Clearly, the most fun we have each week is the time being with the missionaries. Most of the time it is truly focused on training, learning, being better at we do. Each one works very hard. Some are so focused they don't want to take a preparation day and we have to remind them that preparation day is for more than just doing laundry, shopping and emailing mom and dad. It's about relaxing and reloading for the upcoming week.
We had more training this week with the leadership council. We spent time talking about our culture within the mission and how we can be better in 2017. They gave such good input! Here's the current team:
We try to let them relax a little even in our meetings. We wind them pretty tight. Try being a teenager in an adult world with real leadership responsibilities. They take it pretty serious and we encourage them to lighten up just a little.
This was the temple week for this period. We had two more zones at the temple. What a rich experience. A little sister from Thailand had family names for sealings in the temple. Terri and I were proxy which was truly rich. She wept as she saw her grand parents sealed and some deceased uncles sealed as well. We love being with them. These are for the parents!
That splash of color (both personality and jacket) adds so much to this group.
As you can see it's getting colder, but they still love to have fun posing with Sister Turner. I am learning a new level of patience...
This week there were lots more of the elders posing for Sister Turner.
On the way to the temple, in the early morning drive on the freeway, Sister Turner caught this picture out the window. If you click on it and let the size grow you'll see more of the beauty of the photo. The eye of Mordor is a little off center, but the tower is very visible beyond the bridge over the Han River.
Terri started our morning at the temple with our own selfie.
The true purpose of our work here is about inviting others to come unto Christ. We had seven different baptisms this weekend. We could only make it to one due to my schedule, but it was a rich experience. At one of the baptisms, a 12 year old boy was preparing to be baptized and said to the missionary, "Is it unusual to feel this much joy at a time like this?" You can bet that missionary had some happy moments! There is so much joy when we attend these special events.
I was busy conducting final interviews for some of our missionaries leaving this next week so Terri took some sisters for a walk near the church and enjoyed a few moments outside.
While driving, she caught this picture on a hill. These pop up in random places, a spot for contemplation and relaxation. In the cooler weather it doesn't get that much use.
I am working on getting my local driver's license. I have an international license that is only good for so long. When we were here 20 years ago it was a few signatures and an eye test. This time it's a written test, a small course driving test followed by a road coarse test. As another missionary and I passed the small course test we had to sign up for the road course. We had to pull a number. I thought it was a funny number...
With the recent transfers, we released two of our office elders. Elder Hays from Tennessee has been serving as the supply manager for the last 4 1/2 months and is going back to being a full-time missionary. He has a burning desire to teach. He is pretty happy fully dedicating his time to teaching and not the administrivia of the office. We will miss him! He has a great smile.
Elder Kim Injoong has been serving as my assistant for the last 4 1/2 months. He is such a good missionary I wanted him to be able to spend his last three months doing what he is so good at, teaching others. He has been our translator, advisor, and friend. We will miss him!
This week brings new missionaries to the country and many will go home having completed their service. There will be some joy and some tears this week. You'll hear about it next week.
We continue to have fun and love being with these great young people. We learn so much from them. We only hope we send them home to their parents stronger and more dedicated than when we first met them. We certainly are better people for knowing them. They bless our lives in so many great ways. Christmas cookies are calling, so until next week stay happy, healthy and warm!
