Playing catch up

 *hi friends, its rachael. i havent had a chance to update tori's blog since elliot was born. i am going to try to do that now. bear with me as it might take a week or two. here are the latest from july.

 July 1st, 2013

HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!! <3
( So I may or may not have convinced all the Elders in my zone that on Canada day its tradition for everyone to buy Canadians Presents :P... we'll see if any of the believed me!) hahaha

BIG NEWS! Our mission officially split! I am no longer a Korean Seoul Missionary! I am now  a Korean Seoul SOUTH Missionary! I will meet my new President, ( Presidend Morrise) and his wife this THURSDAY! I'm super excited!! But with all the change, last week was hard having to say goodbye to President and Sister Christensen. They really have become a part of my family, but I'm grateful for the experinces and love that I have experinces under their direction and guidance. I know that Heavenly Fathers calls those people to lead and guide us at certian times in our lives for a specific purpose, I know without a doubt that Presidend Morrise is going to be exactly what this mission needs!!! <3

This week was good. Second week training, and my greeny is doing awesome! She is starting to rock at street contacting and is gaining more confidence each day with the language. ( I can't but feel bad for her haha, I remember how hard the language seems at first, I wish I could help comfort her more haha... But lets be serious, I've been in the field for 7 months now and I still feel the inadequacy of not speaking the language every single day haha :P) She's amazing tho, and you can tell her testimony is growing everyday.

Oh one more news worthy announcement! I GOT MY NEW APARTMENT!!! I had to view so many different places, and finally we got one! I will be moving in on the 15th! ( SOOOOO EXCITED!) haha mostly because it has air conditioning, and it has been SO hot lately. haha and its just supposed to be getting hotter. It will be nice to beable to sleep though the night without waking up sweating haha :P

This week I had a really cool experience that I wanted to quickly share!
We were teaching an investigator this past wednesday, and the Elders thought it would be helpful to come into our lesson unannounced. Hahah lets just say I was horrified! There I was, already stumbling over my korean with my greeny, when 2 advanced korean speaking missionaries and 1 native missionary walkin and take a seat.  SO AWKWARD!! imediatley I lost everything that I wanted to say, my lesson plan, my korean, my pride! haha. It was horrible. I even asked them to leave politley, but I think they enjoyed seeing me embarressed and insisted they would stay. It would have been nice if they helped me, but they just sat there... watching.. waiting for me to say something... Lets just say it was the longest hour of my entire life. hahah I wanted to crawl into a corner and run away. haha
BUT! Luckily there is a good end to this story. As I sat there, with 4 other missionaries eyes on me, I said a prayer to my Heavenly Father to help me focus on my investigator and what his needs were, to help me to feel the spirit, and block out the distraction of the missionaries. haha As the lesson wen't on I could hear the missionaries whispering to eachother, and I was just completly stumbling over my words. humiliated, and horrified, I took a deep breath and taught my lesson. Towards the end of the lesson I felt prompted to ask the elders to give my investigator a blessing, and they were able to explain to my investigator what a blessing was, and how it would help him. He expressed that he would like one, and after the blessing was given I asked him to pray for us. It was hands down THE MOST POWERFUL PRAYER I have ever felt. ( I say felt because I really had to idea what he was saying lol) The lesson ended, and all of the missionaries had felt the power of the spirit that was present in the lesson.
After the lesson, the Elders jokingly let me know that I needed to learn more Korean. But everyone of them were able to feel the spirit, and It was a huge reminder to me that the language that matters in this work is the language of the spirit.
I'm not good at korean, hahah and thats okay. I will keep working on it everyday for the rest of my life-  But this week God was able to teach everyone in that lesson something that I have learn't over and over again on my mission.
That the teacher isn't the missionary & the language isn't what converts. Those are the job of the spirit- and as long as we are worthy of the spirit we are qualified to be his missionaries.


I love being here, I love being a missionary. Its hard. Its challenging, and I will probably struggle with my inadequacies my entire mission haha. But I know my Savior loves me, I know that he has called me, and he will qualify me as I continue to press forward each day in faith that he will do what I cannot.

I am amazed with the amount of trust he puts in such an inadequate daughter of His. I love him.I trust him and I will follow him.

Love,
Sister Sulz

July 7, 2013

안녕하세요!!! <3
Things have been going really good lately! ( Somethings haven't worked out the way I wanted them to this week but I'm learning that as we just let go of our lives and let God lead everything turns out the way its supposed to!!!)
This morning my companion reminded me of something that Elder M Russel Ballard said in our search for happiness: " Many of our Missionaries begin their mission thinking they are going to repay Heavenly Father for His goodness towards them by serving Him for 18 months or two years. But before long they learn an important eternal truth: You can never do more for the Lord than He can do for you."
It really isn't fair how much we are blessed for the things that we do. I know I say that a lot, but I have been reminded time after time this week that God is watching over us and is in charge of this work.
As I let go of the things in my life and mission that I thought I wanted God has been able to show me something much much better. It's incredible to learn how to trust God more than yourself, and to truly do everything each day because you trust him completely 100%. I'm still learning, but I'm grateful for the lessons I'm learning each and everyday.

I love you, I love my Heavenly Father, and I love my Savior.

<3 Sister Sulz
( Yesterday we got stuck at the church without umbrellas... and it was pouring rain :P)

July 14, 2013

Hi! :)

This week was good! haha It RAINED ALOT! still rainny season so we spend a lot of time knocking on doors, or making phone calls. We were able to do a service project with our ward mission leader this week which was fun! Oh and we get our new apartment this week!! :) :) YAY!
I'm learning so much from training! Super good. haha I loved Dads e-mail about just sucking it up and working! :D made me happy.

