Hayjee

Changes in the life of Sis. Evans

Dear Family,

So sorry I've been out of the loop for a few weeks. Just trying out figure out classes. So! I'll try to give you a rough update on everything.

The 24th of October we got transfer calls. I completely expected to stay in Wonju considering I don't have that much time left to go to a new area.  I'm going to Dong Daemun.  Ahh, so hard. 

Packing was bad, but not terrible. I can't imagine what it's going to be like when I have to pack to go home. I met a ton of members before I left. They are so kind and met for every meal. Although, one day we ended up eating 4 time before 5 and honestly we were in so much pain.

Wednesday night we ate with a member and had every time of sea creature you can imagine. Weird thing is, I'm totally fine with it. But, I had no idea there could be so many different kinds of octopus and squid. I still feel bad eating the whole baby octopus a little inside... but it's fine. Then we went straight to the train station! The elders happened to be taking the same train.

Then, after a series of events, we got to the temple really late to sleep there and as we walked in a couple walked out that SIs. Yeom knows. They just talk for a couple minutes and the woman said something about when she served a mission. For some reason I felt like I should ask her when she served her mission and think no, but then think it again so just as she leaves I asked her. Then she asked why and I said that my dad also served here and I was just wondering. She stares at me, looks at my nametag, and says 에반스 장로님!! Elder Evans!! she said that she served in the same district as an Elder Evans but isn't sure if it is the same one. Then she says, "I don't know, he was a wrestler" and I said "Yes!!!!!! That's him!!!" She said, "I know!!! You have his same eyebrows!!" Haha, isn't that funny. So ya! Isn't that unbelievable?? 

My new companion's name is Sis. Allsbrook. We get along really well!! Our house is huge. Fun fact- I'm living in the number 1 most expensive house in our mission. It's reallyyyyy nice :) My companion is from Virginia Beach, Virginia and she came to country when Sis. Yeom did so they're in the same transfer (transfer number 3). Everything is going great! 

Love you so much!!

Sis. Evans

Chuseok!‏

My Plant!

Sorry about the time!‏

Dear family,

Sorry I don't really have any time, so this is going to be a quick one! A member called us all of a sudden and took us out to eat. So kind of her, but I'm so full I think I might die. 

Quick one-liners about last week!

Last Monday I went to Seoul and slept at President's house. 

Tuesday was MLC. That night went straight to Gangneung with Sis. Lautaha, slept there, Wednesday was Zone training. 

Afterwards we went straight back to Seoul with our companions, slept at president's house again, then Thursday was 12 week follow up for the trainers and trainees. (7 companionships?) Super good! We got to do a lot of roleplays and figure out what we can do to keep serving and how to serve better. Thursday night came back to Wonju.

Friday! Finally in Wonju.

Saturday was Ham-unseong's baptism! The elders found him on the street in the beginning of June and he was baptized! He's amazing. Sis. Song was able to come and she loved it. She is so ready to be baptized, just is waiting on a few things.

Right after we went with the members out to the district president's house in Peong chang, which is where the winter olympics will be! There's nothing out there! His house is sooo beautiful. Way up in the mountains! Long story, but the member's car didn't start after and we were stuck for a while but a truck came and helped us out! I found a frog while waiting^^

Saturday night transfer calls came but nothing changed! Still in Wonju with my companion.

This past week was a good one, but a bit frustrating because we didn't have a lot of time to serve in Wonju. We were able to get 20 lessons on the street, though, which is a solid number! I was happy.

Hope things are well at home! Love you!

SIs. Evans

Pouring Rain!

Busy week!‏

Dear family,

So last Monday I went to Sokcho and got to do FHE with Ee-en-shirl!!! Remember her? She's the one in the wheel chair? It was the best. She's so awesome!

The exchange was so good with Sis. Peni. She really wants to work hard... but I guess finding motivation to do it can be hard sometimes. But we were able to talk to a bunch of people and see miracles! Haha, ok here's a funny thing. So there's this tiny little bread house that's so cute and cheap. I honestly can only remember going 3 times but we went inside and the woman was so surprised to see me. She said, "Oh hello!!! How's Wonju and everything going??" I have no idea how she knew or remembered I am in Wonju! So kind. I was also able to see Chon suyoung. She's doing well :)

Wednesday we went to Seoul and had our pday there! So, we were so excited. All of us sisters were going to meet up (that's 10 of us) at this huge "children's park." I went there my first transfer! It's the one with the zoo. I was so excited to be able to run around for a few hours!! Sis. Peni and I got there first. We came up out of the subway into the sunny weather and walked to the park entrance, waited about 2 minutes, and it started pouring. Out of no where!! Just a downpour. I'll send a picture. Soo... spent most of the rest of the pday in the subway. Haha, kind of funny, huh? Sis. Yeom, Peni, Kim Hanseor, and I were able to go to a museum real quick, which was cool. Then that night we were able to do a temple session. Finally! It's been so long. I love being able to go to the temple.

