I love Korea. I love being a missionary. And I vow to have nothing left in my heart but love, obedience, and satisfaction at the end of these 6 weeks.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love missionary work!!!!!</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">kiss love hugs! </span></span><br />
Gwendelynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106663461540181996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862290925557681034.post-82673853199216849202013-06-09T23:08:00.001-07:002013-06-09T23:08:27.596-07:00Fail.<br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, I typed a really great email... and then the computer ate it.</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">ㅠㅠ</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Time is up and I have to go, so I'll fill y’all in next week.</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">highlights</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">*Singing American pop songs with Korean ladies in the car</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">*Being told I have Jesus hair</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">*Spending the day on a farm</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">***and now having an investigator with a baptismal date!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love y’all!</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">sorry...</span></span><br />
Gwendelynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106663461540181996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862290925557681034.post-63692286177203806222013-06-09T23:04:00.001-07:002013-06-09T23:04:37.755-07:00JUNE!!<br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">FAMILY!! HI!! Everyone sounds like they are doing fantastic so that makes me happy! Lots of fun little surprises this week huh??</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Honestly, I'm a little weirded out that it is already June!! Where is the time flying to!?!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Regardless of time, it has been another fantastic week here in the Korea Busan Mission (have I mentioned that it is the best mission in the world??) Sister Scott and I are still going strong and Heavenly Father is paving the way. Oh, the miracles have had our hearts brimming with gratitude!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My favorite moments all accumulated into this past weekend. Leading up to Saturday we had been trying to set up an appointment with the parents we met up on the mountain during morning exercises. As we were figuring out meeting places and schedules, we reminded the dad that we needed his wife there if we were going to be able to meet. Thats with the text came.... Dundundunn</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He said that he was feeling a lot of 부담 (pressure) and sent us a message to have a good day. OH NO!! That had us in near tears. Usually if a message comes like that, they never want to meet. But when that message came, our prayers began. We prayed for their hearts to be softened and we prayed to have the chance to meet them, even at least once. Saturday rolls around and we get a message from the father again. He says that he will see us at the subway station at 3:30 and then take us to meet his wife. That message came and again our prayers began, prayers of gratitude!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The meeting on Saturday was the GREATEST first meeting I have EVER had with someone! We met the entire family, except the daughter who is finishing things up in her Utah high school. The spirit of this family is absolutely amazing. They have such a great love for each other. Really, it felt like we were meeting with a member family. As we talked, we set up everything for the twin boys to come out the the English classes and church activities. We also set up a time to come again when the daughter arrives next week. The family just kept making mention about how much they really like our church and how the daughter will probably want to come to church when she comes home...etc..</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">During that meeting we were able to give them a <a href="https://www.lds.org/youth/for-the-strength-of-youth?lang=eng" target="_blank">For Strength of Youth</a> pamphlet and explain a little bit about what their daughter was learning from Mutual. When we meet the daughter, we are going to challenge her to do <a href="https://www.lds.org/young-women/personal-progress?lang=eng" target="_blank">Personal Progress</a> with her mom. WE HAVE A FAMILY to teach and it is the best feeling ever!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sunday only made it better as we had 2 investigators at church in one ward, and in our other ward that night we put on a Fireside and probably had a total of about 6 investigators there. I got to sing <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJCOHI9tmGo" target="_blank">"I Know That My Redeemer Lives"</a> that night and that was lots of fun. President and Sister Gilbert came and it was amazing to see the love the people have for them, and they in return. They are truly amazing people.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are some amazing things happened!! And I am SO excited to be apart of it and do it with my wonderful companion.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(Ok, funny moment of the week, it's not mine, but Sister Scott said I could share it... Last week in Sister Scott's email, she made mention of a "sickness" that she's caught since being on her mission in Asia. Like any worried mother might do, her mom immediately inquired of Pres.Gilbert and wondered how serious this 'sickness' was. A small reply later, and a little more explanation from Sister Scott's sisters, the mom was comforted to know that her daughters "YELLOW FEVER" was not life threatening. Hahahahahaha *the best part was, President Gilbert reminding her to be careful what she writes home in her letters hahah)</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love y’all!! Thanks for all the love and support!</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Help me keep going till the "day that shall not be named" haha</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">kiss love hugs!</span></span><br />
Gwendelynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106663461540181996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862290925557681034.post-68418279849763710512013-06-09T22:40:00.001-07:002013-06-09T22:40:58.891-07:00Wonderful Things are Happening!<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Darling Family!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">HELLO!!! Glad to hear everyone is doing so well. Though I'm really sad to hear that the cutest of our family had to go today. ㅠㅠ I'll miss Rosie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Besides that sad bit of news, this week has been absolutely, fantastically amazing in EVERY WAY!! Oh my heavens, I love missionary work!! Even more, I love seeing Heavenly Father taking such an active role is His work. He has given us so many miracles this past week I don't even know where to begin!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The week started off with a day of spiritual enrichment. Tuesday was President Interviews and discussions with Sister Gilbert. I love the Gilbert's SO MUCH! The topic for this round of interviews was charity, but it was amazing to see where the Spirit took us as we all learned from each other. We talked about 3 levels of obedience (1. you just don't want to get in trouble 2. you want a reward or recognition 3. Love for the Savior and the desire to obey) and empathy (Us feeling God's love for others). A lot of our discussion was around the <a href="http://www.mormonchannel.org/the-coat" target="_blank">Mormon Message "The Coat"</a> and how Christ-like that little boy really was. It was neat. We'll have to do an FHE about it or something! =] That day was just a spring board for the miracles that were heading our way!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A couple of weeks ago, as the Elders were out doing some proselyting, a woman came up to them and told them that she was a member of our church, but she thought the church was only in Seoul and had been living in Korea again for 4 years, and had nearly given up hope of finding the church. From there, the Elders got her info and we were able to meet her in her home this past week. It was a tender experience; one where we were really able to feel Heavenly Father's love for this sister. We talked about how she first came into the church (met the missionaries first in GA, moved to OH and was baptized, lost track of the church on her move to IL, the Sister Missionaries found her the week she was leaving for Korea and searched for the church by the English name, not realizing that the church was in her native tongue!!) and then we talked about the things that she still remembered. Since being in Korea, she has been going to another church but just kept saying how confusing it was to go there and how she would often think of the "mormon" church. She realized that when she was coming to our church, she was truly happy with her family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then, my favorite part, is when we could teach her and share with her the message of the Restoration in her native tongue. I wish you could have seen the way she lit up when we handed her a <a href="http://mormon.org/book-of-mormon" target="_blank">Book of Mormon</a> in Korean! All the lessons she took, every time she went to church, it was all in English. At the end of the lesson, she expressed her great gratitude and said that it actually made sense. I know that she had a testimony before; but now, as her understanding of it is now met, her testimony will be able to grow into a strong conversion!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Next miracle came as my companion and I were working out the next morning. We were taking our run up the mountain, but that day found us really tired and we didn't have the energy to go up the next switchback like we normal did. As we were standing there and stretching before making our way back down, a man comes up to us and asks us if we were Mormon. With enthusiasm we answered yes! And he goes on the explain that his daughter is in Utah right now going to high school to learn English. He explained that our church had opened their arms and hearts and had taken care of and included their daughter. They were so grateful for everything the members of our church had done for her as she had been away in another country. He explained that he had found our church here, but when he called (the church phone) no one had answered.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There on the mountain we were able to talk with these wonderful parents and get their information to meet again. We don't know if the daughter is a member, but because of the Christian examples of some families in Utah, Heavenly Father has given us the chance to teach a family. We are excited to share with the family the things the daughter has been experiencing in America.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Next miracle came over 2 days. One day, we met a lady on the subway and started talking like we were old friends! She was so adorable. She explained that she was Christian, but that she wasn't going to any church at the moment. Then, suddenly she was like "I want to come to your church!". We gave her the details, and got her information to meet up again and go together. The next day we were in the subway station. We just got of the train and as we were headed out I look into the train and see her again! Though it wasn't her stop, she jumps out and starts talking to us again! She was so excited to see us. She explained to us that her mom needed her up in Seoul this weekend, but the next week she really wanted to come to church. Again, we are excited to see where this will go!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last miracle (well not really, but the last one I will share) came on Sunday as we taught our investigator at church. She got accepted into BYU and so we will be going back to school together this fall. We were able to have a really sweet lesson with her and a member that is about to serve a mission. We taught about the Savior and all that He has done for us. At the end of the lesson she was so grateful that we had taught simply, because she felt like she really understood. Then as we extended the commitment to read and pray about Christ, I have never seen an investigator take a commitment with such excitement!! Her testimony is growing and it's wonderful to see!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Oh I wish I could tell y’all all that has happened this week! So many wonderful things are happening! Heavenly Father has some really neat plans for these areas! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you for all the love and prayers and support. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I miss you all, I love you more!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">kiss love hugs!</span><br />
Gwendelynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106663461540181996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862290925557681034.post-8282615446342098422013-05-20T16:55:00.001-07:002013-05-20T16:55:24.273-07:00PICTURES<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9553woR-QpigHRFzXDyc8F2X9eEYXM0a3TAxH3NkPlh9WHVcVtIgRJty9Nxq3RxXyEet0CZm7-Pzy5zwpXXBtSZYQxrG-Z1aWwnij6pG9IndyUpO2HlBbeNhStVfQUazv9KcIM1OolZ0/s1600/DSCN0233%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9553woR-QpigHRFzXDyc8F2X9eEYXM0a3TAxH3NkPlh9WHVcVtIgRJty9Nxq3RxXyEet0CZm7-Pzy5zwpXXBtSZYQxrG-Z1aWwnij6pG9IndyUpO2HlBbeNhStVfQUazv9KcIM1OolZ0/s320/DSCN0233%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sister Alexandria Scott, from SoCal.</td></tr>
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<br />Gwendelynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106663461540181996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862290925557681034.post-13602399847275930932013-05-20T16:21:00.000-07:002013-05-20T16:21:00.990-07:00Sunshine and Shorelines!<br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">FAMILY!! HI!!</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm assuming with no emails from mom and dad that things are going awesome in Hawai’i! They can enjoy their sunshine and shorelines there because I am getting more than enough here! Being right next to the beach is absolutely fantastic! I love it, and I know my darling SoCal Companion is more than thankful for it as well. </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, this past week was BUSY! And I LOVED IT! Every night we come home absolutely exhausted! Seriously, my body just wants to shut down some nights, but there is still so much and too much to do. Every morning we wake up with our feet still a little sore, but we look forward to another day of hard work.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's been fun, for our morning exercise we go take a run... up a mountain! Right near our apartment, there is a mountain with hills, trails and stairs leading up. It's nice to get some fresh air while our calfs and quads scream in protest. I think out of all our areas, this one will give me the nicest legs! haha ((it also helps that we make sure that we are home at 9 o’clock every night. With our packed schedule it makes things a little tight some nights, but Sister Scott isn't afraid to scale some subway stairs and a couple hills in order to be exactly obedient!))</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This past week we were able to have some pretty neat lessons with a couple of members and less-actives. The Lord took what we had prepared and really allowed the Spirit to teach to their hearts. One lesson we talked on faith and shared from <a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/mark/5?lang=eng" target="_blank">Mark 5</a> about the woman who reached out to simply touch the Savior's robe, having faith that that would be enough. We talked about how it is not the quantity but the quality of our faith that counts. We talked about scripture reading and prayer and how they strengthen our faith. In the lesson, it didn't feel like we focused on one method in particular, but at the end of the lesson we were impressed to have her offer the prayer. At first she seemed to nearly refuse, but they she offered up the sweetest prayer of her heart asking the Lord to help her pray more often in faith. The Spirit really taught to a need that we weren't even aware of.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another moment came as we were talking with a member. She had been having a hard time and had taken a lot of offense from what she feels, are inconsiderate members in the ward. First I said that we would be there to help her out as much as she needed. She retorted with the fact that I leave in a short time ((70days..)) and that once we are gone she would still have to be in the ward. That is when the Spirit took over. I prayed to know what to say that would be able to help her, and the Spirit was able to direct my words. Heavenly Father then invited her to go heavenwards for her help. People are imperfect and the world's help and comfort is fleeting and unsatisfying. But the Lord's help, help sent from heaven, is eternal and healing and loving. That is the help that we all need and that is where we can help people go to. That, I feel, is our purpose. Going Heavenwards to God and Home.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This weekend we were able celebrate Buddha's Birthday again!! Unlike <a href="http://sisterlongshoreinkorea.blogspot.com/2012/05/happy-birthday-buddha-2556.html" target="_blank">last year</a>, we weren't able to go anywhere and see the lights, but it was fun to see these beach areas being flooded with foreigners!! It's actually really weird to see other foreigners haha I think my favorite moment was while we were doing some proscylting (I'll never get that spelling down.. the Korean word is so much easier!) anyhow.. while we were down there a girl came up to us with the greeting of "Hi Sisters!!" I can't describe how wonderful it was to hear those words, filled with so much kindness! What followed was a wonderful conversation with Ellie Atkinson from Idaho! She's in Seoul teaching school and came down for the celebrations. Although we couldn't accept her money for ice cream, I was able to get a hug from her and that was wonderful! I love the Church and the bonds it forms worlds away and with complete strangers.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So many miracles are happening! It's wonderful to see! my companion and I share 3 things every night: 1 miracle, 1 funny moment, and 1 Christ-like attribute we saw in each other that day. It's the perfect way to end every day! I love missionary work!! I love my companion! and I love being here serving until I literally drop every night! Haha</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">love y’all! mean it!</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">kiss love hugs!</span></span><br />
Gwendelynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106663461540181996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862290925557681034.post-17654608587583110992013-05-20T11:45:00.001-07:002013-05-20T16:17:53.594-07:00Faith, Hope, Charity, and Hard Work<span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">FAMILY!!</span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Oh! It was so much fun talking to y’all last week! I think the greatest part about those phone calls is how familiar y’alls voices still sound, even though I haven't heard them in months. I loved it! Glad this round worked A LOT better than Christmas. I think my favorite part was just all the giggles and laughing. I love that about our family. Yes, we are excited to hear and talk to each other; yes, we want to share all the good experiences; but at the same time we can have fun and laugh and be ourselves!! I'm excited for the day-that-shall-not-be-named that we can do all of that around the kitchen table. I miss y’all, but I am not so sad because I'll be seeing y’all in due time.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">WELL!! I'm sure y’all are ready to hear about my fabulous new companion right?!? Ok, So, she is from San Diego (Temecula), California. She is 20 years old and "awesome" haha ccording to her introduction! Her name is Sister Alexandria Scott. She is the middle sister of the 5 girls in her family. She loves obedience, she loves hard work and she is not afraid to just go, go, go! (Which, being over 2 areas, comes in REALLY handy!) She is a little shy to begin with, but her dry and slightly sarcastic humor keeps us going strong! With so many new sisters that just came (14) we didn't actually talk to each other or really interact during the training activities, but Heavenly Father knew that we needed each other and it was a fun surprise on Thursday morning. (Fun side note, I worked with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4zZH0v8DcY&oq=olympus%20high%20&gs_l=youtube..0.5j0l9.2411.5540.0.6718.13.12.0.1.1.0.147.939.9j3.12.0.ytns%2Cpt%3D-30%2Cn%3D2..0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube.FOwYWSfglME" target="_blank">Sister Ellingson</a> for a little bit and fell absolutely in love with her! She's in Daeshin and will do fantastic! She'll be an amazing missionary!)</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Since the end of Thursday training activities we have been going like crazy! Every night we can barely make it through planning for the next day because we are so blissfully tired. Going between both areas has been an adventure for sure. Thankfully the Elders haven't been too bothered with our constant cascade of questions. Really, they are just excited that there are finally sisters here, and for that I am extra grateful.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With only a few days under our belts in this area, we are doing pretty good. The Area Books are nearly organized, we finally got a map book so we know (slightly) where we are going, and our we have been able to meet some amazing people throughout the days that seem to have a lot of potential to have their hearts opened to the gospel. One person I'm really excited about, came on our first day together in the areas. We were with the Haeundae elders headed over to visit a LA lady. On the bus ride over, Elder Gomez started talking to this mother. After a bus ride conversation she gave us her contact information and we have set up a time to meet with her in her home this next Thursday!! I'm so excited. We actually have a couple more of those stories so we'll let y’all know how they turn out.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We had one round of our 3 English classes ((all in different areas.. we have to help out the SuJeong Elders too...)) on Saturday and my companion was excited for that one. Being a new missionary is rough. Sometimes I nearly forget. One of the things that I am most grateful for about Sister Scott is her love for the Korean people already. She, kind of like when I first came, just wants to talk with them! She loves them already, now she just wants to be able to express that and share the gospel that she loves so much. But English class was a good de-stresser for her. There we are able to talk in both English and Korean AND be able to fulfill our purpose.