First week is completed!‏

Wow, this past week was pretty insane. I get to tell you all about my trainee :)

But first, I'll explain the process that happened before I actually met my new companion. So on Monday we went to transfer meeting in Busan and Sister Harris and I became temporary companions. We returned to Hogye and did everything there to prepare for our trainees to come. Then on Tuesday we went to Gyeongju to prepare there (our purpose in preparing is to get everything ready so that the new missionaries don't have anything to worry about except missionary work). Also, a member in our ward took us out to eat....... DOG! whooohoooo I finally can say that I have indeed eaten dog! lol But interesting fact, though Americans all seem to think that's a common food here, most young Koreans are as much disgusted by the thought of eating dog as any other American. Anyway, I have been wanting to eat it for a while, I finally could! It's pretty good actually, though I probably won't choose to eat it again, just because of the poor little puppies... :D

Anyway, on Wednesday Sister Harris and I headed back to Busan and met all of the trainees, but didn't receive a companion. We did a couple-hour-long proselyting activity where we switch around with four different trainees. There were three Koreans and three American sisters. I served with all of the Koreans.... which confirmed my already strong suspicion that I would get a Korean trainee.

On Thursday morning we all met together again, and then found out who our companion was, after which we practiced studying and teaching together, then headed back to our areas. So my companion..... Her name is Sister Kim YeGi and she is absolutely amazing. We are the same age. She actually didn't get to go to the MTC, and just came straight here from her home. But dispite the fact that she didn't come with the knowledge that we learn in the MTC, she is just like a missionary that's been out for a year. She learns so fast and has so much courage to just apply what she learns right away. I'm learning so much from her!

And since she's been here, miracles have been coming like crazy! Yesterday absolutely exploded with blessings from God. So we went to church, and none of our investigators came to Sacrament meeting... But then in Sunday School our less-active, the mother of the three kids we are teaching, came and just did a little tour of the church. She saw all of the kids that come to our church, and I think she liked the idea of her kids coming here. Then she left, and we went into Relief Society. But five minutes in, a member comes and is like hey there are some young women here.... So we run out and it's the students we teach English to. We had invited them to come after church, but they got there early, so we were like okay come in to Young Womens! So we were like wow two students came to church! That was pretty exciting. But THEN, after church ended, another member came up and was like hey did you talk with your investigator yet? At first I thought they were talking about the students, but then I saw our OTHER investigator, who had apparently just gotten there. I was dumbfounded. Especially because we had been trying to contact her for two weeks since the last time she came to church, and she hadn't answered at ALL. But then she just showed up for lunch after church out of the blue. Wow. So we spent all day yesterday with both her and the students, making good relationships and teaching them. It was crazyyy!! But really exciting. :D

I'm so glad that all of these crazy awesome things happened for my companion's first week in missionary work. Hopefully this next week will go just as well! I think it will. :]

Before I close out, I would like to thank you mom for your testimony and your conversion story! I'm really excited to get to read it. Thank you thank you!

I love everyone, and don't forget it!

Sister Segovia

I'd like to share a story that the new AP Elder Sutton shared to us in our trainer meeting. He told his own story, of when he was young and was sitting on his father's bed while his father worked. His father called him and told him that if he would wait 15 minutes then his father had a present for him. So he went back to his bed wondering what this present would be, and incredibly excited to find out. He waited, and he waited. For minutes, hours... He waited for two days he thought. Then he ran back to father, but his father said, "Son, it's only been 30 seconds." Only 30 seconds? Well he went back to the bed, but continuedly ran back to his father asking "Has it been 15 minutes yet?" He ran back there numerous times. And finally, FINALLY, he received the present he had waited so long for. The lesson from this story is simple. It's not about our timing. Heavenly Father has told us he has blessings that He wants to give us. We just have to wait a little bit. We may think it's way past due for our present, but it's only been 30 seconds. The important thing is to never give up. Never give up on God, never give up on hoping. If we give up and just stay at the bed and think there's no present after all, then there won't be any! But God always wants to give that gift. He's always there waiting. He loves us. I know that. Thank you so much for everything!

