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!

Mysterious happenings

We usually don't hear much about politics or the government, so it was kind of unusual to hear people talking about — can I say his name? — the Dear Leader up North. Apparently he hasn't been seen for some time, and that worries people who pay attention to such things.

In the meantime, the work here continues to go well. The weather has settled down and it's turning into a beautiful fall! I love it here! I love the people! I don't even want to think about going home in a few months! There's still so much to do!

In missionary news

I heard from my cousin, Sis. Kimmie, who is serving in Ukraine:

"Due to the continued unrest in this region, the Church has chosen to transfer the 85 young missionaries from the Donetsk Ukraine Mission to serve in other areas within Ukraine."

Yikes! I'm glad that they're avoiding trouble and that they're safe. I hope things settle down so they can go back in!

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!