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My favorite day of the week was SUNDAY!! Oh my heavens...I am in LOVE with this ward!!!! We went to Haeundae ward for the first Sunday because one of our investigators was present. It was so much fun to great everyone, ask their names (we made a list of all the sisters there and wrote a small description of each one's outfits or qualities, so we could start memorizing and using names!) and then introduce ourselves as the Sister Missionaries now in that area. I think the most humbling part was their overwhelming excitement to FINALLY have sister missionaries back in this area! They were all SO SO excited to see us and great us. It gave us the motivation to want to work even harder. Not that we weren't going to, but now we want to live up to, not only the Lord's expectations and Trust, but also theirs. Though we are working hard, the Lord seems to have spoiled us with the best ward in the mission. I have never felt so instantly welcomed. It was amazing!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After Church we were able to set up some appointments for that week and now we have an entire week with only about 5 hours of time left unplanned at the moment. Whew! </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sunday afternoon and night we headed over to our other area and met with those sets of Elders and began planning a fireside that we want to have in a couple weeks. We are talking about Faith, Hope and Charity, and it’s a fireside that is going to be focused on doing missionary work, especially through Family Home Evening. When thinking about the member's needs we realized that they want to do missionary work, they just don't know quite how; and two, if there is any program that is not living up to its potential it's FHE. This fireside is going to be really focused on teaching the members how to do missionary work within the walls of their own homes and inviting others through their hope, their faith and their charity to learn more about and partake of the gospel. I'm excited for how it will turn out!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The night ended with a wonderful dinner at the couple missionary's house in our 2nd area Gwangan. They are amazing and so full of fire. It was amazing to see the work they have been doing with LA's and others in the area. I'm excited to work closely with them and use them to our advantage! Their house is a place of the spirit.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wow! So much has happened and so much more is about to happen! It's amazing to be here and I am loving every minute of it!! Thank you all for your love and support. Thank you for the prayers and for sharing with me your missionary experiences. The next step in your sharing is the invitation to act. As Elder Nelson said, if you ever need ideas or help "<a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/ask-the-missionaries-they-can-help-you?lang=eng" target="_blank">Ask the Missionaries!!</a>"</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love you all!! thanks for everything! you are in my prayers!!</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">kiss love hugs!</span></span>Gwendelynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106663461540181996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862290925557681034.post-77373627154767993242013-05-20T11:25:00.001-07:002013-05-20T11:25:05.388-07:00Already Busy!<br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">FAMILY!!!</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">WE GET TO TALK TOMORROW WE GET TO TALK TOMORROW WE GET TO TALK TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I don't know if y’all realized, but we get to actually hear each other's voices tomorrow!!! EEEP!!! I AM SO EXCITED!! Like, for reals. I don't have to imagine your voices as I read the emails, because I get to hear them tomorrow!! YEAH!! So this past week in Daegu was a busy one, and one full of surprises.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So not to get confused, last week I talked about transfers right? Well that was a special case, emergency transfer, and not the regular, end of the 6 weeks, transfer. THOSE transfer calls came this Thursday!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Y’all ready??!?! SO After 5 months and 4 transfers in Daegu, experiencing both the winter and the beginning of summer, I finally got a transfer call this past Thursday! Now it looks like I'll be spending the rest of my mission back down in the Busan area at the Beautiful Hae.un.dae!!! (I don't know how you spell it in konglish!) But it is the richest city in Korea, next to Seoul. There are beautiful beaches and right now the work is booming!! </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, that's not all!! Not only will I be over Haeundae, but I'll also be in charge of the neighboring Gwangan! </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That's not the end...I'm opening up both areas to sisters. Yep, I'm the first and only sister there. OHH!! </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And then I should probably mention that will be doing all of this with a brand new missionary!!!!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">YEP! WHITEWASH/ OPENING TRAINING!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">I.AM. SO. EXCITED!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fun thing, as missionaries, in our last district meeting of the transfer we always do transfer predictions on who is going where. Yep, I TOTALLY guessed it! I had been feeling for awhile that I would be headed back down south and I'm really excited that it came true. The 8 elders (2 sets in each area) I get to work with are absolutely amazing! From the Haeundae side of things, I am inheriting 3 investigators and from the Gwangan side of things, I have 2 really good potentials. ((One, thanks to Sister Kersey who met a lady, became really close and they have been in contact with each other for months!! She referred me over and I'm excited to meet her!!)) I also already have a couple of referrals to contact that I received from missionary family members and an English class member from Daegu! She already called her friend and told them I was coming. It's amazing to see how ready Heavenly Father is to have the work go forward there and I'm excited for the challenge!! I prayed really hard to be busy my last 2 transfers and now I have no doubt that I will be. Now i'm just praying to get a companion that will be able to keep up!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As for my 3rd 'daughter' Sister Choi Hanna, she got her own surprise on Thursday when, after only 6 weeks, she too will be training!!!!! Crazy huh!?! There are so many Sisters coming that Heavenly Father is needing all of us at this time. It'll be fun for her to have the growing experiences of training, and I know that things will go well (at least I am praying that they will =] )</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sunday, of course, was a sad day as I said good bye to the people that I have grown to love. They were all so sweet and kind to me. I'll forever remember the missionary hearts of the people of Sangin ward. They loved missionary work, and though it was hard to do sometimes, they truly found joy in sharing the things that they loved.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In my goodbye testimony, I shared 2 Nephi 5:27, and told them that because of their desire to do work and to love those around them even more, I could tell that they were truly living after the manner of happiness. True happiness comes when we are in the service of others and in the service of our God.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sunday afternoon I was blessed to have a wonderful conversation with one of our potential investigators. Currently she is looking for a religion. Not just a religion, she is looking for God. With all of her heart she wants to find what is true. She admitted that while on her search, she is wanting to learn as much as possible from a variety of denominations so when she goes to Heavenly Father in prayer to know what is right, she will have, what she feels, is needed to understand what truly is true and what is not. </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As we were talking the tears could not be held back as she confessed that she felt like the one lost sheep that no one was willing to come after. She wanted to find truth and God, and she was willing to go out searching for it. But, any such endeavor can seem daunting. As she wept, I wept with her. In that moment I felt and saw a piece of what Joseph Smith must have felt as he searched for the same thing. I cried to know the peace and truth and comfort that she was seeking was right in front of her, yet she could not yet recognize. As we began to offer the comfort that we had, the comfort that she needed, she stopped us there, and the things she told us next were very significant.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With trust and hope in her eyes she explained that she wanted to save the "Mormon" church for last. She wanted to go to these different churches and hear what they had to say, but she wanted to save the "Mormon" church for last "so the truth won't be mixed in and confused with the other things I may hear." In her own words she testified what I believe her heart already knows. She knows where the truth is and I know that when she goes to Heavenly Father in prayer, her heart will testify to her mind what she </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">already knows to be true. It was a tender lesson, and I am grateful that it was my last lesson given in the Daegu area. As if it was a final gift, before the lesson closed, Heavenly Father allowed me to see something in my minds eye. I say this precious Daughter of God standing in white in the Temple. She had a smile on her face and I knew in that moment that when she was ready she would accept this gospel with all of her heart.</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Oh, I wish I could use words to tell you all how much I love this gospel! I love everything about it!! I love the joy it brings and the little confirmations of God's love. I love you all dearly and I am excited to talk to y’all tomorrow!!! I'm excited for this chance to go to Haeundae and Gwangan. It a blessing and a responsibility to go there, but I'm ready to put my faith to the test and try the Lord... and then we'll wait and see the miracles that are in store!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Love y’all! Mean it!!!</span></span><br />
Gwendelynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106663461540181996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862290925557681034.post-45603484336979742902013-05-03T14:28:00.000-07:002013-05-03T14:28:19.317-07:00Surprises<br />