Thursday we met in the Shindong building and had the Mission Tour. President Whiting came. It was so good, so inspirational. A little bit of a kick in the boot to work harder. Although, it did say we are a very obedient mission and are ranked as a very obedient mission. Which I would definitely say is true. Haha, President and Sister Sonksen were very happy to hear that. He talked a lot about how we're working really hard, but the first presidency and quorum of the 12 feel like we need to be baptizing more. So it was really focused on that.

Right after the meeting, the zone leaders and sister training leaders met and had a discussion on the mission tour. Kind of intense! There were about 10 of us and President and SIs. Whiting and Pres and Sis Sonksen. Really good meeting here! We just discussed what we can take away to apply to our mission more.

Friday we were able to meet a less active and then street contact. Sorry there's no time but Saturday was awesome! We have been planning this for a couple weeks. We had another movie night and watched "Meet the Mormons" but bigger! We planned the whole dinner afterwards and a bunch of new people came! So cool!!!

Then yesterday Song Seong suk came to church. She told us that for almost 2 consistent weeks she just cries every night because she can feel God's love and influence and is starting to know he is really there. Right now her life is in turmoil and she's lost so much, but she said she can't stop crying everyday because her heart just feels overwhelmed with gratitude for what she has. Wow. She's so incredible, isn't she?? 

Have a good week!! Tonight I'll be going to Seoul with Sis. Lautaha for MLC.

Love,

Sis. Evans

사진

Not much time!‏

Hey fam!

That picture I sent was of 박정순 Bak (Park when you romanize it) Jeongsun. She's a member we meet with often in Wonju. She has the craziest conversion story ever!! I can't wait to tell you about it later :)

So like I said, there isn't much time! I'll tell you about our new investigator. Her name is XXX. We met her on the street and she had English interest! (This was on Tuesday) So we told her about how that night we had English class so we went with her right then to the church which was about a 20 or 25 minute walk away to show her where it was. She just wanted to stay until it started so we were able to teach her right then. She told us religious stuff would be hard because she has one so she's not sure if she wants to change, which is totally understandable. Ok, so, here's the thing. She's great! But you could just tell something was off. She was just a bit of an odd one. But that's ok! Odd people make this world interesting. She came to English class Saturday too and really liked it. She's told us she's a Jehovah's Witness and has been since high school. Her mom and older sister are, too. She said she isn't happy with her church though and wants to change (but, she did say that the main reason was that the members are click-ish and aren't very nice to her). Lo and behold she came to church on Sunday! Haha, 2 hours early (church starts at 10 and she showed up at 8 because she wanted to wait). Yes! Love her enthusiasm! 

The members were great and were so nice and inviting to her! But then... a member approached us and told us that XXX used to attend the mental institution she worked at and has very severe schizophrenia. That was sad. She told us not to teach her but just be nice to her.

We're figuring out what to do. She loved church and said she wants to attend forever! So it's just a tiny bit complicated. But we were happy to find her :) 

We were able to finally meet Song Seongsuk this week!! It had been almost 2 weeks. I love meeting with her. She opens up and tells us everything. She's been having the hardest time at work ever and I don't know how she's alive with all the stress she has but she says that now that she's starting to pray every night she feels overcome with gratitude for how blessed she is. When we met she cried for most of it because of how blessed she feels. She says she still doesn't know if God is there, but she's starting to believe it. She had a wedding this week so she didn't get to come to church but hopefully we'll be able to meet her again before next sunday. 

Today actually isn't our pday! On Thursday we have a Mission Tour because President Whiting is here!!! So exciting!!! So, here's the plan. Tonight I will go to Sokcho for exchanges with Sis. Peni (YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) I'll be there tomorrow and then Wednesday all of the missionaries in the country will go to Seoul, have a pday, spend the night at the temple, and then the next morning have the mission tour. 

Alright! Time's up! Love you! Stay safe, happy, and close to the Lord! 

Love,

Sis. Gentry Evans

Miracles in Wonju!!!‏

Hi family!!!

Wow I'm just so excited right now because it was such an amazing week!!! 

Starting with last Monday, I went and had my foreigner card renewed. Isn't that crazy?? It's already almost been a year!! The process started on Monday and then finished on Thursday. I'm glad it's over and nothing went wrong with it.

Monday night we switched with the Donghae sisters and Sister Bell came to Wonju with me and Sis. Yeom went to Donghae. It was such a good exchange. Right now... things are pretty tough for them in Donghae. New companions and the other sister is Korean. They really like each other but they're really feeling the struggle with the lack of communication. Sis. Bell is in her 4th transfer and Sis. Ee Soyeon is in her 3rd. I feel for them! It's hard at first but they're working so hard to understand each other. 

Tuesday was a full day of proselyting with Sis. Bell! But we were able to talk with a bunch of people and have such a good day :) That night was English class.

