67th street

Dear Family-

 

I have been looking at my planner and the screen for the past 5 minutes (seems longer than that...) wondering where to start. I feel like I just send you one big journal entry every week-- recounting everyday and everything is just mixed together. I can't think of a good way to start this, so here is another one ^^

 

This week was full of wonderful missionary moments. The longer I am on my mission, the easier it gets to not notice the little miracles. But, I also am better at recognizing them because I have had so much practice! and we saw them right and left this week. I am so blessed to be a missionary, serving here in Korea. Just little things...like knocking doors yesterday and finding just one person who opened the door, smiled at us, and gave us her phone number. Finding a grandma on the street who calls a hundred times a day just to make sure we know she loves us. Having conversations throughout the day, a couple seconds here, two minutes there, that make you smile and spread some love. Talking with members at church or in there homes and feeling like you were needed there.

 

You have all heard this a thousand times, but here it is again! Korean kids are adorable. And great conversation starters. A few weeks ago, Sister Nebeker and I were walking down the street at the end of p-day and I saw the cutest mom with her two sons. Of course I had to say hi the the little boys and then started talking to the mom. Turns out, she really wants her sons to learn english. and this week, on Wednesday, we went to her house to introdouce our Family English Program (30 minutes we teach the gospel, 30 minutes we teach english). She and her husband were both home, plus the boys (Han-byeol is 5 and Han-seoul is 3). Her husband, Brother Kim, met with the missionaries years ago just one or two times. He remembers how nice they were...thanks for planting a seed, elders! anyway. SO! they became our new investigators. Sister Ahn and Brother Kim. We already love them. And let me tell you...this is the FIRST TIME my whole mission that I have ever found someone on the street that became an investigator that I taught. It was a big miracle for us.

 

Also, I love Dap-dong ward. So much. We are working so ward to be builders of wards and branches like President has asked. and I have a testimony that the amount of love you give to ward members they will give back to you. No matter what language you speak, what country you are in, love is the same. It feels the same. Last week, our bishop's wife, Sister Pak, called out of the blue and invited us to dinner. the food was delicious, we had a great talk with both of them about less actives, and practiced teaching with the Book of Mormon.

 

I don't know what else to say! The Lord is blessing us here, as I know He is blessing the missionaries all over the world. I love it so much. I know this Church is true. I know that as we share it with all we can, we will feel a joy in our lives and in our hearts that we never new before. This is the happiest time!

 

xoxo, Sister Bassett

 

journaling‏

Tuesday, June 24.2014

 

Today we had a...lesson?...visit with Sister Choi. I love her. She always tells us about how she is a really popular girl in the neighborhood, because she plays the violin and piano and speaks English. Obviously. So her friends who used to hate the Mormon church/think we are a cult think we are ok now! Because Sister Choi meets with us. assah! We ate ddok-boki with her and her friend today. and less active visit! It made my heart so heavy. The sister let us into her house and we tip-toed through the first room...the room is FULL of stuff. just boxes and who knows what. There is a little path leading to the second room, also full. there is a little space in the middle, just a few feet wide, covered with old blankets. And there is her daughter sitting in the middle of it, chewing on an old wrapper and watching a Korean drama. This sister's story? Her oldest daughter, 30 years old, is mentally handicapped (can't talk or walk, completely reliant on her mom). Her husband has passed away. Her two sons...work? not really sure, but they live in the house, and aren't around much from what I gather. She cares for her daughter all day and cleans the market at night. She doesn't want the ward to help, but now that I have seen her, I know it is just out of shame and maybe a little independence.

 

Friday, June 27.2014

 

Today I am greatful for Sister Gwan, how she loves us and gives us fruit and prays for our investigators. I am grateful that Incheon is such a windy place. I am grateful for real estate offices where I can go and look at their maps when our cameras die and for short little Korean men who climb up on chairs to try and point out where we are on the map. And when he can't find it, calling to the other two workers... so we all 5 go outside and they point us in the right direction. I am greatful for the sweet Vietnamese sister we met, for the young student girls who don't know where the apartment is so they ask the nearest 아저씨  and then laugh at the directons he gives us when we are gone. I am grateful for the cute grandma we found instead of our less active. I am grateful for the girl I sat with on the bus who spoke english and was adorable and said she will text us later. I am gratful for funny korean mom and dad who sell us delicious puffed rice snacks and tell me I should become their daughter in law. I am grateful for music and its power and motivating influence. I am grateful for the Gospel of Mark, that I can read the Savior's teachings, for the story of the rich young ruler as I contemplate on the my great many possessions that I am still working to give away. I am grateful for quotes and lyrics of hymns and how they stick in my mind. I am grateful for rice and kim and that I really love Korean food. I am grateful for our apartment and these beautiful wonderful girls I life with here. I am grateful to be a missionary!

