March 25, 2013

Wooaah!

Thank you everyone for all the e-mails!!! BEST DAY EVER! Haha Its so good to hear from everyone, and I have to apologize for not having time to respond to everyone individually this week :( My e-mail time is still limited to only 1 hour so I will try to respond to a few each week until I am caught up. Please forgive me if I couldn't respond to you today! Just know I love you and am SOOOO happy to hear from you!! :) <3 

THIS week was good, we had a lot of appointments fall through but were still able to see so many miracles. Our investigator had her baptismal interview yesterday and everything is good to go for Sunday! I'm so happy :) haha, I feel like she's my best friend. My companion was telling me how weird it is that I just got transferred to this area in perfect timing to meet her because we hit it off so perfectly. God really has a way of blessing our lives through the people we meet each day. 

There are so many things I wanted to share will everyone but now that I'm here my thoughts are all over the place!  

Lets do this point form.. it will be easier for me that way 

1) Our ward held a ping pong tournament on Saturday which was SO much fun! Koreans don't mess around when it comes to table tennis I tell ya! One of our investigators and her son came and she smoked everyone! She's being training for 8 years and is AMAZING. 

2) While we were walking down this little street to visit a member we saw this old lady picking up these stones and putting them in the middle of the road for quite a few blocks.... we were confused and wondered what she was doing ( if it was a Korean thing or what exactly??) haha when I asked a member about it she simply said that the lady was crazy! Which makes me love this picture even more. I love all the crazy things that happen everyday that make me laugh. :) 

3) Mission tour was this week! It was amazing! uplifting and spiritual, I received all the answers I've needed lately. 

4) Language. I feel like that is the one question I get from everyone who e-mails or writes me haha. I would like to make an official statement that I still cannot speak the language haha. But each day I am learning more and more and slowly am able to start to pick out a few words here and there. Our pass off program is created so that we can learn how to teach the lessons in Korean effectively  I am half done right now. So I still have 3 more "tests" you could call it before I am certified to teach the lessons. With all the new sister coming into the field this next transfer I will most likely have to train so I'm stepping up my study and working harder each day to pass off before then. My district leader and Zone leaders are amazing and are helping in anyway that they can to help me so its good! I still have days where I feel useless because of the language barrier- but Heavenly Father is teaching me so much more about loving people and why he's called me here at this time. It really has nothing to do with the language. The more I realize that, the easier the language comes. I'm seeing miracles everyday, I'm falling in love with these people, and I am probably making a huge fool of myself every time I open my mouth, but that doesn't bother me anymore :) Heavenly Father has confirmed to me too many times that this is where I am supposed to be. These are the people I'm supposed to be helping and I wouldn't want it any other way. 

5) This week I actually was reading the D&C and found a passage that hit home for me. It seemed to be exactly what I needed to hear at the exact moment. (another little miracle) I just wanted to leave it with you then I will finish this post!! 

 D&C 78-17&18: 

" Verily, verily, I say unto you, ( Sister Sulz) ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands prepared for you; 

And ye cannot bear all things now; Nevertheless, be of good cheer for I will lead you along. 

The kingdom is  yours and the blessings there of are  yours, and the riches of eternity are yours" 

I love you all more than I can express! 

Sorry I have no time today! 

LOVE YOU ALL 

<3 

Sister Sulz!! 

 

 

March 17, 2013

BIG NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The mission rules were changed and now I am allowed to e-mail family AND FRIENDS!!!!! So anyone who wants to e-mail me directly is allowed to! ( Hand written letters are still preferred, but e-mails are more than welcome! :P)

( viktoria.sulz@myldsmail.net ) 

Today is March 18th 2013! It was 6 months ago already that Dad and Leasa dropped me off at the MTC! It seems crazy how fast the time has gone - but even crazier to look back on everything that has been accomplished in such a short period of time. I'm starting to understand what people mean't when they said " Your mission will change your life forever." It's amazed to look back on just a portion of my mission and see how much has happened since my first day in the MTC. I've said it before and I'l\ll say it again, missions have a way of cutting you down to the very root of who you are and letting you grow again - but this time in the way the Lord wants, the way we were mean't to be. Coming on a mission is what I always wanted to do and being here is by far the best decision I've ever made. it's been hard, but each day God is giving me strength and building & teaching me how to do hard things. He's teaching me how to love the journey and to find the happiness and hidden joys in our trials. 

This week was FULL of funny experiences and MIRACLES!! ( Of coarse as you can tell miracles have become a theme for my mission...But these just reconfirm to me that God is in control of this work:P So I wanted to share them) 

My favorite thing lately that I see as a personal miracle is the ability to laugh at the way people reject us. It's not every easy to be rejected haha, but especially in Korea it happens so often that I feel like if you can't laugh about it it might eventually wear down on you. SO I Choose to laugh at them haha. Here are some from this week: 

1) People running away from me. 