Wednesday morning we exchanged back and met an investigator. Unfortunately she has no actual interest but just wanted to learn English... So that didn't really work out. A nice lady! She wants us to come and teach us how to do things with flowers and then we teach her English. Haha.. no.. Then we met a member named 함명희 Ham Meonghei, who is just amazing. 

Thursday... Well, quite a day. Finished my foreigner card stuff and then proselyted. Visited a grandma's house we met on the street a little bit ago. So humbling... It was just one tiny room and everything was old and rotten. There were thousands of flies just everywhere. Just dirt floor with cardboard on top. :( We talked for only about 10 minutes but then she kicked us out. So sad.

Afterwards we met 이경희 Ee Geonghei who is a member we've been wanting to meet with forever! And finally she could! So we met her and then went to a restaurant. Right after the food was ready and started to eat... I got an interesting phone call. So, don't freak out, but it was an emergency call for us to get home and get our bags ready. You could said I was slightly surprised... but honestly, not too worried. We just felt so bad for the member!! She paid for this good food and we just had to go! And it turned out to be nothing. We just went home and got our emergency backpack ready and then just missionary work at our house (calls and such). Remember Joseph? That American soldier we met on the street a few weeks back? Well he was nervous about something happening so he's the one that alerted our mission president. Didn't even have to worry, though :) Nothing happened. You've been hearing about North Korea but no one here is worried at all. 

Then Friday!!!! So Friday we had weekly planning and then the absolute coolest thing ever. We were out proselyting and had about 10 minutes to be at the church for our district meeting and we were about an 8 minute walk from the church... We were about to turn left but a ways ahead of us was this older couple walking and holding hands. So we thought, how perfect?? They're totally ready, loving people! So we sprinted up to them and then casually walked the last couple steps up next to them and said hello. We started talking and introducing who were are and they said they've heard about our church and have questions! The man said, "Look, over there are some benches, let's go sit down and talk together." Ok.... what??? When does that happen?? So we went over and over the next hour taught the whole Restoration and most of the Plan of Salvation. It was such a good discussion! So many good questions. They are very religious people and have been attending church their whole lives. Found out they actually live in Seoul and were on their way to the bus terminal! Perfect timing! So we were able to get their number and send it to missionaries in their area. COOLEST THING EVER. But... there's more.

That night we had a late dinner so it ended at 8:45. We had originally planned do calls until 9 but I just knew we had to go outside. I can't even describe it. We went outside and I knew exactly where to go. I felt like... I don't know there was like this spiritual map in front of my and I was so literally being guided in exactly where to go. We were running here and there until I saw her! There were a group of students and then one lone one. We were able to catch up to her and ended up talking for a while. We taught the Restoration and long story short we're meeting her tonight!!! It was so amazing.

So one commitment we gave at zone training was that every night after planning we would write the miracle we would see the next day. It's happened everyday! Friday's goal was to find people with sincere interest and questions about our church... and we found them! 

Ok, next cool story. Real quick.... So Song Seongsuk came to church yesterday and then after received a priesthood blessing after from Bro. Bak Sugen because of her work and stuff. It was amazing! And then last night we wrote that today we would receive a referral for our miracle today. This morning during studies a number we didn't know called us and it was a man. He said that his mom had met us on the street and that we'd given her a Book of Mormon. He's been wondering about God and why there are so many churches and basically every question of the soul. (You can imagine how stunned we were during the conversation.) So he was talking to her and she referred us to him. WE HADN'T EVEN HIT LUNCH YET AND WE ALREADY SAW THE MIRACLE. Things are happening, people.

It's been so amazing!! I can't describe it but I feel almost spiritually drained! It's like been spiritually exhausting! But so fun. The past couple months have definitely been my favorite on my mission and they just keep getting better.

I hope everything has been going well at home! Love you so much!

Sis. Gentry Evans

And the rain comes down^^

Dear family,

Happy Anniversary!! I hope the world's best parents had a fun weekend^^

So last Monday I spent the night at President's house with Sis. Lautaha and the zone leaders from Gangneung (Elder Dixon and Jones) and then Tuesday we had MLC for most of the day. Super good! Really they're like these spiritual powerhouses where I just feel like I need to improve so much!!! But learn so much at the same time^^

Wednesday I... don't remember what I did.... But then Thursday we had a zone conference in Wonju! So all of 강원도 Gangwondo (the countryside) came to Wonju for the meeting. President and Sis. Sonksen and the AP's came too. The rest of the mission (in Seoul) met together in one big group, combing all the zones, but we just met out here :) Haha, we're just too far from everything so we do everything separate. 

Spent most of the morning planning with zone leaders and then meeting with the district leaders and then we had our conference! President and Sis. Sonksen gave trainings as well as the AP's and then the zone leaders and then Sis. Lautaha and I did. It went alright. I mean.... It was good but we can always improve! Or focus for this month is "having the faith to baptize- finding." 

