As the next week will be spent in zone conferences and the weeks after that full of interviews, this week is usually the week to plan and to prepare for those things. Next week's blog will be full of pictures from our mountain top experience. However, for this week, we really had two events: Mission Leadership Council (MLC, and preparation day at the zoo.
In looking at some of these pictures, we're not sure which was which! We have group pictures after lunch. Not all are completely in control... However, there is always a good smile to go around.
We do actually do some training with our zone and sister training leaders. We discussed their roles for the training this next week at zone conference. They will be the ones who do the majority of the teaching. Pres. Turner did most of the training for the MLC, but Sister Turner and the zone leaders and sister training leaders will take that to the mountain.
There are some skits to bring to the attention of the missionaries good and not so good ways to do things. These guys were great in their skits. You can't help but laugh. I need to get better about getting them on video.
Sister Turner and I took a rare full preparation day this week. Most preparation days are a few hours or as we call them p- hours. This week we blocked off the time and went to the Seoul Grand Park. It is made up of a horse race track, a large amusement park, a museum of art, and a very large zoo. We went specifically for the zoo. The weather was warm, but not as humid as last summer, and the sun was bright.
At the park entrance is a mural of the entire area. I wish it didn't have a TV in the middle of it, but you can get a sense for the magnitude of the park. The far upper right is the end of the zoo. The race track is in the upper left. The parking lot is massive, but it's to the far left and is larger than the reservoir.
We started with a lift ride across a lake and then another across the park. It had to be a mile long!
We then wandered through the park enjoying the animals and the displays.
This flower plaza was quite beautiful.
We were excited about the dolphin amphitheater, but got this sign. We were a bit bummed out. We did get some seals and sea lions, but not the stars of the show.
We got up close and personal with these guys. It was pretty amazing to walk in right as they laid out the supper plates and opened the doors for the lemurs to come out. As you can see, we were right there.
We will throw in some video as well of the experience!
Of course, when in the zoo, sometimes you have to play the part.
Who did it better?
Sometimes, it's just good to be together.
In ten days we will have been here one year. We are grateful for the time we have to serve side by side. Two weeks later we will celebrate 37 years of marital bliss. We're in a happy place! We hope you are as well. Next week will be a big one with the three conferences. At that time we hope you will see a picture of every one of your sons and daughters.
