TEMPLE - FANCY RESTAURANTS-FRIENDS COMING AND GOING- PATRIOTIC FAMILY GAME NIGHT, ETC......

WE ARE DOWN TO LESS THAN EIGHT WEEKS TO GO AND WE ARE TRYING TO FILL IT WITH AS MANY MEMORIES AS POSSIBLE! JUNE HAS BEEN A DELIGHTFUL MONTH FULL OF MANY BLESSED ENCOUNTERS AND CELESTIAL COLLISIONS.  WE ARE ANXIOUS TO GET BACK TO OUR FAMILY BUT ALSO VERY SAD TO COMPLETE THIS MISSION AS WE HAVE FOUND SO MANY NEW FRIENDS FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD! THIS IS PCS SEASON ( MILITARY TERM FOR PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION). WE HAVE SAID GOODBYE TO MANY FAMILIES WE HAVE COME TO LOVE AND SAID HELLO TO FAMILIES WE WISH WE COULD HAVE MORE TIME WITH!

WE STARTED OUT THE MONTH GOING TO THE SEOUL TEMPLE.  THE FIRST SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH IS THE ENGLISH SESSIONS.  WE HAVE TO BE UP EARLY TO MAKE THE 9 AM SESSION.  WE USUALLY CATCH THE SUBWAY ABOUT 636 IN ORDER TO MAKE IT TO THE TEMPLE BY 830. THIS PARTICULAR DAY THE SKY WAS BEAUTIFUL AND I FEEL LIKE WE GOT SOME OF THE PRETTIEST PICTURES OF THE TEMPLE YET!

THIS PICTURE WAS A LITTLE BIT BITTERSWEET AS IT REPRESENTS THE LAST LITTLE BIT THAT I WILL BE DOING STORY TIME.  I HAVE REALLY COME TO LOVE MY REGULAR LITTLE PEOPLE AND THEIR MOMS!  I WILL MISS THIS! EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THE SOURCE OF MY BROKEN BACK! IN FACT ONE OF MY LITTLE FRIENDS CAME UP WITH HER MOM AT CHURCH YESTERDAY AND ASKED IF I WOULD SIT BY HER! IT WAS SO SWEET!

IT WAS ZONE CONFERENCE ON JUNE 10 AND SISTER GOODING CAME PREPARED WITH ALL KINDS OF DECOR AND HEADBANDS OF THE KOREAN FLAG FOR US TO WEAR.  SHE IS A HOOT! SHE'S THE BLONDE ON THE BACK ROW. THE COUPLE ON THE FRONT ROW HAVE A DAUGHTER THAT MARRIED OUR BRANCH PRESIDENT - WHO HAPPENS TO BE THE ORTHO DOCTOR ON BASE.  HE WAS ALSO THE ORTHO DOCTOR WHO HELPED ME WITH MY BACK. THE PARENTS ARE THE KIMS AND THE CHILDREN ARE THE ULMERS.  THE ULMERS MET ON THEIR MISSION IN AUSTRALIA AND EVIDENTLY THE MISSION PRESIDENT TOLD THEM THEY NEEDED TO GO HOME AND GET MARRIED,  THE REST IS HISTORY.  IT HAS BEEN A DELIGHT TO WORK WITH DIANE ULMER'S PARENTS THE LAST TWO ZONE CONFERENCES.  THE CHURCH IS VERY LOW ON SENIOR MISSIONARIES RIGHT NOW AND AT THIS MOMENT, THERE IS NO ONE COMING TO REPLACE US OR THE MISSIONARIES AT CAMP HUMPHREYS - SO SAD BECAUSE THERE IS A GREAT NEED FOR MILITARY RELATIONS MISSIONARIES, ESPECIALLY OVERSEAS. IF ANY OF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT IT -DO IT!  YOU WON'T REGRET IT.  WITH 55 NEW MISSIONS IN THE CHURCH THERE AREN'T ENOUGH SENIOR COUPLES TO GO AROUND. IT HAS BEEN NICE TO SEE THE KOREANS STEP UP TO HELP HERE IN THIS MISSION - WE HAVE TWO FULL TIME COUPLES THAT ARE KOREAN AND THREE COUPLES THAT ARE SERVING A SENIOR SERVICE MISSIONARY.  IT HAS MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORK AND THE YOUNG MISSIONARIES LOVE HAVING SOME SENIOR MISSIONARIES IN THEIR DISTRICTS.