The language is coming. FINALLY. haha I don't know if its coming anyfaster, but being with a companion who understands hardly anything seems to make me realize that I totally have the gift of tonges. super cool. I sitll can' understand everything, but I understand a WHOLE lot more than I used to, thats for sure!
This week I have a ton of projects I'm working on for korean study!! I feel like I'm in universtiy or something. Always studying.. I have this korean teaching test on Friday which I've been preparing for, and I speak in church again, so I need to translate my talk, and try to write some letters in Korean. Its crazy, but its helping me improve!!

Thanks for all the birthday stuff! And  I don't know the new address you can send packages too.. so I would just send it to the old address until I get a new one.. I have the address for letters, but its in korean.. so once I get the english one I will let you know! Hopefully next week :)

Love you all tons! Sorry there were no pictures this week..
Sister Sulz

April 29, 2013

Apparently I'm starting to look younger and  younger on the mission... ( At least thats what people are saying)  I don;t know if its just because they are being nice, or because I am so white that I look like a little child. :) haha either way I'll take it! 

This week was  super good! 

WE got to go to the temple!!! Woohoo! ( To answer your question Leasa, we normally get to go to the temple once a transfer ( every 6 weeks) but because our mission has been so busy with all the changes it had been almost 3 months since my last trip so it was SO good) I love the temple. 

We were really busy this week!!! Picked up a bunch of new investigators and taught lots! Yesterday we had one of our new investigators come to church too! ( Shes from China! So cool. Reminds me of my China story ) 

The Elders also had 2 baptisms yesterday! One of them was that guy we found from an English flyer! too cool. Sister Marcy and I were asked to sing at the baptism.. and we are singing next week in church... Since she is a singer I have been doing more musical numbers on my mission than I have my entire life! haha its good tho, got to learn somewhere. 

Miracle Moment!!! 

Okay, its not THAT big of a miracle but I though it was a pretty cool experience. 

This past few weeks I've been thinking about the purpose that each missionary has in the area that they are called to serve. Lets be honest, anyone who has ever served a mission, or in a church calling at one time or another has asked themselves the question- What is my purpose? Is what I'm doing absolutely nessesary that I do it? especially when someone else is more qualified.. What is Heavenly Father trying to teach me that I'm not obviously not understanding? 

I'll be honest I ask those questions to myself often - not because I need to know all the answers, ( because we do know the answers to those questions) but because we are humans, and we let our guard down, and we forget our purpose. We let the challenges of our calling, or lives stop us from recognizing Gods influence in our lives. 

Well this week, once again Heavenly Father helped me remember what I already knew, but perhaps needed a reminding of... 

This Thursday we were teaching a lesson to one of our new investigators - she had met with the Elders once of twice before but they decided to give her to us. ( She speaks perfect English and lived in Canada for 2 years) 

We were just casually introducing who we were as missionaries and what our purpose was when she asked why we chose to come to Korean on our missions- even though the language is so difficult and so many people don't like our church. 

I started to tell her about the process of submitting your papers for a mission and receiving our calls. She asked how the Apostles know where each person should go.. While I was telling her how they are inspired by the spirit and suddenly something happened to me as I spoke that I will never forget. 

I opened my mouth to speak and I literally felt someone else speaking through me to give her the explanation  It was the most empowering feeling I've ever experienced and caught me so off guard that the words I said to her seemed to pierce deep into my soul. 

I was again reminded right there of the power of my call, and that Heavenly Father needs me right now here in this particular ward with this exact companion for a specific reason. All the fears and questions I had disappeared. 

Iwish I could better describe what the experience was like- but I knew right there and then the power the Holy Ghost has to speak through us to carry truth into the hearts of men ( and Sister Missionarys) 

It was an incredible experience I will never forget! 

Ahh I'm out of time!

Sorry I love you all so much! 

Sister Sulz 

April 22, 2013

I went on my first exchanges where I was the Senior companion! ( Not going to lie, I was a little bit nervous because Sister Sexton has only been in Korean for 3 weeks) But all of our appointments that day were in English haha so it turned out really good!

She is an amazing Sister and made one of our toughest investigators cry!! I almost didn't believe it! She was heaven sent! :) She also shared with me a scripture her dad would share with missionaries when he was a mission president and I really liked it. 

Jacob 5:72 " The Servants did go and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them"- It reminded me that we are not alone. That God is with us, working side by side each and every moment. Whenever I feel discouraged or tired I find strength knowing that God hasn't left me alone to do this work, his hand is constantly there helping me along. 

For example: 

( haha I love my little missionary miracles) 

This week the Elders are having a baptism! Apparently this guy out of nowhere called them for English interest, they started meeting with him 3 weeks ago, and he wants to be baptized!! ( Of coarse we are super excited for them) But yesterday I met him at church, and he came up to me and told me that it was Sister Marcy and I who were on the street one afternoon handing out English flyer's and gave one to him!!!! I was amazed that he remembered us, that we had just given him a flyer and walked away... but that because of it he called the elders and now hes getting baptized!!!!! It's funny because to be honest, some days I dislike English flyering haha. But I feel like that was Gods way of reminding me that it doesn't matter what exactly I am doing to serve, and long as I am serving and working, he will put the people who are ready to hear the gospel in our paths! 

