October

Hello dear family!!

Welcome to October!! The air is getting crisp, the leaves are changing colors and we get to watch conference!! Things can't get much better!! Though I haven't been able to watch General Conference yet, I did hear the news about the age difference!  Can I just tell you how excited I am!!!! I am sooo excited that Sisters will be able to leave early to serve the Lord!  What an exciting time!  I'm also slightly jealous because those extra 2 years of waiting were excruciating.  But I know I was supposed to serve at this time, so I really can't complain all that much. 

I thought about y’all this past weekend watching Conference, eating "conference" food, and spending time with one another. I hope that you enjoyed every moment of it!  I had a neat experience while saying my prayers this past weekend; I could feel the power and the strength of the Saints gathering together to hear the words of our dear Prophet.  I could feel the power of the General Authorities as they made their final preparations to speak by the Power and Spirit of God.  It was a tender and powerful feeling, and it only made me that much more excited to be able to hear their words myself!!  I am so very excited!  Words can't even begin to describe it!!

So this week in Korea was busy and wonderful! The extra P-day after the holiday was a little strange to have, but then we could get right on with the work.  (and it really is my favorite work!)

This week we taught our dear grandmother investigator.  She is so tender and I'm excited for the day she will be baptized!!! We talked this past week about Repentance.  My companion and I came up with an awesome analogy to help with the lesson ((ps: after the lesson I was talking to the Elders and tried to tell them about the "비유" that we had used...I COULD NOT, for the life of me, remember what "비유" was in English!! It took me a good 2 hours of thinking and a couple of dictionary searches to realize the word I was looking for was "analogy"... hahah oh learning Korean! lol I love it!!))

Anyhow... So the idea started from watching the District Videos (Gwen will remember those well lol)  In one of the videos, the Sister Missionaries where talking about "turning a new page".  So to the lesson we brought a black piece of coating paper (lamination paper??) and a white board marker.  We talked about how the paper is us, and the marker is sin.  We talked about some of the things we may do that would be sins, and we wrote those on the paper (not keeping the commandments, lying, gossiping, etc).  Then I explained, using the same 'sin' marker, that sometimes in our lives we grab onto sin, and only though repentance can we let go.  We then taught the 5 steps of repentance: recognition, sorrow, prayer, turning away, and reconciliation.  With each step and explanation I raised one finger away from the marker I was holding in my hand.  At the end the marker dropped. My companion then explained that once we have let go of our sins, our hand is now free to cling to the Atonement of Christ, which is our eraser.  We cannot erase our sins on our own; we do not have that power.  But Christ does.  And through Christ we can be made clean again.

It was such an amazing lesson!! It was first wonderful to see our investigator's understanding, but also, on a more personal side, to see how far my new companion and I have come.  Our first lesson we had together was with this same investigator and, well...it wasn't very good. There was no love, no unity, and little spirit. (Which are the things that every missionary absolutely NEEDS to have!!) But this lesson, all those things were present.  I think one of the biggest things is that we weren't focusing on ourselves or trying to teach the perfect lesson.  We were just sharing the message that we know to be true and we were sharing it with love.  It was amazing. 

The rest of the week went well.  We are still going out nearly daily to try and find the Less-Actives of our Branch.  We have a list of 426 members that are supposed to be coming to church...currently we have about 65 active members who come every week.  It's heart breaking to think that so many people have lost sight of the truth and light of this Gospel, but little by little we are trying to make contact and find those who have been lost.  On Sunday, we spent about 3 hours walking around finding different houses.  None of the people were home, but we were able to leave a note and a pamphlet and some cookies.  Little reminders that God loves them, and we do too. 

