Transfer day!
Sister Bang and I got up at 4:45 this morning to head to Shindorin subway station. It's a central point in the mission, so on transfers, everyone moving meets at the same point. So this morning at 7:00 there was a heard of white shirted foreigners. Quite a sight.
I found out on Saturday that I would be moving, and so the last few days I've had some unexpected feelings. It is sad to say goodbye to people. It has been gratifying to realize I love them and appreciate them, and that maybe I mattered a little bit to them, too. And it's been exciting to think about the new experiences, especially new people, waiting for me in this area.
Yesterday was a good last day in Yeongdong. We had a district meeting, them met with Jeong Tae ja. She's middle-aged, we met her on the subway. She invites us over and cooks for us and talks, and we try to get a lesson in. She dilligently attends another church, and so considering that, and how long visits always ended up taking, we weren't sure if we should keep meeting with her.
During our visits, Sister Bang figured out Jeong Tae ja's husband knew a member of the church from Sister Bang's home town. And after awhile we found out...her husband had been baptized and joined our church when he was in college. This friend baptized him.
So it didn't feel like just chance that we were meeting with her, though she didn't seem to be really understanding what we were teaching--more like she would hear things she wanted to hear. But yesterday we met, and we read from the Book of Mormon together. We tried to explain again how it's not just a good book, but that if it's true the church is true (like her, a lot of people accept the Book of Mormon, they just don't see the implications).
She is really involved in her church, and Sister Bang and I weren't sure that her changing religions was really a possibility. But yesterday when we met, she started talking.... I have a really hard time understanding her when she speaks, so I had to check with Sister Bang after. But I heard right--she was saying that if it was right, she would come to our church.
I also got to see a few more church members yesterday who we had gotten to know, and a newer investigator we've been meeting with--Nam-Goong Yoo ran. She is learning nail art and has a dream to do it in America. And in the evening we had an appointment with Nam Gi yeon. She was actually really distressed that I was leaving. She's the investigator we would sing pop songs with during English time. She asked me which one had been my favorite, and we sang it together. I promised I would never forget her. And I really don't think I can.
And then that night I finished packing like mad--stopped folding things even, just throwing them in. So now unpacking is a mess. I think because people rely so heavily on public transportation here, shipping things is really inexpensive. I packed up two good-sized boxes that Sister Bang arranged to get sent (total: about 14,000 won, so about $14) and somehow still filled up my two suitcases. I will have to eliminate things. Especially since a wheel broke on one of the suitcases. It got really heavy at that point.
My new area is Anyang stake. We cover five wards--I'm not excited about that part of it! At least I'm a little more keyed in at this point, so getting to know people and areas will be a bit easier this time around, I think.
I'm in a threesome. Sister Gubbler is from California. She has three transfers left, so has lots of experience! She is Sister Lee Yae gi's trainer. Lee Yae gi is from Daejeon (in the southern part of Korea), and this is her second transfer.
This transfer will definately have a very different dynamic. I'm a "co-senior" companion with Sister Gubbler. In Korea, age is really important. The American "age group" of "peers" and "friends" gets a heirarchy. You are "friend" (for lack of a better translation)--which means you were born in the same year--or an "older sister/brother" or a "younger sister/brother." Sister Bang explained to me that we would never be called "friends" in Korean, since she is older than me. We would be a "friendly older sister" and I would be a "friendly younger sister" (again, for lack of a better translation). And Sister Bang and I were friends in the English sense of the word, but at the same time she really was my older sister ("oni") in the Korean sense. And different than just a junior and senior companion. She would have me sit down on the subway if there was just one seat. She would tell me things I needed to change. Made sure I took medicine if I was sick. Made sure my bag wasn't too heavy. That kind of thing.
And when I was dragging the suitcase with the broken wheel, I realized I didn't have an "oni" anymore! The threesome feels right, though. It will be different, but it will be good. A friend from the MTC wrote me awhile ago. She was in a threesome and said she actually really liked it--there wasn't so much guessing about what the other person was feeling/thinking. Also, I'm seeing that I will be able to take more responsibility now without my "oni." So for several reasons, I think it will be good. An adventure, too.
