Bearing testimony

It's actually an easy thing to do. "I said" can sound an awful lot like "I'm a peanut," especially with an American accent. The thing that's humiliating is that I've done it more than once. Oops!

Home again, home again, jiggety jig!

A temple education

OK, I probably should have known it, but it took Sis. Clabby explaining it to me before I got it. We're not the only church with temples. I mean, I knew it, but I didn't know it, you know? I'm kind of embarrassed. Our LDS temples are different because of the priesthood and the ordinances. And, yes, because most of them have the statue of the Angel Moroni.

Who knew, right?

Anyway, Gyeongju is beautiful, even in winter. They say in spring and fall it's especially picturesque, and that the temple is amazing. I don't understand all the history, but this was the capital of one of the ancient kingdoms, so it's got some really cool historical stuff. It's awesome!

It was awesome to be with all the other missionaries, to see Sis. Bae and Sis. Miller and to be able to Skype home for a few minutes. Christmas in Korea was AMAZING!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! Here's a video of Silent Night in Korean!

Christmas Video!

A Christmas message from my mission!

In which we share our talents

A Christmas Miracle, or, REUNITED AT LAST!!!

I think Gyeongju will forever be my favorite place in the whole world! Yes, it's beautiful, historic and awesome, but the BEST part is: I. GOT. MY. LUGGAGE! I've spent waaay too many days on my mission without my luggage -- first, traveling halfway around the world one way, while my bags traveled the other direction. This time they decided to stay in Busan (it wasn't my fault! The APs were supposed to get it loaded onto the bus!).

It's going to be fun to see all the missionaries! Everyone from my MTC group will be here, and I'll see Sis. Bae again! I'm SO HAPPY!!!!!!!!

It's in the bag!

Work where it counts, lift where you stand

I LOVE Sis. Clabby! I like the way she thinks! I need some clothes, let's go work the clothing stores. Missionary work AND shopping! Excellent combination, right?

I can't BELIEVE they want me to wait until next week to get my suitcases with all my clothes and stuff. You can tell that the APs are guys -- no WAY any female would think that was a good idea!

Welcome to Daegu!

Well, I made it to Daegu -- but my bags didn't!

Maybe they went to Paris...?

And away I go!

Saying goodbye

In Korean you say, "Annyeonghi kyeseyo" or, "Stay in peace" when you leave. I said that to Sis. Bae and to Busan.

It's kinda scary, my first transfer! I hope that I can stay in peace!!!

Getting ready

I can NOT believe how hard it is to transfer! So much to pack! So many people to say goodbye to! So much that's unknown! I'm NEVER doing it again!

A dark day

I can't believe it! Just when I was getting used to the area, now I have to pack my bags and head north to some place called Daegu! Aaaaugh!

Thanksgiving treats!

I am THRILLED that we've been invited to have Thanksgiving dinner with a member who lives on base! It may not be Grandma's home cooking, but I'm looking forward to potatoes, turkey and pumpkin pie!

Sis. Bae is less excited. She thinks a lot of American food is gross, like pumpkin pie. It has a weird texture -- and don't even get her started on rice pudding: it's blasphemy!

I promised I'd treat her to a treat they sell on the streets on our way back home: boendegi. It's steamed silkworm pupae. Other missionaries have told me they taste like dirt, but Sis. Bae likes them. They're healthy, she says! Eww! I says!

I'm grateful to have an awesome and patient companion! The Church is true! Have a great Thanksgiving!

Food for thought

My Grandpa, who served in the Korean War, loved this TV show called M*A*S*H. He said it reminded him a lot of his time in Korea. There was one episode that Grandpa liked where one of the guys, Major Frank Burns (who was kind of a weenie), taught an English class for the locals. For some reason, the other guys (who didn't like Maj. Burns) taught the class for him one day, and taught them the phrase, "Frank Burns eats worms!" My Grandpa would laugh whenever anyone said that. Teaching the English class reminded me of that, so I taught it to our class, too! I hope I don't get into too much trouble over that!

First class

And so it begins

Reach out and teach someone

SO excited to start this!

Special recognition

So many of the older people tell me how grateful they are that my grandpa served here during the Korean War! It makes me really appreciate his sacrifice. I'll bet he never thought that his work would result in his granddaughter talking to people about the gospel!

Thanks, grandpa, all all the other Veterans!

In which I fall in love

I am in love.

