BAPTISM, GIFTS & SERVICE

One of our investigators, 윤상아 (Yoon Sang Aah) accepted a baptismal invitation. She is 23 years old and we've been meeting her for three transfers now, off and on. Her brother was a refferal from another ward member. Then he reffered his sister to us before he got baptized.

He wanted to get baptized with her but she wasn't ready yet. She has taken some time. At her brothers baptism she said it was really cool but she's not ready. Since we've been teaching she has had baptism in her mind, but we've never brought it up with her. I think her brother is the one who put that thought into her mind.

Over the course of three months we had only taught her lesson one, the Restoratoin. She was so hard to meet, busy with school and a little scared. But I think because of her brother's example she's changed over the past two months we haven't met her. We've met her now constiatnly for three weeks and she said she felt really good coming to church, even though it was hard to wake up for.

We finished teaching lesson three and at the end of the lesson I asked her "Do you want to follow Jesus Chirst?" And she told us how she thinks about it all the time. Then we asked her to get baptized and she said "Yes"! I am so excited about her baptism! She is great and really fun to teach because she is our age. She is still scared of making mistakes after baptism, but we told her we all do and not to worry. I am happy though that she is thinking seriously about her baptismal commit, that's so wonderful.

On the way to church the other day I was sitting on the subway train.

In walk three old men carry recyling stuff. One of them kept saying "I am sorry" to me in broken english. Don't know why he kept on saying that to me, the only explanation was he looked drunk. He kept on trying to talked to me but his english was slurred. Finally his says "gift" in korean and hands me two church pamphlets and a package of tissue. I tell him thank you and we get off the train. Thank you drunk man for the tissues, because I actually really did need some at that moment to blow my nose.

Another cool experience on the subway, is I got up so a Grandma could sit down. She kind of fought me, but I finally got her to sit. Then she asked where I was from and I explained to her how I am a missionary. I then asked about her religion and family and talked about my family and our gospel. Then my companion joined in and introduced the Book of Mormon. It was really great converation and teh lady asked us questions. We didn't get her number but gave her a pamphlet. When you do service to others on the street it really does provide an opprotunity to introduce the gospel in a more normal way.

People are way more likely to listen.

I AM GETTING BETTER AT KOREAN

So yesterday me and Sister Ha were calling potential investigators. This week we got 18 phone numbers, which is crazy! That's more then I have gotten in the past five months. I feel like greenies and especially future Temple Square missionaries come with special abilities. My companion is so adorable and nice and she asks everyone for their number and they just give it her. Anyways, we called up this one lady. I started talking to her first. She remebered me and she started saying stuff I couldn't understand when I asked if she could meet again, so I quickly gave the phone to my Korean greenie. Half-way into the converstaion, she says "Your Korean is so, so good!" Then Sister Ha decides to pretend she is me and answers her questions about where I am from and tells her I only studied Korea for 3 months before I came to Korea and the lady is super impressed. I am just laughing and Sister Ha is trying not to laugh out loud on the phone. Then the converstaion ended. The lady couldn't meet because she was going back to Canada, which is good, because if she wanted to meet she might think, "umm...Sister Hill really isn't good at Korean."

So me and my companion cover two ward that meet in seperate buildings. I haven't gone to BoonDang ward for a month because we had an awesome investigator in Suji, who got baptized two weeks ago now. So during our missionary meeting our Ward Mission Leader was like your Korean is so much better. That was so good to hear, because he has known since I was a greenie. Yeah!!!

Well, yesterday was my Birthday. I am 24 years old. But by the new year, in Korea I will be 26 years old! The Elders in my district call me Hwang Newna, which means the king of the sisters. Yes I am the oldest sister in the mission according to age, but there are Elders older then me, so that makes me feel better. But one day Elder Jung was guessing when I was born and he asked "1988?, no 1989?" It hurt to say "1987". His reply, "Your five years older then me!" From then on he has called me "Hwang Newna". Having a Birthday on the mission is just werid. It doesn't feel like a special day, just another day doing missionary work. But that's okay. I will have plenty of more opprotunites to celebrate my birthday. Now is the time to focus and work. I am so grateful to be on a mission, for seeing blessing happen everyday, and for an all-star greenie.

A CRAZY TRANSFER CALL

Monday night me and my companion, Sister Park,  are sitting in a Dunkin Donuts with our investigator when we got a call. If Mission President calls you know someone is leaving. If APs call, it means both of you are staying. Well, the phone caller I.D. said Mission President. Sister Park answers and has complete shock on her face then she hands the phone to me. Sister Park got assignded to open up a new sister mission area with an American from her MTC group. President told me that I would be training in BooDang. Honestly, I thought I would be leaving this transfer, but no I am here for five transfers. I will never leave my greenie area! 어떻께?

Then next day President called us again and told Sister Park that she instead would be whitewashing a different area. A sister is sick so President wants her closer to him in the newly opened area. Then he informed my greeine wouldn't be here till Saturday and until then I would stay with Hong Jay sisters, with Sister Ellis and her new greenie Sister Rovelsky. Wednesday was transfer day, I love transfers days, you get to everyone who you haven't seen in a long time. So much fun. We all meet at one place in the subway. At least 80 - 100 missionaries. Everyone stays for at least an hour. After switching companions off we were to President's house to meet the newbies.

We received traning from President then the greenies came in. We all then got matched up with our new companions, except me because she had not come yet. I felt left out when we did Proseltying practice. LOL. I had no one to do it with. We ate lunch cooked by our beloved Mission President's wife. She is awesome and cooks American style for us. So delicous. I miss American food. Then we recieved more training and off we went to our areas.

I stayed in a threesome wiht Sister Ellis and Sister Rovelsky, so much fun. I love threesomes, never a dull moment. Sister Ellis is an amazing mission and I was so grateful to be able to learn from her for a couple days. Her area is really small so we walked everywhere, which I am not use to. My are is HUGE so we always have to take a bus to do anything. Needless to say I was always like 10ft. behind them when we walked and going up this one hill about killed me. I am so out of shape. Sister Ellis and Rovelsky felt bad for me, because I just could not keep up, so SAD. The next day after climbing in this hill we climbed up a hill as steep as a mountain. When we turn to go up it I stop and say to Sister Ellis "You got to be kidding me". I feel bad for the people who live up this hill, its so steep there is a railing for you to hang on to. I don't know what those people do when there is snow and ice on the ground. So we got up to the top of the hill and Sister Ellis ask me if I have the paper with the scripture references written down. "No" I reply. We all just start laughing. Then headed back down the hill. I had left the scriptures references in my bag that I had left at the house thinking all I need is my Book of Mormon. Lame. The house I stayed at is so tiny. I slept diagonally in the dressing room. Sister Ellis says she wants to ask President for a bigger apartment because whenever a sister needs a place to stay its always at her house because she is so close to the Mission Office.