 

Saturday, June 28.2014

 

Son Gwan came to English class again today! and guess what. We talked in our class for like 20 minutes about missionaries...why we are here, we don't get paid, still just college students. And then, we told them that if they ever have questions, they can ask us after class. At the end of class, I prayed in Korean and he wrote down my prayer. What?! then after class, he asked if I could tell him about our church. I ended up teaching the whole restoration in about 10 minutes. It was a neat thing. then he went in with the Elders to have a lessons. darn. but I trust our Elders, and it will be great. We stayed to clean the bathroom for church tomorrow and heard Gwan kind of...yelling? fighting? with Andre. oh. no. Elder Kim called tonight...they were just arguing about whatever. Andre wanted to talk, Gwan wanted to learn the gospel. But he said Gwan is shiney golden! yesssssss.

 

(PS---Gwan didn't come to church because of the argument. prayers, please!)

 

ok. just a week of awesomeness in Korea! I love you all!

 

who is 김장ing in the middle of summer?!‏

Dear Family-

 

Hey! Lan and dad and mom! have SO MUCH FUN on the Church History Tour. It was such a defining and strengthening experience for me. Dad asked me a few weeks ago if there was advice I have? um...soak it all in. Just love every place, even the long bus rides and late nights. Write in your journal lots. Take pictures. Bear your testimony. it's gonna be amazing.

 

This week was summer! hot and humid. I'm not sure if it isn't as hot yet, or because Incheon is really windy, or because I'm used to it, but this June doesn't seem as hot as last June!

 

Last Tuesday we had a lesson with Sister Choi about how we love our families...they are important to us and we can live with them forever. That knowledge of an eternal relationship helps give us perspective and changes how we treat our family here and now. Sometimes she and her daughter have a rough relationship. We also had interviews with President. I love those. He had us share something we had learned in personal study that day. I have a goal to read the whole New Testament this transfer, so I shared with him what I read Tuesday morning from Matthew 19:20. We all know the story...the young rich man, faithful in keeping the commandments, asks Christ what more he lacks. Then the Master responds, with love, that he most sell all his has and follow the Savior. The young man is sorrowful, because he has MUCH. Reading the Four Gospels in light of just having read "Jesus the Christ" has been really neat. Elder Talmage talks about how, at some point or another, Christ will ask us to do that which is most difficult in order to follow Him, for what He wants are true disciples. We must have no priorites above Him. Sometimes I feel like the rich young man...I have so much to give up and get rid of. Yet as I work, just one by one, at giving away my possessions, I can feel His guidance in my life leading me to what is most important. I love this quote from from Elder Christofferson- "Thegospel...is the freedom to become what you can and ought to be. But for your freedom to be complete, you must be willing to give away all your sins, your willfulness, your cherished but unsound habits,perhaps even some good things that interfere with what God sees is essential for you." (it's from his talk "You are Free" in the March 2013 Ensign. I really recommend it) I am trying everyday to find that person that God sees in me.

 

Wednesday was exchanges! I went to 만수 Mansu area with Sister Sloan and Sister Mineer (they are in a tri-panionship). Oh man. I love Sister Sloan. She always inspires me to work harder, be more faithful, and just push through everything that might come my way. I got to have a super fun lesson with this couple they are teaching. Such cute newly weds! After we exchanged back on Thursday, Sister Nebeker had picked out a few people from the CMIS list (I can't remember what that stands for) for us to visit. We have about 200 less actives in this ward, so we are trying to confirm addresses. anyway. ready for the Miracle of the Week? We found one! aawwwwwwwwesome. She was young, maybe still in her 20's. She was home and we talked with her and she gave us her new phone number. Thanks for signing up to be on Sister Bassett and Sister Nebeker's weekly visit list! she was really cute. maybe all she needs is a hug and an invitation to come back.

 

THEN! another miracle! on Saturday we English flyer-ed for our class (we teach on Saturday nights). We gave away lots, but didn't find anyone who was super interested. I was super hungry and have been addicted to tuna kimbap lately, so we ran in to this place by the church to grab a bite to eat. As we are leaving, this guy says "hello!" and the conversation goes as follows (except in Korean)

him "hey, I have a question"

us "yes?"