I'm excited for this next week though!! We have a couple of lessons with our English Class members that should go really really well!  (One lady we taught 2 weeks ago (everyone who comes to english class is required to sit in on one 30 min Gospel discussion/ introduction of our church) after seeing a picture of Joseph and Moroni explained to her friend about who Joseph Smith was and the Book Of Mormon, etc... it was a neat moment to see that she HAD payed attention!! And that she remembered so many details! I'm excited for the next lesson with her!! ) 

And then we have a dinner appointment with the American family in our branch and a girl from Colorado we met out on the street!! She knows about our church, and her best friend served a mission in Russia. We, and the Elders, keep running into her... Heavenly Father is ready to have her hear the Gospel I think.  Really though, the work is going great, and the next couple weeks should be pretty exciting!!

I love you all!! Thank you for all the love!!!!

Mom asked the question of how my Korean is coming along... things are going really well.  I can understand a lot of things, though forming all that I want to say is pretty hard.  My companion said that my pronunciation, especially when reading, is pretty good.  I'm starting to learn more and more words everyday just from listening, which makes things nice.  It helps to have a companion that doesn't speak hardly any English...it's hard to communicate, but it forces me to try, even when I fail =]. 

Haha, funny thing!! For some reason this past week I kept getting compliments from the members that I am really good at chopsticks!! So if my chopstick skills are in any relationship to my speaking skills, then I think I'm doing ok. ((Though korean is still really really realllllllyyyyy hard!! lol))

kiss love hugs! Have good week!!! 

Her using Chopsticks at the MTC!

Happy 추석 (Chuseok)

((추석 sounds more like Choo Suck, but i didn't really want to put that as the title... hahah))

Hello darling family!

 Sorry this letter is one day late, I was busy having a blast at the mission p-day!  It was such a fun way to celebrate the Korean Thanksgiving!  Everyone got to see everyone and catch up! I LOVE getting together with all the missionaries!  The crazy thing was, it that I don't recognize people because of all the new missionaries that have been coming in... that thought led me to calculate that I am now at my HALF WAY MARK! Ridiculous right!?!?!  I'm having anxiety trying to wrap my head around it.  I was looking through my calendar the other night and I could hardly believe that I was already on October! 

Well, Korean Thanksgiving went well!  It is tradition on this holiday for Koreans to go to the "land of their fathers" so to speak.  Typically they go to the Father's side of the family's hometown. (Typically it seems around the 3 major cities of Busan, Seoul, and Dejeon).  Because of the mass exodus from Ulsan to the other cities, the city was extremely empty!!! It was nearly eery to see the streets neither crowded with cars or people.  Everything was closed down, and at church we had 3 families come (which is actually a LOT more that we were expecting actually!  We really thought it was just going to be the missionaries! (and until 10:10am it was lol) 

After Sacrament meeting one family took pity on the missionaries and we got invited over for lunch!!  Of course it was delicious! And they gave us a HUGE bag of leftovers at the end. One thing I did learn from 추석 was how to make the traditional rice cake!! They are typically white, with sesame and sugar inside and they are shaped like a half moon (which is also their nickname). 

Our other 추석 adventure came Sunday night.  Again, the town was dead and everyone was busy, so at the church we had our own 추석 dinner with the Elders!  My companion and I cooked and we all ate together.  It was fun.  Reminded me a little bit of home because as we were cooking we had the MoTab playing and, because we weren't in an apartment, I got to FINALLY sing my little heart out without worrying that I would disturb the neighbors. I miss being about to sing out like that!!!

As I talk about the Feasts of 추석, I think about the Spiritual Feasts that I have been able to have this past week.  It's been a blessing as I have been with my new companion, who is also a new missionary, to realize, in part, what it is that Heavenly Father needs me to do and how it is we can work together.  This past week I really recognized the importance of asking questions.  Yes, I can speak Korean to an extent, but when you want to really try and get something across, I find that my limited vocabulary tends to still fail me.  Instead, I have started asking questions.  When there is a principle that needs to be taught, or a matter that needs to be discussed, instead of beating my way through an explanation, simple questions are much more effective.  Through questions, the answerer has to look within themselves to search the answer.  They ponder and think, they apply it to the knowledge and experiences they have accumulated, and then they answer.  This process allows us to come to the same conclusion that I wanted to share, but with one difference. Because the answer came within, it is already internalized and therefore can be applied. When affirmed by another or more importantly, the Spirit, the questioned answered now becomes a truth learned.  We have been able to grow a bit closer to the Savior and to each other this week because of questions. 

