Thursday August 28, 2014

My name in Korean

So this week the language has been a little difficult. We are learning sooooo much it is cramming in my skull. Like we are learning grammar structures and how to use different words. They also have multiple number system and they are used for different things. The thing that gets me and Sister Johnson is that we stress out from our lessons with our investigators. So from day 2 we have been teaching lessons in Korean to investigators. It is extremely hard because we can't ever tell what they are asking and we can't ever move on from lesson 1. Our teacher have become our investigators. I just absolutely love my teachers tho. They are very patient with all of us. So we are taught 8 hours of Korean a day so we see them ALOT!! 

But even with all the learning and stressing out... I have come to LOVE the MTC!! I can't tell you all the people I have met and people that I know. Yesterday, I saw Elder Grow walking through the halls of the MTC for his first time. It was actually kind of funny because you know who all the new elders and sister are because of their stickers and so everyone welcomes them and as wee were walking to lunch I was welcoming them and then I like awkwardly stopped and stared and like "Hey, I know you" We shook hands and I wish him luck. haha ( yeah that is how good my stories are going to get) hahaha There is not much that goes on. Each day is the same. You learn. You Stress. You are happy. It is like a rollercoaster each day. I thought I would be stressing out even more but I like to think of it as a good kind of stress because I haven't really broke down quite yet and it is just more out of frustrating that I can't tell my Korean investigator everything that I know because I just don't know how to say it. 

Sundays are seriously the best days here. You don't have to worry about anything and the Spirit is soooo strong its ridiculous. I can feel my testimony grow each day. At times I feel that I am not gettting anything from the spirit but then I look back at what I knew just a week ago and things and just progressing more and more each day. Faith, Hope, and Work is key. Yesterday my district was stressing out really bad so Brother Hone had to stop his discussion and talk to us. Pretty much in summary he told us to put everything out on the table. Don't look back on your mission and wished you would have worked harder. Make goals and learn to overcome trials. I am now in the mind set that I must learn to push myself past the limits that I think I have. Go out of my comfort zone and get to work. 

I LOVE AND MISS YOU SO MUCH! I pray for you and I hope everything is going well! Please tell me everything that is going on outside the MTC! Be safe!

LOVE,

Sister Leavitt

Service-Cleaning

Compassionate Cruelty

        Dropping a child off at the MTC is a Compassionate Cruelty. There's so much love felt as you leave them. Workers and Missionaries there to greet them and guide them to their next destination but they give you only  2 ½ minutes to tell them everything you forgot to tell them the previous 19 years. How is that possible. I barely mouthed the words I love you while her dad buried his face in his hands and made noises we've only heard from the first Alien movie.   Ugh!!! Parenting is hard.

Love you Hanna….umm Sister Leavitt.

                  She's obviously ready to go.

Time is running out!

Just a little over a week before this girl leaves on her Mission.  It's going to be so sad but we're excited also.  She had one farewell in Logandale last weekend and has one more to go in Utah.  This picture was taken at her farewell.  She did a great job.  She is going to be such a wonderful Missionary.  This hug encompasses the love we felt from everyone that day. Thanks you all and thank you Donna Swanson for sharing your home.

 We love her sooo much. 

The Beginning

My Call Arrived

Wednesday, April 3 was probably the second most exciting day of my life. A week in half prior to the 3rd I turn my papers in. Let me just tell you tho, it was not an easy process. I went through 3 different bishops because I moved so many times. I first started at my Single's Ward  in Logan, Utah because that is where I was attending college. Then after the semester ended I went down to my Home Ward in Logandale, Nevada and started some of my papers there. Then my parents moved to South Jordan, Utah. So every bishop had something different. I was suppose to put my papers in during the month of February but ended up putting them in at the end of March. But being patient pays off and I know now that I was suppose to wait because of where I need to be called.

So back to April 3rd, I check every 2 hours from 10:00am to 4:00pm and nothing. That night, my mom and I decide to drive around Provo and so we didn't get back until 10:00. I thought I am just going to try one more time to see if it is here. And... IT ARRIVED!!! I just wanted to rip it open right there and then. I called my dad and he said he could fly home the next day. So the next day, I woke up and was ready for my dad to be there but he called and said he can't get here until Sunday. SUNDAY? That was in 3 days!! How can anyone wait that long? So I waited... and waited...

Sunday came. My family and I watched conference together. I could feel the spirit and each talk connected to me in a different way. Then, 4:00 came around. People started to come to our door. Friends and Family were filling our family room. (Okay our family room is pretty small so there wasn't too many people)  People were recording, face timing, and taking pictures. My stomach was in knots. I sat on our fireplace and I began to rip open the letter. I took a deep breath and I began to read:

Dear Sister Leavitt,

You are hereby called to serve are a missionary of The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Korea Seoul South Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve a period of 18  months.

You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, August 13,204. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Korean language.

....

I read where I was going inside my head and then began to say, "Ohh....my... gosh!" I couldn't speak. My mom was afraid I went sent somewhere bad. (Not that that is possible.) And As I said those word everyone began to scream. I felt so overwhelmed. I wanted to cry but couldn't because there was so many people! My Grandma Lamb started to cry, my mom look like she was, my dad was in shock.It seemed like everyone was surprise that I was called to serve there, including me. I thought I was going to the states, for sure!

But, I am fill with joy to soon be able to serve the Lord and the people of Korea. I know these 18 months will be one of the happiest/ stressful/ peaceful/ and best learning in experiences I will have in my whole life! I have already downloaded apps and practice the language. I am so excited to serve and will keep everyone updated on my journey to serve my Heavenly Father.

I have the greatest family & friends! :)