Annyeonghaseyo - Hello From Korea: 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.