SISTER GOODING WILL LEAVE US ON JULY 10.  SHE WILL BE MISSED!  HER LOVE FOR KPOP AND KDRAMAS IS PROBABLY UNMATCHED!

ABOVE IS PICTURED OUR SWEET MISSION PRESIDENT AND HIS WIFE - PRESIDENT BAECK AND SISTER KWAK - THE OTHER PICTURE IS ELDER LOWE AND ELDER KIM TAKING A MINUTE TO BECOME ACQUAINTED AS WE WAIT FOR THE MISSIONARIES TO COME TO LUNCH.

TO OPEN THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM WE HAD A MASSIVE PARTY AT THE LIBRARY! THE LIBRARIANS REALLY WENT ALL OUT.  DARHMA CAME WITH HANBAKS FOR PEOPLE TO DRESS UP IN  - AND MAKE LOTUS LANTERNS, THERE WERE ALL KINDS OF TRADITIONAL KOREAN GAMES, THE HIGHLIGHT WAS THE BUBBLE SHOW - I DIDN'T THINK SOON ENOUGH ABOUT TAKING VIDEOS, BUT I THINK I MAY HAVE GOTTEN ONE OR TWO - I WILL TRY TO POST.  I DON'T THINK I HAVE EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT AND THE KIDS WERE MESMERIZED!

THE SISTER MISSIONARIES WELCOMED EVERYONE AND HANDED OUT PRIZES WHILE THE ELDERS HELPED MAN THE GAMES.  OUR MISSIONARIES RIGHT NOW ARE

SISTER CHRISTENSEN FROM PLEASANT GROVE, UTAH ( YES SHE DOES LOOK KOREAN - HER MOTHER WAS ADOPTED BY AN AMERICAN FAMILY IN UTAH) THIS IS THE SECOND TIME WE HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH HER!  SHE IS A DELIGHT!

SISTER STROMBERG  IS FROM REXBURG, IDAHO AND IS HERE FOR HER VERY FIRST ASSIGNMENT,  SHE IS VERY ENTHUSIASTIC!  WE LOVE HAVING HER HERE

SISTER HATFIELD IS FROM BOUNTIFUL, UTAH.  WE TEASE HER ABOUT THE HATFIELDS AND THE MCCOYS - WE HAVE A FRIEND ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF OUR BUILDING WHO HAS EXPRESSED SOME INTEREST IN THE CHURCH AND HIS NAME IS DREY MCCOY!

ELDER OSMOND IS FROM STAR, IDAHO AND HAS BEEN SERVING IN OUR DISTRICT SINCE HE GOT TO THE MISSION FOUR TRANSFERS AGO, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TRANSFER HE HAS SERVED IN OUR AREA.  HE WAS VERY EXCITED TO COME TO OSAN, BECAUSE HE IS CONSIDERING A MILITARY CAREER.  ELDER KOO IS FROM KOREA, BUT HE SPENT A FEW SEMESTERS AT BYU-IDAHO - WE HOPE HE CHOOSES TO COME BACK THERE AFTER HIS MISSION.  THIS IS HIS THIRD TRANSFER HERE AT OSAN SO I AM NOT SURE WE WILL GET TO KEEP HIM HERE OUR LAST TRANSFER, BUT WE WOULD LOVE IT IF WE DID!

HERE IS JUST A COUPLE MORE PICTURES OF OUR LIBRAY SUMMER READING FUN!

