Three Great Zone Conferences, Two Great Activities

This has been such a fun week.  We had three days of zone conferences with two zones per conference.  The subjects were the same at each conference, just different people at different places.  Lots of learnings about how to be better sanctified, consecrated missionaries and how to better teach.  They were terrific.
Bucheon Zone

 Incheon Zone

  Suwon Zone

 Gyeonggi Zone

 

 Anyang Zone

 Gangnam Zone

There were many wonderful musical performances during each of the conferences. You'll have to go to Facebook to see those.  Here are pictures of some of the performances.

We had two birthdays to celebrate as well during the conferences.  Only occasionally do the dates fall close enough to a conference to warrant a candle and a special hat...

Of course, the camera got loose occasionally, and resulted in random pictures of the missionaries.

These two elders were a zone of their own.  They missed their day due to another appointment. 

 We also had two terrific activities with the missionaries to share our message.  The first one was outside a large subway terminal/shopping complex.  The missionaries held a "Are you better than a foreigner?" event.  Here are some snapshots of what occurred.  It was a fun evening.  These are amazing young men and young women. Who wouldn't want to talk to someone with so much light in their eyes?  Our motto is "We are Beacons of Light"  You can certainly see it in their eyes!

 tic-tac-toe

 arm wrestling, 



 chopstick races

At the next event, we were outside a shopping complex with a public square (though it was round) and lots of foot traffic.  We had a sticker board where individuals could put a sticker responding to a question about English.  There were lots of individuals of all ages wandering through the area.  So many were ready to chat with our young, happy Beacons.  They all have great smiles on their faces.

Those having the most fun chatting were high school and college-aged young people.  They had fun chatting about everything from sports to music; from college subjects to religion and politics.

By Friday we were pretty exhausted, but we still had more to do in planning for our next zone conferences.  We will be visiting another cultural heritage location to get a better flavor for the culture, history, and traditions by visiting a site on the biggest holiday of the year: the Fall Harvest Festival. You'll have to wait a few weeks for more on that.  While we were there we fought dragons, wild flowers (as opposed to domesticated ones), and very large spiders.

 The big, yellow object over their heads is one of several spiders.  Legs included, it had to be three inches tip to tip!

 Once again, saving Terri from the very grasps of evil...

 Our guides for the day, our assistants.  They were good sports about the entire experience.

This upcoming week will include interviews with nearly 3/4 of the missionaries.  Look forward to  many good pictures.  So many companionship changes and new leaders.  It will be great!

Finally, A Calm Week!

We were so excited for this week.  It was one allowing us to contemplate what good things are happening in the mission and what needs our missionaries and we as the leaders have.  Next week begins zone conferences and then interviews and a whole host of things that will keep us hopping.  It's a fun time.

We did meet with our mission leadership council again.  We have many new zone and sister training leaders so it was fun to spend a day with them.  They know the missionaries, they know the things happening across the mission much more intimately than we do.  We spoke to them about sanctification and consecration, things we heard the missionaries say the mission needs.  We also talked a lot about how we can all be better teachers.  We had a great day with them.  You can be proud of them if any of your family is represented in this group.  It is a group made up of young men and young women from the US, Korea, Philippines, Hong Kong.  We've said many times we love them and treat them like our own children.  You'll notice that if they act up, occasionally, Sister Turner has to get their attention...

 At the same time, we usually let them relax just a little and let their true selves show... They are lots and lots of fun!

Sometimes Sister Turner and I just get too caught up in the administrivia of what needs to be accomplished in the mission and don't get out with them enough doing the work side by side.  One of the zones scheduled an activity to work in the vicinity of a new church building.  We all came together and divided up in companionships and walked the streets introducing ourselves and noting the location of the new building and inviting people to come visit and get to know the missionaries and the members.  We started with a meal together...

We divided up randomly (no mixing young men and young women!) and off we went.  The one little cut out near the front is a great way to get people to stop and have their picture taken with the missionaries.
When we finished up a few hours later, we all came together for a commemorative photo...

It was a fun evening.  We have two more planned for next week after zone conferences.  Look forward to next week's blog.  Some of the activities will be a bit unique!