Right after the training I started an exchange with Sis. Kim Hansorl. It's her last transfer and the exchange was really good! We were able to talk with a lot of people and have some really good conversations :)

Saturday we met Song Seongsuke and ate together. Oh ya! I feel like I've eaten pretty much all of the really strange foods so they're not strange anymore..... but I had a new one! I didn't know what it was (but then again, I don't know most of the foods that I eat), but I ate a large chopstick full of this stringy stuff. Holy cow! I thought my eyes were going to pop out of my head! My senses were on fire! Not because it was hot but the taste was so.... intense? Like, wow, never had anything like that. Think of wasabi, but a thousand times stronger.  Found out that it was jellyfish tentacles! So that was new :)

After we went to Ahn Ensun's house to help her carry stuff to the church (she's this wonderful and slightly odd less active that we love!)

Then English class and FHE! After, we cleaned the church because some people would be coming to speak at church the next day and then street contacted^^

Sunday was great! Sister Song went to visit her husband so she didn't come to church but Kim Dogeong came who is this woman who was baptized in school about 30 years ago but totally forgot! She saw our English sign and came to English class and said, "I think I'm a member of this church? But I'm not sure" She's so wonderful!! So kind and funny. That happened about a month and a half ago and she's come to church almost every week since.

Afterwards we met an investigator but It was sad..... we were doing the English program with her (30 min English, 30 min gospel), but she doesn't want to hear anything about our church, just English. She said she knows everything and that we're not to share a message. So... can't meet her anymore :/ my companion (Sis. Yeom) was pretty upset. But it does happen! More than we would like it to.

I forgot to mention the weather later! Maybe for the past few months.... so basically about a month and a half ago it was super hot. Comparable to a sauna with the humidity^^ but then ok..... and then last week kind of super hot... I felt so bad because it was Sis. Yeom's first week and we spent most of the time outside! But, she did a great job :) Then it rained almost all night one night and then it got coolish! Yesterday was just a DOWNPOUR!! We were walking home from our lesson when all of a sudden it was raining cats and dogs. Swimming isn't allowed on my mission but basically that's what we were doing! I'm not exaggerating when I say if I had jumped in a pool I wouldn't have been more wet. Haha, it was so so fun!!!! I love rain!

I hope you have a good week! I'm so so grateful to be out here serving my mission, I can't express how much I'm learning and how much I love this work! I know this gospel's true!

Love,

Sis. Evans

Exchanges!

Transfers!!!!‏

Dear family,

How's the best looking family in the world doing today? :)

So I'll start with last Tuesday! We ate lunch with 송성숙 Seong Songsuke and she said goodbye to Sis. Seo. She was so sad! But said, "When I get baptized you have to come back and visit, ok?" Yes I love her!! Then we went to Seoul and I got to visit a member from my first area Jungnang that I haven't seen in forever! It was 최승임 Chway Seng eem. She was baptized just over a year ago and she's going through the temple this week! So exciting! Then we slept at the temple.

Wednesday morning was our first "transfer meeting" we've ever had that our new mission president wants to start. The new missionaries (there were like 7 or 8?) sat on the stand and then we all sat in the rows. So sad, we were divided in half by the missionaries staying and the missionaries going home. 26 missionaries went home this past transfer!! Isn't that crazy?? So many. Anyway, then they went through one-by-one announcing new companions and leadership positions. I guess transfers are supposed to be more fun this way? Anyway, they announce our names and then we go up and hug and sit down together. Except if you're training, then they just say you're training and later you'll find out your companion.

Surprise! I'm training. So I just sat there awkwardly by myself because my trainee was on the stand..... haha.

So after, us that were training all went to Gwhanghwamun by the President's house for the trainers' training and to hear our new companion! Also, there were only sisters! No new elders came into our mission this transfer, which is another crazy thing. Our mission is getting smaller and smaller.

So after a meeting our new companions were announced! There were 8 new sisters, 7 Americans and 1 Korean........ My companion is the Korean!!!!!! Hahaha what are the chances??? Literally I can't believe it. So many people only have 1 Korean their whole mission!!! Her name is 염은진 Yeom enjin. She's actually from the south part of Seoul so her house is really close! She's been so great and is adapting to missionary work so well!! She's amazing. Only she and her older sister were baptized when she was 12 and her older sister served a mission, too. She's so sweet!

So it's been a little hard for her, just adjusting to everything, but she's trying so hard. We're street contacting a lot because we don't have a lot of investigators right now. Our beloved Song Seongsuke is doing so well! She came to church Sunday and enjoyed it. She's very very stressed because of her work so she's going to get a Priesthood blessing this week. We ate at a member's house for dinner with her yesterday, too! (이귀임 Ee quee im's house.... that doesn't sound right but I don't know how to write it.) 

Right now my companion and I are actually in Seoul because I have MLC tomorrow so she has to go on exchanges with other missionaries while I'm there. It's confusing.... So now there's not two zones where I'm at in the countryside, they made it all one big zone ("Gangneung zone"). So there's one zone leader in Taebaek, one in Gangneung, an STL in Wonju and one STL in Gangneung. Sis. Lautaha is the new STL. She's great! But super stressed about it..... We have a meeting tomorrow at President's and then training this week!