SO WE HAD TO SAY GOOD BYE TO TRISTAN ADAMS - HE HAS BEEN ONE OF OUR UNACCOMPIANIED AIRMAN.  HE WILL RETURN TO HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTER IN CALIFORNIA AND THEN THEY WILL MOVE TO HICKHAM AFB IN JULY.  I TOLD HIM HE MAY HAVE TO EXPECT SOME COMPLANY! FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW HICHAM IS IN HAWAII - PEARL HARBOR AREA. HE HAD NOT HAD BINGZU SINCE BEING IN KOREA, SO WE HAD TO TREAT HIM TO SOME.  HE ALSO HAD NOT HAD MALATONG - AND THAT IS ONE OF ELDER LOWES FAVORITES SO WE TOOK HIM OUT FOR MALATONG BEFORE BINGZU - NEEDLESS TO SAY I FELT LIKE I COULD ROLL MYSELF HOME AFTER THAT!  NO WONDER I HAVE GAINED SO MUCH WEIGHT HERE IN KOREA - WE EAT BUT EXERCISE VERY LITTLE!

I HAD TO THROW THIS PICTURE IN BECAUSE IT IS A HIGHLIGHT OF CELESTIAL COLLISION FOR ME IN MY MISSION. THIS STORY TOUCHED MY HEART IN WAYS I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPRESS BUT I WILL TRY TO TELL YOU THE MAIN PART OF IT.

MY GRANDDAUGHTER IS SERVING A MISSION IN VIRGINIA - SHE HAS BEEN HAVING SOME UNUSUAL HEALTH ISSUES AND HAD TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM LAST SATURDAY NIGHT.  AS A RESULT, SHE MISSED CHURCH THE NEXT MORNING. WELL, HER UNCLE JORDAN, WHO SHE HASN'T SEEN IN THREE YEARS WAS WORKING IN WASHINGTON DC AREA AND DECIDED TO TRY AND SURPRISE HER AT CHURCH THAT MORNING.  WHEN HE GOT THER HE COULDN'T FIND HER SO HE ASSUMED HE MAY BE AT THE WRONG CHURCH, WHEN HE SAW THE MILITARY RELATIONS COUPLE AND ASKED THEM ABOUT SISTER SIMPSON.  THEY SAID THEY WERN'T SURE WHERE SHE WAS BUT THAT SHE LIVED RIGHT BY THEM SO THEY WOULD TAKE HIM TO HER. HE WAS ABLE TO VISIT HER, COMFORT HER AND GIVE HER A BLESSING.  THE LORD IS IN EVERY DETAIL OF OUR LIVES AND WITH THIS LITTLE EXPERIENCE HE TOUCHED SO MANY OF OUR LIVES.  

FIRST MY DAUGHTER WHE WAS WORRIED NO ONE WAS LOOKING OUT FOR HER WAS COMFORTED AS SHE REALIZED RYLIE HAD KEPT SOMEWHAT QUIET BUT THERE WAS A COUPLE WAITING THERE TO SERVE HER IN HER NEED.

SECOND - HER UNCLE WHO HAD THE BLESSING OF KNOWING HE FOLLOWED THE SPIRIT AND WAS AN INSTRUMENT IN THE LORD'S HANDS THAT SUNDAY

THIRD - RYLIE, SISTER SIMPSON.  TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE A HUG FROM A FAMILY MEMBER AND A BLESSING OF COMFORT

FOURTH - HER GRANDMA WHO HAS BEEN WONDERING IS SHE IS MEETING HER PURPOSE HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD WHEN MANY THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN HER FAMILY AT HOME. IT TOUCHED MY HEART IN SO MANY WAYS - KNOWING MY FAMILY IS WATCHING OUT FOR EACH OTHER MEANS MORE THAN I CAN PUT INTO WORDS.  IT STILL BRINGS TEARS TO MY EYES. THAT SAME DAY MY OTHER DAUGHTER AND HER FAMILY WERE WORKING VERY HARD IN OUR YARD TRYING TO GET ALL THE WEEDS OUT . BUT ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT TOUCHED MY HEART WAS IT WAS A MILITARY RELATIONS MISSIONARY COUPLE THAT HELPED JORDAN FIND RACHEL.  I AM SURE THEY THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT BUT IT HELPED ME UNDERSTAND THAT I MAY NEVER KNOW WHO I HAVE HELPED AND HOW BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SOMETHING BIG  TO TOUCH A HEART.

