Simple and Sweet...

So Ponderizing!!! It's the best!
This last week was Alma 5:14-16

14 And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?

 15 Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?

 16 I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth?

I was thinking about this vs today and this past week and I was reminded of "My Fair Lady" where she is like, "Show me! Sing me no songs tell me no rhymes show me" Do we really act like we believe what we preach?  Have we experienced that mighty change of heart?  Is our hope strong enough to weather the storms of this life because of the eternal perspective we have?  Faith means you will act, and therefore have works.  If you have faith that your friend will visit you for dinner, you prepare a dinner.  What kind of friend would we be if we just said, "Well, I knew you were coming, isn't that enough?"  It also kind of reminds me of the story of the ten virgins. All knew the Bridegroom was coming, but it was only those that daily prepared to meet Him and put in the extra effort to bring more oil that were allowed to enter. Let's come unto Christ through doing what He would have us do-Today and Every day.

Progress

So I got to visit my first area yesterday! I love Ilsan. :) I love the people I love the area. It is just amazing.  I got to see some old friends, and it was so nice to talk to them and to REALLY be able to talk to them.  I feel like that experience really gave me perspective of how far I have actually come in the language, and the surprise on their face when I understood what they were telling me haha.  The YW there are the sweetest!! They're Christ like love is such a great example to me of how I show be better about loving people :) I am so grateful for the opportunity to have served there. :)

Just trying to be adorable.... I dont think it worked...

and I'm a Mormon....

Cool Places all around!!!

The man next to me is really famous! Robert Holley.  Go YouTube him!!! you will find some very amusing commercials. haha :)

I found my twin...

Temple workers!!! They are sooooooo amazing!!! :D

this is our street boarding activity! It is awesome :)

those are all questions and people put sticks on their favorite questions and we talk about it :)

Don't let fear of greatness prevent you from becoming great!

OCTOBER 18, 2015

Quotes
"The more you learn, the more you realize you don't know anything" Former Mission President on Korean

Harmonica Concert
So this week we went to a Harmonica concert with permission from president of course.  It was really cool! They had a lot of Korean cultural performances too.  and the member we went to support won!!! BEST HARMONICA PLAYING I HAVE EVER SEEN!! :D

KIDS!
So we were making Halloween decorations with the kids and I realized that I need a child's brain again.  They are so creative!!! Oh and I drew a "ghost" the quotes are because it really didn't look like anything. in embarrassment i tried to hide it but the kids already saw... and one of them in Korean was like "aw its okay its okay" in a joking tone.... haha so drawing isn't my gift... haha  But the younger kids made really cool decorations. like this pumpkin was eating a ghost! I was impressed. I wouldn't have thought to do that.  Anyways it was fun :)

My least Favorite scripture......
Now some of you might be like... "uh Sister Shaver... are you allowed to have a least favorite scripture?"  to which I respond, "mmmm I don't know but this one is just painful...."
In addition to the Bible the Book of Mormon we also hold two other books as scripture and one of those is the Doctrine and Covenants, which is where this verse resides.
Doctrine and Covenants 9:11
"Behold, it was expedient when you commenced; but you feared, and the time is past, and it is not expedient now;"
The background to this is important. Oliver Cowdery was seeking the gift of translation, but he just couldn't seem to figure it out, and because of fear was unable to obtain the gift.  but by the time he goes and asks the Lord for help, it is too late, It is no longer necessary for him to have this gift.

This scripture is my least favorite cause if I liken this scripture to myself it is incredibly painful!  I never want to see an opportunity in the rear-view mirror that I missed and wanted because I feared to take the opportunity.  Moral of the story is don't end your Day wishing you had done something different.  Don't let fear of greatness prevent you from becoming great!  People always say don't let fear of failing stop you, but a lot of people including me also fear success itself... Once you succeed it is expected that you will succeed again. and then there is pressure to continue.  Don't let fear of Success prevent you from Succeeding. :)  Allow the Atonement to heal all fears and doubts as you exercise Faith in Him, Jesus Christ, who can help us do all things for Him.

Love,
Sister Shaver

Lunch

 

Mission President

Chestnuts Roasting on an open.... flame?

On the Menu.

So this section has been uneventful lately except for:

chicken feet...... I mean I should have saw this coming since they are sold at every Asian food store ever..... but.... ya... well.. I ate it.  I feel it was really more psychologically difficult than actually gross.. the tiny bones though were not my favorite.  The small feet weren't that bad though ;)  Totally learning how to make them.