On Saturday morning we went the Mission Office so I could meet my greenie. 20 mintues after we arrived she drove up with her mom and older brother. I was so nervous. My missionary is a temporary missionary. She has never been to the MTC and is waiting for visa to come. In Febuary she wil leave to go serve in Temple Square. Knowing this made me so nervous. The MTC teaches you the rules, how to teach the lessons and how to be a successful missionary. But with her I would have to do all that and help her adjust to the mission field. I feel so much responsibility right now, because our APs said that our greenies are images of us. So I want to be a great example to her, so she too will become a great example to others and be an obedient missionary. Aah!

So far so good. She had an awesome first day. After her parents dropped her off the Office Elders drove us to our area. Such a blessing, it would have killed us moving all that luggae on the subway. When they found out we had to transfer three times President told them to take us. Yes! It was a fun ride. One of the office Elders, Elder Fowers, loves to talk and even though he was driving, cutting-off people and making random U-turns, he talked the whole way and kept us alive. After dropping us off, we went straight to English class and then had to leave early to head to a dinner appointment 45minutes away in Suji area. We went and ate Karbi with a family and Suji Elders. So much fun and the food was absolutely delicious! Karbi is expensive steak stuff that you grill. First time I had it. I have been wanting to try it for a long time now, but could not afford it. Then after eating the mom gave us leather gloves lined with sheep fur for the winter. They spent so much money on us and told us it was an early Christmas present. So nice of them. This area is has a lot of wealthy people. So my greenie had an awesome first day of being a missionary. We got home planned and did some more things before going to bed. My greenie is so cute and stayed up studying some things. Her head was drooping and I told her, you don't have to stay up till 10:30, you can go to bed. Immediatly she stops what she is doing, changes and is dead asleep by the time I get out of the shower. It will be a good transfer, I can already tell my new greenie is a hard worker.

STRESS!!!!!

Yesterday was probably one of the most stressful days I have ever experience on a mission. Yesterday was Stake conference and right afterwards we had a baptism. Needless to say after church was absolutely insane because of the amount of people in the building. And my companion I swear knows at least half of the Korean church member population. Which is great, but yesterday was not a good time to see old friends.

First let me explain 안태현. This little boy got baptized over two weeks ago and hasn't been to church since to recieve the Holy Ghost. The first week he had to pack up thier house and the next week they made Kimchi. So this week again he was not goint to come, but this Thursday he moves, so I called his Dad to tell him he has to come. I am sure he would have recieved the Holy Ghost in the new ward, but I don't want to have to worry about for longer and try and coordinate with the missionaries in the new ward, I wanted it DONE with.

So thankfully he showed up to church with his two older sisters, so when I told Bishop he said they can't confirm at Stake Conference. I expalined to his the Thursday he is moving and I think he could tell by the stress in my eyes, this little boy needed to recieve the Holy Ghost. So he talked to the Stake President and read the Bishop manuel. At the end of stake conference he told me "yes" they could do it, they just need to get permission from our Mission President. Thankfully, our Mission President answered and gave the okay!

While this is all happening with 안태현 I am trying to also help get 김실숙 ready for baptism all while my company is taking pictures with old friends and talking to another on the phone. After a little while I snapped and told her "You need to get off the phone now", very sterntly, I didn't yell. Then Elder Duke saw and made a scared expression on his face and said "whoa". Then my zone leader who was also there said "You look stressed."

Thankfully because of miracles from above and the work of our members 안태현 got the Holy Ghost and 김실숙 was ready for the baptism. I swear, under all that stress I could not communicate anything in Korean, all the little Korean I knew was gone.

That baptism was so peacefully and you could feel the Spirit there. Every baptism I have had, I just feel the Spirit so stronly testify to me. My companionship and Suji prepared a musically number. A meldoy of two Primary songs. Boondong Elder joined us even though we had no time to practice with them before the baptism. We needed more men's voice, because Elder Bae was playing the piano. It turned out so well. 김실숙's eyes swelled up with tears and she continous wiped them aways as we sang. She was so ready for baptism. She was golden. We've been meeting her for almost two months now. She just had a great desire to learn, she kept all her comittments and had faith. It was such a blessing to see her progress so quickly as she strived to know whether or not this message was true or not. She acted with real intent. She is so awesome.

PATIENCE

Yesterday was a trying day. I held back tears the whole day, finally breaking down in the shower. So me and my companion cover two wards, which is really hard. I don't like it. Anyways, we went to Suji, this is only the second time we have been there this transfer. In Gospel Principles class there were no investigators or recent converts, so the teacher, the old Busan Mission President, decided to role play. He wanted me and Elder Duke, the other foreinger to pratice teaching the Restoration in five minutes. Elder Duke was suppose to go first, but after a akward silence of waiting for him to start, I got to go. I started out, got to prophets, the third principle and was interrupted and given advice on how to better answer a question the fake investigator had. It was good advice, but for the rest of the time this old mission president chastized us on how missionaries must always be prepared and how our Korean needs to get better...blah, blah, blah. Needless to say, leaving that class I was mad. I felt so stupid  because I am horrible at understanding korean and had to look to my companion to translate the whole time. All I can talk about and understand well is gospel. But if someone talks about thier own religion or random subjects, I have no idea what is being said.

Then our day got better when we had dinner at the Ward Mission Leader's house. He and his friend explained how when they were missionaries they never spoke english, only Korean. That's wonderful, but it's hard to do that when your companion speaks fluent english. I know we both need to do better at speaking Korean, but is was just annoying to be told these things. And once again, I felt stupid for not understand most of what they said to me. It's werid, when I listen to my companion speak Korean I understand well, but any other person and I can't follow the conversation. Then after we left my companion told me how he got after us for not spending more time in Suji. Asking us why don't we go to Suji english class too? Or why don't you know all the members names? I mean you've been coming here for 4 weeks, you should know every by know! Right?

Needless to say, I was not in a happy mood. First of all it is so hard to be responsible over two wards, second we are busy and don't have time to go to a second english class full of old people who have been coming to english for 5 years and still haven't joined the church. Third, our mission president told us to focus on BoonDang. I asked him this question, because its been a concern for me covering two wards. Grr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so frustrated. So last night I just cried. Advice, anyone? Please e-mail me.

I know I just told you about my troubles, but in all honesty our members are great and they weren't mean to me or my companion. Just the advice and critism they gave stressed me out and made me feel frustrated and more aware of how much I suck at speaking and understanding Korean.