Mom! Dad!‏

Guess what??? I can't believe it. My mind is going to explode. So.......... It's the start of a new transfer, and my companion Sister Kang Dahyeon is transferring to Jinju! My training area!And she will be serving with my old companion Sister Park Eun Gyeong! I thought that was super awesome. I'm so excited for her! 

AND....... Right now I am back in Hogye with Sister Harris, as a temporary companion until Thursday. Why, you might ask? Well, Sister Harris and I are both TRAINING!! That's right, my last 12 weeks of my mission will be spent starting someone else on their first 12 weeks. Wow. What a privilege. I am super excited but super nervous at the same time.... Especially because of the fact that of the 14 teams in our Ulsan zone, 11 of them are training this transfer. Yeah. It's insane. Our zone is going to be exploding pretty soon! And our district will have has 6 teams, all of which will be training. !! 80

So, I don't find out who my new companion will be until Thursday morning. I've no clue whether she will be Korean or American, and I'm super nervous to find out! I just hope that I can be the example that Christ expects of me, so that whoever comes to Gyeongju will start their legacy of faith in this mission. It's a big responsibility!

This past week was really awesome as far as missionary work in Gyeongju goes as well. At first, it seemed like everything was falling apart because pretty much all of our appointments cancelled and we were really super bummed. But then at the end of the week we were able to set up appointments with two new investigators, and also a different potential investigator came to church! So we should be able to start meeting with her too if everything goes well. :) I'm thinking a lot of miracles will happen this next transfer. Let's make this place soar! I'll need your prayers though. :]

Alrighty family, I love you all. I miss you all. I promise I'll work hard. Here we go!

Sister Segovia

Interesting Fact: At the Post Office where there's space for you to fill out your stuff, they have glasses you can use if you can't see. There are always three pairs, labeled for 50 year-olds, 60-year-olds, and 70-year-olds. I still don't understand how they can assume that all people of that age would have the same prescription, but whatever works.

This past Sunday I gave my very first actual talk in church! My topic I chose to talk on was about progression, and what we can do to continually progress. I have been thinking lately about the time I was in the MTC and training, when it was like I could see my progression just shooting almost straight up. It was like everyday I was learning something new and getting some awesome insight. But as missionary work continued, I felt like my progression was just slowing down. So I had the question of how we can continually progress unhindered? As I was studying, I realized that in order for us to continue to progress, and REALIZE we are still progressing, we have to do three main things: 1. Remember our objective, which is to come unto Christ (to become like Christ) 2. Follow the map God has given us (Christ's example, found in the scriptures) and 3. Believe in our potential, even during the slow times. I know that we all have a huge incomprehensible potential. And every good choice we make is getting us closer to that, even if we can't feel any difference at the time. :D

So busy. full of miracles

 

Wow, this past week was inSANE. so busy. full of miracles. So much learned.

So last Monday was indeed the same holiday that I told you about a year ago! lol And you are right, we can't make appointments ourselves on holidays, but if we are invited then we can go. :) 

Remember the investigator that we had dinner with on Sunday and then she came to lunch at a members on Monday? Well then that same night she came to Family Home Evening and we all played Monopoly with another member. Then, on Tuesday we invited her to go with us to a museum that was doing some special displays and stuff for the holiday, so she came with us to that and we were able to teach her a lesson there. We weren't able to meet her again the rest of the week because we were so busy, but she had been invited by the members to come to church on Sunday. So Saturday night we called her and texted her about church but there was no answer.... Sunday morning her phone was off. So we were really disappointed. But we tried one more time 20 minutes before church started and she answered and said she would come! She arrived late, and actually ended up leaving early because something came up, but she came! I was so happy. :D

And we were able to meet with the kids of Rosalinda, the less active Philipine! It went really really well! They absolutely love us, and the second time we met with them, their friends were over and so we taught all six of them. We taught them about prayer, and invited them to church, which ALL of them wanted to come, including the friends! They weren't able to come yesterday, but we hope that we will be able to figure out a way for them to come next week. They are all super great; I love them so much!

