Knock on Some Doors and Hope for the Best

It's here! It's here! The third volume of my mission blog is finally here! Knock on Some Doors and Hope for the Best covers the last part of my mission and going home. I laughed, I cried, I got homesick for my mission. You can check it out on amazon.com — complete your collection today!

#FollowTheProphet

I totally agree with Pres. Nelson. We've got to be kinder to each other, and show each other more respect. 

Post-fast

This may seem kind of corny, but I feel a whole lot better about the world after fasting today! It feels like there's a lot more hope in the world, and that's a good thing!

Are you ready to fast?

I'm super excited for the fast tomorrow! I invite you to join me!

A conference perspective

I had an epiphany that totally changed my outlook on General Conference. At first I was kind of bummed that it wouldn't be in the Conference Center and the Tabernacle Choir wouldn't be there. Instead of big crowds in big buildings, though, it's more like the leaders are coming in to my apartment to talk with me, personally. It's like the way Jesus taught; it's like Joseph Smith's experience in the Sacred Grove.

I think it's going to be kind of wow!

Social distance

Can you believe all the crazy things that are happening? My mission lost about a third of its missionaries, with people being reassigned or released. Those who are left are super limited with what they can do and where they can go, if they can go anywhere at all!

There's a lot they can do with technology, like using FaceTime or Zoom for lessons, doing Facebook live stream lessons and other stuff. But they're lucky to have the new Book of Mormon videos — otherwise they'd be stuck watching reruns of The District of The Safety Zone!

Take care, and wash your hands!

Speaking my language

There are days when I wish that people just knew what I meant without trying to understand what I'm saying. You know what I mean?

The world is lit

I love #LightTheWorld! It's such an easy reminder to do those little things that make a big difference in our individual lives. And it helps us to minister like the Savior did, one by one.

Hope you're having a great Christmas season! Keep lighting the world!

Squeeeeee!!!!!

I can't believe it! Volume 2 of my missionary blog is out! It's called Sis. Kerry Jo's Mission Blog Volume 2: The First Transfer is the Hardest. It's available on Amazon! This one takes me from my greenie area with Sis. Bae all the way through to Sis. Han (bless her heart!). It's chock full of amazing memories — and a few things I'd like to forget! 

Missionaries phone home

What an awesome experience! It's sooo fun to call home without worrying about holidays and everything! My mom didn't even care about the time difference (it's still yesterday back home)!

We got to talk about my life as a missionary, and I got to hear some of the things they're doing at home. I told them about some of my challenges with the people we're teaching, and they gave me some advice from their perspective. It was awesome!

I'm not going to call home EVERY week, maybe just once or twice per transfer. But it's nice to know I can if I need to!

First pants, and now this! What's next? No wonder Pres. Nelson told us to hold on and take our vitamins!

It's here! It's here!

I can't believe it! It's been so long! Volume 1 of my mission blog is available on Amazon — I Miss Wearing My Dork Dot! It brings back such memories! This first book starts way back when I first decided that I wanted to go on a mission. It goes through all my mission prep, the MTC, heading to the mission field, and getting to my first area with Sis. Bae.

The book is full color and contains some memories (and cartoons) that never made it into my blog.

Check it out!

Turkey Day!

What a great way to start Thanksgiving — a Turkey Bowl with the zone! And what a great way to get a new perspective on your companion’s personality!

Happy American Thanksgiving!

Trick or treat

Since Halloween isn't really a huge thing in Korea, Sis. Bae wanted to know about what we do. As i explained it to her, it started to sound familiar in an eerie way...

Putting on special clothes: check! Knocking on doors: check! Getting surprised at every door: check! As missionaries, we're surprised when people actually open the door and talk to us or let us in. We're also surprised at how many people don't want to talk to us and let us in.

Could one, therefore, infer that being a missionary is like Halloween? Every. Single. Day?

Ready, set...

I noticed that General Conference is coming up soon. Normally that's a pretty exciting thing — and it is! — but after all the changes from last conference, i don't know if I'm ready for another one? After all, how many wards have the whole ministering thing figured out? 

My left hand doesn't know what my right hand is doing

You'd think that using chopsticks every day would make me a master. Nope!

Plus ça change...

Is it wrong to miss the smell of newly-sharpened pencils and the sounds of high school football in the air?

Sometimes that's all you have left!

You know that Studio C sketch with Captain Literally who pronounces, "Balance restored!"? I imagine there's some electrical worker out there in a similar uniform who says almost the same thing: "Power restored!"

Or maybe that was Joseph Smith when he translated the Book of Mormon: "Scripture Power restored!"

What's a little rain?

Good news, bad news.

The typhoon was downgraded to a tropical storm. But that didn't matter much because everything was already soaked through, and we didn't have any power anyway.

I wonder if we can get some potstickers delivered?

Storm's a comin'

There's no storm like a tropical storm — except maybe a typhoon! So much wind and rain...more than this little Idaho girl has ever seen, that's for sure!

Hazy days

So I've been thinking about my mission and going through my old journals. I don't remember very much about my first couple of weeks. Maybe I was a little jet lagged. Maybe a lot! Here's one of the stories that are, well, just a little bit hazy to me!

Sis. Bae was SO patient!