Christmas Party

This is a cute Korean Nativity set I was able to purchase for our home.  It was not easy to find and if it wasn't for Kristine,  our Korean friend, I would not have found it.  It will be a wonderful way to remember our stay in Korea.  

Last night we had our ward Christmas Party.  It started out with good food prepared by the women of the ward.  I asked if I could contribute and they said bring something "American".  I brought a chicken and vegetable casserole.  When I came in a sister shouted to everyone that Sister Groesbeck had brought some food and it was gone before we even got to the table.  I hope they enjoyed it.  

This is a skit done by the Elders Quorum, including 3 missionaries.  It was a contest for choosing the Star of Bethlehem.  There was a strong star, rich star, snobby star, educated star....  the winner was the small humble star.

Below is a member singing Still, Still, Still in Korean. 

Below are some Nativity cast members I helped get into a costume for the program. It is amazing what you can do with some sheets and pillowcases.  

 The scene below was accompanied by a beautiful violin solo of "Oh, Holy Night".

The Songpa Ward Missionaries sang "What Child Is This"  They also did the decorating for the event. There was a good turn out of ward members, English Class members and people being taught by the missionaries.  

This is the High Priests singing "Oh, Come All Ye Faithful"  Elder Groesbeck is to the right of Mary in the second row.  

This is Santa's helper handing gifts out to the children and senior members of the ward.  

It was a fun evening and it was good to see the people we teach from our English class and meet their families.   We were helping clean up and were told by the bishop that we did not need to stay and do that.  The young people do the clean up, so we left for the office and did some work there. 

Earlier that day we attended a performance of Handel's "Messiah" performed by an orchestra and choir composed of people from 42 different countries.  They even had a harpsichord.  The performance was held in Yeoungdongpo at the chapel.  It was a wonderful way to spend the afternoon.  The subway was great because we could share the ride with some missionaries and Korean friends.

Last week we received 18 new missionaries; nine finished their missions and returned home.   It is great to feel the enthusiam of the new missionaries.  They are anxious to get started and do the work they have been preparing in the missionary training center.  When they get off the plane they are shown how to use the subway system and then they talk to people as they make the 2 hour ride to the mission office.   They have a day of orientation, an interview with President Morrise and then they meet their new trainers/companions.  The new missionaries gather their suitcases and head for their areas.

The returning missionaries are anxious about what will be next in their lives after their missions.   They  speak of their love for Korea and  the people.  They tell of lives changed by the teachings of the Gospel.  They also tell how their lives have changed by serving the Lord as set apart missionaries.   They have the wisdom of 18-24 months of teaching and testifying.  Their influence is missed when they leave. 

We now have 165 missionaries in our mission.  We started with 85 in July.  Each week they talk with over 6,000 people as they go out to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  They look for the lost sheep in their areas of service and they help teach English to many people. We love their example of sacrifice.  They are 18 to 24 years old, they have many different talents, they enjoy being together and, most of all, they are servants giving freely of their time and talents to teach the Gospel.

We will enjoy Christmas Day together.  This is the first time in 37 years we have spent Christmas with just the two of us.  We will miss being with family but will talk with them via SKYPE.  We will see the grandchildren and hear about their day.  We will open our home to missionaries who want to SKYPE with their families.  We will remember the Reason for the Season, our Savior Jesus Christ, and be grateful for his atoning sacrifice in our behalf.  We look forward to the New Year and continueing to serrve and help His kingdom go forth in Korea.i 

 MERRY CHRISTMAS from Elder and Sister Groesbeck

Chuseok - Korean Thanksgiving

Our mission celebrated Chuseok (Korean: 추석) in September.  All the missionaries came together for the first time since the mission was organized in July.  I purchased a traditional Korean dress, a hanbok, and wore it for the occasion. 

It was fun to dress up for the occasion.  Some of the other sisters had them to wear also.

We had traditional Korean food and it was very good.  All the missionaries had a good time being together for the holiday.  It is actually 3 days long.  My understanding from talking with Korean friends is that they honor their ancestors by having a feast, going to the cemetery and cleaning the site and being with family.  Some said they just eat traditional foods for 3 days.

The missionaries went to a park for a while and then came back for a talent show.  It was a lot of fun to see all the talented young people and some fun skits.  

Delicious Korean food

Hungry elders

Food Table and Sisters

Elder and Sister Groesbeck

This is Elder Champion with his cup of Roasted Silk Worm Larva.  I was told they taste as bad as they smell. 

