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
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