I've once again realized this week that the principles taught in PMG, are not just for missionaries teaching investigators, they are for everyone!  They are meant to help every person draw closer unto Christ.  PMG isn't just a guide to missionary work, it is a guide to conversion.  And when we are converted we will want to share the gospel.  I really like in the September Liahona (or Ensign..) Where it talks about sharing the gospel by FIRST being a friend.  I love that.  Be you.  Live the things that you believe.  And when you do this, others will see the light that you have and a gospel discussion will come naturally.  When you live what you believe, you are constantly testifying of Jesus Christ.  I am reminded of the quote by an Apostle of the Lord, he said something like "Share the gospel at all times, and when necessary use words". 

Monday was a fun P-day as all the missionaries traveled to Busan for a mission p-day!  Again, I LOVE getting together with all the missionaries. We played games, had spiritual messages, prepared a Christmas surprise for our families =] and just had a grand ole time. It was neat though, one of the requirements, your "ticket" to get in, was you had to write a letter.  Last week we were assigned a name of a missionary and for a week we had to pray for and find a scripture that we could share with this missionary.  It was a neat thing to do to inquire of the Lord of how to help a fellow Sister and servant.  Well, at the p-day, Sister Gilbert announced that for Christmas we were going to be doing the same thing.  But instead of a letter, we are now reading a Book of Mormon.  We are to pray for what Heavenly Father would have us mark and learn from the Book of Mormon, then on Christmas day we will receive that name of the missionary we will give it to.  Again, I'm excited to see the new things I will learn and what I'll be able to share! 

Anyhow, I love y’all!! Thanks for all the letters and love.  I'm jealous you got to see the RS Broadcast already... it might be a couple more weeks for us.  I know that we don't watch conference here until a week after y’all, but I think Sister Gilbert wants to get all the sisters together so we can watch it; we'll see what happens.

I love you. You are in my prayers!! I missed you lots this last week as my companion got to call her family for the holidays!! But it's only 2 more months till I get to hear your voices again!!! {Missionaries only get to call home twice a year...Mother's Day and Christmas.}

kiss love hugs 

Sorry...

Family...I was writing another email, but there is NO TIME to finish it... (You know why!) {she was email chatting with Mom, Emily and Gwen!}

So highlights.

-Had the WORST MEAL EVER...well so far...this week=PIGS FEET! It was disgusting...it was all skin and cartilage and it was just plain wrong....

-We got a service opportunity preparing and serving food to old people...it's lots of fun

-Zone Conference was this week and it was fun because we got to Skype with the missionaries on the JeJu Island. First time that has ever happened! I love technology!

-I met a super sweet girl from Colorado who is here to teach English. We got her number and hopefully we'll have dinner soon with the American family in our branch. She has lots of member friends and said seeing the missionaries reminded her of home.

-Korean Thanksgiving is this weekend, and so pretty much everyone is going out of town! At church, it might only be the missionaries....and maybe ONE family! But we get to go to Busan for a big get-together with the whole mission!

The work is good, study time is the best, and I love missionary work!!

Sorry, next week will be better, lol!

kiss love hugs!

Thanks for the rain coat!

Darling Family,

Well first, darling Mom and Dad!  Thanks again for the beautiful raincoat! It has come in EXTREMELY handy this past week.  Oh man!  The weather has been nuts and today is the worst of it all! I sure do love Typhoon Weather. So, everything should be ok... but at 1pm we have to be back at our house and we are house bound for the rest of the day.. But don't worry President had everyone update their 72 hour kits last night so everything should be good! ㅋㅋㅋ (Korean style haha sounds like a “K”) No really though, it shouldn’t be too bad...but the prayers would be nice!

