Hi Mom, Dad, and everyone!

Happy late Mother's day! I really enjoyed talking to Mom, Dad, Chelsea, and Christopher on Sunday. It was great! Thank you so much for staying up to talk to me!

Today was a really good P-day! Sister Yoon and I went to the Bangojin area with the other sisters (Sisters Hadden and Culver), the Bangojin elders (Bocchino & Moore), Shinjeong elders (Jung Gi-hon & Wells), and the Hogye elders (Chae Jong-sok & Murray). In Bangojin, we took a bus out to an old elementary school that has been converted into a school museum/ reptile zoo. It was a lot of fun! We spent a couple hours playing with all the reptiles there. Get this- I let them put a huge python around my neck! We felt like we were little kids again- and I held and played with countless snakes, lizards, and turtles. Can you believe it? Conquering little fears- one at a time!

On Tuesday, Sister Yoon and I were excited to meet with Lee Jee-yae again- she is a less-active member in the Bangojin branch who has started coming to English class every Tuesday and now studies the gospel with Sister Yoon and I afterwards. She wants to study the Book of Mormon together from the beginning. We always have a really good time with her! This week we talked about Joseph Smith's testimony of the Book of Mormon and how the Lord helped him to prepare the way for the restoration of the Church. *If you haven't read it in a while, you should read Joseph Smith's testimony at the very beginning of the Book of Mormon (before 1 Nephi)- It's amazing! It really helps investigators and new members understand how exactly we got the Book of Mormon in the first place. We wanted to watch the Restoration video with Lee Jee-yae but ran out of time. Well, at least we have next week! We're really grateful that we have a standing appointment with her. She is so ready and willing to learn. It's the best!

On Wednesday, we had interviews with President Jennings, had a big lunch, and district meeting afterwards. It was a full day! Interviews went well- Sister Yoon is nervous because she probably has to go senior next transfer and she is just in her 2nd transfer right now! We don't want her to go- she and I just got here! But we'll see what happens in a couple of weeks. I really enjoyed talking to Sister Jennings and the other missionaries while President held interviews. She is funny and really intelligent- I always have to make a list about the books she talks about so I can read the later (she was a librarian).

Anyway, I have to go, but tell Brooke and Christopher congratulations on the ballet competition (Brooke) and Wizard of Oz callbacks (Christopher). That's awesome! I'm happy to hear that you and Dad went to a genealogy class at church. I want to work on genealogy when I get home and put the things I learned from my BYU genealogy class to use.
(uh...so long ago! Freshman year!) I talked to Kim Jung-jae, a sister in the Bangojin branch who is the Family History consultant for the Ulsan district. She told me that most Koreans have their family history dating back several generations (which is incredible!). The catch is that the history is recorded in hanja (Chinese characters), plus it's in cursive, so many people can't actually read their family histories. That's where people like Sister Kim Jung-jae come in! I thought that was interesting. Family is such an important part of Korean culture- and it's also the central part of our message as missionaries! It's perfect! I am so grateful to know that families can live together forever with Heavenly Father through temple ordinances. Now that I'm on my mission, I realize now that the family really is at the center of Heavenly Father's plan for us. We weren't sent to Earth alone- we were given parents, brothers and sisters, grandparents, all kinds of support for life-- that can extend into the eternities. So yes- I'm actually really excited about getting into genealogy with you when I get back, Mom! It will be fun!

I love you all so much!

Love,
Alyssa