BELOW ARE SOME OF THE BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES OF OUR YARD!  THEY DID AN AMAZING JOB! ELDER LOWE SAYS IT WAS THE BEST FATHERS DAY GIFT EVER!

BEFORE....

AFTER

THIS LAST WEEK WE WERE INVITED TO ATTEND THE TEMPLE WITH ONE OF THE YOUNG MEN IN OUR BRANCH WHO IS WAITING FOR A MISSION CALL.  IT IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE DRIVEN UP TO THE TEMPLE. HERE IS A PICTURE WE TOOK AFTER DRIVING IN AN UNDERGROUND TUNNEL FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES.

WE GOT THERE A LITTLE EARLY SO WE DECIDED TO TRY AND FIND A NEW PLACE TO EAT. WE HAVE A FAVORITE HOTPOT PLACE BUT WE THOUGHT WE SHOULD TRY SOMETHING ELSE.  WE ENDED UP AT A VERY FANCY CHINESE RESTAURANT.  IT WAS THE MOST MONEY WE HAVE EVER SPENT ON A MEAL HERE IN KOREA BUT IT WAS A REALLY FUN EXPERIENCE.  IT WAS AN 8 COURSE LUNCH. FULL OF SEAFOOD AND SOME OF THE BEST SWEET AND SOUR PORK I HAVE EVER TASTED!

IT WAS DOWNSTAIRS FROM THE MAIN ROAD AND THIS FISH POND WAS WHAT WE LOOKED DOWN ON AS WE WENT TO THE RESTAURANT.  IT REALLY WAS A FUN THING TO DO!

DON'T MIND MY HAIR - I FIX IT IN THE MORNING BUT THE HUMIDITY HAS IT'S WAY WITH IT GENERALLY BY MID DAY - I NEVER THOUGHT I HAD NATURALLY CURLY HAIR, BUT IT SURE GETS WAVY HERE IN KOREA!

WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO HAVE A BRANCH GAME NIGHT ON THE FOURTH FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH SO THE SINGLE AIRMAN AND ARMEN HERE WITHOUT THEIR FAMILIES CAN ENJOY FAMILY EVENTS.  WE FINALY GOT IT GOING.  WE DID A BIT OF A PATRIOTIC TWIST TO IT.  WE HAD SOME OF THE NEW FAMILIES ON ONE TEAM AND SOME OF THE DEPARTING FAMILIES ON ANOTHER TEAM AND PLAYED A GAME OF FRIENDLY FEUD WITH A PATRIOTIC THEME. THEN WE DID ABOUT FIVE MINUTE TO WIN IT GAMES - I SPENT A SMALL FORTUNE, BUT IT WAS WELL WORTH IT!  AND I HAVE LEARNED THE FISHES AND LOAVES HAPPEN OVER AND OVER WHEN YOU ARE IN THE SERVICE OF THE LORD!

WE HAD OUR FRIEND EVELYN OVER FOR LUNCH THE OTHER DAY AND INVIED THE SISTERS!  THEY HAVE HAD A SUPER BUSY WEEK AND WERE TIRED - I TOLD THEM I NEEDED TO TAKE THEIR PICTURES AND SEND IT TO THEIR MOMMAS!  WE WILL MISS WORKING WITH THE YOUNG MISSIONARIES - THEY HAVE SUCH GREAT HEARTS AND DESIRES TO SERVE!

IF YOU REMEMBER ME TELLING YOU ABOUT SHIN IN MY LAST POST, YOU WILL LOVE KNOWING THAT HIS WIFE IS GETTING BAPTIZED IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS!  WE HAD THEM FOR DINNER YESTERDAY AND LEARNED ABOUT THEIR STORY.  I WILL SHARE IT IN MY NEXT BLOG AS THIS POST IS GETTING VERY LONG!