So yeah my testimony of Gods hand in the work is growing more and more each day! We went and visited that little old lady we found knocking doors and she was super embarrassed we showed up because her daughter was there and answered the door. haha she was like... uhhh mom... theres some weird foreigners here asking for you... She told us to leave and come back later. :P Oh I just love awkward missionary experiences. 

Overall this week was pretty good tho. I did pass off again.. haha I have to re-do it on Wednesday, but Elder Sol was really nice about it, and has helped me to actually like having to take Korean tests. It's hard not to get frustrated with myself, or overwhelmed, but I'm realizing that it all has to do with my attitude towards it. If I enjoy doing it, and am happy during pass off, even when I fail its not a big deal. ( I just need to keep being happy about not being able to speak haha) But its actually not that bad, I am constantly impressed with how much I am learning, even though I still feel like I can't say anything. Heavenly Father has a way of helping us accomplish what he needs us to regardless of our abilities. Also I LOVE SISTER MARCY! hahaha <3 Shes great. After going on exchanges and coming back to being with her I felt like I was at home again! It made me realize that home really is when you are with the people you love. I've been blessed to have super solid companions so far! ( I'll attach a photo of all of us together) 

The Pictures are from the Cherry Blossom Festival this week!!! All the missionaries got together for one last big activity before the mission splits :( I am super sad that so many of the missionaries I've been serving with I won't see again!! 

I also wanted to announce that I am officially a frumpy sister missionary hahaha. I brought some cute shoes on the mission, and I realized that comfort is better than style haha. This morning I put on the cute shoes I brought to show sister Marcy and she laughed at me as she watched me put them back in the closet and put on my black tights and thick strapped cloggers haha. What can I say, the mission has taught me to love comfort more than style :P haha it happens to the best of us. 

Anyways! I just wanted everyone to know how much I love you!!! 

Thank you for all the letters and support! 

p.s- if anyone wants to send me Cadbury Mini Eggs&& any of Sara Baril's music, you just might become my favorite person in the whole world. :) 

LOVE YOU! 

사랑해요!!! <3 <3 

Sister Sulz

.April 15, 2013.

Conference was great wasn't it???

I can't believe how tired I was yesterday tho! We watched all the sessions, ( including priesthood) and then the young women's broadcast so a total of  12 hours! I was so tired! haha but it was amazing. 

I have to say my favorite talk was president Uchtdorf Sunday morning session tho. Yep, and President Monsons in the priesthood session. 

This week not too much out of the ordinary happened. I was feeling a little bit stressed but nothing more than normal. I do have one fun story for you tho! We were walking home from a dinner appointment the other night and this guy came up to us in the alley by our house and scared me so bad hahah! He said something in Korean but I had no idea what he was saying because I was still surprised that he stopped us. ( Its really weird to talk to men here... in fact sisters are not allowed to unless they approach us first) Anyways, so I realize that hes asking us what we are doing here. Then thankfully, he started speaking English. He said that he sees us all the time in this area talking to people, and he knows that we teach English.. but he's been wondering why. Anyways long story short, Were going to start teaching him!!!! He was super willing to listen to our message, took a book of Mormon, and hopefully we'll start meeting with him this week. 

It's funny how we can go out trying to find people all day long, and nobody is interested, but then out of no where an investigator just falls into our laps! Little miracles I tell ya! 

 

Other than that, we don't really have too many investigators right  now, then only one who is progressing can't come our to church till August once school is over :(, BUT she did give us plants last time we met with her!! haha So now we have two pet Rosemary plants :) 

Oh wait theres one more potential investigator I've been meaning to tell you about.. but its kind of a super awkward situation. Its this old guy in our ward who wants us to teach his wife and his son.... and he may or may not be trying to get me to marry his son! pahha so awkward. Anyways its aw hole lot of funny situations.. the guy is really funny, but I'm pretty sure he keeps telling us that he wants us to baptize his family, but hes telling them that they just need to meet with us because they want to make me a part of their family. 

Oh the joys of awkward situations with part member family's. 

The best part is that I have no idea what the old guy is saying most of the time. 

Anyways, Sorry this e-mail is short I just wanted to touch base with everyone. I love you and miss you terribly. Mothers day is coming up and I get to call home again... let me know where and when is the best time to call. 

Love you. 

Sister Sulz 

April 8, 2013

HELLO Family!

Sorry this week is going to be short! I'm trying my best to respond to everyone quickly but I'm still behind. I just wanted to let you know how much I love you! I'm sorry to hear about everything going on back home I love all of you and am praying for you! 

This week was and interesting week! We saw so many crazy miracles! 

I'll just quickly share my favorite one since I'm running super behind on time. ( The rest I'll put in a letter!) 

So since our most progressing investigator was baptized last week and confirmed yesterday ( Such a good day! ) we have had to be more creative with our finding efforts. So like usual we spent a lot of time out on the streets talking to people and knocking on doors. We had decided to make these cards with scriptures from the Book Of Mormon to give to people that opened their doors.. ( people in Korean don't like to open their door lol...) They just speak through and intercom, or yell through the door. Anyways! We were knocking doors for about an hour when this little old lady opened the door and told us to come in!!!! I was in shock! and didn't realized what she had said until she walked away, leaving the door open and the yelled at us to follow her! Hahah I looked at my companion as was amazed... ( Just so everyone knows, this is the FIRST time I've ever gotten into someones house before.. usually they might talk to us for 1-2 minutes at the door.. but I've never gotten inside someones house) Anyways, so she lets us in, gives us a glass of water and some tomatoes. ( Oh I just love Korean grandmas!) haha We talk  to her for about 40 minutes, and the whole time sister Marcy and I have no Idea what shes saying to us. We catch a few words here and there, but lets be serious.. I pretty much figured out that she was 70ish, lived along, had arthritis, and 1 daughter and 1 son... oh yeah and that this was the first time she had ever had foreigners in her house before. Most of the time I just smile and pretend I understand what they are saying :P. BUT! we were able to share a message with her, give her a book of Mormon, and told her where our church was. We prayed with her and she said she would come to church with us if we went and picked her us Sunday morning and walked with her there. 

