Hi Mom! (and Dad and everyone else!)

I'm sorry to hear that Sister Scott passed away. She and her husband both seemed genuinely kind and caring. Please send him my condolences.

As for this week, things are going well so far for Sister Alcazar and I in Ulsan. Unfortunately, Sister Alcazar hasn't been able to meet the people we usually meet every week, but I promised her that they do actually exist! She has been getting to know members in the ward though, so that is good. We visited Sister Kang Ji-yae on Monday (Sister Kang lives in the Hogye branch, which was her last area when she returned from the Busan mission last year!). Even though Sister Kang is just a year older than me, she seems so much more mature because she's married and is expecting a baby next month. She is always really helpful and updates us on less-active members that it would be good to visit. Her husband is really funny too. He makes fun of me because he says whenever he says a joke that I don't think is really funny, or if I don't know what to say, I kind-of half laugh. "hahahaha...ha." I realized that I do, as a matter of fact, do that. I don't know how to stop! Anway, they're a really fun couple.

On Tuesday, we met a member of the Bangojin branch that we hadn't been able to spend time with before. Sister Heo Hyo-gyung and her daughter Shin Sur-gi have been members of the Church for four years and have been close with the elders during that time. She is really kind and enthusiastic. I wish we could spend more time at the branch so we could get to know her and the other members better! It's hard because we attend one meeting of each branch each week, so some people we only see in going and passing. Sad day! There are some amazing people in our branches!

Yesterday, we had zone conference in Daegu. My companion Sister Alcalzar had to give her intro talk as a new greenie, and I had to give my farewell talk to the missionaries because it's my last transfer. Sister Hadden, my MTC companion that I now live with (!), and Elder Matsuura and Elder Voorhies also gave their last talks. I haven't served around the elders, which is funny because Elder Matsuura was my zone leader for 3 transfers when I was serving on Jeju-do, and I didn't meet him until a month and a half ago! It was a really good zone conference. I always appreciate hearing from President Jennings. He talked about how obedience and diligence bolster us in order to be able to accomplish the Lord's work in His own way.
Elder Brown, the area medical advisor, and Elder Gibson, the area mental health advisor, also spoke to us about staying physically and emotionally healthy. I especially appreciated Elder Gibson's talk because he talked about overcoming discouragement. He gave some really good insight into a problem that I think afflicts us all at one time or another (and not usually just once!). Elder Gibson talked about overcoming discouragement from a psychologist's point of view, but in the realm of the gospel. It's amazing because we can overcome anything if we follow the principles of the gospel!

I am so grateful to be serving here in Ulsan. I can't say that enough. I know this is the Lord's work. I know that Heavenly Father provided a way for us through the Atonement in order to live with Him again. He loves us SO MUCH! We can't comprehend how much that love extends. We are capable of doing anything if we try our best to live according to His will. I know that as we try to develop the same love for others that Christ has for us, we will grow so much beyond what we can imagine. It's an eternal, lifelong process. I have a long way to go! But I love the people here in Korea. I love my branches, the members we work with, our investigator, potential investigators. I know we are all beloved, divine creations of our Heavenly Father. Each one of us has great worth, and He wants to see each one of His children return to Him someday. I know that no matter what happens, He still loves us. He wants us to make righteous choices, but He has provided repentance as a way for us to overcome our human fallacies. We are all imperfect, but as we work each day, we can progress so much and come closer to the Savior! I know that it is my purpose as a missionary to invite the people of Korea unto Christ so they can partake of the same blessings that I have, well, basically been given. It's not easy by any means, but no one ever said it would be easy, they just said it would be worth it!

I love you all! Please have a wonderful week and remember that no matter what, there is always at least one person, Heavenly Father, who loves you. Better yet, there are probably a ton of people who love you! And how can we show our appreciation for receiving all this love? By showing it right back...plus more!

Love you!

Love,
Alyssa