MIRACLES 

Yesterday we had a baptism for 안태현 (An Tae Hyun). He is eight years old. His whole family are members, but his parents are inactive. His two older sister's go to church every week. I am so happy and grateful for this baptism. I have been teaching this little boy since I've been in Korea. I've seen him progress so much and have witnessed miracles that helped him receive baptism. At first the parents would not let him go to church. But we contiuned to encourage him to pray and ask his parents. Then suddenly the mom told him one day, "you can go to church." Then when we asked if he could get baptized the parents opposed. For a transfer nothing happened. We just encouraged him to pray and ask. Then one Sunday our Mission Leader told us that our Bishop called his father and he agreed to let 안태현  to get baptized. Looking back, there is nothing us missionaries did that resulted in his baptized. It was the faith of this little boy, the help of the members, and God's unexplained ways that made this baptism happen. '

And it was so cute, because after he had had his baptismal interview he ran up to his dad and said, "I am getting baptized." He really wanted to get baptized. And it was so wonderful because the Dad really wanted to attend his baptism so we set a date so he could come. And he did, even though his kids think none of their parents would come. And it was great, the Dad came to Sacrament meeting too and stayed after the baptism and socialized with members. Unfortunaley his mom did not come. But I hope she will recoginze a good change in her son and have a desire to come back. And now he and his sisters can be such great examples to their parents. I hope they will come back to the church and that family can recieve the blessings of the temple. He is such a special little boy.

BIG NEWS . . . I'M TRAINING

Yes its true. I never thought it would happen. Me and Sister Nelson figured out the odds of that happening this transfer and they were very low. But the Lord went against all odds and my reasoning. Monday we got transfer calls. President Lee told Sister Jung would be training and white washing (that's when two missionaries leave an area instead of just one. It's really hard because no one knows the investigators, area or ward members). No surprise, I predicted that one. She was ready. Next I talked to President Lee. He said "Sister Hill you will continue to serve in BoonDang. And you will be trainer." At that moment my heart dropped, I was so scared. I've only been in country for 5 months and barely know the language. He said it again "You will be trainer, do you understand." Yes I replied. Then the call ended.

That night I felt like it was the first day of school at a new school. My stomach was just churning and I felt nauseous, it was horrible. I even woke up early the next morning at 5:30am feeling so nervous. I was not able to fall back asleep. On transfer days we had to wake up so early 4:45. It took us an 1 1/2 to get the station where everyone meets to exchange. Transfer days are so much fun. You get to see all you friends. I love it. Elder Gunnell, who I knew when I lived in Washington State 8 years ago, is leaving this transfer. Actually he should be home by now. So crazy that we were on the same mission.When ever I saw him around the mission I could just remeber him as a quite little deacon, but now he is a return missionary. That is so crazy. He was an awesome missionary. People always told me really good things about him. And his last speech at zone conference so good. It was about being an example of Jesus Chirst.

So after saying "HI" to everyone me and Sister Manley went to Presidents house for training on being a tranier. Yes my MTC companion is training too. She is so awesome. So we had four new sisters come. Me, Manley, Jung and Bennett and Lee are all training. Sister Bennett and Lee are together training a greenie in a threesome. The training was great. Then after training from the President all the new greenies came into the room. They had us all stand in the back of the room and matched us up with our greenie. Standing there was nerve racking. All I could think was "Please give me the Korean not the Monoglian." Thankful my prayer was anser. I got the Korean!

Her name is 박소연. She has had an interesting start to her mission. She ws originally callled to servi in Tornonto, Canada, but her visa got rejected. While she was waiting for her visa she started serving in the Daejeon mission. She waws there for 1/1/2 transfers, then after her visa got rejeted she went to the MTC and is now here. So bascially my greenie came pre-trained. Its a blessing. If I had an America, we would have been really lost. But I know if that would have happened the Lord would have blessed me with the language. Next transfer we have six new greenies coming. I think all are America except one. So this next transfer call could be very interesting.

We get along really well. She is a really fun person. We have nothing but good days together. Saturday after English Class we went to go visit an inactive member. Before we left members asked what we were going to do next and we told them we are going to visit this person. Immediatley after we said that their response was, "She hates missionaries." Great. I was already worried about this before because of her member record. Apparently some missionaries beasted her about drinking coffee, so she hasn't like missionaries since then. But we went anyways. We were both nervous to knock on the door but just did it. What happened next was a pleasant reaction, she welcomed us in. She even fed us ice cream, fruit and ramen. We ended up staying at her home for an hour visiting. She told us she hasn't been to church in five years.And how for the past two yuears she has been going to the Catholic church. She explained to us how she drinks coffee everyday and feels so quilty about it and how she had had problems with ward members in the past which is why she doesn't attend our church anymore. We invited her to english class and the Stake Fall Concert next month and did Book of Mormon chain with her. Together we read one scripture. She choose one from Alma, it is her favorite book to read (mine too). We read the scripture on how through the strength of God we can do all things. We bore our testimonies on the power of the atonement. It was such a good visit and we felt really good afterwards. We plan on visiting every week and helping her overcome those things that have hindered her from coming to church. Visiting her it felt like she wanted to come to church, but had some bad experiences and felt tremendous quilt over drinking coffee.

So many miracles. I am so happy to be serving a mission.

I'AM A SENIOR BABY

Well, I have officaially made senior companion! I finished my pass-off this past thursday. For pass-off we meet with the APs and have to teach a lesson (one prinicple from each of the four PMG lessons), basic proseleting approach, 10 minutes Restoration lesson, recite D&C 4, first vision, 3 Nephi..., and vocabulary from the 5 lessons (you can only miss 3 out of 30).

The second week of this transfer I passed off on my memoraization things, but not on teaching because we ran out of time. So, Ocotober 6th I met with the APs to finish pass-off. The first time I did pass off I did it with an Australian, but this time I did it with the Korean AP. I was like "crap", he knows Korean, I don't want to teach him! But it ended up being fine.

We started our with basic prosetleyting approach. He had me do it two times. Then we stopped and talked about it. He prosetlyed to me and then had me implement the things we talked about and proseltye one more time. He told me to focus more on the Restoration, because that is what makes our message unique. Whatever what we talk about with people, always make a reference to the Restoration. So I did that and he passed me on that one. Yeah. He said you smile and have confidence in you message, so that's good. Smiling really does make a difference on how people speak to you on the streets. It's important to be happy always.

