No Longer a Greeny? Mar. 9th

Dear Family,

I'm super happy right now:) I have the best family and friends! Thanks everyone for all you do for me:)

One thing I've learned this week is that Satan is the worst and I'm super glad I'm not working on his team. That probably sounds really weird to say, but I can just see him working SO hard on some of my investigators and it breaks my heart, but I KNOW that Heavenly Father always wins:):) That's the best news of all! Anyway. I'll explain more of that in a minute.

First of all that NY Times article was.... interesting. I didn't think it was very positive or put the church in very good light, and for that i'm really glad they didn't quote me and twist anything I said. Idk. Maybe for people who aren't on full time missions it wasn't quite as negative, but really i think they made us sound really weird, and like we go on missions as precursors to our careers. Let's be clear. That is NOT why I'm on a mission. That's a dumb reason to come on a mission. I'm here because the Lord told me where He wanted me, and I love Him enough and have enough faith in Him and His plan of salvation to do it. And I think for the most part that's why people come on missions. If it wasn't for that, I know I wouldn't still be here. Being home would be a lot easier, but I'm grateful every single day to be here. :)

Also. This is pretty big, but officially today, I'm no longer a greeny! WEIRD huh?! Yup. I definitely still feel like a new missionary, so it's kind of sad to loose the title haha. But it's good. I'm stressing a little bit about what heavenly father has in store for me this next transfer, because change has been super hard for me so far on the mission, but I guess that's the point of everything here. We do hard things to learn that we can, through the Lord:)

Yesterday, I saw the first baptism on my mission. The office elders baptized a lady who is SO sweet. I love her. But it was incredible to see how much she's been blessed by the gospel already. The whole time all I could think of was how happy Ho Sunhee and her family will be when they can make that step. Speaking of Ho Sunhee though, that's where I'm really seeing Satan attack. She's SO busy all the time. Her kids just started school and they have crazy schedules so she's running around all day with her kids and then moving on top of that. But she still makes sacrifices to meet with us:) I love her. She is so open with us about her schedule and how she is feeling. I really appreciate that, because even when she thinks things are hard or she can't do something, she tells us, and then lets us help her work through those problems. Last week we met with her, and she didn't have a lot of time, but she came and talked about the book of mormon with us and word of wisdom. She says the word of wisdom is easy for her, but not for her husband. Korea has a BIG problem with drinking. It's not a social thing like it is in America (well I'm sure it is also that). Here people drink in their businesses to show that they trust each other. If you won't drink with someone, that means you won't do business with them/ you aren't friends. So nearly everyone I have met hates drinking, but they have to do it because that's office culture, and respecting your superiors is HUGE here. Like. Huge. If your boss tells you to drink, you drink. So that's super frustrating. But Ho Sunhee is willing to try it and really support her husband in finding a way to live the word of wisdom. Also, a few weeks ago their whole family came to church and the ward was SUPER welcoming. Apparently a little too welcoming because he felt really weird about it, and he stopped meeting with the APs apparently for a couple weeks. It's weird because her husband never told the AP's that, but she told us. She's so open! It's seriously a blessing, because without that, we would never know how to help people. I'm so glad she feels comfortable with us, and will voice her questions and concerns. We have ended up dropping her baptismal date, but she says she really really still wants to get baptized. She's going to pray about a date and hopefully when she figures out her schedule a little better and the whole moving thing she'll feel more comfortable about the situation. But yeah. I love her so so so much. Whenever I think about her I get the BEST feeling in the whole world. She's my best friend. Haha. She's an incredible mom, and I have learned more from her the past several weeks than is even reasonable. Ha. Why does Heavenly Father bless me so much? I just don't know. But I'm glad:) I just wish I could bottle this feeling for you all. It's so wonderful!

Also. Miran is doing great! She is really really getting a testimony of the book of mormon in her life. Last week she taught us about 1 Ne 3:7 (I will and go and do) for like 10 minutes. It was incredible, because we could have taught her about that, but instead she told us why she loved that verse and what it means in her life. I was so happy. When investigators teach you why the book of mormon is important, that's when the spirit really starts talking. She also feels like we are the angels in her life, and she doesn't want to reject what we say, like Laman and Lemuel. She wants to be like Nephi! It's so wonderful!