We left and I couldn't believe what just happened.. haha and I partially didn't really understand what just happened. 

Anyways, Sunday comes around, and before we even leave the church to go get her she shows up on her own and shows one of the members the little card we made for her with  the book of Mormon scripture. On the back it had our names on it, so this member directed the lady to us. She sat down in relief society for about 15 minutes and then left! haha.. So naturally I followed her, because I don't know what to say to her. ( she was fast tho and walked straight out the parking lot and down the road!) hahaha I just looked at my companion and was like " What are we supposed to do? Where is she going?" My companion just looked at me and shrugged her shoulders.. haha so I was like " Lets catch her".. so we ran down the street and stopped her, trying to find out where she was going. She apologized, and said that she was late because she was catching a train to her daughters house and couldn't stay for church today but would come next week, and asked us to visit her at her house again. The end. 

Haha, So yeah I don't know if shes actually going to come next week, or if she's just a crazy old lady, but either way I'm excited to find out! 

Oh the funny things that happen serving a mission in Korea. 

I love you all more than you know. Each week is hard, but I'm coming to know my Savior more now than I ever have in my life before. ( Oh sorry one more quick story) .. This ones for mom.. 

I was at a dinner appointment last night, and we were sharing the proclamation to the family. The Elders were with us and it was their turn to share the message.. so naturally I didn't plan on saying much except a basic testimony. We started going around the table and sharing with everyone how the Gospel has blessed our lives, and especially out families lives. Anyways, it got to my turn and I don't know what happened but I just looked at the mom, and started to tear up. She looked at me and I couldn't say anything at all in Korean, she put her and on her heart and told me that she could understand what I wanted to say in her heart. I hadn't felt the spirit that strong in a long time, and I was reminded of how important families are in this plan. Heavenly Father really wants all of us to find happiness in life and in the next. We really can only do that with our families.. If there is one thing that I've learn't more on my mission so far than anything else, its how important families are. 

I know that things don't all make sense, and our family is not perfect by any means. But I know that God loves us, and wants us to be happy. I know more more deeply than anything else that through the sacrifice Christ made, we can all be together forever and that doesn't just include my immediate family. ( Eileen, Nancy & Kemmie.. that means you tooo! ) 

Anyways, I'm out of time!! 

LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!! 

 

p.s- Rachael hows your baby doing?

April 1, 2013

BIG NEWS! NORTH KOREA DECALRED WAR ON SOUTH KOREA!

We are all getting moved to missions in the states this next transfer and its also April fools day here ;) せせせせ <-- Those are Korean giggles 

Okay I'll be serious! HELLO FAMILY!! :) <3 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA! ( Dad if you forgot, tomorrow your time in grandmas birthday.. you should call her :P ) 

I just wanted to tell  you all that I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! Especially all the pictures of cute babies, and pregnant belly's... random side note: I had a dream last night that leasa was pregnant... weird. ha ha 

Anyways! Life as a missionary couldn't be better so many amazing miracles and the best one was my FIRST BAPTISM!!!! <3 

The start of this week was really rough. All of our appointments fell through, and we 穿亀'd all day everyday this week. I was trying my best to be positive and happy and full of life, but by Thursday it started to get to me. Somedays are the mission are really hard and its not just that physically its hard to get up and go, but mentally and spiritually and emotionally it wears you out. You get to a point where you can't remember why you are doing what you are doing. You as yourself if its worth it, or if what your doing is even accomplishing anything. There are days where we go out and no one wants to talk to us, there are times where nothing I say people can even understand, and I wonder why I can't feel the familiar happiness missionary work has brought me the the past. 

BUT I'm writing this all out because I realized more deeply this week the power of the atonement. On Thursday night I knelt down in prayer with my Heavenly Father and asked him why I am here. I wanted to know if he actually needed me here in Korea, and if so why was I having such a hard time being happy, or feeling his spirit and love. An indescribable feeling came over me that reassured me that here is where I'm supposed to be. I thought of all the people in my life who I love, and all the people here in Korea who I have come to care about more that I though I could and I knew that I am where I'm supposed to be. In that moment I more fully understood my Saviors sacrifice for me. It was more than to just cleanse me from sin, but to take away every hurt, every trial, every weakness, every hard day, every time we are too tired to keep going... If we let him take over our lives we can truly find strength and peace to keep going where normally we'd want to give up. 

The next morning I woke up and was fresh! I was not tired at all! I got right out of bed at 6:30, and had accomplished everything I needed to and more before 7:30 that morning! Personal study was uplifting, and in companionship study Sister Marcy seemed to say exactly what I needed to hear. That day none of our appointments fell through! We even got another one last minute from the elders! The Language wasn't a challenge for me, I taught with the spirit and even extended a baptismal commitment in perfect Korean. The day was a normal missionary day to all those who are only observing missionary life from a distance. But to me, that day was God telling me that he hasn't left me alone, that he is here in the work and that he needs me here in Korea to do it. I realized how important humility is in the work, if I just get down on my knees and tell Heavenly Father that I want to do it his way, that I need his help and I can't do it alone- he shows me that with him I can do anything. 