WHAT A WEEK IT HAS BEEN!!!  I think Monday-Thursday had to be some of my most fun days (and hardest days) of my mission yet.  Monday, transfer day, all the missionaries getting new companions get to meet up at the Boo.  I love being able to get together with other missionaries!  But my most exciting moment was when I realized that I got to spend the next couple of days with my bestest friends Sister Kersey and Sister Chase as I waited for my new companion to arrive!! I love those sisters with all of my heart.  (Sister Kersey was one of my MTC companions and when I was sister representative in the MTC, I got to be the one to welcome Sister Chase!)  Anyhow, needless to say our study time together was a spiritual feast, and our days together where my most favorite!...(the nights were fun too! haha One night we were all craving cake... SO we went and got one from the store [on sale] and we ate it with chopsticks!  Yes, we had a very large sugar high by the time we went to bed, but it was totally worth it!)  I was extremely grateful for the love and support of those two sisters as I began my newest and most intimidating adventure of being a Trainer.

So...Training Days!! It was strange to be one the other side of things especially because it feels nearly like yesterday that I was going through those things as a new missionary myself.  On both Wednesday and Thursday, before we met with the new missionaries, we were able to have a meeting just with trainers.  That was amazing.  We talked about our role and our purpose and the need for our constant examples.  That the things we teach these new missionaries will affect the mission field for the next 18 months to 2 years (yeah, no pressure there!!!!!)  But we were able to go around the room and everyone shared an attribute they had learned from their trainers.  That was neat to see the impact that a trainer has.  I was able to think about the darling 이예정, my trainer.  From her I learned courage; that this work takes courage to do.  It takes courage to rely on the Lord and it takes courage to do this work HIS way, not mine.  It also takes courage to love everyone around you.  And when life gets hard, when trials come, it takes courage to continue to walk forward.  I hope that I can be a trainer like that.

Wednesday we did a proselyting activity with the new missionaries.  This time around, they had a scavenger hunt activity...like find a man in a hat and teach him about the restoration. Or find a mother and her children and share a message about eternal families. It was fun, but it was also hard. The place where we were at, people were VERY busy and it was hard to be able to talk to anyone for too long.  That night we had a delicious dinner and the poor jet lagged missionaries were more than ready for bed!

Thursday is the day that President (with Sister Gilbert and the APs) pray and decided who will be with who. (In my case, since there was only one sister it was a rather easy choice).  But it was fun to see who the Elders were all paired up with.  And of course, every match was perfect (Heavenly Father wouldn't have it any other way!)

SOO!! MY NEW COMPANION!  Her name is 윤은지 (Yoon EunJi).  She is 25 years old, from Seoul, and knows nearly NO english....... Haha yep, this will be an adventure! No really, she is kind and she seems nervous about missionary work, about being able to accomplish her purpose but I know that her humility, if she relies on the Lord, will allow her to become a great missionary. 

Things have been a little rough as she has dwelt with jet lag and adjusted to mission life and mission rules, but every day we grow a little closer together.  I am excited to see how things work out for the next 12 weeks.  No doubt it will be hard, but we are going to help each other grow soo much!  And besides, because we are both missionaries, if there is anything we can't understand with the words we use, we simply need to listen to the Spirit and understand with our hearts. 

Fun food story!! haha So to start off this new adventure we had a missionary meeting in Shin Jeong with our ward missionary leader and the elders.  As a special treat he took us out for a Korean favorite... DOG!!! Yep, I ate dog... again... and this time it was MUCH more delicious than the first =] haha Sorry y'all, but it's true.  Oh and then the next day it was my special treat (sarcasm) to have pig skin.. chowder? I'm not sure what exactly you would call it. But I will be VERY ok if I don't have to eat it again.

Other than that, the work is moving along here in Korea.  We are all excited for Korean Thanksgiving and General Conference coming up!! General Conference especially because we are hoping for a Temple to be announced for Busan!!!