Cool experience me and my companion where prostelying on the street corners and we were in a really good mood. Sister Jung had just passed out a Book of Mormon on the bus to a lady you seemed geniuely interested. So we were excited and happy and while we prosetlyed people recieved us really well. Everyone accepted our flyers and were kind. One lady told us "you two look so happy."  What a wonderful compliment to recieve. Our Stake President always stresses to us about being a happy missionary and always being polite when people reject you. It was a good lesson for me, but I was able to understand how it affects how people accept our message. Even if they don't accept it, at least they have a good memory of us and remeber us to be happy.

Anyways, back to pass-off. So after that he had only 30 more minutes because he had an appointment to go to. So he told me I only had to teach one priniple and I could include any other principle that I wanted to. The principle he gave me was tithing. Such a blessing because the week before for Language Study I figured out sentences to explain tithing, because I couldn't do it at all.  And then we did practice teaching it because we had to teach it to an investigator. So the Lord had prepared me to be able to teach it. I included the principle of obedience. And he accepted my committment to pay tithing once he was baptized. It went well. He asked me if I felt prepared to be Senior companin and over my own area. I explained to him I feel like I can do missionary work, its the language the makes me nervous. But I know if the Lord feels I can do it, then I know I can do it. On each thing he signed me off. Even quick restoration lesson, which I didn't teach. I lucked out, espeacially only having to teach only one principle instead of four.

I am nervous because I most likely will be over my own area next transfer with a companion youger then me. That's a scary thought. But I know they Lord blesses us and will give us the ability, in language, to accomplish his work. One Sister I did an exchange with trained her 6th or 7th transfer. She said "I was horrible at understanding, but once I started training, I was able to understand people a 100%." Then she said she did an exhange with another Sister who had been on her mission a long time and when they taught a lesson she could barely understand anything. It was a reminder to her that us being able to understand and speak Korean is a blessing and is given to us when we need it. So I know if I get more leadership responisilites, like being over my own area with a JR., the Lord will bless me so I can do his work.

SPILTS

So this past week I got to go on splits for the first time. My area is so far from any Sisters that we never get to go on splits. But all the sister's went on splits wednesday. I stayed in my area with Sister Ellis. She is hilarious, so much fun. This is her 7th or 8th transfer. She trained one of my MTC companions.We worked on Street Contacting. I am always trying to improve to talking to people on the streets. I feel like I say pretty much the same thing and sometimes come off as aggressive, which I don't like. But Sister Ellis has a casual, friendly style I really like and feels more like me. Each person does it differently. I've been doing it the way I was taught, sounding kind of robotic and not the way that was my style and natural. We had training in district meeting about being yourself and doing things that feel natural, instead of being a robotic missionary.

Anyways, it was really fun and helpful for me. And just showed me different ways on how to talk with people and approach them. I no longer care if people reject me anymore. Last week I went to talk to a lady by myself and she went off on me, telling me something, I don't really know I didn't understand, you could just tell she was an intense woman and heard something bad about our church. Afterwards, I felt fine, I didn't care. Sister Jung came up to me and said she was going to come over to help me, but she thought "Sister Hill doesn't know what she is saying, she's fine." She decided to leave me! So funny.

Even though I am not afraid to get rejected anymore, I am still nervous about approaching people by myself and my lack of understanding skills. When we went on splits it was different talking to people with another American then a Korean. People had different reactions. A lot of people laughed and were surprised to here us speaking Korean. And even though I love my Korean companion and she is an awesome missionary, we defiantly get rejected more. Korean's get contacted by different churches all the time, so when another Korean comes up to talk to them about church usually they are like whatever. But if you are a foreigner they listen more and are kind even if they are not interested. Friday I just went off by myself to talk with people and it was really fun. I tried all the new things I learned and I just felt more comfortable because I didn't feel "Oh I have to do it this way." It was really good. I want on to got on more splits they are very helpful.

I still have so much to work on and fears to overcome, but it is getting easier and more fun as the more comfortable I become with missionary work.

THE MOVE IS OVER

Well Me and my Companion Sister Jeung has finished moving. Even though we didn't have much to move its still stressful. We got a new apartment and our Mission President had furniture delievered to us.

Unfortuanltley he forgot some essentials, like cups!

Monday did not feel like a P-day, after email and eating lunch we had to clean our new apartment. It tooks us an hour, but we had to go home, get cleaning supplies and come back, which took an hour and a half. I miss having a car.

Then Tuesday, Suji Elders came to our house to help move our stuff onto the truck. We got that done in 20 minutes. Then President drove us to our new place and ther our Zone leaders and two other Elders in our district joined us. So we had six Elders moving our stuff. It was nice. And they put together our desks. Also, our Bishops wife came over and helped us clean. She is awesome. She even took us out to lunch, we had 고기 (meat: really expensive in Korea). Then she bought us some basic cooking and cleaning things we needed and then helped us clean our apartment more. That took up the whole day.

Then wednesday and friday we crazy and we didn't get much missionary work done. Our numbers for this week are so low, 43/140 for contacts.

Wednesday the new BoonDang Elders came and we had a two hour meeting updating them on the area and thier investigators. Then Friday was planning day, so we don't leave till 3pm. But that was interrupted a couple times by the APs. They came and delievered us shelfs and a kitchen table. Then a couple hours later they came back with a oven, which was abosultely disgusting. You know when the microwave or parts of the stove get greasy? Well, it looked like that, all over the oven.

Baked on grease. And it looked like this oven hadn't been used or cleaned in years. We started cleaning it that day, but this morning we finally finished. Yes...it was that bad.

But even though our schedule has been crazy and our numbers extermely low, we have seen severval miracles this week. So Wednesday, we only had 10 minutes to do some contacting and then we had to go to an appointment. Within that time we got a number from a girl who seemed genuily interested.

Then the next day we were dong some contacting while we waited for the subway. While talking to a woman, this little old man came over and was listening. I look over at him and he says "Joseph Smith." I say "yes" and we start talking. Apparently 50 years ago he joined the church. Right then our subway came and for some reason we got on different carts. While in the train, I was like we got to go find him.

So as the train was moving we moved up to the next cart. We didn't see him, but as we kept on walking, there he was sitting down. The train stopped again and he got up and moved to a place with several seats that just opened up. He pats his hand on the seat next him. We got sit with him and start talking some more. I asked if he had a Book of Mormon and he said not anymore. So we gave him a copy and then he gave us his number. He told us to call him and that he'd come to church.

Then on Friday we were waiting for a bus for over 15 minutes. The buses in Korea are good about coming ever 5-8 minutes. While we were sitting there waiting, this man walks up to us. He explains how he went to church once in Japan and ask if he can have a copy of the Book of Mormon. He also gives us his number for us to call him later. After we got his number our bus came! Coiencidene that our bus was late, I think not. I love being on a mission and seeing the Lord leading us to people or people to us, and you don't even realize it till after it happens. If our bus was on time we would not have met this man. Its so amazing to me and strengthens my testimony that there is a God and he knows us and helps us in our lives everyday.