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1367611276103_10038" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This week was full of surprises and unexpected moments. But they were moments to be grateful for, for sure.</span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1367611276103_10042" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This past week started with a call from President saying that there would be a change in my companionship! YEAH! SURPRISE!! It wasn't because of us, just some changes needed to happen...well my companion started packing and then the call came again about an hour later saying that we weren't going to be changing after all! (yeah...We don't really understand either...) Though that call was peculiar, I am VERY grateful that it came. When that phone call came and I heard what was going to happen my heart sank and I couldn't hold back the tears.</span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1367611276103_10225" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I wasn't ready to say good-bye to my companion. I realized that I DID love her and I wanted and needed more time to learn from her and with her. That call had a similar effect on her as well. It was a moment of self-evaluation = if we were to split and one of us go to a different area would we be satisfied with our relationship? WIth our area? With our efforts? If those questions could be answered in the affirmative, what was the strength of that reply? That phone call have us the chance to move into the next week with greater love, appreciation and determination.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The week that followed was one of wonderful missionary service!! We had so many miracles! We were able to meet with a less-active that hasn't opened her doors to missionaries and members for nearly a year! We made cookies and talked and shared a message!... and she wants us to come again!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another less-active, who left the church and is now attending another, gave us her new address and allowed us to visit her at her home! Besides her children, we are the ONLY people she has given her new address to! The conversation and lesson that followed was wonderful.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We had lessons with investigators and we were able to help members with their missionary work! We had lessons with some new investigators and every day seemed to be packed with things to do.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My experiences with knocking doors in Korea as always been... eh ok. haha Nothing too huge, but it's still fun to be able to go door-to-door in apartments. On Sunday night my companion and I planned to visit a less-active, deliver cookies and a message card and then knock the doors of the complex.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Top floor (we work our way from top to bottom), First Door.. And a man answers!! At first he is about to close the door on us but we strike up a conversation. We get him talking about his family and a little about his life. Though he claims to be buddhist all of his children are Christian. We asked them if his Christian children seemed happy...that made him think. There we asked him if we could come back and share with him a message that would make him happier. He invited us in right them, but without another girl that was a no go. But he said that we could come back later. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Next floor... Another woman answers and this time it is a family. We talk about our message for families and that we teach free English. The conversation that we had with her and she was impressed with all that we were doing. We got her number and we are going to set up a time to go back and teach within her home.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Next floor.. a grandmother opens up. Poor lady can't hear very well, but she explains that she lives all alone. After some sweet talking from my companion, we were able to get her number and tell her will come back to keep her some company every now and then. She seemed excited about that. I'm just glad that we will be able to help her a little bit.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Next floor was the LA’s floor. She wasn't home but we were able to meet her mom, which was the first time for me. And things went great!! We had the mom smiling and the conversation with her was wonderful. I'm excited to see how that goes. Hopefully by bringing the daughter back, we can bring her family with her.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Missionary work is an interesting thing. When we feel like we aren't doing good enough, or things just aren't working out... sometimes it just takes the effort of giving more love, showing a little more faith and relying on the Lord a little more completely. We aren't perfect and there will always be hard times, but you can be much happier as you forget yourself and turn out to others. Turn out in love, out in sharing this Gospel, out in sharing the friendship and blessings that the Savior has given you. I love missionary work and I'm grateful for all our your love and prayers!!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I miss y’all!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The next Tuesday, 10am time works PERFECTLY for me!! EEEKKKKK!!! I get to hear your voices!! YEAH!!!! </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Get ready to tell me able some missionary experiences y’all have been having, some moments when you turned out, and some moments that you have felt God's love because I'll be asking!! Hehe</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">LOVE YOU!! MEAN IT!!!</span></span></div>
Gwendelynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106663461540181996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862290925557681034.post-42197319181001272162013-05-03T14:21:00.002-07:002013-05-03T14:28:51.125-07:00Choosing the Garden<span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">Darling Family!</span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">HI!! How is everyone doing this week? Sounds like there was some fun times. Daegu’s weather has been absolutely bi-polar!!! I've had to get my winter coat out again a couple of times. It's a little ridiculous. I'm ready for warm weather!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm REALLY excited to share with y’all what I learned this last week. Heavenly Father really answered my prayers (and I'm sure your prayers as well). The answers I got this week could not have come without all the love and prayers and letters from each of you, family and friends. So, thank you.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Part 1</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I wanted to share this with y’all. These are the thoughts I wrote after conference. My email last week just didn't do it justice. From the <i>Journal of Sister Wells-Longshore</i>, Thoughts of Conference. "2 Days. 4 general sessions of 2 hours each. 1 Priesthood session of 2 hours. 1 session of either Relief Society or Young Women’s of 2 hours. That is a very small combination of 12 hours in which we have the honor and privilege of hearing the humble and powerful words of Prophets, Seers and Revelators, of men and woman devoting their lives to the Lord. Only 12 hours to have temple-learning experiences, only 12 hours to gather with the Saints of the world and hear the voices of our heroes. It is only 12 hours, but those 12 hours are most dear and precious. They are 12 hours that change our hearts, and help us resolve to do more, to be more, to stand a little taller and be a bit more converted. They are words of peace, comfort, and encouragement. They are words of warning, calm, and clarification. Their words draw us to heaven and an eternal perspective, they take us from the world and put us in a sphere of sacred learning. They are words of testimony, conversion, and refined faith. They are words to strengthen, to humble, and to love. My heart soars as I listen to the choirs sing praises and the voices of our leaders testify of Jesus Christ. This year they focused a lot on the family! Especially the Doctrines and Principles that are found in "The Family: A Proclamation to the World". It's a testimony to realize the Lord prepared this declaration from the Prophets nearly 10 years before it was blatantly needed. </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They talked of the Law of Chastity, with all the love, respect and boldness that it is due. They talked of the responsibility of the Husband and the Wife, especially to each other. There were talks of encouragement. Keep going forward! If not in complete faith, then in growing belief, that is part of the process. We were reminded to rely on the Lord, depend on Him and love Him completely. People are imperfect, but the Lord is perfect to love, save, comfort, and forgive - and we can learn from His example. There were messages of encouragement to journey on and move forward through the world. There is always darkness around us, but we know the source of Light that can penetrate all. Walk in the Light and let the shadows fall behind. Obedience is our love and our liberty. Commandments are our foundation and strength. The Family, a family created by God's divine design, is of eternal and everlasting importance. We are to stand in Holy Places and be not moved. We are the light to the world. And a world growing in darkness is in perilous need of the Hope we can bring. </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Christ Lives and this is His Church. WOW! I Love Conference!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Part 2</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This week I was able to go to Busan with my companion for a training meeting with the other new missionaries. There, we were able to have a discussion with Sister Gilbert. The Spirit there was so strong and the things we talked about really touched my heart. We talked a lot about love and charity, sacrifice and pride. One of my favorite parts came after I shared what Rory Eyring sent to me via email last week. In his email he shared a portion of Elder Holland’s talk about the Atonement and Missionary Work. Elder Holland talked about how every missionary is called to follow in Christ's footsteps. Christ's life was devoted to love and service, helping those in need and doing the will of the Father. Through His faith and obedience He wrought many miracles. But if we are to completely follow Christ's example and life, we will, at some point, need to enter the Garden of Gethsemane. There we will experience pains and sorrows, agony and weakness. Though our personal journey into the Garden does not come close to the Savior's Infinite Atonement and Sacrifice, we each will have trials and hardships to face.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Upon sharing this thought, one Elder made a comment that gave we a whole new perspective. He commented that the Savior's walk in the Garden was a journey of Love. We step into the Garden not just when we are experiencing trails or when making sacrifices, but we must step into the Garden with love, drawing nearer to the Savior. When Christ stepped into the Garden, He stepped into Love. The same Elder went on to comment that Christ chose Gethsemane. He chose to love beyond Himself. The hardest times in our lives, and for me right now on my mission, will come because I choose them. There is always an easier way = giving up. But when we choose to try and love outwards - love my companion, love my family, love my friends and neighbors, love my Savior- then we are choosing to follow Heavenly Father's will and Christ's Example and enter into our own Gardens. </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So we have a choice. We can choose to walk into the Garden. We can choose to draw nearer to our Savior. I can choose to have a hard time because I am a Disciple of Jesus Christ and I am trying to love as He did, or I can back out. The opposing way is easier. You don't have to act to hate or have hurt feelings. But it requires action, sacrifice, refinement and courage to love as the Savior did.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This week was still hard, but now I am choosing to enter the Garden and walk closer to my Savior. I am choosing to love as He did.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you again for all the love and prayers. Thank you for your wonderful examples! I love you all dearly!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Till next week!</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">kiss love hugs!</span></span>Gwendelynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106663461540181996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862290925557681034.post-82767128950652192392013-04-18T12:10:00.001-07:002013-04-18T12:10:48.130-07:00Heaven Sent<br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Darling Family,</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you Thank you Thank you.