FOOD, FOOD, and more FOOD!

We spend a lot of time at the dinner table - (lunch or any other reason) but we have learned that many great experiences happen over the meal table where we are nurtured in ways more than physical.

Above are two of our favorite things we have tried here in Korea  - Dakgalbi, a chicken stir fry and we like to add the cheese. I like spice, Elder Lowe does not so one half is the spicy version and the right side of the picture has the milder version. The next two are pictures of a Korean Version of a Chinese dish called Malatang - it doesn't look near as good as it tastes!  Basically you go to a wall of different meats, vegatables, more variety of mushrooms than you can imaginge, noodles, rice cakes, quail eggs (They love their quail eggs or any eggs for that matter) and fill a bowl with the items you want then you take it to the counter and tell them the spice level you want and they boil it in a most amazing broth.  When I was told about it I didn't think I would like it - but it's pretty tasty!

Below are pictures of Elder Lowe enjoying his Malatang and a picture  of Donkatzu which is the Korean version of Tonkatsu a Japanese fried breaded pork - also another one of our favorites. You'll notice there are a lot of side dishes (kimchi - radishes etc) that are served with the meal.

Below are some different pictures of great times we have had with different people! I think you will notice Elder Willis in many of the pictures.  He is from Colorado and has served here with us since May.  He has done a lot of good for the branch and public relations on the base. 

First picture was after a district council meeting in Humphreys.  There is a Western Style BBQ right by the church there and these Elders introduced Elder Lowe to it - he has missed his American bbq meals. I felt like maybe I was getting a taste of what being a boy mom feels like!  The next picture was a Chinese restaurant we went to with our branch president and the missionaries serving in our branch as a farewell to one of the missionaries and our Airman James Bedore who left us the end of October to go to New Jersey - we will miss them both! Elder Stinger, the second person in the picture of the left was going home to Boise Idaho and he was one of the few missionaries that had served at all three of the military bases in our mission. The last picture is at an Indian Restaurant with him and another missionary couple who serve at Kunsan Air Force Base.  They came up to Osan to take him to lunch before he went home. The next picture of food is at the same restaurant and Elder Willis is helping us to show you how large the Naan is. 

The last picture is a visit to our sweet friend from the Philippines, Leeway Dadivas and her cousin Norman.  They are the kindest people and so devoted to the church!  She says she has not missed a day of reading the Book of Mormon since she was baptized!  We love them so much. She was feeding us leftovers that evening (It was a FEAST! Philippine style)

I wanted to take a souvenir home that would mean something to me and something you see everywhere here on special occasions is the traditional hanbok dress. Below are some of the pictures of the fun we had while I was being fitted for the dress.  I may wear it only once and put it in a shadow box - but I will always remember the fun we had with these sisters and the lady who made it for me.  She couldn't speak english and we didn't speak Korean so the young sister missionaries came along and help translate.  We had some spiritual moments with her at the end as Sister Rounds left a plan of Happiness booklet with her.  Don't worry - I didn't buy the headdress. LOL   

        .   She took great care measuring me!

This was our final picture together - we had transfers with the Sisters so you will notice a new junior missionary in this picture.

Just some highlights throughout the month. Above is our friend HyunAh from the USO dressed in her Hanbok for the Base Trunk or Treat - Elder Lowe looking for a winter hat and Sister Lowe finding a Korean Ceramic Nativity!

This is our friend Kris.  This picture is taken in a Peruvian Restaurant - the food was once again amazing! He wants to be baptized but is still working out a few details.  We love him!  I usually cook Sunday dinner for the single and unaccompanied folks but last week I was dead tired so Kris said, "Don't worry about it - I'll bring tacos" - and he brought the most amazing ones I have ever had!

Here's just a few random pictures through the month.  The first one was one of the Staff at the chaplains office.  She has been very helpful to us.  She was raised in American Samoa. She invited us to her going away luncheon at a Thai Restaurant called Sawatdee.  We felt very honored to be invited.  She said I don't have family here and I would like you to come.  It was a nice day.  The next picture is of our friend Nathan Morales - he just went to a new duty station. Hill Air Force Base in Ogden.  We look forward to seeing him when we are back home - He is not hurt in this picture but it is just a Halloween costume.  The last picture is our parking garage.  Sometimes we come in late at night and can't find our car the next morning! Especially since most of the cars are black and white! 

Here's just a taste of the fun we get to have at the library. They always have a theme for story time - last week it was Super Heroes. The picture above is Homeschool club, making lotus lanterns with the Dharma group.

The pictures below are a memory of our time with the Meyets when they came up from Kunsan Air base to spend time with us and Elder Stinger before he went home.  It was a fun Day.  We are in an area called the SED - it stands for Songtan-ro Entertainment District.  It is what we refer to as Little America.  It is across the street from the base and has many American restaurants and lots of culturally diverse restaurants!