"do you speak Korean?"

"yes, a little"

"do you have an english class?"

"yes! actually it is tonight at 5:30"

"oh. (the current time is just after 5) so in just a little bit."

"yes. if you have time, you should come sometime! are you learning english?"

"actually, I'll come tonight. see you soon!"

ahhhsssssssa! so he came to english class. turns out, he is practically fluent at english (embarassment...) and has gospel interest! He asked about our church and we talked for a while. He didn't make it to church last week, but promised to come next week. I'm really happy and grateful that God doesn't always expect us to run and chase down every blessed miracle, sometimes He brings them right to us.

 

Our week ended fantastically with the Kajeong ward (we live with Kajeong ward sisters) bishop! I had seen him at the church building and somehow it was brought up that I want to learn to make kimchi (called 김장 kimjang). so Sunday night his daughter calls and invites us all over to make kimchi at his house. Score! it was so fun. They live in the same appartment complex as us, so we just walked on over there! i love it. we will be making kimchi at our house.

 

I love you! have a wonderful week! you are in my prayers and in my heart.

xoxo, Sister Bassett

 

i got transferred to the amazon?

Dear Family

 

first of all.......행복한 아빠 날!!! Happy Father's day! I hope it was wonderful. Even without your favorite daughter there :) I am so grateful for you, pops! We are the luckiest kids in the world.

 

This week was, of course, wonderful. We met with our investigator, Sister Choi, twice again this week. She is so sweet. She has a really strong testimony of prayer and has prayed about every big decision in her life...from getting married to buying a house. It is really neat. Her 11 year old daugther has never prayed before. Sister Choi is, understandably, so worried about her daughter not knowing God. She asked us to teach her something, anything, about the Bible and God and Jesus Christ. We started with God is our loving Heavenly Father with Jenny. I am grateful for that simple, life-changing knowledge we have!

 

We also got to visit with a less-active this week. Her name is also Sister Choi (that's why everyone in Korea goes by last and first names. always). She is a member, has been through the temple, all of that. I'm not sure how it happened but she started working for another church...just organizing activities. Now she is a full member of that church and has completely no interest in our church. Still loves the people, loves the missionaries. She just has so much fun with the other church (they have a dance group and stuff like that). I wish that I could help her see the JOY that comes from living our gospel. Not just fun, fleeting and enjoyable for the moment, but true happiness that never has to leave. for eternity.

 

Then there was Sister Gwan. Oh how I love her and her sweet family. Those kids of hers! ahh! She is so discouraged so much of the time and often asks how mom and dad did it...they also have 6 kids! how did you? I just want to help her see that this gospel should be a blessing, not a burden for our families. I love them so much and hope some of it rubs off as I am with them.

 

I love you all! I am grateful to be serving. I love it here...more and more the longer I am a missionary. Have a great week!

 

xoxo, Sister Bassett

STOP!

Dearest Family-

 

Have I told you yet about our investigator? our only one? her name is Sister Choi. The Elders called her out of former investigators and she wanted to start meeting again! yay! She is really interested in religion (and loves ours) and really interested in English. We usually meet with her daughter Jenny and a friend. She makes them speak to us in English for 30 minutes. and they are really good! Her husband really opposes the church. So much. She has told us about that, but I didn't really understand it until this week. We went to her house, and as soon as Jenny opened the door and we stepped inside, her husband yelled STOP! then (in Korean now) "don't come in anymore." he told his wife to take her "book" and get out. get out now. As he was yelling at us, the first feeling in my heart was fear. It is easy to feel that. Then I started talking to him. Just a nice, happy conversation in the most peaceful tone I could muster. His eyes didn't lose all the fire, but maybe a little bit. The Spirit gives us power, love, and a sound mind. Never fear. It was a neat experience to see the stark difference between the two. We are praying that his heart will be softened and debating what to do with Sister Choi if it is not.

 

I had the chance, after that experience, to reflect on one of my favorite scriptures in 2 Corinthians 3:2, that WE are the epistle to be known and read of all men. Even people like her husband, he is definitely not reading the scriptures, but he "read" us as an epistle of the Lord. It is an empowering and sobering thought.

 

I hope this week to be a better epistle...that when I am seen by others they will know something more about the Savior.

 

I love you!

 

xoxo, Sister Bassett

never washing my hand...‏

Family!!! 

