Okay, so let's start with the good things. Remember the girl from TRC that I wrote about? Well, unfortunately Sister Cooper and I didn't get the chance to teach her again, but we were able to flag her down in the hall and give her a Book of Mormon that we wrote our testimonies in and that we tied a big, cute, pink bow on. That's just how Coop and I do. Haha. It was a really special experience that I'll never forget. Her face just lit up when we handed it to her. I think she really appreciated that we thought of her even if all we had to give was a cheap, paperback copy of the Book of Mormon (and if you ask me, that's the best thing you can give to someone! That book has changed my life!). And I didn't think I'd give out my first Book of Mormon until I got to Korea. That experience was something I really needed because I have felt so ineffective just sitting around at the MTC waiting to go to the field and be put to use!
After Friday, lots of things went downhill. Like I said earlier, I have felt pretty low lately because I don't feel like I'm meeting my missionary purpose here at the MTC. I have done everything I can to prepare to leave for Korea and I just feel that I have outgrown this place. But it's okay. The Lord keeps us here for 9 weeks for a reason. Anyway, on Sunday I was having a pretty awful day. I just woke up and couldn't get going and I honestly still can't even put my finger on exactly what has been wrong with me lately. I went to branch council and talked with President Perriton and at the end he asked if I wanted a priesthood blessing. I don't know how he knew how desperately I needed one...well, actually, I do: revelation. He gave both Sister Cooper and I blessings and it was a very special experience for both of us. After that, we went to sacrament meeting and Sister Gilbert, our 1st counselor's wife came and sat next to me (she and Bro. Gilbert just got back from serving as the mission presidents in Pusan last year!). She is probably one of the most inspired women I have ever met. Anyway, she just wrapped her arms around me and said "I just felt like you needed a mom hug." I kind of just collapsed in her arms and started bawling and I honestly still don't know why. I'd never peg myself as someone who would have an MTC meltdown because this place is literally a playground, but I was just having an off day. That hug turned my entire Sunday around. After that, Sister You and Sister Kim (from Korea) gave their departure talks. They had been working so hard all week to learn how to bear their testimony in English and that made me--the girl who never cries--bawl like a baby. The spirit was amazing. Then that night the Koreans and the oldest district were giving their departure testimonies and Sister Kang expressed how thankful she was that we were giving up time to serve the people of her country. Again, I bawled like a baby. I love Koreans so much. I have never met more genuine, kind, and Moroni 7:45-like people in my entire life. If I can just be a little bit like the Korean sisters before I die, I'll have accomplished something amazing! I can't wait to serve these people. Okay, now just let me go do it!! ;)
On Monday things looked up a little bit because Sister Markus needed comfortable tracking shoes and some longer skirts, so as Senior STL I got to take her to the real world (the MALL!!!) to help her find some things. It was a little stressful, but fun. Although, it made me a little homesick because we had to cut through BYU campus and it made me miss non-missionary life for a second. But Koreans are worth it!
Things got crazy again on Wednesday because 26 new missionaries joined our branch. We got 11 new sisters. Most of the newbie missionaries are going to Pusan and Daejeon, but a few are serving in California and Canada. We had to do orientation outside (which I was totally cool with) because the main building, 1M, is shut down for mission presidents' conference...and all of the general authorities are in there! I am constantly so tempted to sneak in and say hi.
Okay so this p-day was insane. First of all, the conference for all mission-presidents-in-training is currently being held, so our entire schedule was flipped around. We had temple time this morning instead of this afternoon, so we didn't have much time to get things done. It was kind of sad because the temple will be closed for the next 2 weeks, so it was our last time to go for 16 months! After the temple we rushed back and ate taco bell for lunch, which brought happy tears to my eyes. I actually feel pretty lucky to be here during the conference because all of our meals are catered from real food places until Sunday. No more cafeteria food for me! Yay! Right after lunch we had to go to class because we were being instructed by a new mission president. Our president was from Nigeria! He was so cool and sweet. Halfway through the lesson Sister Cooper was feeling super sick so we had to go back to the residence to sleep. That's when things got crazy. We had been back at the residence for about an hour and I was sitting in bed reading a conference talk when a voice came on the loudspeaker that said "All sisters need to come to building 19 M immediately, regardless of what they are doing." Luckily Sister Cooper had just woken up and her nausea had gone away after taking some medicine. We rushed to 19M to find President Bertasso announcing that there had been some incidents reported of bats attacking sisters while they were sleeping in our residence building, 17M. All sisters would have to move immediately. We just moved into 17M last week! So we rushed back to our room, threw everything in our suitcases, and trekked over to 5M. It was quite an ordeal, but with a little help from the elders, it wasn't so bad. Plus, I have now lived in 3M, 17M, and 5M, which means I have lived in all three of the sisters' buildings at the MTC. Who can say that?! Plus, even though it was like 95 degrees outside and we were all in skirts and suits, it was really cool to see everyone rally together to help each other out. Plus, I got a great arm workout from helping sisters carry their suitcases up the stairs because Elders aren't allowed in Sister' residence halls.
Well, that's all for now folks. Thanks to everyone who has written me over the last 7 1/2 weeks. It means so much to me to hear from everyone. It's really nice to know that I haven't been forgotten.
사랑합니다!!
"I you love!!"
Johns 자매
p.s. Dad, your Google translate Korean is so awful. It makes everyone in my district laugh so hard when I show them. You should stick to Spanish ;)
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| Pigging out on P-Days #FK's |
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| Last branch pic with the district above us and the native Korean missionaries |
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| Weekly comp pic |
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| My favorite Russian-speaking Sister-friend left this week! We became buds my first week here when we started talking at a devo. Her dream mission was Korean-speaking and mine was Russian-speaking so we always joke about how we got each other's calls when we see each other around. As going away presents she made me a cute Russian alphabet and I made her a Korean alphabet and we taught each other how to sound things out. |
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| The Ogletrees are the best! They sent me my favorite type of cookies! It made me feel so special when I was having a really hard day! |
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| Sister Cooper and I both have these dresses we never wear because I swear every other sister at the MTC has them, but we both wore them the other day because we were so sick of wearing the same clothes over and over. #conformity |
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