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.