This week I didn't make notes of each day, so I'm just gonna start off with ELDER COOK'S visit! Yes. He came to our mission. Actually, it was another joint mission conference with the Seoul mission. And it was amazing. Before the meeting, he had every missionary there (about 350 I think) come up and shake hands with him, his wife, and Elder Ringwood. It was the neatest experience...to shake hands with an apostle of the Lord and just look in his eyes. Plus, Elder Ringwood had come to our Incheon stake conference just two weeks ago, and I talked with him there. So when I went to shake his hand, he gave me a fist bump (yeah. pounder) and said "glad to see you again" then shook my hand. Best. Day. Ever. So that is why I can never wash my hands. ever again.

Elder Ringwood started the meeting with a short but powerful talk about four words to think of as missionaries- Consider. Contend. Astonish. Generational. He talked first about how we must consider our ways...What am I doing and how am I thinking about the priviledge of serving a mission? Once we consider our ways, then we can declare what is true and contend for the right. we can astonish members and nonmembers alike with our faithfulness. and when we teach and testify in that way, our impact can be generational. He gave the example of Oliver Granger in D&C 117...that his name will be held in "sacred remembrance" for generations. Just like our family remembers missionaries and members who had an impact in bringing our family to the gospel, we have that chance to help others in their journey. I loved those four ideas...begin the change with yourself and work outward.

Sister Cook also gave the most adorable talk about connecting the Christlike attributes in chapter 6 of Preach My Gospel to hymns/primary songs. Then, we can sing those tunes to ourselves in moments when we need a little more patience or charity or diligence. I loved that idea and I am going to try it this coming week! She was so fun and happy.

Elder Cook talked about so many wonderful things, but especially about 4 kinds of love we need to have as missionaries- love the people. love your companion. love your mission president. love the Lord. As we think about and act on that love, we can then fulfill our purpose of building up the church and inviting others to come unto Christ. He left us with his apostolic blessing that we, as missionaries, are just where we need to be. That EVERYONE we love will ultimately be blessed by our service...whether that is our family back home or our future children. That our hearts can be filled with love and joy as we are doing what we are doing-building the kingdom of the Lord-right where we need to be.

I love the strength that I feel surrounded my so many other missionaries. I also got to see my beloved MTC companion, Sister Sieverts. She is so wonderful. I could not be more proud of those beautiful sisters that I came out of the MTC with. It is amazing to see the growth in them and realize how much our service has changed us. They asked all the missionaries who had been out over a year to stand. and I was in that group. I just cried as I looked at the elders and sisters I have been privileged to serve with. I cried to think about that my life won't always be like this, but mostly it was tears of gratitude that I ever had the opportunity. I know the Savior lives. His atonement is real...I know it because I have felt its power in my life and in my missionary work. Heavenly Father lives, loves us, and answers our prayers. The gospel truly is a message of JOY and we will find happiness as we live it.

this week was an adventure of street contacting, two lessons with our new investigator, visiting with members, exchanges, temple trip, fast Sunday, the start of another Korean summer. I am loving it. and trying to stamp into my brain and heart how good it feels to be a missionary, as my wonderful big brother said to :)

I love you all. I pray for you.

xoxo, Sister Bassett

    -Korea! This picture was taken on our hike from last week

 -Food of the week! That is me at a little restaurant and neng-myon. It its cold noodles that are really stretchy, so they give you a scissors so you can cut them! Yum. Noodles and ice and cucumbers and carrots. The broth tastes like…something I can’t describe. Maybe vinegar and Sprite?

    -The sisters that live in  my house!  Yes, matching dresses. :)

    -Saw my COUSINS at the joint Missionary Conference. They were helping out with the food for all the missionaries. So great!  

         -Me and Sister Sieverts! ah love her.

how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be"‏

Dearest family--

 

This week has been really magnificent. I can't explain the feelings that are going on in my heart...these little miracles that we are seeing and this overwhelming, filling me up, hastening the work feeling. I know this is the Lord's work. He has something beautiful in mind for Korea and for our Dapdong area. I am so blessed to be a part of it.