I read a talk this week that was about how true Joy is only felt by experiencing sorrow, The deeper the Sorrow and afflictions the greater the joy. ( That's why so many times in Alma it talks about their sufferings and trials being directly related to their incomprehensible joy) But it made me grateful for the hard days on the mission, because without them I wouldn't be able to appreciate the good ones. 

SPEAKING OF GOOD DAYS!!! 

SUNDAY WAS AMAZING! The baptism was perfect in every way! Her whole family showed up and the spirit was so strong. It truly is amazing how much you come to love and care about other people when you forget about yourself. I just love it! 

I'm sorry I don't have a better picture, this one was just taken in the bathroom before she went into the font.. The other ones are on a different camera. 

Okay quickly the things from this week!! 

1) They asked ME to translate in Sacrament meeting and I laughed haha, then my companion stood up ( it was like the hunger games) and volunteered to do it for me. What a champ :) I would have have a heart attack. 

2) While we were on a bus last p-day we SAW OUR PIRATE man walking on the streeet hahah, so of coarse I tried to take a drive by creeper photo.. you can't see him.. but just know hes there :P haha 

3) I PASSED OFF MIDWAY! Woohoo! Sister Marcy is a rock star for pushing me in the language! 

4) We met these high school students who were eating this jaw breaker laughy taffy sort of stuff.. and I bought some.. and chipped my tooth. haha but not really just my retainer. せせせせ 

5)  We were sitting on this stone wall wait for the other missionaries to meet up with us, and this girl came up to me and in english said " Can I be your friend?" I said.. sure... she then said " Can I have your number"... I said yeah haha of coarse... I'm a missionary in this area.... and then she ran away. hahahahha like straight up turned and ran. 

I love my life. I love Korea. I Love my Savior. 

 紫櫛背推!!! 

 Love Always, 

Sister Sulz

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

 

Sisters Exchange

February 25, 2013

TRANSFERS ARE THIS WEEEK!!!
Transfer calls were Saturday night at 9:45!!! We were super excited! I'm being transferred and my Sister Pak is training again!! I'll have another sister!! :)
I'm leaving 부평 and going to 화곡 and Sister Marcy is going to be my new companion!!! I'm super excited, but sad to be leaving my greeny area! It's weird how attached you get to places and the people you serve, but I'm excited to see all the miracles that happen in my new area!! I had to speak in church on Sunday and cried of coarse haha. It is so weird to give a talk in Korea because you can't really say anything other than what is written down in your notes lol. So When you feel the spirit or something you can't just say something else, you just end us crying at super weird parts of your talk. Either way it went well and I didn't make too many mistakes.

Yesterday is 15 days after 설날 so its tradition in Korea to eat this meal with rice beans and different veggies. My sweet companion made me the rice and soup for breakfast and then this little old lady that lives 2 doors down from us knocked on our door last night unexpected and was holding this tray of food!!!!! She is the sweetest and brought us the entire traditional Korean mean because she was worried we wouldn't have it since we are away from home. ( I'll attach pictures) We Heart attacked her door after to say thank you :).  The moon is supposed to be the biggest of the year last night, but the picture you can't really tell.

Here are some photos of my last day at church with some of the members!!

I don't know if anyone really read this Blog, and since I can't really post too many of my experiences teaching investigators, so if you wan't to e-mail me personally you can do that and I'll try to respond individually to a few people each week. That way I can share more personal experiences!

Love you all so much!

<3 Sister Sulz

Korea from a giraffes eye view:

THANK YOU FOR THE VALENTINE!! You are the best!
Fun facts:
1) When people move they hire a moving company ( see photo)
2) Sometimes you find random teddy bears in the church parking lot... weird.
3) Miracle Wall!! Every night we add 2-5 miracles from each day, you should start! It's amazing to see the blessings God gives us!

February 17, 2013

Hello Family :)

I was studying the new manual on teachings of president Lorenzo Snow and found this quote I fell in love with && I wanted to share it with you!! 

" Do not expect to become perfect all at once. If you do, you will be disappointed. Be better today than you were yesterday, and better tomorrow than you are today. The temptations that perhaps partially overcome us today, let them not overcome us so far tomorrow. Thus continue to be a little better day by day and do not let your life wear away without accomplishing good to others as well as to ourselves. 

Each last day or each last week should be the best hat we have ever experienced, that is we should advance ourselves a little every day ,in knowledge and wisdom, and in the ability to accomplish good. As we grow older we should live nearer the lord each following day." 

I love that quote by Lorenzo Snow, Even though I am faced with challenging times of difficult days - Each challenge I'm faced with makes me stronger and allows me to more fully embrace God's love in my life. I've found that it's often during the hardest times that make you into the person your supposed to be. This week went by SUPER FAST! It had it's ups and downs - but thinking back there were so many times Heavenly Father poured out his blessings upon me. It really isn't fair how much we are blessed for the things that we do. 