Also, we did TWO exchanges this week, one with a brand new trainee and her trainer, and the other with a trainee that is almost done and her trainer that is going home next week. They were both really awesome. I stayed in the area and my companion went to the other area for both of them, so she was super exhausted. Actually, she didn't even get to sleep in her own bed for three nights in a row, because Wednesday was exchange, Thursday we went to sleepover in a different zone because we had a meeting early the next morning, and then Friday was another exchange. She was just dead by the end poor girl. 

Friday exchanges was crazy, because the Sister that is going home came to Gyeongju, where she had served before. So she called up a bunch of former investigators and we met with them. It was amazing! We hope that we can start developing a relationship with them again and perhaps they will come back. 

Anyway, this week was awesome! Nonstop go go go. That's what a missionary likes. :)

I'm glad to hear that Carla is safe from the earthquakes, and that Chelsea is feeling better. And dad got a new truck? What did he do with his old one? And I'm so sorry to hear about Juanita Valdivia's death, please give my love and respects to her family, and all of the Spanish branch! <3

I love you all!!! 

Sister Segovia

Interesting Fact: They use pretty much anything to make food. I didn't even realize it till this past week, but a lot of the little appetizer-type things that are in meals would be considered weeds in the US. Anything that is edible and a plant is a vegetable here pretty much. lol and I just learned about a tea that they drink that they make with the silk from corn. Really, they are so great about using every form of nutrients here. Mom would love it :]

We had Mission Conference this past week, where a Japanese Seventy came and spoke to us. It was so great! His wife spoke to us as well, and she was so adorable. Something she focused on was how important hard work is. She had us do a little dance to "Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel" and said something I really liked. "Sometimes the harder you try, the harder it gets. That's how it's been even with the best of people." Personally, I have a tendency to want to be pretty lazy. But perhaps the whole pattern of life follows this.. the harder you try, the harder it gets, and yet the more capable you become. I know that through Christ and His Atonement, no matter how hard things get, we don't have to turn back. We CAN be strengthened to fulfill the task.

Happy 추석!‏

If you remember last year (wow, it's been that long) when I was in Jinju and experienced my first big Korean holiday called Chuseok? Well, it's rolled around again! And actually, it's today! So not really anything special because it's already our P-day. But we were invited to a members house and were able to stay there for 3 hours cooking, eating, and playing with the four kids that were there. It was great :)

And also, our investigator came with us and was able to meet the members and I think she had fun. Actually, for the reason of this investigator, I'm so glad that it's Chuseok! We actually hadn't been able to meet with her at all since I've been here. I just met her my very first night in Gyeongju and then suddenly we weren't able to contact her or make an appointment. But then we called her up again this past week and she wanted to do something for the holiday, since she wasn't going to be with her family and didn't have any other plans. So we made kimbab (rice and veggies wrapped in dried seaweed) together with her and a member yesterday, then invited her to the lunch with other members today, and she will be coming to family home evening tonight! Super awesome! And she said that she will continue to do english/gospel program. :)

Other things that happened this week..... We had Zone Conference with the other missionaries and my companion gave the talk and I did the teaching practice. That was fun, though stressful up until it was done. lol Also, we went to Busan yesterday for another Leadership Coordination Meeting with other zone leaders and sister training leaders. That was great too. Learned lots of stuff from other missionaries and out beloved mission president!

Oh yeah! And last week on P-day we were able to go with the Elders and their investigator to see a village that is still old-style Korea. That was really cool! We just took a nice walk around and were able to see how homes looked like back then, with the grass roofs and stuff. It was beautiful. :)

We had a lot more miracles happen this week.... The Elders had two investigators come to church on Sunday, and one of them brought his wife and little daughter with him! And the other one is so close to being baptized, he just wants a real concrete answer... so he fasted on Sunday, and even payed fast offerings for it. Wow. I was awed by his faith. He's so close! Really, he is just like a member, but he's torn because he's really active in his other church. So he wants to be really really sure. But I know that he will receive an answer. 

Also, one last miracle I want to share. We finally met with the Phillipino less active that we had been trying to meet for the past couple weeks. She wants us to do the English program with her kids, so we will be starting that next week. Which means three new investigators! And we really think that they could receive baptism. I think they just need their father's permission, which is why they haven't been baptized yet. I'm really excited to teach them!