2) People who listen to me speak Korean horribly and just smile, and then say ( in English) " I really don't want to talk to you right now." 

3) My favorite this week tho was at one of our investigators houses. She didn't want to hear a message, so right as we were starting our message she abruptly stood up and said " Do you want to see my red pepper paste!?" Ha it was really funny, she took us outside and showed us this big bucket of paste she had made.. and then sent us on our way. We never were able to share our message with her. ㅋㅋㅋ <--- Thats Korean laughs :) 

Other little miracles are always fun, like this week all my street lessons ( When we contact on the street and are able to teach a gospel principle, share a testimony, bet their contact info and set up a return appointment is a "street lesson") Had the same names of people I knew!! One was Juhee, and the other Sabrina! Super Fun. When I tell people I know someone with their same English name they think its the coolest thing ever! ( instant 정)  Last night on the way home from church I met a family who wasn't interested at all but as we continued to talk to them about who we are and that we are 자비로 산교사's ( Missionaries who pay their own way) They were more interested  we told them were our church was and agreed to meet with the Elders in their area! Its crazy how many people I find just from talking to them on the street in this area! In my previous areas we never got any street lessons.

Our investigators are progressing still! Some faster than others, but I love them all so much. It's truly amazing to realize how true Elder Hollands words are: " His concern is for the faith at which you finally arrive, not the hour at the day in which you got there". I know this is so true, we are all at such different places in our journey back to our Heavenly Father. But its all for a reason. We all have different callings and learn things at different times so that we can be where God needs us to be to help his other children when they need to learn something. Before my mission I was so naive , I felt like I was coming on a mission to teach other people and help others come closer to God. Each day I am realizing how wrong I was. It's these people who are teaching me. It's my investigators and companions that are helping me understand my purpose better, and it's God who is teaching them, I just have the privilege of being a tool in which he uses to do so. 

OKAY One more quick story, then I'll share my Miracle and finish this post. 

This week in District meeting we were discussing how to build better unity within our " district family". Many suggestions were made similar to what we do with our Families back home such as : Take the time to say thank you, serve each other, spend time together etc. The one we decided to work on is something I have a strong testimony of. In order to strengthen and build unity within our district ( family) we need to share our spiritual experiences with one another. I thought about how the people I have the stongest relationships with are those who I've shared my deepest feelings and spiritual experiences with. So I just wanted ( my family especially) to try this week to share your testimony or a spiritual experiences with your family.. or me :) ㅋㅋㅋ I know that as you take the time to share those experiences with one another you will grow closer and stronger together. 

MIRACLE MOMENT: ( quickly cuz I'm out of time... so I won't have time for photos this week SORRY!) 

 Last week when we were leaving our apartment for the day we ran into this man who was fixing the water. We talked to him for a minute in broken Korean and gave him a mormon.org pass along card. This week tho my companion and I decided to go 가가호호 ( knock doors) in an area we had never gone to before. As we were walking we felt impressed to go down one street and started to knock. We has been going for about 30 minutes with no success when we hear this mans voice call to us. We walked out to the street and there was this man standing there holding our our mormon.org card! Haha it took me a minute to figure out who he was and how he got our card, but I saw his name badge and remembered that IT WAS THE WATER BOY! haha. It was a miracle that we even ran into him again. Long story short we got him number and we are meeting with him and his girl friend this Friday! Love how God is able to put us in the right place at the right time to meet the needs of his children! 

This is really long. Sorry. I'm done now! I love you all so much! I love missionary work! Keep looking for the little miracles in your life! :) 

LOVE YOU !!! 

사랑해요!!! 

Sister Sulz 

슬츠 자매 <3

.March 11, 2013.

HELLO FROM KOREA!!!

Thank you for all the e-mails!!! :) :) I spent most of my e-mail time responding to them, but I love it!:) 

This week was crazy busy, we are teaching lots and finding even more! We spend a lot of time just talking to people on the streets and knocking on doors. My last companion didn't like to knock doors so I've  done it more this past week that I have my entire mission! It's hard tho, nobody want to talk to us really, and in Korea the people don't open their doors very often. And if they do its just like a little crack so you can barely see their face. 

Even though we can't speak the language we are seeing miracles! We have a baptism for the 24th and have found a lot of people on the streets who are interested in our message. Hahah I love talking to everyone, so finding people to teach isn't the hard part... its the actual teaching and speaking Korean that is hard. But I know God needs me here right now for a reason despite all my weaknesses. 

This week I've been reading Jesus the Christ and its SOOO good! I really am starting to understand the important of sacrifice. Before my mission I really was only responsible for myself and accountable to God. Thats it. Here there is a lot more people and things to worry about that cause extra stress and humble me each day. I love it more and more each day tho. It's amazing how challenges and trials can teach you more and allow you to stretch and change in ways that nothing else can do. I'm learning more about my Savior and the sacrifices he made for all of us. It makes my challenges seem so small and insignificant that's for sure.  