I think this new transfer will be full of miracles and great experiences. Oh we had transfers this last week and my and Sister Jeung are both staying. This will be our third transfer together. I really love her, she is awesome!

START OF A NEW TRANSFER

Well me and my companion are keeping busy. We picked up five new investigators this week. One we are super excited to teach because her brother is also meeting with the missionaries. Her brother is 25 yrs. old and she is 22 yrs. old. His been talking about the church and Book of Mormon at home so she was curious and wanted to come to church. For Sunday school class we went to the marriage preparation class. Which was so fun. The teacher is really good and makes it fun, not akward for people. I was a little worried taking investigators to that class, but it turned out really well and she made friends with our Ward Mission Leader's daughter. Yes!

Even though we have had many miracles these past couple weeks, this past week we had a very sad experience. Our little 안태현's mother said "no" to letting him to get baptized. It's really frustrating because her and her husband are MEMBERS! They are inactive, but his two older sisters are active. The reason why is because the Dad's parents are Catholic. I don't understand this about Korean Culture, but children, even when they are 40 years old still base off their decisions on what their parents say. Its so frustrating to me. And the worse part is they are moving soon and she told us once they move they are not going to let their kids attend church anymore. It's a horrible, depressing situation. I still pray something will change, I love that little boy.

So Monday was a bit Korean Holiday 추석{JooSok}. It's basically American Thanksgiving, but way more intense. They go up to their ancestors gravesite to pay respects and prepare food for them that they set at a table. It's alot of food preparation and no women likes it. Because men don't help with cooking or cleaning! How horrible. And they have to deal with their husband's family. Its all very stressful for women apparently.

But we had a member invite us over to eat a JooSok lunch. It was diclious. We only stayed for an hour then traveled to Seoul to meet up with some sister's and go to the Place. For this P-Day we had the entire day. 11am-9pm. It was awesome. The Palace is huge! And so beautiful. And since it was a holiday it was free and they had speacial events happening all week. We got to see a Korean drumming show. Some how me and Sister Nelson managed to sneak up to the front. It was perfect. I got awesome video of it. But because we watched the show we only saw a tenth of the Palace. It's like the Smithsoian in Washington DC. It would takes days to see everything there. It was so much fun.

THE MOVE IS OVER

Well Me and my Companion Sister Jeung has finished moving. Even though we didn't have much to move its still stressful. We got a new apartment and our Mission President had furniture delievered to us.

Unfortuanltley he forgot some essentials, like cups!

Monday did not feel like a P-day, after email and eating lunch we had to clean our new apartment. It tooks us an hour, but we had to go home, get cleaning supplies and come back, which took an hour and a half. I miss having a car.

Then Tuesday, Suji Elders came to our house to help move our stuff onto the truck. We got that done in 20 minutes. Then President drove us to our new place and ther our Zone leaders and two other Elders in our district joined us. So we had six Elders moving our stuff. It was nice. And they put together our desks. Also, our Bishops wife came over and helped us clean. She is awesome. She even took us out to lunch, we had 고기 (meat: really expensive in Korea). Then she bought us some basic cooking and cleaning things we needed and then helped us clean our apartment more. That took up the whole day.

Then wednesday and friday we crazy and we didn't get much missionary work done. Our numbers for this week are so low, 43/140 for contacts.

Wednesday the new BoonDang Elders came and we had a two hour meeting updating them on the area and thier investigators. Then Friday was planning day, so we don't leave till 3pm. But that was interrupted a couple times by the APs. They came and delievered us shelfs and a kitchen table. Then a couple hours later they came back with a oven, which was abosultely disgusting. You know when the microwave or parts of the stove get greasy? Well, it looked like that, all over the oven.

Baked on grease. And it looked like this oven hadn't been used or cleaned in years. We started cleaning it that day, but this morning we finally finished. Yes...it was that bad.

But even though our schedule has been crazy and our numbers extermely low, we have seen severval miracles this week. So Wednesday, we only had 10 minutes to do some contacting and then we had to go to an appointment. Within that time we got a number from a girl who seemed genuily interested.

Then the next day we were dong some contacting while we waited for the subway. While talking to a woman, this little old man came over and was listening. I look over at him and he says "Joseph Smith." I say "yes" and we start talking. Apparently 50 years ago he joined the church. Right then our subway came and for some reason we got on different carts. While in the train, I was like we got to go find him.

So as the train was moving we moved up to the next cart. We didn't see him, but as we kept on walking, there he was sitting down. The train stopped again and he got up and moved to a place with several seats that just opened up. He pats his hand on the seat next him. We got sit with him and start talking some more. I asked if he had a Book of Mormon and he said not anymore. So we gave him a copy and then he gave us his number. He told us to call him and that he'd come to church.

Then on Friday we were waiting for a bus for over 15 minutes. The buses in Korea are good about coming ever 5-8 minutes. While we were sitting there waiting, this man walks up to us. He explains how he went to church once in Japan and ask if he can have a copy of the Book of Mormon. He also gives us his number for us to call him later. After we got his number our bus came! Coiencidene that our bus was late, I think not. I love being on a mission and seeing the Lord leading us to people or people to us, and you don't even realize it till after it happens. If our bus was on time we would not have met this man. Its so amazing to me and strengthens my testimony that there is a God and he knows us and helps us in our lives everyday.

I think this new transfer will be full of miracles and great experiences. Oh we had transfers this last week and my and Sister Jeung are both staying. This will be our third transfer together. I really love her, she is awesome!

I NEVER WILL ESCAPE

All my life I have been moving. I have lived in 10 different states and two different countries. I have moved eleven times with my family. So when I got my mission call to report to the MTC on March 23rd, I was exteremly excited. Because that June my family would be moving again and this time I got to miss it. To not have to move heavy metal shelving or spend weeks unloading and loading the same boxes sounded refreshing. But unfortuanltey this past wednesday I heard some disturbing news from my companion at Zone Conference, "We are moving next Tuesday!"

