It gets HOTTER

I've heard the rumors before my mission of how hot Daegu is, or as some call it "Dafrica", and somehow it keeps getting hotter. We're almost in the thick of it, apparently it peaks in August and then it starts winding down into the far but holy cow, I've never drank so much water in my life. 

But aside from the weather, it's awesome here! I'm learning a ton everyday, and I'm even starting to see some progress in the language (sometimes not as fast as I'd like it to be but it's an awesome time when I recognize it). Elder Fox and I have made it a goal this transfer to really kick it up a notch with working with members so we've been building trust all over the place. I had my first member dinner appointment, my first soccer appointment with some investigators/less-actives, and just last night we visited with the bishop. It's been a lot of fun (and sometimes I don't really know what's going on to be honest haha) and we've seen a lot of fruit from each of those situations and I'd say we're on the right track to help strengthen the Jungni Ward and work effectively with the members here.

Investigator work is going awesome too.  Just a funny experience: one of our investigators (강인중) owns a claw machine arcade (which sort of recently came into wide popularity here in Korea) saw us and gave us a set of Winnie the Pooh dolls to have. It was a fun time carrying those back home while trying to proselyte. And one of our long time investigators (like half a year before I even got here), 정병강, who's had a hard time praying just had a big breakthrough with understanding why we pray. Missionaries always invite to pray and this man had no idea what the real purpose of prayer was until just a few days ago! It's crazy how small concerns like that can just get washed over. I know we were guided by the Spirit in what to say and what questions to ask and after the lesson was done he said he actually wants to pray now and offered the closing prayer without any qualms. It was awesome. The work has to be like baby steps here sometimes but every piece of progress is amazing. And then we had an awesome experience proselyting last week and met someone completely prepared to hear the gospel. He approached us, talked about how his son lives in Utah, how he wants to know God and learn specifically from the missionaries. It was one of those crazy golden investigator stories you hear about. But we found out he lives in a different area, so we had to refer him so that was a momentary bummer. But all the work is the same! I'm just glad we could be there for him and help him embark. and from what  we've heard so far, he went to church this Sunday and has gotten the first lesson already. So cool. 

That's all the time I've got; I hope everybody has an awesome week!

1) A kitten that lives under Pizza Hut 2) My exhausted trainer and one of my roomies Elder Stevens 3) Me and my newly acquired Winnie the Pooh dolls 4) I got a haircut here and they cut it super Korean. I don't think it's ever been this short in my entire life

Another wild week in Daegu...

Oh man, it's always hard to figure out where to start...

Well, for starters, I had my first zone conference this week as well as my first formal introduction to my new mission president, President Jeong. I had the opportunity to meet him while I was in the MTC once before (he was there for the mission president training seminar), and he is just awesome. I have to tell you, it's weird going from only seeing missionaries in the MTC, feeling the Spirit full-force 24/7 and what not. Going from that to Korea and doing missionary work in regular worldly places takes a bit of some getting used to. So by the time zone conference came around, I was super pumped to taste that same environment that I felt in the MTC. The missionaries here are sooo hard working and diligent; I have been blessed to be put in such a mission where there isn't much room for lolly-gagging. We had a super spiritual meeting, got to know our president, I got to know some of the missionaries in the mission; it was great.

Immediately after that zone conference, I commenced my first exchange. My first exchange companion was Elder Seely; this was his first time being a senior companion in his mission (he's only in his fifth transfer). He's a super chill guy, very hardworking, and very intelligent. He's pretty young in mission age but he's already super good at Korean. He imparted some wisdom, we got to know each other, I got a different perspective on missionary work. It was an edifying experience. I got to teach and eighty year old pastor with him as well. He was super sweet to us and the Spirit was super strong in the lesson. Something clicked with him in that lesson that apparently wasn't working out in earlier lessons. Meanwhile, back in my area, my trainer and our district leader totally rescued one of our nearly-dropped investigators, and wants to keep meeting with us.  Exchanges make miracles happen I guess.

Just some cool random stuff I'd like to share: 1) We doubled our amount of investigators! And at least one is considering baptism, so that's awesome. 2) I met a man named 007 Lion, who is a professional opera singer, former manager of the Texas Rangers (but wearing a Pittsburgh Pirates), says he was an Italian man in his past life, and is probably a habitual liar. He's currently one of our potential investigators. 3) I'm starting to do the sacrament prayers in Korean. I'm SUPER slow but apparently I haven't messed up yet. 4) I'm officially one-fourth done with my training.

Something spiritual I learned this week is how if we don't set specific goals, we won't be able to achieve specific things. You wants this number of baptisms? Well plan for that number, focus on the things that will lead to that, what needs to happen in order to get there, praying fervently for help and guidance, and seeking all possible ways of achieving it before we can say all has been done. It's just like the the Atonement; after all that we can do, it's by grace that we're saved. We have to do our very best, and then trust in the Lord past our own abilities that He will compensate the rest. It's hard out here, but it's not impossible. I know that we're receiving divine help from Him everyday, and as we act in faith and constantly rely on Him, we can obtain success.