I love you all! Thank you for all the fun stories (nice dream Gwedel!!), spiritual messages (Daddy you're my favorite), my favorite day to day updates (Mom, I really do love those!!) and all other funness y'all send me(...emily...matt...kaylani... JK!!)  Thank you for the prayers and for all the love! I miss y'all!!

Kiss Love Hugs! 

Beginning of Transfer 5!

HI FAMILY!!!!
 Sorry, I warned y’all that the email would be coming a little bit later today, still, sorry that y’all had to wait.

So this last week in Shin Jeong was awesome.  The weather has been getting SO STINKIN wonderful!  I am in love with fall.  I think the only complaint is the mosquitos are out for revenge before they disappear for the year and I'm Oh.So.Lucky to have them feasting on me... ugh I hate those. 

The Great Costco Adventure was fun.  It was strange walking into a place that smelled a little like America lol.  But the trip was fun and the best was we had a picnic with all our goodies in a park by the river.

These past couple of weeks we have been focusing a lot on Less Active finding in our area.  We have a list from 2010 of LAs, but we have NO idea if those people even still live there.  It has been so much fun going out and searching around the streets of Korea for these precious people.  Unfortunately we have gotten some not so warm welcomes, or they mostly just haven't been home so we have left a note and some cookies, but I'm glad that we were able to find some people.  It's pretty fun to still get to walk down new streets every day, I love that kind of adventure, but it also made me realize how much more work needs to be done!!!!

My favorite moment with a less active this week was when we went over to her house to see how she was doing (we had made contact with her last week with a challenge to start reading the Book of Mormon daily).  The change in her was amazing!! She seemed so much brighter and happier!  We talked for a little bit, but then we all just opened up our scriptures and read from the Book of Mormon where she had left off that morning.  It was so neat and the spirit that was there was so strong.  She had said that that was the first time she had read with anyone like that and she LOVED it! I think we'll be doing that every week; just go in, read for 10-20 min, talk a bit and leave with a prayer.  Its amazing how much those simple things can have a profound change.   

My favorite miracle this week happened on Thursday.  We took the 40 minute bus ride to go visit our recent convert Sister Yang. We wanted to check in and see how things were going, but we also wanted to talk to her about possibly teaching her daughter.  Her daughter's name is 김지희 Kim JeeHee, and she is an amazing young woman.  She is 14 years old, but her heart and her mind are truly amazing.  She is a deep thinker and someone who really understands things, not to mention she is just sooo smart! Really, she is just like her mom.  Well, when we get to the house it turns out that the Mom, Sister Yang, wasn't at home; which actually turns out to be a blessing.  JeeHee was able to completely open up to us.  Since her family moved she has had a really tough time with the new school.  The kids aren't very nice and they have thrown her in the category dubbed "invisible".  So sad.  

She hasn't want to tell her mom because the move has been hard enough on her and she didn't want to make it worse.  Well, soon conversation about school soon turned spiritual.  At one point we asked her what she thought the purpose of life was.  She explained that everyones focus was on school... good grades leads to a good college which leads to a good career.. But she said, what was the point of all that?  Was that really all that there was!?!  From talking about that, and about her feelings of having no one to talk to, we were able to teach her about her loving Heavenly Father, how He is there, and He has a plan for her.  We were able to teach her about prayer.  The tears in this 14 year olds eyes were so tender as she graciously accepted the opportunity to be able to talk to someone who is Always there and Always listening.  I love those moments, when we show them that there is soo much more then what the world offers.  I love that moment when they realize that they are cared about and loved. (Not that she doesn't feel that from her parents).  So now, with her mother's full-hearted permission we get to teach her every week!! I am SO excited to see her learn and grow. 