ALSO. WE GET TO MEET WITH MONICA THIS NEXT WEEK:) So happy! She finally has time again now that her kids have gotten back to school. So thursday should be a great day:)

Also, I like kimchee. It's official. So I'm getting closer to being Korean:) haha I almost would say I love it, but if I eat tons of it, then the spiciness gets to me. haha. I'm sure I'll get there soon though. oh yeah. And I forgot to tell you but i had octopus the other week. It wasn't bad, but I like squid much better. haha. I'm getting so weird.

Anyway, i hope you have a wonderful week! I will attatch some pics too. A lady in our ward told us her conversion story this week and it was so awesome. I wrote it in my journal and then took pics so you all could read that:) haha enjoy your peek in my journal! Hopefully it makes sense... my english has gotten weird I think....

LOVE YOU ALL:):)

Sister Hunter

NY Times

Sister Hunter is in the News!! 

Read about sister missionaries in South Korea and women's role in the LDS church from the view of NY Times Reporters Jodi Kantor and Laurie Goodstein.

 http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/02/us/a-growing-role-for-mormon-women.html?hpw&rref=us&_r=2

The weirdest week of my whole life...Feb. 23rd

Dear family,

This week has been the strangest of my whole life. I don't have time to tell you everything, but maybe when I get home ask me about week 19... haha. A quick review of the weirdness though-- If you remember from 3 weeks ago, there was a Chinese man I met that started talking to me that we wanted to refer to the Elders.. Well. It turns out he's not interested in the gospel. Ha. He called us 10 times that first week, even though my companion only picked up the first time. He REALLY wants to help me learn Korean. Anyway, so he stopped calling for a while, but then last Monday he called and asked if he could call everyday and help me with Korean (because he lives pretty far away). She said no. haha. And then he declared his love for me to my companion. And then she hung up on him. We were pretty sure she broke his heart, but he just keeps calling, so I guess not. He's really nice, and his Korean is awesome even though it's his second language, so if he didn't 'love' me and I weren't a missionary, it'd be a pretty great way to learn Korean, but oh well. I think we'll have to block his number, because he doesn't even pick up for the Elder's anymore.  But yeah. I'm just glad he lives an hour away! haha.

Some Korean Elders. They are hilarious!

Weird thing number two is the Ester came to church! I was so excited when she called and said she was finally going to come to church. She brought a friend though, and well...this is the part I really can't explain well over email, so I'll just have to tell you when I get home next April haha. But yeah. It was kind of a nightmare. But it's super funny now that I look back on it. But Ester was great. I'm glad she came. She's getting a lot better at exercising her faith and she's really progressing more.

This last week, we got to go to the temple again, which made me SO happy. The temple is incredible, and I gain so much strength from it. I'm definitely grateful we get to go each transfer, but I miss going more often. I will send some photos of our temple trip though:) I was super glad because after we went to lunch with some of my favorite missionaries, so that was super fun.

Yesterday was a pretty great day too (minus the part with Ester's weird friend haha)! The young women had their New Beginnings, and they invited us. It was wonderful. It's super cool, because I still don't understand much of what is happening around me, but the spirit was SO strong in that meeting. It made me really look back and remember my time in young women's. YW was probably my favorite time. It was the time I truly gained a testimony of the church and really decided who I wanted to be in this life. Young women are some of my very favorite people in the church for that reason. They really have to start deciding who they want to be, and if they can recognize that they are beautiful daughters of God, then wow. Amazing things will happen and continue to happen the rest of their lives. Thank you every one who influenced me at that time of my life, particularly my family, Mom and Dad, and my YW Leaders. You were vital in my conversion to the gospel:) Thanks everyone! I"m also SUPER excited for Emily to start Young Women's soon:) SO exciting!!