Chestnuts Roasting on an open.... flame?

My poor companion probably thinks I am nuts--No pun intended.  I turned on Christmas music and started roasting chestnuts over our oven on a chopstick.  She pretty much fell to the flooor laughing. but really I have never had a roasted chestnut. And it is after thanksgiving (in Korea) so Christmas songs are completely appropriate.


Yep that would happen you you......

So we have this map. Its a map, it's a map, it's a map, it's a map, it's a map, it's a map, its a MAP!!! (Dora days are not forgotten) but really though.... Its a massive map of our area, which is REALLY handy. the problem is.... wallpaper. We have wallpaper covering up the cement that is our walls...... and NOTHING sticks to this wallpaper. Its like trying to stick tape to ice.  The evidence of previous sisters efforts mark the poor map with holes, where pins and all manner of tapes were used to hold this mighty guide in place. but alas it was all for not as it continued to fall to the floor.
BUT I AM AN ENGINEER!!!  Surely a graduate engineer is equal to such a task.  With the resources we had it was determined that laminating the map to the wall would be the next step in securing the map.  AND IT WORK!!!!! :D :D I was feeling mighty clever.  Until said cleverness came crashing down on my face at approximately 3 am.... I was less than amused... Counsel with the Lord in all the doings -even in hanging maps on the wall. tbc...


Korean trash is really highway robbery... anyway we poor Americans tried our hand again at taking out the trash..... when you live in an apartment complex you have to separate your trash into about 10 different kinds of trash. I will spare you the details. but there are different sections for different plastics. and you have to by special trash bags... and all food has to be put into a special food trash thing and until you put it in that thing outside, you keep it in your freezer... that is always a gross day.......

ANYWAY, we were taking out the trash, and apparently there is another type of trash we didn't know existed. clothes trash. so make that 11 different kinds for those keeping track.  I assumed it was regular trash and put our bags of reg trash by the clothes trash... our Security guard friend was not very happy about this.......... We do feel really bad. We don't mean to be trash stupid.... there is no real guide to these things..... Also that has to be the worst job ever sitting there and watching people sort their trash...  So in an effort to well repent of our trash mishap we brought him down some banana bread we had made.  I think he was the happiest grandpa in all of Korea by the look of the smile on his face when we gave him bread.  In fact he was probably the happiest man in the whole world by how big his smile was. :) Its the little things everyone! It really brightened my day. :)


Conference!!!
 I learned so much from conference, I really won't be able to tell you even a fraction of what I experienced and learned!  I went in with 6 questions. I will only give 2 :)
Why am I in Korea specifically?
How can I be a better teacher?

In short it will probably take me a life time to discover the full answer the first one. but I believe I was sent to Korea to find answers to the other 5 questions.   I need to be a better teacher and to be a better teacher I learned from the spirit I need to simplify.  No one can learn it all at once!  And I need to learn this principle now, not just because I want to teach doctors professionally, but because I want my children to have a solid foundation where it matters most.  I need to teach through stories that are relatable, and I even had examples of analogies that Koreans will easily be able to relate too.

One of my favorite quotes was "When you can't do what you have always done, you do what matters most."  That has been SO true for me as I have served my mission, or how I dealt with my accident. Not that I don't enjoy dancing or horseback riding I will still enjoy those when I get home but I am learning to focus on what is most important and laying a foundation for what I need to be a successful daughter of God.

I learned so much about myself just from 10 hours of listening to inspired men.  I know that these men are called of God.  I know that we can learn this to be true for ourselves as we listen to their words and pray and actively seek to know.  If you want to know what they are saying is true you have to try it out.  There is know other way.

My favorite talks: All by President Utchdorf, (womens session included), Elder Foster, Elder Nelson, Elder Durrant, Elder Bednar, Elder Holland, President Monsen.

Elder Holland gave a shout out to mothers, and I am so grateful for my mother and her selfless service to me and to so many others :)  She came up with Ponderizing (reffer to Elder Durrant) and told me to do it while I was in the MTC. She is amazing :)  Love you Momma!!!

