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

Corn and tomato popsicles

저 는 예수그리스도 대표자 입 니다, and I'm happy to be. Mac is coming home thats unreal. I will have to stop telling people that my brother is on a mission in Brazil and they will stop saying how hard it must be for my mom.

Miracle of the week. Well there's two. So we taught this grandma who is probably 80 years old, she's had a stroke I can't really understand her very well but her Grandaughter is a recent convert, so we taught her and she even paid tithing, answered all the baptisimal interview questions and then said she felt too much pressure to be baptized and told us not to come back if we were going to talk about baptizm. That was 3 weeks ago. Then the elders visited there house on sunday and the grandma (PS grandma is korean sounds just like "harmony") wanted to get baptized saturday. So we are all set for that on Saturday.

Other Big miracle. 김 지 현 (Kim Ji Hyun) got baptized on sunday! It was really great, there was a big turnout. Elder Jube from my MTC friend baptized her, all of the primary kids gave her gifts. Best of all was that her parents, mom and dad came to all 3 hours of church. Her mom said that she would start coming to church each week with her, the dad loves the elders--he has the same hairstyle as elder Jung--kinda medusa like hair. Last night we went to her house we gave her Book of Mormon stories on sunday and she had read through Alma and remembered so much. I don't think the miracle is quite over yet with her.
Next week we are going to North Korea. yes. Well we are going to look at it. There's this island kangwha-do that you can see North Korea so we might email later next week .

Everyone says that next week 장 마 is going to start. Monsoon season. I guess its rain everyday for 2 weeks. Hot rain--oxymoron? Well the do have 38 degree celius hot yoga in Korea so everything can be hot. Ewww...Montana has perfect summers
Have fun with Mac be safe. Its seems like ages ago since I saw him. Please update me. 사 랑 해

알 스 베 리 자 매

June 18, 2009

안 영 하 세 요,

I don't know if you remembered this but on June 18, 2008 I went to the MTC. I've been a missionary for 1 year. Weird. My world has completely changed in that year, I've changed and learned a lot. My conviction and testimony has deepened, as has my understanding of the Atonement, my ability to endure trials and rejection--still is a work in progress but I'm learning. Life experience is better than sitting at the BYU library reading a book. Even though I love that place.
Random thoughts.
Last night I become a oriental medicine doctor. Oh yes you know anything that is "Traditional Korean ____" has to be great. My companion wasn't feeling so good so she asked me to treat her. So my trainer did this to an investigator one time and it freaked me out. So you punch the "patient" in the arm a bunch and then rub their arms so that the "bad blood" goes down to their finger and on their thumb you twist string around it like 15 times so the thumb turns purple (ya I know what you are thinking) then you take a needle and you poke them below the cuticle. The blood that comes out is black (yes because it is deoxygenated--but that is my opinion) so I jammed my companion with a needle she whined and it bled a bunch but she said she was healed. Western Medicine.

Today we went to the Mission Home for a sister luncheon. All my companiosn were there. Sisters: Toronto, 방, Newby, 최, 조 were all there so grateful to be their friends and to have worked with them. Its kinda weird to be with the same person all of the time but you become so close. They had the sisters who are going home soon give their last testimony to all of the sisters and since sister Bang doesn't speak english very well they asked me to translate for her--even though Sisters 조 & 최 are pretty much fluent in english. Ahhh translating is kinda freaky. Actually the whole time she did it I remember the first time I met her was it that same room. Its a miracle from Heavenly Father that 9months later I would be translating for her in a meeting. Its called Heavenly Father hears and answers all of our prayers--I know that to be trued.

We went to the Temple today too. always the highlight of my transfer. I received an answer to a question I had and so grateful the chance to go to that sacred place. I can't wait to go with my family. I'll say a prayer for the Helena temple--someday.

