So I pretty much have the best mission in the world!!!!! My mission is
very different compared to most. First all give you some background on my
mission. 5 years ago the korean speaking elders had all of California and had a
ton of freedom, I guess the Elders back then could not handle those
responsibilities appropriately and would constantly break mission rules
and a lot of them ended up getting sent home. The church used to get so
much trouble from the Korean speaking mission in California that the apostles
came and shut it down in front of everyone. Two years later after much
convincing the church re- opened the mission. President Bowen(My mission
President) is the most amazing person ever! He has worked so hard with
the church (His wife's sister is married to Elder Bednar) and does so
much for the Asian zone's! So 2nd thing, my mission isn't really Anaheim
that is just where our mission office is located. My mission covers the
Irvine Mission, Long Beach and Anaheim. Because my mission is so large
we don't ever ride bikes. We drive a Ford Fusion! haha. So I don't need
to spend money on a bike but there's money that I need to spend else
where now.
Tell Grandma not to worry haha. I live in Irvine and my
apartment is the 2nd nicest apartment that any missionary can have in
the whole world!!!! How awesome is that?! In the next couple of months
we will be getting I phones and I pads. We got to test the ipads and they
are awesome! It makes it so much easier to fill out the area book and
to be more involved with members plus we get to keep them after we
leave!
So just a little bit on the culture and Korean aspect. I
do speak mainly English when I'm jundo'ing and tracting but all of our
lessons are in Korean and when we go Market contacting it's all in
Korean. Church is in Korean and the members speak little to none english
unless they're kids or my age. I hated kim chi so much at first I
almost threw up! So I decided to eat as whole bottle of kim chi until I
did like it, and now I love it! There's this stuff called banana milk
and it is hands down the most delicious thing I have ever tasted!!! I
buy so much banana milk haha! I love Korean food! It is so much better
than what we eat!!
Members: The Korean branch has 60-70 members I believe.
Before I leave this mission I will make sure that this branch turns into
a ward. The President Koo (The Branch President) is amazing he reminds
me of Bishop Thompson. He does SO much work for his branch. A lot of
behind the scenes kind of stuff. Without him I don't know where this branch would
be. The members are AMAZING!
Sister Chu said over the phone that she
didn't like people who didn't speak Korean.....we had a dinner appointment with her
the next day......You can see why I may havebeen a little more than nervous.
The first things I said to her was: "Sister Chu I really want
you to like me and I promise I will study Korean very hard so that way
you can" (Plus i honorfied the crap out of her!) Sister Chu is now my
favorite lady in the Branch! She always come up and puts her arm around
my shoulder (Keep in mind shes like 49) And tells everyone I'm the son
she never had. So I love her to death plus her Husband is the secratery
and is the bee's knee's he always teaches me new words.
I have gotten to
be with the members a lot this 1st week because saturday we had aThanksgiving party at the church and the day before that we had to visit
most of them since I'm new and then we had church on Sunday. The Thanksgiving party was so much fun I got to eat great food I met a lot
of the members and Kim Young our most progressing investigator showed up
and clicked with a lot of the members! We also sang ah-ri-rang with two
of the young woman in our branch.
Our district uses me to get meal
appointments because most of the young woman are 15ish and follow me
around like a little puppy dog.....So they have me talk to the young
woman and tell them how I have never had Korean food and that they
should tell their parents to invite us over for me to try the food and then they
can also teach me Korean hahaha.
Elders and the work
so hard! Sunday I gave a talk and my trainer helped me memorize it and
say it. And the members were laughing so hard! Because I like the
southern Korean accents so my trainer teaches me kwan Juu dilect when I
ask him to, and the members think It's the funniest thing to see a
non-korean speaking like that. Anyways....I guess the meal appts. have
doubled since I got here because the last american missionaries would not
eat Korean food and now they just love seeing me eat hahaha.
My Trainer is Elder Kim and he is amazing! He has taught
me so much when it comes to Korean and has taught me so much when it
comes to teaching. He is the most selfless person I have ever met. Everything he does is for other people. My other companion Elder Chung
just barely got baptized last year and cooks like a world class chef!
(I'm in a trio) I love mine companions they're so freaking awesome.
Last couple things we made a bed frame for Sister Yim and
Elder Chung did the measurements and, wow he was off haha. We ended up
making a bed for like 4 year old kid with no arms or legs I have no idea
how none of us noticed how tiny it was while we were making it. You'll see a
picture of it!
Thank you so much for the Dictionary and book I use
it everyday! Thank you thank you! Since we drive everywhere and meet a
lot with members (the missionaries and the branch president pretty much
keep the church going) But we where our suits almost everyday. Will
you PLEASE send me my other suit ASAP I can't get mine drycleaned and
then I don't have a suit to wear and my companions are Korean so they
are TINY! So I really need my other suit!!!! Also can you ask Aunt Carrie or even just the ward different ideas for youth activities. And
toffifay :) Thank you mom I love you so much you are the best ever!
Love Elder Meza
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