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!

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!

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!

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?

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!

Yes, I'm going there

One of the exciting things about getting ready for a mission was getting ready to go to the temple, too. After all those years in Primary singing about it, the goals and values in Young Women, and those discussions in Relief Society where I didn't quite understand what the older sisters weren't quite saying... The Temple Prep classes were cool, but there's nothing that compares to the real thing!

More stories to share? Oh, my!

Hey! There's another way for me to share my mission stories! Check out my new Instagram account!

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!

In which we attempt to #LightTheWorld

I LOVE the #LightTheWorld campaign! What a great way to celebrate the Christmas season — giving selfless service.

The problem we encountered, though, was that not everyone wants to receive. But we keep trying!

By the way, if you want to learn how to participate in #LightTheWorld, visit mormon.org. There's a ton of great stuff on there!

Flavor of the month

I had almost forgotten that Sis. Bae had done this for me! She was so sweet trying to help me adjust, but I was really happy that the kimchi flavor burned off all the pumpkin spice!

I saved a lot of recipes from my mission. This was not one of them!

Perspective

I was pondering the other day about everything that's been happening in the world, and I tried to put it in a gospel perspective. It isn't easy when you see innocent people hurt or suffering. But if you step back from your limited human perspective and take it to Heavenly Father's longer view, you can feel a sense of peace.

One of my favorite scriptures is this: "Behold and lo, mine eyes are upon you, and the heavens and the earth are in mine hands, and the riches of eternity are mine to give." (D&C 67:2). It's good to remember that every now and then.

I knew them, Horatio

I love General Conference! I love the General Women's Session! I'm so excited for this weekend!!!!

With all your might and zeal

It's encouraging to see so many people helping in Houston.

How can you help? Here are 7 ways. And, as the hymn says, don't forget to pray!