I feel closer to my Savior here on the mission that I ever have in my entire life. I still don't understand everything- But I know that this is what I'm supposed to be doing. This is where I'm supposed to be. 

I love you all so much!! Thank you for the prayers and support! 

You are the best family in the whole world! 

Love always, 

Sister Sulz 

March 3, 2013

WHAT A CRAZY WEEK!!!

Oh my goodness I don't even know where to start! So I'm in my new area and it is AMAZING! so beautiful, my apartment is huge, there are tons of hills and trees :) :) The church is close, there are tons of members, and the best part(depending on how you look at at) - my companion doesn't speak Korean either!!! hahahah oh man I wish I could express how crazy this week was, It was by far the best week of my whole mission so far! Where to start? 

I've worked harder, been more tired each day, laughed more than I even have and developed such a strong relationship with my companion ( and we've only been together for less than a week!) We see miracles every day and are continually learning to rely on the Lord for guidance and support. My companion is named Sister Marcy, she is my angel. She is true blue American from Arizona, and is possibly one of the sweetest people I know. She's willing to admit she has challenges and just keeps doing everything that she can each day. She cares so much about these people and has the ability to love those people that no body else loves... hahah that being said, we attract some CRAZY investigators. To say the least, this Sunday was probably the most interesting/ crazy/ horrifying/ awkward/embarrassing/ spiritual sacrament meeting of my life!! I wish I could send details, but I don't want to post them online haha so if you e-mail or write me individually I'll send out out some of my crazy experiences. 

Needless to say, we laugh ALOT That is really all you can do when you are in a chaotic situation like this one. Our first night together got a phone call from an unknown number and literally had NO IDEA what they person on the other end was saying. We think they said they wanted to come to church, but then couldn't figure out the rest. They were laughing at us, and we were laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation. The next day one of our investigators( we call him jack sparrow because he looks like a pirate) over the phone, in a deep preacher man voice invoked/ bestowed a blessing on me from the holy God of Israel. It  caught be completely off guard and I was trying to contain my silent laughter so badly that I started to cry and couldn't stop. That is just one of the many many many things that happen every day in my new area. 

Although we are so extremely inadequate for this calling,  We continue to see miracles! We have an investigator who came to us on Sunday and wants to get baptized! Shes super prepared and is willing to be patient with our inabilities to speak the language- in addition the ward is stepping up and helping in every way they can to get members out to our lessons. ( It's mostly because they don't trust our speaking ability to teach properly) BUT even if that's the only reason, I think its a huge blessing that because of our situation the members are becoming more involved with missionary work. We have another investigator that is not progressing as quickly, but I feel like she is asking all the right questions, and truly seeking to find out for herself. Sometimes I think its those who really have to work at gaining a testimony that are the strongest so I am grateful for her questions and concerns. We extended the soft baptismal commitment to her and she accepted so hopefully we will help her resolve her concerns and continue to build her relationship with God 

THIS week was mission conference!!! Bishop Davis and his wife spoke to us! Also Elder Yamashida and his wife! Super amazing! We are so blessed to be able to hear from them as a group of missionaries and with the Korean people. ( we were able to go to both sessions) He gave us some incredible promises and advice! Super good. Hahah sorry for the lack of details it's hard to go deep into a story and then have enough time to talk about everything that happened in a week. 

Korea is an incredible place. Missions are more amazing that what people say and they are WAY harder!!! But the miracles and blessings are far better than you could ever imagine. I've found the secret is Laughter & Prayer. Having fun despite your weaknesses, and learning to rely on the Lord for everything makes the hard days into the best days, and the little miracles and daily experiences into the greatest lessons life can teach!

I am so grateful for this opportunity to be here in Korea, I'm so grateful for my weaknesses, and words can't express how much I can feel my Saviors love for me each and everyday. I know that this is Gods work, there is no way I could find so much happiness each day that I do here if it wasn't. In the conference this week Sister Davis said

" True happiness comes from spiritual growth that comes out of tribulation" - I have come to know the truthfulness of that statement more real than I ever imagined I would. Without the opposition of challenges, or facing our weaknesses straight on, we wouldn't be able to achieve the happiness that we do in life.

I know that as I keep putting God first, as I rely on him to take my weaknesses and inadequacy's and make me capable for this work I will be able to accomplish anything he asks.  My challenge to each of you this week is to search the scriptures daily, not just to read them or check them off your list of things to do. But really search them inorder to learn more of our Savior, who he is, and how you can find incomprehensible joy through following the plan he has for you. 

" If you continue to seek him, he will continue to grant you sacred experiences" - president uchtdorf

I know thats true! I love all of you so much, and pray that you are happy and loving every minute of each day! <3 

Keep smiling :) Life is full of reasons to smile. 

<3 Sister Sulz 

 Solal

 

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