Much love,
Carrie
Sister Bang and I got up at 4:45 this morning to head to Shindorin subway station. It's a central point in the mission, so on transfers, everyone moving meets at the same point. So this morning at 7:00 there was a heard of white shirted foreigners. Quite a sight.
I found out on Saturday that I would be moving, and so the last few days I've had some unexpected feelings. It is sad to say goodbye to people. It has been gratifying to realize I love them and appreciate them, and that maybe I mattered a little bit to them, too. And it's been exciting to think about the new experiences, especially new people, waiting for me in this area.
Yesterday was a good last day in Yeongdong. We had a district meeting, them met with Jeong Tae ja. She's middle-aged, we met her on the subway. She invites us over and cooks for us and talks, and we try to get a lesson in. She dilligently attends another church, and so considering that, and how long visits always ended up taking, we weren't sure if we should keep meeting with her.
During our visits, Sister Bang figured out Jeong Tae ja's husband knew a member of the church from Sister Bang's home town. And after awhile we found out...her husband had been baptized and joined our church when he was in college. This friend baptized him.
So it didn't feel like just chance that we were meeting with her, though she didn't seem to be really understanding what we were teaching--more like she would hear things she wanted to hear. But yesterday we met, and we read from the Book of Mormon together. We tried to explain again how it's not just a good book, but that if it's true the church is true (like her, a lot of people accept the Book of Mormon, they just don't see the implications).
She is really involved in her church, and Sister Bang and I weren't sure that her changing religions was really a possibility. But yesterday when we met, she started talking.... I have a really hard time understanding her when she speaks, so I had to check with Sister Bang after. But I heard right--she was saying that if it was right, she would come to our church.
I also got to see a few more church members yesterday who we had gotten to know, and a newer investigator we've been meeting with--Nam-Goong Yoo ran. She is learning nail art and has a dream to do it in America. And in the evening we had an appointment with Nam Gi yeon. She was actually really distressed that I was leaving. She's the investigator we would sing pop songs with during English time. She asked me which one had been my favorite, and we sang it together. I promised I would never forget her. And I really don't think I can.
And then that night I finished packing like mad--stopped folding things even, just throwing them in. So now unpacking is a mess. I think because people rely so heavily on public transportation here, shipping things is really inexpensive. I packed up two good-sized boxes that Sister Bang arranged to get sent (total: about 14,000 won, so about $14) and somehow still filled up my two suitcases. I will have to eliminate things. Especially since a wheel broke on one of the suitcases. It got really heavy at that point.
My new area is Anyang stake. We cover five wards--I'm not excited about that part of it! At least I'm a little more keyed in at this point, so getting to know people and areas will be a bit easier this time around, I think.
I'm in a threesome. Sister Gubbler is from California. She has three transfers left, so has lots of experience! She is Sister Lee Yae gi's trainer. Lee Yae gi is from Daejeon (in the southern part of Korea), and this is her second transfer.
This transfer will definately have a very different dynamic. I'm a "co-senior" companion with Sister Gubbler. In Korea, age is really important. The American "age group" of "peers" and "friends" gets a heirarchy. You are "friend" (for lack of a better translation)--which means you were born in the same year--or an "older sister/brother" or a "younger sister/brother." Sister Bang explained to me that we would never be called "friends" in Korean, since she is older than me. We would be a "friendly older sister" and I would be a "friendly younger sister" (again, for lack of a better translation). And Sister Bang and I were friends in the English sense of the word, but at the same time she really was my older sister ("oni") in the Korean sense. And different than just a junior and senior companion. She would have me sit down on the subway if there was just one seat. She would tell me things I needed to change. Made sure I took medicine if I was sick. Made sure my bag wasn't too heavy. That kind of thing.
And when I was dragging the suitcase with the broken wheel, I realized I didn't have an "oni" anymore! The threesome feels right, though. It will be different, but it will be good. A friend from the MTC wrote me awhile ago. She was in a threesome and said she actually really liked it--there wasn't so much guessing about what the other person was feeling/thinking. Also, I'm seeing that I will be able to take more responsibility now without my "oni." So for several reasons, I think it will be good. An adventure, too.
Much love,
Carrie
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