Someone asked me what the hardest part of missionary work is… I've been thinking a lot about it, and besides having to carry around my huge scriptures everywhere the hardest thing is how clearly I am beginning to understand God's love for his children. That sounds kind of silly that its the hardest thing for me, but the more I learn about my Savior and Gods plan for us, the more I realized the importance of it, and the stronger my desire to share it with others is. Which makes it even harder when people reject our message. Each day I am built up spiritually and then I realize how blessed I am, but everyone has their agency and can chose whatever they want to believe in. I'd say its hard to know and to see the miracles in my life, and trying earnestly each day for others to see even a glimpse of God's love for them, and they can't. Or they simply refuse to and hate us for trying to simply give them the opportunity to let God bless their lives and bless them and their families. But everyone has their agency, and I'm not called to force anyone to believe what I believe, I'm called to love, serve, and help them… But it still makes it a harder pill to swallow when they simply don't care at all. 

Were reading Alma right now for our mission tour that is coming up in March and in Chapter 28:8 it states that this is an account of Ammon and his brethern's sufferings, sorrows, afflications…. and incomprehensible joy. That seemed to stick out to me, they experienced all these hard difficult experiences but in the end had Incomprehensible Joy. Seems backwards logically, but that really is how missionary life works. The challenges I'm experience allow me to more fully understand my Savior and allow me to exercise faith and see how much power is available to us when we stop relying on our own abilities and let God take over our life. 

I love the scripture Alma 26:12 - " Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever." 

Weekly Recap: 

Like I said this week just flew by! On Wednesday we had district meeting where Elder Moon asked me Tuesday night to give a talk on Faith. I have been studying it for the past week or so, but didn't feel like I fully understood it- nevertheless I was grateful for the opportunity to talk about it, there is so many blessings teachers are given to have the opportunity to search study and pray before teaching. Often I think the teachers learn more than the ones being taught. Either way it was a blessing to be able to help out with some of the training, even though it was me who learnt the most from it! 

Thursday was Valentines Day! We had a party at the church in the evening where we made cards, watched Charlie Browns Valentines day and played "a minute to win it". It was a lot of fun! Our 3 potential investigators we planned it for didn't show up last minute tho :(, Luckily God was looking out for us and this random guy walked into the church to use the bathroom and we invited him to join us. He said thanks but then left… a little while later she came back and brought 2 friends with him!! They stayed the whole time and had a lot of fun. Miracle :) 

Yesterday after church we rand into these preachers from the " I love Jesus" church, normally they aren't very nice to missionaries but I took their flyer and gave them a pass along card! They were super nice and friendly and encouraged us to work hard, I thanked them and told them the same with a big smile. Then they gave us popcorn!!! haha awesome! :) Nothing makes me happier than people being nice to each other. Those two old guys made up for all the people who yell at us. 

It's often the little miracles that make the biggest difference in my life. <3 

Well I love all of you so much! Keep watching out for those little miracles in your life and let me know about them! 

Love always, 

Sister Sulz 

이설지 자매 

Korea From a Giraffes eye view: 

The sun was shining and it was beautiful today I thought about you and hope whenever the Sunshine's on you, you remember that I love you and so do these crazy Korean people!! Do yourself a favor and go out to great Korean food this week! ( It wont be as good, but Kimchi always makes people happy!) I love you girl! Stay strong. 

February 12, 2013

Happy 설날!!!!

Hello Family! :) :) 

This week was full of miracles and amazing experiences. Life as a missionary is really so great haha ( Maybe I'm just weird) But really I love being a missionary far more than traveling or teaching english in China or Ukraine. There is just something special about having this ability to love others so much and want to do everything in you power to help them and to see a change for good in their lives. Missions are hard of coarse, but life is hard- and let me tell you the challenges I face on a mission are way less difficult to overcome because I am able to see the blessings and miracles God is giving me each day. God wants to bless us so much, we just need to let him! 

This morning was amazing! We woke up early and headed to the temple. The missionarys who are returning home were giving their farwell testimonys, and it was so good! One of the Sisters said something that I loved! Our goal every week is to talk to 140 on the street or knocking doors or whatever it may be, but 140 is the goal. And sometimes we look at it like "ughhh, I have to make 68 more contacts… or I have to talk to 84 more people who don't want to listen to me" and she said that she looks at it like " I have the opportunity to bear my testimony 140 times this week!" - I just thought that was such a good reminder to me that each person we talk to truely is a child of God, and we really should be putting our whole heart into trying to help them realize the love their Heavenly Father has for them. I am guilty that sometimes the people I talk to are more Korean practice that me bearing my testimony, but today that was a good reminder that each person should be an opportunity to share the happiness I have in my life. 

Exchanges were this week tooo!! So much fun, haha I always have fun and learn on much on Exchanges. I was with Sister Washburn, she goes home this next transfer and is just the sweetest sister I've ever met! We had a lot of fun laughing about silly things in Korea like the crazy traffic, or on the bus we sat down next to this guy holding a blow torch haha. Just randomly. haha, yep I love Korea. Conference was super funny! We had P.J. Rogers speak to us about Korean Culture and is was really good! I learnt alot, and got a bunch of tips on how I can learn the language. Rachael just sent me Adrians Blog post from last week and it reminded me that the time for missions all changes because of the MTC training time changing. So everyones mission is being cut down 2 weeks :( Super sad, that means I will be hitting my 1 year mark in 2 weeks. I can't believe how fast time goes by, I feel like I just got here. 