</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you to all of those who have prayed for me. Thought of me, showed me love. You are truly Heaven Sent. Each of you. Friends, family, everyone. Thank you thank you thank you. </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What a wonderful surprise it was to open up my inbox and see the messages that were there. How grateful and humble I am to have the opportunity of associating with such wonderful people. I hope each of you know that I would not be ME if I hadn't had the influences of each of you in my life.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Those emails of love weren't the only things Heaven Sent this past week. I had the chance to listen to <a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2013/04?cid=HP000032&lang=eng" target="_blank">General Conference</a>. Oh what a blessing from Heaven that truly was. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This morning I thought about this past weekend as I wrote in my journal. 4 sessions, each 2 hours. 2 Hours of <a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/stand-strong-in-holy-places?lang=eng" target="_blank">Priesthood</a> session, and 2 hours of either </span></span><a href="http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/general-young-women-meeting/2013/03/your-holy-places?lang=eng" target="_blank">Young Womens</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> or Relief Society. That is only 12 hours. 12 hours to gather with the Saints of the World, the Christians of this, and other, Churches. It is only 12 hours to hear the inspiring words of the <a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/obedience-brings-blessings?lang=eng" target="_blank">Prophet of the Lord</a>, of the Apostles, of the other various leaders that have devoted their lives to serving the Lord. 12 hours to have the Spirit teach, encourage, warn, comfort and promise blessings. 12 hours to hear the words of our heroes. Yet, those 12 hours are ones of great development and growth. I looked forward to those 12 hours for weeks and cried when they were over. </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I learned so much. I loved the focus on the <a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/for-peace-at-home?lang=eng" target="_blank">family</a>, and the need to unite together and protect it. I love the call to stand in<a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/stand-strong-in-holy-places?lang=eng" target="_blank"> holy places</a>, to stand up for our beliefs, our faith, for what we know is right. The call to <a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/obedience-to-law-is-liberty?lang=eng" target="_blank">obedience and liberty</a> was inspiring. I have so many things that I am grateful for! So many things that I learned. And I'm excited to continue to learn from them in these next couple months. ((I wrote it better in my journal, I'll bring it next week and include it in the email then))</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I think one of the things that I love most from Conference is that it is messages from the hearts of those who are devote servants of the Lord. It is messages to our hearts, fellow servants and followers. They are messages from Heaven given to the world, not just to members of our Church.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have to say thank you to my family. Thank you for being that family that you are. For the things that you have taught me, for helping me become someone who loves the Lord and loves doing His work. Thank you mom and dad for loving each other and loving each of us. Thanks to my siblings and the love we have for each other. How grateful I am to have a family built upon the gospel of Christ, truly that is the only way to have a happy family.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Being a missionary has been the highlight of my life. I know that it is not easy. As a dear friend reminded me, that especially when we look at the Savior's example, the most important things in life and the ones that require the most of us. The most work, the most determination, the most effort, but they are also the moments that give us the most joy and love and opportunity for growth. There will always be hard times, but those are the times when we get to go homeward, and heavenward to for the strength that we need. I know that our Loving Heavenly Father will always send down the sweetest blessings. Thank you for being some of those blessings.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love each of you.</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">May we always stand in holy places, together and with love. </span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you again, for everything!!</span></span><br />
Gwendelynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106663461540181996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862290925557681034.post-11207771038848270532013-04-11T15:39:00.000-07:002013-04-11T15:39:02.150-07:00Preparing for Conference<br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">FAMILY!!</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hello dearest family!! Sounds like everyone had a wonderful week! I'm jealous that y’all have already been able to watch <a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2013/04?cid=HP000032&lang=eng" target="_blank">General Conference</a>! I have been fasting and praying in anticipation to hear the powerful words of the leaders of the church. It's strange to think that it will be my last conference here in Korea, but I am excited for the special messages I'll be able to hear and apply to both myself, and those I am serving.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This week.. well it has been hard. If I would have written y’all last weekend, I know my attitude and words would have been a lot different then what I will be writing to you today. </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With new beginnings and new transfers and companions, it is hard to make adjustments sometimes. There has been lots of frustrations, tears, misunderstandings, hurtful words, and long conversations. But I know that, without these experiences, we would not be given the opportunity to learn something new and grow.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This past week we have talked a lot about pride. What pride is, whether or not we can see it in others (if we can, it usually means that we have it as well), how we get rid of pride... these have been questions on my mind a lot. Seeing weaknesses in yourself, or having others point them out to you, is never an enjoyable experience. Either way, it gives us a very special chance. It gives us the chance to do a self inventory and ask Heavenly Father how we can, and should, change. (For truly, His opinion is the only one that matters).</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This past week I realized that I was fighting off that conversation. I didn't want to have it because I was afraid of what I would feel. The moment that thought popped into my head, I realized how wrong it was. Change is good. Change brings us closer to Father in Heaven, and a prayer of repentance is what helps us feel more deeply the love of our Savior. Why wouldn't anyone want that experience? Pride is within all of us. I realize now, that I have let too much of it creep into my heart. If there is pride in my heart, that means there is part of my heart that is not full of the Love of Christ, and that part needs to go. I had an interesting thought the other night. We are the supreme creations of a loving Father in Heaven. Our bodies and spirit are sacred, they are our personal Temples. Just as we are to be worthy to enter into the House of the Lord, we must be worthy for the Lord to reside within us. And like the Celestial Room of the Temple, the place where we can feel closest to God, our hearts need to be the Celestial Room of our souls. Our hearts need to not only be a place where God can visit, but a place where He can reside forever.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I understand a little bit more of who I need to become, and what I need to change. I know that this change will take time, and there will probably be a few more nights of tears, but I am excited for the opportunity to fill another chamber of my heart with the bright love of Heavenly Father. I pray that this General Conference will help me understand what I need to do to be more and do better.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Other phases of the work went well this past week. We had the miracle of meeting an old investigator on the subway and we were able to meet with her last week. We have an appointment with her today again!! I met with her when I first came to this area, and then she stopped meeting with us in January. I can see such a difference in her now. She seems more ready to accept the message, more hungry to know the truth. I'm excited to teach her again the beautiful message of the <a href="http://mormon.org/restoration" target="_blank">Restoration</a>. It will be amazing! </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My companion and I were working hard this last week calling old contacts, Less Actives, and members for appointments and such. I'm grateful for her and her words. Of course she can use Korean FAR better than I, but the way she uses her words, full of understanding and love, is a wonderful gift. Makes me not want to say anything at all for fear that I'll ruin it all! Haha</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yesterday, we had Zone Conference and it was FILLED with new things to learn. Sister Gilbert had just a small meeting with all of the sisters and it was my favorite part. How grateful I am for her mother's heart. It is what we sisters need!! She shared a scripture with us and a new perspective that I really enjoyed. <a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/42?lang=eng" target="_blank">D&C 42:6</a> - "Lifting up your voices as... like unto angels". What does an angels voice sound like? What words would proceed from their mouths? What messages would they allow to pass through their thoughts and their words? We are the angels of the world, as missionaries and as members. We are to lift up our voices, declaring, as angels have before and will continue to do, the glorious Gospel! We are to allow our voices, our conversations, our words and deeds, also reflect the Divinity we have within each of us.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's been a week of deep thinking, and I have a feeling that it will only continue, especially after General Conference! But I am thankful for the times in our lives that allow us to see us as we are now, how we need to change, and who we can become, with the Savior. I know this Gospel is true. I know people are not perfect, but I know that this gospel is. I know the Savior is full of perfect love and is Perfect to Save. And I know that both He, and the Father, know us perfectly, yet they love us unconditionally. For that I am truly thankful.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love you family!! Thank you for everything that you do for me.</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks for the thoughts and the prayers!</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">LOVE YOU MEAN IT!!!</span></span><br />
Gwendelynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106663461540181996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862290925557681034.post-48343886035817576912013-04-02T08:42:00.000-07:002013-04-02T08:42:07.907-07:00Easter Sunday<br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Darling Family!</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hello all!! Sorry for the confusion yesterday! Yesterday was the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, and like last year, the entire mission got permission to go and see the BEAUTIFUL flowers! It reminded me of fairs in the South with all the food stands, fair food, and pigs roasting over the fire. The weather was perfect and it was fun to meet up with the other missionaries. It was a bit surreal thinking that <a href="http://sisterlongshoreinkorea.blogspot.com/2012/04/another-week-flown-by.html" target="_blank">I was there last year as a new missionary</a>. I have a feeling I'll be having LOTS of those thoughts these next couple of months. It was fun, though, to have MY new companion with me and show her around!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So that brings me to the fun news!! MY NEW COMPANION!! I knew that I would be training again, and I had the feeling that I would once again be training a Korean sister. Especially seeing as, out of the 7 new sisters that came, there was one New Zealander, one American, and 5 Koreans! Training Day was fun!! The beginning of all the fun was lunch with Sister Kersey, Sister Cutler, and Sister Kent! We were all in the MTC </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">together, and now were all training at the same time (Sister Baker is training too! But she is in the middle of training, so she couldn't come to lunch with us)! To celebrate our official one year mark together, we all got to eat out together. What a fun time it was to laugh and giggle, speak in Korean and share all of our fun stories! I love those Sisters with all of my heart!</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After a Day of Proselyting and eating out together, we all gathered together again on Thursday with the 20 trainers and 20 new missionaries and awaited President Gilbert announcing who was with whom. Of course I was at the VERY END! Me and Sister McKay, we are both training in the 4 man house together, were the last to be called and President had the new missionaries close their eyes, we stood behind our new companion as President directed, and then he had them turn around. hehe It was a fun, squealing hug! </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My adorable new companion is 최한나 Choi (pronounced chweh) Hanna! She is 25 Korean, 24 American age. She is from Seoul, and she studied at BYU for a couple of years so her English is fantastic. When she smiles, her eyes go the perfect crescent moons, and she is really good friends with MY trainer Sister Lee! I love her already! Yes, it once again is an adjustment being back with a Korean, but it's nice to switch in between Korean and English and not have to worry about any misunderstandings. Our conversations are actually pretty entertaining since we both just switch in between both languages without really thinking. </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Actually, I have to admit that I felt that she was going to be my companion long before I met her last Thursday. Here in Korea, when we get the<a href="http://www.lds.org/liahona?lang=eng" target="_blank"> Liahona</a>, it has an insert about what is going on in the church in Korea, and it announces and has pictures for all the missionaries who are going to serve missions. When I saw the insert, I was drawn to her smiling picture and I prayed that my companion would be the one with the beautiful, shining smile. I know that God answers prayers, even the silent ones of our hearts.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This past week in my personal study has been really neat. I tried to focus a lot on the <a href="http://www.lds.org/topics/easter?lang=eng" target="_blank">Savior</a> and His Atonement, Death and Resurrection. It was wonderful to have studied His life before, and save Friday, Saturday and Sunday for those days of Sacrifice and Miracles. Church on Sunday was a little disappointing since the talks weren't really focused on "Easter". However, the Sacrament, that special time as we remember the Savior's body, blood, love and promises, was tender. How grateful I am for those little moments. In the Liahona, under the talk "<a href="http://www.lds.org/liahona/2013/04/he-is-risen?lang=eng" target="_blank">He is Risen</a>", it says that the Sacrament is our personal interview time with the Savior. I am excited to continue to make the effort to really have the Savior at the focus of my study and thoughts. It's a goal that I made to strengthen my testimony and relationship of the Savior and all that He has done for me and mankind.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Also during study time and talks with fellow missionaries, I realized again the importance of questions. Questions help us learn, they allow us to stretch our knowledge, dive deeper into the scriptures and really allow for the Spirit to teach us. But this past week I realized, with the help of Sister Gilbert, that one thing that is just as important as asking the questions is be willing to search for, find, and accept the answers. When we ask for a question, we have to want to find the answer. If we just ask the questions and not allow our heart to be open to be taught, then we will find ourselves confused and doubting. While we ask questions and journey to find answers, we also need to make sure that we do not forget. Don't forget everything that you have been given, all the other answers and blessings you have received, and we cannot forget to be grateful! If we ask questions with the faith to find, remembering to be grateful for what we do have, then our questions will be a great source of learning. Asking questions is part of the Savior's way of teaching. Trust in the Savior and learn from Him.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love missionary work!! I love being here and seeing all these new missionaries come to the field. As we welcomed in this new group, the Spirit testified to me, with great power, that Heavenly Father could not wait any longer for these young men and women to come to the Vineyard as we labor with the Lord. Truly <a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/5?lang=eng" target="_blank">Jacob 5</a> is being fulfilled.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Love y’all! Hope everyone has a good week!!</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Love ya, mean it!</span></span><br />
Gwendelynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106663461540181996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862290925557681034.post-30471650048158024072013-04-01T22:29:00.000-07:002013-04-01T22:29:03.576-07:00대구에서 6일째PICTURES!!! Enjoy!!<br />
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<br />Gwendelynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106663461540181996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862290925557681034.post-70257063992136985772013-03-25T14:11:00.000-07:002013-03-25T14:11:27.777-07:00ONE YEAR!<br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dearest, Darling Family,</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">HELLO!! How are all y’all doing? First off, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!!! 축하합니다!! Sounds like y'all had a fun weekend! Daddy, that movie theatre sounded amazing! Can I go there too!?! Haha</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Last week was a wonderful closing to my privilege of training the dear <a href="http://sisterlongshoreinkorea.blogspot.com/2013/01/i-love-missionary-work-like-for-reals.html" target="_blank">Sister Sarah Meliana Eliza Rose Taylor</a>! We had a wonderful 10 weeks with each other and there was lots of tears as the end of training came up. I wish we had had more time together, but now she gets to learn from someone new!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ok, y'all ready for this!?! Transfer Calls were on Thursday and......I WILL BE STAYING IN SANGIN!.... and....I WILL BE TRAINING AGAIN!! Yep, round 3 here we come! I wasn't surprised about the training part; I was more surprised about the staying in Sangin part. With the large influx in missionaries, there is only ONE companionship of sisters that is not either IN training or will be training!! This transfer, 7 sisters are coming and next transfer 10 sisters will be coming. That means that by the end of 2 transfers, pretty much every sister in the mission will be training. So fun right?!! I am so excited with how many missionaries are coming in and I am so excited that I get to be a small part of it all.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today was lots of fun. The training and transferring missionaries all gathered to the Boo and we had the opportunity to hear from President and Sister Gilbert about where the Lord wanted us to go this next transfer. They have us reading 2 articles from the Liahona {Ensign}. One is in preparation for this coming week of Easter. It is titled: "<a href="http://www.lds.org/ensign/2013/04/he-is-risen?lang=eng&query=he+risen" target="_blank">He is Risen</a>" by President Eyring. I am excited to see what I will be able to learn as I remember the Savior and as I strive to do His work the way He would do it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The other talk is "<a href="http://www.lds.org/liahona/2013/04/the-mission-and-ministry-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng&query=mission+ministry+jesus+christ" target="_blank">Mission and Ministry of Jesus Christ</a>". That one we are studying, especially the scriptures, in preparation for Zone Conference. It would be fun to have y’all study them as well, so I can get your thoughts on the matter!! {<i>Follow the links of the Articles to read along with her this week!</i>}</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Especially when I am able to gather together with other missionaries, I am grateful that I am serving in the Korea Busan Mission. The work is hastening and I know that the Lord is looking out for all of the missionaries in this Mission and the World. I heard a rumor that the Church is projecting nearly 100,000 missionaries in the world by this next year I think! Can you imagine!?! Heavenly Father loves His children SO much and He is ready for them all the hear His gospel! President Gilbert commented that it is the fulfillment of <a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/5?lang=eng" target="_blank">Jacob 5</a>. Amazing.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have to say thanks to my dear family! Thanks to Mom and Dad for their examples, and for teaching me to, not only obey the commandments and standards, but to obey them with love and exactness!! I am so grateful for the love of doing what is right that you instilled in me. Thank you for the love y'all have for each other. That, too, is one of my greatest examples. Thanks dear sisters for all that you do! Thank you for your love and service and always thinking of others. A special shout out to Gwendel, thanks for keeping up my blog. Two of the Sisters that just came in last transfer said they were looking up things about the mission when they got their call and they found my blog and were able to follow along with all the posts!! Small world, huh?! Not gonna lie, I was a little embarrassed, haha! But if someone out there reading these posts gets to feel a portion of the love that I have for this people and this work, then I don't mind who stumbles upon the blog! Matt and Kaylani, I love y'all dearly!! Thanks for working hard in school and at jobs, and especially at church. I know that y'all have a huge impact on those around you. Let your light shine for everyone to see! You have lives to bless.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks to everyone for all the love and support! For all the kindness and the hard work. I am grateful to know y'all and to have you in my hearts as I serve the people of Korea! In the Trainers Meeting, they always ask what some of the things are that we learned from our Trainers... but I think that my list of those things can include the things that I learned from y'all as well. Without your love, patience, encouragement, courage, faithfulness and testimonies I would not have had the strength to serve, nor the heart </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">to train.</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love each of you!</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I hope and pray that this week each of us remember our Savior and really prepare ourselves for this <a href="http://www.lds.org/topics/easter?lang=eng" target="_blank">Sunday</a>, as we once again partake of the sacrament in remembrance of <a href="http://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/he-is-risen?lang=eng" target="_blank">not only His death, but also His life, and the Life</a> and the Light that He gives to all of us.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Love y'all, mean it!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Oh, and as for the subject line, this week on Wednesday I will have been in my beloved Korea for one year. Oh how quickly time goes by! It's fun to think that I am training, in a sense, ME one year ago!!</span></span><br />
Gwendelynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106663461540181996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862290925557681034.post-12545193467693924212013-03-20T17:21:00.000-07:002013-03-20T17:21:39.759-07:00A lot of kinds of crazy<br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Darling family!</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">From the various complaints I've gotten about ME sending this off at a weird time, I am assuming y’all went through a daylight sayings (which has just been confirmed by emily). haha That, and everyone seems to be doing well! Life seems to be jammed packed full of fun times which is exactly what it needs to be!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well this week here in Daegu started off normal. We were doing great missionary work! Meeting with members and investigators, proselyting and all that good stuff. We had a fun mountain hike (a favorite past time of Koreans) with our investigator and some members. During that hike, I was able to have an amazing talk with one of our members about faith and enduring to the end. She said that EVERY DAY it is a struggle to study her scriptures and pray, but the easy alternative is much worse. I asked her how she did it, how she kept going forward if everything was so hard. Her first reply was, when things get hard, when you might get offended or have a hard time, the first thing you DO NOT DO is leave church. She said "do not stop going to church! You need the strength of the Church." We touched on a few other topics as well, but I was just in awe at her amazing faith and testimony. She has the heart of a missionary, the heart that I am striving to develop. It was an amazing hike learning from her.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thursday we had our English Book of Mormon class with the Elders and our (now their) investigator. It was a neat lesson and we were able to also teach the <a href="http://mormon.org/restoration" target="_blank">Restoration</a> and commit him to be baptized when he received the confirmation that these things were true. It was neat. After that lesson we went over to a members house to follow up on their "day of service.” Their 'reward' of sorts for their day of committed service was that we baked them an apple pie!! They absolutely LOVED it! It was a delicious dinner of Duck, and then followed by an apple pie, made it perfect! I'm grateful for the members here being so willing to strive to be a little better.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But that's when the crazy began.... dun dunnn dunnnnn. So we knew that we would be moving houses... but we didn't think that the move would happen till next month... and then the call came on THURSDAY night that we would be moving at 9am on SATURDAY!!! 헐 </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thursday night we also had some sisters from another area come to our house for the night... yeah, six girls...one house. Y’all understand. Then comes Friday...our day of packing and cleaning. And it was literally ALL DAY LONG!!! There was SO MUCH stuff!! Different from just packing up your own stuff for a transfer, we had to go through everything. Twas a very long and tiring day. But by the time night time came around we were in pretty decent shape. That night, for our last night in our house, we had some fun! We were all a little slap happy from a long day and lack of sleep, so we relaxed with some Korean face masks and reenactments of Harry Potter and Pirates of the Caribbean.. I was Voldemort, my companion was Jack Sparrow... it was epic! Haha Though I admit 10:30 bedtime was absolutely Heavenly!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Saturday morning comes around and the real crazy begins.. I'll have to give you the condensed version...we had the AP's, our bishop, and our district of Elders all at our house moving things downstairs and out (it was really really weird to have men in our house!!!). While they were coming in and out, I was finishing up the cleaning of.. Well everything... bathroom, kitchen, fridge, stove, cupboards etc. Then it comes time for the big stuff to be moved and they realized that there is <i>no</i> way the dressers and table are doing to be able to be taken down the 3 flights of stairs, let alone out of the window. In the middle of this, the people who are going to move into the house after we are done, decided to show up. As we are trying to move, they decided to take a look around and begin complaining about everything that they didn't like or they felt was wrong! </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At this point, the Bishop and the AP's (Assistants to the President) are no longer there (they went to the new house to start putting furniture in)... so we have these angry people asking the Americans and ONE Korean all these questions that none of us understand, nor have the answer too. During this, a moving truck is called and through the window gets all the large stuff out. As they are loading up their trucks we get a call from the other sisters saying that the house is different then the one we saw before... different and smaller!!! So now we are trying to decide there, what stuff we can and cannot take with us... Good bye couch, good bye mattresses, good bye 2 out of the 4 desks.... Finally things are loaded, old house is empty, and we are about to leave when new people start getting angry again... apparently something was up with the water! Anyhow, they were throwing a fit over 600won.. the equivalent of $0.60...</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">By this point I’m stressed out, and it turns out it is only the beginning as we go into our new TINY TINY TINY apartment and have to figure out how to fit 4 girls in a house meant for maybe one and a half people! Closets in one room, desks and table in the bigger room, 'beds' in the other. Our bathroom is the size of about 2 airplane bathrooms put together and our kitchen probably smaller then a camper's kitchen. It.. well... it was an adventure to say the least. An adventure and 3 very very long days!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some highlights were: eating "dinner" amongst the boxes, sleeping on the floor, the contagious giggles brought about from lack of sleep, stress, and the ridiculousness of the entire situation. It was a weekend to remember!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But I have to say, that not doing missionary things for about 3 days was really really really hard! It made me realize how much I love the study time, prayer time, and mindset of a missionary. It was an interesting perspective that I am grateful for! I love being a missionary!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We also had a very special moment as we knelt in prayer in our new house. Amongst the boxes and zero walking space, we thanked our Heavenly Father for our blessings, and we asked that this new house be a place of learning, and of the Spirit, a place where future missionaries will come to and be able to have a place of refuge as they prepare to go out each day and serve with all their heart, might, mind and strength. I may have a face now full of stress acne, but I have a heart full of gratitude that I am a missionary and I get to dedicate myself to the work everyday.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love you all! and I miss you! Be safe this week and have fun!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">kiss love hugs!</span></span><br />
Gwendelynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106663461540181996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862290925557681034.post-35326846471671796662013-03-14T15:09:00.000-07:002013-03-14T15:09:28.490-07:00Week of Warmth<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">From the sound of the emails I've gotten, sounds like everyone is doing fantastic!! It's good to hear that everyone is having fun. I'm SUPER jealous of Gwendel right now!! Sounds like the surprise was well worth it! hehe Thanks for the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10100513935511300" target="_blank">video</a> Gwendel! Haha MOM! Your scream was priceless hahah {<i>Gwen flew home and surprised Cheryl and Vince for her Spring Break!</i>}</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I too got a bit of a surprise this past week...but mine brought only tears. On Tuesday I get a call from the mission office and they asked me what airport I wanted to fly into so they could confirm my plane tickets... ㅠ.ㅠ(Korean cry face) Yeah, I sobbed after that one!! But you know what, I still have LOTS of time! So they can just buy those stinkin tickets and I won't even worry about it!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The weather this past week was absolutely heavenly!! Felt closer to summer rather than spring a couple of those days! The weather is a bit colder again today, but I'm hopeful that the warm weather will be staying for good, here shortly. That means I'll get to ship home all of my winter clothes too!! I'm ok with that!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This week was amazing. One of the highlights included President Interviews on Thursday! I love President and Sister Gilbert so very much! Usually how it works is when the missionaries are taking turns being interviewed by President, we sit with Sister Gilbert and she fuels the gospel discussion on something that we have been assigned to study. But this round went a little differently. To coordinate with the new teaching curriculum, we were each assigned one of the parts of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and with our companion we were going to teach it to each other in the Savior's way. It was really neat, but I admit my favorite part was planning for it with Sister Taylor!! She had some really neat insights. </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our topic was faith and we spent the whole week reading and studying about Faith and how it especially applies within the Plan of Salvation. We used a lot of things from Alma 32 where faith is compared to a seed. We drew the 'steps' of the gospel (faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end) and under each step we drew a tree progressively getting larger. We talked about how our seed of faith can progress only as we progress in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Then, when the small seedling of faith grows into the "Enduring to the End" part of our life, that is when it needs to be the strongest and the largest; that is when the tree becomes most mature and if we endure well, we reap the fruit which is sweetest above all. </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When we started thinking about how that may apply to the Eternities, we recognized, that a lot in this life is a remembering progress. Before we came to this earth, we lived with the Father. There we were taught and we grew, and we accepted the Plan that was placed before us. Here in this life, our faith can be strengthened as we seek to remember what we once knew in the eternities. But we realized that if that is as far as we go, we will stop progressing forward. The second part requires us to look heavenward. To reach out into the future with trust and Faith, with an eye single to the glory of God. In a sense the roots we put down are the remembering of what we once knew, and the branches reaching towards the Celestial sun light is the faith of becoming who we were created to be. Faith is remembering to become. But the roots of our faith needs to be in the soil of Christ. Overall it was an awesome lesson, and we drew a pretty sweet diagram! ^^</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Talking with President was pretty sweet, and we both got a little teary eyed. I asked him if I could train till I went home and he said that, with my 3 remaining transfers, I'd probably be able to train 1 and a half more times!! Which makes me really happy!! With my time remaining I want to help someone else learn to love Korea as much, no, more, then I do now. I want to be able to make sure that my Korea is in good hands to carry the work forward.