Rainy days and slippery transfers.

Hi!

I'm still in Taebek. Still alive. This transfer has gone by fast. I only have two more p-days, both of which will be taken up doing other stuff. Next week we have temple day, and the week after that will probably be Zone Activity. Then! This transfer is dun-fer! Scawy. Surprising to think how fast this has gone by.

But at any rate - the weather here has been pretty crazy. It's rained a lot since we've been here - monson season. It rains about every other day, although since I'm up in the mountains here it's been soo nice. The weather has been really cool and great. Even better, a very low amount of mesquitos! It's been quite amazing indeed. My companion hasn't been enjoying the rain as much as I have, however. It's his birthday, though, so I bought him a bag cover so that the stuff in his backpack won't get wet. Useful AND cheap!

Our investigators have been doing great. We set a baptismal date with one of the sisters we've been meeting with. Originally it was the 19th, but she had to move it to the end of this month - 26th. I'm really excited for that. She has been accepting everything we teach her with no problem. I think she's one of the purest people I've met. Either that or she doesn't want to talk about any of the problems she might have. xP

Anyway... I can't think of a whole lot else to talk about. I snapped a few more pictures of Taebek and all of its greatness. I'll get a video or something of all the rain that we get here - it's really just crazy! Oh, and I dunno if the package has been sent or not yet, but I've realized a couple more things that'd be nice to have. I don't have a power converter (if they're expensive don't worry about it. My next companion might have one ;) ), and I was also thinking that a pair of hair clippers would be nice to have. The Korean haircut style is really ugly, and no matter what you tell them, they also just end up giving you the Korean style, so... Yeah, a buzzer would be good if that isn't expensive either! If it is, don't worry about it.

Anyway, still alive! Hope everyone out there is doing well. Stay happy and healthy!

-Elder Webster

자! 태백으로 가자!‏

Hi!

I'm currently e-mailing you from the wee little town of Taebek. I found out it isn't farther north of Wonju than I thought, but in fact actually south. Still to the east, though. I'm about three hours bus ride outside of Seoul. Not a very fun experience. But! I have a new companion - again. His name is Elder Grose. The last transfer really slipped away with Elder Hess, but it was a whole lot of fun to get to serve with him. I enjoyed it a lot, and I'm excited to learn a lot with Elder Grose. He sounds like he's really good at Korean, too!

Anyway, for last updates out of Wonju - I got to meet some of my favorite people yesterday. We met with Mia, she prayed again for us at the end of the lesson. She's also really been wondering a lot about how she can gain a stronger faith in God, and she also wonders how other people have gained it themselves. I'm really excited to hear about her progression. I took one of her name cards, and I'm going to stay in touch with her as much as I can. She told me to come back to Korea and work at her english academy after my mission. ;)

We also got to meet with a lady named Mona. She's about 60 or so and seems to be really prepared. She had a sister die about a year ago - she used to be Catholic, but after she died, she isn't really sure what to do with herself. so, she stopped attending church and really "lost her way". So the last time we met with her, we explained an overview of the Plan of Salvation, and yesterday when we met again we talked to her about the Spirit World, and the Celestial Kingdom. She really enjoyed it, and I think she'll be moving along really well as Elder Zabriskie continues to teach her.

Other than that, Elder Cameron and 14 other missionaries are dead now. Their corpses are being carred to America probably as I type this. A tear shed for those lost! I'm excited to see what this next transfer will bring - our new mission president will be coming in. I got to see President Cho one last time before he left - it was really cool. I think the new mission president will change a few things around - I think it'll be pretty great.

Other than that, not too much else. Elder Zabriskie had a drunk man dance for him last week, the drunk man even made him rub his abs. Then he did a peck dance for him, and then we left. Maybe not as good as Elder Jones' story, but I almost starting rolling on the ground laughing.

anyway! Things are still going great. Hope all is well back home! Stay happy and healthy!

Love,
Elder Webster

A day late...

Hi!

I'm e-mailing a day late because we went to Seoul yesterday. We had a mission conference because this is the last transfer of our mission president. Him and 15 other missionaries will be dying this coming transfer. It's a big loss! But, I'm excited for the new mission president that'll be coming up.

The trip to Seoul was pretty awesome. We went to the temple, of course, and then for the rest of that day we got to wander around and do basically what we wanted. Elder Hess and I went with Elder Cameron and Zabriskie to a few popular shop places. We met a lot of really great foreigners, and two members. We went into a place that sells foreigner goods, and this guy walked in. He was a little bit intimidating at first, he just looked at all the missionaries in there and said "Hey. Are you guys hungry? How many are there? Do you like chicken? Come next door." and then walked out. But of course, we all followed. We found out that he served in the Seoul mission about 20 or so years ago, and just wanted to give us food because he saw us. IT was really nice, and a lot of fun!

