TransfersWeddingThanksgiving

Wow. a lot has happened. Transfer day was on Thanksgiving. I went up to Daejeon to pick up my new companion sister meiers. Sister meiers is from texas, studied something that has to do with plants that i cant pronounce and is blonde. She's really sweet. THe only catch is that she is only one transfer older than me. and doesnt have a korean parents. so... that makes two blondes who dont speak korean in one of the busiest areas in the mission. COOL. I met her at the train station. After we walked away from everyone and bought our tickets i promptly got us on the wrong train headed to SEOUL. NICE kels. I found out because our seats were in car eleven and there was only 9 cars. I probably would have ridden that thing to Russia. Luckily the Lord looks out for His missionaries and after having a good laugh i found a nice looking girl and asked her how to get to gwangju. She was SO helpful and gave us these crazy complicated handwritten step by step instructions. It was really cute. We just got off at a stop i recognized and i bought two tickets to gwangju. We made it and it was nothing short of a miracle. fo realz. When we got back we remembered it was thanksgiving so we went out for a burger. Two bites in we get a phone call from the relief society president inviting us over for dinner.... we think. But because i have no brains in my head i finished my burger, i was hungry, and it was good, and i have no self control. So, we had a huge dinner, then had another huge dinner and somehow survived our first member dinner. The highlights were how neither of us knew anything they were saying and thoroughly embarrassed ourselves maybe 30 times. and then she said "what was president thinking putting you two together? How are you going to teach people?" All i could think was good question. But then i thought about it. I trust the Lord. I trust that he cares about His work. He will help us find a way. My inadequacies arent going to get in the way of anything. I just have to not burn this area down in the process. ha. Oh on saturday we were really hungry and decided to order chicken except i have no idea how to order chicken in korean so when the lady answered the phone i got nervous and said 치킨 주세요 which almost translates to "give me chicken" so she goes " oookk... what kind?" then i said the spicey saucey kind in a super thick korean accent. Of course she had no idea what i was talking about so i just said yes to the rest of her questions. Somehow chicken showed up at our door even though it was totally not what we wanted i was just pleased we got lunch. SUCCESS. We taught our first lesson together. It was kind of ridiculous but we felt the spirit and in my book that is all that matters. she also wants to meet with us again so thats good right? After we went to the stake presidents daughters wedding reception. everyone was in traditional korean clothes and it was COOL. They had this girl who sang traditional songs it was awesome. then the groom tried to pick up the bride for some reason and dropped her like four times. I do not ever want to be picked up by anyone in front of anyone ever. I saw lots of dads Nuskin friends. They think hes pretty cool. I do too. its been a wonderful week full of miracles and divine intervention. I love this work. I love this gospel. It is true. i love telling people about it. I love watching people change. I love the changes im seeing in myself. love you, love me

Thanks Given

I feel happy. This week continued to be full of insanity but I said a lot of prayers and the lord listened. The last three days have been awesome and we have seen miracle after miracle after miracle.

We get transfer calls today. I think im getting transferred which will break my heart. We have so many bapstisms this month. Ill go insane if i cant be here.

Its thanksgiving this week. That is cool. Except people in Korea dont really care. I keep trying to tell them how great it is but they just dont understand.

K lots of cool things happened this week but i really dont want to email anymore because my computor is in the sun and its 10000000 degrees and its making me feel claustrophobic because im wearing like 24 layers because did you know korea is connected to RUSSIA. Yeah its redonkulously cold outside. but randomly so hot where im sitting.

We had stake conference on sunday. It was a special message from the area president of korea, president monson, elder perry, and sister... dibb?. K it was SO good. Tons of our investators showed up and every talk was especially written for them.

all these Nuskin people love us now. We have like eight dinner appointments this week. Yeah. And they better hand over all of their friends. They all love you dad. And they all told me i look just like you. Dont know how i feel about that. Dont get me wrong, you are an attractive man... its just that you are a man.