 

New/Old Missionaries - Baptisms - Game Night - Baseball Games

On May 18th we were preparing for some of our family to come for a visit.  Since there were going to be six of us, we rented a large van.  As we were on our way to pick it up, I received a text from one of the sister missionaries who served in our district and went home a couple of transfers ago.  She and her parents were back in Korea and she was showing them her mission.  She just happened to be right by Osan Air Base so we were able to meet them and have lucnch together!  It's always such a blessing to meet the missionaries parents!  We love Sister Jacobs.  She will be attending BYU - so hopefully we will be able to visit with her again! (TENDER MERCY- CELESTIAL COLLISION)

Every three months we help with apartment inspections. We try to take them to lunch or for a treat because they spend a lot of time making them sparkling clean.  Last April there was one apartment that got missed so they had us go down to a zone south of us to do the inspection. It turned out it was Elder Webster, who served in our district nearly a year ago and lived across the street from him. We worked with him with our FHE and other events.  He went home the end of May so this was also a tender mercy that we were able to see him again. He is from California and we don't know when our life's paths will cross again. Fun fact about Eder Webster - his sister Sister Webster was in our mission when we served in Pocatello, Idaho. Another tender mercy - Celestial Collision! We enjoyed a  wonderful Indian Restaurant with them.

The hard part of being a missionary is also the wonderful part of being a missionary - the good byes and the hellos.  The first picture is with Elder McBride and Elder Limberg.  Elder McBride served with us last summer and brought a lot of enthusiasm to the base!  He was reassigned to the Korean ward in our building this Spring and we were able to see and work a little bit with him before he went home.  He also left the end of May but he is from Alpine, Utah so pretty sure we will connect again. The next picture was a meal with our Osan Elders and Elder Limberg the week of transfers.  Elder Rocque from American Fork was transferred after three transfers with us.  Elder Koo stayed and Elder Limberg is the new district leader. He is working in the Korean ward here in our building.  He is from Washington and Elder Koo is from the southern part of Korea.  All of them are wonderful young men - but I'm watching Elder Limberg closely - he's got amazing leadership qualities and such a pleasant personality.

Sister Clark from Georgia was also transferrred.  She broke my heart - she was in tears for a couple of days before transfers.  She has worked so well with Sister Christensen from Pleasant Grove.  They both have Korean ancestery.  Sister Clarks grandma is Korean, and Sister Christensen's mother is Korean but was adopted by a family in Pleasant Grove Utah when she was a baby.  They have been such a joy to work with.  Sister Clark is very shy and Sister Christensen helped her to grow and gain confidence.  It was sweet to see.  She served in the Korean Ward and then we lost sisters so they double covered the Korean Ward and the military branch.  Sister Christensen served with us back in October/November and then came back and is now working on her third transfer here.  She had an amazing history and is also going to be a wonderful leader in the church.

BAPTISMS

Prince William George from Pakistan.  It's my understanding he took the lessons for several years and finally something clicked.  He has been faithful in his church attendance every since his baptism.  In fact he moved north of Seoul, which is about a three hour public transit ride to our branch and he makes it every Sunday.  We have tried to tell him there is an English speaking branch in Seoul but he doesn't want to leave us yet.  He asks me quite frequently to help him find a wife.  He's a kind man and we have loved getting to know him. The missionaries in the pictures are Sister Bowen, from California.  Sister Togia from Laie Hawaii, Elder Rocque from American Fork, Utah and Elder Squires (a gentle spiritual giant)  from Arizona.