Some background information. Within the past several weeks we have been meeting so many men. Men with geniune interest in learning about the gospel. The man in the wheelchair, the guy we contacted during Door Knocking and two other men we met within this past week. Tuesday, we had just left our house and hopped on the bus. Sister Jeung went and sat in the back, I saw a seat and headed towards the back as well. Before I sat down an older gentleman said "Hi" to me in English. We start talking and I explain to him that I am a missionary. The man was sitting right across form Sister Jeung, so all three of us started talking about the Book of Mormon. Before we got to Yatap station (5-8 mintues), he asked for a copy and we exchanged numbers. Then in church yesterday we had a member refferal, from another ward, come to church. He is a couple years older then me. Super nice and the Bishop wife said "He's cute." Which he is, but I am a missionary. Anyways, he came to sacrament and we introduced the Book of Mormon to him after church. He says next week he will come to all three hours.

So, as you can see we've been meeting a lot of prepared men in our area. And before Zone Conference I told Sister Jeun, "I wonder if we BoonDang is going to change to Elders." Because we've been meeting so many men, but they are really hard to meet with for us, because we have to find another woman to come. So at Zone Conference, wednesday, President Lee told Sister Jeung that Elders are moving to our Apartment in Yatap and we are moving to Migeum. Migeum is still the same area, so BoonDany area will have Sisters and Elders. It's all very exciting except we have to move into a new apartment.

So yesterday night and this morning we have been packing. It is alot easier than moving with my family, but I just thought for at least a short time, I would have escaped the trials of moving.

GOD LEADS YOU TO HIS PREPARED PEOPLE

This past week I have had a couple interesting experiences while out proselyting. On Saturday we rode the bus to a members home. While waiting to cross the street a man in a wheelchair rides up next to us and says "Hi" in english. We say "hi" and Sister Jeung starts introducing us and talking about the Book of Mormon. Once we crossed the street we continued to talk with him for 10 more minutes. He told us a story about how he use to be in a coma and was considered brain dead. I think he got in a big accident because he was missing a leg.

While he was in a coma he thought about Jesus Christ and then woke up.

He couldn't speak at first, but tried signing church hymns and eventually was able to speak again. He asked us if he could have a copy of the Book of Mormon, which we happily gave him and then we exchange phone numbers. We will call him later this week and hopefully get an appointment. The interesting thing about this experience is we got off at the wrong bus stop and were a 15 mintue walk away from where we were suppose to be. My companion got the aparment names mixed up, so didn't get off where we were suppose to. The Lord just lead us to this person and that person to us and we didn't even know it was happening.

Second, neat experience. Yesterday we were doing door contacting in the countryside in an area we have never been before. We passed this one apartment complex that had its doors closed. In Korea to get into an apartment you need a code, so you have to follow people inside, wait for someone to come out or know someone who lives in there.

Sometimes it is challenging to get into a building. On our way back down to the bus stop the door had been left open so we decided to do one more building to reach our goal.

On the last floor, last door, we had a man answer, not much older than me. We talked to him for 5 mintues at the door, but he had people come into his house while we were talking, so we decided to go outside to talk some more. We ended up talking to him for over an HOUR! We shared with him the Joseph Smith story and talked about the Book of Mormon.

He asked is there proof in the Bible about this book and Joseph Smith.

Through talking to him more we found out he is part of God's Church.

It is a really intense church. They believe Heavenly Mother is coming and Jesus Christ already came again. We are talking and he is flipping from verse to verse in his Bible asking us questions about the passover, what image were women created from, the Sabbath day being on Saturday and so many other things. He knows so much about the Bible, unfortuantely he misunderstands alot. He was trying to prove to us that there is a Heavenly Mother, asking us who is the "bride" in this scripture in the last chapter of Revelations and who is "us" when it talks about the creation in Exodus. Me and my companion could answer none of his questions. He was too hard to follow and frankly I have never studied the questions he had. I know the answer, but to back it up with scriptural references and explain in Korean I can't. And my companion couldn't either.

So we just listened to him. He actually does proseltying for his church, so he is an intense church member. The conversation we had was good. It wasn't contentious at all. After talking for a long time we told we had to go. At the end I gave him the book of Mormon and shared Moroni's Promise. I told him he can know if this book is of God through reading it and praying about it. Me and Sister Jeung bore out testimonies. At the end we got his name and number, but he told us to not call unless we could answer four questions. The questions I mentioned early. So we are studying hard. We will share with him what we find and if it goes somewhere or not, its all good. But I find it interesting how the door was open the second time we were by that apartment complex.

BAPTISM

Yesterday 안다희 {An DaHee} got baptized! It was wonderful. Me and Sister Jeung sand "I am a Child of God", which was so embarrassing. I can't sing. I don't know where I got the courage to agree. Her mom came to her baptism. She is not a member, but her two older sisters are. Many church members attended. She has been going to church every week for a long time now, so it was so exciting for them to see her get baptized.

She is a special little girl. Last week she had a trying experience.

She went to her grandmother's church kids camp. While there the preacher told her our church is bad and to never go there again. He made her cry. But even though that happened she still was excited to get baptized and decided to never visit that church again. She has a strong testimony this gospel. I am so gratefully for her decision to follow Jesus Christ and be baptized.

CAN YOU COOK?

So we were walking to a lesson and this older man starts talking to us. We start talking to him about the church but he keeps on asking me questions and saying creepy things. Like "you look good" and "how old are you?" "Can you cook, I know how to do laundry" So funny. So we just say goodbye and he starts yelling more things like the ones he said to us for a couple of minutes until we were out of his sight. Oh course I didn't know any of this until my companion told me what he said. He wasn't a normal man. We are allowed to say Hi to men. But if they say Hi to us we can start talking to them. Unfortunately, the ones who say "hi" tend to be creepy. Not always but at least half of them.

MANDOO PROVERB

Mandoo is a delcious Korean food. Similar to a pot sticker, but way better. One of our members had a Mandoo party in the afternoon so we decided to go over there to talk with members and because we both LOVE Mandoo. While there I got to learn how to make it. The Bishop's wife said "Oh you make Mandoo very well, maybe you'll have a pretty girl."

It's a Korean saying that if you can make pretty Mandoo, you will have a pretty baby girl.

RICE CAKE

So while waiting for a bus I bought some rice cake, which is super delicious. And while I bought it this little old man came up and said "That foreigner is buying rice cake, this must be good rice cake", so he bought some too. So funny.

WEEK 10 IN KOREA

I have three people in the past couple of weeks tell me "You look like you lost weight." That's a pretty awesome compliment, made me feel really good. Expecially, because I know Koreans think I am fat, I had one say that to me once! I was so angry...even if it was a true statement. So I really hope that I am losing weight, I need to beat my friend Heidi Baker in our mission weight loss competition. So funny, the couple that said, "Your losing weight", decided to take me and my companion out to dinner. They thought I must not be eating well in Korea if I lost weight. Korean people like "eaters". The more food you eat the better. Because if you don't eat much they think you don't like the food. So even though I feel like I just had a Thanksgiving meal I still eat another serving. It's painful, but apparently even though I over eat, I am losing weight. I think it's because the Korean Food is more healthy then American. I feel more healthy, In fact I ate a cookie today and was like "ah I don't really want this". So that's a big change for me, because I LOVE cookies.

