Hey!
I think I'm the first Sister missionary that has ever been kicked by an Elder. To be explained.
Sister Cunningham is a great missionary! She works very hard, and is really trying to be the best missionary that she can be. While it was a little of a transition at first to have a companion with so many different ways of doing things, it has been a good learning experience. I have also really seen how much Sister Lee prepared me. There were many things that she pushed me on, but that I am SO grateful for now. I remember one of my least favorite things was doing phone calls. I don't really like talking on the phone anyway, and especially in Korean! However, Sister Lee often had me make phone calls and try to talk to people, even if I eventually had to hand it over to her. Since Sister Cunningham came, and because I am the one leading the area, I make most of the phone calls. Sister Cunningham told me that most follow-up trainees don't make phone calls right away, and that I do pretty well! I am SO grateful for Sister Lee pushing me and teaching me so much. I see more and more how incredible of a trainer she was.
The Elders in our area now are Elder Peterson, the other trainee from the last two transfers, and the new native Elder Hong Eee Taek (totally butchered that one romanized and in English). Elder Hong is AWESOME. In our first area meeting he put down a list of really good things he wants to do with the area. A lot of them are around bettering our relationship with the members. Some of his other ideas are definitely revolutionary, but I am super excited for them. He works really hard and is super funny and I am so excited for the things we will all be doing this transfer. Right now we have about thirty-two members coming to church each week and Elder Hong's goal is forty. We are going to be working hard! Already I am doing SO much more myself than I have ever done before. It feels so good.
Funny story: One night the district leader called me and said that he had a question. He asked if my older brother's first name was "Tristan". Yep. He then asked if he looked like a strong American. Uhh, sure! The next question was if my brother went to Costco while he was here. Huh? "I have your brother's Costco card." I guess that Tristan left his Costco card with other Elders here when he went home, and that the card has been passed down from Zone Leader to Zone Leader until it fell into my District Leader's hands. Even though it has expired he said "it may or may not have been used at several times to get into Costco." Pretty cool, huh? I've determined to use my brother's expired Costco card to get in at least once.
Fun stuff going on in the branch! We have a bunch of activities coming up that will be really fun, although we will have to do a LOT of work. Branch President asked us to do all the decorations and prep for the Christmas party, so I have a feeling that is going to take a chunk of this transfer. It will be good though, especially if we can get a lot of investigators to come. Next week we have the primary program and the Primary President asked me to play violin for that! I am super stoked. I'll play for the Christmas party too. One of the members has a violin and is letting me borrow it. So nice!
Another funny story. One of the things that we do to amuse ourselves is sneaking sticker board stickers on each others' bags. After English class proselyting, Elder Hong was standing in front of me, and already had at least five stickers on his bag. So, I had to add just one more. I was sticking one carefully on the strap when suddenly he kicked backwards! He totally thought I was his companion. He felt really bad. Pretty awkward, but funny!
Have you all read the article from the December Liahona (or Ensign) about from President Packer's witness of Jesus Christ? It is SO GOOD. President Packer always testified so strongly of the Savior, and as I read some of the excerpts I felt the Spirit testifying of their truth. I love the last section, where he says, "...there is one great truth I would share. That is my witness of the Savior Jesus Christ." He then quotes Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon's account of a vision. "'And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him'". President Packer then says, "Their words are my words." What an incredible statement. President Packer truly witnessed of the living Christ. While I have so many weaknesses, and cannot even compare to the strength of President Packer, I too know this truth. The center of each of my days, my work, and my life is the Savior, Jesus Christ. He is the reason. I know that He lives.
I love you so much! Gosh, Gyeongsan is seriously the best. As I serve the people here, I am SO happy. Thank you so much for all that you do! Love you!
Sister Stapley
스테이플리 자매
I think I'm the first Sister missionary that has ever been kicked by an Elder. To be explained.
Sister Cunningham is a great missionary! She works very hard, and is really trying to be the best missionary that she can be. While it was a little of a transition at first to have a companion with so many different ways of doing things, it has been a good learning experience. I have also really seen how much Sister Lee prepared me. There were many things that she pushed me on, but that I am SO grateful for now. I remember one of my least favorite things was doing phone calls. I don't really like talking on the phone anyway, and especially in Korean! However, Sister Lee often had me make phone calls and try to talk to people, even if I eventually had to hand it over to her. Since Sister Cunningham came, and because I am the one leading the area, I make most of the phone calls. Sister Cunningham told me that most follow-up trainees don't make phone calls right away, and that I do pretty well! I am SO grateful for Sister Lee pushing me and teaching me so much. I see more and more how incredible of a trainer she was.
The Elders in our area now are Elder Peterson, the other trainee from the last two transfers, and the new native Elder Hong Eee Taek (totally butchered that one romanized and in English). Elder Hong is AWESOME. In our first area meeting he put down a list of really good things he wants to do with the area. A lot of them are around bettering our relationship with the members. Some of his other ideas are definitely revolutionary, but I am super excited for them. He works really hard and is super funny and I am so excited for the things we will all be doing this transfer. Right now we have about thirty-two members coming to church each week and Elder Hong's goal is forty. We are going to be working hard! Already I am doing SO much more myself than I have ever done before. It feels so good.
Funny story: One night the district leader called me and said that he had a question. He asked if my older brother's first name was "Tristan". Yep. He then asked if he looked like a strong American. Uhh, sure! The next question was if my brother went to Costco while he was here. Huh? "I have your brother's Costco card." I guess that Tristan left his Costco card with other Elders here when he went home, and that the card has been passed down from Zone Leader to Zone Leader until it fell into my District Leader's hands. Even though it has expired he said "it may or may not have been used at several times to get into Costco." Pretty cool, huh? I've determined to use my brother's expired Costco card to get in at least once.
Fun stuff going on in the branch! We have a bunch of activities coming up that will be really fun, although we will have to do a LOT of work. Branch President asked us to do all the decorations and prep for the Christmas party, so I have a feeling that is going to take a chunk of this transfer. It will be good though, especially if we can get a lot of investigators to come. Next week we have the primary program and the Primary President asked me to play violin for that! I am super stoked. I'll play for the Christmas party too. One of the members has a violin and is letting me borrow it. So nice!
Another funny story. One of the things that we do to amuse ourselves is sneaking sticker board stickers on each others' bags. After English class proselyting, Elder Hong was standing in front of me, and already had at least five stickers on his bag. So, I had to add just one more. I was sticking one carefully on the strap when suddenly he kicked backwards! He totally thought I was his companion. He felt really bad. Pretty awkward, but funny!
Have you all read the article from the December Liahona (or Ensign) about from President Packer's witness of Jesus Christ? It is SO GOOD. President Packer always testified so strongly of the Savior, and as I read some of the excerpts I felt the Spirit testifying of their truth. I love the last section, where he says, "...there is one great truth I would share. That is my witness of the Savior Jesus Christ." He then quotes Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon's account of a vision. "'And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him'". President Packer then says, "Their words are my words." What an incredible statement. President Packer truly witnessed of the living Christ. While I have so many weaknesses, and cannot even compare to the strength of President Packer, I too know this truth. The center of each of my days, my work, and my life is the Savior, Jesus Christ. He is the reason. I know that He lives.
I love you so much! Gosh, Gyeongsan is seriously the best. As I serve the people here, I am SO happy. Thank you so much for all that you do! Love you!
Sister Stapley
스테이플리 자매