 

We started off Monday with some service. SCORE! We always ask the members if there is anything we can do to help them, and they pretty much 100% of the time say no. Then we write down our phone number again and tell them to call if they ever need anything. They rarely do. And even more rarely ask for help about themsevles. But this week! This precious mother of 6 in our ward called and asked if we could come help her clean. Raising families with lots of kids is different in Korea. They don't just send them to the backyard to play for an hour or two. They are sent to day-care classes and after school academy from the time they are old enough to talk. So this mom, Sister Gwan, has a house full of messes and nobody there to help. We sorted through books and photo albums and toys, dusting off selves and just talking for 2 hours. It was so good. An hour or so after we arrived, she just started crying...as she told us about her lack of faith and how she feels she is failing as a mother, my eyes welled up with tears for this good sister. Then she told us that just a few hours earlier, she had prayed that someone could come and help her that day. She felt like she should call us. As you know, Monday is our p-day so we were out and about, getting ready to leave for Seoul that night. When she called, I regretably told her we couldn't make it, but let us know next time. As soon as I hung up, I told Sister Nebeker and she said we need to go. I felt that way too. We were with the Kajeong ward sisters, so I asked them to come with us too. I called Sister Gwan right back and said we were on our way. As she tearfully told me about her prayer that morning, it was a testimony builder for her and for us. God was watching out for His daughters that day, as He always is. We were able to bear testimony of the love Heavenly Father has for us. He is in the details of our lives and He is taking care of us.

 

And on Tuesday...we went hiking. in the mountains. all day. for the best zone conference ever. It was wonderful. We hiked and stopped along the way, training on Faith, Hope, and Charity. I don't know how to explain. I just learn things from the scriptures and our mission leaders like I never knew I could. I feel like I don't have enough time left out here to fix all I need too! i'll still have a long list when I come home. Our mission scripture is 1 Nephi 13:37... "and blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost, and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be" (typed that from memory. good job!) and it was just a neat experience to have all those missionaries, literally upon the mountains, learning and testifying together. We have the best missionaries here.

 

Wednesday we did a finding activity with our whole zone in Kajeong area. and they got 52 numbers! WOWZERS! so, this is how it went. They made a big poster that said the lyrics to the begining of "Let it Go" and several others saying things like "come challege your friends!" (they sounded a lot cooler in Korean...) Basically they just read the lyrics in English, we gave them a choco-pie, and then they wrote their number down so we could contact them about english class. BUT! the story doesn't end there! on Saturday we were coming home from Seoul and on the way home, we have to transfer subways and buses several times. At one station, I didn't pay attention and took us down the side going the opposite way. Just as we got down there, I saw that we were in the wrong place right as our subway pulled up on the other side. bummer. so we had to walk back around and wait for our subway. then at the bus stop, we took bus 77 when we usually take but 7. This all leads somewhere, I promise! about half way home, this cute girl gets on the bus. I look at Sister Nebeker and say "that girl came and did the english competition on Wednesday!" and guess what? she comes and sits my us! I lean over and say hello, and ask if she is a student. THEN! she recognizes me! we talk for a bit. she asks why I came to Korea. well...let me just tell you :) In the end, she attends church and gave us her number so that we could get together and talk about church and God and what we are doing as missionaries. Simple little things...missing a train and catching a different bus...lead up to beautiful miracles. I am so happy. and I can't wait to see where the story ends.

 

We did lots of less-active finding again this week. The most eventful was on Thursday. We haven't found any of the less-actives (yet), but we did talk to a cousin on the phone! anyway. Thursday. We are just searching and searching for this house...8-403 in case you were wondering...and cannot find it. But in the proccess, we keep seeing this boy. We aren't allowed to talk to him, but finally he comes up and askes who we are and what we are doing. We took the chance to introduce ourselves, the church, and a little about our English class. He wouldn't give us his number, but we gave a pass along card and that was that. We keep searching. Then I ask this old smoking grandpa for directions. He decides to join our search. So here we are following him through this little cement path connecting all the houses. (I'll try and send pictures) He decides to ask directions for us. So he knocks on this door and another smoking grandpa joins the search party. yay! nobody knows here. nobody can find the house. But we talked to some great people! on our way out, we see that boy again! he says he has a question. He asks why our church is different, how it started, what about other churches...PERFECT. We taught the whole restoration and the Book of Mormon, bore testimony about how it has changes our lives and given us the knowledge we have of the Savior. awesome moment. He still wouldn't take a Book of Mormon or give his number, but hopefully the story doesn't end there! planting seeds :)

 

so many other things I wish I had time to write about...singing in sacrament meeting, getting 4 referrals from other missionaries this week, lunch with the cutest Sister Lee and her mom, a cute lady I had a conversation with on the bus, getting kicked out of the museum, ward lunch together, the primary girls in our ward, and a million testimony building experiences that I get everyweek. everyday. I am the most blessed girl in the world. I love being a a missionary. I love testifying of the Savior. I know He lives. I know His atonement is real. We have a wonderful blessing and precious knowledge!

 

I love you all!

 

xoxo, Sister Bassett