OUR FIRST MONTH IN KOREA

It was one month on the 9th of Sept. that we arrived in Korea.  The first 2 weeks were muggy, hot and cloudy.  Then we had almost 2 weeks of mostly sunshine.  Now there is a feeling of fall in the air.  It has cooled down and we have had some gentle breezes which make it almost perfect.  We try and walk somewhere most every evening.  In the beginning it was stock up and get what we needed.  The last couple days we have gone different directions just to explore. 

As of last week we are no longer the "New Missionaries" or the oldest.  A Korean couple came from Seattle.  They speak English quite well which is nice.  We are enjoying being Temple Missionaries.  We spend most of our time doing the ordinance work.  The missionaries are needed.  We make it possible for the temple to be in action each day whether there are many patrons or not.  It is good also because Sterling does lots of geneology and we have a perfect opportunity to get all the work done.  Sterling had a wonderful day yesterday, he got his letter from Pres. Monson giving him permission to use his sealing power in the Seoul Korea Temple.  He has been anxiously awaiting that.

         This is is actually the enterance to the Temple.  Interesting sidewalk.

Our Temple is small but beautiful.  Of course it has a bit of an Asian feel to it.  The doors in the Celestial Room are about 16 feet high.  The furniture is all white laquer with beautiful inlaid mother of pearl roses.  Under the Temple proper they have a large gathering area as well as some dorms for people to stay in when they come from long distances.  It also has a kitchen and dinning room that the people who stay there can use.  The front (see picture) has a large area of sculptured shrubs.  We saw the gardeners trimming it.  It was quite interesting.

There is very little parking here.  The word is, in the near future they will tear down these apartments and make room for more parking.  The church has quite a few buildings here around the temple.  There is a Family History Center, a Clothing Distribution Center, a Ward Building (Korean) and more apartments.

The Koreans are very friendly.  They keep giving us lots of things.  I have received lotion, lipstick, braclet and lots of food.  The Temple Missionaires have been treated to dinner out 4 times since we have been here that is besides the food they bring to our door.  This weekend is their Thanksgivinng Day.  It is, from what I can understand pretty much the same as ours.  All about family gatherings.  The Temple Pres. is having all the missionaries over for lunch on Mon.

There are 3 major Universities close to us.  So we see tons of young people on the streets.  Yesterday we walked to Yonsei University and found a track we could walk.  The Temple is on a hill so we always have to climb the hill home from where ever we go.  Sister Lee (ee) the temple secretary took us to a huge market downtown.  There were 10 huge buildings (we went in only one)  It was several stories of just fabic and related items.  It was amazinng.

This is our Chapel. 

We attend an English speaking Branch which is half again bigger than our Ward at home.  (Not as big as Audrey's)  It like most businesses etc., has several stories.  2 levels of parking, 1 classrooms, offices, kitchen etc.  The very large chapel (2 of ours at home) and cultural hall on the 3rd.  We leave about 9:15am and church starts at 10.  It is a very diverse ward.  People from all over the world.

Vicki & Joe Southerland in the traditional Korean dress.

As I said this is their "Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend"  At Church we had a linger longer with tons of food to celebrate.

Our Sacrament meetings have be wonderful.  For example today we had 3 sisters share their conversion stories.  1 was from Korea, 1 from Hati and one from Nepal India. Amazing.                                

This is a clerk in our grocery store.

The girls all dressed up in the traditional dress for Chuseok (Thanksgiving)

                 I must admit I am even happier here than I thought I would be.  The fact that I can't carry on a regular converstion with anyone is ok because I can call family & friends on our computer (Thanks David for setting that up for us.) and at Church most everyone speaks English.

We feel very blessed and are thankful for this opportuntiy to serve here in Korea.