Hi everyone!

So this is crazy...it's almost the end of the transfer! We find out what is going on tomorrow- and it looks like Sister Yoon, my companion has to leave and be another sister's SENIOR companion! She is nervous about it, but I know she'll be great.
The big news this week is we have a new investigator!!! Her name is Do Ha-youn and she is a 10 year old girl in the Hogye branch. She has been coming to church every week with her older brother for 2 years, but hasn't been baptized or taught the lessons. Her older brother was taught and baptized by the missionaries a few years ago. We were happy to visit her yesterday, but were nervous about how to approach her mom about teaching her. It worked out great though! When we got there, her mom (not a member) sat us down and basically said, "My daughter wants to get baptized so you need to teach her!" Wow! Her mom is really straightforward. Sister Yoon and I were so surprised- little need for icebreakers! So we got right down to business and taught Ha-youn the first half of the first lesson. She's not the easiest to teach though! She wanted to know how exactly Christ was resurrected. When we explained why, she said "Yeah I know that. But HOW was He resurrected?" She talked about how she imagined someone just popping up from the ground. I don't know...it may be a little sacriligeous but it was so funny! I don't think she was satisfied with our reply to that...oh well! She also wanted to name all 12 of the original apostles and know who was the prophet following Adam, the first man on Earth (that would be Seth). And she even talked about the two men that were crucified with Christ on the hill. It turns out that she has been studying (no, I'd say absorbing!) a comic book-like version of the Bible. So she knows a lot now! Korea has all kinds of comic book-like books that explain things to kids that they might have no interest in otherwise (historical people, movements, etc.) I'm not one for comic books, but it seems like American kids could definitely benefit from that!
On Monday, we met a new less-active member Yu Hee-jeen, at a bead/jewelrymaking shop where she works. She was really nice and the cool thing is the next day we randomly saw her on the other side of the city at KFC near our house. Two completely different missionary areas! (Shinjung and Bangojin). We were really suprised to see her there...but then we remembered that real people, unlike missionaries, do not need to get permission to go from one area to another...and they can eat wherever they want! Shinjung and Bangojin are both in Ulsan, but Ulsan is the city with the most landmass in Korea. It's huge! Thus...the one hour commute it takes us to get to our areas.
On Tuesday, we were excited to meet with Lee Jee-yae, who has started studying the Book of Mormon with us each week. We hope to introduce her to Yu Hee-jin at the bead shop because they are both singles in the Bangojin branch without strong ties to the other members. I know it's hard to be single in America, but being a single member of the church in Korea in a small branch...is no fun at all! So many young people are either studying in America, in the army (men have to do 2 years of military service), studying somewhere else in Korea, or in Seoul! Or...sadly, less-active. The matchmaker within me wants to pair up all the singles I've met in different areas. But I'm not bold enough for that yet :)
I am sad to be in what might be my last week with Sister Yoon. We've learned a lot from each other over the past 5 weeks! I really am thankful to be serving here in Ulsan. We've had some wonderful experiences with the members and less-active members here. We're getting ready for a cookoff competition that the Hogye branch is having on Saturday. I'll let you know how that goes! I hope that Do Ha-youn's mom can come with her. That would be perfect! I am thankful for the blessings the Lord gives us and am so thankful for the knowledge of the gospel. I am grateful for our Savior. I know He lives, and that it is through his atoning sacrifice that we can live with Him and Heavenly Father again. I love Heavenly Father with all my heart and love all of you too! I love the people here in Korea. They are such kind people!

I have to go!

Love,
Alyssa