Anyway, this week was way busy. I hadn't even realized just how much happened until I had to sum it all up in this email! Lol I hope that everyone is doing well and has a wonderful holiday! It's not a holiday in the US, but it's a holiday here, so you have an excuse to celebrate! :D

I love you!!!!!

Sister Segovia

Interesting Fact: The tradition for Chuseok is to honor deceased ancestors by cleaning up their grave and paying respects to them. Families all gather together and pay respects and then eat and play together for three days. 

"I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people." - Leviticus 26:12

Where's Home?‏

This past week was pretty great! We were able to meet with members and help them out, though two appointments with the members I didn't even get to go to because we did exchanges that day. That was a bummer. But I was able to go back to my old home in Hogye! My old companion Sister Lee came here to Gyeongju, where she actually had served for a transfer a year ago. So she was really happy to come back here and get to meet with some members, and I was really happy to go back to Hogye! I was with Sister Harris, who was one of my MTC roommates! She is actually really similar to me, and I was able to learn a lot about her. :)

And not only that, but we were able to meet with two of my old investigators! One of which we hadn't been able to meet for a couple months, but I called her up and said I was coming back to Hogye so she met with us! It was really great, because Sister Harris was able to become friends with her and hopefully they were will be able to meet again in the near future and begin teaching her again. The other investigator was the one we found when we were knocking on doors. She seemed really happy to see me, and I felt that our lesson was guided by the Spirit. Sister Harris is doing so well in Hogye, and I have full confidence that she will help that area grow a lot! 

PLUS, they were able to meet with a different investigator again finally, that we have been trying to prepare for baptism for three months now, and she finally is actually going to get baptized, in two weeks! Yayy!! 

So those Sisters are doing so well! It was really great to do exchanges with them. <3

Also, my companion and I are continually getting better about working together and talking with one another. Sometimes we have kind of struggled because both of us are kind of quiet, and don't tell our feelings as much as we probably should. But we were able to get to know one another better and are doing better about the whole communication thing. haha

Sooo yea it was a great week! How was yours? I was SO EXCITED to hear that not only is Christal Segovia having a baby, but also Chelsea Hansen! Ahhh that's so awesome! Congratulations congratulations! I love you both, my beautiful sisters and amazing mothers! 

Thanks for everything, and for the love you send in your emails! Have a wonderful week. :D

Sister Segovia

Interesting Fact: Wisdom teeth are called Love teeth in Korean. hehe fun huh? And it's actually not as big of a deal to get them taken out here. Pretty much all of my Korean companions still had them, and a couple even had them grow in on their missions. Apparently when they give the papers to the dentist, the dentist doesn't feel it's necessary to extract wisdom teeth so lots of Koreans go on a mission without getting them out.

Once again, I'm going to change it up and talk about something from District Meeting with the other missionaries. 

In 1 Nephi 3-9, it's the story of Nephi receiving the command from God to get the plates from Laban, a not so nice ruler in Jerusalem. He and his brothers made a plan to receive the plates in order to have the record of their fathers, making both plan A and plan B. Plan A was simply to go and ask for the plates. When plan A didn't work, they went through with Plan B and attempted to buy the plates. However, Plan B didn't work either, and by this point both Nephi and his brothers must have been very discouraged. They had received a commandment from the Lord, so why wasn't it working out? They were trying hard, why didn't God help them so their plan would work? 

Perhaps we feel this way too. We know what we need to do and yet we try multiple ways and nothing seems to work. Perhaps at that point we could feel that God doesn't care, that He isn't helping us because He didn't make our own plan successful. But this is where we can look to Nephi for an example. After both of his own plans didn't work out, he didn't give up. Instead, he turned to Plan C, and completely gave it over to the Lord. He had no idea what Plan C was, but he had faith that God did know, and that God would guide him. Then, he acted. He went forward, and was indeed guided to know and do what GOD had planned.

Sometimes that's what it's about. Not knowing beforehand what we should do, but knowing that God has it all in His hands.