Because of the holiday we weren't able to meet with as many people because everyone goes out of town for the hoildays. I had one of the most amazing expereinces earlier this week with one of my investigators being in the hospital and being able to arrange for our Zone leaders to give him a blessing. I won't go into details but it was probably one of the most amazing experiences I've had so far on the mission! Faith is incredible thing. Speaking of faith Ive been studying faith this week and sacrifice. Its amazing what miracles you see when you put the two together. I think too often I think I'm lacking faith, when really I've jusy stopped exercising my faith. We can't forget that faith is an action word!!!! Your not going to see the miracles or the power that comes through faith if you don't do something! It takes work and sacrifices- but the blessings and happiness that comes through such a small effort out weighs the sacrifice 100 times. 

Thanks everyone for the letters and love! 

( Random… Adrians Aunt Terri… I can't find your address anywhere for some reason, If you could give it to my sister Rachal Robertson that would be awesome! haha I have a letter waiting here to be sent but no address :( ) Jenny && Sarah Your babies are SSOOO cute! they are getting so big its insane!!! :) :) But man I have the cutest niece and nefew ever! ( If you want there are SO many cute toddler clothes here… let me know if you need some shopping to be done on one of my p-days :P) 

Korea from a Graiffes Eye View: 

I can't even express how good it is to hear from you!!!! I got 2 letters from you this week at conference and made all the missionays in our MTC group super jealous! I love you so much and think about you as much as time allows. Keep being strong girl, You are where you are for a reason! Don't even stop looking for ways you can bless others lives. And just remember that to me, you will always be Sister Gelder. :) 

Love Always, 

Sister Sulz

 

 If you look closely you can see the red crosses lit up on all of the churches outside her window.

 

February 4, 2013

Its 설날 This week!!!!!!! :) ( Which means that I need to go into Seoul to buy a Traditional Korean Dress.... which means I don't have time again to e-mail :( Sorry!!! )

This week I am amazed at the amount of Miracles God puts in my life! As I continually try to Aline my will with Gods I am seeing how in control of this work he is! Gah! I wish I could just record all my of experiences and show all of you!  The Book of Mormon is true! I believe (in) Christ and all the promises he's given us if only we exercise out faith!!! 

This week was SO good! The work is progressing rapidly and we are seeing so many miracles and working hard! 

Also I FINALLY passed off lesson #1 in Korean haha and Memorized the first vision! It's been taking forever but I finally did it! haha :) Yay! 

Each day keeps getting better and better! Being a missionary you have the ability to love others and see them as God does! It's awesome but some people think were weird cuz we really are so excited for these people whenever anything good happens to them! haha 

My companion is amazing! She's SO funny I love her.

 

This week was CRAZY WEATHER!!!! It POURED rain earlier this week then was really HOT! I couldn't wear my winter jacket. Then this morning we woke up and had over a foot of snow!!! haha on our way to e-mail I walked under a tree and a huge pile of snow fell on me :P haha too funny. 

We'll I love you and I hope you are doing your best where ever you are with whatever your doing ! I learn this cool Korean Phrase this week:  최설 다하자 it means- Let's do our best! Whatever you do do your best, and I'll do mine :) 

LOVE  YOU!! 

Korean From a Giraffes Eye View: 

I LOVE YOU! <3

January 28, 2013

I LOVE KIMCHI!!!!!!!!!!! <3 hahaha I just have to make the official announcement. This week, when my companion was sleeping I was hungry, and without even realizing what I was doing I opened the fridge and was like "hmmm... what should I eat." and grabbed the container of kimchi and sat down and ate that with some seaweed wraps and rice. ( I think that means I qualify for an official Korean!!) The day has finally come!!!

One more thing! I want to give a shout out to my Fort Mcmurray Family!!!! I got your pictures this week!!!!!!!!! You seriously made me so happy! haha ( thanks franny for putting that all together) Here's a picture of me with it before study this morning haha so just ignore my morning clothes :P. BUT seriously! I love you guys so much!! <3 <3 Thank you for all your constant support!

Okay now for the missionary stuff! Last night we had a dinner appointment with one of our investigators and we ate SO much so even now I feel like I'm about to burst. haha It was super good tho. I should get Rachael to just start a separate blog to tell about all the food I eat here and post pictures of it. Seriously I don't think I ever am going to want to eat american food again.

Like I mentioned I am studying the Christ like attributes in the back of chaper 6 of PMG. Today the attribute I studied was #2 "I feel confident that God loves me" - (1 Nephi 11:17- And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless I do not know the meaning of all things.) I thought that was perfect for the lesson I learnt this week!  If I am sure of anything in my life it is that God really does love me. Entirely, my whole imperfect self, on my good days and especially on my bad days. Sometimes I don't understand how He can continue to love us when we continually let him down and fall short - but like Nephi - I don't know the meaning of all things... I just know his love is perfect, I can't comprehend it exactly but I feel it. More than I am sure of anything else in my entire life I know that God loves all of us perfectly. Each day I spend learning of my Savior through this service I am slowly starting to understand what his love must be like. I feel his love for each person I see on the street, my investigators, the members, but especially the other missionaries I work with each day. I know what these missionaries are going through each day and have experienced first hand how challenging the mission can be sometimes. When I see others struggle or having a hard time my heart just goes out to them, I feel for them a portion of the love that God has for each one of us. We aren't perfect- but when I look at these other missionaries trying their best each day, and continually falling short, but then picking themselves up the next day and trying again I see a perfect missionary. Too often we get down on our selves because of our weaknesses and forget about our strengths. It breaks my heart when others don't see themselves the way I see them, they can't see the strong amazing example they are to all those around them because they are so focused on their inadequacy's. ( and I'm SO guilty of this). I am only starting to really understand that God sees us perfectly. He doesn't expect us to be perfect, he knows that we aren't capable to perfection right now. He's not asking perfection, hes simply just asking us to keep going, to strive everyday to be better, to lift those around you and to be happy for goodness sake!!! :D  Life is full of so many opportunities and tender mercies, God wants us to be happy. I think too often it's easy to forget that.

