Lessons learned

Here's another good lesson I learned as a missionary!

...and three make Twelve!

General Conference was AMAZING! So many good messages — even a new word! For me, one of the most exciting things was calling three new apostles.

Quick to observe

There are many things that we could do as sister missionaries that would be just plain creepy if the elders tried them!

Into the groove

Another from our days at the MTC. We also ate, but I don't really want to remember that part!

No rest for the wicked — or the righteous!

Here's one from the MTC.

When people ask what I remember about being in the MTC, I think of my teachers, trying to learn the language, gaining a deeper testimony. When they ask Sis. Miller, I think her biggest memory is being tired!

Jittery holidays

I found out in the MTC that all of us come from slightly different backgrounds.

The stories that couldn't be told...

Now that I have a little break, I can go back through my journal and tell some of the stories that I couldn't include while I was on my mission. Not that they're anything bad, just not, you know, stuff that I'd put in my reports to the mission president, if you know what I mean.

Anyway... the Pone Boo (office/mission home) has a reputation. Strange things happen there!

The RM dilemma

I've got a lot of photos from my mission. My mom stored most of them on the computer, but I really want to share them — but I don't know where! I was only gone for like a year and a half, but there have been so many changes in social media, I don't even know what to do anymore!

My grandpa says that when he got back from his mission, he had boxes and boxes of slides that he could only show with a slide projector. I didn't even know what that was!

So what do other returned missionaries do?

I'm lovin' it!

OK, yeah. I'll admit it.

I'm a General Conference junkie!

It's General Conference time!

I was lucky enough to go to the Women's Session at the Conference Center! That was So. Cool! I even had a can of soda in my purse so I could play along with Sis. Esplin! I'm really looking forward to the rest of the sessions starting on Saturday. I can't wait to hear them again in English (mostly, anyway) and at a reasonable time of day!

The one thing that makes me a little sad, though, is that I won't be counted as one of the missionaries currently serving. I may not be out there, but I know of ton of 'em!

See you at General Conference!

A long, long time

And now a few words...

Whew! I got through my homecoming talk! It was a lot easier than I thought it would be, although I there were a couple of times when I struggled to find the English words. But I could really feel the spirit! I hope that everyone else could, too! I never really noticed how natural it's become to bear my testimony in Korean! It was funny because when we sang the closing hymn, I tried to sing it in Korean — until the other speaker (the High Council member) poked me and laughed.

It still feels weird not wearing my badge!

Happy New Year!

They'll be celebrating the new year over there...without me!

I know it's possible to be homesick — is it possible to be missionsick?

In which I report to the Stake High Council

OK, it's about time that I caught up a little bit. It's interesting how easy it is to get distracted by things once you get home from your mission!

The badge

Check up, check out

I still say flossing is not a requirement for a temple recommend!

Jiggety-jig!

Sniff!

"If ye are prepared ye shall not fear"

One of the important lessons I've learned on my mission is to learn from my mistakes. 

The gift that keeps on being given

OK, I can't say I wasn't a little disappointed when the gal at the check in counter already had a copy of the Book of Mormon. OK, multiple copies. But you never know — one of these days she'll read it, or one of her co-workers will read it! That's what happened with the Arnoffs back home!

I still have a couple of copies for the flight home, so we'll just have to see what happens!

Great big bag of everything

We're supposed to endure to the end, right? Gotta keep working!

The last word

I'll tell you what — this was a great testimony meeting! The spirit was SO strong. I loved hearing Sis. Miller's testimony, and it felt so good to share my testimony! I remember what it was like the first time I spoke in my first area here. I could hardly say anything more than "hello!"

Are we ready?

What about dessert?

The mission president and mission mom are SO AMAZING! They made us a wonderful dinner and we had an awesome dinner followed by the Best. Testimony Meeting. Ever! The interview with the president was sooo incredible! He gave me some great advice for the next phase of my life and expressed his love and gratitude for my work as a missionary!

Could this be it?

It's a bittersweet day.

We had some good appointments this morning, then now this evening it's time to pack things up. We still have a day or two before we actually leave, but it's packing time!

I'm kind of envious of the elders, who still have another six months. But it's also kind of exciting to think about going home! Not that I'm thinking about going home... AAARGH! There's so much to do and so little time!!!!

Filling the calendar

I can't believe it! Just when we're starting to get things rolling here we get word that...it's...the...end!

Dinner with the president is just a couple of days away, so we still have time to do SOME work. But, OH, NO!

Getting to know the ward

Since we're both short-timers, we want to be as effective as we can, so after praying about it we decided that we should visit members of the Ward Council. For one, we'll get to know the needs of the ward, and we'll also get to know the members better — that's why I love going to Primary: you get to hear all kinds of stories about what goes on in the families!

Things are going great...but time is running short!

Smart work

Taking it personally

Sister Miller and I talked. Well, she talked and I listened.

I had no idea that her grandpa had passed away! She said that the mission president gave her a choice: she could go home, or stay and finish out her mission. It was so close to the end. She chose to stay and finish out her mission, and so the mission president made us companions.

I think we're OK now. I understand what's going on with her, and we'll figure out how to make it work!

He that hath ears to hear...

So you know, I've been upset with Sister Miller wanting to take naps — especially when I want to be out there working! We're down to a matter of weeks left, and there's still a lot of missionary work to be done!

I thought that I'd better pray about it, you know, because it's really been getting in the way of things between us. So as I was praying, I had the thought come to me that I needed to listen to what Sister Miller was really saying, not just judge her by her actions.

Rats. I hate it when I have to be humble!

Not what I expected!

Funny, I remember Sister Miller as being hard working, gung-ho and fired up about the work! We had a bit of an...um...argument about what we're supposed to do. I literally didn't see that coming, no way!

I've seen a lot of missionaries slack off as they reach the end, and that's not what I want to do. I REALLY hope that isn't what Sister Miller wants to do!

Reunited!

I was so excited to be with Sis. Miller again! We've hardly seen each other during our missions, just at Christmas and an occasional zone conference. We had so much fun in the MTC, I thought it would be awesome to close out my mission with her.

And then, this.

New missions!

Wow! The Church just announced that there are 11 new missions and a whole bunch of new mission presidents! It's amazing to see the continued growth, and it's even more fun to be part of it!

Making the transition

Out of the blue...!

Here's something I wasn't expecting! We got a call today from the Assistants telling us that we're part of a special transfer. Should I be worried about how often my transfers seem to be special? I don't know the reason, but they're moving the elders out of Fourth Ward and putting Sis. Miller in for our last few weeks.

Yep, we're there until we die! (Don't worry! That's a missionary expression for the transfer that sends you back home).

Sis. Green, on the other hand, is getting a greenie who is coming down from Seoul, also on a special transfer. My little green sister is TRAINING!

Well, I've got to go pack. At least the move is only across town. And I think we can see the beach from the apartment!

Happy New Year!