Well, that wasn't the only miracle that happened on Thursday.... So, like I said last week, Transfer Calls were this past Thursday. So 9:06pm comes and the phone rings...It's the AP Elder Riser and he wants to talk to my companion. They talk and she gets the call that she will be leaving, well, just before the conversation was over I was really confused because usually they tell you who will be coming!  I holler at Elder Riser and ask him who is coming, and his reply: "got to go, bye!!"... Well, 3 minutes of anxious waiting and the tears already start coming... Next, at 9:09pm the phone rings and it is President Gilbert.  There are only a few reasons why President Gilbert calls you on Transfer Day. 1. You are a district leader 2. You are a zone leader 3. You are an Assistant or 4. You are training.  Well, seeing as the sisters don't serve as 1-3, I knew what the call meant and tears just started coming faster.  I answer with much less enthusiasm than I normally do and after his "hello" he just asks "why?"  All could say was that I am nervous...
"Why?"
"I don't know, I just am!"
"Why?"
"Because I know what you are going to say..."
"Why does that make you nervous?"
"Because i'm still a little kid missionary"
"No you're not!  You're a Big Sister missionary!"
He then goes on to tell me that i will be getting a new companion that will be coming from America (AKA the Provo MTC), but that the Companion will be KOREAN!!!  See, there is only one new sister missionary coming and I will be getting her to train. He told me to just keep doing what I'm doing and that he has complete trust in me. Even more importantly, Heavenly Father has trust in me, for that is who my call came from.

Well, end the phone call and bring on the reallly BIG tears.  Now, they weren't tears of sadness or fear, but more like tears of humility.  It is always humbling when Heavenly Father trusts you, especially in this situation where He is trusting me to help one of His selected representatives as she begins her mission.  I have a lot of other emotions running around in my head and heart, but above all it's humility.  I am thankful to be a missionary and I am thankful to be here in Korea learning so so so much every day.  I know Heavenly Father loves me because He is giving me so many opportunities to learn and grow, and that is truly humbling.

I just hope I do ok as a trainer (you seem to remember your trainers the most from your missions......)

But of course all y’alls prayers would be VERY nice!!

I'll meet her on Wednesday and they we'll be back in Shin Jeong on Thursday!! It'll be a grand adventure I'm sure!

Love y’all!! I miss y’all!! Thanks for everything!!

kiss love hugs

PS: Mom, I’m doing ok with the weather changes so far!  I have a red scarf at home in my box of extras that would be nice! (I'm soooo excited to wear my scarfs again!!) Other than that I'm ok for now.

TRAINER!

THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

10  September 2012

Dear Brother & Sister Wells-Longshore,

It is my pleasure to inform you of Sister Chalene Wells-Longshore's outstanding service here in the Korea Busan Mission.  It brings me great joy to work with such fine young missionaries as Sister Wells-Longshore. Through her work, she has contributed greatly to the success of this mission.

Sister Wells-Longshore has faithfully served in her previous assignment, and has now been called to serve as a New Trainer. In this calling Sister Wells-Longshore still retains the opportunity and privilege to proselyte daily.

The challenge of being a New Trainer is great and demanding. In order for us to continually improve the success of this mission we need the cooperation of all the missionaries, especially the leaders, to obtain that unified effort. I am sure your daughter will provide that leadership.

Sister Gilbert and I want to express our gratitude to you for sharing your daughter with us and with the Lord. Sister Wells-Longshore’s faithful, obedient service reflects great credit upon you as her parents. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work with Sister Wells-Longshore in this great work of our Heavenly Father.