Wowzers Briggs Prom King Pictures. If the college thing doesn't work out just move to Korea and become a pop star--you look so grown up. Mac will be surprised. I'm disallusioned with the boys that judged the friend you brought to church. Of course don't listen. Keep doing it. President Monson talked about member prostelyting programs working everywhere they try it. its true. Good boy. How do you feel about BYU? Don't take 8 am classes your freshman year--trust me. Mac & Jill will help you with everything. I'm jealous you are going to have such an amazing time it will help prepare you for your mission.

There's a 60% chance 김 지 현 will get baptized on sunday but its not set. Its a huge miracle unfolding. OH Mac is coming home in 2 weeks. I want to see pictures. Wish I could just come home for like 2 hours to be there. I love you all--The Plan of Salvation is real. xoxoxo kiss nose hug

Sister Paige McDede Alsbury

2009=?UTF-8?Q?=EB=85=84_6=EC=9B=94_11=EC=9D=BC?=

안 영 하 세 요
Wow Briggs graduated from high school and it snowed Montana is crazy. But you must admit my graduation had the best weather. Its been kinda colder here too rainy so nice before the death summer starts.
Hey what have you heard about the Swine Flu at the MTC. Sister Knudsen said her nephew got sent home because he got sick. This lady on the street yesterday asked me if I was scared because swine flu is big in my country. I said "i'm in korea."

This past sunday we saw a tender mercy at testimony meeting. 김 지 현, Kim Ji hyun our 8 year old investigator asked "what is testimony?" and then she got up and bore her testimony about how she wants to follow the savior. and how she was going to be nicer to the mean boys at school because she wants to be like Jesus. I it was amazing. I know she is having an influence on her parents too, they like 99% of Korean adults say they are just too busy to listen. Almost all men and some women work until 9 or 10 at night. All of that contributes to the big societal problems here.

I was happy to hear that Incheon was named the world's best airport. haha I love Incheon so much. There's a sign with a computer made picture of "incheon" that says in english "Icheon: World's best city" haha I really love Incheon people and that place and all the experiences I had there.

Tomorrow we are having zone conference olympics at Olympic Park. We are having a 5k race President is running so I l better beat him.

Lately I've been thinking a lot about baptismal covenants and the promised blessings that come through making, keeping and having our covenants sealed through the holy spirit of promise. Its hard to see others exercise their agency and rejected our invitation to baptism even after they have received a witness of the truthfullness of the thing's we've taught. Anyway I have to go Have a great week love you all, 사 랑 해

Alsbury 자 매 선 교 사

June 4, 2009

Ummmm...I can't believe that Mac has read the Portuguese Book of Mormon 4 times. I'm in Alma 53 in the Korean Book of Mormon and I've never had so much an inclination to scratch my eyes out more. Ehh the korean headache.

so in general considering everything I'm okay. I've learned a lot the past 3 weeks, about trials, exercising faith, the priesthood, stress, service, overcoming, and korean words I never probably would have learned before. Today I read Alma 58:10 it says something like "we did pour out our souls unto God that he would strengthen us" and the next verse says how he strengthens us by speaking peace to our souls. I know that is true.
fast update things:
Sunday we met Brian 브 라 이 언 from the KPop group Fly to the Sky--my companion went insane, I think he's a korean american, apparently a big deal or so. I had him sign her missionary planner and took a picture on our phone.
Have you heard about the former President of Korea committing suicide? I was really big news here. People really liked him. I only things about North Korea that I hear from you all.

Yesterday I talked to this Jehovah's Witness lady for about an hour. She had met with elders 20 years ago. She said that she knows Joseph Smith was a prophet but that her church suits her 마 족--like self contentment. It was crazy because she know Doctrine and covenants, Pearl of Great Price, Hill cumorah, James 1:5 celestial kingdom, 1 Cor. 15:40. She doesn't believe in the Spirit World I think that is really sad.

We are teaching a 8 year old girl 지 현 she came to church and her dad and mom kind of have some interest in the church. I've only taught a family one other time so we are excited about them. Briggs congrats on graduating now you can devote your time to writing me! jk--but not really Well I love you all forever,

Sister Paige McDede Alsbury