(It seems that Emily is starting to think more in Korean. Some of her sentence structures and thought processes are interesting. FYI, we received an email from the mission president's wife on Tuesday informing us that Emily needed a root canal. She added "Your daughter is a wonderful missionary, who works hard and is always cheerful and happy-even when she is in pain.")
Hey!
So much and so little at the same time in one week. I feel like we have been busy, but also that we have not done too much. However, I have seen so many miracles-it is insane. Today we are going to Eworld, an amusement park with a bunch of big roller coasters. I am excited!
We have found so many potential investigators and even a new investigator this week! On Thursday, we met to do an English lesson with two women one of our English class members brought last week, and they brought another friend! She is a little more basic level, and wants to meet separately with us next week. She seems to have the most good investigator potential of the three, and is so sweet. We already set up a lesson next Wednesday at her house. It should be good! We also met a woman the other day on the subway who talked a lot with us, and called us later to try to meet with us. She told me when I was talking to her on the phone that "God will bless you for your good service" in Korean. Thank you. She seems to just want to meet with us, and maybe even for a lesson! I can hear you all thinking, "What? Not English?" I know! Please bless. On Saturday we had a woman come to English class that may want to meet with us separately too. She is so cute, and is super good at English. I was teaching the basic class today, and when I encouraged her to try the advanced next time (because it is more her level) she told me, "But I like you!" So sweet. Moments like that make me happy. Anyway, hopefully we can meet with her.
Definitely getting into the Christmas spirit here. We are going caroling to all of the members in our branch, and have already visited a few so far. It is a lot of fun, although Sister Cunningham is insistent that I wear reindeer antlers. Nope, don't want to. We have done a lot of Christmas party prep too. We have cut out a bunch of snowflakes to hang in the church hallway, and on Saturday I wrapped some big boxes to set under the Christmas tree. So fun.
So, root canal story. My tooth has slowly been getting worse and worse, to where it was super cold sensitive and I couldn't really chew on that side again. After the other day when I played a lot of violin, it got suddenly a lot worse Monday evening. It was throbbing horribly and I was only able to sleep about 20 or so minutes that night. I called Sister Barrow the next morning, and she had me ask one of the members in our branch for a recommendation for a dentist and to go that day. It was really horrible. I think that was easily the most miserable I have ever been. We got into see the dentist really fast, and luckily we had Elder Hong with us, who was able to translate a lot and communicate well with the dentist. The dentist wanted to have me wait a little more to make sure before doing the root canal, but we were able to get in the next day and get it started. I guess that three of the nerves in my tooth were already dead from the inflammation, but there was a fourth still alive that he needed to kill. They do it all a lot more slowly in Korea, because at first they told me it would take three weeks with three visits a week to get it all done. Gratefully, after the second visit they told me I will only need to go in three more times. It was IMMEDIATELY better after the first visit. It is still sore, but infinitely better than it was before. He is a good, and super kind dentist.
I saw some big miracles just with the tooth thing. The first night, I remember just praying and begging for it to end. The next day wasn't much better (the dentist didn't want me to take pain meds) and I was worried about that night, but I was SO blessed. I was able to get to sleep quickly and slept the whole night, and was much better in the morning. The bigger miracles: We had a lesson with OJW, and during the lesson, the pain disappeared. I honestly couldn't feel it. It was incredible. After the lesson and when we left, the pain immediately returned. It was a huge miracle. With the way it was before and after the lesson, I couldn't focus on anything but without the pain I was able to focus and teach. I could definitely see Heavenly Father blessing me and helping me teach and do the work that He needed me to do. That was the biggest physical miracle that has ever happened specifically to me.
The woman that came to church last week came again! Although, she didn't have her brother with her-he was too sick to come and was at the hospital. She is very kind.
More spreading of the gospel through Christmas: When we were caroling to one of the grandma's in the branch, Elder Peterson was wearing a Santa hat. As we were about to go in, we heard some yelling, and saw some little kids on the same floor of the apartment yelling, "Santa Halaboji!" (meaning Santa Grandfather). We had to go in to the other home right then, but when we came out later, they must have heard us and ran out of their apartment to come see "Santa". We went over and talked to them and their mom for a moment, caroled to them, and then gave them a card and asked if we could come back another time. The mom said yes! Heh heh...thank you Peterson Halaboji.
Our missionary work here in Gyeongsan is slowly changing. Before, Sister Lee and I would do a good amount a proselyting with lessons scattered throughout the week. Now our schedule is booked with appointments and lessons this next week. We don't have much time at all for proselyting, but have still been finding people on the bus and subway. Faith is definitely changing things. At first, I felt a little uneasy about not doing much proselyting, but I am grateful that we are getting so many opportunities to teach and also meet with members. We have an appointment this next week with some sisters from our branch, specifically to meet with a friend that they are bringing. I am so grateful for the work that our members are doing. In Relief Society on Sunday, the lesson turned into them asking about all of our investigators and potential investigators, and them discussing with each other how they want to help and who they can talk to and invite. Gosh. I need to repent and do a lot more member missionary work when I get home from my mission.
Gosh, have I ever told you how much the gospel just blows me away?! ;) While there are definitely hard things that we deal with everyday and sometimes it feels like I am in a dream, when I kneel down to pray and talk to my Heavenly Father and just thank Him for everything, I feel like I've come home. It is wonderful. We really do have a Heavenly Father and Savior who love us. I love this so much.
I love you all!!! I think and pray about you SO much. I love you!
Sister Stapley
(Sent later in the afternoon.) We just got back from the amusement park and are finishing emailing right now. It was SO fun!!! It was on the smaller side for an amusement park, but had some pretty good rides and REALLY fun roller coasters. There was one that we went on, where for a little bit I was sure I was going to die. SO FUN. It was with our Zone, so we had a big group of missionaries there. It was awesome!
