Quick Week - Interviews, Baptisms, and a Luau!

This was a crazy week as we prepared for the calls the missionaries look forward to: Transfer Calls!

We finished interviews with the last zone plus the Assistants to the President:

 These pictures are all in front of the world map in one of the wards where the youth often contemplate where they would like to serve.  It reminds us of how large the world is and how many places the Lord can send these young people.  We were fortunate enough to have them called to serve with us!

 This picture with the Assistants was in our home where we complete interviews.  They like chatting with President, but it's Sister Turner's wit, wisdom, and tasty treats they most look forward to!

The weekend had three baptisms of which we could only attend two due to crazy schedules.  We love to see the missionaries perform musical numbers and interact with the church members with whom they serve.
In this picture, the young in the black shirt in the very center, in front of the tallest Elder is the one who was baptized.  The youth and the ward members came out in great numbers.

The elders sang a very nice song for him, we love the talent.

Another elder played a musical number on the cello, but I didn't get a still photo and the video clip was too large to put here.  We are so amazed with what these young people can do!

This ward is in a smaller city in the country-side.  The church is the rented third story of a business.  The first floor is a giant phone store, the second floor is a computer and gaming area, and we rent the third floor.  Because it is business building, the ward has a baptismal font that is easily constructed with a plastic liner and filled with water.  It's an amazing experience.

The second baptism was a young lady who fell in love with the message and with the young ladies teaching her.  These are amazing missionaries.

The third baptism was a woman who had been attending the Church for quite some time and had met with many missionaries.  Two elders started working with her about six weeks ago and helped her feel such a wonderful spirit that she too wanted to be baptized and make the covenants to follow the Savior, Jesus Christ.

We were invited to attend a Luau with one of the wards where three Hawaiian missionaries are currently serving.  They did such an amazing job to help the members prepare a nice Hawaiian meal.  They wanted to cook a pig, but finding a place in Seoul to dig a hole to cook a pig is nearly impossible without violating the rules of local parks!

They did some hula and some haka and even taught the members to dance as well.  It was a fun evening.  We love it when they share all of their talents!

As for interesting sights this week, this first one reminds me of my first visit here 40 years ago.  How much can you get on one bike or motorcycle?

Many have probably seen this picture before, but I love the clear morning air when I run early in the day.  The tower is about three miles away.

Finally, as we prepare for transfers we host a dinner in our home for the missionaries serving closest to us.  Due to a decreasing number of missionaries in our area, we will be closing one area.  The two sisters serving here will be gone. One will actually go home after a wonderful 18 months of service.  The other is reassigned to another area in the mission.  Additionally, one elder who has been serving in the area has been transferred to a new area.  In a show of solidarity, they didn't shave for the day, even the sisters.  We love them.  We wish everyone of our more than 100 missionaries could serve right here at the mission home!

Well, enough for this week.  We'll say farewell to 13 and welcome four this week.  We are sad and excited for the week ahead.  We hope you find this informative and enjoyable for a peek into the Korea Seoul South Mission!  Until next week, know of our love and appreciation for your support for us and especially for our missionaries.