my first asian haircut....is coming

We are emailing today but saturday is P-Day because of 추석 Chu seok--the big holiday, we were have a sports day on saturday. Also I have potentially scary news. I am giving into the Gods of Asian hair. Yes I am getting my hair cut at a Korean hair salon. AHHHHH!!! I never thought I would but its bad. I've only had it cut once by Sister Knudsen who cut all the layers off. It is so boxy square, just a mess. The best thing is that the name of the place is오랜지 헤 어 Orange Hair. You better believe I'm asking for a discount since I'll probably the only person that has orange hair that they will ever cut in their careers at Orangie hair. Asianization. Potential nightmare but I'll survive. Its super cheap here too.
This past week we have been blessed with some amazing miracles. 김태순 and 성영숙 (Kim Tae Soon & Sung young sook) are still progressing for baptism on the 24th. Last week at church the brother had just changed. In Gospel principles he participated and then we met him later that day he was telling us about family prayer and just way more friendly. He did go off on me about Green Tea--how in China people drink it more than water and they are all thin and healthy, but he said he will try. Alcohol will be a challenge to. But they are still good. The holiday makes it impossible to meet people for about a week so we are texting them a lot. His wife 성영숙 is amazing. She's super stalwart, her sister is a member and a return missionary. Their daughter is 19months and is so cute. Korean kids are the cutest ever.

Then, we went to the this fancy dinner at 최명숙 (Sister Choi)'s house she's a travel agent, traveled the world really eccelectice she made us a fancy dinner--even had banana splits for dessert. Her husband--the got married a few years ago, 50s ish. Isn't a member. He's apparently some famous engineer, worked under Leby in New York. But he comes to church every week for a really long time. 3 weeks ago we changed Gospel prinicples at the last moment from the Second Coming to Baptism, it was good and since then he's been thinking more and more about baptism. MIRACLE. He asks me what he has to do to get baptized. He already knows all about the church, keeps the commandments, He said November would be nice. It is such a sudden and amazing change of countenance. His name is 유수엽 (Yoo soo yup) If you want to pray for him.

We also have a Philippino investigator name Roselle. Her husband is Korean, she's been her for 3 years. Sister Toronto met her on the subway and referred her. She went to the english ward with the Knudsens and met other Philippinos there and loved it. We met her and she just ate up everything. She rides the subway 2 hours a day and said she'd read it everyday. Everything made sense to her and she said she felt what we said was true.

our lovely 목동 ward is having some intra-ward drama and kinda weird things have been happening that makes me worry for our investigators. Sacrament meeting was especially ridiculous this past week. Our poor bishop. I won't say details. Our Relief Society President is in the middle of it, we visited her on mon and felt prompted to share Mosiah 7:33, it was just what she needed. You should read it too.

So things are good. my body is tired, its actually falling apart, its still hard getting rejected everyday but I feel my Savior's love daily and know that the Atonement is real. I try my best everyday, I still lack severely but the Lord makes up the rest. Love you all,

알수베리 자매선교사

P.S. I watch conference the week after you do but I'm so excited for it. Take good notes

P.S.x2 Drive safely and Jill run fast you can do it!
x3 You will be blessed for sending mail.

September 24, 2009

Family,
This email is going to be short. Lo siento. I'm kind of in a weird mood. Today we went to the the temple. I really love the temple here so happy we get to go. I'm sad about Landon and that just sad things happen to people, but I know that the Plan of Salvation is real. BYU football is sad news too.

Good news our family-I don't have a korean keyboard but Sung YoungSook, and Kim TaeSoon have baptismal dates for Oct. 24, If you want to include them in your prayers that would be really helpful. The first week in Oct. is ChuSeok one of the 2 big holidays in korea. Basically everyone goes from Seoul to the countryside and eat for 3 days at their grandparents house. Then the next weekend is general conference. I'm so excited for it.

-When I get home remind me to tell you about the day in Relief Society with Pak MungJa :)
-Also remind me to tell you what I get told everyday is the reason for my acne and what my response is.
-We met a man last week who went to Tulane lawschool, has read the bible over 100x and doesn't go to a church because he doesn't believe they are true. He asked about the 3rd heaven--crazy things, we have just what he needs if he'll just give us a chance to talk.
-This man told me this week that he couldn't accept our message because the Catholics in korea pronounce the word "god" like .5 a vowel different from all the other churchs. like a "ahh" versus an "euh" anyway. I'm slightly stressed with everything I have and want to do here. I love you all. Be good. The church is true.
Sister Paige McDede Alsbury

신총 플루

신총 플루--The Flu. Koreans are worked up about it. I have no idea what is going on. All of the sudden the church has signs that say don't handshake, just bow--sisters don't really shake hands in korea. thats good. And people have started to wash their hands and used hand santizer. Interesting. I'm out in the blue.

Today we are going to the Korean War Memorial. Its going to be sweet. Probably sad because korea has been conquered so many times.

Hey mom remember when the Stallings were freaking out about the truck that sprays the white cloud to kill the mosquitos? Its here! Random parts of the day it comes through wherever we are. I run from it. The kids on the street chase it. It scares me. But I do detest Mosquitos. White cloud of death. I need to video it. Its a little Damas. Google image Daewoo damas--its my favorite car.

Good news we got 3 more kgs of kimchi! Still eating it every meal.
Yesterday I took the last 한국어 3--the final test for korean grammar, reading, translation and vocab. I am know a king. In very humble way of course. But I destroyed the test.

I don't have time to type it but this morning I wanted to share with my fam 2 Ne. 10:23-25. Also read 1 Cor. 14:23-25--thats interesting
No more time but thanks for your emails and remembering me. Elizabeth Lewis is editing my essay and dad if you could try and get that done buy next week that would be swell. Love you all. P.S. I'm so proud of BYU football and my family. xoxox 사랑해요

알스베리 자매선교사

September

As I wrote September I just had this fleeting thought of mom driving down the freeway blasting Earth, Wind and Fire. Weird that I too have come to love that.
I was so happy to hear about Mac's first week back at BYU, the chicken taco wrap probably tastes the same huh? Briggsy boy is either out with his 1,000 new best friends or at the HBLL. I'll hope for the 2nd. I'm praying for you.
Today we went to the the temple. Such a blessing to go every 6 weeks I need it so much every time we go it fuels me up. Oh, I'm sure you don't care but yesterday I had been in Korea for exactly 1 year. yaya Korea. Hey is swine flu a big deal or something? Because last week at church they brought out the hand sanitizer and that was the first time I've seen Koreans use it. A couple weeks ago this lady called us and wanted to meet but she was concerned because Sister Bergeson had only been in Korea for 5 months, and she was worried about the flu. I have no idea about anything. Nobody confirmed about the missionaries in Cuba thing (I don't think there are but you never know)
Its kind of hot today but its okay we still have the parasols--I think that's what they are in english. Sun umbrella. We have real oreos at our house, made me think of Jill. One of my favorite members I'll call her Sister Jang (can't type in korean on this computer) She went to costco and gave us oreos as well as tofu. tofu and kimchi=well being.

Hey you have to update me on BYU football. Thanks for the package Mac I think I'll get it next week at interviews. Random thoughts:
Sister Bergeson dropped our kimchi tub, it landed face up fortunately. All over her face clothes, ceiling, in between her toes. that stuff doesn't come out very well. We also met Krystle our american investigator last night at the Knudsens (we ate bean burritos!) She's good, really has a desire to find truth and the only way is by reading and praying the Book of Mormon. Cool. Well my brain is fried, but I love you all forever and ever. xoxoxoo

Sister Paige Alsbury