Here we are at Yeouido Park.  It was nice to be by the Han River and walk in the park

You can see some of Seoul on the north side of the Han River.  Lots of people were enjoying the nice September weather and cooling off in the water.

Seoul has wonderful architecture all  through the city.  There is a variety of shapes and sizes. 

                                                              This is one of many sculptures that are in
                                                              abundance through out the city

This is a picture of half of our missionaries at a mission tour by Elder Ringwood, our area President. He was a mission president of the Korea Seoul West Mission back in the 80's.  He is in the middle with the red tie.  His wife is the daughter of Elder Nelson. We are not in the picture because we are the photographers. 

This hydroponic garden was in one of the subway stations.  The subway stations are very clean and have a variety of stores to shop to and from your work or errands.

 We have been attending outdoor cultural events on our P-day, or day off from office work.  This is a traditional Korean Mask Play.

We really enjoy the colorful dresses of the women. The dances are graceful and lovely.

 Lotte World.  It is a big amusement park and the Koreans refer to it as the Disneyland of Korea.  We did not buy an admission but just walked around to see the castle and some of the rides. There is also a huge indoor section to see sometime in the future.  Maybe in winter when you cannot do much outside. 

Lotte Tower-- this is the beginning stages of what will be the largest building in Asia.  It will be 128 stories tall.   It is now 40 stories tall.

It will be an imposing structure and visible from all over Seoul.  We live about a 40 minute walk from this area of Songpa.  There is a very large Lotte Department Store, Grocery Store, Ice Skating Rink, and many other stores. We take the Subway to the Jamsil Station and you have your choice of 11 different exits to different parts of that area.  We have also learned to take the bus there which is closer to our apartment and shorter time than the Subway. 

The area is full of things to see and do.  We have enjoyed getting around on the Subway not only to look for missionary apartments but also to see the sights of Seoul.

Our side trips

We have been very lucky to have made some good friends that take us to different places around Seoul. 

In September we went hiking up to a fortress on the top of the nearby mountains.  It was used for defense and the wall runs along the ridge line.

It was a very warm day and by the time we reached the top we were soaking wet.  On the top of the mountain was a great breeze.  This is Jackie with our guide Jane, we met her in our weekly English Class.

Once you have trekked (the word Koreans use for hiking) up the mountain, the view from the summit is spectacular.  We were looking down on the part of Songpa, where we live and serve.

The buildings at the top housed the military. The gates to the fortress still exist.

It was great to walk through the old gate and think of the history of the area.  Korea has had to defend itself from many invaders.  It is inspiring to see how far Korea has come since the Korean War, the last time they had invaders. Our peers in Korea lived during that time.  They tell of becoming refugees and fleeing to Busan to the south.  Everyone was so poor after the war.  They express their gratitude to the United States for ridding their land of the invaders from the north.

This is the headquarters of the fortress. 


 I love all the colors and the lotus blossom symbols in the painting on the rafters.

I really like the limes of the roof and the dragon-like creature in the middle.

The curved lines of the roof make Korean houses different from Japanese roof lines. 





We had a great time and really enjoyed learning more about the history of Korea.  It was not an easy hike because of the steepness of the trail.  Going down is not easier than going up but it was well worth the hike.  Afterward we were looking for a place to get some food.  There was a place near the trail head; I asked about going to it.  Jane said they served dog soup and that she does not eat "dog" any more since she now has a pet dog.  Dog soup is suppose to give you energy when you are worn down.  We were glad she has a pet dog and didn't ask us to have some dog soup.  We instead enjoyed some beef soup and good vegetables.

We love being able to serve a mission in Korea.  We enjoy being able to help missionary work go forth to the Korean people.  Our missionaries are hard working and faithful young men and women who tell people about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We get hear about the people they meet, teach and come to love.  We know that the missionary work will go forward so that all can come to know their Savior. 

Food Adventures in Korea

We have been enjoying different Korean dishes on our Friday night "date night".  It is a little overwhelming as we try to figure out what is on the menu.  One night we thought we would try Italian.  We stood outside of the Resturant and looked at the menu.  We started to sound out the words...it went like this-- toe ma toe, OH, tomato, spa get e, OH, Spaghetti.  It must be spaghetti with a tomato sauce.  So we had some spaghetti with tomato sauce.  We are finding that there are Konglish or loan words.  Once you sound them out they are just English written in Korean.  