After that, we were walking around in a popular shop and I heard "Hey missionaries!" Turned out to be another member - a father and his daughter. They are in the military, and are just enjoying their stay in Korea for a little while. We gave them directions, they wished us well, and we went our opposite ways again. It was really amazing - and the fact it all happened on the day we went to the temple was even better. It gave me a good boost and just made the day great.

The next day we had a seven hour meeting with president - because it was his final words, he gave a really great talk. We also got to hear all the dying missionaries' final words, too, which was all just really great. It was a good meeting, and we had live transfer calls there, too. So we got to find out where everyone was going. I was anticipating leaving, and indeed, I am! I'll be moving to a place called Tebek 태백. Which is still country, but even MORE east and farther from Seoul. I'm going out to the boonies, indeed. But it's all up in the mountains, and I've heard it's just wounderful! I'm excited. Not looking forward to moving, but I think it'll be a lot of fun. I'm a little bit nervous to be moving from my first area - the elder I'm serving with is one transfer above me, so the Korean thing will be interesting too. But, I've only heard good things about the area! So I'm really excited. Elder Hess is going to the office and, although he isn't looking forward to it, I think it'll be pretty good for him.

Anyway, short e-mail this week. That was the most exciting stuff that happened. I took out some money from my personal account - I owed the mission a little bit of money because I bought a few things. It was only about $50. That's about it! I'm still alive and all things are going great. I hope everyone is still doing good out there! :D Stay happy and healthy!

-Elder Webster

Badmitton, new investigators, and the close of a transfer!‏

Hi!

This transfer is almost over. We have two P-days left! I'm not really sure where all that time went. And this keyboard sucks, so forgive spelling mistakes. anyway, there're a lot of missionaries leaving this next transfer - about 15 or so I think. So because of that, there'll be a lot of areas closing or minimizing. Too bad! That means that my little area of Wonju might be shrinking.

But speaking about our little area, we had a really great time playing badmitton the past week. Now, if you're thinking about the badmitton that the Fox and the Hen played from the Robin Hood cartoon... you're wrong! koreans play badmitton as a sincere sport - it's ridiculously intense. I'll ahve to get a video of it sometime I think - the next time we go and play. One of our investigators - Mia - is the wonju representative in badmitton. So, hopefully we'll get to watch her play. She's been doign pretty well with her progression, too. We taught her again recently - it wasn't the best lesson (mostly because Elder Hess made me be the one to lead the lesson, and there wasn't a lot of time), but we taught her a little bit about Mosiah chapter 2 - King Benjamin's sermon. It was pretty alright.

In other news, we've been finding a couple of new investigators, as well. We finally are seeing a little bit of more harvest from our English class. She's an older lady that is having some difficulty because she had recently lost her youngest sister. To be honest, when I heard that I kind of felt like Ammon because I got excited because of her difficult situation. i know that she's ready to accept the message! It'll be a lot of fun to teach her I think.

Other than that, not too much else has happened this past week that I can remember really. I've thought of a coulpe of things for my next package - I've decided I really like those Nature Valley bars. They're easy to grab if I happen to miss a meal or am late for one. So if you could send some of thsoe again, muchly appreciated! I can't think of anything else that I really need. I bought a SD Card reader, but... I'm not in wonju right now! I'm actually in a place called "Dong-hey". We're on a Zone Activity right now, and we're headed to (as Elder Cameron said) "the world's largest cave in Asia". I've been awake since about 5:30 already, so this day might be deathly, but I'm excited for the activity! I'll be sure adn take a lot of pictures and show you next week. Next week we'll be headed to Seoul for another temple day and the mission conference - our mission president is going home, too! This next transfer is going to bring a lot of changes I think.

Anyway, stuff is still going well. Still really enjoying my time out here in the country, the language is getting a little bit better too! I hope everyone out there is doing great! Stay happy! Be healthy!

Love,
Elder Webster

A trip up to the mountains, and living the college life.‏

Hi!

This past week has been pretty good.

Elder Hess and I taught the best lesson that we've both ever taught since we've been out. The spirit was really strong, we both spoke really good Korean, and everything just flowed really well. We taught a new investigator family that we got as a referral from another investigator - it's a really big blessing for us because the whole family seems to have interest. It being the best event of this week, I'll outline basically what happened...

We met them on Saturday night, and for the first little while we just kind of talked to them for a little while in English (the mother and daughters lived in New Zealand for two years - the youngest daughter is pretty much fluent, and the oldest daughter is really good. The mother is ok, and the father understands a lot but doesn't really have any interest in English anyway). The oldest daughter told us how she went to Seoul a couple of days ago as a school and got to go to a movie production studio there. While they were there, they got to make a video commercial. It was really, really funny. She showed it to us, and the song they sang still gets stuck in my head. It's about this girl that is doing really bad in school, so she starts thinking about suicide (sad topic, but stay with me). While she starts thinking about that stuff, random people will pop out and stand next to her and start singing:

"Oh no, don't do that!
Oh no, don't do that!
Oh no, don't do that!
자살 하지마새요!" (don't commit suicide)

I wish I could get the internet link that she showed it to me - it's so funny! It's any Korean anyway. But after that we started talking to them a little bit more - and then we moved onto the gospel topics.