Everything's going so well! It's weird how long I've been on my mission but how much I still need to learn. I lack so much! 

I hope you have a good week and good luck with the start of school!!!

Real quick funny thing I noticed yesterday. During sacrament Elder Ashby (a member of my district) said the opening prayer, blessed the sacrament, and gave a talk! haha. (He's also the Branch president's second counselor).  And! There were almost 40 people at church yesterday!!!

Ok, wrote a ton.

Love you!
SIs. Evans

Oops times up....‏

Hey Fam!

Sorry I didn't exactly plan my email time well so I must go now.....

But a few quick things! My companion and I go to Seoul tomorrow, spend the night at the temple, and then Wednesday I get my new companion! The thing is... I have no idea who it is! The new president wants to do things differently so we were all only told if we were getting a new companion but not who it'll be. I'll find out Wednesday and let you know!

Our investigator Song Seong Suke is doing so well! She brought her husband to church yesterday for Sis. Seo's last Sunday!!!

Love you so much! Remember to drink plenty of water in the hot weather ^^

Love,

Sis. Evans

P.s. Good luck with the new school year!!!!

Hi, Family!!‏

Dear fam,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!! I can't believe it's already come up!! Definitely crazy. One year younger and wiser too... ;) 

Today our pday is short because we're meeting Song Seongsuk so we only have 1/2 of our email time! So I'm sorry... I know I say this every week... but this might be a short email!

This last week I went to Gangneung to exchange with Sis. Xxx. She's a really good missionary! Lately.... missionary work has been hard for her and she's been having thoughts of ending her mission... but the exchange was so good. We were able to work really hard and talk with lot of people and have so much fun. She says she feels a new spark for missionary work and has found new motivation! Yes! She's determined and will do great things! :)

Right after, we met the Donghae sisters at the Gangneung bus terminal and then I went to Wonju to exchange with Sis. Bell. She's darling! Such a hard worker. Ok, here's the craziest thing.

All of the buses to different areas leave at exactly the right minute. Literally the clock hits 3 or whatever time the bus is supposed to depart at and the bus starts moving. Well, we got to the bus terminal 2 minutes after a bus was supposed to leave so we were sure Sis. Bell and I had missed it and would have to wait for the next bus. BUT NO! the bus hadn't departed yet and we were able to get on it! It left 4 minutes after the initial departure time. I have never seen that before. So then we took the hour and half ride bus to Wonju..... (I promise there's a point to all of this^^)

We got off the bus and I decided to take a different way home than normal. We were walking home and I was talking to a lady as we were walking (just met her on the street). All of a sudden I heard Sis. Bell talking to someone so I turn around to see this massive white man behind us! I was so shocked!!! I finished the conversation with the woman and then joined their conversation. His name is Joseph Schlosser and he's one of 3 foreigners stationed in Wonju with the American army. He's been here for 1 year and had no idea there was an LDS church here! (He's a member) He was so excited to meet us. He's 32 and from Idaho and has a wife and 3 kids in America. His social security number is -  haha no I'm kidding. 

We took him to the church and showed him around and the elders came and met him (not that I didn't trust him........ but...). 

So here's his side. He never leaves his apartment because he doesn't want to spend money but he was skyping with his wife and she said he had to get out and do something. So he reluctantly went to a Pizza Hut (yes, there's one here), and was eating there. He had eaten half of his pizza and was just sitting there because he was full and was thinking how he wished there was someone he could give his pizza to that would understand him. Right then he looked out the window  (he was on the second floor), and saw us and knew that we were sister missionaries! He said he got out of there as fast as he could to try to find us and talk to us. He was so excited! It's been about 18 months since he's been to church because he was just stationed in Iraq. 

The next day (Saturday) All the missionaries in our two zones went to Gangneung for a fireside where this musical family was touring around. They were so musically talented! The wife played piano, the 3 daughters played the violin, and the husband sang opera. Very cool! Joseph came to it and was soo excited. He didn't even know what Gangneung was.. Doesn't get out much :/ Then he was able to come to church on Sunday. He's a very nice guy! 

The point is.. if that bus hadn't left 4 minutes late, he would have never seen us! Yep, so many things led up to him being able to see missionaries. 

Ok! I'm out of time! 

Love you so much!!

Sis. Evans

Crazy week!‏

Dear family,

Wow, I don't think you'll be able to believe everything that happened this week. I wish I had time to include all of the super cool spiritual experiences that we had but there might not be time today.

I'm going to skip to Thursday. Well, wait. So, last Sunday we found out that one sister in our zone that was in 속초Sokcho was going home because of knee problems :/ Oh, so so sad. We were heartbroken for her! So our whole week changed with exchanges and where we were going to be. Our exchange with Gangneung was pushed back a week and we had to change with Taebaek because Sis. Kim Hansorl had to go into a threesome with the sisters there since her companion went home. (So yes, 속초Sokcho closed again :/) Hope this makes sense...