Korean has a really messed up address system. It's crazy. There are very few street names and you'll be on the same street and the house number is #2892 and the house right next to it is #87. So sometimes, especially the closer into Seoul you are the harder it is to find a house. In fact the system is so bad, the government is changing it. The new system is to be impelemented in the next couple of years so it will be easier to find houses and places. Koreans even have a hard time finding things.

So Monday night we were in an area trying to find this inactive member. No one had visited him in two years, according to our records. The numbers were really messed up and we were about to give up, but I felt that we should go up one more street. So we did and with some more searching we found the house! Miracle. And the man was home. He told us just yesterday he had taken down all the hearts on his door, put up by other missionaries. And a couple days ago he was thinking about church. Such a miracle. Just looking back on what lead up to that shows how the Spirit quietly directs our actions. Looking in the less-active member book I thought lets visit him this next week. And then when trying to find his house, being told go up one more street. Missionaries really are on the Lord's errand. He guides our actions so that we can find those who need his help. It was so exciting to find his house and to be able to talk with him. I really hope he comes to church this Sunday.

Also, we have a really awesome investigator, 강소이. She is 16 years old and competes in gun markmenship compeition. She trains everyday. Shes awesome. I actually meet her my second week in Korea. Me and my companion contacted her on the street. She is the first person I gave a Book of Mormon too. It was cool, we had street boards out and she walks by with this huge headphones on. As she is walking by she slows down and takes off her headphones, we then walked up to her and started talking. Since then she has been to church twice. It's been a little hard to meet with her because of her training and compeitions. But this last Sunday we had a short lesson after church. She talked about how she use to go to church with her friends. She said it was really boring and she'd always fall asleep. She was a little worried coming to our church knowing no one, but told us it's okay not to go to church with friends. In fact she said she finds our church really interesting, not boring and said the people are so nice. Our ward is AWESOME!  We are so excited to teach her more.

Oh such a cool thing happened to me Sunday. We went and visited with a member and I was able to understand the topic of converstaion the whole time. Usually I quickly get lost and no longer no what is going on, but this time I knew. I didn't know word for word, but I was able to understand alot. I was shocked. And when she asked me questions, I understood and was able to answer without taking 5 mintues to answer. It was so cool. The Lord is blessing me and my language skills are progressing. Blessings!

KOREA: WEEK 9

So we have an investigator named 안태현. He is about 9 years old. He is hilarious. We teach him every Friday. When we come over he says "hurry, hurry, hurry", because we usually interupt him in the middle of some game. He is a very active little boy and squirms a lot through lessons. Even though he doesn't seem like he is listening, when you ask him questions to check for understanding, his responses are amazing. He listens and understands very well. He has read five chapters of teh Book of Mormon and has prayed everyday for the past three weeks. He is doing awesome. Defiantly one of our best investigators.

So over a month ago he told us his mom wouldn't let him got to church. He bothered her so much about she told him to stop asking. Then two weeks ago she asked "Do you want to go to church?" and he said "no"! You can imagine our dismay. So this past week in our lesson we focused on baptism and the importance of church. Then we invited him a a SUPER fun Primary activity the next day. We really played it up.

When we came to the church building Saturday for English Class, to our surprize 안태현 was there playing in the pool. He was having a fabulous time and squirted me and Sister 정 with his water gun. Such a trouble maker. And to our amazement the next day he came to church with his sisters! yeah! Me and Sister 정 were freaking out. He was so funny because he told us, "Since I will be coming to church every week now, you don't have to come visit me." But we were like "We will see you Friday!" A month ago he told us his plans to get baptized in a year, but I think it could happen sooner as he continues to come to church. I just love how the Lord works. He defaintly softened the mothers heart and also helped 안태현's desire grow. Amazing!

MISSION BLESSINGS

Funny Korean words...only to English Speakers or maybe just me.

"Rain" in Korean is 비 {pee}

"Yes" in Korean is 네 {neh}

"Lame" in Korean is 홀 {hor}

It's been raining so much in Korean. The biggest rain to hit Korea in 100 years! Wow. I set outside, walk five steps and the back of my skirt is drench and my shoes soaking wet. Around 60 people have died because of flash flooding and landslides. Really sad. And several subway lines had to be shut down because of the amount of rain. But my area has been safe, the river rose 4 - 6 feet, but it was easy to avoid, so no problems. It just makes street contacting a little challenging. Our numbers always go down when there is rain.

Exciting news... 안다희 {an-da-hee} is getting baptized on August 14th! She is 11 years old. We found out last Sunday from our Mission Leader that her mom consented to her being baptized. We are so excited. The day we were gong to her house to officially comitt her to baptism was the day we had record breaking rain. So the mom called us and told us we did not have to come. She was worried about our safety. But we just lied and said we have another appointment in the area and have to go there anyways. A lot of people call us to cancel if the weather is bad because they feel bad to have us come to thier home in such bad weather. But it doesn't matter if its 100 degrees or 40 below, raining or snowing, we have to be out working no matter what. And we were determined to make this appointment happen.

안다희 is such a beautiful little girl. So sweet and fun. We talked about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. We asked what she thought about those things and one of the things she mentioned was she think Joseph Smith is "handsome." So cute. Her mom was sitting next to her when we asked if she'd get baptized. She looks at her mom and she tells her, "It's you choice." Then she smiles and says "YES". She has such a good family. Both her sisters are very active and her parents are supportitive. She already attends church reguarly. She will continue to grow in the gospel and be a great instrument in the hands of the Lord. Future missionary perhaps :)

In District Meeting we recieved awesome training on improving our methods on finding people. First, go to areas you've never been before, don't always choose the most populated area, explore. Second, vary your church material. Use all the different kids of pamphlets, not just the Baptism card and Book of Mormon Pamphlet. Give them what they need according to their individual needs. And thrid, ask inspired questions. I really need this lesson on how to improve my contacting. It got me really excited and motivated to implement what we learned.

Me and my companion have been working hard to implement what we learned. Like walking to appointments instead of riding the bus, even if it is so hot. A couple days ago we did that and talked to three people over the course of 2 miles. Sad. But later that night it was super nice out, so we decided to do contacting along the river. We 전도  for two hours! It didn't seem that long though. We talked to 25 people and got two phone numbers. Out of all the people in Korea, we talked to one who had already read the Book of Mormon. Sister 정 asked her an inspired questions, "did you pray about this book?" She replied "no". So she challenged her to read it again and to pray about this Book if it is true. She said "okay" and we got her phone number and gave her a Book of Mormon. The other lady we talked to, was very short, but she said she'd like to hear more and gave us her phone number and address. So many blessings. It was amazing.

