I have 1 minute. We went to the temple and then on the border with the Knudsens and Sister Toronto and Choi,--mexican food in asia. Made a world record trip across this city for sister Jo to get a perm. She really wanted me to get my hair straightened too maybe after I get into law school. I got the package today. Haven't opened it thanks in advance. I loved the pictures of Mac I started crying I was so happy to see them. Crazy. So I'm sweating in a beauty salon the receptionist is chewing me out so I have to go. xoxoxo love you all forever.

Sister Paige Alsbury

p.s. the package came earlier but I can only get it at the temple, zone conf. other meetings etc. next week we are moving and in mokdong we can't email till 3pm our time so I'll start emailing later

pollution is gross

Didn't hear much news from you this week so I'm assuming you are all really busy. Its hot here, really hot. Today we are going to ride bikes on the Han River for a zone activity. sweat fest. It will be fun though, any day I don't have to wearing stockings and a skirt--good.

So tuesday the office elders call me and tell me I need to get boxes because we are moving to MokDong from 화곡-Hwagok, Apparently he wasn't supposed to tell me yet so President called and explained things. There are 21 missionaries leaving our mission in 2 weeks and only 6 coming. We've known for a long time that they are cutting the number of missionaries coming to korea so now its happened. So instead of being the sisters of gangseo stake--but really only MokDong and HwaGok no we will be the MokDong missionaries---no elders just us. President gave me way to many undeserved compliments about why he is so excited for me to do this. Its good that I already know the members there and have investigators its not like opening Incheon so it will be good. President feels really good about it, like really excited about it and I know he is lead and guided by inspiration so I know its the right thing. So Sister Jo will stay with me for another transfer. President said I'll just stay in MokDong till I go home, which all of the sudden is not that far away. Sister Bang and Newby are going home in 2 weeks--crazy. He asked me if I wanted to stay another transfer but I think Christmas is important for me to be there for and I need to get on with things. MokDong is one of the richest wards in Korea its right on the Han River, the former bishop is an American all of the families send there kids to America (thats a subject I will talk about when I'm not a missionary) The house we are living in now is one of the worst in our entire mission and guess what there is in the new one-----BEDS!! Just feeling good about missionary work now.

Kind of have some stress about the future, finances, law school, life, eternity you know the sort same things you are worried about. Missionaries have just a one track mind and then every once in a while reality hits you. weird.
사랑해요

알스베리 페이즈 자매 선교사

July 16, 2009

This week the rains came. 아이고 When we left church on Sunday I was still wet. The Han river went up really high, but today its hot and we have to clean our apartment. Monday was 초복 which means its like the first 10 days of the hottest days of the summer there's 중 and 말 복 too which just means is going to be hot but it also means that they bring out the seasonal foods. 개고기—dog meat, I want to eat it so this will be my chance.
This past week we met 2 new investigators 인혜성 인윤경 they are sisters and both really good. One likes Jane Austen. The very first time we met them we taught the restoration in only 10 minutes and they asked questions and understood things that we hadn't even explained, a witness that the Spirit is the real teacher and we just have to do our best and the words I say are secondary. I'm so much more relaxed now that understand what going on.
Actually the past month or so I have completely changed. I almost have no stress at all, I have figured out how to keep things in perspective do my best but don't kill myself. I don't let numbers get me down and I know I can't do better than my best. Missionary work is fun, its great it's the best my testimony has sunk so deep within me my understanding of the Savior and His Atonement has increased so much as I apply, rely and live on the Atonement. I can't do anything without it. The Lord humbles us to teach us and to show His love.
The more we understand of the Atonement the love for our Savior increases. The more love we have the easier it is to serve.
Love you all
알스베리 페이즈 자매선교사

My Companions

최민희 자매님 (Choi MinHui) Toronto 자매님, Me, 방애라 자매님 (Bang Aera) 조성아 자매님 (Jo sunga) Newby 자매님 (신은비)
사랑해요