So, Thursday my companion Sis Seo went to Taebaek for an exchange and Sis. Gwak came to Wonju with me. That night I got a terrible call... Sis. Seo got hit by a taxi in Taebaek. Yep, you can imagine my shock and horror. 

She was walking across a crosswalk (there was no light), and the taxi turned the corned and hit her. Luckily, slowly. Nevertheless an ambulance came and took her away. Went to the hospital and took X-rays and other exams.

Here's the amazing thing... SHE'S OK!!! She's in almost no pain now and it's only been a few days! Nothing was broken! Friday she went to the police station and actually the taxi that hit her had a black box and the whole thing was recorded. The police officers had seen it and were shocked when they saw her walking in. They all asked her, "How are you walking?? Are you ok??" because the video was so bad. 

She watched it and said it was terrifying- She was shocked at how bad it looked! Saturday I went to Taebaek and took her back to Wonju. Is that just the craziest thing you've ever heard? But not even kidding.... she's in almost no pain now! It hit her back and waist but the only place she's hurting a little is in her neck. Just such an incredible miracle!!!! We can't believe it.

So that was the craziness! Along with a sister going home and now having 3 people in Taebaek. 

Oh ya... So there's some problems in the church....

Here's the good thing, first. We met Song Seongsuke a few times last week and she came to church yesterday! She is amazing!!! She says she wants to be baptized, she's just getting some things in order first. Because she understands how important baptism is she wants to make sure she's rid of past things before she makes this covenant with God. We love her so much!!! We always have so much fun teaching and talking with her.

Back to church... So there was another little explosion at church yesterday. Luckily the 3 investigators there didn't see it (we were all in a different class upstairs). It's been one particular woman... Funny thing is she LOVES the missionaries. She was baptized about a year and 4 months ago and thinks missionaries are angels... (not true, in case you're wondering ;) ) We love her, but she has a huge anger management problem (like a serious one), and has explosions. 

We (my companion and I) meet with her a lot to try and help her because the only people she doesn't get mad at are missionaries. So that's that! Besides that, everything else is fine :) The members invite us over for dinner all the time. Too much.... No I'm kidding :)

Ok, times up!

That was my crazy week! I hope you have a good week and always remember the goodness of God in all of our many blessings!

Love,

Sis. Gentry Evans

So much to say!‏

Dear Family,

I'm so sorry.... Because there's so much to say I feel like I won't be able to say any of it!

So this will be a really quick run-through....

Last Monday night my comp and I went to Seoul and stayed the night with the 4 zone leaders at the president's house. It was nice to talk to Sis. Sonksen a little more to get to know her.

Tuesday was AMAZING!! We had MLC (missionary leadership council), with the zone leaders and STLs. Everyone is just a spiritual powerhouse... I'm so grateful for how much I am continually learning on my mission. The thing is I'm just shown over and over how much I lack! Just how inadequate I am and how much I must rely on the Lord and the Spirit for help. So many things I feel like I should already know and have resolved to do I'm just doing now. But it's ok! The beautiful thing is our ability to progress :)

Anyways, this months focus is The Doctrine of Christ: The Missionary Purpose. (with an emphasis on baptismal dates) Such a great focus! After MLC Sis. Seo and I went to 동해 Donghae and spent the night and then Wednesday we did the zone training in that zone. I think it went well! We just meet with the zone leaders that morning to prepare for the training so there's not a ton of prep time but enough to know what we want to talk about and then just let spirit guide. (I'm kind of bad at that part, though, so it would be good for me to have some more prep time^^)

Afterwards, Sis Seo and I went to Gangneung and spent the night so Thursday we could do the zone training for that zone. I think it went well! Both zone leaders are such a hard workers so we were blessed to do the trainings with them. There's so many incredible quotes and stuff that we used I wish you could see!! I'll just show them to you later^^ 

Right after I went back to Donghae to do an exchange with Sis. Murdock while her companion went to Wonju. Sis. Murdock is awesome! They're such hard workers. We saw so many miracles on the exchange! It was amazing. 

This past week was so so good, but honestly Friday night when I got back to Wonju it was kind of a like finally being able to take a deep breathe after the week. I was able to learn so much, but it was kind of a lot of things in a row!

So sorry but I have to go! Thanks for everything you do! You're the best and don't forget it^^

Love,

SIs. Evans

Happy 4th of July!!!‏

Dear Family,

Hello hello! Sooo I'm just going to jump right into it!