Sincerely,

Lynn A. Gilbert,

Korea Busan Mission President

September

Hi Family!!
Oh man!! Can y’all believe that it is already September!?!?!  Soooo crazy!! Though, the weather these past couple of days has been absolutely amazing; so really there is no complaining on my part!  It's nice to have the weather cooling off.  But with another new month, it means that another month has passed by! Currently I have been a missionary for 8 months, and in Korea for 5 months!! Then, this Thursday we will be getting transfer calls and I'll then be on my 5 transfer in Korea!  So far we are thinking that I will be staying and my companion is going.  Rumors are circling that I might be made a Trainer, but there is NO way I feel ready for that.... sigh... we'll see.  With time going by so quickly it also means that next month I will be hitting my half way mark... yeah...I know...I don't like it either! {her "hump day" is October 11. Feel free to send her anything that will make that day better for her!}

Well,  the work in 신정 is moving along wonderfully!! This last week we were able to have the last couple of lessons with our sweet 72 year old grandmother in preparation for her BAPTISM! This Saturday!!!  The lessons we have been having with her are very tender.  Before I explain why, I want to share with you something that I was studying this past week. 

In preparation to do the workshop (<-- almost forgot that word, it took me a minute lol)  in the District Meeting, I was studying in PMG about Recognizing the Spirit.  In my studies it lead me to think about the Gifts of the Spirit and the way that people feel the spirit.  (Some good scriptures include : Galatians 5:22-23(fruits of the spirit), Moroni 10:8-17 & 1 Corinthians 12 (gifts of the spirit) and John 15:26(testifies of truth) )   Through studying I was really able to look at my life, and the things that I have been blessed with.  It made me realize that as individuals, Heavenly Father knows us individually.  And He has prepared each of us with special gifts that will allow us to find, understand and recognize truth.  After some introspective thinking I started to think about my investigators.  How do they feel the spirit?  How do they recognize when something is true?  And how can I use that understanding to better teach them?  These questions are still a work in progress, but while teaching sweet Grandma Kim, I was able to notice how she has been recognizing the truth that we have been teaching her.

Grandma Kim is a very sensitive person.  She is very in tune with her feelings.  For the first moment that she came  to church, with tears in her eyes she said that she just felt something different and that she felt good.  My favorite lesson this last week with her was the Plan of Salvation (and it's my favorite lesson to teach anyways...)   After we went through the lesson, again tears just streamed down her face.  Sounding nearly heartbroken she inquired why she didn't know about this before! "Why couldn't I have found this earlier in my life?"  Again, the special spirit within her, the special gift of readily recognizing the truth, testified to her that after her 72 years of searching she finally found the way back to her Father in Heaven.  

And that is what spiritual gifts do.  They are given to us so that we, and those that we are meant to help through using our gifts, may return to live with our loving Heavenly Father.  Things of Spiritual nature do not limit themselves to this time and this place on earth.  A truth is eternal, and the Spirit testifies of truth.
I think the only hard thing for this sweet little lady is her poor memory is a little.. well, old. haha  She wants to understand the truth that she already feels, but it's a bit hard to do that when you can't remember everything very easily.  So, my wonderful companion had this awesome idea and we ended up making her a "map of the gospel" in a sense.  It's a picture that depicts the Restoration, the Plan of Salvation and the Gospel of Jesus Christ all in one.  It is SO COOL!!!  I'll be sending y’all the picture for sure.  But she was so grateful for that.  Aww the sweet and tender experiences we have had with her could just go on and on!!  I'm excited to see her dressed in white on Saturday. 

In other news, we survived all the storms here, and truth be told I was a little disappointed with how wimpy they were...I miss the good thunderstorms of Tennessee.  Other parts of Korea didn't fare as well, but overall, all the missionaries in Busan are safe and sound. 

Sorry I don't have very many fun stories this week... other than the one of a less active lady that we found who claims that she is possessed by an evil spirit.... but the work is moving right along and everything is going well!!

Today will be a fun adventure!! They just opened up a Costco in my area!! WHOOT WHOOT! So we are going with the Elders to go get some groceries!  I am so excited! =]

I love y’all dearly! Thanks for all the love and prayers and uplifting messages!!  I always feel extra strength from email time. 

Matty, have a HAPPY BIRTHDAY this week!!! I hope you like your present from Korea!! And make mom give you an extra hug from me mmk??

I'll let y’all know what happens with transfers next week, the email will probably be later than normal too fyi

Love ya, mean it!!
kiss love hugs!