It's been an awesome week, and I hope you have an awesome one too!

-Elder Metcalf 

1) My exchange companion Elder Seely

2) My trainer Elder Fox with his mangled umbrella. It rains a lot here at this time of the year so this is no good...

Training is Wild

HELLO EVERYONE

I made it to my second P-Day here and it's only gotten crazier. Wild things come up everyday and Korea never ceases to surprise. 

I don't have a ton of time but the one thing I'd like to mention is that missionary work is HARD. Surprise! *sarcasm* No but every aspect of missionary work here is difficult in one way or another. The Church here is just a baby (only 60 years) and we're here to help nourish it. But I have to say that the members here are sooo strong. I thought it was tough in Iowa but I've never considered a situation like this before. They're so great and kind and I love the heck out of them. 

But with all that being said, we have to give all of our heart, might, mind and strength everyday in order to do His work. In whatever it may be; finding people, teaching people, learning the gospel/language. It's all tough. But I know this is where I need to be and I know there are people out there ready to receive this awesome gospel and it pumps me up everyday thinking about them. I'm continuing to see blessings everyday and I know I'm not out here with just myself and my companion. I know God loves us so much we couldn't even begin to fathom it. i love Korea and I'm ready to share this eternally righteous message with them.

LOVE YOU ALL

Disclaimer: This is Alice. I am not on a computer where I can access all of his pictures that he sent so check back in from time to time to see if I have them up yet....

First week in Korea

HELLO

So I've been in the field for six days and I can already write about sooooo much. It makes me wonder how the rest of this mission is going to be, oh boy. But I'll just go ahead and start from the beginning...

Travel was long and grooling (of course). My travel group consisted of four other sisters and myself and we managed to keep each sane and safe throughout the whole thing. I arrived at the mission HQ here around 9PM (they call it "the Boo" here) and stayed the night there with the office Elders and Assistants to the President. Next morning we ate at President Barrow's home, right next door to the church/office, and initiated training. President Barrow was only my mission president for three days but he is AMAZING. And I'm related to him! He's my cousin, so that was pretty cool to get to meet and talk with him. 

Anyways, pretty much all of the training went right over my head because my mind was still spinning about the whole being in a different country bit. But the most important part of training you need to know is how awesome my trainer Elder Fox is. He's the actually best. A huge goof, a hard worker, and a very loving and patient person. No doubt in my mind that he was divinely picked by the Lord. After we got put with our trainers we headed out to do our first "jundoh" (proselyting) and boy it was wild to experience the Korean culture here. And I barely know any Korean on top of all this so I was just smiling the entire time, saying what I knew, and sharing the gospel. A lot more jundoh has occurred since then and it still hasn't gotten old. 

After our jundoh we were giving some training resources and important documents and whatnot, then headed off to our areas. Quick facts about my area: Joongni area (somewhere in Daegu) is the hottest part of the country and I'm now starting out the hottest time of the year here. Elder Fox calls it the "refiner's fire" and I agree with him, IT IS HOT. And apparently it gets hotter in August so I'll have to update you more on that later. So imagine trying to lug three boulders and two pillows across the city of San Francisco in the dead of summer with no one speaking English and that sums up my experience getting back to the area. On top of that, we live in a two-man house with four Elders so it's a real fun time over here spending time with one another. 

So much has happened so far that I could write about: meeting my district, first Sunday, first lesson with an investigator (which was two and a half hours long by the way, oops), and all the crazy stuff about Korea. But all I really want to talk about is how happy I am to be here, and I can't even explain why. When I'm at church or trying to proselyte or whatever it may be concerning the language: I have almost no clue what anyone is saying BUT I still try and I always have a reason to have joy because of this calling. No matter where you are or what language you're speaking, all He asks of you is to try your very best and let Him take care of the rest. The language comes no matter what, it's the eye single to His kingdom that I want to keep. It's tough work out here but it's all worth it, and I know this is exactly where I need to be. And I've already seen so many blessing and miracles already, and I'm not even a week in. He's watching out for me and He loves all His children. This work is awesome. 

Anyway, I hope everyone has a great week! Be happy!

-Elder Metcalf

1) Me struggling to use chopsticks

2-3) My companion and I in a traditional market

4) My travel group

5) The view the morning I woke up at the Boo

6-7) My companion and I traveling back to our area the first day of training

8) Sorbin, which is some type of awesome Korean desert

BTW, here is his is current mailing address:

Woojangchoon-ro

59 bungi 2

Dongraegu,

Busan, Korea

600-838