This week I've been studying about Alma and Ammon, and their INCREDIBLE missionary service. I've been particularly touched by Ammon's example of service. But I also love how excited they both get about the gospel and sharing it and the miracles they see. I've always loved those stories, but they ring particularly true as a missionary myself. The other day, we were talking and studying about how to help some less actives in our ward. As I read about Alma in chapter 31 of Alma, and how he sees these people that have really gone astray and lost what they once had, he really, and I mean REALLY, prays for them. He tenderly pleads for them because their souls are PRECIOUS. It's incredible. Alma truly understands who these people are- children of a loving Heavenly Father. He wants SO badly for them to understand that and come back to him. The sincerity of his prayer and the actions he takes are in stark contrast to the memorized prayer of the Zoramites. Such a good example. So yeah. I hope we can remember that with the people we work with each day. Everyone is a child of God, and He loves them perfectly. Just be patient with them and pray in faith for them to remember Him again.

Chae Urie and I

One less active we are really working with is Chae Urie, which I have talked about before. She's SO cute! I love her. She was baptized 10 years ago, but fell away very soon after that, and spent her teens out of the church. Her family aren't members, which makes it hard for her. But she's amazing. She's at church every week, and we are reteaching her, because she doesn't know much of anything as far as the gospel goes. She has really been wondering about the Gift of the Holy Ghost lately, and I've just realized what a HUGE blessing it is to have that. But yeah. Although she's already baptized I kind of consider her my first convert on my mission. I am just so happy to see her become converted to the Lord. She's not there quite yet, but she definitely has the desire. I love her soooooo  much!

some cupcakes we made for her (funfetti)

Ho Sunhee is great. I think we may end up postponing her baptism though, just because with her moving we can only meet once a week instead of twice, and we want her testimony of the Book of Mormon to be really solid before she gets baptized. But I'll tell you more details about that next week when we make a decision. Miran is still progressing and she tells us how excited she gets when she meets with us. I can really see the light of Christ entering her life:) I love her!

This week we had a member come to one of our lessons and then afterward she bought us dinner (the most amazing food ever!!) but she was telling me that she lived in McLean Virginia about 4 years ago, and she was in the McLean 2nd ward. Is that Jennifer's ward?? I'm not sure. But it was pretty crazy to think that of all the places in the world she's lived it's by Jennifer and now in the ward I'm serving in in Korea. Her name is Chway Young Sheme... I"m not sure if Jenny would remember her or even if that's her ward, but she said Jennifer's name sounded familiar. Anyway. She's amazing.

So yeah. That's life here is Korea. ALWAYS and adventure:) I'm SO grateful to be here serving the Lord, even though I certainly don't feel like I'm good enough to be here, but oh well. I guess Heavenly Father is used to me being imperfect. But I love you all and am so grateful for all of you!! Have a wonderful week! Make it great and don't forget to smile!!:) Also, send more pictures. I want so see everyone again:)

Love,

Sister Hunter

Recipe Book Feb. 23rd

Okay, well I haven't tried the Bisquick, but the syrup is amazing. We don't have maple syrup in Korea, so this is a wonderful sub. Best on German pancakes, or french toast in my opinion.:) Enjoy! And forward to Jennifer. I don't have her email address....

4 Months as a Missionary, Feb.16th

Dear Family,

Well. It's official. I've been a missionary for 4 months now. Crazy. Time moves pretty quick, right? I'm having a lot of fun here in Korea. I've eaten some weird things recently, which I think I keep forgetting to tell you about. There is this dish that I've eaten a few times that always brings me back to 9th grade biology and dissecting frogs. Gross. there are these frog leg looking things that taste just like I would expect a frog leg to taste like. My companion says it's not though. But I"m not sure I can trust her when it comes to food... haha. Also. We went out to this restaurant and ordered pork fried rice. When they brought the plate out, the food was moving........ that was pretty weird! They had this squid skin stuff on top that moves. I think that the next time we go there I'm going to be tacky and take a video of it. It was just too weird. But surprisingly delicious! Speaking of squid. They really like the combination of squid and peanut butter here. This last week I had some Peanut Butter Squid Balls. They are kind of like whoppers, but with peanut butter and squid. It was weird. But anyway, on to the spiritual things!

