It's that time of year!

One thing that was fun about Korea is that there are all kinds of celebrations in winter, and two new year celebrations! New Year's Day isn't as big of a thing as it is back home, hence the wild celebration at midnight. But when the Lunar New Year rolls around, it's party time!

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?

Desserts

Best. Day. EVER! How many times have I/will I say that on my mission? First, dinner was GREAT. The food looked a little funny, but then I decided if they can eat it, I can eat it! Some of it was, um, different... but it was yummy! And afterward, they brought out a HUGE delicious asian pear for both me and Sis. Clabby!

Afterward we went to the park and hung out, talking to all kinds of people. There must be a billion pictures of me in my hanbok on Instagram by now! So many people wanted a picture of the American wearing Korean clothes! We talked to so many people and it was so much fun! They didn't even seem to mind that we were missionaries!

A couple of little kids in their little kid hanboks came and bowed to us. We didn't have any money or goodies to give them, so Sis. Clabby gave them each a Joseph Smith pamphlet!

I hope our contacting did some good! We met a lot of people!

Love the work! Love the gospel!

Welcome to the Year of the Horse!

Dinner at the bishop's house -- more on that later. For now, Happy New Year! Again!

새해 복 많이 받으세요, part 2

Welcome to 설날 (Seollal)! There’s a traditional game that they play in Korea every New Year. It’s called yut nori, or sometimes just yut. You have four little guys that you move around a game board and try to get them home, and you move them by throwing Korean dice. The dice aren’t the cubes with spots on them like we’re used to. They’re sticks, round on one side and flat on the other.

The game board is a square with six spaces to a side, and there are diagonal spaces, too, that you can use for a short cut. The object is to get all four of your guys home. It reminds me of Aggravation!, and old game we used to play at my Grandma’s house.

To play the game you throw four of the sticks, and how you move depends on how many of them land round side down (or flat side up). For example, if two of them land flat side up, you get to move two spaces. If only one lands flat side up, you get to move one space. If all four of them land flat side up, it’s called a yut, and you get to roll again. If all four of them land round side up, you get to move five spaces and go again, too!

We played the game at a ward family night, and it was a BLAST! Probably because I WON!!!  Who rocks the house!?

OK, maybe they let me win, ‘cause I’m a missionary, but still…

Another game they play, but I haven't seen it, is a thing kind of like a teeter totter. It's called neolttwigi. Only on this one, you stand on it, and the other person jumps on and tries to get you high up in the air. It looks a little scary, but fun!

The other New Year’s tradition is sebae. Kids dress in their hanboks and do a deep, honorific bow to their parents, who then give them money or candy or fruit. Actually, the kids sebae to as many people as they can – it’s a little like honorific trick or treating! A lot of times the treats are in these fancy bags that are really, really cool.

There’s also a traditional food called dduk (sounds like Donald). It’s a rice cake and it’s actually pretty good! There’s always a big meal somewhere – we’re going to the bishop’s house – and then people walk around the city wearing their traditional clothes. A couple of the elders and sisters also have hanboks, so we’re going to go walk around and maybe do some contacting. It’s going to be super cool! Chemi issayeo!

Not your normal missionary attire

Yes, it felt a little weird to go out in my hanbok rather than my normal missionary gear, and the name tag DID look a little funny. But it was cool!

Fair trade

After I bought the hanbok, I had a really strong impression that I should give the Hanbok Lady a copy of the Book of Mormon. She was so polite and honored to accept it -- she even used to formal form to say thank you! It was kind of a cool experience to have the spirit be so strong while we were shopping, but, hey! Why not?!

I can't wait to wear my hanbok to the New Year celebrations! And I hope she reads the Book of Mormon! I'll make sure we come back here to follow up!

Shopping time!

With the holidays coming up, I really want to get a hanbok! Sis. Clabby says that everyone -- especially the kids and the young ladies -- wear their hanboks and go about town on Korean New Year. That would be so awesome!

We're keeping busy and working hard. I live it and I love it!

새해 복 많이 받으세요!

Happy New Year! What it says at the top is "please receive New Years blessings!" and you say it seh he bok mani pad uh sey yo!

Here's a holiday card* I got from one of our investigators!

New Year in Korea is INCREDIBLE! They get to celebrate it TWICE!!! First they have the regular New Year on January 1 like everyone else, but later they also have the Korean New Year, and it's a three-day celebration. Sis. Clabby says that it's like everything closes down and everyone goes to their ancestral home and all the girls wear their hanboks and it's a big celebration!

Our night was pretty quiet last night, but we could hear people in the neighborhood celebrating and making noise, almost like home. I can't wait for the BIG celebration!

I may see if we can go shopping and get a hanbok for me. I think that would be soooo AMAZING!

Anyway, New Year's blessings to you!

*It's a Christmas, New Year and Korean New Year card all in one. The picture is some of the things they do at New Years (except for the picture on the bottom left...hey do that all the time).

Love and testimony to all!