This is kimbop.  It is seaweed on the outside, rice with veggies and meat.  It is very  good dipped in some soysauce mixed with sesame oil.

We were treated to some walnut cake by our real estate agent, Brother Kim.  They are really very good when served warm.  As you can see they are shaped like a walnut.  In the middle is some red bean paste and a piece of walnut.  

This was a lunch that was prepared by a family for the missionaries.  There was a variety of good food. Everyone ate very well and were so grateful the generiousty of this good family.

Here is a close up of some of the dishes.

Of course there was kimchee and some greens in a vinager dressing.  The yellow dish is rolled egg and very good.  The chicken was in a spicy red sauce.  In the upper right corner is some chop-chay.  It is very good and we really like it.  They had also made a very good potato salad.   Koreans use metal chop sticks.  We feel they are a little more challenging that wooden ones. 

Below are some really good apples and grapes that were given to us at Choosauk, a big Korean holiday in September.  The grapes are very sweet and the apples just plain delicious.

When doing our grocery shopping we try some new veggies.  This one reminds me of a  zucchini and it tastes like one.

 

We buy our eggs in a pack of 2 and one half dozen.

This is a sweet little treat.  It is a very dense cake and has a buttery taste. We really enjoy all the different varieties of crackers.  They come in small packages.  The cookies are really nice because they are not overly sweet.  (they also sell Oreos)  

We have tried some differnet kinds of soups and found them very good.  We went to a place we thought was a chinese resturant. It wasn't, but we had a good portion of noodles in a broth that you could spice up with some red sauce.  Occasionally we go to Burger King for a whopper and fries. Nothing like a good hamburger.  The fries are less salty than in the US. Korean pizza is good and that is served quite often at Zone Conferences.  We've had some new combinations on our pizzas. One had potato slices and some corn. Another good one has sweet potato with cheese.  They also get spicy chicken pizza's.

Our local grocery stores are great for getting veggies.  We have a couple just a 5 minute walk from our apartment.  You take your own bag. The store is not very big so it does not take very long to get your groceries.  They have a large selection of fish and other sea food, veggies, fruit, dairy, laundy soaps, large bags of rice and frozen dinner foods.  No frozen veggies or fruit, but they do have ice cream.

Our missionaries are working hard.  They have had some amazing experiences finding people.   One set of elders were out on the street and felt impressed to cross to the other side of the street.  When they did a man tapped them on the shoulder and said he was interested in learning about their church.  He had seen an older couple walking in the morning ( that is us on our morning walks) and felt good when he saw the "older missionary couple."  He said he was feeling the same while talking with them.  He then offered to buy them a soda and afterwards wanted to see the church.  Since it was a block away they went and sat in the chapel and again he said he felt the spirit.  They have his phone number and are trying to make an appointment with him.   The sisters were out looking for members who have not attended a meeting in a long time.  They went 14 stops too far and had to go back.  When they got to the apartment building they had a hard time finding it and asked a woman for help.  She showed them the building and it turned out she was the person they were trying to contact.  They felt if they hadn't gotten lost they would not have found her. 

Jackie has been able to teach with the sister missionaries and has had some good experiences.  Many Koreans speak english very well and they like to talk with Americans.

We are grateful to be in Korea serving The Lord.  We know that His gospel is important for all people to hear and come to understand if they choose.  The Lord forces no one; everyone can choose for himself.  Jackie has been reflecting  on being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  November 11 marked 40 years since she heard the gospel & joined the church.   It has made all the difference in her life.  The Lord's Plan of Happiness gives real direction and purpose to living.  It lets you know where you came from & what will happen after death. If you live according to the principles and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ you can share the eternities with those you love and cherish most, your family. 

The Office

The Office - no this is not the TV series with romance, silly bosses, revenge and talking to a camera to tell your story.  The office is where we serve to do the behind-the-scenes work of missionary work.  We hear about the work of the elders and sisters as they proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We try and help and encourage them as they serve The Lord.  This post shares our daily walk to the office, our duties, who we work with, and feelings as we serve.

This is the street outside our apartment  we walk down and then turn left at the corner.  On the left is Ogeum Park.  