Ok. So, this week we had another really wonderful lesson with Miran! She is doing so well. We were talking a lot about prayer and faith and she said everything we tell her, her mom taught her when she was little, she just forgot it. But she said that when she is really stressed out and lost, she prays and just pours her heart to God, and she tells him that because she doesn't know what He wants her to be she will just give her life to God, and let Him lead her. It was the most humble thing I've heard someone say. She's so teachable and ready for the gospel, she just doesn't know it. When she said that though I almost started crying, it was so beautiful. What if we all had that same attitude? What if we could just let go of all of our desires and selfish wants, and just turn our lives over to the Lord. He truly knows us better and knows what He wants us to be. It reminded me a lot of Hugh B Brown's talk about God being the gardener. I'm SO grateful God loves us enough to cut us down sometimes. I feel like he does that nearly every day here in Korea. Things will never be easy, but as we rely on the Lord, things will work out for the better.

I've been experiencing that a lot this week. I've been pretty down on myself for not being better about talking to everyone I come into contact with. It's difficult, but I also just feel like I'm not good at inviting people to come to Christ when I talk to them on the street, and therefore not really fulfilling my purpose. Yesterday though, after taking the sacrament I just made a commitment with God that I would do my best. Because of that, yesterday was awesome, because I felt a real connection with God as I talked with people on the street and I had much more meaningful conversations with people. I think they could tell that I was truly interested in them and wanted them to be happy (even though I can't understand most of what they say to me). It was an incredible experience. I can't really describe it. But I loved it. It's incredible the people God puts in my path each day, and the experiences God gives us when we trust in Him and promise to do our best. Thinking about how hard things are won't help us. Just learning to have faith is what matters. I think God frequently gives us trials that we know we can't do by ourselves, so we know that with Him we can. That's just such a powerful thought.

The update on Ho Sunhee is that her husband's baptismal date was pushed back to March 8th as well, so that's the same as hers. She is moving to a super busy part of town, because her family is pressuring her to do it. She is VERY stressed about it, and I hope Satan doesn't use that as an excuse to stop meeting with us for a while/postpone her baptism. Satan is the worst. But hopefully she can feel peace when we teach her tomorrow and know that this is the right thing to keep doing.

Love,

Sister Hunter

PS. Michelle asked if I live in the city. Yes. Very much so. It's  VERY city like here. Tons of people and cars and taxis and the subway and all the fun things. I"ll send a few pics maybe.

Also, Tell Paul I legitimately ate stinky ginko fruit on Sunday. It was our linger longer meal! haha. pretty tasty:)

More pics. and a cute origami strawberry with chocolate inside

Perspective Feb.9th

Dear family:)

 

This week has been really great! I've gained some good perspective at how far I've come the past 4 months, and how far I still need to go.

 

On Tuesday, Sister Knox and I went with President and Sister Morrise to pick up the new missionaries from the airport! Yes, there are missionaries newer than me (apparently). But yeah. It was super nice to talk to them on the way to the airport, and see a lot more of Korea than I normally do. Korea is absolutely beautiful. It has mountains and lakes and those are beautiful, but also it has TONS of skyscrappers and bridges and those are breathtaking. It's a good mix of everything. But yeah. That was really beautiful. And president and sister morrise are hilarious. I love them. When we got to the airport, President Morrise got some fries at McDonalds and then helped me with Korean, which was awesome! I'm not sure I've ever had a more productive language study. When the new missionaries finally arrived, it was really fun to see them again. We were only together in the MTC for a week and a half, but a friendly face is always welcome on the mission. The sisters especially were really great to see. Anyway, then we took the 2 hour long subway ride back to the mission home with the new missionaries. It was so cool to see them talk to people and give out book of mormons and share their testimonies. It brought back lots of great memories from my first night in Korea. it was cool to see how much Korean I have learned since I got to Korea, and a wake up call on how much grammar I've forgotten;) But I was most happy to know that I'm TONS better at understanding people than I used to be, and better than I thought for sure. (I hope this doesn't sound like I"m comparing myself to other missionaires. I'm not. Just remembering how I was at first). But yeah. Seeing the faith of those new missionaries was pretty inspiring, and definitely a spiritual experience. I hope I get to do that often. New missionaries are my new favorite thing... even though I still am one. They are awesome though.