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another really good part about this week was our own day of service!! On Wednesday we had planned going out to this far part in our area (an hour by bus) and we were going to go find and visit Less Active Members. When we headed out that way, we stopped in on some members who owned a restaurant. Our purpose was just to do a 10 min. lesson, but the Spirit told us that we needed to stay there and do some service, helping around the restaurant and such. (Which we normally do later on in the week). </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As we served, we saw that Brother Jeong was REALLY sick and having a hard time functioning that day, and that his wife was also getting a little sick. Since we were there to serve, they were able to relax a little bit more and save some of their strength. Kind of teasingly, they asked us how we knew to come in that day...We didn't, but Heavenly Father did. When it came time for the lesson, again, the Spirit showed us the way we needed to go, rather than follow the lesson plan that we had made. It turned out to be my most favorite lesson with her. We shared a scripture from <a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne?lang=eng" target="_blank">2nd Nephi</a>: Christ always remembers us because we are written upon the palms of His hands. We then talked about the <a href="http://mormon.org/jesus-christ" target="_blank">Atonement</a> and the comfort of knowing that we have a Savior that loves us and knows us each individually. In the words of Daddy, we were all <i>leaking</i> by the end. I feel that something else was ailing them even deeper then a cold, and I know that Heavenly Father directed us to their rescue that day. He knew exactly what they needed and how grateful I am that, after fasting and praying, I was able to be entrusted with their care for a small moment.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This week was full of service and lessons and lots of other moments of little things that warmed our hearts and the hearts of other people that were put into our paths. I have to say a BIG thank you to my dear sisters for sending me and my companion a wonderful package!! It came on a day that she really needed it! Thank you for turning out and thinking of someone else. I know it seemed like something small, but it meant so much. I too am grateful to be able to see little tidbits of the family and y’alls holidays! Thank you thank you thank you!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love you all dearly!! Hope everyone has a wonderful week!</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">kiss love hugs</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ps: thank you Sister Davies and Sister Hatfield for the emails!! I love you both dearly! Thank you for the small emails that always feel like they are packed with a whole bunch of love. You both are a wonderful example to me! </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And for general info, I don't think that Busan is going to be affected by the <a href="http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/missions-created-accommodate-influx-new-missionaries" target="_blank">new Seoul mission</a> because there used to be 2 missions in Seoul anyways. I think they will just figure it out in the current Seoul mission.</span></span><br />
Gwendelynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106663461540181996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862290925557681034.post-6166764785688261552013-03-09T08:46:00.000-08:002013-03-09T08:46:07.935-08:00New Month, New Transfer<br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">FAMILY!!! 안녕하세요!!</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How is everyone!?! Sounds like things went well in everyone's lives this week. Congratulations to Bear Hatfield who got his mission call! It's SO exciting to see so many people getting ready to go! I love it! I'm still waiting for someone I know to come out to Busan! That would just be soo much fun!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This past week didn't go exactly how Sister Taylor and I had planned, but we did have some fun times! I have to say that I'm super impressed with her and my sense of direction. When we have some time we usually like to go onto the subway to talk to people, but we felt a little adventurous one day and decided to take a bus!! Never been on that bus, I only slightly knew where it was going, and I had no idea how we were going to get back to home afterwards; but it was so much fun!! After getting off at a stop that I have NEVER been to, we were able to find our way back to a road we knew AND find a members house from there. I love going down new roads and making new connections, and it was fun being above ground and seeing things around us! The Couple Missionaries here call the missions subterranean because, if there is a subway system, we are hardly above ground! (and then we get in the car with them and it's like a whole new world!! haha)</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This week we weren't able to meet with our investigators, but we did have some really amazing member lessons! In the mission we have been talking a lot about the Character of Christ and “Turning Out.” Especially turning out in acts of service every day. After learning a little bit more about that in the transfer meeting, we decided to share that idea with the members that we met with this week. One Sister we met with, we were able to have a really awesome conversation! We were talking about ways we have served throughout our lives, and the blessings that have come from that. She served a mission in California, so we shared mission stories back and forth. And she shared with us how, as a missionary, she had always felt God's love. She felt it as she received the strength she needed to go on her mission; she felt it when she had the rough days in the field; but she said she felt it most at the end of her mission. As she was about to leave and return back home she said she felt God's love most then. Not because it was a difficult and trying time, but because she had learned to love the people she had been serving SO much she felt she was able to understand more fully the Love God has for each of His children. She felt God's love most when she felt like she was able to see people and love people that way that God would. I love that perspective!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Later in the lesson we were talking about when we are in the service of others we are only in the service of God. How through our lives and through our service we can constantly share what we believe. It's HARD turning out, thinking of others rather than ourselves, but the blessings and the happiness are far superior. We then were able to share a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrOmq3otiBo&list=PL4A73DDEE675FBC39&index=2" target="_blank">Bible Video</a> with her. It's the newest one of Peter and John preaching the gospel. They have been forbidden to teach about, speak of, or serve in the name of Jesus Christ. But Peter boldly shares his testimony, and that burning conviction in eternal truths will not allow him to remain silent. Then after being thrown into prison and whipped, we still see them sharing with the people the thing that was most precious to them. Again, we see that the things that make us happiest are the first things that we want to share. I have never been happier on my mission than the days that I am just out talking with people, sharing this message, and testifying of Heavenly Father's love!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After sharing our message with her, we committed our member to pick a day. For that one day, they are to try and turn completely out: turn out in service, think of others, help someone else, leave note for her husband, call up an old friend, write a letter to converts... ANYTHING! To just have an entire day devoted to loving as the Savior would, in having every thought and action directed at helping someone else. Of course, a day like that would be HARD!! So we decided on the day, and that day we would remember her in all of our prayers so that she could do it and have an amazing experience. What was neat was, as we were about to say the closing prayer, she said that she knew exactly who she needed to go see. While we were talking she had thought of someone and she felt that that person needed someone on that day. I'm excited to go visit her again and see how it went!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The rest of the week went well! Nothing else too huge! We had some fun in the 4-man house this past weekend!! Before we began our fast, my darling companion made Crepes!! So we have a feast of crepes with bananas, strawberries, peanut butter, nutella and my FAVORITE 고구마 GoGuMa. Is a Korean yellow sweet potato and I can eat it like candy!! It was SO GOOD!!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sunday, after we ended our fast, we had spaghetti, salad, steamed veggies and apples (the best part is, ALL of those things were cooked in the rice cooker! Seriously, I love that thing!!) For dessert my companion outdid herself and make us an apple pie!! Oh my goodness, it was divine! So the 4 sisters in my house enjoyed apple pie as we watched "Legacy" in the family room on our mattresses! (We all had a sleepover! Haha best sleepover ever! We were all asleep by 10:30!! It was beautiful!! hahaha)</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Things are going great here in Korea. I love this work, and I love being able to serve these wonderful people! Korea is truly amazing, and the people are even more special.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love you all. You are in my prayers! I hope all is well this next week for y’all!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">kiss love hugs!!</span></span><br />
Gwendelynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02106663461540181996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862290925557681034.post-35192296322890857962013-02-26T14:57:00.000-08:002013-02-26T14:57:08.642-08:00PICTURES<span style="font-family: inherit;">Chalene and Sister Taylor have had fun lately.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daegu</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditional Korean Dress</td></tr>
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