We had a really cool example that was made from cups that showed the organization of the church in Christ's time, explained the apostasy, and then explained the Restoration. Basically you set up cups as the base to show the original organization of the church when Christ was alive - the original twelve apostles, and etc. Then you pull those cups out to show the apostasy. Then you rebuild it with the names of our living apostles as the Restoration. The family all understand wonderfully - the father had a question along the lines of "Baptist comes from Christians, Presbyterian comes from Catholics (and so on), where do you come from?". So we explained again that this is Christ's purely restored church, not just another branch off. It was really wonderful.

Now, I have to tell a story about what happened before the appointment to lead up to this part of the story. We didn't get the chance to eat dinner, so we went into a Family Mart (7/11 basically) and got some food there. Elder Hess decided to buy a liter of juice, because a liter of juice was the same price as one of the quarts. So we drink the whole thing, eat our food, and then head over to the appointment.

we both had a liter of juice sloshing about in our insides.

Can you guess what happens?

During the lesson, just after we had explained the Restoration, Elder Hess exhales and says "... I'm sorry. Can I use your bathroom?" Let me reiterate that this was one of the best lessons we've ever taught with the sort of spirit that was guiding us the whole time.

I was laughing so hard! The kids were laughing pretty good, too - so I explained that we had both drank a liter of juice before we got here. The family was pretty ok with it, anyway. I still make fun of him about it.

But onto other things, we made a few new contacts this past weekend with some college kids. Basically, I got to see what the college life is like in Korea... We went out to eat with one contact, and then he decided to take us on a drive into the mountains a little bit. After that we introduced us to some other friends that we contacted, and we hung out at Dunkin' Donuts for a little while. It was really funny. We had to explain to them that we don't drink, smoke, drink coffe, can't watch movies or listen to the radio while we're missionaries. Maybe "flaberghasted" would be a good word to describe them.

But anyway, I hope that turns out and we get to meet with them again.

In other news and needful things... send me pictures! I need and want some more pictures that I can show people - more family shots and more pictures of the hikes, the scenery, and that kind of stuff of Utah. Koreans really enjoy it. Also pictures of the temples would be good, too. I only have Provo temple and Seoul temple.

Other than that, all is well! I'm still looking for a SD Card reader so I can send you people some pictures, and am still wondering about the price of 8 or 16GB USB sticks in America.

Anyway, all is well! I hope everyone out there is doing great! Especially you two out there in the Land of the Faster-Than-Korea Rising Sun! Happy Birthday Sister Jones! :D

Stay happy! Stay healthy!

Love,
Elder Webster

Of new investigators, new companion, and flamethrowers.

Hi everyone!

Yep, still alive. This past week has been pretty great. I'm pretty sure I've been talking more Korean to our investigators, members, and less actives than I have pretty much since I've been out here. With Elder Hess, I feel like there's a lot more responsibility for me (which is good). I get to improve my Korean a lot quicker now - and I'm getting a lot more adjusted to asking everyone for help. Last night we had English class - it turned more into "Teach Elder Webster Korean" class. I learned a couple really cool phrases - "kill two birds with one stone" and "dragon head, snake tail". It's pretty awesome learning Korean that way - it's even better when there're really good English speakers to help you out.

So the coolest thing this past week was meeting with Mia. She's the lady that we've been meeting with for about a month or two now - she has been reading the Book of Mormon really diligently (she's on about chapter 25 of 2nd Nephi), but still has some problems with faith. But yesterday, we got the chance to meet with her and her friend. She invited her friend to come over because she was wanting to learn about our church, as well. Her name is Leah and we got a return appointment with her on Saturday. But during that appointment, Mia was talking about how she is able to introduce her friend to us missionaries because we aren't pushy, and didn't do anything that would make her not want to. Therefore, she feels confident enough to introduce us. I explained that it's a really wonderful thing when people that we teach introduce us to other people to teach, and that it's a very big responsibility for us that we take on. So, we assured Mia that we would treat her friend no differently.

There's was also a very interesting comment made. Elder Hess mentioned to Leah how she appears to be a very sincere person - when we were explaining a little bit about our church, Leah was listening very well. She had a few misconstrued ideas (such as thinking we lived a lifestyle like the Amish), so we cleared those up. But when Elder Hess made that comment - I added that since I've been in Korea for a little while now, I've been able to tell a little bit easier the nature or feeling of people. Such as, "that person is really sincere, or very light-hearted, or that person really doesn't care what I'm saying". I don't really know entirely why, but Mia really took that as a very big compliment. After I said that, she said "Thank you a lot. I really appreciate that".