 

Another good perspective experience was that some missionaries left this week, and since I am at the mission home I get to see them right before they go for a few days. It's cool to hear their perspecives after finishing their missions. I have SOOOO much more to learn and do before I leave, but it's starting to hit me how little time I really have here in Korea.  I really need to do better and work harder and use the atonement more. 

 

Also, after one of our lessons, we were headed home to eat dinner, when we saw a white couple looking pretty confused. We stopped to see if we could help them, and then they revealed that they were coming to pick up their son from his mission, and were trying to find the church and a good restraunt for dinner. We helped them, and they bought us dinner, which was super nice of them. I was shocked to see how much I really can understand and read. The Lord has been helping me so much. I think sometimes I forget that and get frustrated with my slow progress, but honestly the Lord is blessing me much more than I realized. I think that's just life. So if ever you are overwhelmed or frustrated, just remember that the Lord really is there helping you, and if you could see where you were before this trial, or experience, you would be so grateful for what you have now. Don't take things for granted. I'm definitely going to try to be more grateful for trials and for the little things.

 

A awesome thing about this week is that Ho Sunhee's whole family came to church this week! Her kids were sick, so we couldn't meet with her on thursday, but she came to church and said she really liked it! She's so wonderful! I love her.

 

We also had an awesome lesson with our new investigator Oh Meerahn (which I will spell Miran from now on, but that's how its pronounced.) Miran is catholic and like 27 maybe and was originally only interested in our english program, but we ended up having an AWESOME gospel discussion last time. She said that she thinks God has sent us to her. Ha. She's right. But also, I know that Heavenly Father has sent her to us. I learn so much from my investigators. It's wonderful to see people change from the truths of the gospel. But she said she really wants to read the Book of Mormon, because right now that things we are telling her are just a story. She wants to gain a testimony of it for herself. She's so open with us about her relationship with God, and she really wants to improve her relationship with him. She's awesome. I think she will be baptised if she keeps reading the book of mormon and trying to understand what we teach like she has been. It'll take time, but I really love her and hope she can make that progress.

 

Finally, I just want to say how powerful the Book of Mormon is. It's incredible. I've been reading about Ammon this week, and wow. He's my favorite. His example is really really helping me every single day. I don't know how, but somehow every time I open the Book of Mormon, the Lord speaks to my heart and teaches me exactly what I needed to hear that day. It's amazing. I hope everyone is reading the book of mormon every day, because I truly have a testimony that it is true. It brings joy to my heart and peace to my life every day. I sometimes (every day) wish that I could just spend the whole day reading the book of mormon. It's the BEST book!

 

Anyway, I hope Stephen has a great birthday, and Alex too:) Have a great week everyone! The church is TRUE!!

 

Love,

Sister Hunter

 

ps. Dad, did you say you knew some Empey's in Idaho Falls? There's an Elder Empey here from idaho falls... one of the new missionaries... thought you might know his family.

March 8th:) Feb. 3rd

Dear Family,

I am so happy today. It's been a tough week, but also the best week ever!!!! AH. So happy! I'm trying to think where to even begin. I'll just start with the best news. :)