Really cool stuff happened. Missionary work is cool beans. 

And i love korea. a lot. 

I also love this gospel. A lot. I know that it is true. I love telling people about it. "hey i know how you can have your family forever" best news in the WORLD. 

kk its too hot. Sorry this letter is lame. I really did have amazing stories to tell. 

Love you,

love me  

Temple Square Referral

Hey folks.

ring ring...ring ring... "hi this is the missionaries from the church of jesus christ of latter day saints. We heard you were maybe interested in hearing more about our church after your visit to temple square?"

"Oh yes, i was just in Salt lake for a Nuskin meeting and my boss just announced that he is going on a mission for his church so i wanted to know more."

"oh wow, your boss sounds like a really great guy"

"Yes he is. I took a tour around the temple and they told us about how families could be together forever and it really touched my heart"

"Yes your family really can be together forever- that is what our message is all about! When is a good time for us to meet?"

"oh maybe next Thursday"

 

Yeah that TOTALLY happened. Blake and I are doing tag team missionary work!!! Thanks for the help Blake!

I heard that the mission has been getting several referrals like that. Can you believe how cool?! I cant.

 

We had another baptism yesterday. Her name is Chi noo. She is 17. She wanted to join five years ago but her dad said no. She decided a month ago that she missed church and that it was still true. We told her she was right.

I love her a lot.

I do not love that the elder who baptized her had to baptize her 1 2 3 4 5 times. NOT COOL.

But it happened and she will serve a mission and have eight beautiful children.

 

I went on splits to Naju again. I got to see my laywer who got baptized a few weeks ago. When we got to his house he was out in his fields. I ran out to say hi and instead of a polite bow I got a hug. I was shocked to see a different man standing in front of me. His countenace was completely different. All i could think was that this man was converted. He was all smiles and laughter.

We sat in his ancient korean mansion and drank disgusting old man tea and he bore me his testimony. It was all i could do to not break out in sobs. I was SO HAPPY.

The next day was zone conference. President and sister furniss are rockstars. I LOVE them. I didnt have to speak and that was great. actually it was a miracle. I prayed the whole hour bus ride that i wouldnt have to speak. They make us do it in Korean! Do i LOOK like i speak korean?!

 

Ok so everyone keeps telling me to get real and say how im for realy reals doing.

Crazy things are afoot at the circle k.

The reason why im emailing so late is because my companion might be going home. Its a really long story and its not really mine to tell but she is having a really hard time. And so am I.

 Pray for us ok? Especially our investigators because im pretty sure some of them think we are crazy due to crazy things that have happened.

just got a call from president. She is staying.

mixed feelings about that.

I love you so much. Im ok. Its just missionary work. Im learning lots of good things. Just not korean... haha.

Kisses,

Sister lund

 

 

There is a Balm in Giliead

So i dont know what changed but this week was different. I spoke a lot more, laughed a lot more, didnt feel like running to Switzerland (maybe once), and felt so much love and encouragement. I read this quote the other day about how life becomes the toughest just before you reach your goal. Im hoping this means im getting closer to being where i want to be with my language and my work. Also i think we've been doing a lot of things right because the adversary is going to work on our investigators and us. We had five baptismal dates at the beginning of the week and it feels like all of our investigators are going through the same thing- questioning, doubting, or just wanting to ignore answers they have received. I know its just a phase though. They all promised to keep trying. I know they will pull through!!

My halloween was pretty cool. I found this great place called coffee and cat where you can buy some juice and drink it in the midst of like 50 cats! hahaha. Yes. It was the coolest weirdest thing ever. My favorite part was the super creepy owner cat lady man. He LOVES his cats. I saw him kiss their lips a couple times. Turns out i really love cats. I was in heaven a little bit. It was the best medicine in the world to hold something that loves you back. I realized how love deprived missionaries are that holding a cat meant something to me. so so sad and pathetic. After we went to the yound single adult activity. I was a ballerina. Tutu, ballet shoes, bun and all. My companion was a ghost. Just a bed sheet. She mostly looked like a terrorist/maybe a leper or maybe Mary. Anyways we had a lot of fun. The had a unicorn pinata. nuff said.