Yesterday, we decided to do door contacting in a new area, we've only driven by on Bus 17. It's definatly the countryside, not many apartments. But we stopped at one place that had some and had great success. Door knocking in Korea, from what I ve been told, is not effective. But many people opened the door for us and we even got a return appoitment! Miracles! She is a girl around the age of 14. She said she wants to go to church but doesn't know which one to choose. There are tons in Korea. There are more churches in Korea than covnient shops. She wants to learn more and we will meet her later this week. The Lord really has blessed us with wonderful opprotunities. I am so grateful. You just realize how God will lead you to his prepared people or them to you. So true.

전도 DETERMINATION

Sunday, we did some subway contacting. It was not a good 전도 (contacting) day. It took us two hours to get 20 people, when normally that would take an hour. We would say "Hi" to people and then they say "not interested" and walk away. Or they'd just ignore us, even though we are the only people on the subway platform. And I am thinking "I know you hear me lady!" Anyways, we were getting rejection, after rejection. I was getting frustrasted and depressed. Then I thought about the Sons of Mosiah. At one point on their mission they were so depressed and were about to turn back home. Then the Lord comforted them and told them if they bore with patience their afflicionts, he would give them success. They suffered so much. They were rejected, starved, put in jail, beat up and people tried to kill them. Yet at the end of their mission they helped bring thousands of the Lamanites unto the gospel.

So while I was getting rejected, over and over again, I thought about this. My situation is not that bad, at least people are not trying to kill me. Right then the Lord gave me a boost of confidence, courage and determination. And I continued to 전도. And eventually we found those people who were nice and let us share our message.

At one point during our 전도 time, we had three people call us in a row. Sister Jeung was on the phone for at least 20 minutes. You see up to this point I have never walked up to a person by myself to share the gospel. It makes me so nervous, because I don't understand Korea and can only say so much. But as I just stood there, I was like, "I gotta 전도 (jeun-do)". So I walked up to a girl sitting on a bench and explained what the Book of Mormon was. She kept on saying to me, in English "I just came from church." She was trying to politely tell me she was not interested. But I just acted like I didn't know what she was saying and kept on talking. I was determined to share the message of the Book of Mormon and Jesus Christ and she was going to hear it and take my pamhplet; which she did. The Lord just gave me this determination I had never had. It was an amazing blessing. And every person after that, interested or not, I would continue to talk and made sure they didn't walk away from me without a pamphlet. Maybe they won't listen to me, but they might read the pamphlet.

INVESTIGATOR MIRACLE: After sarcrament meeting we meet with our ward mission leader. He told us that 안다희's mom agreed to let her get baptized. 안다희 (an-da-hee) is 11 years old. Even though she is not baptized, she is basically a member. She knows so much and comes to church every week. Her older sisters are extremely active in the church. Her mom wanted 안다희 to wait to get baptized when she was at least in middle school. I am not sure how the Lord changed her mind, but I can think of a couple things that may have helped. One, her daughters are active in the church. Two, we got to spend time with 안다희 and her mom a couple times, just building the Jeung (Means building trust and friendship. Eating a meal together is the best way). Third, our primary President is amazing! She is the one who called the mom and asked if she'd let 안다희 get baptized. I think she's talked to her at least a couple times now about how 안다희 is growing so much in the knowledge of the gospel. Fourth, the Lord's mysterious ways. I am so excited! 안다희 wants to get baptized, now we just have to offically ask her and give a date for her to be baptized. So exciting. She is a special little girl.

GIFT OF TONGUES

So wednesday and thursday we did exchanges. My trainer had to go to a two-day training meeting. Sister Manley (my MTC companion) came on exchanges with me and Sister Jeung. It was fun. Sister Manley is a master at 전더 (street contacting). She just goes off by herself and starts talking, even though she can't understand or say much. She was such a wonderful example to me. I struggle with street contacting when it comes to doing it by myself. But I am slowly but surley getting over those fear. I love doing street contacting and now feel comfortable with it, just not by myself yet...soon though...I hope.

During the second day of exchanges we taught 박문자 (bak-moon-jaw). We were teaching her for the second time the Plan of Slavation. We quickly went over it the previous week and decided to go into more detail this week. There is a lot to the Plan of Salvation, it is hard to teach simply. I got to teach about the Atonement. I had prepared and practiced for it during companionship and language study. But during the lesson I was able to say all that I practiced and more. I said it so fuildly. At that moment the Lord truly did bless me with the gift of tongues. It was AWESOME. You could just feel the spirit. It was a really great lesson and she asked about how to repent and things like unto that. Such a fabulous lesson.

This past week has been filled with some funny experiences. We were at an investigators home and she was tyring to get her boys out of their rooms to say "hi" and talk for a little while, but they clearly did not want to. They are teenagers. But one of them, who we've taught before came out of his room half-asleep in bright yellow boxers. When he realized we were there he quickly went back into his room. All three of us died laughing. I had tears in my eys and was tyring not to pee my skirt. It was hard to maintian control when the mom came back and sat down. I had to excuse myself to the bathroom or I was gonna loose it.

Then the next day in English Class we played a game, it was bascially Catch Phrase. And one of our students (he's about 50 years old) got so excited when he was describing his word "bus". You can tell he is competive. He was describing it, but no one understood him. LOL. Then he was like "really", in Korean, you don't know!?! Someone evetually got it, but he was like give me a harder one. So we gave him the work "skyscraper". He used the word to describe the word though, but no one else realized that. After that word he was like give me another one, so we gave him the word "seashell." He started saying words like "king", "fire" and so many other random words. All three of us were laughing so hard. I was under the table laughing. I didn't want him to think I was laughing at his english. So funny.

English class is always amusing. We have another man, Brother Em, he is about 70 years old. No one can understand him when he speaks English or Korean, even for the native Korean speakers. I gave him the word "phone", but he started to describe a person he had a question about. He said he had a "pan on his head" and some other really random things. We were all so confused, then Sister Marchant yelled "Johnny Appleseed"! And he was like "yes"! So funny. Best part thought, Steve, who tends to be the know-it-all in the class, was so impressed. And was like "How do you know this thing?" He wrote down "johnny appleseed" on a piece of paper and you know by next week he will know everything there is to know about Johnny Appleseed. I love all the people in our English Class, they are so much fun!