So. On Tuesday, we were going to invite Ho Sonhee to be baptized on a specific date. But I was on an exchange, and then she canceled because she was doing service (who cancels because they are doing service?? People the Lord prepares for the gospel. That's who.) Anyway, I was secretly glad she canceled. But then on Wednesday I was praying about a date to invite her to be baptized on, and I prayed about March 8th, and almost started crying. It was incredible. My companion had a similar experience. So we went with that. On Thursday, we met with her and before we even really started, she started telling us about how she thinks about being baptized a little bit every day. We were super happy about that. And then she said, "I want to be baptized in May I think." We were still happy, but asked her why she wanted to wait until May. She said she didn't really know. But then she shared with us that she prayed about the things we have been teaching her, and she didn't get an answer, but that she felt really happy and she felt the spirit. And she said she has been SO happy since we started meeting. So yeah. She's awesome. She recognizes the spirit, and she's praying about this, and wants to be baptized, and keeps all of her commitments.  Anyway, so we explained to her that we don't always hear an audible answer from God, but that a feeling of happiness and peace is an answer through the spirit (Galatians 5). She understood that. Then we told her that we had prayed about it, and were going to invite her to be baptized on March 8th instead of May. She thought about it for a second and then said, "Ok. That's a good idea! My son will start Kindergarten that week and will become a new man. If I get baptized then I will become a new woman that week too!" It was SO cute. I love her. Anyway, so she accepted that date and said, "We have a lot of work to do. I need to learn a lot." I'm so happy. The Lord has prepared her and her family so much! The spirit was so strong. And then, she asked about the Book of Mormon more, because she wants to know that it's true, so we talked about that. And we went over the family proclamation to the world, which she read. She said her husband and her talked about it and they loved it. She thinks it's perfect. So yeah. I just feel the spirit so strongly every time we meet with her, and she is so open and accepting. I know that the Lord placed her here because He loves her, and wants her to receive His gospel. She has such a strong desire to know for herself, and she really relies on the spirit to teach her. It's incredible.

Last night, I was pondering more on her and what a blessing she has been in my life so far. She teaches me more than I teach her I think. Anyway. I was pondering on it, and I thought about her and her family being sealed in the temple. It was the most beautiful thought. Then it occurred to me that if the rules are still the same, then she could possibly get sealed in 1 year, which I would still barely be here for. That's probably the most exciting thing ever, because that's the ultimate goal. We want people to be happy together in their families forever. I love her so much, and want nothing more for her. I hope and pray that she will have that desire and continue to work towards that goal after she is baptized. But yeah. Just thinking about that I realized how much Heavenly Father truly loves her and all of His children. It's incredible. I just know this gospel is true, and I'm SO grateful for the chance I have to be a missionary.

In other news, miracles just keep happening. Today has been really funny and full of miracles. Yesterday, a lady came to church and asked us for a President's of the Church manual. She wasn't a member, so I thought that was pretty weird.We invited her to sacrament meeting and she came in and sat by me. I tried talk to her, but well.... Korean is still not my forte. But she left after the meeting, without me getting a chance to ask her anything else. But then today, she called us and said, "Hi, When can I get baptized." UHHHHH. What? Where are these people coming from? She doesn't actually live in our area though, so we referred her to another set of Sister Missionaries. But yeah. Miracle! Also today, Sister knox had to renew her papers to be here legally since she's been here a year now. That was super stressful, but while I was sitting there waiting for that mess to be over I talked to this lady about her cute kid, except she didn't speak Korean, so that was embarrassing haha. She's Chinese. We basically communicated in our broken Korean for a few minutes, and then stopped because we exhausted our Korean skills. But then, this 30 year old guy sits next to me and starts talking to me in Chinese. It was hilarious. I have no idea why he thought I knew Chinese, but I don't. haha. He was trying to write some characters out for me, but obviously that didn't help. So then he started speaking to me in Korean, which was only a little more helpful. But he told me he wanted to add me on the Korean equivalent of Facebook. I then told him I was a missionary. He said ok, but later let's be friends. He gave me his number and told me he really wanted to help me with my Korean. I gave him my card and he said he'd call me. And then he declared that we were friends. haha it was so funny. But yeah. Hopefully we can meet with him with the Elders and he'll start the lessons. Also, I was sitting on the Subway this morning and my companion got really nauseous and so I let her sit down. After standing up this guy looked at my name tag and was like, "Are you Mormon? I used to take the lessons 3years ago.' So yeah. That's another miracle! I think he's going to come to our English class and hopefully take the lessons again. I'm not sure why he stopped, but he said he liked meeting with the missionaries. Anyway, lots of miracles every day. I love seeing them. And trying to speak Korean. Haha. It's hard, but always an adventure:)

Anyway, I love you all! I hope this week is wonderful! Thanks for all your love and support:):)

Love,

Sister Hunter