Hey!
So much and so little at the same time in one week. I feel like we have been busy, but also that we have not done too much. However, I have seen so many miracles-it is insane. Today we are going to Eworld, an amusement park with a bunch of big roller coasters. I am excited!
We have found so many potential investigators and even a new investigator this week! On Thursday, we met to do an English lesson with two women one of our English class members brought last week, and they brought another friend! She is a little more basic level, and wants to meet separately with us next week. She seems to have the most good investigator potential of the three, and is so sweet. We already set up a lesson next Wednesday at her house. It should be good! We also met a woman the other day on the subway who talked a lot with us, and called us later to try to meet with us. She told me when I was talking to her on the phone that "God will bless you for your good service" in Korean. Thank you. She seems to just want to meet with us, and maybe even for a lesson! I can hear you all thinking, "What? Not English?" I know! Please bless. On Saturday we had a woman come to English class that may want to meet with us separately too. She is so cute, and is super good at English. I was teaching the basic class today, and when I encouraged her to try the advanced next time (because it is more her level) she told me, "But I like you!" So sweet. Moments like that make me happy. Anyway, hopefully we can meet with her.
Definitely getting into the Christmas spirit here. We are going caroling to all of the members in our branch, and have already visited a few so far. It is a lot of fun, although Sister Cunningham is insistent that I wear reindeer antlers. Nope, don't want to. We have done a lot of Christmas party prep too. We have cut out a bunch of snowflakes to hang in the church hallway, and on Saturday I wrapped some big boxes to set under the Christmas tree. So fun.
So, root canal story. My tooth has slowly been getting worse and worse, to where it was super cold sensitive and I couldn't really chew on that side again. After the other day when I played a lot of violin, it got suddenly a lot worse Monday evening. It was throbbing horribly and I was only able to sleep about 20 or so minutes that night. I called Sister Barrow the next morning, and she had me ask one of the members in our branch for a recommendation for a dentist and to go that day. It was really horrible. I think that was easily the most miserable I have ever been. We got into see the dentist really fast, and luckily we had Elder Hong with us, who was able to translate a lot and communicate well with the dentist. The dentist wanted to have me wait a little more to make sure before doing the root canal, but we were able to get in the next day and get it started. I guess that three of the nerves in my tooth were already dead from the inflammation, but there was a fourth still alive that he needed to kill. They do it all a lot more slowly in Korea, because at first they told me it would take three weeks with three visits a week to get it all done. Gratefully, after the second visit they told me I will only need to go in three more times. It was IMMEDIATELY better after the first visit. It is still sore, but infinitely better than it was before. He is a good, and super kind dentist.
I saw some big miracles just with the tooth thing. The first night, I remember just praying and begging for it to end. The next day wasn't much better (the dentist didn't want me to take pain meds) and I was worried about that night, but I was SO blessed. I was able to get to sleep quickly and slept the whole night, and was much better in the morning. The bigger miracles: We had a lesson with OJW, and during the lesson, the pain disappeared. I honestly couldn't feel it. It was incredible. After the lesson and when we left, the pain immediately returned. It was a huge miracle. With the way it was before and after the lesson, I couldn't focus on anything but without the pain I was able to focus and teach. I could definitely see Heavenly Father blessing me and helping me teach and do the work that He needed me to do. That was the biggest physical miracle that has ever happened specifically to me.
The woman that came to church last week came again! Although, she didn't have her brother with her-he was too sick to come and was at the hospital. She is very kind.
More spreading of the gospel through Christmas: When we were caroling to one of the grandma's in the branch, Elder Peterson was wearing a Santa hat. As we were about to go in, we heard some yelling, and saw some little kids on the same floor of the apartment yelling, "Santa Halaboji!" (meaning Santa Grandfather). We had to go in to the other home right then, but when we came out later, they must have heard us and ran out of their apartment to come see "Santa". We went over and talked to them and their mom for a moment, caroled to them, and then gave them a card and asked if we could come back another time. The mom said yes! Heh heh...thank you Peterson Halaboji.
Our missionary work here in Gyeongsan is slowly changing. Before, Sister Lee and I would do a good amount a proselyting with lessons scattered throughout the week. Now our schedule is booked with appointments and lessons this next week. We don't have much time at all for proselyting, but have still been finding people on the bus and subway. Faith is definitely changing things. At first, I felt a little uneasy about not doing much proselyting, but I am grateful that we are getting so many opportunities to teach and also meet with members. We have an appointment this next week with some sisters from our branch, specifically to meet with a friend that they are bringing. I am so grateful for the work that our members are doing. In Relief Society on Sunday, the lesson turned into them asking about all of our investigators and potential investigators, and them discussing with each other how they want to help and who they can talk to and invite. Gosh. I need to repent and do a lot more member missionary work when I get home from my mission.
Gosh, have I ever told you how much the gospel just blows me away?! ;) While there are definitely hard things that we deal with everyday and sometimes it feels like I am in a dream, when I kneel down to pray and talk to my Heavenly Father and just thank Him for everything, I feel like I've come home. It is wonderful. We really do have a Heavenly Father and Savior who love us. I love this so much.
I love you all!!! I think and pray about you SO much. I love you!
Sister Stapley
(Sent later in the afternoon.) We just got back from the amusement park and are finishing emailing right now. It was SO fun!!! It was on the smaller side for an amusement park, but had some pretty good rides and REALLY fun roller coasters. There was one that we went on, where for a little bit I was sure I was going to die. SO FUN. It was with our Zone, so we had a big group of missionaries there. It was awesome!