We spent a lot of time indoors, but Sister Turner got out with a few missionaries living near us and went to a large open market, Moran market.  She didn't get too many pictures, but she got a few with some dried fish... (the things on the yellow ribbons in the back...)

 Our own children will remember the value of mom's big wooden spoon as they were growing up.  It had more intimidation factor than dad did!  The missionaries will know not to mess with the boss (Sister Turner).

We were blessed with a visit with a few of our former missionaries this week.  One sister had been in Canada for several months and we thought she'd only be here a few weeks and invited her to come.  It turns out she is back to attend college and we'll be able to see more of her.  She brought two friends who also served with us and brought back marvelous memories.  We can't get enough time with them, but know they have very busy lives and we're excited to see them continue to mature and grow in their lives!

President Turner didn't get out as much this week, but one day while having a morning jog, passed this lovely little picture.  So often the grandparents watch the young ones while mom and dad work or just sleep.  This was about 8:00 AM one morning.  It generated a happy smile.

With the three big zone conferences coming up this week and being with all the missionaries, we hope to have many great pictures next week.  Until then, know we're having fun and working hard with these wonderful missionaries and the wonderful people of Korea.  Our hearts and prayers are with those being affected by the many hurricanes and their aftermath, the earthquakes and fall out as well as the many wildfires in the west.  We think of you and your loved ones, you are in our prayers.  God bless you all with joy and happiness in your lives.

Transfers - Again

I think we say it each week that the week of transfers is one of the most painful, yet happy weeks of a mission president's and wife's life.  We say farewell to some and welcome others. It doesn't matter the size of the departing group there are gallons of tears shed.  This week only three left.  Two returned to their home in the Philippines and the third returned to his home in Canada.  We had a wonderful last evening sharing stories and testimonies and a meal while shedding those tears.

 

 

However, we also had the joy of welcoming four new elders, five sisters and a couple from Kansas who were born and raised in Korea, but wanted to come home to serve after nearly 40 years in the US.  What a great trip to the airport we had.  We took extra elders and sisters to the airport with us to escort the missionaries back to the mission home via the subway.  They had their first opportunity to talk to other travelers about the message that brought them to this wonderful country.  The loved it!

The next day we were able to interview and then match them to their trainer or first companion.  We oriented them to the mission rules and expectations and sent them off.  Lots of smiles!

They are a handsome group when you put them together with their trainers!  They literally are spread to the corners of the mission.  We'll have more pictures next month as well have nine elders and five sisters joining us!

We finished up a few last interviews this past week as well.  The office elders are like the cobbler's children who have no shoes.  They seem to get left to the last.  These two are the supply manager and the mission recorder. The mission could not function without them.  They help the missionaries get what they need.

These two are our two assistants.  Between translation, training, teaching, and guiding us, they are so valuable to our daily lives with the missionaries.

As for fun things seen on our travels during the week, we have a few to add.  This first one is a giant blue bear with a little yellow bear on his head.  It can be seen on the highway along the Han River on the road to or from the airport.  We have yet to learn what it represents. It's a good fifty or sixty feet tall.

While traveling through the big city, we saw this motor scooter with eight or nine 20 Kg bags of rice on it.  He was moving pretty slowly with that extra weight.  It was about 400 pounds of rice.

We had the opportunity to stop by the Seoul Mission office to pick up some things.  We visited with President Sonksen, the mission president and his wife.  This picture was with his two assistants to the president.  The one next to me is the brother of one of our sister missionaries.

While driving we also had the opportunity to drive past the Blue House.  It is Korea's equivalent of the White House where the president of the country resides.  Loads of security here to!

The weather is cooling and missionaries appreciate that.  Fall is in the air. Two-thirds of the year has passed and it seems like we just celebrated New Years!  We are starting the next cycle and looking forward to being with our missionaries in zone conferences and interviews again. 
Things seem noisy to the north of us, but things really haven't changed.  North Korea has been testing nuclear bombs and firing rockets for years.  We are focused on the work we've been called to do.  We find joy in every day and hope you do as well.  Know of our love and appreciation for your support to Terri and I and to all our wonderful missionaries.