Last Wednesday we got up early and exchanged with the 강릉 Gangneung sisters so Sis. Lautaha came to Wonju with me! So fun. We street boarded for a couple hours and then met 송성숙 Song Seong Suk. She is just amazing. I can't express it anymore! Just the best. Teaching her is one of my most favorite things. Then we met 안은순 Ahn ehn sun(e) who was baptized in October but doesn't come to church. We meet with her a lot. She's so, so kind, but honestly a tiny bit strange. In a funny way! Not a bad way. She's great! We always meet her in her "secret garden" haha. Anyways, unfortunately the exchange wasn't too long because the next morning we got up early and went to 강릉 and then met the 속초 Sokcho sisters and started an exchange with them. That's right..... 속초 opened back up this transfer!!! I'm so happy! Sis. XX came to Wonju with me. Sis. XX is in her 3rd transfer! So.... here's the thing... Right now the Sokcho sisters are having a really hard time.... You know, sometimes people just don't get along well. It's always so hard to see other people when they're struggling. I just wish I could help in any way possible! The two sisters are really awesome, just have different personalities. It's hard now... but I know at the end the two will be able to look back and see how much they learned and were able to grow. God never gives us challenges we can't  handle, only ones we can grow from :) 

So that was a really good exchange! I was able to learn so much. That next day (Friday), we met the Sonken's. We had a combined conference with all of the "강원도" Gangwondo missionaries who are out in the country. They're great! We were able to feel their love and their excitement to be in Korea serving missions. Here's the thing.... we're all so excited for them but we just love the Christensen's so so much. They are two of the most incredible people on this earth. So the Sonken's were showing us pictures so we could get to know them and we were just exciting and oohing and ahhing but then they showed a picture of the Christensen's when they left their house.. The entire mood just shifted in that instant when we saw that picture. Every missionary in that room started crying. I'm not kidding, everyone. I felt bad, I don't think anyone wanted to in front of the new mission president and his wife but.... I can't express the love we feel for the Christensen's. It was a very sad moment. Anyways! We are very excited for the new presidents. They will be great!!! Tonight Sis. Seo and I go to Seoul for MLC tomorrow so we will sleep at their house tonight. I'll do some more investigating ;) Haha, just kidding :)

Then Friday! 4th of July! We visited someone that was in the hospital with the elders (Houston and Ashbye) so they could give him a blessing. (He was in a car accident on his motorbike :/) Then we had some appointments that... didn't go through and then English class! Afterwards we ate with 채주민 Chayjumin who's a less-active and her friend who comes to English class. The friend teaches karate and is super awesome! She just graduated from BYU and is working in the RedCross. Unfortunately BYU didn't leave the best impression on her and she doesn't like the church very much.... But she loves missionaries! We've actually met with her a few times. We're working with her :) 

Yesterday, church was good! Actually there was a fight kind of so that wasn't good.... Just one member got upset. It was in front of a few people there for the first time so... ah we were freaking out. The thing is right after we met with Songseong Suke (who came to church!) She was so amazing about it! She said that people come to church to become better people, that we don't come perfect. Who is she?? So luckily everything was fine! 

We ate dinner with 박정순 Bakjeong sun(e) who... is someone that's had a lot of problems with this branch but! We've been meeting with her and she's starting to attend our branch (she usually goes to Seoul to go to church), and bore her testimony yesterday during sacrament! I wish i had time to tell you all of the miracles that happen here everyday and all the good that we're seeing but there just isn't time!

I love you all so much! Oh ya... I guess I should add that I do realize I've been on my mission over a year.... That's just weird. How is that possible?! But there actually isn't even time to think about it so it doesn't seem real! Just gotta keep working :)

Hope you had a good 4th of July! 

Love,

Sis. Evans

Rain rain and good things!‏

Dear family,

 

So.... I'm kind of blank on the week....... it's a new transfer so we were only in a 3some until last Tuesday when Sis. Murdock went to Seoul for transfers for her new companion.

 

Let's see..... well all of a sudden almost all of our investigators disappeared but we're still meeting people all of the time! I don't know how... Honestly Wonju is just a miracle area. We find the absolute nicest people on the street and they always invite us to their house for a drink or something! it's amazing. So we're meeting a lot of people that way :)

 

송성숙 Song Seong Suk is the best!!!!!! So, we taught her about the Word of Wisdom this past week. Turns out about for a very long time she had a bad alcohol addiction but about 15 years ago she went to the doctor and he said she need to stop smoking, and drinking alcohol, coffee, and green tea. And she was able to just stop all! She stared to drink coffee a  few years ago but said she's going to try and not break anything. SHE IS PERFECT!!!! I've never ever had an investigator like her. We love her so much!!!

 

Ok... So sorry but I'm out of time!!!

Everything is going incredible over here and I'm learning so much :) I love my mission!!!!

Love,

Sis. Evans

P.s. have a good 4th of July!! and on Tuesday the Sonken's (my new mission presidents) come!

Huge Umbrella!!

Hello^^‏

Dear family,

Sorry didn't really know what to put for the caption.... besides Wonju is amazing and things have been crazy! But I say that every week so I wanted to change it up.