Under Attack

On the Menu

Sweet potatoes on pizza(actually pretty good I will start a chain when i get back)
okay now go look at the picture of the Korean food.  Everytime we have eaten at this restraunt I have done something awkward.... not on purpose.... So that pot is full of this buckwheat broth and the first time I saw it I thought we were suppose to drink it......... WELL I WAS WRONG... and my Korean friend gave me a confused look but didnt say anything and then the waitor came and gave us a new pot and new bowls .... cause apparently thoughs are for the food(see picture).  It is actually for the rice bowl. after you get all the rice you can out of it you use to the broth to make a rice soup thing.  BUT I am Korean culture challenged sometimes...... and pour wayyyy too much in... cause ... well it was suppose to be a soup... anyways... we got a good laugh...well they got a good laugh... hahaha

Under Attack

Alright sooooo this MASSIVE hornet wasp thing(see picture below) flew into our apartment!!! IT WAS HUGE!!! I think it should pay rent for the time it spends in our house....  It hid in the light for a while, but Sister Cameron was convinced it was going to kill us in our sleep, soooo I found a container and managed to catch it on the ceiling, paper wasn't going to contain that thing so we decided to slide the cutting board underneath it.... Anyway. true story.  There was some screaming involved...... okay.... a lot of screaming......but we are safe haha.

Mascots

I totally shared the gospel to someone in a mascot costume the other day. It's a memory I will cherish forever. It was this big blue cat.  Sharing the gospel doesn't have to be boring.

Learning...

Humility? The question mark is there because it seems to be the theme of all my learnings..... haha so apparently I am not learning it well enough the first 348 times........  Some days I feel sort of confident in the language...... and then I go to church...  anyway,... back on the humble train....
But really.. This last weekend was conference for you Americans! SO LUCKY!! This next Sunday I will be watching all of it straight through. SO EXCITED!!! I hope everyone at least goes online and watches the highlights from the sessions :)
Random thoughts from friends:

The best antidote for worry is work.
The best medicine for despair is service.
The best cure for weariness is helping someone who is more tired than yourself.
So true!

Pure Example of Love

Cheuw sock (Korean can't be romanized... it doesn't actually sound like that.....)

This was the biggest holiday in Korea.  So that was cool . we went bowling.... hahaha my favs........and had a conference. and then spent a whole day cleaning from top to bottom of our apartment.... it was actually fun haha.  we rearranged the desks too.  Then because of the holiday church was moved to later on Sunday haha. They actually almost only had just sacrament meeting haha.

Menu!!
Such delicious Korean food!!! Just Korean pancakes from our wonderful Sister Lee.  She is great! and Then Sister Kim brought us grapes and beef!!! it was the nicest thing ever!! We have a wonderful ward!!! :D and Another sister Kim gave us other traditional food that was delicious!!! I love food.... :D

How to love

So I was on exchanges with the ever so lovely Sister Zendell  She is absolutely amazing! she is my missionary role model.  Love her! Anyways, while on exchanges we were trying to meet this person that randomly had called her and when we finally met her we realized she had a severe handicap.  She had some paralysis in the hands but was still amazing at using the phone to text. She also couldn't speak except for a few words like yes no, and good.  She was the happiest person in all of Korea.  She had a smile sooooooo big when she saw us and she had never even met us before.  We were suppose to be doing a missionary activity, but when we met her and started talking to her we just felt so much love for her.  I don't think I have ever been filled with that much love for someone who I barely met.  She could understand everything we were staying.  I can't even imagine that kind of trial.  She begged us to eat with her and we couldn't say no because of her overcoming joy.  I was practically on the brink of tears.

I wish I could love like she loves.  She just grabbed us in a bear hug and didn't want to let go.  We ate dinner with her and we told her about our families and asked her yes or no questions.  She was soo amazing. She was wonderful.  I really don't know how to describe this experience.  It was so all encompassing in how she managed to change my heart.  I want to love how she loves.  You knew she loved you from the moment she saw you.  She would get so excited she would start laughing.  I also feel like it is soo sad how many people would pass her by and not know what a wonderful friend they could have had.  I could just feel God's love for her.  It overwhelmed my soul with how perfect she was.  She was very aware about life even though she couldn't speak.How she showed Christ like love. She could understand everything we said and despite her hardships she chose to be happy.  She was beautiful inside and out.


So more on Chewsock

It is a 3 day period where the Korean people show thanksgiving for the crops they are about to harvest and for their ancestors that sacrificed so much for them to be where they are today.  The Korean people are the reason for the miracle that is know as the Han River. They came back from nothing within a generation and made a great economy! number 1 in the world in a lot of areas!!!   I feel so blessed to be here. :)  To live in this country.  I feel like this Holiday was the first time I said in English that I live here out loud... sounds basic and obvious, but really it hit me how much apart of this country I feel!! I am Korean!!! :D


Love

Sister Shaver