Monday, October 19, 2009
Hi everyone! So this begins the last week of my 5th transfer!
Thanks for giving me the update on Jeni's family, Dad. Wow, the last time I saw Vivian she was a year old. I can't believe she is 3 now! I'm glad that things are going well in Jeni and Nate's family in San Diego. That's awesome that Nate is specializing in radiology- I bet he is really busy though! And I guess Peregrine Falcons are popular birds with the boys these days? I thought Jake and Christopher's argument about them was funny. I can see Chris working with animals when he grows up- he knows so much about them already!
By the way, We just had interviews with Pres. Jennings, and we all have a feeling that Sis. Musser is going to become senior and get transferred somewhere else. And then it will just be me and Sister Beckstead here in Daeshin/Goejong/Youngdo. If that happens, Sis. Beckstead will be sad to see Sis. Musser go- we love being the Three Amigos!
This week we had a fireside at the Daeshin branch church (the first LDS chapel in Busan!) honoring the longest-time member, Brother Yeong-Cheon Bae. He lives in the Haeoondae branch now (still in Busan, but Busan is HUGE), and is the sweetest man. He was also the president of the Seoul temple at one time. The only people invited to the fireside were people over the age 65 in the Busan stake and the missionaries to help run things. When we arrived to help out, as soon as the man in charge found out I could play the piano, he assigned me to practice a song they would all sing together and play the opening/closing hymns. The other missionaries worked on putting the dinner together. It was all thrown together in a couple of hours, but it managed to work out! When it was time to eat (before the presentation), the man in charge pulled me to the table in front of everyone to eat with Bro. Yeong-Cheon Bae and the other oldest members in the Busan stake. Talk about pressure! The other missionaries sat at another table in the back. It turned out well though- Brother Bae knows perfect English. Every time I asked him a question in Korean, he answered in English! He told me about how he met the missionaries (walking by the meetinghouse during priesthood meeting). He said he met with Pres. Hinckley when he came to Korea in 1966 to find a location for the first church building in Busan- the Daeshin branch that we were sitting in!
Later on, we watched a slideshow of pictures while Bro. Bae explained them. He has met many prophets and leaders of the church over the years when they came to Korea! (Lee, Kimball, Benson, Hinckley, Monson, Eyring). He has visited Salt Lake a few times as well. He is a very kind man and loves to sing. He even sang a few songs for everyone! The best part was when the entire room sang an old-time song together. I had to accompany it, but I had just seen the music for the first time an hour before. I tried my best, but the piano accompaniment doesn't go along with the voices and they weren't singing in the same key anyway! When we finally got through (I didn't do a great job), I was so relieved. But I was mortified when the man said we were going to sing it one more time because I hadn't had time to practice much! That time, I decided to just play the voice part and then it was okay. Oh my goodness. That was definitely an experience to remember! It was amazing to see the roots of the Church in Korea. It made me realize how important the missionary work we are doing right now is. Without the first 18 missionaries that came to Korea in the 50's (one which we met two weeks ago), the Church wouldn't even have a presence in Korea!
I love the people of Korea and want to serve them the best I can with help from the Lord.I love you all! Have a great week!