 

Macheon-ro is the street that we walk along for about 2 city blocks.  Much of the time it takes us to walk to the office is spent waiting to cross the street.   There was a button on the light pole that we would press thinking it would help change the lights so we could cross sooner.  When pressed a nice lady's voice would speak Korean.  It really didn't seem to effect the cycle of the signals

When the green walk signal came on you could hear it chirping on both sides of the street.  We noticed the people would look at us rather strangely.  Well be figured out that the button is for the visually handicapped--no wonder we got strange looks; we obviously are not blind. 

On the way we pass a traditional Korean dress shop.  They are so pretty and the fabrics are lovely.

Just down the street a little bit is the Eel Restaurant. Sorry I really don't like to look at those creatures swimming around the tanks of water so I took the picture from across the street. 

This is looking down the street to the corner where we turn to the right to head for the church building.

All the trees along the street are Ginko trees.  Below is one entrance to the church. We use this one almost every day. 

Here is the side door to the building.  We have been weeding around the building and planting some hostas.  In the spring we want to plant some begonias and impatents. 

The church building is the meeting place of the Songpa Ward, the mission office, the mission president's residence and an apartment for the Assistants to the President, the Office Elders and a set of proselyting missionaries.  Below is the front entrance.

Behind the building are apartments and a bath house.  On one side is a coffee house and on the other a wine seller.  Across the street is a dress store and office building. 

This sign is outside the office door. Beginning with the words Jesus Christ, the first two lines are the name of the church.  The third line says Seoul South Mission.

This is what you see when you enter the office

Elder Groesbeck has his own office.  He handles the financial maters.  He pays bills, handles the banking which requires some writing in Korean, manages the vehicles, makes sure the missionaries have money on their debit cards & finds new apartments.  Elder Groesbeck keeps us organized and helps us make sure we stay on top of all the tasks to get ready for new missionaries and move into apartments. He also  serves as the executive secretary for the mission presidency.  

The map on the wall is of the Seoul South Mission and shows where apartments and church buildings are located.  

Sister Groesbeck has a desk in the main work area.  This area is shared with the Assistants to the President and the Office Elders.  She gets items ready for new missionaries & keeps a file on each missionary. She prepares reports, agendas for staff meetings, lists of incoming and departing missionaries and general office work. She is the first  person to greet most visitors, even if they prefer to speak in Korean.  The missionaries have discovered her sewing skills, so she frequently gets to exchange mending tasks for a smile and heart-felt gratitude.

 

The Office Elders handle the ordering of supplies, moving missionaries, translating for meetings, taking care of visas and foreigner cards.  Here are Elders Baldwin, Jeong  and Kim.

The Assistants to the President help the president in many ways.  They do training, conduct the weekly staff meeting & work with missionaries when problems arise.  They are always busy and very diligent in their responsibilities.  Elders Witt and Elder Woo are pictured below. 

We also help with the English classes.   English classes are a service we provide the community. There are different class levels.  Some are learning basic grammar & vocabulary.  Others speak the English quite well and want to learn colloquial American, phrases, increase vocabulary and hear a gospel message.  Last Saturday Jackie was talking with a class member about her trip to Africa.  She had gone there on a church mission.  Jackie enjoyed her pictures of the African wildlife.  Jane started talking about seeing nature and the beauty of it throughout the world. She asked if we were able to go outside of Seoul.  "Sure we can!" was the reply, so she said that she would like to show us a lovely place and would like to take us next Saturday.  She then said to Jackie "We can be friends".  That was a special moment to Jackie, that this good person wanted to be friends and all that it implies. 

Serving in the Mission Office is chance to see how revelation and inspiration works to help missionary work go forth to all of the world.  No, we may not be out everyday proclaiming the gospel to the people in the streets but we have the opportunity to share our testimonies with the people we labor with.  In the English classes we often can testify of the blessings of the gospel.  

It has been a wonderful opportunity to learn to recognize opportunities to help others, from helping a lady carry groceries, giving shelter under and umbrella during a rain storm, smiling to the women on our street and just plain enjoying the opportunity a making new friends in a foreign land.  We have also been on the receiving end of service, something we are not used to.  Church members have helped by translating during classes, finding a place for hair cuts, buying groceries, teaching us how to use chopsticks and giving cooking classes.  Jackie was invited to accompany a group of Relief Society sisters as they went to the hospital to visit a sister who is caring for her 80 year old mother. We are blessed as we serve The Lord by loving his children. We hope and pray that they too will embrace His Gospel.