Shin is from the Congo and his wife Kiki is from Zambia.  They had an arranged marriage and didn't even speak the same language. They have been married for 7 years but just been together here in Korea for the last three years. They are both very successful and intelligent.  Also they have been very active in their faith and have a great understanding of Jesus Christ and the plan of happiness (Salvation) After four years of investigating, Shin made the decision to be baptized! HE IS AMAZING. he will help many from his country in the understanding of God's plan for us. His wife is still learning but is also very close to baptism.  She comes with him when her work allows it and she loves to attend primary,

The Pham family is such a highlight of our mission and such truths in divine coordination and celestial collisions.  When they moved to Korea, they were in the process of looking for another church - a faith crisis of sorts.  Well, the first day here they were on the SED having a treat (A shopping/restaurant district outside of the main gate of Osan Air Base_) when they saw the elders walk by,  This prompted Sister Pham to give the church a little more thought, so she reached out to the Relief Society President, who told me about them.  We had them come to dinner, not knowing they were in a faith crisis and we had a wonderful time with them.  Another family reached out to have them over to dinner and they confessed they were lookng for another church to attend.  Well, the branch stepped up and helped them get moved in.  They came to church with the intent they were only going to stay for sacrament meeting but the ward quickly swept their children off to primary, so they stayed.  Long story short, after several months of working with the members and the missionaries - they had their two oldest boys baptized the last Saturday of May.  We are working with them to have them be sealed in the temple and praying that will happen before we leave in August.  Caveat to this story is, she is now serving in the Primary Presidency and he is serving in the Elders Quorum Presidency.  You never know who's life may be touched by just being you and preaching the gospel with your actions.

Enzo is also a special story - we worked with his mother in the Thrift shop when we first got to Korea.  Then we didn't see her again until our bowling night in January.  We just happened to have one of our ladies from the branch who is a school teacher join us that night,  Sister Dadivas.  She is from the Philippines and she was also Enzo's school teacher last year.  His mother Esmeralda was planning a trip to the Philippines and spent the evening visiting with Sister Dadivas.  As a result the missionaries were able to go to Sister Dadivas home and teach Esmeralda and Enzo.  They have been coming to our activities and to church for several weeks now.  Esmeralda loved how it was helping Enzo deal with his anger at his father who had an affair and abandoned them.  They attended Shin's baptism and Enzo went to his mother and said "Mom, I'm 8, I can be baptized."  She wanted to let him.  She is not quite ready but I believe she will be baptized as well.  This was such a sweet experience to be part of.  They are moving to West Virginia this Friday and our prayers are very fervant that the ward will fellowship and help Esmeralda on the covenant path.  

So amazing for us to have been part of these conversion stories and have these people in our lives.  If you are at all considering a Senior mission - just know it will change your life in so many wonderful ways!

Just throwing in a pictue of one of our fun game nights!  We love these people!

While in Korea, you. must experience a baseball game.  Last week I traveled alone on the subway for my first time up to Suwon to meet the sisters who work in the mission office and we all went to a baseball game.  It was a hoot!  Sister Lackley, sitting by me is from Georgia, Sister Gooding leaves in July and is from California.  She is the biggest kpop and kdrama fan in my age bracket that I know - so fun!  Sister Stafford is from somewhere in the midwest, Nebraska I think?  The top picture has Sister Sunmi Lee in the front.  She is a senior service missionary from Korea.  She is also in our Tuesday Zoom English class.  She is so kind and helpful. She bought the baseball tickets for us because as foreigners, it's sometimes hard to obtain them.  The second picture has a Mr. Kim in it - he stopped to help us learn how to order our snacks. The Koreans are such kind and helpful people!

 This last picture is such a fun thing for me.  When we first served here, I was able to ride the subway with Sister Chang from Hawaii. I watched her in action as she spread her light around the train, not afraid to talk to anyone.  She went home shortly thereafter. Sister Tanner who is standing by her in this picture worked with us in our district a couple of transfers before she went home. The other two also served here in our mission but we didn't have a lot of interactions with them.  The tall one in the back on the right is my grandson Conner.  Turns out, Sister Chang is in his ward and he was at a gathering with these missionaries!  Small world - celestial collisions!

God is in the details of your lives!  Just take a minute to look for him and you will find him on a daily basis.  I know this to be true!  We love you all!