I’ve just had some of the best fruit I’ve ever had in my entire life! Daegu apples are incredible – even as good as Washington apples. But the best fruit EVER is the Korean pear apple (or beh, as we call it). It’s like a pear, but it’s better than a pear – not as grainy and soft; it’s like an apple, but sweeter.

They have some in the United States, those little yellow fruits wrapped up in those Styrofoam fishnet things. But they’re little and scrawny and tasteless compared to what they have here.

Oh.

My.

Gosh!

So what happens is when you go to visit people in their homes, they bring you a little snack or a drink to refresh you, a daejup they call it. Sometimes it’s a drink, sometimes it’s a snack. In fact, sometimes they bring out coffee, because all Americans like coffee, right? So we have to say no thanks, we don’t drink coffee. So they go back and bring out black tea… and we have to say no thanks, we don’t drink black tea. Then they go back and bring out a Coca-Cola. It’s kind of funny.

So we were visiting an inactive member, and she brought out a plateful of these sliced behs.  I think I embarrassed my companion; I just started chowing down on them, licking my lips and saying how delicious they were! I know that’s not what I’m supposed to do, but I couldn’t help myself. They were SO GOOD! I’m going to have to send some seeds home and grow my own beh tree when I get back!

They taste amazing!

Anyway, we’ve had a good week, and we’re going to be starting an English class. That means that I’ll be doing a lot of the English teaching, so that should be interesting.

We’re working hard, having fun and the Church is true!

I love behs!

Pumpkin

OK, I know it doesn't really rhyme (pumpkin is ho bach, pronounced like the composer), but whatever... Happy Halloween!

Things look different here

Labor all your days

Unloosed tongue

We're everywhere!

P-Day is a special day

Seriously. There are a bunch of old ladies who still do their laundry down in the river. It's kind of cool. Sis. Bae said that they used to do it a lot more when she was a kid. Most families have washing machines now, of course, but there are still those traditionalists, I guess!

Getting those primary skills

Success!

Limited resources

Meeting the bishop, sort of...

Happy Hangul Day!

Did you know that today is a national holiday? It's Hangul Day, the holiday that celebrates the creation of the Korean alphabet by King Sejong! Isn't that AWESOME?! They're having a speech competition at the high school, but I don't know what else they do to celebrate.

I'm just getting to know my new area and I love Sis. Bae, my new companion! She's showing me everything and we're meeting all kinds of people! I know it's all brand new, but I'm LOVING IT!

My first companion!

Woo hoo! I got my trainer, my first companion! Her name is Sis. Bae Eun-shil, and she's from Seoul. She had never met PSY. And that's OK (but I was curious, you know?).

The mission president said that she didn't speak much English, but she seems to do OK so far.

There's so much to say but so little time! Conference was amazing and wonderful and really weird to hear in a different language. But it was still way cool! Can you believe how many missionaries there are? More than 80,000!? And that's just one year after the age change!

I am SO loving Korea! More so, I think, because I spent so long traveling to get here!

More later! Sugohaseyo!*

*That means "work hard" and the missionaries here say it  a lot.

Conference

Conference iso so awesome! I can't wait! And after the Conference sessions, the new elders and sisters will meet our companions and go home with them!

Welcome to the Land of the Morning Calm!

It took SO long to get here! I was incredibly glad to be able to shower and get into clean clothes. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to wear that outfit again!

So many things have happened! I hear that the joint North/South factory is opening again, Dennis Rodman is going BACK to North Korea, and the North has started up a nuclear plant again. I guess I’m going to miss out on a lot of the news things while I’m a missionary. But I got to see a LOT of CNN in a lot of airports! Enough to last me through my entire mission, I’m sure!

I was saddened to hear that there were a bunch of missionaries who died – a couple in a car crash and some other accidents. I’m so sorry for them and their families! But I’m sure Heavenly Father has a reason for whatever happened.

Anyway, I am so, so, so VERY stoked to be in Korea at last! I guess I just missed Korean Thanksgiving (they do it early like the Canadians, I guess). But I'm sure we'll have another one in November.

I am BEYOND excited to get my new assignment! I’ll get my very own companion and start doing the missionary thing! I’ll get my assignment tomorrow! I. CAN'T. WAIT!

Something's familiar here...

Second thoughts?

Long time coming!

When what to my wondering nose should appear?

My feet have grown!

Bonus material!

A little out of the way

Halfway there

Of primary concern

Sis. Miller's dilemma

Go, me, therefore...

So close, but yet so far!

I need a map

What do mine eyes behold?

French benefits