All the holidays are done with now! They don't really feel too much like holidays as a missionary but it's definitely an easy way to "mark" the time going past. But even then, it's so hard to keep track of time. As a missionary, I feel like I've been given some sort of crazy fast Ferrari-rocket ship type thing with two years worth of gas but the thing is so dang fast that it actually lasts two minutes. The "markers" are more like the cars on the other side of the road that just whizz past as you drive. The year mark is coming too soon... But anyway, it's been an good week, I'll fill you in:
We had district meeting this week and I was able to have some nice quality reflection time. During district meeting we were asked to choose two of our ten goals to make specific plans on how to accomplish. I like the goal making process, not because I keep all my goals (I achieve like 1% of them, like most people do) but because it gives you a chance to step back, see where you're at, reevaluate, and at least be able to recognize and find some changes to be made. My goals that I made specific plans for were 1) "getting closer with members" and 2) "praying more sincerely". 1) because I've noticed that I'm not too gung-ho about being proactive with member relations and member missionary work is something we're trying to focus on and 2) because I can often catch my self repeating the same things and lacking a truly open and sincere heart when I pray. So I was able to set up a plan of atcion to try and change those things. And the thing is, it's always goal to keep my goals (whoa goal-ception) but my biggest expectation from it is too at least change a little or correct to a different direction in someway. It's been such a blessing to have a goal centered life as a missionary and I've progressed far ore than I would have ever expected without considering the long-term scheme of things. YAY GOALS.
After district I was able to go on exchange to 신정 (Shinjeong; main city Ulsan) with Elder Deakin. Elder Deakin is actually in his 3rd transfer, whereas I'm in my 5th, so this was my first opportunity being senior companion! It wasn't that much different actually. There is difference in the level of language but aside from that, just the same two white dudes trying to share something to people on the street. But that being said, there were still some differences. Probably the biggest one I noticed is that (especially between two foreigner missionaries) is that the younger out of the two really listens and expects the older on to lead. on this exchange I also had the chance to meet another young missionary who is in his first transfer who was also on exchanges. Younger missionaries seem to be spongey, and I can look back and see that I was definitely the same way and sort of still am. The exchange mostly made me just think of the type of senior companion I want to be when that day comes. Showing good example, teaching things, and all that jazz. It was a fun time, and was nice to feel what the big city feels like again.
The only other big thing that happened this week was New Years. This morning I got to wake up ealy and head to a mountain with some members to watch the "new sun" rise for the year of 2018. It's culture here to watch the sun rise like that every year, and on top of that you need to eat 떡국 (literally translated into "rice-cake soup") otherwise you don't gain your year. Which reminds me of another Korean specific thing: I may be 19 but in Korea I just turned 21. Weird right? I'll try and explain... As soon as you're born in Korea, you're automatically 1 years old. And every end of the year, you receive another year, all at the same time. You have your specific "birth day" still but you don't actually age until New Years. Cool stuff. Anyway, there were about a bajillion people but it was super fun to spend time like that with the members and watch a beautiful sunrise. We got to go to our Branch President's house afterwards and chill too. I felt like a normal human being again for a hot few minutes, haha.
Here's a few smaller things we did this week:
- We got to visit a members house (김충배 "Kim Chungbae") and and the rest of his family and we got super friendly with them. They liked us enough to come out and watch the sun rise with us this morning. But we got back super late that night because we underestimated exactly how far his house was from our's. Ooops.
- We tried 전도ing in a place on the very edge of our area because it's literally the only place where there is a sizeable amount of people. We didn't see too much success but there were some cool parts of the area that have an older Korea feel too it (lots of alleys).
- We threw a party for the youth after seminary this Saturday because it's their last day of the course. (Did you know they only have seminary once a week on Saturdays in Korea? Not even fair...) We baked them a bunch of pancakes and introduced them to whipped cream. They love it. They think it's so cool.
That's all I've got! Have a Happy New and thanks for reading/writing! Buh bye~~~
-Elder Metcalf
1) Traditional exchange chicken (Elder Reiley in the back, Elder Geddes on the left, and Elder Deakin behing Elder Geddes) 2) The prepared pancakes which I helped slave over 3) Top of the mountain with some of the other missionaries and members (It is so darn windy up there)
1-2) A heck ton of people. I couldn't even capture the true representative of just how many people were on this mountain. Cars backep up to the bottom of the mountain too... 3-6) The slow sunrise...
1) THE 2018 SUN 2) Some Elders trapped on top of a windy mountain, and are actually two years older than they really are, but the sun was cool so they look pretty happy.
No comments:
Post a Comment