It was just a really neat experience. I think I've been given a little bit of a keener sense toward people since I've been out here - it's been much easier to talk to people and start conversations.

I also got the opportunity to help out a member pretty well, too. She was having a bad day - and for some reason she gave me a call. Because Elder Lemons left (I think he was her favorite), she wanted to talk to me next. She has been going through a rough time, and was one day just thinking about some random stuff. She wants to teach English, but doesn't feel like she's prepared. So, she gave me a call and I talked to her a lot. She said because I'm a missionary I'm only allowed to say nice things - so I told her honestly what I thought and tried to help her out a little bit. A couple of days later I saw her again - she was having another bad day (she got splashed by a taxi!), but after the English class, she talked to me a little bit more. She thanked me for the help that I gave and that it built up her confidence a little bit.

It really built up my confidence a little bit! I really like this member a lot - she's probably one of the best in Wonju - but she's just been going through a hard time. I don't think I could've done that for her if I'm not where I am now. It was just a really great experience for me I think - it reaffirmed a little more the authority that I carry with this calling.

But anyway - moving along. Elder Hess has been really awesome to serve with - this week went by really slow anyway though. He's pretty good at Korean (especially for being two transfers older than me!), so I haven't had to worry too much. I've still been talking a lot, and I found out last night that I mumble in Korean and English now! So, I've gotta work on that...

Also, last night Elder Cameron took a blow torch to a spider web. It was a gross spider that had made a home just outside of our window. So he got a lighter and some WD40... Needless to say the spider should've taken on some fire insurance *bah-duhm chh*.

Anyway! I think that's pretty much... Nothing else too exciting. So! 'till next week! Still alive, stay happy, and stay healthy! :D 짱!!

Love,
Elder Webster

Ohhh, whatcha gonna do with a drunkin' sailor?

Hi!

This weeks subject has nothing to do with anything! Yippy!

How's everyone? I'm doing quite peachy meself. I've gotten myself a new companion - his name is Elder Hess. He's from somewhere in America, and his family has five people. That's actually all I know about him right now... We just switched today, so I've only been with him for about five hours. :D He seems like a really great guy, though. He's been in the country for two more transfers than I have, so this Korean speaking thing will definately be interesting. He sounds like he's pretty solid at it already, though. Besides, my mission president trusts him enough to be senior now, so all I've gotta do is just have a little faith!

I don't really know what to update on - not a whole lot has happened. Elder Lemons is dead from Wonju, and a tear was shed for those lost. We got to meet with the old ladies that we've been meeting with - they're doing really well. I think they're getting really close to baptism, and they seem pretty solid. We talked to them about the Holy Ghost, and what that does for us, and how to recognize it. They don't really understand why when they meet with us they always think "Yeah, these're all really good words. Yeah, I need to read and pray and that other stuff..." but when they get home they have no desire to do as such. So, we explained to them about the difference between the gift of the Holy Ghost, and just feeling it - they understood really well and I think we made a pretty excellent breakthrough with them. I'll be fun to teach them with Elder Hess now.

Other than that... we got to meet with some less-actives recently. Those were all really excellent lessons, too. Elder Lemons told them all about what his final wish was for them before he left - they all seemed to really take it to heart. So, we'll see the turn out this Sunday. I think it'll be ok.

This new transfer with Elder Hess is going to be exciting, I think. I'll definately get the opportunity to learn more Korean. Because Elder Lemons was so good, sometimes I didn't get the chance to speak that much. But now... we kind of have to rely a lot more on each other. So! It'll be a new adventure. Plus, it's kinda freaky being the junior companion that has to introduce the senior into the area. I kinda thought of it as like a brace system to a tree of some kind. I leaned pretty heavily on Elder Lemons for help and stuff - I'd usually get him to translate stuff for me, ask what people said, give him the phone when people would call, and other things like that. But now, I've been cut down a little bit and I have to stand a little more on my own. It'll be an interesting ride!

But anyway, it was good to talk to you family on Mother's Day! I really enjoyed that - it gave me a lot of strength to push forward a little bit harder recently. I think it'll get me through the summer. :D

So I hope all is going well back home! Things are still great here in Korea. Still working on that picture thing - I need to go get myself a SD Card reader I think. Has anyone been able to figure out how much 8GB USB sticks are? Still wondering about that.

또한, 리아 (sorry if I spelled your name wrong) 자매. 제 말씀 읽으면, 저에게 전화해주세요! 아니면, 편지를 쓰십시오!

Anyway! Stay happy everyone! And stay healthy!

Love,
Elder Webster