Sometimes people look at Missionary's like we are crazy haha. I had the experience this week where a man I was teaching just couldn't wrap his head around why in the world I would give up 1 1/2 years of my life to just live this boring redundant life day after day. I told him a little bit about what I did before the mission, and my love for traveling and experiencing life- and he was just completely shocked that I would give up all that. He asked how much personal time we get on the mission, and I said" we'll we have 6 hours on p-day, but that is usually spent doing weekly e-mails, letters and shopping". He looked at me like a was crazy. I bore my testimony to him, but he just laughed at me like I was insane and kept saying" I don't believe you", " I know how much you love life, you don't want to be here". The more we talked the less convinced he seemed but the stronger my testimony grew for my desire to be here on a mission. It's a funny thing, and isn't really logical- but I really would give up any chance I've ever had to travel or experience everything I had to serve. There is something indescribable about the blessings and joy that comes through feelings God's love so strong for you the way I feel as a missionary. I feel him working through me to touch the lives of those around me. Each day is hard, I'm changing more and more than is comfortable hahah. But I think thats the point- This mission is supposed to change us. It's supposed to re Aline our desires and show us what really is important in life.

In our Zone Conference this week the Ap's talked about Hamsters that really applied to this experience I had earlier in the week lol. They explained the life of a Hamster, how all they do is eat, sleep, and run on their wheel. Day after day they keep eating, sleeping and running. Why? He does the same thing every day until he dies. He then explained the life of a missionary- We get up at 6:30 every day, Go to be at 10:30. Study every morning, and proselyte every day until 9pm. Some times it feels like the life of a Hamster. Knocking on another door, or walking up and down the same streets, being rejected by another person.
Then he asked, Why? are you a hamster? (I don't know why but this silly example just hit home for me) He then said" YOUR NOT A HAMSTER!  YOUR A DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST.  You have a desire. Your have a purpose. If you ever feel like a hamster remember the feeling you had when you decided to serve a mission. Ask yourselves- Why are you here? Whats driving you? What is your desire?"
There are so many reasons I am serving a mission, like usually I don't have adequate time to write them all out. But I know that Gods loves each and every one of us. I see these people everyday on the streets and feel a love and desire to share with them the happiness and indescribable joy and peace that simple knowledge has brought into my life and I want to share it with them.
My challenge for everyone this week is to ask yourself - What is your desire? What is driving you? What is your purpose? I promise you that those hard days where you are tried of doing the same thing over and over again, or fulfilling your calling and working the the same challenges of the week before, or challenges of parenting or family relationships. Step back for a moment and remember why your doing what your doing? I promise you that if you can find that desire deep down- you found the joy. You found the key.
I testify that God lives and he loves you!
( I love you too ^^ <3 )
LOVE YOUR MISSIONARY,
이설지

January 21, 2013

I can't believe its time to e-mail already!! This week just flew by, I don't even know what happened! I'm glad to hear everyone is doing good! I hear you are all going to Mexico without me, and Dad have fun in Arizona. Leasa, thanks for sending me your talk- super good.

Everyone has been asking me about Korea so here it is!

1) The Food is AMAZING. Yes I have eaten gross things, but to be honest I don't know what they are called haha. I think the one I didn't care for the most was raw crab. I thought that was pretty nasty, but I ate it :)

2) The language is still the same haha. I attempted pass off 3 times, but I'm trying again this week... we'll see how it goes. Each day I feel like my language is getting worse, but my companion says I'm improving a lot and my comprehension is better... either way haha I love it.

3) The weather has warmed up a bit. It's been pouring rain today, but I only have to wear 1 pairs of tights instead of 3 so it feels like summer! :) 

4) Our investigator we've been teaching is really sick right now so we have to put off her baptism tell next week probably, either way shes the sweetest!

5) ENGLISH CLASS!!! I feel like teach English so much here!! at first I thought it was a waste of time, but seriously it works to get investigators. Almost all of our investigators we have are because they wanted to learn English. It doesn't always feel like missionary work because we just have fun and teach English - but we get way more people interested in learning about the Gospel that way than we do door knocking. ( I'm sure if there wasn't as much English my Korean would be a little better haha..)

6) Transfers were this past week! I'm staying here with my companion for at least 1 more transfer! Yay! :) Elder Clawson got transferred out, but we got Elder Smith! I'm excited to get to know him more too- his Korean is SO good.

7) I never have time to do anything! I'm so sorry I haven't been writting letters as often as I would like to. There really is just no time! Just know I love you :)

8) Koreans are so funny! I hope to become Korean some day. ( My life long goal)

 

Yeah, I don't know what else you wanted to know... I'm still working on getting pictures of the Top 10 strange things about Korea so you'll have to hold on for those till next time!

 

I'm learning a lot each and everyday. It's not hard anymore, it's just a matter of continually trying to know what God wants us to do and do it. Missionary work is the best. The secret really is work, just forget about yourself and work & love others.

Love you all! 

 

P.S- SARAH THANK YOU FOR THE E-MAIL!!!

 

Korea from a Giraffe's Eye View:

Hurry up and get your little butt to Korea already! <3

Miss you and love you tons.

 

<3 Sister Sulz