Final Week Before Things Get Busy

Smart Phones - You've probably heard from missionaries here that the phones are starting to get smart.  Even though we have had these phones since November, they've only really had capacity to call, text, and email.  Well that is very rapidly changing.  They are changing from smarter phones to Smart Phones.
During our Mission Leadership Council (MLC), we started training on social media tools for online missionary work and for an online area book.  Only the zone leaders and sister training leaders have had the training and they've started accessing things like Facebook, Messenger, and KakaoTalk ( a social tool used here in Korea or by Koreans around the world).  This same group has been using the online area book as well since they will be doing training this upcoming week on how to use it.  They have more tools to be effective and efficient!
We've already started seeing an impact.  The Korean people tend to dislike regular texting, but are very active on KakaoTalk.  It's like texting and like Facebook, but easy to  create chat groups and have direct conversations.
Here are our mission leaders, both serious and goofy.  Of course, Sister Turner also had to get the sisters revved up...

A few amazing things happened this week we want to share.  First a good man in the Seoul Mission donated from his business 130 down filled blankets and covers to our mission.  These are amazing blankets!  We will be distributing them throughout the mission during interviews.  We'd like to do it sooner, but don't have the real capacity to do so.  They will be able to take these blankets with them from area to area, and then we can wash the covers and pass them on to the incoming missionaries  They will have the fun of caring for, cleaning, etc. these wonderful gifts.  Here's to the good man, Brother Kang!

We have a wonderful new military relations couple coming next week.  In preparation for their arrival, we visited their apartment to make sure everything was in order.  In one of the bathrooms is a very small claw-foot tub that was even small for our diminutive Sister Turner!

 We then did a few interviews and chatted with missionaries.  It was lunch time so we all sat down together for some tasty goods.  The missionaries can see we love the food as much as they do!  We love the missionaries even more.

 Despite the cold, they are willing to stand out and say farewell at the end of the day!

We cannot lose track of the purpose for having our young missionaries here.  They are here to invite others to come unto Christ.  They are doing a sensational job of opening their mouths and teaching.  Over the weekend, we were able to attend the baptism of two men.  This first man's wife was baptized several months ago after visiting her sister in Utah and visiting Temple Square in Salt Lake City.  This man was invited to also read the Book of Mormon.  He felt impressed by the words of the book and its links to the Bible's teachings and to the impact on his family.  He has two teenage daughters and an adolescent son he wants to see blessed.

 This second man was baptized by his son who flew in from Boston where he is attending university.  The wife and all the children are long-time members of the Church, but the father felt impressed he needed to be preparing with his family.  Both will be in the temple in a year's time!

Occasionally, the couples in Seoul get together for a meal.  Today, to celebrate a few birthdays, we got together and had a traditional Korean meal.  From the many dishes you can tell we ate well.  This is very old school with so many sides of various vegetables, fish, pork, soups, etc.  We had an awesome meal!

We saw some fun sights this week while driving to various locations.  One of the most interesting and fun was what they did to the many statues along the main Olympic boulevard.  They have put scarves, hats and or gloves on many of the statues.  As you know the Winter Olympics will happen in Korea starting in February.  This is all part of the advertising.  We didn't have our cameras ready, but today we passed the Olympic torch relay running through Seoul.

Two more unusual sights was a bus advertising the hit movie "Jumanji" and a flashy hotrod.

 Any time you drive through Gangnam you're likely to see a very expensive car.  It will be a Lamborghini, a Maserati, a McLaren, a Rolls Royce, etc.  This is like the Wall Street of Seoul.

Finally, as you can see in a few pictures, there has been some snow and cold in our mission area.  It's that time of year.  It's an interesting fact that in Korea they have a phenomenon of several cold days followed with several warm days.  It is called sam-han-sa-on /삼한사온 .  You can read more about it here: Korea Weather
Terri loves to go out on the snowy mornings and shovel or sweep the snow.  The green things they are holding below are the brooms.  These are made of synthetic materials.  They are normally made from tree branches. The missionaries love being out with her.  It's not needed for the most part, but she loves the activity!

Here's what an old-school broom for Korean and the model from what modern brooms are made.

This next week will include zone conferences and therefore lots of pictures.  We hope you find your missionary.  They are so amazing.  So many have been sick.  They're on the phone regularly with Sister Turner trying get fully healthy so they can be back out working and teaching.  We are always so impressed with them and the good things they do.  Be sure to ask them about their experience using social media as a missionary.

We so appreciate the warm thoughts that come in emails, cards, letters.  We feel the blessings and support of your prayers and we know your missionaries do also.  Life is so amazing with them!  Until next week, keep smiling and gather light! All our love, Roger and Terri

         

Anniversary and much more!

This was a great week for Terri and I.  The week has gone so quickly!
At the first of the week I was able to stand in on the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new beautiful church building in Anyang City before the dedication.  What a wonderful moment it was.  I have watched a few, but never participated in such an event.  The white gloves, gold colored scissors, and multiple color ribbons were a fun experience.

Monday, Terri and I celebrated our 432nd anniversary.  Those quick with math would know it was our 36th.  We couldn't be happier spending 24/7/365 together for the next three years.  We're having great discoveries together.  The office staff purchased a cake for us to celebrate.  We were surprised and awed by the wonderful gesture.

On Tuesday we had our first Mission Leadership Council meeting (MLC) where the zone leaders and the sister training leaders came together for training and counsel on how to lead the mission.  The assistants to the president also did some training and role playing to lighten the mood.  The heat and humidity have been high and we tried to address moving forward in adversity by studying together talks by Sister Oscarson, Elder Renlund, and Elder Holland from conference in April.  If you want to check them out you can do so at this link: April 2016 General Conference

Terri spent some time teaching health related skills like drinking lots of water, keeping the shower area clean, etc.  This training will now go through these leaders to their zones and districts.
We are serving with exceptionally smart, spiritual, insightful young men and young women!  We had a great day with them.

We run pretty fast all week, but occasionally, we find a place to walk and relax for a moment.  Gratefully, there is a small park nearby to set for a moment!

During the week we had the opportunity to do some work with eight wonderful elders and sisters.  One of the activities was called 'sticker boarding'. A laminated piece of cardboard with five questions is held and people walking by are asked to put a sticker by the question most meaningful to them. Questions like, "What is the purpose for my life?"; "How does believing in Jesus Christ bless my life?"; "Does God communicate with us today?"; "Who is God?" are on the sticker board.  As they put a sticker on the board we provide a document that provides some information on that subject and an invitation to contact our missionaries if they have more questions.  By far the most common question was "What is the purpose for my life?".

Today, I had the opportunity to attend a wonderful ward in Incheon, a city in which I served in 1978.  There was a small ward with about 100 people in attendance on a good day at that time.  Today there are several wards with hundreds attending.  I had the opportunity to attend with the young Aaronic Priesthood holders and talk to them about the temple and preparing for missionary service.  What an energetic bunch of young men.  I thought for a moment I was back in my ward in Indiana!

We are busy doing the Lord's work.  I believe our lives are being most impacted, but we believe we have touched a few hearts.  We spend many hours in the car given Seoul traffic, but with GPS we can get around just fine.