사진

Mac is back

홍수--That means flood, its been raining for over 12 hours--now I finally understand the rainy season--I remember when I used to like the rain.
So 5 minutes ago this old man came up to me and gave me a piece of watermelon. I heart Korea. I also heart seasonal fruits I bought a watermelon on the 4th of July in honor of the U.S.
Today we went to the mission home for a special meeting with our whole mission Dr. Mark Peterson who served in Korea, was a mission president in Busan, has a PhD from Harvard and is a professor at BYU came and talked to us about korean history and and history of religion in Korea. Elder Choi from the Seventy spoke too. Basically something that struck me from what he said is that every Korean is confucian by the way that they live. The honor the scholar (whereas the Japanese honored the Samori) culture today is obsessed with education especially english--They spend all their money on learning english and still can't do it. but they are dedicated, Actually Koreans and korean society kind of has low self esteem but its getting better, they just beat themselves up. A lot of that has to do to what they Japanese did. They've never attacked any country, their just peaceful kimchi loving karoake doing people. Somethings they drive me crazy--really they do. But I love them and I know that they are special.
Brother Peterson also showed us slides of the UNESCO World Heritage sites, and the cool places that are so close but I've never seen. Sometimes I don't believe that there is countryside here, I've only seen the city, just means that I need to come back and go to all the places that I can't go.
I got a letter today and I have to tell them where I want to fly into (way too far in advance) and if my parents are coming to pick me up.

Our area has room for improvement I've never had this few of investigators my whole mission. So much of our time is spent finding. 전도-talking on the street. The prophets have said their is a better way we need the members help.
Yesterday we had a really great lesson with 문유숙 she had told us before that she doesn't understand the purpose of life and the only reason she hasn't committed suicide was that she has to provide and education for her daughters. She and her daughters left her husband for a year and moved to Vancouver B.C. for english. Last week we taped Elder Wirthlin's "Come what may and love it" talk to her door. Yesterday when we came she was completely different, I gave it to her in english and korean, she had marked it up and had almost memorized it. She said she reads it several times a day. It was truly a breakthrough. It was just a spiritual hour. She says this life is just too hard and if she gets baptized and joins the church she will have more responsibilites, and she just wants the easy way out. We explained that after we are baptized life doesn't get easier but its easier to handle the hard times, we taught straight from the scriptures and it really was the spirit directing us, my mind was led to scriptures that she really needed to hear. PMG chapter 2 is a amazing, if we study the doctrines of the Gospel we will be prepared and our minds englightened when we need it. She still is afraid to come to our church because she has been going to the church infront of their apartment for so long. We'll see.
I ate a red bean popsicle yesterday it was good--beans yes good sometimes. I had a dream in Korean it was weird I was trying to explain to Briggs how to get home but the Seoul subway was on the way to our house and Briggs spoke korean too.
this elder today told me told that since he and I are both fluent in Korean (not true) that we should start the translation of the Book of Mormon into the click language. I thought that was funny. We had a long subway ride today.
Dad you have my permission to what you need, you are the boss. Mac is home weird. What is he like? Is his voice still kinda girly? I'm sad about Jazz dying too. She's a good girl. We've been emailing for 45 minutes and I'm still soaking wet. I love you 사 랑 해 요

알스베리 자매선교사
Representing the Savior and Team Alsbury

July 2, 2009

Hi, family,

AHHH sometimes missionary email service drives me nuts. It just deleted my super long email. Rats. Abbreviated version:

Its monsoon season. Crazy rain coming. lots of thunder. I don't think it will last long.

We had a miracle after we couldn't get the keys at the church to open after 10 minutes and then I said a prayer and 1 second later the door opened.

We had a miracle after we fasted to have a investigator come to MokDong ward conference. I thought I was going to die fasting but our investigator came and stayed for all of church, the elder's baptism the worlds biggest post-church meal. I was blown away. should have taken a picture.

Biggest thing: Kim Lim Soon got baptized on Saturday. She was born in 1926, her grandaughter is a recent convert. I thought Elder Turley might break hurt baptizing her but it was good. Her husband died in the Korean Ward she's been a widow for 50 something years.

I'm sad I won't get to see Mac for a while but that's okay. TAKE PICTURES send them to me. Record his talk send a copy to me. I want details. The email I originally wrote was really good this is the frantic typing email--sorry. We ate burritos at the Knudsen's today and I'm writing my law school essay too. I'm really glad that Mac is one of my greatest friends that that he set an example for me. Love you all forever,

Sister Paige McDede Alsbury