I think I didn't explain things well last week.. So my companion (Sis. Seo) and I got a new sister but just for the week. She's in the other zone but.. her companion had to go home for a few things so she gets to stay with us for the week! It's been so fun! I hope it wasn't too stressful for her having to leave her area and come to ours for the week. On Wednesday is transfers so she'll get her new companion then and then go back to Donghae where she's originally serving. Btw "she" is Sis. Murdock. She's so awesome! And we're kind of oddly the same person? So it's been fun :)

So with transfers- nothing is happening! But we were 99% sure we'd stay the same because we were both new to Wonju and this next transfer is Sis. Seo's last and then she'll go home! I'm "killing her" hehehe. So back to the week! 

We've just been meeting tons of people and doing a lot of contacting and teaching lessons. It's been amazing!!!!!!!!!!! The blessings, people. They're real. And they're everywhere!!!! Honestly just meeting the most amazing people everyday. 

One of them is the lovely 송성숙 Song-seong-suk <3 She's the woman we met when we first came and have been meeting with ever since. She is just accepting everything so well!!! And she is just so honest about everything (with her questions, thoughts she has about what we're teaching), so it's the best teaching her. Sis Murdock kind of freaked out after the first time we met with her because she said she'd never taught anyone like her. She takes notes when we teach... I just feel so much love for her!!! So I'm so glad I'm not transferring. 

Thursday all of the missionaries in the "countryside" came to Wonju and we had our last conference with President and Sis Christensen :( So sad!!!! They are the most incredible people. Our new mission presidents come on the 30th! "Sonksen's" I'm excited for them but sad for the Christensen's.... Anyways the training with them was great! So, on average our mission contacts 12-14,000 new people a week, but last week (during the 100 hour week) we contacted 26,000 people. Isn't that crazy?! And not everyone did it! So amazing!!

Afterwards I went to 태백 Taebaek with Sis. Kim for an exchange. 

Anyways, I'm out of time!

Love you so much! Having such a good time here and I hope your summer is going well!

Sis. Evans

Miracles upon miracles!!!!‏

Hey Fam ^^

So sorry about last week! It was kind of crazy. Actually, it was THE BEST. So  let me telll you about it....

A lot of people in our mission decided to do this "100 hour" week because our mission president talked about it from his mission. We got up at 5:30 and got ready real fast, and then worked from 6:30 till 9:30 (unless we had a lesson and then we could be out till 10. Isn't that crazy?!? I've never heard of being able to be out that late). No meal times but we had 30 minutes to study during the day. Don't worry, didn't starve :) We didn't have meal times but we could just buy food off the street and eat as we walked. Also, saw so many miracles by how many people we'd meet and then they'd just invite us for dinner or lunch. We were able to get so much work done!!!!!!!! Found two new investigators and have so many PI's. And I think never before in my mission had 20 lessons and this past week we had 21!! YES!. 

So that was why we didn't have a p-day last week! I'm trying to remember about the week before last... oh ya! MLC and zone training! So we went to Seoul and all the zone leaders and sister training leaders had a training with President and Sister Christensen. IT WAS AMAZING!!!!!!!!! It was like being blasted with spiritual insights. Seriously was incredible!!! I felt so... out of place?! Haha everyone there was so smart and hard working. So many great examples! As a mission we're focusing on discipleship this month. I'm so excited!!! It's been so good for me and I know it's changing a lot of people as they focusing on becoming a disciple of Christ.

So Tuesday we had the training and then came back to Wonju and then Wednesday morning I went to the Gangneng South zone and Sis. Seo went to the Gangneng zone to do the trainings. So I went to 동해 Donghae! Elder Helsloot and Jones are the zone leaders there so we did the training together. It was so fun!! I hope everyone was able to learn and grow from it. Afterwards we exchanged so I was in Wonju with Sis. Peni and my companion exchanged with Sis. Lautaha in Gangneng. Sis Peni is in her 3rd transfer and is doing so well! We actually did the "pass-off" program for a lot of it. (the one I did when I was a new missionaries for the language and lessons) She just had to pass off with me and after the AP's she's done!! Exciting. Good program but.. stressful haha. 

I can't exactly remember much but.... so!!!! Our investigator 송성숙 Song Seong Suk(e) is just perfect. WE LOVE HER SO MUCH. We meet her about 3 times a week and she hasn't missed church in 4 weeks. She loves learning about Christ so much and is willing to try so much! We meet with her with other members and we ate at a member's house (이현정 Ee-heon-jeong) this past week. She's just the sweetest woman ever. 

So, this next week is going to be a bit crazy. Actually right after we finish emailing we're going to the bus terminal and meeting the sisters that are serving in 동해 Donghae. So... it's really sad but one sister is going home for some things so we're meeting them and then we'll become a 3some! Sis. Murdock will be our new companion. Transfers are next week so we'll find out if she's just staying with us till then or if she'll be with us next transfer as well. It's a big change but we're excited! It will be fun :) 

Thanks for everything and HAPPY FATHER'S DAY on Sunday, Dad!!!! Have a good day!!!! The best Dad deserves the best day, right? So spend it well! I'm assuming some ice cream and peanut clusters will be involved? hehe :)

Love,

Sis. Evans