Always the hardest week!

The pace is quickening and the busier the schedule the faster the days go by.  Our calendar is full!

This was the week of transfers.  We had two elders leave, one for health issues who we pray will return quickly, and the other completing his 24 months of service. 

 While dropping off one elder at the airport, we greeted seven new sisters and a new elder.  Wow, what a wonderful group!  Thank you parents for providing such prepared disciples of Christ!

After a good evening with them we let them rest before connecting them with their trainers.  We match the goodness of the new missionaries with high caliber trainers.  We work hard to select the correct ones each transfer.  Gratefully, the Lord is the one providing guidance.

 This sister is from Oklahoma.  I'm sure she's glad to be here with the tornadoes racing through Oklahoma,  we pray for the safety of her home state.

 This young lady is from Arizona.  Her mother is Korean.

 This young man is our first from South America coming from Argentina.

 This young sister is from California

 This young sister is from Utah,

 This sister is our first one from Mexico,

 This sister is also from Utah,

 and this fine sister is from my home town in Utah.

Once we got them settled, we prepared for the training we do each transfer with the district leaders.  Though only a few are new as leaders, we bring them all together with the Assistants to train them on their roles and responsibilities.  They are all amazing.
The Assistants are great trainers and bring a wonderful spirit and laughter to their training.

 We have to wonder about their focus once in a while... But, all in all they are pretty amazing.

 President was off doing an interview so Sister Turner had to control the crowds.

Over the weekend, we had the opportunity to attend church services at the smallest branch in the mission in far away Anseong.  Afterwards they had a little treat of fresh watermelon for us.  The young man on the stand was recently baptized and is encouraging all his friends to come join with us.  He's a young Alma.

Even though it is into  the next week, we did conduct our transfer Mission Leadership Council or MLC with the Assistants, Sister Training and Zone Leaders.  Again, a wonderful day training on roles and responsibilities and teaching them new things we want them to know and teach at zone conference in the next several weeks.
The phone gets hijacked occasionally!

 It's not always stressful for them.  We try to lighten the load and allow them to let their inner child out.  They have such great personalities and talents.

 Of course, there is always Sister Turner's tasty treats to occupy them while they de-stress at the break.

Finally, we had another great visit from three of our former missionaries on school break.  College stresses them, but they know coming to Korea would lighten their load, especially visiting their former mission mom and dad!  We can't get enough of these young people.  They bring so much joy to our lives!  They are all as good looking as when they were with us, the light in their eyes is still bright.

Well, enough pictures for today.  We'll add to your opportunities as soon as we can.  Share with everyone.  These are great faces!  Thank you for your love, support, and prayers.

More Pics with a twist!

This update is similar to past posts, but it includes some pictures from a preparation day where some elders came to have a day with Sister Turner.  Our number one hope is that you'll see pictures of your favorite missionary.  We wish we could better convey their daily work in the field, but it's hard to shoot pictures and videos in their normal work without being really strange to those they're teaching.  You'll have to work off the oral stories they tell!

The fruits of their efforts are captured here with the wonderful men and women making commitments putting them on the covenant path.
This man was going to visit Utah and one of his table tennis students said his church was based in Utah and should learn something about it.  He gave him the address the church and started meeting with the elders.  He was very impressed with the message and has been attending church for some time now.

 This young lady has been taught by many missionaries - elders and sisters, over some time.  She had a lot of support from the young people here age.as well as some of the missionaries who taught her a year ago!

Bundang and Icheon district council and interviews.  We had a nice lunch and forgot to take a picture!

 This was the district council for the Shinpung and Gokbanjeong districts with interviews.

 This was the district council for the Songpa office staff including the senior couple, office elders and Assistants to the President as well as interviews.

Some of the elders requested a preparation day with Sister Turner at the house.  We have had the sisters twice and the elders wanted some equal treatment!  They came and ate lunch with each other and then watched the movie "Coco".  We are accustomed to the "boys" hanging out at the house for several decades after raising four boys ourselves.  Of course they had to have their fun!

 Glad the ceiling wasn't any higher.  They would have wanted to go higher!

Finally, we had another visit from one of our former missionaries.  He left over two years ago!  He is currently completing his mandatory military service so he keeps his hat one.  We had him take if off so everyone could recognize him!

It's the time of year when Terri is decorating our roof-top garden.  This year she is doing it partially for her own enjoyment and partially to have a welcome area for the new mission president and wife and their family.  Everyone needs a retreat rich with color!  I had to take this capturing Terri in her favorite environment.  A few flowers for the 'yard'.

A new blog we hope will come out very soon with the newest missionaries leaving and coming.  It was a fun week with them.  They are a wonderful group.  Time races on.  Thank you for the prayers, support and encouraging messages!

Quick Trip to the mountains

This will be a quick blog update on a little trip Terri and I took on a preparation day. 
During my missionary service 40 years ago I was able to hike three mountains.  These were Dobongsan, Soraksan, and Songnisan.  All three are outside our mission boundaries.  The area president gave us permission before we leave to visit Songnisan.  We left in the morning and returned in the afternoon.

At the base of the mountain is a very famous Buddhist temple called Boepjusa.  You can read a little about it here: Beopjusa  It really is an amazing place!

Some of the original structures were built over 1,000 years ago, but the Japanese invasions over the centuries and fires have required reconstruction.  They are quite amazing. 
On site was also this amazing flowering tree that was quite lovely to be around.

After visiting the Buddhist temple we started up the mountain enjoying the view along the way.  The water in this small lake was so clean and clear.

Along the way we saw so many trees that were growing right out of the middle of some very large rocks.  We couldn't find any sign that they were in direct coming through the rock or around the rock.  It reminded us about building on a strong foundation of the Savior where we cannot fall!

 There were several other temples and hermitages along the patch to the top.  Because Buddha's birthday was in the next few weeks, there were plenty of lanterns along the route marking the way.
This was very small, but clean and inviting.

We particularly enjoyed the tile dragon heads on the top.  The roofs of these places are so heavy as they are made of heavy tile.  The color and the artistry is pretty amazing.

 Hard to tell, but this one was a privy or outhouse.  Still a very nice place!

  A little time for some quiet reflection on a lovely day.

We tried to capture the story of this beautiful tree at the base of the mountain.  In case you can't read it. Here's some additional information: Songnisan Pine Tree

This is the sign by the tree.  It is a beautiful tree, but it says in the last 30-40 years heavy snow and wind has broken off a few limbs.

Here is what it looks like the day we took the picture.  For 600 years, it's a lovely creation!

Just a quick post to update you on a trip.  We know you'd love more pictures of your missionaries.  Those missionaries who remain in the Korea Seoul South Mission after July 1 may have the opportunity to see this as it is in the new mission boundaries.

Hope you enjoyed.  Thanks for your ongoing support.