My heart is in Korea

OUR TIME IS WINDING DOWN HERE IN KOREA. I'M NOT SURE WHERE THE TIME GOES! I HAVE A LOT OF MIXED EMOTIONS GOING ON! THERE IS A LOT GOING ON WITH OUR FAMILY AND WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE THEM BUT MY HEART IS ACHING AT THE THOUGHT OF LEAVING THIS WONDERFUL COUNTRY THAT WE HAVE COME TO LOVE. THE LACK OF CRIME,THE BEAUTY OF THE TREES AND COLORS, THE LAVA MOUNTAINS BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY THE CULTURE OF THE PEOPLE!  ONCE YOU HAVE BEEN ENVELOPED IN THEIR "JEONG" THERE IS NO WORD TO DESCRIBE HOW LOVED IT MAKES YOU FEEL!  IF YOU HAVE FOLLOWED MY BLOG, YOU KNOW I HAVE COOKED A TON - SO THAT MEANS I HAVE SPENT MANY HOURS AT THE COMMISSARY (MILITARY GROCERY STORE) WE HAVE CASHIERS THERE THAT HAVE BECOME DEAR FRIENDS AND WE ARE SAD THAT WE MAY NEVER SEE THEM AGAIN.  BEING ON A MILITARY BASE, WE CAN NOT "PROSELYTE" BUT WE CAN LOVE AND  LOVE SOME MORE!

THE ONE CONSOLATION IN ALL OF THIS IS THE MILITARY FAMILIES THAT WE HAVE ADOPTED AS CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN WILL ALL MOVE ON AS WELL - AND MILITARY PEOPLE ARE GOOD TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH FRIENDS, BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO MOVE SO MUCH!  WE HOPE OUR HOME WILL BE FILLED WITH VISITS FROM ALL OF THESE BEAUTIFUL FAMILIES AND MISSIONARIES THAT WE HAVE COME TO LOVE!

THIS WEEK WE WILL ATTEND ZONE CONFERENCE AND IT IS TRADITION THAT THE DEPARTING MISSIONARIES BARE THEIR TESTIMONIES. I HAVE BEEN CONTEMPLATING WHAT I HAVE LEARNED THE MOST WHILE SERVING HERE - IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE -

THERE ARE TWO PRINCIPLES I WISH TO EMPHASIZE

1.  GOD IS IN THE DETAILS - AS WE HAVE GONE ABOUT OUR DAILY LIFE HERE AND SEARCHED FOR WHERE WE ARE NEEDED MOST - WE ALWAYS HAVE CELESTIAL COLLISIONS - EITHER WITH MEMBERS OR FRIENDS OF OTHER FAITHS. ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS, IF WE LOOK FOR IT, WE SEE THAT GOD PUTS PEOPLE IN OUR PATHS. I HOPE I CAN CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THESE EXPERIENCES WHEN WE RETURN HOME AND THEN LOOK FOR THEM DAILY,  ALONG WITH THIS COMES DIVINE COORDINATION.  AS WE WORKED TOGETHER AS A BRANCH FAMILY OR AN OSAN COMMUNITY - WE COULD SEE WHERE WORKING TOGETHER ON PROJECTS OR PEOPLE REALLY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE LIVES!

2. "THERE IS NO GROWTH IN THE COMFORT ZONE AND THERE'S NO COMFORT IN THE GROWTH ZONE" THIS QUOTE HAS HELPED ME THROUGH SOME HARD TIMES WHILE SERVING.  I KNOW THE POWER OF THE ADVERSARY IS STRONG AND WORKS VERY HARD ON MISSIONARIES TRYING TO BRING PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE THE JOY IN CHRIST.  BUT WHEN TIMES ARE CHALLENGING - I HAVE DECIDED TO TAKE IT AS A GROWTH MOMENT.  WE ARE ON THIS EARTH TO LEARN AND GROW.  AT TIMES WE MAY NEED TO TAKE A BREAK FROM THIS AND RELAX FOR A MOMENT, BUT THE CHALLENGE IS GETTING BACK ON TRACK AND MOVING WITH THE GROWTH TRAIN!