Oh something COOL happened!  A couple weeks ago we picked up an investigator who i was 100% sure was an english interest only. Guess what? I dont know anything about anything. She walked into our lesson on wedesday and says guys... i was thinking about what we talked about last week, about finding an answer and i was praying while walking down the street and it was cloudy and all of a sudden i saw and felt all this light. I think it was my answer! We told her it most definetly her answer and that she should get baptised and she said yes, of course! HUZZAH!

Oh guess what else is cool. We were having companionship study the other day when i hear these crazy howler monkey noises from outside. I looked out the window and what did i see?! People dressed up as dementors fighting with light saber/ jousting sticks howling like screeching eels. It was so much cooler than you could possibly imagine. Probably the best experience of my mission so far.

OH ALSO. The other day we were heading home on the bus and i was carrying a thousand heavy things plus i was so tired and the only seat open what a seat next to this kid in his 20's. I usually dont sit next to those types of people because they do weird things like touch my hair and tell me my face is the size of a thumb (thats a compliment here fyi). But i was so tired so i just stepped over him and dont worry! my foot slipped and i promptly sat on his lap, spilling my oranges everywhere and i about died a thousand deaths trying to get off of him and not let anyone see my nametag.

Good things are happing. I love love love being a missionary. I love you. The church is truer than ever.

Sister lund

What?????

I am so sosososososo excited for Blake and Nancy!!! I want them to be my mission presidents! They are going to be amazing. Kaedon London and Kelson are so lucky- They are about to have the biggest adventure of their lives.  Happy Birthday dad. My companion and I sang happy birthday for you and ate skittles. I am so happy you were born. You are my hero.  Also happy halloween. Korea doesnt have Halloween but we are having a big halloween party tonight for the young single adults and all our investigators. Spook alley included. I am so excited. I havent decided what i will be but just know it will be epic. This week has been kind of hard to be honest. Mostly because I had interviews with my mission president and he told me i have to learn Korean this transfer because there are 10000 American sisters coming into the mission. I pretty much wanted to die after. But ive been studying like theres no tomorrow because there kind of isn't and its not really helping. Turns out korean makes no sense. We had sisters conference. Sister Furniss is so cool. I want to be her so much. We had so much fun and listened to the relief society broadcast. Elder Uchtdorf.... pretty sure that is not how you spell his name... is the MAN. It was exactly what i needed to hear. I love how the same talk can mean something to a mom in Utah and some sister missionary way the heck in Korea. My companion got sick on Friday. We were at the church waiting for our appointment to show up when she looks at me and says " think i throw up many times" and walks into the bathroom and does so for a really long time. About two seconds later our appointment shows up. My companion is on the floor moaning. I am left to my devices- caveman talk for five minutes. Luckily the church is true and the lord ALWAYS covers for us. The elders come striding in like the knew what was going on and start helping with the lesson. It turned out to be awesome and she agreed to meet with us again. My companion threw up like eight more times. It was amazing. So saturday we took it easy. I studied Korean all day. and then i plucked my companions eyebrows. She was kinda mad but then she told me this awesome story about how her cousin shaved off her eyebrows when she was little and then i told her about how i shaved my own head a little when i was not so little and my sister used to make fun of me. Anyways since then our relationship has been really good. All we needed was some throwing up and some shared traumatic experiences. The work is still challenging but so rewarding. Its a lot harder than i thought it would be. But in between the tough times are all these moments of brilliant light. Never in my life have i felt so sad and discouraged but never in my life have i felt so much joy, fulfillment, and peace. This gosple is true. The savior lives. Joseph Smith really was a prophet. I know the book of mormon it true. It is an incredible thing to be able to teach about these simple truths. I love you. Happy halloween! sister lund

