Some say I got a lot of Seoul : Good Eater Charlie Brown

So there is a saying in Korean that literally translated is: You are a good eater. FYI there are good and bad eaters, and in Korea, you want to be a good one. Eating all of the food given to you is an especially important sign of respect. I have known this for a while. I didn't realize how this was done at buffets... I am so grateful we have members willing to feed us :) It is such a blessing. It was my first member meal, and I wanted to be sure to eat everything I could and because I don't really know how to speak Korean yet I finished my 2nd plate a little early and I saw someone getting dessert so I did the same. Well the host went for a 3rd plate. I was very impressed. haha then realized I had ended my meal to early, but didnt think that was a problem. Well The Sister said something to me in Korean, to which my companion translated, "Are you hungry Sister?" With a look that said to answer correctly. So I was like... "oh. Yes." and got up and got more food. I think I just got told I was hungry haha. That happened like 4 times. By the end of this meal I had had 4 plates of food and 4 helpings of ice cream. We were so full we were laughing a pained laugh, but it was so worth it to embrace the culture. Also it was pretty funny haha.

We had an appointment after that, which it is a korean custome to ALWAYS offer something to any guest that enters your house and she fed us too. My companion was like, "Sister Shaver, Now I KNOW you are a good eater!" Good thing we walk everywhere. haha

So this week the other things I was offered to eat included:

*Octipus: nope not a huge fan but when you think of it like chewy noodles it helps.

Pig intestines/liver: kinda dry but not bad. cow was better to me.

We can compare this to life. We might not get to choose what comes on our plate, but when we face it with a smile and love in our hearts we can make it through the things we thought we could never do :)

*So when I saw octipus I may have prayed in my mind that it would stay stationary, since they eat live octipus in Korea haha

Lost in Translation:

So apparently last week when I spoke iin church I told everyone I had 15 people in my family... oops. haha
So while practicing reading from this church book in Korean I misprounounced the word for shoes and swore one of the worst swear words in Korean... Sister Lee was like Sister Shaver! that's a swear word! oops...

Uplifting

If you can smile when things go wrong
And say it doesn't matter,
If you can laugh off cares and woe
And trouble makes you fatter,
If you can keep a cheerful face
When all around are blue,
Then have your head examined, bud,
There's something wrong with you.
For one thing I've arrived at:
There are no ands and buts,
A guy that's grinning all the time
Must be completely nuts.

By Rudyard Kipling

We will all have trials and right now mine is understanding everything and everyone around me. :) But it is okay. I finally have started treating this experience like the journey that it is.
One of the missionaries just kept laughing whenever they looked over my way. I thought I had somethingo on my face. Then more missionaries were chuckling. I finally asked what was so funny and one of the natives said, "You just look extra happy."

"Yep! I 'm confused, but I am happy! It is weird how those have been going hand in hand lately."
Smiling is really the best thing we can do when feeling down. It physiologically will help make us happy. Also, in my case it is really the only way to convey how happy I am and how appreciative I am, and how much I love the people I am serving since I really can't express myself yet. Although apparently I should take my joy down a knotch haha.

I am kinda like a baby; in a world where everyone speaks jibberish and expects a response. Luckily smiles are universal :)

I love what Elder Packer says in his talk, Things Every Missionary should Know.
"You have a to learn that you are unique. You are sons and duaghters of God you have powers and talents and capacities that no one else has."
If something doesnt come easy that's OK. Which can apply to anything. Maybe your testimony is something you reallly have to work at, or language learning is a challenge, or a relationship isn't going how you want. Maybe there is a dance move your struggling to pick up. Math, memorization whatever it is.

"You wil find that things that grow slower live longer. Look at the animal kingdom or plant kingdom.Things that mature quickly have very short lives. the mayfly is a good exaple. It is born grows to adult stage, mates, reproduces and dies before the day is over. Things that grow slowly live longer. You may grow more slowly in mind and spirit but you will learn and your learning will stay with you."

In conclusion, Smile and know that everything will come in its own time. Enjoy the jounrey. You only get to be where you are in that moment once. :)

SMILE!

Cheers!
Sister Shaver

Pictures!