EVERYONE SAYS LIVE YOUR MISSION SO YOU WILL HAVE NO REGRETS - I HAVE NOT BEEN 100% GOOD AT THAT - MY BIGGEST REGRET IS NOT DOING WEEKLY UPDATES.  BUT I AM SO GLAD FOR THE ATONEMENT AND THAT MY SAVIOR KNOWS I TRIED TO GIVE MY ALL EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE DAYS WHEN I FELL SHORT. BUT I MUST EMPHASIZE THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE DAYS WHEN MY CUP WAS NOT FULL ENOUGH TO FILL OTHERS CUPS- THERE WAS ALWAYS SOMEONE THERE TO FILL MY CUP. I BELEVE THAT IS THE GREATEST LESSON LEARNED - THAT WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER NO MATTER THE COLOR OF OUR SKIN, THE COUNTRY WE COME FROM, THE FAITH WE PROFESS - WE ARE ALL PART OF THE FAMILY OF GOD AND HE DESIRES US TO FEEL LOVE FOR ALL! ASIDE FROM THE ATONEMENT OF JESUS CHRIST, THE GREATEST GIFT HE HAS GIVEN US IS EACH OTHER.

THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF MY WORLD!

NOW FOR A PICTURE RECAP OF THE PAST FEW WEEKS

There's a DAISO (If you know, you know) in Clinton, Utah.  My granddaughters discovered it this past month and evidently i t was great fun!  I don't think it is as cheap as the Asia stores, but definitely will get a visit from me!

The last night with our trio of sisters before transfers.  SIster Stromberg from Rexburg, Idaho had her first transfer here at Osan. She is such a joy, always friendly and happy!  Sister Hatfield from Bountiful Utah, gets to stay with us our last transfer!  We were so happy not to loose all three of them! Sister Lee, served at Camp Humphreys but since her companion went home this transfer -  she joined our trio for the night, Sister Christensen from Pleasant Grove, Utah.  She served with us at the beginning of her mission and then she has been back with us for the last three transfers!  We love her so much and we have enjoyed watching her growth in the mission.

one last picture of some fun story time friends - Enoch on the left is the son of our Former MCM leader and his children tell me I’m just like their grandma in the states! Love this family to the moon and back! Cameron on the right is in our branch,  He has been very shy but the last few weeks has really opened up to me. they wanted me to take their picture!

Things are constantly happening with our family!  On July 1, Bennett Arthur, aka Bennie, joined our family as our 20th grand child As you can see by the picture - he is very loved.  This was a hard one for us not to be there for, but Alisa has raised her children well and I am sure they have been a great help in her recovery.

I couldn't help but post this picture of a couple of my favorites!  Elder Chappell abnd Elder Limberg! They are the district leader and zone leader and are both in our district!  It's been such a delight to work with such obedient and hardworking nissionaries!

This was a sad day for us!  Our branch president and family left for Nellis AFB and we had dinner with his family and his first counselor, Pres Cook and their family! We can't tell you how much these two families have impacted our lives!  Sister Jensen is from Taiwan and Sister Cook is from Korea - they have treated me like family and we love them all so much!

Last week was transfers and we drove down South to pick up Sister Anderson and take her to the mission office.  We never got to have her in our district but she came out the same time we did to the mission.  And we met her in the MTC - so this was a full circle moment!

It was Newcomers Briefing the day we picked up Sister Anderson, so the Elder's went and ran our booths for us at the USO table and the Red Cross table - we got them set up and then they took over! They are great young men.  Elder Koo is from Korea and Elder Osmond is from Star, Idaho

We always have a lunch together after the last district meeting before transfers.  This was at the Raorocoast Family Restaurant - very good!

Just a few pictures from our last district meeting with these special missioanries!

So on the third Thursday of every month we help with the coffee at the Hospital while the medical people have a training.  This is an event that I usually make three or four different items for.  They Ube Cookies are their favorite.  Always the first thing gone. 

We have changed our Wednesday night Come Follow Conference to a Learn Korean with the Bible class.  The young missionaries teach,  They do a great job!

LOOK AT THOSE SMILES!  Just one last picture of why I love serving here!  We have such fun and hardworking missionaries to work with!

 

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 THERE 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 WHO 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 AS I HAVE BEEN WONDERING IS I'M MEETING MY MISSION PURPOSE HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD WHEN MANY THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN MY 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. 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.

THAT SAME DAY MY OTHER DAUGHTER AND HER FAMILY WERE WORKING VERY HARD IN OUR YARD TRYING TO GET ALL THE WEEDS OUT . 

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!