Well, all I can say is Osan Air Base knows how to throw a Trunk or Treat Party! There were over 2000 people there and it was such great fun! The picture with me and "Belle" is a friend we met at the temple who is actually living at Camp Humphreys - but the fun part is she served her mission in Pocatello, Idaho!  Her name is Charlene!

We sent two of our airmen to new assignments the past couple of weeks - so it has been bitter sweet!  We had a going away party for them at game night at the chapel fellowship hall. James left for New Jersey and Nathan left for Hill Air Force Base - 

We are also saying goodbye to our fellow military relations missionaries who are assigned to Camp Humphreys. The mission president and his wife hosted an event at their home to say good by and thank them for their faithful service! This is Sister and Elder Rounds.  She is the one who inspired me to get the Hanbok💕 They live in the Ogden area so we will be able to visit them when we go home.

While we were eating lunch I asked Sister Kwak the secret to skincare in Korea (So many of my Korean friends say BOTOX) but sister Kwak ran into her room and brought out a spray on foam we all tried - It was amazing - felt so good and made your skin glow! 

October 31st was a very fun day!  Most of you who have lived by me over the years may remember that I like to make donuts for the neighbors on Halloween and Caramel Apples for my piano students.  Well, the library was told they couldn't spend their budget on food items - so I volunteered to do donuts for the library party - 8 dozen donuts later we were still smiling!  The young Sisters helped and the librarian and our counterpart at Homeschool club joined in the fun.  It was a fun day of love and fellowship and the sisters were able to explain why they are serving a mission here in Korea!  Blessings!

Elder Lowe hates big cities and crowds and especially crowded subways but I must give him credit because even though we live in what is considered the "country" here, we are still surrounded by high rises!  He has been much more chill than normal - I think that is a missionary blessing.  Well, last week when we came back from our monthly trip to the Seoul Temple, the subway was standing room only so I couldn't resist taking a picture of him standing in his own "purgatory" . He returned the favor and since we are quite opposite, I actually enjoy the busy hustle and bustle.  Let me clarify, I wouldn't want to live in it forever but it has been a fun experience.  When a seat opened up he declined because there was a young man standing in front of me that he wanted to get to know - so I sat down and he followed his heart.  Turned out he is stationed here at Osan Air Base and is fresh out of high school.  I think they both enjoyed their commonalities in a place half way around the world from where they are from.  We are learning on a regular basis the importance of visiting with people - because most often it is a celestial collision of some sort.  Last week we had a really cool experience.  Elder Lowe was wandering around on the SED looking for a boot place when a gentleman approached him and asked him if he was from Utah.  This man owns a tailor shop on the SED and he speaks perfect English.  The next day we were with the sisters in a whole different place in this massive city and we asked them to tell us about the people they are working with.  As they talked about a gentleman they were working with we put 2 and 2 together and realized it was the same man that Elder Lowe had meant the day before.  If that wasn't coincidence enough - as soon as we quit talking about him, he walked in front of our car - mind you this was miles from his business and I can't even tell you how many thousands of people are around.  Anyway, we will take him and the sisters to dinner when he gets back from taking army uniforms to the states. Pretty cool!  All I can say, is we see the Lord in the details nearly every day!

After our temple session, we catch the subway right by the Hyundai Mall in Seoul.  We like to have lunch before we head home and have discovered a really fun little place in the corner.  We went there and sat down and ordered our lunch. We were sitting right across from these two darling Korean Ladies. As they finished their meal, they stood up and showed us their shopping bags.  The said Zion Saints which is the bag they use at the LDS Distribution Center here.  They were trying to tell us they were. members of our church.  She then grabbed our bill and said "I pay!"  They didn't speak much English and we weren't good at Korean but our phones helped us a little.  They took pictures with us and then about ten minutes later they came back bearing gifts of rice cakes and special Korean crackers.  It was so sweet to be served by them and feel of their amazing Spirits! It turns out that our young Elder Willis served in their ward when he was new to Korea - what a small world! Such a simple gesture but it meant the world to us!

This past weekend we had the pleasure of going with one of our friends on the base on an ITT Trip up to Nami Island and Garden of the morning Calm.  It was super amazing!  I won't say much about the pictures but feel free to scroll on if you would like to see them!  Pictures never do it justice - but I think you will be able to tell how awesome it was!

                    Nami Island - notice the Squirrel table and the rock formations.

 AND IF THAT WASN'T ENOUGH PRETTY FOR YOU  - HERE ARE SOME PICTURES FROM                                             THE GARDEN OF THE MORNING CALM