Sister Lund vs. the World

So... once again.... i have overstressed the situation. My companion is only a little out of her mind. She is like 4' 9" and i tried to bench press her last night and it almost worked. She is the first convert in her family and is a gentle sweet little thing. She kinda cries a lot. like a LOT. but it turns out sister missionaries like to do that so i just make her hot chocolate and hand her tissues. Last night we had dinner at Robert Holly's house this returned-missionary-turned-famous-comedian who lives in one of our wards. It was kind of a miracle because i heard he doesnt really like sister missionaries. but dont worry. I totally made him love us... i hope. Anyways his wife gave us pumpkin pie and it make me feel all tingley inside.  So the relief society had a big cooking competition and invited us and i wanted to participate and bought this horrible korean cookie mix. Also i could NOT get the oven to start. We prayed and tried again and of course it immediately started working. Our cookies came out looking and kind of tasting like dirt clods. but i didnt even care because they were miracle cookies. We brought them to the activity and they entered them into the contest. Our area is known for the amazing cooks and these women totally brought the heat. Their food was UNBELIEVABLE. we all introduced our items and I explained that our cookies were made by Gods hands. Everyone thought that was pretty funny and they LOVED our cookies. and get this: WE WON. Our cruddy ugly little cookies beat out all the Korean cuisine!!! hahahahahhahahaha i have pictures. Ill show you in like 11 months ok? This week i got lots of love from home and it was pretty AWESOME. Shout out to Larry Jones, momma oldroyd (the zucchini bread made me cry a little), and of course my mom who is the envy of every missionary in Taejeon. Im speaking a lot more Korean- thats pretty exciting. hmm... k thats all i think i have to say, Except maybe I love being a missionary. SO MUCH. even when my companions are completely nutso. maybe especially when they are crazytown. Remember when i got set apart and my blessing talked about how i would love my compys- its totally true. Sometimes ill be in the middle of a crazy situation and im just able to have a clear head and not get mad and just feel love for them- definitely strength beyond my own. I love you. i love this work. I love korea. Kisses!! sister lund

Happy Pregnant Korean Day and Steve Jobs Died

Today is pregnant lady day in korea which is so appropriate considering EVERYONE is pregnant back home. Congrats to all my Georgia loves. Way to follow the prophets counsel! I will be spending pregnant lady day as a bystander for SURE. i still dont speak Korean. also I dont know if anyone heard but Steve Jobs died and Korea is pretty crushed. Like every one has pictures of him in their store windows. I feel kinda sad too. Who will think of really awesome devices to help me waste all my time? oh well. CONFERENCE CHANGED MY LIFE. If any one isn't quite sure if the church is true just watch conference and you'll remember. I am totally blown away by how inspired the bretheren are. I feel so motivated to be better, try harder, repent more, practice more faith and stop being such a boo boo cry baby. To me, conference was all about realizing how blessed i am and to stop focusing on what im unsure of and realizing the Lord has everything covered. Everything is going to work out just the way its supposed to especially if im doing what im supposed to. i JUST got transfer calls. Im getting a korean companion Sister kim. she doesnt speak english. pray for me. Anyways im all of a sudden completely distracted- what was i saying..... i dont know. Sometimes missions are hard.... kinda feel like my life is over.... but im done being a boo boo cry baby rememeber!? Ok honestly insane things are happening. like we have three baptisms scheduled for dads birthday. I totally plannediton purpose dont even worry about it. Our investigators are unreal. So prepared and so lovely. I love love love them. I pretty much think about them all the time. Its getting kinda coldy outside. I love it. but im freezing to death kinda. can someone send me some leggings? I got the Nuskin stuff. THANKS! It was better than christmas. I almost cried. Im sad sister sherwood is leaving. It kinda feels like Camelot is ending... trudging off into the dark ages.  ok for realsies its gonna be fine. ok i gotta go we have a crazy day, I LOVE YOU! I love being a missionary even when things are weird. love you! sister lund